112: Chapter 112 Su Changming's Overt Scheme, Zhu Tianhe's Joint Liability

6:50 PM, at the Old Vegetable Restaurant in the South City.

The Audi car smoothly merged into the auxiliary lane and stopped in the front courtyard of the Old Vegetable Restaurant.

Zhu Wenhao turned off the engine and pushed open the car door.

This was his third time dining with Mayor Su Changming.

Unlike the previous two times, he had timed it precisely, arriving right at the 6:50 PM mark.

Outside the entrance, Secretary Li Changgeng stood with his arms crossed, pacing back and forth. Mayor Su Changming's black Audi was already parked in the prime spot.

Zhu Wenhao's gaze fell on the car, and countless pieces of information instantly integrated in his mind.

As the honorable mayor of a city, he had cast aside the typical habits of superiors—the lateness and the airs—and had lowered himself to wait for a junior.

This chess player, who had always prided himself on his elegance, had encountered trouble.

And this trouble was so significant that it required him to take the initiative to lower his status.

Secretary Li Changgeng stepped forward, extending both hands to shake Zhu Wenhao's hand.

"Zhu Wenhao, was the journey smooth? The mayor is already waiting for you upstairs."

"Sorry to have kept Mayor Su Changming waiting for so long."

Zhu Wenhao withdrew his hand and walked up the stairs.

Second floor, Private Room A.

Zhu Wenhao pushed the door open and entered. On the large round table, several exquisite cold dishes were already arranged.

Mayor Su Changming sat in the main seat, toying with a purple clay teapot in his hand. Hearing the sound, he looked up.

"Mayor Su Changming."

Zhu Wenhao crossed his hands in front of him, fulfilling the etiquette of a junior.

After the formalities were over.

He didn't wait for Mayor Su Changming's instruction, but went straight to pull out the chair directly opposite and sat down calmly.

Mayor Su Changming placed the purple clay teapot on the table and picked up a wet towel to wipe his hands.

"Zhu Wenhao, counting this time, this is our third meal together."

"Yes," Zhu Wenhao replied, "Every time I share a table with Mayor Su Changming, my state of mind is different."

"Oh?" Mayor Su Changming placed his hands on the edge of the table. "Tell me, how is it different?"

"In the past, I followed the host's lead and listened to Mayor Su Changming's teachings. Today, I have brought the mess in Linjiang City to hear Mayor Su Changming's solution."

Mayor Su Changming chuckled, didn't take up that point, and turned to the next topic.

"How is Qinghan? I heard she encountered another assassination attempt in the hospital."

Zhu Wenhao looked directly at Mayor Su Changming. "She hasn't woken up. The nurse who tried to assassinate her committed suicide by taking poison and couldn't be saved."

Mayor Su Changming sighed and shook his head.

"The underworld forces are still too rampant; it has reached the point where they must be dealt with."

"Indeed, Mayor Su Changming," Zhu Wenhao went along with the flow, "I hope that this time, the Municipal Public Security Bureau, under the leadership of Police Chief Li Jianguo, can turn the tide."

Mayor Su Changming's eyelids lifted slightly, his gaze sweeping across Zhu Wenhao's face.

"I hope so." Mayor Su Changming raised the wine glass in front of him. "Come, let us finish this cup and wish Police Chief Li Jianguo a successful start."

Zhu Wenhao picked up the decanter beside him and poured himself a glass.

He lowered his glass, clinking it against the lower edge of Mayor Su Changming's, producing a crisp sound.

"I'll take your kind words, Mayor Su Changming."

Both of them tilted their heads back and finished their drinks.

"Let's eat." Mayor Su Changming picked up his chopsticks.

Today's dishes were Shunde cuisine: steamed marble goby, pan-fried fish lips, and eel.

These were also the flavors Zhu Wenhao preferred when at Sanweiju Restaurant. In ordering the dishes, Mayor Su Changming had fully shown a humble gesture.

The two had great tacit understanding, remaining silent, with only the occasional sound of chopsticks touching porcelain plates heard.

The meal was tasteless.

Mayor Su Changming moved his chopsticks a few times and then stopped.

Seeing the person opposite put down their chopsticks, Zhu Wenhao also placed his chopsticks on the small bone plate.

Mayor Su Changming left the table, picked up the landline phone placed nearby, and pressed the call button.

"Secretary Li Changgeng, have someone come in and change the tea set."

Less than half a minute after the order was given, the door to the private room was pushed open.

A young woman wearing a plain cheongsam walked in with her head lowered, carrying a tray.

She set a white porcelain tea set on the tea table to the side.

A small red clay stove was lit, mountain spring water was poured into the pot, and after boiling, she skillfully rinsed the tea, filtered the soup, and divided it into cups.

The whole set of movements was smooth and flowing. After everything was settled, Mayor Su Changming waved his hand, and the woman bowed and retreated.

Mayor Su Changming picked up the white porcelain tea cup on the table. "This year's pre-Qingming new tea, brought back from the origin by someone I entrusted."

He made a gesture of invitation. "Zhu Wenhao, have a taste."

Zhu Wenhao picked up the tea cup, skimmed off the foam, and took a sip.

The tea soup entered his mouth, slightly astringent but with a sweet aftertaste.

"Good tea."

"The tea is good, but it also depends on whether the person tasting it has the leisure of mind." Mayor Su Changming put down the tea cup.

"Zhu Wenhao, let's speak plainly." Mayor Su Changming lowered his voice. "Tell me, what will happen with the Municipal Public Security Bureau's arrest operation tonight? Can that suspect named Huzi be successfully caught?"

This question was thrown out.

