Chapter 88: Yin Tiejun’s Persuasion

"Yang Dong, wait for me!"

Yang Dong had just stepped out of Guan Mushan’s house, and before he could exit the gates of Huanhai Community, someone called out behind him.

He turned to see Yin Tiejun emerging from the stairwell, which took Yang Dong by surprise—why was the Secretary-General coming out?

Yin Tiejun strode quickly up to Yang Dong, pointing at him and scolding, “You rascal, your temper is far too big! Just leave without a word? Do you still want a future in politics?”

Yang Dong felt a warmth inside, realizing Yin Tiejun genuinely cared for him. It made his efforts for Yin feel worthwhile.

Yet, when it came to matters of principle and dignity, Yang Dong would never back down.

“Uncle Yin, please don’t blame me. I simply cannot apologize to Su Muyun.”

“Even if she’s the daughter of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection’s Secretary, my attitude remains unchanged.”

“Because I did nothing wrong!”

Yang Dong firmly believed he’d done nothing wrong. If he had to apologize simply because of someone’s status or power, he’d disgust himself.

If he bowed to the powerful from the beginning, could he ever truly hold to his principles? Yielding once to the influential would inevitably lead to yielding again.

So he would never open that door.

Seeing Yang Dong’s stubbornness, Yin Tiejun could only shake his head and sigh, “All right, what’s done is done. No use talking about it now.”

“Come, drive me back to the City Hospital.”

Yin Tiejun waved his hand and walked toward Yang Dong’s car.

“Uncle Yin, why did you come out so quickly?” Yang Dong opened the car door for him, puzzled.

“Why stay? Wait for Miss Muyun to throw a tantrum?” Yin Tiejun shot Yang Dong a glare and climbed into the car.

“Honestly, I didn’t want to come. If it weren’t for Miss Muyun’s visit, and the opportunity to recommend you, I wouldn’t have bothered.”

“Who’d have thought you and she would have such a conflict?”

“Tell me clearly, what exactly happened between you two?”

Yin Tiejun felt he needed to get to the bottom of it. If Yang Dong had offended Su Muyun, it wouldn’t necessarily ruin his career, but offending the daughter of an old superior could be troublesome.

If Su Muyun spoke ill of Yang Dong in her father’s ear, things could get difficult for him.

He had to clarify everything so he could honestly report to his old leader.

Yang Dong had taken the driver’s seat, steering the Commission for Discipline Inspection’s Jetta toward the City People’s Hospital.

During the drive, Yang Dong recounted the events between himself and Su Muyun.

It really wasn’t a big deal—they didn’t even know each other.

It was only because of Yin Tiejun’s affairs that things unfolded as they did.

He had been irked by Su Muyun’s lofty attitude, the way she looked down as if he were her servant.

That feeling made him uncomfortable.

He was, after all, running around for her father’s secretary, taking risks on his behalf.

Even if she, the secretary’s daughter, looked down on a small official like him, did it really require such disdain?

Such behavior chilled the heart.

Luckily, she met someone like him—if she’d met someone petty, they might have switched sides, causing trouble for her father, the Provincial Secretary.

“Ah, in the end, it’s all because of me,” Yin Tiejun sighed, finally understanding. The quarrel between Yang Dong and Su Muyun stemmed from his own affairs.

Yang Dong toiled for him, only to be treated by his old leader’s daughter as if she were above everyone else, as if facing a servant.

Anyone would find that uncomfortable.

If Yang Dong were a slick, bottom-line-free veteran of the bureaucracy, perhaps he would have swallowed his pride and apologized to Su Muyun.

But Yang Dong would never do that.

It was this very character that made Yin Tiejun appreciate him more and more.

In fact, when Wei Chonghu insisted Yang Dong apologize to Su Muyun earlier, Yin Tiejun disagreed inwardly.

So he kept silent, head lowered, unwilling to pressure Yang Dong.

He had tacitly approved Yang Dong’s actions.

Otherwise, he would have already scolded Yang Dong and forced him to apologize.

If he truly had, Yang Dong would have apologized to Su Muyun.

But the consequence would be the formal rupture of his relationship with Yin Tiejun.

“Xiao Dong, perhaps you’re misunderstanding Miss Muyun.”

“She’s not so aloof—it’s her childhood experiences that shaped her nature.”

“Since driving is dull, let me tell you about her.”

Yin Tiejun, seated in the back, spoke gently to Yang Dong at the wheel.

Yang Dong said nothing. Driving was boring anyway, so he listened.

He was curious about this privileged young lady—what kind of person was she?

“Muyun’s mother was my old leader’s second wife.”

“Before that, my old leader had a first wife, but she died young of tuberculosis. They had a son, barely a year old.”

“At that time, my old leader was at a critical point in his career, competing to become deputy county head, so he couldn’t personally handle the funeral. When he rushed home the next morning, his wife was already buried, and his son had been taken away by a distant uncle—his whereabouts unknown.”

“My old leader searched for years, but never found his son.”

“In 1983, he married a suitable woman—Miss Muyun’s mother.”

“But their marriage was political, ending in less than ten years.”

“From childhood, Miss Muyun lived with her mother, but later her mother remarried.”

“Miss Muyun was sent back to her father’s side, only nine years old at the time.”

From a young age, she endured her parents’ divorce and her mother’s remarriage, so it’s understandable she lacked a sense of security, closing herself off and growing increasingly cold.

Now you should be able to understand the environment she grew up in.

Yang Dong replied to Yin Tiejun, “Uncle Yin, Su Muyun’s upbringing and family background have nothing to do with me.”

“We live our own lives. Frankly, we’re not from the same world.”

“All I know is I’m the son of a farmer, and she’s the daughter of the powerful. It’s that simple.”

“Uncle Yin, you should rest early. I have to return to the Commission for Discipline Inspection to handle a case.”

Yang Dong parked outside the City People’s Hospital’s inpatient building.

Yin Tiejun nodded and got out, but didn’t leave immediately.

“Xiao Dong, don’t blame me for meddling. I think, no matter what, if you want to survive in the bureaucracy, you must learn to be smooth and worldly.”

“Keep a thick skin outwardly, hold your principles within.”

“Never expose your inner thoughts, or your opponents will use them against you.”

“All right, drive back slowly; it’s getting late.”

“The city will hold a standing committee meeting tomorrow. If nothing unexpected happens, I’ll return to city government.”

“Once you finish with the inspection team, I’ll try to pull you back and arrange for you to serve as the mayor’s secretary.”

Yin Tiejun’s words carried deep concern.

Yang Dong felt both moved and guilty—his conflict with Su Muyun would surely affect Yin Tiejun.

But Yin Tiejun didn’t blame him at all, nor did he mention any consequences.

He realized he was still immature and needed to keep learning.

Yin Tiejun was right: to survive in officialdom, maturity and worldly wisdom are essential.

Just as Yin Tiejun said—keep a thick skin outwardly, principles inside.

“Uncle Yin, sorry for troubling you.”

Yang Dong got out and bowed again to Yin Tiejun.

“You brat, get lost,” Yin Tiejun laughed, waving him away.

“All right, rest well. I’m off.”

Yang Dong hopped into the car, ready to leave.

Just as he settled back, his Commission for Discipline Inspection phone rang.

Yang Dong pressed the answer button.

“Team leader, we’re stuck on Gu Santong’s case. Jiang Hu and I have interrogated for over ten days, but we’ve gotten nowhere.”

Lu Yike’s voice came through the phone.