144: Chapter 144 Bai Jie Gives Money

When Director Bai Jie knocked on the door, Township Head Jiang Tiansheng was sitting alone in the living room watching TV.

Yu Lili had gone back to her parents' home today, saying she was going to visit her sick mother. Township Head Jiang Tiansheng had not stopped her, nor did he have any intention of accompanying her.

The TV was on, the volume low, but he wasn't really watching what was playing; his mind was churning over the events of the past few days.

How far had the Discipline Inspection Commission's investigation gone? What would Xu Weidong's next move be? Who could still be used, and who could no longer be relied upon...

These questions buzzed in his mind like a swarm of flies, impossible to drive away.

The doorbell rang three times. Township Head Jiang Tiansheng paused, surprised. Who could be coming at this hour?

He stood up, walked to the door, and peered through the peephole. He frowned.

Director Bai Jie?

What was she doing here?

He hesitated for a second, then opened the door.

Director Bai Jie stood at the doorway, wearing a dark coat.

Her hair was tied in a ponytail, her face was without makeup, and she was carrying a dark handbag.

The bag wasn't large, but it was bulging, as if something was stuffed inside.

Her expression was calm, betraying no emotion, as if she were doing something perfectly normal.

"Township Head Jiang, sorry to disturb you. May I come in and have a word?"

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng glanced at her and stepped aside to let her in.

Director Bai Jie changed her shoes, walked into the living room, and sat on the sofa.

She didn't look around or engage in small talk. She placed her bag on her lap and took out a kraft paper envelope, which was thick and bulging.

She placed the envelope on the coffee table and pushed it toward Township Head Jiang Tiansheng with a natural movement, as if she were handing over an ordinary document.

"Township Head Jiang, this is a small token of my appreciation. It's not much, but please accept it."

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng's gaze fell on the envelope and stayed there for a full ten seconds.

He didn't reach for it, but leaned back against the sofa, looking at Director Bai Jie with a slight curl of his lips.

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng hadn't expected that even with the situation having deteriorated to this point, someone would still be willing to bring money to curry favor with him.

Those people from the Water Conservancy Station, the Family Planning Station, and the Statistics Station—weren't they all promoted by his own hand?

Now that trouble had arisen, they wouldn't even show their faces or make a single phone call, eager as they were to distance themselves from him.

Those who came this morning, although they brought gifts and said, "Township Head Jiang, you can't just abandon us," how many of them were sincere?

They were all looking out for themselves, afraid the fire would spread to them.

But Director Bai Jie was different. She was Luan Ping's person, brought up by Luan Ping himself.

Luan Ping was Township Head Jiang Tiansheng's loyal subordinate, having followed him in Hukuang Township for so many years without ever wavering.

Director Bai Jie's success today, from Legal Affairs Officer to Director of the Comprehensive Management Office, was inseparable from Luan Ping's recommendation and support at every step.

Her coming to deliver money at this time, Township Head Jiang Tiansheng found both unexpected and reasonable.

What was unexpected was that, given Director Bai Jie's personality, she didn't seem like the type to do such a thing.

She was the famous "Iron Lady" of Hukuang Township, an expert at resolving disputes, a model worker every year, and never one to engage in crooked business.

What was reasonable was that she was Luan Ping's person; if Luan Ping's ship sank, she wouldn't be able to escape either.

She came to deliver money to save Luan Ping, and also to save herself.

"Little Bai, what is the meaning of this?"

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng's voice was unhurried, his gaze sweeping across Director Bai Jie's face as if trying to find a flaw in her expression.

Director Bai Jie met his gaze without flinching. Her voice was not loud, but every word was clear.

"Township Head Jiang, I have served as Director of the Comprehensive Management Office for these years because Committee Member Luan brought me up."

"You know full well how Committee Member Luan feels about you. The situation in the township is not good right now, and some people are looking for opportunities to kick us while we're down."

"I don't want to say anything flowery; I just hope you can protect yourself and Committee Member Luan."

"This money is not much; it is my own savings, and it has nothing to do with anyone else."

"If you accept it, I will feel at ease."

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng listened, tapping his fingers lightly on his knee.

Director Bai Jie's words sounded sincere, not fabricated.

But Township Head Jiang Tiansheng had been in Hukuang Township for so many years; what kind of people hadn't he seen?

He had seen too many people who spoke nicely to your face but stabbed you in the back.

