108: Chapter 108 How to Make a Living

"Did he touch you?"

Wei Xue shook her head and said, "No. As soon as he pushed Auntie Zhou, I told him to get lost."

Xu Weidong fell silent for a couple of seconds, then nodded.

"You don't need to worry about Deputy Director Chen Ling's matter anymore."

Xu Weidong paused, then said, "Send me Chen Dong's plan before next Wednesday."

"As for your brother's matter, what I promised you won't change."

Wei Xue looked up, her eyes turning red, but she did not cry.

She looked at him, her lips trembling. She wanted to say something, but in the end, she just gave a deep bow.

"Thank you, Director Xu."

Xu Weidong didn't acknowledge her thanks and turned to walk toward the door.

After taking a couple of steps, he suddenly stopped and glanced back at her.

"If Deputy Director Chen Ling comes back, call me directly."

Wei Xue was momentarily stunned, then nodded vigorously.

Meanwhile, when Deputy Director Chen Ling arrived home, he saw the lights of the villa on from a distance.

Standing at the door pulling out his keys, he heard laughter and chatter coming from inside, and his brow instantly furrowed.

Pushing open the door, he saw Chen Dong sitting on the living room sofa with his legs crossed, holding a cup of tea, talking animatedly to Yu Liping beside him.

Yu Liping was wearing a purple bathrobe, its collar loosely draped open, revealing a dazzling expanse of fair skin at her chest.

Her hair was wet, clearly having just showered, with a few droplets of water still clinging to her collarbone.

The moment Chen Dong saw him, he stood up and said with a beaming smile, "Brother-in-law, you're back? I was just about to call you."

Chen Dong was Yu Liping's cousin, which was why he called Deputy Director Chen Ling "brother-in-law".

Deputy Director Chen Ling ignored him, slammed his keys onto the entryway table, and walked over with a dark expression.

"What are you doing here?"

Chen Dong said apologetically with a smile, "I just missed my sister, so I dropped by to see her."

"Dropped by?"

Deputy Director Chen Ling sneered, plopped down on the opposite sofa, and stared at Chen Dong. "Do you know what time it is right now? Wei Heng just went in, and Xu Weidong is watching closely. You running over to my place—are you that eager to let everyone know we're connected?"

Yu Liping was displeased. She set her teacup down on the coffee table, her voice growing shriller.

"Deputy Director Chen Ling, what do you mean by that? What's wrong with my brother coming to see me? Is it against the law?"

Deputy Director Chen Ling ignored her, keeping his eyes fixed on Chen Dong.

Feeling a bit uncomfortable under his gaze, Chen Dong cleared his throat, leaned closer, and lowered his voice. "Brother-in-law, I'm here to talk business."

"Wei Heng is locked up, and Hengmo Logistics is leaderless. This is the perfect time to swallow them up."

"I've been working in Changyuan County for so many years, and my club is already the top dog in this sector."

"If we can take down Hengmo, integrate their fleet, warehouses, and connections, I'll be able to get a piece of the pie when Sihai Group's assets are carved up."

"Those venues and territories are all vacant right now. Whoever has the strength gets to take them."

"Brother-in-law, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

The more Chen Dong spoke, the more excited he became, his eyes shining brightly.

"If I succeed, I'll be the new kingpin of Changyuan County's underworld."

Yu Liping chimed in from the side, "Xiao Dong is right."

"If he grows bigger and stronger, it'll benefit you too."

"You've been working in the Public Security Bureau for so many years, and you're still stuck at the deputy section chief level without being promoted to a full position. Isn't that just because you lack support?"

"If Xiao Dong rises, what can't he help you with—money, connections, networking?"

As she spoke, she stood up and poured Deputy Director Chen Ling a cup of tea. When she bent over, the collar of her bathrobe fell open, leaving nothing to the imagination.

Deputy Director Chen Ling glanced at her but didn't take the tea.

This woman, Yu Liping, is really thick-headed. Her cousin is right here, and she's wearing something so loose?

If I can see it, can't Chen Dong see it too?

"Have you both lost your minds over short-term gains?"

Deputy Director Chen Ling kept his voice very low, but every word burned with anger.

"Who is Xu Weidong? A twenty-six-year-old bureau chief with backing from above, courted by both the city and the county. In the midst of this Crackdown on Organized Crime, you two want to stick your necks out?"

Yu Liping slammed the teacup onto the table, splashing tea everywhere.

"Deputy Director Chen Ling, you're just a coward! No matter how capable Xu Weidong is, he's just a greenhorn. How many years have you been in this position? What does he know? What are you afraid of him for?"

"I'm afraid of him?"

Deputy Director Chen Ling's voice rose as well. "Do you have any idea who is standing behind him? Do you know how many people can be mobilized with just a single word from him?"

"He is personally keeping an eye on Wei Heng's case, and you want me to help your brother swallow Hengmo Logistics at this critical juncture? Are you trying to get me killed sooner?"

Yu Liping stood up. One side of her bathrobe tie had come loose, but she didn't bother to tie it, leaving it hanging open as her chest heaved with anger.

"Deputy Director Chen Ling, stop trying to scare me with that nonsense! I think you've just been scared out of your wits by that greenhorn!"

"You've been slacking in the Public Security Bureau for so many years and ended up in this pathetic state. Who's to blame? Blame your own lack of ability!"

"Xiao Dong wants to get things done, and if you won't help, fine, but don't make sarcastic remarks!"

