Chapter 75

As they approached the southern Third Ring Road, traffic began to congest. With limited driving skills, Lü Jianxian could only inch forward in the flow of cars. He was very composed, not at all anxious, and did not honk or curse. Instead, he chatted cheerfully with Wang Yulan, discussing everything from international affairs to family matters. Occasionally, he would take a call, discussing high-level business topics.

Wang Yulan beamed with joy, truly embodying the saying that a mother-in-law always finds her son-in-law more and more likable. She suddenly asked, "Xiao Lü, which university did you graduate from?"

"Beiqing University," Lü Jianxian said these three words without any arrogance.

Wang Yulan glanced at her daughter, as if to say, "Look how excellent Xiao Lü is." However, Ma Ling's mind was not on their conversation but on a Fukan car on the opposite side of the road.

This car was Liu Hane Dong's seven-star Fukan, with Song Shuang sitting in the passenger seat. They had just returned from the high-speed train station and were also stuck in traffic on the southern Third Ring Road.

Ma Ling had never seen Song Shuang before and thought she was just a passenger Liu Hane Dong had picked up. She quietly sent him a message: "I see you."

Liu Hane Dong looked around and quickly spotted Ma Ling and Wang Yulan in the BMW. He smiled and took out his phone to send a message.

Their small actions went unnoticed by Wang Yulan, who was fully focused on probing Lü Jianxian's background. After a long chat, she learned that Xiao Lü owned three apartments: one for his parents, one for rent, and a luxurious apartment for himself, which was about 140 square meters.

"Xiao Lü, you are so young and accomplished. I bet many girls are chasing after you, right?" Wang Yulan asked, giving her daughter a meaningful look.

Ma Ling lowered her head and played with her phone, ignoring her mother.

"Auntie, I am still young, and my career is on the rise. I don't have the time to think about personal matters. Unless I meet someone at first sight... Hey, it looks like there's a fight up ahead."

Indeed, a minor collision had occurred between a taxi and a BMW. The police had not yet arrived, and the BMW owner had already dragged the taxi driver out, pushing and shoving him, and cursing.

"Hmph, no good people drive BMWs," Ma Ling muttered, tapping out a message to Liu Hane Dong, telling him not to get involved.

"Hehe, not all BMW drivers are bad," Lü Jianxian said with a smile.

Liu Hane Dong also saw the dispute. He recognized the taxi driver, Zhang Aimin, who lived on Iron Slag Street. Although many taxi drivers were of low quality and could be considered road killers, Zhang Aimin was quite honest and hardworking. Seeing him being bullied, Liu Hane Dong couldn't sit still and was about to unfasten his seatbelt to "mediate" in his own way when Ma Ling's message arrived: "My mom is in the car, don't be impulsive!"

"That's too much!" Song Shuang took out her phone and called 110.

The BMW owner's emotions escalated, and he started slapping Zhang Aimin, ordering him to kneel. Liu Hane Dong couldn't hold back any longer. Just as he was about to step in, a man with a ponytail quickly darted through the traffic, kicked the BMW owner to the ground, and started kicking him, making him roll on the ground. Then, he returned, raised an iron rod, and smashed the BMW X1's windshield, leaving it full of cracks.

Liu Hane Dong recognized this man as Ma Wei, a Huaijiang taxi driver he had fought with at the entrance of the Traffic Technology College. Ma Wei's style of action suited him.

After smashing the car, Ma Wei returned to look for the BMW owner, but the owner had already fled into the crowd. Ma Wei then left, carrying the iron rod, without even saying goodbye to Zhang Aimin.

Soon, the traffic police arrived, first directing traffic and then handling the dispute. Everyone was in a hurry, and no one cared about how the matter was resolved.

In the seven-star Fukan, Song Shuang showed off her new driver's license: "I got it yesterday, a C1 license. Liu Hane Dong, teach me how to drive."

"I'll charge you, you know," Liu Hane Dong said half-jokingly. During this time, Song Shuang often called him to drive around, and he was paid for it. Even so, it wasn't normal, and Liu Hane Dong wasn't stupid; he could tell that Song Shuang had a crush on him. However, he also understood that his relationship with Ma Ling was already facing strong opposition. How much more so for the daughter of the Public Security Department chief? Still, out of selfishness, he didn't want to push her away, as he still needed Song Shuang's connections to become a police officer.

"Is four thousand enough?" Song Shuang asked. She had obtained her driver's license directly through the arrangement of Chief Zhu Huabiao, not through a driving school, so the money she had extorted from her mother, Lin Hong, was still available to pay Liu Hane Dong.

"I was just joking; I can't take your money," Liu Hane Dong said, driving along the Third Ring Road toward the northern development zone, where there were many open roads suitable for driving practice.

For the entire afternoon, Liu Hane Dong taught Song Shuang everything he knew about driving. She was very smart and quick to learn, and after a few hours, she could drive on her own, with Liu Hane Dong sitting beside her, holding the handbrake to guide her. She drove the Fukan carefully into the city, feeling extremely happy.

