As soon as the words were spoken,

Zhang Zuxing appeared at the door and said, "Ge Weijun's car has arrived."

Liu Jiayang slapped the armrest of the sofa and stood up, saying, "Alright, then let's go meet this new mayor. Remember, one principle, we can't let Chen Fang get into any trouble for the time being."

At the entrance of the Customs Building.

A Coaster bus slowly made its way in.

As soon as the door opened,

Liu Jiayang took the initiative to welcome them.

When the door opened, Ge Weijun, dressed in a governmental jacket, slowly stepped down.

The welcoming team at Customs erupted into thunderous applause, everyone's faces beaming with joy, very much like the scene when they welcomed Chen Fang that day.

"Mayor Ge, welcome to Customs for your inspection."

Liu Jiayang reached out his hand first.

After shaking hands, Ge Weijun said with a beaming smile, "Director Liu, sorry to trouble your Customs."

"What talk of trouble, Mayor Ge? It's an honor for us all that you've come to guide our work."

"Hahaha..."

After a round of high-sounding talk had finished,

Ge Weijun shook hands with the Customs leaders one by one, led by Liu Jiayang.

The others merely exchanged brief greetings.

When it came to Chen Fang's turn, Ge Weijun pretended to be surprised and said, "Huh, Comrade Chen Fang, you've been transferred to Customs too?"

It was a question he obviously knew the answer to.

After all, the two had just met a few days ago at the entrance of a restaurant.

Chen Fang smiled faintly and said, "Well, 'wherever the people need me is where I will go,' right?"

Ge Weijun laughed and turned to Liu Jiayang, saying, "Director Liu, you might not know this, but I consider myself an old friend of Comrade Chen Fang. Back when Chen Fang was recommended for the position of deputy county head, it was I who first brought it up. Isn't that right, Comrade Chen Fang?"

That was indeed the truth.

At the inauguration ceremony of Inde Vocational Technical School that year,

it was indeed Ge Weijun who nominated Chen Fang to be the deputy county head and the leader of the preparatory group.

But strictly speaking, he was the one who made the nomination, but the actual decision was made by someone else.

After the nomination, for quite a long time, the matter was left unresolved, and no one mentioned it again.

"Yes, yes, I still have to thank Mayor Ge for the promotion and cultivation."

Chen Fang said politely.

"You're too modest, Comrade Chen Fang is truly capable. Alright, enough reminiscing. Director Liu, shall we go in..."

With that said,

just as everyone was about to enter the building with Ge Weijun,

a distant siren sounded.

Looking back in confusion, they saw two police cars enter through the main gate, one after another.

As soon as the doors of both cars opened,

four police officers alighted, the one in the lead looking to be in his forties. Upon seeing Ge Weijun, he too jogged over to greet him.

He saluted Ge Weijun respectfully,

saying, "Good day, Mayor Ge."

"Zheng Hao? What brings you here?"

Ge Weijun asked with a frown.

That Zheng Hao was a member of the Party group of Wen'an City Public Security Bureau and the head of the Huadu District Public Security Sub-bureau.

Zheng Hao looked around the crowd and his gaze fell on Chen Fang.

After a pause of a second, he looked back at Ge Weijun and said respectfully, "Mayor Ge, may I have a word with you in private?"

"What's this about talking in private? We're all comrades here, say whatever you have to say,"

Ge Weijun chastised.

Despite looking troubled, Zheng Hao nodded in agreement since the mayor had put it that way, and said, "Reporting to Mayor Ge, our sub-bureau received a report alleging that Deputy Director Chen Fang of Customs intentionally caused serious injury. I was... wanting to take Comrade Chen Fang back for questioning."

"Nonsense! Zheng Hao, do you think this makes any sense? Comrade Chen Fang is the Deputy Director of the Sea Customs, how could he intentionally harm anyone? Has the situation been clarified?"

Just after Zheng Hao finished speaking,

Ge Weijun rebuked him.

The two acted in concert, their partnership almost perfect.

It was truly a pity they weren't actors.