"I have no ability?"

Deputy Director Chen Ling also stood up and roared, "If I had no ability, would you be living in this villa? If I had no ability, would Chen Dong be sitting here completely fine?"

"How many messes have I cleaned up for your brother's crappy club?"

Yu Liping argued completely unreasonably, "Leaving the facts aside, are you saying you did absolutely nothing wrong?"

"Not to mention those homewrecking vixens you keep on the side! If it weren't for our years of marriage, I would have reported you to the Discipline Inspection Commission long ago!"

Deputy Director Chen Ling's face turned pale. His lips trembled a couple of times before he violently whipped his sleeve, turned around, and stormed toward the door.

He slammed the door shut with a thunderous bang, causing the entire house to shudder.

Yu Liping stood where she was, her chest still heaving. Her eyes were red, but she didn't shed any tears.

Chen Dong quickly leaned in and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Sis, don't be angry. Brother-in-law is just being cautious. He's under a lot of pressure at this critical juncture."

"He's under pressure?"

Yu Liping sneered, her voice trembling. "He's off to find that little vixen again."

"Do you think I don't know? He's keeping a female college student on the side. A senior, very young and tender."

"I'm forty now, past my prime, and can't compare to those young girls."

Chen Dong's hand slid down from her shoulder to her waist, gently pulling her closer.

"You're not old, Sis. You have far more flavor than those young girls."

Yu Liping's body stiffened slightly, but she didn't push him away or move. Chen Dong's hand slowly caressed her waist, feeling her softness through the silk bathrobe.

No matter how well a forty-year-old woman maintained herself, she couldn't match the delicacy of a twenty-year-old, but she possessed a different kind of plump, warm charm.

"Sis, Brother-in-law doesn't know how to cherish you. It's his loss."

Yu Liping turned her head and glanced at him.

In her eyes, there was mock annoyance, helplessness, and something indefinable.

Chen Dong was ten years younger than Yu Liping. He had just turned thirty this year, a time of peak vigor.

He wasn't particularly handsome, but he had the advantage of youth, carrying a warmth and energy that Deputy Director Chen Ling had long lost.

"You're just the same as you were in high school."

Yu Liping's voice softened, carrying a faint hint of complaint.

Chen Dong tightened his grip, pulling her entirely into his embrace.

"You still remember high school, Sis?"

Yu Liping didn't speak. With her face pressed against his chest, smelling the scent of a young man, her heart skipped a few beats.

Chen Dong lowered his head, his lips brushing against her earlobe.

"Back then, the college entrance exam pressure was so high. It was all thanks to your help, Sis..."

"Shut up."

"Only back then when I was young did I let a brat like you take complete advantage of me."

Chen Dong smiled and scooped her up in his arms.

Yu Liping let out a soft gasp and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her bathrobe fell open, the purple silk sliding down to reveal a large expanse of snow-white skin.

"Sis, the duties that Brother-in-law fails to fulfill, I'll fulfill them for him as your brother."

Yu Liping buried her face in the crook of his neck, neither speaking nor struggling.

The bedroom door closed, leaving only the spilled tea in the living room, dripping down the edge of the coffee table drop by drop.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director Chen Ling's car was driving toward a residential community in the east of the city. He held the steering wheel with one hand and took out his phone with the other, finding a contact saved as "Xiao Man" and dialing it.

"Hello!"

His voice still carried the anger of the argument he just had, but he had already suppressed it.

"I'll be there in ten minutes. Come down and meet me."

A young girl's voice came from the other end of the line, soft and carrying a nasal tone as if she had just woken up.

"Brother Chen, it's so late..."

"Cut the crap."

Deputy Director Chen Ling hung up and threw his phone onto the passenger seat.

Outside the car window, streetlights receded one by one.

Yu Liping was right; he did have someone on the side.

That girl, Xiao Man, was twenty-one this year, a senior studying broadcasting and hosting in the provincial capital. She was beautiful, had a lovely voice, and was uninhibited in bed.

He went to the provincial capital two or three times a month, staying for two or three days each time. He rented an apartment for her and sent her five thousand yuan a month for living expenses.

Keeping her was much more cost-effective than keeping Yu Liping. That shrew Yu Liping had a terrible temper and a huge appetite. How much money had she spent of his over the years?

The villa, the car, those designer bags and clothes—which of them hadn't he paid for?

Yet there she was, living off him at home, and even siding with her brother to argue with him.

The more Deputy Director Chen Ling thought about it, the angrier he became. He stepped on the gas, and the car accelerated sharply, surging far down the empty street.

Arriving at the residential community in the east of the city, he parked the car, lit a cigarette, and took a couple of puffs while leaning back against his seat.

As the smoke drifted through the car cabin, he squinted and watched it for a moment before pushing the door open and stepping out.

Below the apartment building, a girl in a white dress stood under a streetlight, waiting for him.

Her long hair was draped over her shoulders, her face small, and her chin pointed. She was indeed young, and indeed beautiful.

Seeing him, the girl jogged over and took his arm.

Deputy Director Chen Ling glanced down at her. Suddenly feeling irritable, he tightened his arm around Xiao Man, pulling her closer into his chest.

"Let's go up."

Xiao Man felt a bit of pain from his tight grip, but she didn't dare make a sound, obediently following him into the building entrance.

Tonight was destined to be painful, but there was nothing she could do. Money was hard to earn these days...