223: Chapter 223 What do you mean by "I ordered"?

When the call from Police Chief Zheng Xilin, Secretary of the Municipal Political and Legal Affairs Commission, came in, Secretary Lin Juncai was in his office reviewing documents.

He glanced at the caller ID, put down his pen, leaned back in his chair, and spoke in an indifferent tone.

"Comrade Xilin, what is it?"

Police Chief Zheng Xilin's voice came through the receiver, carrying the caution and discretion of a subordinate reporting to a superior.

"Secretary Lin, I have a situation to report to you. Something happened in Changyuan County last night; Xu Weidong's car was rear-ended."

"The perpetrator is named Li Liancun, a lackey of someone named Wei Bao in Changyuan County. After interrogation, Li Liancun confessed that he was instigated by someone, and the person who instigated him is Zheng Ze."

Secretary Liu Qingfeng was on Police Chief Zheng Xilin's line, and Police Chief Zheng Xilin was Secretary Lin Juncai's trusted aide, so after hearing Secretary Liu Qingfeng's report, Police Chief Zheng Xilin immediately reported to Secretary Lin Juncai.

Secretary Lin Juncai's fingers twitched slightly, his voice remaining flat.

"Zheng Ze? Zheng Dongguo's youngest son?"

"Yes, that's him. The Changyuan County Public Security Bureau has already submitted the relevant materials; the chain of evidence is relatively complete, and the perpetrator has confessed."

"Of course, there may be some details in this that need further verification."

"But preliminarily, Zheng Ze is highly suspicious."

Secretary Lin Juncai was silent for a moment. Xu Weidong had been rear-ended, and the perpetrator had named Zheng Ze.

Who was Zheng Ze?

Zheng Dongguo's youngest son, the Zheng family's greatest vulnerability in Lüjiang City.

Could there be no one behind this?

"Comrade Xilin, I know about this matter. Do not make a scene for now; I will coordinate with Deputy Secretary You Chuan."

"As for Changyuan County, tell the Public Security Bureau to handle it according to the law. Do not escalate it, but do not downplay it either."

"Understood."

Secretary Lin Juncai hung up the phone and sat in his chair for a while. He picked up the intercom on his desk and dialed Deputy Secretary You Chuan's number.

Although he and Deputy Secretary You Chuan disagreed on many issues, their interests were aligned on this matter.

If the Zheng family's matter was handled well, the political scene in Lüjiang City could transition smoothly.

If handled poorly, no one would have an easy time.

"Deputy Secretary You Chuan, there is a matter I need to coordinate with you on."

Secretary Lin Juncai briefly recounted the situation reported by Police Chief Zheng Xilin. Deputy Secretary You Chuan was silent for a long time after hearing it, his breathing on the other end of the line growing heavier.

"Secretary Lin Juncai, what do you mean?"

"I mean, do not escalate this matter for now. Zheng Dongguo is still in his hospital bed; we cannot provoke him at this time."

"You are close to him; find an opportunity to tell him about it tactfully."

"Let him know about this, and let him know that we are keeping a lid on it. As for what he does, that is his business."

"Okay."

Zheng Dongguo learned about this the next morning. Deputy Secretary You Chuan did not call; he came to the hospital in person.

When he entered the hospital room, Zheng Dongguo was leaning against the headboard, and the Old Housekeeper was feeding him porridge nearby.

Seeing Deputy Secretary You Chuan enter, Zheng Dongguo waved his hand, and the Old Housekeeper put down the bowl and withdrew.

"Xiao Chuan, why are you here?"

Zheng Dongguo's voice was weak, but his gaze remained sharp.

Deputy Secretary You Chuan sat down by his bed, deliberated for a moment, and then spoke.

"Zheng Dongguo, there is a matter I feel I should tell you about; something happened in Changyuan County."

"Xu Weidong's car was rear-ended, and the perpetrator confessed that he was instigated by someone."

"The person who instigated him is named Zheng Ze."

Zheng Dongguo's expression did not change, but his fingers gripping the corner of the quilt tightened.

He said nothing, his gaze fixed on a point on the ceiling for a long time.

"Xiao Chuan, I understand. Thank you for telling me."

Deputy Secretary You Chuan stood up, looked at him, wanted to say something, but in the end, said nothing.

He turned and walked out, the sound of the door closing very soft.

Only Zheng Dongguo was left in the hospital room. The early winter sunlight outside the window shone through the glass, landing on his graying hair.

