“Jiang Hongbin reported to you directly. Wasn’t that an act out of line? Because I remember that his immediate superior is Xiao Nuo. Could his direct leader lie to him? Besides, if I remember well, you aren’t in charge of the criminal police team. Sure enough, going above one’s immediate leader is not an appropriate act, but is taking others’ job a reasonable thing?”
Director Qi was 56, two years older than Liu Hanjiang. At this time, he was greatly provoked by Liu Hanjiang’s hidden sarcasm, and even his calm voice became slightly more explosive at this moment.
“You… even if I am not responsible for the criminal police team, I am still the Deputy Director. When the bureau made the irrational decision to hire such an adviser, I suppose that I have the right to know that, right?”
Trying hard to suppress the anger in his heart, Liu Hanjiang said in a cold tone.
“Old Liu, here I have to correct several mistakes of yours. First of all, he is not a special adviser hired by the bureau, but by the Criminal Police Corps. Thus, Captain Xiao certainly can make the decision all alone, let alone that she had asked my opinion. From beginning to end, she obeyed the rules. Secondly, you said something wrong. It was never an irrational decision. Ding Ning is a very excellent doctor whose name was even recorded by the National Ministry of Health. Well, Secretary Xu can approve this. Then, why did you think it was an irrational idea to hire Ding Ning as an adviser? Finally, as our bureau’s deputy director, you certainly have the right to know the truth. Initially, I was prepared to announce the decision at the regular meeting tomorrow. But to my surprise, you were so impatient that you actually rushed to ask me tonight.”
The few well-founded critical words silenced Liu Hanjiang for a long time.
Seeing Director Qi get him into this matter, Secretary Xu, who buttoned up his mouth all the time, could only smile bitterly in his heart while nodding. “That’s right. Doctor Ding is indeed an excellent doctor. Minister Jiang of the Ministry of Health very appreciates him. Many hospitals vie with one another to get him. Our criminal police team was lucky enough to have him as your adviser. Our team members may encounter some injuries that are difficult for ordinary doctors to treat during the process when they handle a case. At least, Doctor Ding can be the last guarantee of their lives at that time.”
As Secretary Xu was speaking highly of Ding Ning, Liu Hanjiang’s expression changed dramatically. It took him a long time to force a smile. “Okay, I see. I will persuade Hongbin to support the arrangement of our bureau. Well, then Director Qi, Secretary Xu, take your time to talk. I will go back first.”
“Well, Old Liu, no hurry. If you have any doubts in the future, do communicate with us in time and don’t be so careless. After all, you are an old man now, right?”
Director Qi yelled at the back of Liu Hanjiang, which made Liu Hanjiang stumble all of a sudden and almost fell to the ground.
“Look at you. See, I told you to slow down. But why can’t you be more careful? If anything goes wrong with you after you fall to the ground, I will be too ashamed to tell your wife about this.”
Hypocritically, Director Qi shouted out his fake concerns. Well, this act of him nearly sent Liu Hanjiang’s blood spurting from his mouth. Gnashing his teeth in hatred, he said, “Thank you for your concern, Director Qi.” And then, he ran away.
Two minutes later, Director Qi and Secretary Xu went out of the office. When they passed Deputy Director Liu’s office, they heard that someone smashed a cup. After exchanging a look, they thought with amusement, “This guy must be angry as hell.”
“Director Qi, the relationship between you two is so strained now. How can you work together in the future?”
Secretary Xu asked with concern. After all, he was the most senior leader here so that he knew that he should take the whole situation into account.
“We are used to get along with each other like this. But when we are working, we cooperate in the way we should. Both of us are afraid of leaving some vulnerable points that the other side may capitalize on. As a result, we are now actually working much more diligently and carefully than before. We are a characteristic feature of Ninghai’s Municipal Police Bureau.”
Right away, Director Qi waved his hand and said disapprovingly.
With a wry smile, Secretary Xu shook his head. “It is impossible for a group with two disunited leaders to make achievements. In the past two months, bad things frequently happened in Ninghai. And their bad relationship may be part of the reason for the worsening public security situation. ‘Two tigers cannot live on the same mountain.’ Absolutely! I should report this thing to Mayor Du in time and figure out a proper solution.”
“Deputy Director Liu, what the hell is going on? Who made you so angry?”
