Chapter 29: Returning Once More to the Municipal Discipline Inspection Committee Investigation Team

“It seems the city disciplinary committee is too small a temple to accommodate you, the chief secretary of the municipal office.”
Guan Mushan spoke with a smile, his expression back to normal, but his tone still carried a hint of anger.
He hadn’t expected Yang Dong to be so blunt, rejecting him outright and showing no regard for his position.
“Secretary Guan, I understand what this opportunity you’re offering means for me. It means I could soon be promoted to deputy division chief, maybe even become your secretary—the chief secretary to the city’s disciplinary committee head. That sounds quite prestigious.”
Guan Mushan remained silent, listening to what Yang Dong had to say.
If Yang Dong’s reasoning struck a chord, he would let the matter rest.
“But for me, personal loyalty is more important.”
“I was promoted by Secretary Yin himself. If not for my reckless character and the conflict with urban management last year that left a bad impression, I might already have been deputy director of the General Affairs Division.”
“This year, Secretary Yin again nominated me for promotion to deputy division chief, just waiting for the procedures to go through—then this incident happened.”
“Though I’m still just a staff member, I owe Secretary Yin a debt of gratitude that I must repay.”
“Now Secretary Yin is under dual investigation by the city disciplinary committee. If I were to join your office at this time, I’m sure he would be heartbroken, and I would feel even worse.”
“I’d feel I’d betrayed Secretary Yin, become a petty, unscrupulous person who forgot the kindness of my former leader just to climb the ladder.”
“So, Secretary Guan, I cannot be someone without loyalty or conscience. I ask for your understanding.”
Yang Dong spoke sincerely, not so much explaining as pouring out his true feelings.
That was exactly how he felt, and exactly how he acted.
Upon hearing Yang Dong’s words, Guan Mushan fell silent.
Sun Xiufen, nearby, nodded with a smile. “Very good! You have withstood great temptation and stayed true to yourself, not forgetting your old leader’s kindness. You, young man, are really impressive.”
“Old Guan, you shouldn’t blame Yang Dong for his choice. If anything, blame yourself for not meeting him a few years earlier.”
Sun Xiufen spoke on Yang Dong’s behalf, easing the tension.
Guan Mushan laughed at his wife’s words. “I’m not that petty.”
“But, Yang Dong, I still want to ask—if Yin Tiejun really falls, wouldn’t your prospects be finished? Won’t you regret it then?”
He was genuinely curious what Yang Dong would decide.
Since Yang Dong insisted on following Yin Tiejun, if Yin Tiejun truly couldn’t recover and sank further,
Yang Dong would be swept out by Yin Tiejun’s rivals and enemies in an instant.
At that point, would Yang Dong regret not accepting his invitation and coming to the city disciplinary committee?
“Secretary Guan, I have always believed in one principle: to act with conscience as a person, and with integrity as an official!”

“If Secretary Yin is truly unable to recover, then at worst I won’t work in the system anymore. It’s 2008, the national economy is booming, especially the private sector along the southern coast.”
“At worst, I’ll go do business by the sea. I don’t think I’ll starve.”
“Who knows, maybe I’ll achieve something great, right?”
Yang Dong shrugged and smiled with carefree grace—he truly meant it.
When Tian Guanghan suspended him and ordered him to reflect, he had already considered quitting and entering business.
He was even preparing to borrow money and invest in stocks. If not for the sudden transfer order from the city disciplinary committee, he would have already started his business plan.
Besides, he really had nothing to lose and nothing to fear.
No matter how hard things got, could they be harder than in his previous life?
“Good, you have ambition and courage!”
After hearing Yang Dong’s words, Guan Mushan was convinced that Yang Dong’s integrity was genuine, not pretended.
“Jiujiu, did you know Yang Dong before?”
He turned to his daughter, sitting on the left side of the sofa.
Guan Jiujiu glanced at Yang Dong, withdrew her gaze, and answered her father, “Dad, Yang Dong’s ex-girlfriend is my colleague at the hospital, so I’ve met him twice.”
“So you weren’t close before, not even friends?”
“That’s right!” Guan Jiujiu nodded truthfully.
Guan Mushan was surprised—it was hard to understand how Yang Dong, with such a distant relationship, would offend several city officials for his daughter, and even Wu Jiancai from the building materials company.
He had even shielded his daughter from being beaten, using his own body to protect her, taking blows and falling into a coma for a whole night.
Wasn’t he afraid of being turned into a vegetable, never to wake again?
“Yang Dong, did you know our family’s situation beforehand?”
Guan Mushan’s gaze became sharp again as he questioned Yang Dong in a deep voice.
He couldn’t believe such a person truly existed, unless Yang Dong already knew about his family when he met his daughter.
He might have known that his wife was the executive deputy director of the municipal propaganda department, and that he himself was a deputy provincial official at the time.
Otherwise, how could Yang Dong have helped so recklessly? He was risking his life.
“Uncle Guan, I swear to heaven, I truly didn’t know about your family!”
“If I really did, may I be hit by a car as soon as I walk out…”
Yang Dong raised his hand above his head to swear, but Sun Xiufen quickly stopped him.

“Hey now, child, what are you saying?”
Sun Xiufen stopped Yang Dong, then turned to Guan Mushan with a stern face, “Old Guan, the child’s pure-heartedness is being treated as scheming and plotting by you?”
“How could he know our situation? If he had such sources, would he need to scheme against us?”
Guan Jiujiu immediately hugged her father’s arm, echoing her mother’s words in defense of Yang Dong.
“Yes, Dad, Mom’s right. If he could find out about our family, that would mean he’s not an ordinary person.”
“But his family is from the countryside, his parents are farmers. How could he have such connections?”
“Besides, I’ve never revealed my identity these past years, not even to my colleagues. Otherwise, no one would have ignored me at the KTV that night.”
“Think about it, if they knew my mother was the executive deputy director of the city propaganda department, and my father was a deputy provincial official, would they dare bully me? Would no one protect me?”
“So, Dad, please don’t misunderstand Yang Dong, alright?”
As she spoke, Guan Jiujiu acted playfully toward her father.
Guan Mushan nodded helplessly, “Alright, alright, Dad won’t misunderstand him, is that good enough? You silly girl, you’re over twenty, still like a child…”
“Can’t you be more steady, like your brother?”
He tapped Guan Jiujiu’s forehead, then looked at Yang Dong with an apologetic expression. “Sorry, Yang, I judged you with the mind of a petty person.”
“Uncle Guan, don’t say that. Your suspicion is perfectly normal.”
“If I were in your position, facing this situation, I’d suspect it was a plot too.”
Yang Dong quickly waved his hand, giving Guan Mushan an out.
After all, an apology from the city disciplinary committee secretary was not something he could easily accept.
“Old Guan, you’ve insulted this young man, you ought to make it up to him.”
Sun Xiufen spoke up for fairness, still stern-faced.
“Alright, I’ll make it up.”
“As a municipal standing committee member, I’m losing my position at home!”
Guan Mushan shook his head in frustration, then turned serious as he looked at Yang Dong.
“Return to the city disciplinary committee investigation team, continue participating in the case investigations!”
“I’ll personally talk to Deputy Director Tian Guanghan of the municipal office!”