Zheng Hao nodded, saying, "Regarding the evidence, we've confirmed it repeatedly. We found both eyewitnesses and physical evidence, which is why we daringly came to the Customs to ask about it."

Ge Weijun frowned,

turned to Liu Jiayang and said, "Director Liu, about this matter..."

At this moment, Liu Jiayang was naturally feeling tense.

Chen Fang was his arrow aimed at Zuo Jiadong. It was not easy to get the arrow on the string, and if Chen Fang were to break at this point, it would mean all the previous efforts had been wasted.

After a pause, he said, "Mayor Ge, I think there must be some misunderstanding. Comrade Chen Fang has only recently started working at the Customs. How could he possibly intend to harm anyone? It doesn't make sense either emotionally or rationally."

"Well... then that's tricky."

Ge Weijun's gaze turned toward Chen Fang.

He said, "Comrade Chen Fang, about this incident..."

Chen Fang, unruffled, looked at Zheng Hao and asked, "Director Zheng, I can go back with you, but the precondition is that there is solid evidence. Otherwise, I cannot possibly go with you."

"Right, Director Zheng, no matter what, Chen Fang is also our Deputy Director of Customs. How can you just take our people away without any reason? Where would that leave the face of our Customs?"

Zhang Zuxing stood up and said to Zheng Hao without any politeness.

Zheng Hao, seeing Chen Fang resolute,

smirked and said, "Deputy Director Chen, as I said before, if we in the police force are here to arrest someone, we surely have gathered enough evidence. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come personally. Whether it's a misunderstanding or not, you'll find out after you come back with me."

"Gossip is something to be feared. What if you, Director Zheng, arrest the wrong person? I, Chen Fang, don't care about my own reputation, but if the reputation of Wen'an City Customs suffers a loss, can you bear that responsibility?"

Chen Fang challenged.

The two sides continued their argument.

Liu Jiayang said to Ge Weijun, "Mayor Ge, as the leader, this matter can be big or small. To put it lightly, it could be someone taking revenge against Comrade Chen Fang. To put it seriously, it could be someone trying to frame our Customs. So, I hope the leadership will treat this matter with caution."

The decision was now in Ge Weijun's hands.

Ge Weijun's face was somber.

He turned to Chen Fang and said, "Comrade Chen Fang, come with me."

After speaking, he walked toward a corner of the courtyard with his hands behind his back.

Chen Fang did not hesitate and followed right behind him.

Finding a place with no one around, Ge Weijun stopped, turned around, and said to Chen Fang, "Chen Fang, you're a smart man. Some things don't need to be said. You see the situation now, and you know that only I can protect you, right?"

"What do you mean, Mayor Ge? Just say it outright."

Chen Fang said with a steady expression.

Ge Weijun said with disdain, "Xu Tingsong is my son-in-law, that is, my half-son. By mistreating him, where do you think that leaves my face?"

"So, what you mean, Mayor Ge, is that you still intend to deal with me?"

Chen Fang asked.

Ge Weijun let out a cold laugh and said, "As I said just now, Xu Tingsong is just my son-in-law, and only 'half' a son. The son-in-law could be him, could be someone else, or could even be anyone, but Chen Fang, you are only you. Consider the consequences."

The same words held two meanings.

The first meaning: Xu Tingsong is my man, you hurt my man, and I will definitely retaliate against you.

The second meaning: Xu Tingsong is not irreplaceable. He could afford to lose Xu Tingsong, but Chen Fang could not bear the consequences.

There was also a hidden implication in the last sentence.

That was, if Chen Fang agreed to certain conditions of mine, I could let him go.

It was clear now that all the previous commotion was just a prelude; the conversation happening now was the real deal.

Chen Fang nodded and said, "I understand what you're getting at, Mayor Ge. You want me to take sides. If I side with you, this matter will be swept under the rug, right?"

Ge Weijun smiled faintly and said, "It's always easier to deal with smart people. No need to waste so much of my time talking."

Chen Fang also smiled and asked, "Mayor Ge, I have another question, and I would like an answer. Should I be taking sides with you, or with Zuo Jiadong behind you? These two concepts are completely different."

No sooner had he said this

than Ge Weijun's expression changed.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.