Chapter 71: Choosing Sides

“It’s already the 18th. It seems the Standing Committee in Lingyun City will soon convene,” Yin Tiejun remarked, glancing at the calendar with a complicated expression.

It had been two days since the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection interrogated Tian Guanghan and the Municipal Procuratorate questioned Yang Dong. During these two days, the Procuratorate had fallen completely silent; since Che Jinping’s initial questioning of Yang Dong, they had shown no further movement. Coincidentally, the Commission for Discipline Inspection had also not continued their interrogation of Tian Guanghan. Both departments had, with remarkable tacit agreement, chosen to pause their actions.

But their withdrawal didn’t mean the waters were calm. On the contrary, it signaled that a higher-level clash was imminent. The Commission’s interrogation of Tian Guanghan and the Procuratorate’s questioning of Yang Dong were merely appetizers—preliminary probes to test the other side’s boundaries.

“How are you feeling today, Secretary Yin? Any discomfort in your stomach?” At that moment, Xu Zhongmu, president of the Municipal People’s Hospital, entered with several doctors in tow. As usual, he led the daily ward rounds personally each morning—but only for the VIP wards; the regular ones were left to the department chiefs.

“Thank you, Comrade Zhongmu. I’m fully recovered—no problems at all,” Yin Tiejun replied, pulling himself from his thoughts and greeting Xu Zhongmu with a smile.

Xu Zhongmu breathed a sigh of relief. As long as nothing happened to Yin Tiejun, the hospital would be off the hook. After all, Feng Ling had previously refused to treat Yin Tiejun, which had certainly offended him. If anything had gone wrong due to that refusal, the hospital would have borne full responsibility—and as president, Xu Zhongmu would be the first to answer for it. Fortunately, he had acted decisively at the time, suspending Feng Ling and giving Yin Tiejun a satisfactory explanation.

“So, Secretary Yin, do you think you’re ready for discharge?” Xu Zhongmu asked tentatively.

Yin Tiejun chuckled at this, teasing, “What’s this, Director Xu? Are you trying to hurry me out the door? Worried I won’t pay my bills?”

Xu Zhongmu quickly waved his hands in protest, “No, no, Secretary Yin, you’re overthinking it.”

“Don’t worry, if all goes well, I’ll be discharged tomorrow,” Yin Tiejun reassured him, understanding the real meaning behind Xu Zhongmu’s question. He wasn’t merely asking when he would leave the hospital, but when he would return to the municipal government and resume his post as Secretary-General.

Yin Tiejun’s response was clear enough. But why was Xu Zhongmu so intent on knowing? The answer lay in yesterday’s events.

Last evening, as Xu Zhongmu was about to drive home from work, he received a call from Lin Liangming, head of the Cadre Division One in the Municipal Organization Department. After a few pleasantries, Lin said, “It’s been a long time since we got together, Director Xu. We should catch up.”

Xu Zhongmu’s first impulse was to refuse, but before he could, Lin continued with a laugh, “Secretary-General Tang from the Party Committee will be there too. Surely you won’t be harder to invite than Secretary-General Tang?”

Xu Zhongmu realized he couldn’t decline—Lin had brought up Tang Jianye, the Executive Deputy Secretary-General of the Municipal Party Committee. Refusing would be a grave insult, offending not just Lin but Tang as well—never a wise move.

“All right, Director Lin, you name the place—I’ll be there,” he replied, gripping his phone tightly.

“Haha, I knew you were a straightforward man, Director Xu. Come to Room 201, second floor, Lucky Banquet House.”

After receiving the address, Xu Zhongmu drove straight to Lucky Banquet House in Yunbei District. It wasn’t a particularly famous restaurant, but the owner had some connections, so its clientele was always wealthy or powerful.

Arriving at Room 201 on the second floor, Xu Zhongmu was greeted at the door by Lin Yaodong.

“Director Xu, please come in!” Lin Yaodong ushered him in warmly, with no trace of the awkwardness from their earlier phone call.

Xu Zhongmu praised the young man, saying he was sure to have a bright future, his words deliberately spoken within earshot of the others in the room. Lin Liangming, hearing his son praised, stood up with a broad smile.

Everyone was playing their roles; it was just a matter of whose performance was better.

“My, Director Xu, you’re not easy to invite!” Lin Liangming said with a genial grin, inviting Xu to sit.

“Oh, don’t mention it. The hospital is just too busy. You know how hard it is to manage doctor-patient relations,” Xu Zhongmu replied, waving his hand with a look of feigned vexation.

Once seated, the conversation quickly became lively. After a while, Lin Yaodong’s voice came from outside: “Secretary-General Tang!”

Both Lin Liangming and Xu Zhongmu stood up at once to welcome Tang Jianye.

“Secretary-General Tang, welcome!” Lin Liangming greeted him, his tone tinged with deference.

As Executive Deputy Secretary-General of the Municipal Party Committee, Tang Jianye, with his full chief-level rank, commanded such respect.

“No need for formalities, Director Lin. We’re all among friends,” Tang Jianye replied. In his fifties, portly and seemingly harmless, he wore a luxurious gray cotton shirt that day.

“Oh, isn’t this Director Xu?” Tang Jianye feigned surprise upon seeing Xu Zhongmu.

Xu Zhongmu inwardly scoffed. As if you didn’t know I’d be here. You’re here to back the Lin family, aren’t you?

He kept his thoughts to himself, quickly stepping forward with a smile. “Secretary-General Tang, good to see you.”

After the courteous greetings, everyone returned to the private room, where the conversation, lubricated by wine, ranged from women to family, from family to young married women, and eventually to municipal affairs.

A few cups of baijiu later, Lin Liangming, emboldened by the liquor, suddenly brought up his son. “Yaodong, how are things going with Wenwen?”

The question cast a brief hush over the room.

Lin Yaodong, holding his glass, answered gloomily, “Aunt Feng Ling, Wenwen’s mother, got into some trouble at the hospital recently, so things have cooled off between me and Han Wen.”

“But don’t worry, Dad. You’ll be a grandfather one day,” he added with a laugh, draining his glass.

Tang Jianye pretended surprise, “Oh? Your girlfriend’s mother is a doctor? Which hospital?”

“Uncle Tang, she works at the Municipal People’s Hospital, chief physician in the gastroenterology department,” Lin Yaodong replied quickly.

Tang Jianye glanced at Xu Zhongmu with a smile. “Well, isn’t that something? Your future mother-in-law works under Director Xu.”

“Come on, let’s drink. Tonight, we drink till we drop!” Lin Liangming raised his glass to Deputy Secretary-General Tang and gestured to Xu Zhongmu.

It was a thoroughly uncomfortable evening for Xu Zhongmu, yet he had no choice but to keep smiling throughout, not daring to show the slightest displeasure. Two hours later, the banquet finally ended.

Throughout, Lin Liangming and his son never mentioned anything specific, never asked for any favors. Yet the pressure on Xu Zhongmu was immense—because of that one line from Tang Jianye: “Isn’t that something? Your future mother-in-law works under Director Xu.”

What was so coincidental about it? Why did it matter? Xu Zhongmu was left to ponder on his own. Whether to act, and how to act—Tang Jianye made it clear he wouldn’t get involved. But Xu Zhongmu had to understand the nature of this gathering. For Tang Jianye to show his face in person—would Xu Zhongmu honor that or not?

It had been weighing on Xu Zhongmu’s mind ever since.

That was why he’d asked Yin Tiejun just now when he would be discharged, when he would return to the municipal government and resume his post as Secretary-General. Only with a clear answer could Xu Zhongmu decide what to do.

Taking sides—ah, it’s never as simple as it seems.