Chapter 65: Things Are Not That Simple!

“So it was Lin Yaodong’s idea to have your brother’s legs broken?”

After leaving the city government building and shoving Tian Guanghan into the Commission for Discipline Inspection’s car, Jiang Hu couldn’t help but turn to Yang Dong, his expression dark. He had assumed the whole affair was orchestrated entirely by Tian Guanghan and his son. Only after hearing Tian Guanghan’s revelations did he realize that Lin Yaodong was, in fact, the mastermind behind the act of vengeance.

Jiang Hu was well aware of who Lin Yaodong was; after all, Lin’s father was the chief of the first division in the municipal Organization Department. He simply hadn’t expected Lin Yaodong to be so devious, to scheme from behind Tian Guanghan’s back.

“Yes, I never would have imagined it would be Lin Yaodong either,” Yang Dong sighed, lamenting his old rival, who seemed determined to seek trouble. Had Lin not gone looking for death, he would not have met it so soon.

Originally, Yang Dong had planned to bide his time, resolve the matter with Secretary Yin, strive for his own promotion to deputy division head, then systematically take down Lin Yaodong, and finally Tian Guanghan. He hadn’t foreseen that his two greatest enemies from his previous life, the ones who had harmed him most, would so quickly join forces and strike at him with such urgency.

But since they had delivered their heads to his doorstep, wouldn’t it be a shame not to take advantage of their eagerness?

“Get in the car. Let’s deliver him safely to the Commission’s secret guesthouse first,” Yang Dong ordered, gesturing to Jiang Hu before pulling open the passenger door and getting in.

Jiang Hu opened the rear door and sat with Tian Guanghan, determined to keep an eye on him and prevent any attempt at self-harm. Jiang Hu sat on Tian Guanghan’s left, while Hou Donglai took the right. Lu Yike had gone to the following vehicle, riding with Deputy Team Leader Su Tongzhou of the Commission.

From beginning to end, Su Tongzhou had kept himself out of sight—even when Wei Chonghu announced he would lead the team to make the arrest, Su remained hidden. Yang Dong knew better than to think Su was being generous in giving him the chance to “avenge himself.” None of these old foxes were simple.

Su Tongzhou kept out of sight to avoid being implicated. He knew that the double designation of Tian Guanghan was an attack from the mayor’s faction on the party secretary Wu Xinkai’s camp. Tian Guanghan was the sacrificial chicken. By staying out of the affair, as long as he didn’t step out of the car, Tian Guanghan wouldn’t see him and thus wouldn’t hold a grudge.

If Tian Guanghan somehow managed to get out of this unscathed, Su Tongzhou would have avoided making an enemy. Letting Yang Dong take the lead was really just making Yang Dong the shield.

Besides, having Yang Dong announce the double designation suited Yang Dong’s own interests. Everyone got what they wanted. Political understanding and these subtle calculations were things to be savored. Anyone who believed Su Tongzhou was simply on Yang Dong’s side, letting him vent personal grievances, was naive. The two had no personal ties or connection—why would he do him any favors?

“Yang Dong, you can’t do this to me…”

“Yang Dong, I admit I’ve had my reservations about you, but you can’t retaliate, you can’t use your power for revenge, that’s just not right.”

Now, seated in the back, Tian Guanghan was visibly agitated, gesticulating wildly as he pleaded with Yang Dong, spittle flying.

“Comrade Tian Guanghan, please calm down,” Hou Donglai immediately intervened, his face stern as he barked at him.

Tian Guanghan glanced at Hou Donglai, then sighed. A fallen phoenix fares worse than a chicken. A tiger down on the plains is bullied by dogs. But under someone else’s roof, one must bow their head.

So he straightened up and tried to appeal to Yang Dong’s emotions. “Little Yang, I know these years have been hard on you. Last year, you could have received your deputy division treatment, but because of that altercation with urban management, I thought it would look bad, so I objected. Failing to secure that promotion for you, I felt uneasy…”

At this point, Tian Guanghan’s eyes reddened, his voice choked. “But the dignity of the city government must be maintained, right? As members of the municipal office, the heart of city administration, we have to take responsibility. I, Tian Guanghan, ask myself if I’ve ever done you wrong—just that once, last year. If I was wrong, I apologize. Please, Little Yang, let me go. But as state officials, we can’t play these kinds of tricks. I beg you, don’t come after me!”

With that, Tian Guanghan clasped his hands together and bowed repeatedly to Yang Dong.

Yang Dong’s face darkened instantly. Tian Guanghan’s words were laced with venom. He was trying to kill him with this speech. Ignoring his own corruption, Tian Guanghan implied throughout that Yang Dong was taking private revenge over last year’s failed promotion.

But Tian Guanghan wasn’t really speaking to him, or begging for mercy. He was sending a message to certain groups, who could use this as an excuse to muddy the waters and buy Tian Guanghan more time, making Yang Dong the target of their ire and slander.

In the car, Jiang Hu and Hou Donglai were both Yang Dong’s people—especially Hou Donglai, who was beholden to him. The driver, as the Commission’s own, knew what to say and what not to. So why did Tian Guanghan bother with such theatrics? Because the car was under real-time surveillance, being recorded from the moment Tian Guanghan was brought on board until he got out.

Tian Guanghan’s performance was for the cameras, not for Yang Dong. The surveillance was positioned by the front passenger seat, and Tian Guanghan played his role perfectly, displaying terror and anxiety for the record. If Yang Dong answered carelessly or lost his temper, Tian Guanghan would have had all he needed to accuse him of personal vendetta and abuse of power.

Jiang Hu didn’t pick up on these subtleties; such machinations were beyond his concern. He simply found Tian Guanghan’s behavior disgusting, clinging to false hope even now.

Hou Donglai, however, narrowed his eyes at Tian Guanghan, then glanced at Yang Dong, worry flickering in his gaze. If Yang Dong responded poorly, it would spell disaster.

But just as Tian Guanghan was inwardly exulting in his own cunning, Yang Dong suddenly turned, slapped the seat, and roared, “Tian Guanghan, what nonsense are you spouting?”

There it was—anger, at last! Young people, always so easily provoked. Fall for it, go on, get angry, shout, rage.

Tian Guanghan’s face played up the suffering, but inside he was elated, eager for Yang Dong to lose his temper or even strike him. The angrier Yang Dong became, the safer Tian Guanghan would be. The more secure his own position.