Chapter 45: Mastering Hou Shuangquan

“The one behind the car accident, the mastermind, is this Director He!”
Yang Dong did not hide the truth from Jiang Hu, but spoke to him honestly.
Jiang Hu was utterly shocked when he heard this, and then his face burned with fury.
“Chief, since you know, what are we waiting for? Let’s go report to the two deputy chiefs and let them stand up for you!”
He spoke in a fit of anger, grabbing Yang Dong’s arm and attempting to drag him out.
“Ow… Huzi, that hurts, it hurts…”
Yang Dong felt a sharp pain in his arm, fearing his fractured bone was about to be injured again.
Jiang Hu immediately realized his mistake, quickly letting go of Yang Dong’s wrist and apologizing awkwardly, “Chief, I—I didn’t mean it, I…”
“It’s fine, it’s fine.”
Yang Dong massaged his wrist, relieved that it wasn’t serious.
Luckily he’d had ten days to recover—if this had happened on the first day after the accident, a fracture would have turned into a full break.
“If you go running to the leadership now, do you think they’ll believe you?”
“Even if they do, where’s the evidence? Am I to rely on nothing but my own word?”
Yang Dong looked at Jiang Hu and shook his head.
Unless someone had been caught red-handed, there was no way to pin anything on He Wu.
How could a mere accusation prompt an investigation into a deputy director at the Yunbei District Police Bureau? Impossible.
“But to know the other side is plotting against us and to be unable to act—how infuriating.”
Jiang Hu felt stifled; always on the defensive, when would they ever hold their heads high and utterly defeat their adversaries?
He knew, of course, that he and Yang Dong were too low-ranking, lacking the power to strike back.
That was the reality.
“Don’t worry, we’ll get our chance.”
Yang Dong smiled; in fact, He Wu would not escape, and he already had a plan to deal with him.
He would not even need to act himself—someone else would do it for him.
But who would that someone else be?
“Is Shuangquan also in the hospital?”
Yang Dong changed the subject, asking about Hou Shuangquan.
“He is—he’s just down the hall in room 308.”
Jiang Hu was momentarily surprised, but answered.
He didn’t understand why Yang Dong was suddenly asking about Hou Shuangquan—one moment they were talking about He Wu, and the next it was Hou Shuangquan.
He could never keep up with Yang Dong’s train of thought…
“I’ll go see him.”
Yang Dong stood up and headed out.
He had not left his own ward in days.
Stepping outside now, he noticed for the first time that a member of the city’s discipline inspection commission was sitting on the bench outside his room.
The face was unfamiliar. Yang Dong didn’t recognize him and was puzzled.

“Chief, that man is here to monitor you and Hou Shuangquan, to prevent you from contacting outsiders.”
Jiang Hu whispered an explanation.
Yang Dong immediately understood—they were afraid he and Hou Shuangquan might leak information.
After all, both were members of the city’s discipline inspection investigation team and held materials and evidence on corrupt officials.
If news got out, those named might flee or destroy evidence, rendering the investigation meaningless.
Deputy Chief Su Tongzhou had emphasized this at the investigation team’s inaugural meeting.
He had required that no member leave without permission, and that all assignments be done in pairs for mutual supervision.
Finally, they had all signed confidentiality agreements—any leaks before the investigation concluded would be severely punished according to party and national law.
“Comrade, may I visit my team member Hou Shuangquan?”
Yang Dong glanced at the monitor sent by the commission and asked.
The man looked up at Yang Dong, then nodded, “Internal personnel may visit each other.”
“Thank you.”
Yang Dong nodded his thanks and pushed open the door to room 308.
Jiang Hu did not follow him in, but waited at the door.
He simply had no fondness for Hou Shuangquan and did not wish to see him.
His likes and dislikes were always plain to see.
Yang Dong entered the room to see Hou Shuangquan, both legs and his head wrapped in bandages, looking like a mummy as he lay in bed watching television.
On the screen was last year’s hit drama “Soldier Assault.”
Hou Shuangquan had not noticed his arrival; he stared absently at the television, clearly lost in thought.
It was not until Yang Dong sat down that the sound caught Hou Shuangquan’s attention and he turned, startled.
Seeing Yang Dong sitting silently beside him, he gave a violent shudder and his face changed color.
“Ch-chief…”
He immediately sat up, looking at Yang Dong in panic—so unlike his usual self.
“Looks like your injuries are even worse than mine.”
Yang Dong smiled at Hou Shuangquan’s appearance—both legs bandaged, one arm in plaster, his head wrapped.
He really did resemble a mummy.
“Chief, please don’t make fun of me.” Hou Shuangquan forced a bitter smile.
The familiar Buddha-like grin had vanished.
“No, what I mean is—since when do undercover agents end up this badly hurt? What were you after?”
Yang Dong shook his head with a smile, then sighed.

As Xu Yuncai’s undercover agent, Hou Shuangquan had ended up in a worse state than himself.
What was it all for?
For excitement?
Hou Shuangquan’s hair stood on end at Yang Dong’s words, and he looked at him in shock.
As he thought—Yang Dong had guessed it…
“I knew I couldn’t hide it from you.”
“You’re very clever.”
Hou Shuangquan let out a bitter laugh, letting go of all his burdens.
There was no more point in being anxious.
The most frightening thing is not the verdict, but the wait for judgment.
Now that his cover was blown, it was over.
He resigned himself to reality.
“It’s not that I’m clever, but that you’re too foolish.”
“Why did I bring you to find the nanny? Did you really not guess?”
Yang Dong shook his head and sighed at Hou Shuangquan’s foolishness.
“So you knew all along?”
Hou Shuangquan’s eyes widened in astonishment.
He had thought Yang Dong only realized he was undercover after the accident.
But from Yang Dong’s tone, it seemed he had always known.
“Remember when we were on our way to find the nanny, and I stopped to relieve myself?”
The corners of Yang Dong’s mouth lifted as he looked at Hou Shuangquan.
Hou Shuangquan paused, then recalled that it had indeed happened.
At the time, he hadn’t suspected a thing.
So…
“You did it on purpose? You knew I was undercover, so you deliberately gave me time and space to send out a message?”
Hou Shuangquan looked at Yang Dong as if he had seen a ghost, terrified.
So from the very beginning, Yang Dong had had his eye on him…
“That’s right. I did it on purpose.”
“I just wanted to see if you’d pass a message to your handler.”
“Unfortunately, Shuangquan, you failed my test.”
“To dare transmit a message right under my nose—ah.”
Yang Dong looked at Hou Shuangquan with deep sorrow and shook his head.
Shame and anger appeared instantly on Hou Shuangquan’s face.