Chapter 79: Yang Dong Emerges

Outside the door of the Second Prosecutorial Office at the City Procuratorate.

“Oh dear, I’m truly sorry, Comrade Yang Dong. You’ve been through a lot.”

“Let me introduce myself. I’m Xu Tao, the head of the General Affairs Division at the City Procuratorate.”

Xu Tao wore an apologetic smile as he proactively reached out to shake Yang Dong’s hand.

At this moment, Yang Dong was in a poor mental state, having been ‘tormented’ in every possible way by Che Jinpeng. But thankfully, it was all over now. When Xu Tao led him out, Yang Dong knew that Secretary Guan had won, and Mayor Hou had prevailed. As for Tian Guanghan, what his situation was or whether he had confessed honestly, Yang Dong had no way of knowing. He’d been confined at the City Procuratorate these past few days, completely shut off from the outside world.

“Hello, Director Xu,” Yang Dong greeted, forcing a faint smile, too drained to make much small talk.

Xu Tao understood Yang Dong’s condition very well. In fact, if it had been him subjected to such treatment, he would have broken down long ago. Yet Yang Dong had endured over three days without breaking, and Xu Tao admired him for it.

“Chief Prosecutor Qi did everything he could, Comrade Yang Dong,” Xu Tao suddenly leaned in and whispered in Yang Dong’s ear, before straightening up and laughing loudly, “If you ever get the chance to transfer to the City Procuratorate, we’ll be colleagues.”

“I’ve arranged a car to take you home. Go back and get some good sleep,” Xu Tao said as he led Yang Dong out of the building.

Outside, Yang Dong gazed at the bright sunshine, the blue sky, and white clouds; it seemed even the temperature had risen a few degrees. Spring had fully arrived, and the days ahead would only grow warmer.

“Comrade Yang Dong, please get in,” Xu Tao beckoned, as a City Procuratorate vehicle pulled up. He personally opened the door, inviting Yang Dong to enter.

“Thank you, Director Xu,” Yang Dong said, shaking Xu Tao’s hand once more before getting in.

“Let’s go out for a drink sometime!” Xu Tao nodded cheerfully, waving as he watched Yang Dong close the door and the car slowly drive away.

As Xu Tao’s smile faded, he took out his phone and dialed the private number of Qi Dongqiang, the Executive Deputy Chief Prosecutor.

“Chief Qi, he’s been sent back.”

“His spirits are low, but he didn’t say anything as he left.”

“Alright, understood, Chief Qi.”

After hanging up, Xu Tao turned and headed back into the Procuratorate building.

Seated in the car, Yang Dong relished the feeling of freedom. Yet his mind kept circling back to Xu Tao’s whispered hint—Chief Prosecutor Qi did everything he could. What exactly did that mean? He didn’t even know Chief Prosecutor Qi personally.

Of course, he knew who Chief Prosecutor Qi was. In his previous life, he had an impression of Qi Dongqiang from the City Procuratorate—a man who’d risen from office director to Executive Deputy Chief Prosecutor, and three years later, became Chief Prosecutor of Lingyun City. A future whose official career would remain steady at the deputy department level until retirement.

So Xu Tao, the head of the General Affairs Division—he must be one of Qi Dongqiang’s people.

“Comrade, take me to the City People's Hospital,” Yang Dong gathered his thoughts and addressed the driver.

“Of course!”

Twenty minutes later, the car pulled up to the City People’s Hospital, and Yang Dong made his way toward the inpatient wing.

On the floor reserved for the high-level wards, Yang Dong stopped outside the room where Yin Tiejun was staying. Two supervisors from the City Discipline Inspection Commission sat outside, but they were as lifeless as wooden figures, making no effort to interfere. Clearly, someone had given them special instructions.

Yang Dong knocked on the door.

“Come in!” came Yin Tiejun’s voice from within.

Yang Dong pushed the door open and entered.

Yin Tiejun lay on the white-sheeted bed, watching the news channel, reviewing coverage of the Two Sessions. As a city government leader, he had to keep up with current affairs; falling behind was not an option.

On the screen, the vote count was being replayed—a moment of high drama.

“Uncle Yin, I’m out now,” Yang Dong announced, interrupting Yin Tiejun’s concentration.