In the office of the deputy director, Jiang Hongbin asked a little nervously after he spotted Liu Hanjiang’s gloomy look.
“The godd*med old b*stard Qi Ruoxian nearly drove me crazy.”
Gasping heavily, Liu Hanjiang took a long time to calm himself down. He glanced at Jiang Hongbin’s ugly face and sighed in a somber mood.
“Hongbin, Qi Ruoxian talked a lot about other affairs but never discussed the problem I brought up directly. In addition to that, he made an issue of the affair and accused you of reporting to me instead of your direct leader. Moreover, he brutally blamed me for taking others’ jobs. After all, he is the director, and his critical words made me speechless. I think I am not capable enough to help you. Alas!”
“Director Qi has gone too far. Deputy Director Liu, relax. Later on, I will tell my uncle that Qi Ruoxian always makes a mess in his position and doesn’t want to go by the rules. He is no longer suitable for this position as a director.”
Gritting his teeth with hatred, Jiang Hongbin said all of this while clenching his fists, the muscles on his face twisting.
“About this… Hongbin, pardon me for speaking frankly and don’t get mad. Your uncle is only a Deputy Mayor. Recently, Qi Ruoxian has been very close to Mayor Du. Thus, I am afraid that even your uncle can’t do anything with him too.”
A touch of slight delight flickered over Liu Hanjiang’s eyes, but still, he deliberately dropped these words.
But Jiang Hongbin smiled proudly. “For now, my uncle is not as powerful as Mayor Du. But it is only temporarily because Mayor Du’s backer has already started to abandon him. Before long, my uncle will get his chance. They can’t always be so proud of themselves.”
His words lifted Liu Hanjiang’s spirit. But still, he asked in disbelief, “Are you serious?”
Jiang Hongbin nervously closed the door and whispered, “Some time ago, I went to my uncle’s house for dinner. After a call, he told me the news personally. Usually, he does not drink. But that night, he was thrilled. I accompanied him, and we drank a pound of Maotai (a kind of world-renowned hard liquor, a real Chinese specialty). I asked him why he was so delighted. At first, he was reluctant to tell me anything. But later, he couldn’t help telling me the secret when he was “high” because of the drinking. He warned me again and again not to leak the news. Director Liu, you have always been very good to me, so I never treat you as an outsider. Today, you were wronged because of me. But you can rest assured. When my uncle has the power in his grip, the first thing he will do is to purge the public security system. I will tell my uncle beforehand to leave the director’s position for you.”
A glimmer of cupidity flashed at the bottom of Liu Hanjiang’s eyes. Immediately, he took out a cigarette, lit it, and gave it to Jiang Hongbin with respect. Then, he said in his oily voice, “From now on, I will be counting on you, Young Master Jiang.”
“Haha, we are good buddies. By that time, we can cooperate, and the whole public security system will be within our grasp. As long as you can handle the affairs well for my uncle, he will never treat us unfairly.”
Casually, Jiang Hongbin patted Liu Hanjiang’s shoulder and laughed with great satisfaction.
“In the future, you will be the young master of Ninghai, and I will be your man. I am willing to do anything for you. Haha!”
At this time, Jiang Hongbin was eaten up with pride and totally forgot that Liu Hanjiang was above him in the pecking order. But the displeasure emerged at the bottom of Liu Hanjiang’s eyes flashed away. In no time, his face was all obsequious smiles. Together with Jiang Hongbin, he also burst into laughter.
“We should tolerate the thing that happened today for the time being. When my uncle is in power, no matter it is Qi Ruoxian or Ding Ning, let’s send all of them to hell.”
At this moment, Jiang Hongbin’s eyes were full of hatred that could give others the creeps. “And that Xiao Nuo, I know that she proudly relies on Qi Ruoxian’s support. Sooner or later, I will make her kneel before me to please me.”
However, he did not notice that Liu Hanjiang shivered involuntarily when he heard these vicious words. The looks Liu Hanjiang cast upon him became increasingly weird, showing a mix of feelings, and one of them was called pity.
Jiang Hongbin, who was now stunned by the desire of power, couldn’t control his mouth. To show off, he deliberately said with a pretended, sophisticated tone. “I will tell Director Liu a little more inside information.”
“Oh, Young Master Jiang, go ahead. I am all ears.” Liu Hanjiang erected his ears and put on a humble posture.