He suddenly thought of another possibility, a thought that made a chill run down his spine.

Could Director Bai Jie think that their ship was sinking, and in order to save herself and Luan Ping, she was deliberately trying to bribe him to obtain evidence of his bribery, which she would then present to Xu Weidong as a pledge of loyalty?

Once this thought emerged, he couldn't suppress it.

The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed!

It was true that Director Bai Jie was Luan Ping's person, but Luan Ping was already unable to protect himself.

If Director Bai Jie wanted to defect to Xu Weidong, she needed a substantial pledge of loyalty.

And what could be more substantial than evidence of a Township Head accepting bribes?

He glanced at Director Bai Jie; her expression remained calm, showing no flaws.

But Township Head Jiang Tiansheng knew that the calmer some people appeared, the more guilty they were inside.

He leaned back against the sofa, lit a cigarette, took a puff, and exhaled slowly.

"Comrade Bai Jie, I appreciate your intentions."

"But I cannot accept this money."

He pushed the envelope back, his tone neither salty nor bland.

"These are extraordinary times; no one knows what will happen tomorrow. You should just live your own life well and stay out of these matters."

Director Bai Jie did not reach for the envelope; it lay quietly on the coffee table between them.

"Township Head Jiang, I am not here to interfere."

"I am here to take a stand."

Her voice was still calm, but her tone was firmer than before.

"No matter how the township changes, my attitude toward Committee Member Luan will not change. I will treat you just as Committee Member Luan treats you."

"If you don't accept this money, that means you don't trust me."

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng looked at her, silent for a long while.

He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, leaned forward, and let his gaze sweep across Director Bai Jie's face with a recklessness he had never shown before.

"Director Bai, I find myself increasingly unable to read you."

"You have worked in Hukuang Township for these years, and I have always thought you were a talent. Capable, responsible, and good-looking, too."

"It is Luan Ping's good fortune to have brought you up."

Director Bai Jie's brows furrowed slightly, but she didn't respond.

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng stood up, walked over, and sat on the sofa next to Director Bai Jie, sitting uncomfortably close.

He turned his body to look at her, his gaze sliding from her face to her neck, then from her neck to her chest, without any concealment, carrying the greed typical of an older man.

He reached out to pick up the envelope from the coffee table, weighed it in his hand, and then put it down, his movements unhurried.

"Director Bai, how much is in this envelope?"

Director Bai Jie's body tensed slightly, but her face showed no change.

"Fifty thousand."

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng laughed, a light laugh filled with an indescribable ambiguity.

"Fifty thousand yuan, and you want to buy peace of mind?"

"What is the market rate right now? The word 'peace' is not so easily bought."

Director Bai Jie's expression changed for a moment, but quickly returned to normal.

She looked at Township Head Jiang Tiansheng, her eyes filled with a trace of vigilance.

"Township Head Jiang, what do you mean by this?"

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng did not answer.

He reached out and patted the back of Director Bai Jie's hand, his fingers lingering on the back of her hand for two seconds before slowly sliding across it.

The movement was very light, so light that it felt like a probe, or perhaps a suggestion.

Director Bai Jie's hand recoiled as if burned, but she didn't stand up, nor did she speak.

"Director Bai, someone as smart as you cannot possibly not understand what I mean."

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng's voice was very low, low enough to sound like a whisper.

"You came to see me because you want to ask for a favor."

"When asking for a favor, one must show sincerity. Money is sincerity, but it is not just money."

"Do you understand what I mean?"

Director Bai Jie's face finally showed a distinct change; her lips were pressed tightly together, her fingers clutching the hem of her clothes.

She looked at Township Head Jiang Tiansheng, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng watched her reaction, his mind spinning rapidly.

He was testing Director Bai Jie. If she had come to obtain leverage, she would endure his flirtation to get evidence, and might even actively comply.

If she had come to genuinely ask for a favor, she would refuse outright, or even leave in anger.

These two reactions corresponded to two different motives.

He wanted to see which one Director Bai Jie was.

He reached out and placed his hand on Director Bai Jie's shoulder, his fingers lightly kneading her shoulder with a seasoned, provocative touch.

"Director Bai, think clearly."

"In Hukuang Township right now, there aren't many people left who can protect you."

"If you are willing, I, Township Head Jiang Tiansheng, am not someone who goes back on his word."

Director Bai Jie's body stiffened. She lowered her head and stared at the kraft paper envelope on the coffee table for a long time.