"I'll treat you to dinner, a thank-you dinner," Song Shuang said crisply. Her driving skills had improved dramatically that afternoon, and it was worth celebrating.

"Thanks, but I have something else to do," Liu Hane Dong said, not being pretentious. He understood that getting entangled with Song Shuang would only bring him harm.

"Okay, I'll go home then," Song Shuang drove to the Public Security Department's residential area and was stopped by the security guard at the gate. However, upon seeing that the driver was Song Shuang, the guard quickly raised the barrier to let her through.

The residential area had a large green space, an underground parking garage, and many above-ground parking spaces. Song Shuang carefully backed into a parking spot, turned off the engine, but still held the car key. "Liu Hane Dong, you're at my doorstep. It's impolite not to come up for a visit."

"I don't want to disturb you," Liu Hane Dong reached for the key.

"No way!" Song Shuang pouted and raised the key high, but she was too short, and Liu Hane Dong could easily reach it. Realizing this, she hid the key behind her back and refused to give it.

Liu Hane Dong gave in: "Is anyone home?"

"Don't worry, Dad hasn't finished work, and Mom is in Jiangbei. Only Keke is at home." Song Shuang's plan succeeded, and she smiled, showing her little tiger teeth.

They went upstairs, opened the door, and Keke enthusiastically pounced on Liu Hane Dong, licking him.

"I'm jealous," Song Shuang said with a smile, telling Liu Hane Dong to sit anywhere in the living room. She went straight to her room to change into a cotton pajama set with images of Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf, making her look even more cute and petite.

"I'll cook for you. I can fry eggs and make noodles," Song Shuang said, sitting on the sofa and swinging her legs.

"Really, you don't have to," Liu Hane Dong said, already holding the car key from the coffee table, petting Keke's head, and getting up to leave.

Before Song Shuang could try to keep him, Liu Hane Dong was already at the door. Just as he was about to open it, he heard the sound of a key outside. The door opened, and a graceful middle-aged woman stood there, looking at Liu Hane Dong with surprise.

"Mom, why are you back?" Song Shuang asked, puzzled.

"I came to a meeting in the province. Who is this?" Lin Hong looked Liu Hane Dong up and down.

"Mom, this is Liu Hane Dong, my savior."

"Oh, it's you. I've heard about your deeds. Are you leaving already? Why don't you stay a bit longer?"

"No, Auntie, I have something to do. I'll take my leave." Liu Hane Dong politely stepped aside to let Lin Hong in and nodded to them, "Don't bother to see me off. Goodbye."

Song Shuang still brought Keke to see Liu Hane Dong off downstairs, watching the Fukan drive away before returning home. Lin Hong smiled, "Why didn't you invite him for a cup of tea?"

"Mom, what do you think of him?" Song Shuang asked.

"What do you mean? Your question is a bit strange," Lin Hong said, puzzled. "The young man is quite spirited, but remember, no dating during college."

"Mom, what are you thinking?" Song Shuang twisted her body. "By the way, I got my driver's license. Let's buy a car."

Lin Hong didn't want to dwell on Liu Hane Dong and said, "I've already arranged it. A manual Chery QQ from a colleague at my workplace, for 40,000 yuan. For your first car, it's better to buy a used one to practice."

Song Shuang wasn't like Zhu Pengpeng; she didn't have high standards for cars. She just muttered, "A Chery QQ? Why not a Fukan?"

"Girls don't drive Fukan; it's too ugly. Besides, Fukan has been discontinued for many years. The Chery QQ is quite good and suitable for you," Lin Hong said.

At 11 PM, Song Jianfeng finally returned home, reeking of alcohol. Lin Hong made tea and brought it to him, concerned, "You drank again."

"Not much. Secretary Zheng has officially taken the position of the National Energy Commission Chairman and is still serving as the Secretary of Jiangdong Province. Once the new Secretary takes office, he will completely leave Jiangdong," Song Jianfeng said with a sigh.

Lin Hong, who knew a bit about politics, asked, "Who is the most likely to become the new Secretary?"

Song Jianfeng shook his head, "It's hard to predict. Governor Sun doesn't have enough experience, and the others in the province have even less. It might be someone sent from the central government or transferred from another province."

"Will Governor Mai come out of retirement?" Lin Hong expressed her concern.

"That's a naive thought. Governor Mai has already retired to the CPPCC. There's no precedent for a comeback," Song Jianfeng laughed.

"By the way, your daughter brought a young man home today, that Liu Hane Dong. I think she has a crush on him," Lin Hong changed the subject.

"Liu Hane Dong..." Song Jianfeng thought for a moment, picked up the cordless phone on the coffee table, and called Secretary Shen, "Hongyi, the veterans are being discharged this year. Arrange the expansion of the