13: Chapter 13 Guiding Peak's Guard

Though she said she was busy, she was actually just checking on how the domestic staff was getting on.

Her goal was to give them space to talk.

Sun Ning watched Huang Mei leave and nodded inwardly.

This mayor's wife was sensible and strictly adhered to certain rules.

For a high-ranking official like Gao Feng, this was a blessing.

Who knew how many wives out there lacked restraint, jumping around, and in some cases, ended up implicating their own husbands.

Everyone sat down, and Gao Feng brewed a cup of tea and handed it to Sun Ning.

"How is the teacher's health?"

This was a standard expected question; as a student, caring about the teacher's health first was always a plus.

"He is in good health. A while back, he even snuck some alcohol and got a lecture from the teacher's wife."

"That's why, when the teacher's wife knew I was coming to Zhongzhou City, she asked me to bring some of his collection for you, Senior Brother."

"The teacher's wife is always like that; she treats everyone like her own child."

Sun Ning's statement was a bit of a stretch.

The teacher's wife's original words were: "Sun Ning, now that you're at a new unit, you'll inevitably have some social engagements. Move all of the old man's expired liquor to Sun Ning's place; when you get to the new unit, you can give it to your leaders to drink."

Gao Feng was indeed Sun Ning's leader.

It wasn't entirely wrong for Sun Ning to say that; the teacher's wife did tell him to give it to his new leader.

Because of this, the mother and daughter had almost emptied the old man's collection and moved it all into Sun Ning's two-bedroom apartment.

It was only because Sun Ning felt bad for the old man that he secretly put two bottles back.

Otherwise, when the old man craved a drink, he would have gone looking for those old cronies of his.

The two talked until Huang Mei called them for dinner.

"Junior Brother, this is your first time in Zhongzhou City, and I've only prepared simple fare. Please forgive me for the poor hospitality."

"Not at all. Senior Brother, inviting me to eat at your home means you don't treat me as an outsider."

This wasn't false; Sun Ning's first visit to Zhongzhou City being arranged directly at his home certainly wasn't just about knowing where he lived.

In fact, inviting him home was a signal that they were now "their own people" and that he could come over at any time.

Moreover, Sun Ning clearly felt that Gao Feng had put effort into this home dinner.

Just looking at the large platter of pig's head meat in the center, rather than that Yellow River carp, was enough to tell.

It seemed he had done his homework with Senior Brother Liu Zhiyuan.

Knowing there were matters to discuss, Gao Feng didn't push the alcohol.

Thus, the dinner ended quickly.

During the meal, the couple was careful not to make Deputy Chief Wei Minhang feel constrained, and they took care to include him.

After eating and drinking, Gao Feng invited Sun Ning and the others to the study for tea.

At this moment, Sun Ning gave Deputy Chief Wei Minhang a wink.

After receiving the signal, he politely declined Gao Feng's invitation for tea and took his leave.

"Junior Brother, what was your intention in bringing Deputy Chief Wei Minhang over this time? I've thought about it, but I can't figure it out."

Perhaps from the moment Sun Ning introduced him, Gao Feng had been wondering about the intention behind bringing Deputy Chief Wei Minhang.

He just couldn't figure it out.

Based on his understanding of Sun Ning, this Junior Brother was very precocious and not the type to show off.

It couldn't be that he brought Deputy Chief Wei Minhang over to show off his connections.

Nor could it be to get Deputy Chief Wei Minhang a promotion.

If Sun Ning really wanted to help, it would be a matter of one sentence; why go through the trouble of having him come to his house?

Gao Feng asked directly since he couldn't figure it out; after all, in front of Sun Ning, this wasn't anything shameful.

"I would like to ask you, Senior Brother, to transfer Deputy Chief Wei Minhang to the Linzhai Police Station."

Upon hearing this, Gao Feng frowned, and his heart instantly became unsettled.

The jurisdiction of the Linzhai Police Station included the Municipal Party Committee, the Municipal Government, and the residential compound where they lived.

