Chapter 229: The Unpredictable Tide (Part 5)
Hou Weidong was startled to learn that the Director of the Garden Management Bureau was on familiar terms with County Head Ma. "Is it convenient to talk?" he asked cautiously.
Xiaojia feigned annoyance, her tone playful. "What is it? Why are you being so mysterious?"
"It’s hard to explain in a sentence. In short, do not mention my name when you are with County Head Ma. One mountain cannot hold two tigers; the struggle between Ma and Zhu has escalated to the level of class struggle."
Xiaojia had worked in the Construction Committee office for several years. Having seen many high-ranking leaders, she no longer held them in awe. "Why didn’t you remind me earlier? Our Boss Jin already knows you are serving as Secretary Zhu’s aide."
"I hadn’t realized Boss Jin was so closely connected with Ma Youcai. But it doesn’t matter. We are just clerks. When immortals fight, what does it matter to us secretaries?"
Although Hou Weidong spoke with casual ease, he understood clearly that he had now aligned himself with Zhu Yan’s faction. It was impossible to withdraw or sever ties at this point.
He did not wish to burden Xiaojia with such heavy topics. Changing the subject, he said, "I read Darwin’s On the Origin of Species again last night. There is an important theory: use it or lose it. One of my organs is about to be lost from disuse."
This was the couple’s subtle code. Xiaojia understood immediately. She spat playfully, her face flushing hot with sweetness. "I will try to come back tonight. Don’t drink too much wine."
As the saying goes, a short separation is better than a new marriage. There is scientific basis for this: hormone secretion determines sexual desire. For newlyweds separated briefly, hormone levels are at their peak. Like dry tinder meeting fire, it is no wonder passion ignites.
They exchanged a few heated words, their enthusiasm rising rapidly. Just then, Zhang Yajun from the Construction Committee sent over the renderings for the Central Commercial District in the new urban area.
Zhu Yan looked at the renderings with a critical eye. "It captures the general idea, but the details need polishing. Human-centric design is the most important feature of a commercial district. Look at this design: the central mall and auxiliary shops are too dense, the plaza is too small, there is insufficient greenery, and no leisure space."
At the Yiyang Hotel, Qian Ning, Deputy Director of the Commerce Commission, saw the design and offered comments essentially identical to Zhu Yan’s.
Qian Ning had worked in the commercial system for many years. He wore gold-rimmed glasses and, despite being in his forties, dressed in a light red shirt. He looked less like an official and more like a businessman, making him somewhat unconventional in the Shazhou political circle.
Zhu Yan had grown up in the provincial capital of Lingxi Province. His aesthetic differed from that of pure local Yiyang natives. Seeing Qian Ning’s attire, he felt a sense of familiarity.
"Yiyang aims to become the commercial center of Shazhou and even southern Lingxi. We must have a presentable Central Commercial District and professional wholesale markets. Director Qian, you are an expert in this field. Please offer valuable advice for Yiyang."
Qian Ning held his wine glass, slowly savoring the aroma of red wine spilling from the rim. He enjoyed drinking but never gulped, a habit that pleased Zhu Yan. The Deputy Director of the Commerce Commission was not significant enough to warrant the County Party Secretary getting drunk, unless other factors were involved.
"In October this year, the Provincial Commerce Commission will organize a group to visit Zhejiang to study the construction of small commodity wholesale markets. Since Yiyang intends to build a logistics center for Lingxi, it is necessary to go out and see for ourselves."
Hou Weidong sat at the lower end of the table, smiling as he listened to the two leaders converse. However, his attention was secretly focused on the female colleague sitting next to Qian Ning. She wore a white dress and had long hair, her features exceptionally delicate. When Hou Weidong first saw her, he was struck by a sudden shock. This woman looks so familiar. Could she be that mysterious woman in white?
When he graduated from Shazhou College, his future had been unclear. At a dance hall behind the college, he had met a woman with long hair in white. Like weary travelers on a journey, they had comforted each other. She had appeared out of nowhere and then vanished without a trace.
Deep in his heart, Hou Weidong had always been searching for this woman in white. But the sea of people was vast; passing by might mean parting forever. Seeing this young woman dressed in snow-white, his heart trembled again. After sitting down, he stole glances at her, sometimes convinced she was the mysterious guest, other times feeling doubtful.
Years had passed since that day. The woman in white was now a vague dream, an abstract symbol. How could Hou Weidong recognize her clearly?
Halfway through the meal, Hou Weidong followed custom and toasted each guest from Shazhou City in turn. When he reached the woman in white, he asked, "I feel you look very familiar. Have you been to Yiyang before?"
The woman in white was named Wu Yi, an interesting name.
Wu Yi parted her red lips slightly. "I once studied at Shazhou College." The phrase "parted her red lips" was a cliché, but she indeed had red lips and white teeth, her skin fair and fine, like a visitor from the ice mountains.
Zhu Yan sat nearby. Hou Weidong suppressed a trace of excitement in his heart and continued toasting the others, mimicking the previous pattern.