At first, Yin Tiejun frowned at the knock, as he disliked being disturbed while watching the news—a bad habit developed over years in office. But when he saw it was Yang Dong, all displeasure vanished, replaced by relief and ease.

“Sit down. Don’t talk yet, let me finish the news,” Yin Tiejun waved Yang Dong to a chair and focused again on the TV.

“Uncle Yin, the Two Sessions sent a signal,” Yang Dong said as he sat, unable to stay silent.

“What signal?” Yin Tiejun replied absently, eyes still on the news.

“The Buddha said, ‘I cannot say, I cannot say,’” Yang Dong answered with a mysterious smile.

Yin Tiejun didn’t press further. The two understood each other well enough.

The people’s longing for a better life would be the country’s goal in the years ahead. For officials like Yin Tiejun, at the director level, it was time to start planning ahead. For Yang Dong, a minor staffer, it was not yet his place to scheme for the future; he just needed to keep close to Yin Tiejun.

“How did the City Procuratorate question you?” Yin Tiejun asked, switching off the TV after the news and turning to Yang Dong.

Yang Dong did not hide anything, recounting his entire experience at the Procuratorate, including how Che Jinpeng claimed to have a real-name report accusing him of accepting thirty thousand yuan in bribes from a staffer at the City Civilization Center.

“They actually used that incident?” Yin Tiejun frowned. He knew about it, of course; when Yang Dong had been promoted to head of the Document Office in the General Affairs Division, his counterpart was the City Civilization Center. He’d given Yang Dong full authority to handle their application for cultural supplies—little did he expect that incident would become the point of attack against Yang Dong.

“Uncle Yin, maybe… they really couldn’t find anything else,” Yang Dong said with a bitter smile. If he’d had greater power, they would never have resorted to such a laughable excuse.

Perhaps after investigating, they found he was just a minor staffer, with nothing noteworthy except his small leadership role.

“Haha, boy, what’s this? Thinking of becoming an official?” Yin Tiejun couldn’t help but laugh at Yang Dong’s grumbling.

“Who doesn’t want to be one?” Yang Dong admitted, unashamed of the teasing. If you can’t even voice your own ambitions, how can you expect your leaders to promote you?

Yin Tiejun was pleased by Yang Dong’s directness, but he said nothing more.

“Uncle Yin, Chief Prosecutor Qi sent someone to apologize to me. Do you know him?” Yang Dong changed the subject, mentioning Qi Dongqiang.

Yin Tiejun chuckled, “Looks like old Qi is having a hard time at the Procuratorate. This is his way of apologizing to me through you. But that he could protect you to this extent is already a great effort—I owe him a favor.”

As the number two at the City Procuratorate, Qi Dongqiang withstood pressure from above to shield Yang Dong from investigation, keeping Che Jinpeng at bay for two full days—no small feat.

“Uncle Yin, that’s a favor I owe, too,” Yang Dong said, recognizing Qi Dongqiang had protected him.

“A favor you owe? Do you know him?” Yin Tiejun glanced at Yang Dong, amused.

“No, I don’t,” Yang Dong shook his head. He had no qualification to know a deputy department-level official like the Executive Deputy Chief Prosecutor.

“He did it for my sake, not yours. What does it have to do with you?” Yin Tiejun wasn’t mocking, just stating the truth.

“What you need to do now is get some real sleep and restore your energy. The tough fight is still ahead,” Yin Tiejun’s expression grew grave.

A tough fight ahead?

Yang Dong’s eyes narrowed as he instantly understood what Yin Tiejun meant.

Indeed, the real battle was yet to come. Having suffered such a loss, their adversaries would surely strike back ferociously, especially concerning Tian Guanghan. As someone reborn, Yang Dong knew exactly what those people feared: that Tian Guanghan, once broken, would confess everything. And what he confessed—would be fatal.

“But a tough fight is nothing to fear. It’s the back-and-forth that makes it interesting, isn’t it?” Yang Dong smiled, brimming with confidence.

Yin Tiejun glanced at him. He had no idea where Yang Dong’s confidence came from, but it put him at ease.

“Once this matter is settled, your promotion to deputy division chief should be on the agenda!”