Chapter 48: No More Endurance!

After Yang Dong put down his phone, he turned to Jiang Hu and asked, “Huzi, do you know anyone at the Kaiyang County Public Security Bureau or the Xiaoshui Town Police Station?”

If he wanted to resolve this matter, he would inevitably have to rely on personal connections.

The assailants were nothing more than local thugs and idlers, but to track them down and bring them to justice, the help of the police was indispensable. Yang Dong was all too familiar with the attitude and efficiency of grassroots police stations. Without the right connections or background, it was nearly impossible to get them to act swiftly.

Even if the town police station agreed to file a case, they would likely drag their feet for ages, or perhaps just let the matter fade away. Where is justice? Justice lies with power. With power comes justice; without power, there is none. Perhaps this is too absolute, but there is some truth to it.

Jiang Hu understood Yang Dong’s meaning—this matter couldn’t be resolved without support from the police.

“There are two of my police academy classmates at the county bureau. Both work in the Criminal Investigation Division,” he replied. “When you get to the county bureau, go straight to them. I’ll give you their numbers.”

Jiang Hu recited their numbers, and Yang Dong saved them in his phone, thanking him.

“Team Leader, I’m sorry I can’t go with you this time,” Jiang Hu said apologetically. “Being part of the city’s discipline inspection investigation team really ties you down…”

He sighed and shook his head helplessly. If he weren’t bound by his current position, he would have accompanied Yang Dong and been a great help.

“It’s fine, I appreciate your support,” Yang Dong replied with a smile, clapping Jiang Hu on the shoulder.

A knock sounded at the door. Lu Yike appeared in the doorway.

“Team Leader, we can leave now,” she announced.

Lu Yike arrived so quickly—barely a few minutes after Yang Dong finished his report to Wei Chonghu.

“All right, sorry to trouble you, Comrade Yike,” Yang Dong said with an apologetic smile. After all, this was a personal matter. Even though she was accompanying him in an official capacity, it was still an imposition.

“It’s no trouble at all, Team Leader,” Lu Yike replied, smiling, taking it in stride.

Yang Dong went to the restroom, changed out of his hospital gown and into his own clothes, then followed Lu Yike out of the ward, leaving the city hospital behind.

It was his first breath of fresh air in ten days.

Early March had arrived. The weather was warming, and the chill of winter was fading.

Lu Yike drove, with Yang Dong in the passenger seat.

“Team Leader, don’t worry. What’s happened has happened. Now, we just need to resolve it,” she said, aiming to comfort him.

“Thank you, Yike. I’m not anxious now,” Yang Dong replied with a nod and a smile.

Since the incident had already occurred, anxiety was useless. The most important thing was to track down those responsible and bring the thugs to justice.

“Team Leader, your brother had his leg broken by local thugs. The root of this lies with you, doesn’t it?” Lu Yike asked, glancing at him as she drove.

With years of experience in the discipline inspection commission, she immediately sensed something was off. For a gang of thugs to wait outside a school to assault Yang Dong’s brother, breaking his leg—that was already a criminal offense of intentional injury. The nature of the case had changed. These streetwise thugs often knew the law better than anyone, so for them to act so boldly, someone must have been behind it.

“Yes, it’s aimed at me,” Yang Dong answered, his face grim.

His brother Yang Nan’s broken leg was a message: they were retaliating against him by going after his family. But to hurt his family was to cross a line he could not tolerate.

“Who did you offend? Xu Yuncai? Wu Jiancai? Who else?” Lu Yike pressed on, trying to help him analyze the situation.

Yang Dong gazed out the window, answering heavily, “It must be Tian Guanghan.”

He had previously suspected Xu Yuncai and Wu Jiancai. But Xu Yuncai wouldn’t be so foolish—he wouldn’t dare make a move now. Wu Jiancai’s manner would be much more straightforward; he’d come directly for Yang Dong himself. Only someone as insidious and cunning as Tian Guanghan would stoop to targeting a family member in reprisal.

After all, Yang Dong had rebuffed his overtures, and a petty man like Tian Guanghan would never let that go. Still, Yang Dong hadn’t expected Tian Guanghan to go so far as to harm his family.

He had not intended to deal with Tian Guanghan just yet, but now he had changed his mind. This fish would not be kept—he would gut it now.

“Comrade Yike, as a member of the discipline inspection commission, I have a question for you,” Yang Dong said gravely. “If I have evidence of a cadre’s illegal or disciplinary violations, can that case be incorporated into the city’s discipline inspection investigation team’s current work?”

The current investigation team’s cases were fixed, each team targeting two cadres, unlike the broad, sweeping inspection teams of the past. The inspection teams would conduct general inspections before accepting evidence from various sources, identifying problematic cadres, and then launching investigations. The current investigation teams, however, would only move forward once they had confirmed reports were substantiated—no prior inspection or analysis required.

So, if new evidence of violations came to light, could that case be merged into the city’s investigation team’s docket?

“Yes, if you have solid evidence, you may submit a formal report under your real name, and the city’s investigation team can open a case,” Lu Yike replied. “Who do you intend to report? What evidence do you have?”

Yang Dong’s eyes grew cold. “Deputy Secretary-General of the Municipal Government, Tian Guanghan.”

He had made up his mind; whether or not Tian Guanghan had actually ordered the attack on his brother, he would not let him off this time.

There are times when endless forbearance only emboldens your enemies, making them think you are easy prey. This time, Yang Dong would strike at Tian Guanghan first, to send a message to all who might cross him: he was not someone to be trifled with, and when pushed, he would push back hard.

“You’re not planning some kind of personal vendetta, are you? False accusations won’t do,” Lu Yike said in surprise, worried that vengeance was clouding Yang Dong’s judgment and that he might be framing Tian Guanghan.

“No, you should know me by now,” Yang Dong shook his head. “I have real evidence of his crimes. I wouldn’t lie, and I certainly wouldn’t frame him.”

In fact, in his past life, Tian Guanghan had been brought down by the provincial discipline commission in 2018, when much of his corruption came to light. That was when Yang Dong learned of his many illegal activities. Taking him down now was simply ten years ahead of schedule.

“If the evidence is solid, I’ll help you,” Lu Yike said after a long silence.

Two hours later, they arrived at the Kaiyang County Public Security Bureau, under the jurisdiction of Lingyun City.

There, Yang Dong met the two police academy classmates recommended by Jiang Hu: Yu Baijiang, deputy captain of the Criminal Investigation Division, and Song Yue, captain of the First Squad, Criminal Investigation Division.