He returned to his seat, his peripheral vision always drifting toward Wu Yi, neither fully engaging nor completely ignoring her.
After lunch, Qian Ning’s group departed. Hou Weidong stood behind Zhu Yan, waving as the two cars drove away, kicking up dust.
Old Liu’s car waited beside them. As he got in, Hou Weidong thought to himself, Wu Yi. Is it her? It was a mystery, but Hou Weidong had no desire to pursue it. He decided to let the mystery remain buried in his heart, becoming a memory of his life.
After getting out of the car and walking to the staircase of the compound, Zhu Yan suddenly stopped. "Xiao Hou, go to the Procuratorate. Personally investigate the interrogation status. Report the situation to me when work resumes this afternoon." Hou Weidong was about to turn around when Zhu Yan added, "Be bold. You can put some pressure on the Procuratorate."
Hou Weidong’s face turned serious as he climbed into Old Liu’s car. On the way, he called Bo Ning. "Inspector Bo, this is Hou Weidong. Sorry to disturb your rest. I am heading to the Procuratorate now. Are you free?"
Bo Ning had presided over the interrogation of Yang Weige the previous night and held a procuratorial meeting in the morning. He was just preparing to rest when he received Hou Weidong’s call. He could only smile bitterly and get up, muttering, "He is already at the Procuratorate, yet asks if I am free. Pure nonsense." However, as the personal secretary to Secretary Zhu, he dared not neglect him. He quickly got out of bed and hurried to his office.
The Procuratorate’s office building and residential quarters were within the same wall, with two buildings facing each other. Bo Ning had just reached the bottom of the stairs when he saw Secretary Zhu’s car pulling in.
"Secretary Hou, welcome."
Hou Weidong was slightly surprised to see Bo Ning standing at the gate. He quickened his steps, shook Bo Ning’s hand, and said, "Inspector Bo waiting for me downstairs truly makes me feel honored and apprehensive." Bo Ning replied with half-jest and half-seriousness, "Secretary Hou is an imperial envoy. Seeing an official one rank higher, I naturally must come out to welcome you."
Both men laughed. Once inside the office and the door closed, their smiles vanished immediately.
Hou Weidong said, "I am here on behalf of Secretary Zhu to understand the status of the Yang Weige case."
Bo Ning took a harsh drag of his cigarette. "This case is truly bizarre. The City Procuratorate and the County People’s Congress have both sent people for execution inspections in the past two days, focusing on whether there was torture to extract confessions. Yang Weige’s family is still petitioning all over Shazhou. Damn it, corrupt officials have the right to complain now. What kind of world is this?"
Hou Weidong smoked along with Bo Ning. Through the thin layer of smoke, his thinking became exceptionally sharp. The struggle between Zhu Yan and Ma Youcai is everywhere. Both are mobilizing the forces under their control, using various methods to counterattack. However, overall, Ma Youcai is on the defensive. The reason is simple: Zhu Yan has no dirt on him, while Ma Youcai likely has a large lump of dirt hanging from his rear.
Hou Weidong’s face remained expressionless. "Inspector Bo, this case is sensitive. Secretary Zhu instructed that we must be determined yet strategic. Interrogation should rely on evidence, careful design, and organization. Torture to extract confessions is a low-class tactic."
Bo Ning did not expect Hou Weidong to say such things. He lowered his head, fiddling with the cigarette butt in his hand. "The Yang Weige case actually already has a result. Based on the evidence we hold, sentencing him to three or five years is no problem. However, his mouth is very tight. For what we have evidence of, he admits readily. For what we lack evidence for, he refuses to answer."
As Bo Ning spoke, he cursed in his heart: Damn it, that traitor must have met with Yang Weige. Yang Weige knows our details clearly. The matter of the mole was something no one dared to speak of casually except Li Du, including Bo Ning.
Hou Weidong carefully reviewed the interrogation records for a while. "It is a pity. If the evidence had not been destroyed, this would be a nest case. Now, dealing only with Yang Weige mildly, while letting other criminals roam free, is truly unsatisfying."
Hearing this, sweat broke out on Bo Ning’s back. The County Party Secretary’s secretary coming to discuss the case at noon meant his words represented the Secretary’s views. This implied Zhu Yan was dissatisfied. "We will not use torture, but fatigue interrogation is still acceptable. I will think of other ways to connect all the issues and see if we can achieve a breakthrough."
Hou Weidong stood up and took Bo Ning’s hand. "Pay attention to the limits."
The fatigue interrogation lasted twenty hours. Yang Weige was on the verge of collapse but gritted his teeth and held on. When the twenty-four hours ended, he was finally allowed to eat some food.
After swallowing a steamed bun, Yang Weige felt his tongue and mouth go numb. His head split with pain, and his breathing became increasingly rapid. Soon, he began to convulse. Tang Xiaowei did not notice at first. It was only when Yang Weige fell to the ground that he realized something was wrong. By then, Yang Weige was gone.