Sun Ning specifically wanting to transfer Deputy Chief Wei Minhang to the Linzhai Police Station surely meant there were unknown secrets involved.

But he had checked, and Sun Ning had no history of living in Zhongzhou City.

What kind of incredible secrets could he have?

"Senior Brother, before coming here, I chatted with a few Senior Brothers about the situation in Zhongzhou City."

"Senior Brother Liu Zhiyuan said that the competition between you and Party Secretary Zhao Weicai is quite intense."

"I happened to chat with a friend about this Party Secretary Zhao Weicai."

"It is said that this Party Secretary's family has deep roots in Zhongzhou City, and their tentacles extend to every aspect."

Sun Ning said these things quite tactfully; as long as Gao Feng understood his meaning, that was enough.

Although Deputy Secretary Zhao Weicai and Gao Feng were in fierce competition, Sun Ning wouldn't call him by his name directly, nor would he disparage him.

If a small Township Head like him were to call the Deputy Party Secretary by his full name and disparage him, how would Gao Feng view it?

Wouldn't it create a sense of "fox mourning the death of the hare"?

Even taking a step back, even if Gao Feng didn't mind at all and was actually happy, he couldn't guarantee that one day he wouldn't slip up and say it.

Therefore, Sun Ning paid extra attention to such details.

"Party Secretary Zhao Weicai's hometown is in Zhongzhou City, so it's normal for him to have many relatives and friends."

"Plus, since he started working in Zhongzhou City, the people he has dealt with are inevitably a mixed bag."

Gao Feng said these words quite bluntly; they were sincere words from the heart.

If such words reached the provincial level, it would inevitably lower his impression score in the minds of the bigwigs.

After all, it wasn't appropriate for someone at Gao Feng's level to say such things that were detrimental to unity, especially at this critical moment when the two were vying for the mayoral seat.

"Senior Brother, I heard from Deputy Chief Wei Minhang that Party Secretary Zhao Weicai has a distant cousin who is a squad leader in the Public Security Brigade of the Jinshui District Branch?"

"It is said that this person is not only overbearing and reckless, but also associates with many hoodlums."

Sun Ning kept steering the topic toward 'a thief with a conscience' to ensure Gao Feng had sufficient vigilance.

Gao Feng had been transferred from the ministry to the local level, going directly to a research office in a Provincial Government in the south.

He had always been in that kind of environment where one blends in with the crowd, and he didn't know the methods of those who had risen from the grassroots.

Sun Ning could only guide him bit by bit.

"I have heard of this person. He associates with people from all walks of life; he is just a child acting out, which has caused Party Secretary Zhao Weicai a lot of worry."

A child acting out? Look at that assessment; he was over thirty, and still a child?

Sun Ning smiled derisively. Party Secretary Zhao Weicai's cousin had quite a reputation.

Even Gao Feng, who was focused entirely on the economy, had heard of him.

In his previous life, Sun Ning, while far away in Gongfan County, had heard of the 'illustrious' deeds of this Young Master Zhao Bo, who was proficient in all five vices.

After Deputy Secretary Zhao Weicai fell from grace, this Young Master Zhao was also successfully sent to prison.

The truth about him hiring a thief to deliver gold bars to Gao Feng's home also came to light.

"Yes, people like Young Master Zhao Bo have no bottom line when doing things."

"Although he wouldn't dare do anything too excessive to you, it's still possible for him to set up a honey trap or create fake news."

"These things aren't easy to achieve, and they wouldn't easily pass through the propaganda department, but it wouldn't take much effort to orchestrate."

"An even simpler operation: suppose a thief with a conscience, while stealing in the Municipal Government residential compound, discovers that you have valuable antiques or gold in your home."

"And this thief with a conscience happens to despise corrupt officials, so he goes to the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection to make a real-name report."

"Then, Senior Brother, wouldn't you be unable to clear your name?"