He closed his eyes, his mind racing, going over the ins and outs of this matter again and again.

From the sealing of Cuican Fireworks, to General Manager Hu Dakuan's escape, to Zheng Ze calling him to ask him to intervene, and finally to last night's rear-ending...

A single thread, clear and distinct.

This was not targeting Zheng Ze; it was targeting him, targeting the Zheng family.

Those people dared not touch him because he still had contributions to Fengtian Province, because he still had influence in Lüjiang City, and because they did not want to bear the infamy of "purging old comrades."

So they used Zheng Ze as a scapegoat!

The more unfortunate Zheng Ze was, the worse the Zheng family's reputation would become, and the less valuable his political legacy in Lüjiang City would be.

When he died, if his eldest son, Zheng Xin, wanted to advance further, he would be burdened with the label of "Zheng Ze's brother," making it impossible to move forward.

He opened his eyes, his gaze cloudy, but deep within that cloudiness lay a glimmer of light.

He called Zheng Ze over, wanting to try one last time.

Zheng Ze arrived quickly. When he entered, there was a trace of impatience on his face, thinking the old man was going to lecture him again.

He sat on the sofa, crossing his legs, waiting for the old man to speak.

"You scoundrel, what have you done now?"

Zheng Dongguo's voice was calm, as calm as a stagnant pool of water.

Zheng Ze was taken aback and said, "I haven't been anywhere at home."

"Haven't been anywhere? Then Xu Weidong's car was rear-ended, and the perpetrator said you instigated it. How do you explain that?"

Zheng Ze stood up abruptly, the expression on his face changing from astonishment to anger.

"What? I instigated it? When did I ever instigate someone to rear-end Xu Weidong?"

"Dad, this is a frame-up! I don't even know the perpetrator!"

"Even if I'm a scoundrel, I wouldn't hire someone to rear-end Xu Weidong, would I? What good would that do me? Wouldn't I be asking for death? Someone is deliberately framing me!"

Zheng Dongguo looked at him, and the last glimmer of light in his eyes extinguished.

What he cared about was not whether Zheng Ze had done it or not, but Zheng Ze's reaction.

Zheng Ze's first reaction was to defend himself, to shift blame, to be angry.

He did not ask what this would mean for him, did not ask what this would mean for the Zheng family, and did not ask what the people behind this really wanted to do.

He only thought of himself, his own innocence, and his own grievances.

A truly intelligent person, when knowing they have been framed, should not react with anger first, but with thought.

Zheng Ze did not; he only had anger, only grievances, only unwillingness.

Such a person was not worth him wasting his last bit of energy on.

"That's enough, I know. You go back first; I will handle this matter."

Zheng Ze wanted to say something more, but Zheng Dongguo had already closed his eyes.

Zheng Ze opened his mouth, but in the end, said nothing. He turned and walked out, leaving the door slightly ajar.

Zheng Dongguo listened to the retreating footsteps in the hallway, reached out to pick up the phone by the bed, and dialed Chairman Zheng Yan's number.

Chairman Zheng Yan was in Lvjiang City inspecting projects and staying at a five-star hotel in the development zone.

When he received the old man's call, he was in a symposium with several business leaders. Seeing the caller ID, he stood up, said "Sorry," walked out of the conference room, and found an empty corner to answer.

"Dad."

"Second son, are you still in Lvjiang City?"

"Yes, Dad. How is your health? I will come to see you this afternoon."

"No need to come. I have something I need you to do."

"Dad, tell me."

"Zheng Ze cannot be kept."

"Find a way to send him away decently. Do not leave any future troubles, and do not let anyone catch any leverage."

Chairman Zheng Yan's hand holding the phone trembled slightly. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Dad, I understand. I will arrange it."

Zheng Dongguo said nothing and hung up the phone.

Chairman Zheng Yan stood in the hallway, holding the phone, his gaze fixed on the gray sky outside the window.

He had been working in the business world for many years, had experienced all kinds of storms, and had made all kinds of decisions.

But this time it was different; this time it was his younger brother.

Although he was not a good person—a playboy, a spendthrift, and a scoundrel—he was, after all, his younger brother, and the same blood flowed in their veins.

In the end, Chairman Zheng Yan lowered his head and dialed a number.

"Old Wu, help me make an appointment with Zheng Ze."

"Tomorrow night, I will treat him to dinner at the Oasis Hotel."

"Yes, you arrange it."