280: Chapter 280 Taming the Hawk

Outside the gates of the Linjiang Municipal Government compound, Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan's car was parked at the intersection. The driver, Xiao Li, had his hands resting on the steering wheel, remaining silent. The heater in the car was off, and a thin layer of mist had formed on the windshield. Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan sat in the back row, his coat collar turned up. He took out his phone and lit up the screen. The government building would be closing soon.

On the way here, he had called Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping twice. Busy signal. The news of Secretary Lei Zhen being suspended had spread throughout the province, and he, the Deputy Secretary of the Qingjiang County Party Committee, had lost his greatest support. In the county, Secretary Lu Guoliang was consolidating power, and County Mayor Gu Mingchuan was maneuvering. He had become a stray dog. If he couldn't see Mayor Su Changming today, he would be meat on the chopping block once he returned to Qingjiang County.

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan swiped his finger on the screen twice, pulled up Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping's number, and pressed call. The sound of ringing came through the receiver. The first ring, the second ring. Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan rubbed his fingers repeatedly against his knees. The call connected.

"Old Qin," Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping's voice came through.

"Deputy Secretary-General Fang," Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan didn't care about the usual pleasantries. "Does Mayor Su have any time?" He glanced at his watch. "It's almost time to get off work. Does Mayor Su have time for a quick meal?"

As he asked this, Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan felt it sounded awkward himself. For a subordinate to block the entrance of the Municipal Government just as work was ending to request a meeting with the Mayor was a major taboo in official circles. The rules were all broken. Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping didn't take the bait on the other end of the line.

"The Mayor has a business banquet tonight," Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping said. "It can't be declined." It felt as though all the blood in Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan's body had instantly turned cold. He opened his mouth, intending to spout some polite nonsense to find an excuse to hang up.

"However," Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping began, "things can be flexible." Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan didn't hang up, pressing the phone tightly against his ear.

"Do it this way," Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping arranged. "Go to the hotel where the Mayor is dining. Rent a private room yourself and wait inside. I'll look for an opportunity; if the Mayor has time midway through, I'll mention it and have him spare five minutes to see you. Does that sound suitable to you?"

A glimmer of hope in a desperate situation. Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan even straightened his back. "Deputy Secretary-General Fang, thank you very much. I will remember this great favor."

"Go book the place quickly."

"Tomorrow I'll set up a table alone to treat you…"

"We'll talk about that later. I'll send you the hotel address." Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping hung up.

The phone vibrated, and an address message was sent over. Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan put away his phone and patted the front seat. "Xiao Li, go to the Huatian Hotel. Hurry." The car signaled and merged into the evening rush hour traffic.

At the Municipal Government building, Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping put down his phone. He stood up, walked to the door of Mayor Su Changming's office, and knocked twice. "Come in." Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping pushed the door open and entered. Mayor Su Changming was sitting behind his desk, holding a pen, circling items on a fiscal budget report.

"Mayor Su." Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping stopped two steps away from the desk. "It's arranged." Mayor Su Changming didn't even look up, the pen tip moving across the paper. "As long as it's arranged, that's fine." Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping watched as Mayor Su Changming finished approving a page of documents.

"Mayor Su, Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan is a tiger without teeth now. With Secretary Lei Zhen unable to even protect himself, why should we bother with him?" Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping asked, voicing his inner calculation. Mayor Su Changming put down his pen and picked up the purple clay cup beside him. "Using people is like using wood; even rotten wood can serve as firewood." Mayor Su Changming took a sip of tea and set the cup down.

"Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan may be spent, but waste has its uses. After all, he still holds the seal of the Qingjiang County Political and Legal Affairs Commission. It's a position of real power for a deputy division-level official that we're getting for free; it would be a waste not to use it." Mayor Su Changming tapped his fingers on the desktop twice.

"That kid, Zhu Wenhao, has been making quite a stir in Heishi Town," Mayor Su Changming said. "Last time you led a team down there, you didn't catch him, but instead allowed him to borrow your knife. That tripartite regulatory account he set up tightened the fiscal purse strings. Now, even the Old River Levee matter has been dug up by him; Secretary Qiu Dehai is in, and Executive Vice Mayor Qian Dayong has fallen." Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping's expression darkened.

"That place, Qingjiang County. Secretary Lu Guoliang is a slippery character who won't release the hawk until he sees the rabbit; he only cares about his own official hat. County Mayor Gu Mingchuan is now wholeheartedly following Secretary Zhu Tianhe." Mayor Su Changming analyzed the situation below. "Zhu Wenhao has no natural enemies there anymore."