Zhu Wenhao's mind buzzed. The arrest of Huzi—this operational order was something Police Chief Li Jianguo had informed him about over the phone on the way to the banquet.

How could Mayor Su Changming know?

Was there an even deeper mole inside the Public Security Bureau?

Zhu Wenhao remained calm on the surface, but his hand, tucked inside his jacket pocket, accurately found the switch of the voice recorder.

This was a backup plan he had specifically prepared before attending the banquet.

Mayor Su Changming sat upright opposite him, his gaze locked on Zhu Wenhao's hand in his pocket, and he spoke slowly and methodically.

"Zhu Wenhao, aren't you curious?"

"How could I know the Municipal Public Security Bureau's actions so well?" Mayor Su Changming picked up the teapot to refill his cup. "Why did I use the landline to call Secretary Li Changgeng just now, instead of a mobile phone?"

He pointed his finger at the corner of the ceiling.

"This private room is installed with a high-power signal jammer."

"In addition, there is a state-of-the-art recording jammer hidden under the table."

Mayor Su Changming picked up his tea cup. "So, you can turn off that voice recorder in your pocket. All you'll record is a pile of harsh electronic white noise."

Zhu Wenhao's heart sank, and his hand in his pocket stopped.

"Mayor Su Changming is overthinking it." Zhu Wenhao picked up his tea cup and returned the gesture with a sip.

There was no explanation, and no concealment.

"Zhu Wenhao, I have always appreciated you." Mayor Su Changming leaned back in his chair. "I blocked things between you and Qinghan before, but that was to protect her. Now that the situation is clear, I agree to your marriage. Go back and talk to Secretary Zhu Tianhe, pick an auspicious day, and get it done."

Marriage has always been the most solid contract for an alliance.

Zhu Wenhao remained calm. "Thank you, Mayor Su Changming, for your blessing."

"However, since we are about to become one family, there are some things I must lay out for you in advance." Mayor Su Changming finally revealed his trump card.

"I want to tell you something."

"About the Linjiang City Development and Reform Commission, about Zheng Jianguo, and about that mess of accounts in the new South City district."

Mayor Su Changming's gaze pierced directly at Zhu Wenhao.

"Zhu Wenhao, think carefully. Do you think the things that happened inside the Development and Reform Commission have absolutely nothing to do with your father?"

"Don't be in a rush to deny it." Mayor Su Changming peeled back the underlying logic. "Think about it, when were the projects for the new South City district approved? At that time, your father, Secretary Zhu Tianhe, was sitting in the position of Executive Vice Mayor!"

"The Development and Reform Commission is exactly the department directly under the Executive Vice Mayor's purview!"

Mayor Su Changming drank the tea in his hand in one gulp.

"With such a huge flow of funds and the approval of so many projects, even if Zheng Jianguo could cover the sky with one hand, wouldn't those approval documents and project proposals ultimately have to pass through your father's hands?"

"And I, at that time, was just a Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee in charge of party affairs and personnel. I couldn't interfere with the government's economic accounts, nor could I manage them."

"Even if your father is a kind and honest man, we could say he was unaware, blinded by Zheng Jianguo, and taken advantage of by his subordinates."

Mayor Su Changming leaned forward.

"But do you think the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government will believe it? Will the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection believe it?"

"Even if we take a step back and assume the organization believes he didn't embezzle a single cent, can he escape the crime of negligence?"

"Joint liability is absolutely unavoidable!"

"You should understand the consequences of this." Mayor Su Changming looked coldly at Zhu Wenhao.

The department directly under the Executive Vice Mayor had experienced systemic corruption.

As the leader in charge, even if he himself had no issues, a disciplinary punishment for "ineffective implementation of main responsibility" and "serious lack of supervision" would be enough to deal a heavy blow to a Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee who was in a rising phase.

If someone with malicious intent turned this hat of negligence into being an accomplice in corruption...

This is the joint accountability mechanism within the system.

Mayor Su Changming was using the rules to forcibly drag Secretary Zhu Tianhe into the water.

"Even if he isn't greedy for money, he still has joint liability." Mayor Su Changming looked at the silent Zhu Wenhao. "Zhu Wenhao, our two families are about to become in-laws. How could I bear to watch my future in-law stumble at this critical juncture?"

"I can give you a plan."

"A solution where you are good, I am good, and everyone is good."

"To show my sincerity, although Police Chief Li Jianguo won't be able to catch Huzi tonight, Li Kai will appear there. The Taiyao Gang, the underworld organization in Linjiang City where Li Kai is located, will become Police Chief Li Jianguo's political achievement."

"As long as the case stops at an appropriate point, your father will remain that upright and honest Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee. Of course, someone will also take the fall for the corruption case in the South City, so the special investigation team won't be embarrassed."

A slap, then a sweet treat.

Mayor Su Changming offered his solution.

After saying this, he leaned back in his chair.

He said no more.

He was waiting.

Waiting to see what choice this young man, who had always been meticulous in his plans, would make when faced with the desperate situation of his father's future being ruined.

Inside the private room, it was deathly silent.

Only the faint crackling sound of charcoal fire came from the small red clay stove.

Zhu Wenhao sat on that acid branch wood chair, his gaze falling on the cup of cooled tea soup in front of him.

For the first time, he truly felt the terror of an old fox.

No brandishing of swords or guns, no pointing fingers and cursing.

Simply by digging up the list of responsibilities from a few years ago, he could dissolve the deadly trap you had painstakingly laid into nothingness.

Loopholes in the rules, the binding of power and responsibility.

Zhu Wenhao raised his head.

Meeting Mayor Su Changming's face, which showed he held victory in his grasp.

How could this game of chess be broken?