Chapter 44: The Future Situation

Tian Guanghan stormed out of the city hospital, his face dark with rage, and with a swift kick sent an empty can flying from the hospital entrance.
“Trash, doesn’t even deserve to be here!”
He angrily climbed into his car, pulled out his phone, and dialed Lin Yaodong’s number.
Three seconds later, Lin Yaodong answered promptly.
“Secretary-General, your instructions?”
Lin Yaodong wasted no words when he received Tian Guanghan’s call, his tone exceedingly respectful.
This lifted Tian Guanghan’s mood considerably—Yang Dong’s lack of deference was merely his own foolishness.
At least Lin Yaodong was deferential and had chosen to stand with him, feeding his craving for power and vanity.
Moreover, Lin Yaodong’s father, Lin Liangming, was the head of the Organization Department’s First Section, another figure Tian Guanghan needed to cultivate.
“Yaodong, how much do you know about Yang Dong?”
If Yang Dong refused to show him respect, Tian Guanghan would have to bring him down.
If it meant falling out with Yin Tiejun, so be it; he had his own supporters.
He was certain that even if Yin Tiejun returned and resumed his former post, this incident had ruined his chances of becoming deputy mayor.
No matter what, being put under investigation—even if cleared—left a stain.
As long as Yin Tiejun couldn’t become deputy mayor, Tian Guanghan had little to worry about.
Therefore, Yang Dong had to be dealt with.
Did Yang Dong really think he could get away with relying on Yin Tiejun?
How laughable. How naive!
If he couldn’t manipulate Yin Tiejun, surely he could handle a mere junior clerk.
“Secretary-General, I don’t know much about Yang Dong. I only know he graduated from Jijiang University, and in his first year, topped both the written and interview sections of the municipal exam to join the General Affairs Section of the City Administration Office.”
“So? What do you want to know?”
Lin Yaodong was clever and immediately sensed that Tian Guanghan’s question carried a deeper meaning.
“Hmph, the weeds in the City Administration Office need to be cleared regularly, or the place loses its appeal.”
Tian Guanghan snorted coldly, his eyes glinting with a mocking smile.
His intentions were clear, though he hadn’t outright said he wanted to target Yang Dong.
Lin Yaodong’s eyes sparkled, and with a sly grin, he said, “Heh, Secretary-General, dealing with him is easy.”
“What do you have in mind?”
Tian Guanghan’s eyes brightened, and he asked immediately.
“Secretary-General, Yang Dong has a fatal flaw…”

Lin Yaodong’s laughter grew more sinister as he began to discuss matters with Tian Guanghan.
The two plotted against Yang Dong.
…
Inside the hospital ward.
“Team Leader, you’ve thoroughly offended Tian Guanghan. He won’t let you go easily.”
“He’s notorious for holding grudges.”
Jiang Hu spoke, frowning at Yang Dong.
He was straightforward, but not foolish.
He could deduce that Tian Guanghan, after failing to win Yang Dong’s favor, would definitely retaliate.
Of course, if even Jiang Hu could guess it, Yang Dong certainly could as well.
“I’ve endured twice already. As the saying goes, three times is the limit.”
“If he’s coming for me, I won’t let him have an easy time either.”
“It’s not time yet, though!”
“When striking a snake, aim for its vital spot—when I make a move, it must be fatal!”
“Wait a bit longer. The time isn’t ripe.”
Yang Dong squinted, smiling.
During his convalescence, he wasn’t just drinking bone broth; his mind had been working at full speed, analyzing the situation in Lingyun City from every angle.
After Yin Tiejun returned, the deputy mayor position was out of reach for now—future adjustments would have to wait.
But the secretary-general’s opportunity was still ahead. After the two sessions, there would be a new round of reshuffling from top to bottom, with officials reassigned—a major adjustment.
In fact, Guan Mushan, the city’s disciplinary committee secretary, was appointed during this very reshuffling at the two sessions.
He still remembered in his previous life, the municipal party secretary Wu Xinkai was transferred out of Lingyun City in early 2009 to serve as director of the provincial civil affairs department.
Though it seemed like a lateral move, there was an underlying sense of demotion.
Lingyun City ranked among the top four in Jijiang Province’s economy; previous party secretaries always advanced to the provincial party committee, usually as a mid-ranking member, or at worst, as a vice governor.
Only Wu Xinkai was the exception.
Xu Yuncai, the deputy secretary of the city’s disciplinary committee, and Wu Sancai, head of the committee’s cadre oversight office, were both his people.
In his previous life, Xu Yuncai was lucky enough to become a deputy mayor before Wu Xinkai lost influence.
But Zhu Yangming, the municipal secretary-general, didn’t have that luck.
Zhu Yangming, Wu Xinkai’s absolute confidant and the last-ranking member of the municipal party committee, would certainly be reassigned once Wu Xinkai was out of favor.
Once Mayor Hou Yong became party secretary, he would not retain Zhu Yangming.

Thus, Secretary Yin’s opportunity was clear.
As secretary-general of the city administration, it was only natural for him to be promoted to municipal secretary-general.
He would follow Mayor Hou—when Hou became party secretary, Yin Tiejun would become municipal secretary-general. Reasonable, right?
The municipal secretary-general was a party committee member, far superior to deputy mayors who weren’t committee members.
If Yin Tiejun could endure for another year, his chance would come.
And once Yin Tiejun’s opportunity arrived, Yang Dong’s own chance would follow.
Yin Tiejun wouldn’t treat him unfairly; whether he was transferred to the municipal office, assigned to a district or county, or made a top official in a town, it would all be at Yin Tiejun’s discretion.
As for how to deal with Tian Guanghan? Naturally, it should wait until Yin Tiejun became municipal secretary-general. For now, let him be.
After Yin Tiejun’s promotion, Tian Guanghan’s qualifications would make it hard not to appoint him as city administration secretary-general.
But Yang Dong couldn’t let him get his wish.
So, when Tian Guanghan believed he was about to become secretary-general and was preparing for promotion, wouldn’t it be best to strike him with a fatal blow?
Yang Dong knew all about Tian Guanghan’s misdeeds.
When to challenge him was entirely up to Yang Dong.
“Huzi, you work in the police system. Do you know of a director surnamed He?”
Yang Dong looked at Jiang Hu and asked.
He hadn’t forgotten the day of the car accident—he’d heard the name Director He with his own ears.
That truck driver probably wasn’t too bright, reporting loudly over the phone as if he wanted everyone to know who was behind it.
He’d inadvertently exposed the mastermind.
Director He was certainly one of the main culprits behind the accident.
“Director He? Surname He?”
Jiang Hu paused, then frowned in thought.
There were many people who could be called director—directors and deputy directors at city level, district level, and county level public security bureaus.
Altogether, there were at least a dozen eligible directors.
But in Jiang Hu’s memory, there seemed to be only one director surnamed He.
“I remember now. There’s a deputy director named He Wu at the Yunbei District Public Security Bureau.”
Jiang Hu recalled and immediately told Yang Dong.
Then, puzzled, he asked, “Team Leader, why are you asking about him?”