“Lately, incidents happened frequently in Ninghai, and the public security of Ninghai is now in utter confusion. But do you think that all of this happened only by accident?”
Feeling highly flattered, Jiang Hongbin proudly crossed his legs. He took a long slow pull at his cigarette and blew a smoke ring at ease. “Tell you the truth, people behind my uncle have started to make their moves. The greater the chaos in Ninghai, the more disadvantages it will bring to Mayor Du. At the same time, the worsening situation showed that he has no ability to be a mayor, and hence, it is easier to bring him down, do you understand?”
“Oh, this is the case. I finally know why incidents happened one after another in Ninghai recently. But if this situation continues, will it bring any bad influence to us?”
It looked as if Liu Hanjiang was suddenly enlightened, and then he asked with some concern.
“Don’t worry, Deputy Director Liu. My uncle will back us and no matter how unlucky things happen, it is not our turn to worry about ourselves because Director Qi will be the one to bear the brunt. What does a leader do? He must stand up and take the responsibility at crucial moments, hahaha.”
Jiang Hongbin said proudly, feeling in full control.
“Brilliant, Young Master Jiang.” With a face full of joy, Liu Hanjiang held up his thumb in approval.
“Well, all of this is between you and me. Never tell anyone else. Otherwise, if anything goes wrong, we will be in trouble. I should leave now. It won’t be good if Qi Ruoxian sees that we are together.”
Jiang Hongbin ashed the cigarette, stood up, and walked out with a smile.
“Take care, Young Master Jiang.”
After seeing Jiang Hongbin off, Liu Hanjiang checked around carefully. When he was sure that there was no one around, he closed the door and dialed a number. Then, with a respectful and cautious look, he said, “Hello, Mayor Du? I am Hanjiang. I have something important to report to you.”
…
“Nuonuo, this was all that had happened. If you came here a little later, I could break Li Xiaoman’s psychological defense, and she would tell me her past that she was unwilling to mention at first.”
Outside the No. 7 interrogation room, Ding Ning honestly told Xiao Nuo about the whole process of interrogating Li Xiaoman.
“Are you sure you didn’t have any evil idea to her?”
In her heart, Xiao Nuo chose to believe Ding Ning long ago, but she still asked skeptically.
Grumpily, Ding Ning rolled his eyes. “I have already had you, my gorgeous beauty. So, how could I have any evil thoughts on her? I am not that stupid.”
Xiao Nuo’s cheeks turned bright red, and she felt a touch of sweetness in her heart. Coquettishly, she banged her fist on his chest. “Hmm, men are animals that think with their lower bodies. Li Xiaoman is good-looking, and she took the initiative to send herself in your arms. I don’t believe that you were not tempted.”
“Alas! You are insanely jealous. I really admire your imagination.” Mischievously, Ding Ning looked deep into her eyes.
“Humm, you wish! Who, who is jealous because of you?”
Under his gaze, Xiao Nuo felt flustered in her heart. Her long eyelashes flickering and eyes casting down, she denied with her lips but affirmed in her heart. Her elegant long and white neck also flushed, and a layer of red color emerged there.
“Nuonuo, you are so beautiful!”
Spotting her shy and tender look, Ding Ning felt his heart raced fast all of a sudden, and then he said affectionately, his mouth parched and tongue scorched.
Before Xiao Nuo could react, Ding Ning had already reached out and grabbed her shoulders. He let her rest in his arms.
“You… what are you doing? This, this is the criminal police team. Don’t, don’t try anything.”
Now Xiao Nuo was utterly confused. Her rational mind told her that she couldn’t act too intimate with him at this place, but she did not want to leave his arms in the subconscious.
“Then, you mean that as long as we are not in the criminal police team’s place, you are willing to playing around with me.”
Ding Ning’s naughty and affectionate voice drilled into her ears, which even made her ears burn and flush. Feeling ashamed, she got up the courage and struggled to break free from his arms.
“Don’t move! Be good!”
Ding Ning’s overbearing but gentle voice came to her. Then, her whole body froze, and obediently, she stopped struggling.
After that, she suddenly felt a little cold on her chest. To her surprise, she looked down and found that there appeared a black cicada on her chest. Being much scared by the scene, she screamed and fell backward.
“Don’t be afraid. It is a gift for you.”
Ding Ning embraced her soft waist with both hands and chuckled lightly in her ear.