"Without natural enemies, he's going to turn things upside down," Mayor Su Changming leaned back against his chair. "We must find someone to make things unpleasant for him. Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan has been operating in Qingjiang County for over a decade." "Bring Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan over. Consider it a restrictive headband to place on Zhu Wenhao's head. We don't need Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan to accomplish any great feats; as long as he is in Qingjiang County for one day, Zhu Wenhao won't be able to do things smoothly." "When fishing, you have to know how to pull and release."

After hearing this, Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping nodded. "Mayor Su's foresight is profound. By dangling Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan, in order to save his own skin, he will only be wholeheartedly loyal to you in the future."

Mayor Su Changming didn't dwell on this matter and changed the subject. "How have things been going between Xiaoxiao and Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao recently?"

Mentioning family affairs, Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping straightened his posture. "Regarding the Second Miss, there was a bit of a setback a while ago," Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping reported truthfully. "The matter between Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao and the Second Miss at the hotel was leaked by the Xu Family. The Xu Family called off the engagement. Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao was reprimanded by his elders at home and gave the Second Miss the cold shoulder." Hearing that the Xu Family had called off the engagement, Mayor Su Changming sneered.

Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping continued, "However, the situation has changed in the last few days. I don't know what method the Second Miss used, but Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao has been getting hot and heavy with her again these past two days. Last night, Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao even sent a car to pick up the Second Miss for dinner."

Mayor Su Changming picked up his teacup, looking at the leftover tea in it. "That wife of mine, she doesn't have any other skills, but she certainly has a way of training her daughters." Mayor Su Changming set the teacup down. He thought of his eldest daughter, Su Qinghan. "Xiaoxiao is simpler than Su Qinghan," Mayor Su Changming said. "It's better to be simple. As long as she follows the rules and keeps Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao steady."

Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao was a member of the Provincial Anti-Gang Office supervisory group, with the Liu Family from The Capital behind him. "As long as Xiaoxiao can marry into the Liu Family, I will have an extra amulet for the game of chess in Linjiang City," Mayor Su Changming set the tone. "Mayor Su is right," Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping replied.

Mayor Su Changming picked up another document and opened it. "Alright, you go get busy."

Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping turned and walked back to the outer office. He checked his watch; it was 5:50. He pulled open a drawer, took out an electronic timer, and twisted it twice. He set an alarm for two and a half hours. 8:20. Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan would have to sit dryly in that hotel private room for two and a half hours. To break his temper, to rub away his sharp edge. The alarm emitted a slight ticking sound. Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping began to organize the summary for next week's meeting on his desk.

Huatian Hotel, third floor. Peony Room private box. This was a small private room that could only seat six people; the main lights were off, and only the wall lamps were on. Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan sat alone in the chair facing the door.

A waiter walked in with a menu. "Sir, would you like to order now?" "No." Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan waved his hand. "Bring a pot of plain water." The waiter brought over a pot of hot water, poured him a cup, exited, and closed the door. The private room was deathly quiet.

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan placed his phone on the tablecloth in front of him. The screen was dark. He didn't take off his coat. He had felt cold in the car earlier, but now, sitting in the heated private room, he felt sweat on his back. He looked at the wall clock. 6:15. Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping hadn't sent any messages. He just told him to wait here. He picked up the plain water in front of him and took a sip. The water was very hot; as he swallowed it down his throat, it burned, causing his stomach to spasm.

7:00. The phone still had no activity. Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan stood up and paced around the private room twice. But he didn't dare step out of the private room even once. He was afraid that if Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping sent someone to call him, he wouldn't be there. He sat back down in the chair. The plain water had already cooled. He picked it up and drank it in one gulp.

7:30. Occasionally, the sound of waiters carrying dishes echoed in the hallway. In other private rooms, there were faint sounds of glasses clinking. His room was as cold and desolate as an ice cellar.

8:00. Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan stared at the phone on the table. The screen was pitch black. He even suspected that the phone was broken. He picked it up and lit up the screen. No missed calls, no messages. He put it down again.

8:15. The sound of leather shoes stepping on the carpet came from the hallway. The sound wasn't loud, but the stride was very steady. The footsteps stopped outside the door of the Peony Room. The doorknob turned. The door was pushed open.

Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping stood at the doorway, his suit unbuttoned, his tie slightly loosened, with a very faint smell of alcohol on him. Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan stood up abruptly. He rose too quickly, and the chair scraped harshly against the red carpet. "Deputy Secretary-General Fang," Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan called out.

Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping looked at him but didn't walk in. "Mayor Su's side has just finished, and he's gone to the restroom now," Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping glanced at his watch. "He's seeing someone off and will be here in a moment." "Okay, okay. Thank you, Deputy Secretary-General Fang." Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan walked around the table and strode over. "Old Qin," Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping turned sideways at the door. "No nonsense. Just state your position." After saying that, Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping left.