Chapter 102: The Unveiling of Officialdom

It was already quite late, so Yang Dong decided not to disturb Yin Tiejun in his VIP hospital room. Having been busy all day, he was extremely exhausted. Upon returning to his own ward, he lay down and quickly fell asleep.

Early the next morning, just after seven o'clock, Yang Dong’s phone rang, waking him up.

“Hello? Yike?”

“Are you going to be discharged today? Okay, got it.”

Yawning, Yang Dong answered the call from Lu Yike, who told him to complete his discharge procedures today. It seemed that Su Tongzhou’s words last night were not just a joke—he truly wanted Yang Dong to be discharged. From now on, he couldn’t stay in the hospital and would have to live together with the members of the municipal disciplinary inspection team.

Yang Dong got up and washed his face with cold water to fully wake himself. He had only slept about five hours since returning at two in the morning.

After tidying up, Yang Dong found Xu Zhongmu, the director of the Municipal People’s Hospital, to handle the discharge formalities.

“Comrade Yang Dong, don’t worry, your discharge will be processed quickly,” Xu Zhongmu said kindly. He knew that Yin Tiejun cared deeply for Yang Dong and believed this young man was destined for great success. It was beneficial to gain his favor now.

“Thank you, Director Xu, for your help,” Yang Dong replied gratefully. Even such a small matter as discharge was met with genuine assistance from the director.

“Comrade Yang Dong, shall we visit Secretary Yin’s ward together?” Xu Zhongmu suggested. He had received insider information early this morning about the emergency meeting of the municipal party committee last night, where the matter of Yin Tiejun was discussed and a unanimous decision was made.

Yin Tiejun had been reinstated to his position and was once again the municipal government secretary-general. As the hospital director, Xu felt it necessary to show his support.

“Sure, Director Xu, let’s go,” Yang Dong agreed without hesitation, unaware of the developments at last night’s meeting.

When they arrived outside Yin Tiejun’s ward, they saw a dozen or so officials crowded in the corridor.

Yang Dong was surprised. Others might not know them, but he did. These officials were all Yin Tiejun’s trusted inner circle in Lingyun City over the years—cadres from the municipal government office, education bureau, finance bureau, statistics bureau, and so forth.

Why were they all here at once? Yang Dong quickly realized, glancing at the pleased expression on Xu Zhongmu’s face, and couldn’t help but smile inwardly. It seemed Uncle Yin was back on track and about to return to work at the municipal government, which explained why his loyalists had hurried over.

But one thing was enough to reveal much.

Shaking his head, Yang Dong approached the ward door, preparing to knock.

“Hey, where do you think you’re going? Don’t you know the rules?”

Before he could knock, an official behind him scolded sharply.

“Yes, young comrade, where do you think you’re going? Didn’t you see we’re all waiting quietly outside? How dare you knock and enter? Do you even know who’s inside?”

Several officials expressed their displeasure at Yang Dong’s actions, feeling it was disrespectful to Secretary Yin.

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“Isn’t that Yang Dong?”

Some recognized him but frowned and spoke harshly.

“If you’re not working at the municipal government, what are you doing here? Also here to pick up Secretary Yin?”

Yang Dong looked at the speaker and recognized him as Pei Jun, head of Section One of the municipal government office secretaries. Pei was also promoted by Yin Tiejun and used to be his top confidant. But now, the position of first loyalist belonged solely to Pei himself.

“Section Chief Pei, you weren’t at the municipal government when Tian Guanghan was placed under investigation, right?” Yang Dong smiled as he asked.

Without waiting for an answer, he knocked and pushed open the door to Yin Tiejun’s ward.

“Hey, you kid…” Pei Jun started to scold but stopped himself, worried about disturbing Secretary Yin.

“What does it mean that Tian Guanghan was placed under investigation?” Pei looked at the others with suspicion. He was indeed away on business that day and only knew that Deputy Secretary Tian Guanghan had been taken by the disciplinary inspection team, but he didn’t know the details.

Some officials seemed to understand but saw no need to explain to Pei.

Xu Zhongmu didn’t enter but stood quietly outside. Though he held the hospital director’s rank, higher than the officials in the corridor, he was no match for them politically—let alone compared to Yang Dong.

Inside the VIP ward, Yang Dong saw Yin Tiejun already up, looking radiant and full of spirit, eyes bright and sharp. His hair was neatly combed, and he wore a standard black jacket exuding the aura of a high-ranking cadre.

As the saying goes, clothes make the man. Seeing Yin Tiejun dressed like this caused a slight tension in Yang Dong’s heart. Would things still be the same as before? Could he still interact with Uncle Yin without barriers? Would Yin Tiejun change after his reinstatement?

Such a possibility certainly existed. After all, the ungrateful betrayal of those once helped was all too common.

“Xiaodong, what do you think? Isn’t your Uncle Yin handsome?” Yin Tiejun grinned proudly upon seeing Yang Dong.

Yang Dong, reassured by Yin’s warm treatment, relaxed completely. Maybe some would betray, but certainly not Yin Tiejun. He was still Uncle Yin, unchanged.

“Handsome, Uncle Yin. You probably weren’t even this handsome on your wedding day,” Yang Dong sincerely complimented.

Yin Tiejun was naturally good-looking, lean without a trace of excess fat. Though over forty, he maintained himself well except for some graying hair—a result of the intense interrogations he had endured recently from the municipal disciplinary commission.

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“Get lost! How old were you when I got married? And you dare to tease me?” Yin Tiejun glared at Yang Dong, but his face bore no anger, only joy.

This morning, he had received a phone call from Mayor Hou Yong himself, informing him he would return to work at the municipal government today. The excitement was beyond words.

If he had aspired to be vice mayor after serving several years as secretary-general, now regaining this position felt like reclaiming a lost treasure. He wouldn’t tire of serving as municipal government secretary-general for another year or two.

Few could understand this feeling. After being placed under investigation by the disciplinary commission, it was almost impossible to be reinstated. Yet Yin Tiejun had achieved it.

No—Yang Dong had achieved it.

This young man, risking everything, even using a staged car accident as bait, had safely delivered the nanny to the disciplinary commission. Without all this, Yin Tiejun would never have been reinstated.

Though Yin Tiejun never voiced his gratitude repeatedly, he kept it deeply in his heart and would never mistreat Yang Dong.

“Xiaodong, why is it so noisy outside?” Yin frowned, glancing toward the door.

At first, he thought it was patients making noise, but it persisted and was clearly right outside his room.

“Uncle Yin, it’s Section Chief Pei and the others—they’re all here,” Yang reported plainly.

“Pei Jun and the others? Hmph!” Yin Tiejun’s expression immediately darkened. The joy of reinstatement dissipated.

He had sincerely and wholeheartedly promoted those people, but when danger came, each of them became a coward, none willing to stand up for him.

“Uncle Yin, you can’t really blame Section Chief Pei and the others. They’re surely under technical surveillance by Xu Yuncai—every move monitored,” Yang explained.

“Even if they wanted to help, they might be powerless.”

Yang spoke on their behalf—not out of vanity, but because Yin needed people. Using people inevitably meant some had to take the risks. For the sake of the larger team, Yin couldn’t afford to let a rift show on the surface between him and these people. Maintaining appearances was also beneficial to Yang Dong’s future work.

“You little rascal, now you’re trying to advise me? I’ve eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice,” Yin Tiejun chuckled.

He knew these truths well. There was no turning back now; it was enough to keep them in mind.

In the world of politics, nothing ever goes entirely according to one’s wishes.

“Come on, let’s go out!” Yin Tiejun composed himself and stood.

Today marked the official comeback of the municipal government secretary-general.