Chapter 41: A Higher Level of Struggle

After hearing the mayor’s words, Guan Mushan couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. It seemed he had underestimated Yang Dong after all. He had thought that if he personally made the request to the mayor, there would be no reason for refusal. Yet, to his surprise, he was turned down. Since this path was blocked, he saw no need to persist. In the end, it was just a minor official.

“Mayor, our city’s Discipline Inspection Commission has already concluded its investigation into the case of Yin Tiejun. I believe Comrade Yin Tiejun will be released very soon,” he said. “At the same time, our commission will make a special effort to restore Comrade Yin Tiejun’s reputation, so he doesn’t have to endure the harm of baseless rumors.”

Guan Mushan didn’t need to ask what Hou Yong’s call was about. At this level, only something as important as Yin Tiejun could prompt Hou Yong to make a personal call. As the municipal secretary-general, Yin Tiejun was Hou Yong’s right-hand man, perhaps even his most trusted confidant. Who else could it be about? Even if he asked about the car accident, the real concern was still Yin Tiejun.

Hou Yong’s call was clear in its message: since Yin Tiejun was found innocent, the Discipline Inspection Commission should release him, and soon. Guan Mushan understood this perfectly well. Only one step remained, so he asked, “Mayor, considering the impact of the Yin Tiejun case, shouldn’t it be brought before the Standing Committee for discussion?”

“Yes, it should be discussed. The case has had a significant impact. Bringing it to the Committee will better help restore Comrade Yin Tiejun’s good name. Our city government has nothing to hide and isn’t afraid of scrutiny. Let’s do it,” Hou Yong replied. “When the time comes, as secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, you should take the lead in restoring Comrade Yin Tiejun’s reputation.”

The meaning was unmistakable. Hou Yong was both drawing Guan Mushan in and testing him: as the new secretary, where would his loyalties lie?

“Rest assured, Mayor. As secretary, I will abide by the findings of the investigation,” Guan Mushan replied with a genial smile, giving Hou Yong an answer that was neither a commitment nor a rejection.

With little more to say, the mayor ended the conversation by inviting him for tea sometime and hung up. Guan Mushan put down the receiver and sat back. How could he not sense the mayor’s overtures and probing? But as the newly arrived secretary, he hadn’t yet fully understood the dynamics of Lingyun City. He couldn’t take a stand too soon; it would make him seem overeager, lowering his own status unnecessarily.

No matter what, he was the secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission—the fourth-ranking official in Lingyun City. The commission was relatively independent, so he had every right to remain neutral for now. He wanted to see what kind of offer Hou Yong would make; he was waiting to see his worth. And he was sure the mayor understood his thinking—there was a silent mutual understanding.

Hou Yong never expected a single phone call would be enough to win him over. Otherwise, what would that say about the secretary’s integrity?

“Old Wei, go and report to the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission,” Guan Mushan instructed after considering his next move. Wei Chonghu was the first deputy secretary and handled daily affairs; it was reasonable for him to make the report. Besides, they were both old hands—who made the report hardly mattered.

Wei Chonghu was momentarily taken aback. “And you, Secretary?” he asked, not understanding Guan Mushan’s intent.

“I need to report to the Party Secretary,” Guan Mushan replied gravely. “We’ll proceed on two fronts and avoid any mistakes.”

Wei Chonghu nodded and left the office with Su Tongzhou and Liu Shan. Once outside, Su Tongzhou couldn’t help but ask, “Secretary, what’s Secretary Guan’s plan?”

He felt like he hadn’t understood a thing. After he and Liu Shan made their report, what were they supposed to do about the car accident? How were they to explain things to Comrade Yang Dong? Should they respond to the other side’s blatant disregard for the rules?

Wei Chonghu smiled at his trusted aide, unable to suppress a chuckle. “Do nothing. Just watch and wait,” he said. “Old Su, this is no longer within our power to decide. Didn’t you see the mayor himself getting involved? Do you know what that means?”

Liu Shan tugged at Su Tongzhou’s sleeve, whispering a reminder. Su wasn’t slow on the uptake—he realized immediately. This was no longer their battlefield; it had moved to a much higher level. Only someone like Wei Chonghu—or even Guan Mushan—was qualified to step onto that stage.

Time slipped by, and evening soon arrived.

Jiang Hu and Guan Jiujin were still waiting at the hospital entrance. When their legs tired, they would sit for a bit, then stand again. Both were growing anxious as Yang Dong had yet to regain consciousness.

“Hey, what if he ends up in a vegetative state?” Jiang Hu sighed, his face troubled. It was only the second thing he had said all night.

“Nonsense, don’t jinx it! Watch your mouth,” Guan Jiujin snapped, glaring at him after spitting out her words in quick succession.

Jiang Hu gave an embarrassed smile, hastily explaining, “I used to have a colleague in the criminal police who ended up in a coma after a car accident on duty.”

He’d originally started in the criminal police, not economic crime. His build and stature made that obvious. But he’d been too headstrong, always clashing with his superiors and meddling in injustices. The leadership finally had enough and, after getting approval, transferred him to the economic crime unit.

But the economic crime team found him just as troublesome and were already planning to send him back—until the city’s Discipline Inspection Commission requisitioned him. The department heads were overjoyed, applauding as they sent him off, hoping he’d never return. Given his background and stubbornness, he was best sent away—no one wanted to offend him.

“That was your colleague, not Yang Dong. Yang Dong’s luck will see him through—he’ll be fine,” Guan Jiujin retorted, growing more uncomfortable by the second, eyes fixed anxiously on Yang Dong’s hospital room.

Suddenly, her face lit up. “Look, he’s awake!”

Sure enough, Yang Dong’s eyes were open, and he was turning his head.

Her exclamation immediately brought a stern reminder from the ICU nurse. “Guan Jiujin, you’re a nurse yourself—don’t you know hospitals require quiet? Especially in the ICU! Please cooperate with us.”

Guan Jiujin quickly apologized, her excitement making her forget the hospital rules.

“The patient is awake. Let’s check on him,” a few ICU nurses said as they went in.

Yang Dong, upon opening his eyes, found himself surrounded by emergency medical equipment—he could tell he was in the ICU, with a ventilator, a defibrillator, and oxygen equipment nearby. He turned his head; there was no pain, but he realized he couldn’t move anything below his shoulders.

A wave of panic swept over him—was he paralyzed from the neck down? Please, no. He’d taken such a risk to secure a brighter future in his career. If he was paralyzed, all his efforts would be for nothing.

“Do you feel any discomfort?” asked a nurse.

“I think I might be paralyzed from the neck down…” Yang Dong’s face was pale.

The nurse was startled. “What happened?”

“I can’t move my shoulders or arms…” he replied bitterly.

At this, several nurses burst out laughing, covering their mouths.

“Why are you laughing?” Yang Dong felt bewildered. Wasn’t this serious?

One nurse pointed to the triangular bandages and plaster casts binding his arms. “Look for yourself!”

Yang Dong glanced down, his face flushing with embarrassment. In his anxiety at waking up in the ICU, he hadn’t noticed his arms were immobilized and in casts.

“Blood pressure normal!”

“Heart rate normal!”

“He can be transferred to a regular ward for observation.”

After a quick check, the nurses moved Yang Dong to a regular ward.

No sooner had he lain down than Guan Jiujin and Jiang Hu burst in.

“How are you feeling, Yang Dong?” Guan Jiujin asked anxiously, her eyes rimmed red.

Jiang Hu stood behind, scratching his head, his face strained as if he desperately wanted to say something but held back. What he really wanted to ask was, “How come you didn’t end up in a coma?”