Chapter 93: Rash

Back in the office, Yuan Gongping's face was grave. He couldn't understand why Fei Min'an would make things difficult for him over such a trivial matter. Fang Nanguo was not at home, and major personnel arrangements could not be discussed at the Standing Committee meeting. Even if Fang Nanguo were at home, it would be impossible for him to control all departmental personnel arrangements. The temporary head of the Forestry Department was a minor issue at the Standing Committee meeting.

Today, Fei Min'an put aside his proposal, which on the surface seemed like a small matter. However, Yuan Gongping saw the bigger problem behind it. Fei Min'an was using this small matter to express his dissatisfaction and to warn him.

This left Yuan Gongping somewhat bewildered. He couldn't think of where he had offended Fei Min'an. For this soon-to-be-retired vice governor, he had at least shown sufficient respect on the surface. He had also voted in favor of the arrangements for several of Fei Min'an's old subordinates.

All the topics at the Standing Committee meeting were passed, except for Yuan Gongping's proposal, which was put aside. This news quickly spread throughout the provincial party and government compound. Upon hearing this, everyone's first reaction was that Fei Min'an was dissatisfied with Yuan Gongping.

This rumor was particularly detrimental to Yuan Gongping, who was at a critical moment in his bid for the governor's position.

For the entire morning, Yuan Gongping didn't leave his office. He was trying to recall where he had recently offended Fei Min'an.

The secretary knocked and entered, saying, "Boss, Wenjie has run into some trouble!"

Yuan Gongping's brows furrowed. His son had never given him a moment's peace, causing trouble every few days. While Yuan Gongping could manage the economic and social affairs of the province, he couldn't control his own son.

"Wenjie was beaten up!" the secretary said.

Yuan Gongping's face remained expressionless, but he was surprised inside. In the past, it was always Wenjie who beat others, not the other way around.

"The police released the person who beat him, apparently on the orders of Governor Fei!" the secretary whispered.

Yuan Gongping's eyes brightened. No wonder. The problem must be here. He didn't know the background of the person who beat Wenjie, and his secretary hadn't found out either.

"Wenjie's affairs, I will not get involved in. Don't bring such matters to work in the future!" Yuan Gongping said sternly, waving his hand to dismiss the secretary.

The secretary carefully left, knowing that although Yuan Gongping said this, he wasn't really angry. He might even consider it a favor. On the surface, he was talking about Wenjie, but he was actually reminding his boss that today's Standing Committee issue might be related to Wenjie's beating last night.

After leaving the office, the secretary sat down to ponder who could have beaten Wenjie, and why Fei Min'an would intercede.

In the afternoon, after work, Yuan Gongping returned to the Standing Committee compound.

"Tell the driver to pick me up at eight tomorrow!"

After giving instructions for the next day, Yuan Gongping walked into his study.

The secretary followed, placing Yuan Gongping's teacup and other personal items. Seeing that Yuan Gongping had no further arrangements, he carefully left the study and went downstairs to prepare to go home.

"Xuan Secretary, is my father back?"

Xuan Secretary turned around and saw a person with a head wrapped in white bandages. He thought, "Who are you? Who knows your father!"

"Is my father back!" the person said angrily.

"Ah..." Xuan Secretary realized it was Yuan Wenjie. "It's Wenjie. The boss is back, in the study."

Xuan Secretary then asked, "Wenjie, what happened to you?"

Yuan Wenjie waved his hand, somewhat impatiently, and said, "I was hit by a car and injured my head!"

"Is it serious? Did you go to the hospital? What did the doctor say?" Xuan Secretary asked with concern, but inwardly he was skeptical. Everyone knew he had been beaten, yet he was pretending it was a car accident.

Yuan Wenjie was already frustrated and didn't respond to Xuan Secretary. He didn't want to pretend it was a car accident, but what else could he do? He couldn't say he was beaten up. For people like him, face was everything. If something embarrassing happened, he would try to avoid it, especially if it involved visible injuries.

Yuan Wenjie pushed open the door to his father's study and said, "Dad, I'm about to be beaten to death. Are you going to do anything about it?"

Yuan Gongping had been thinking all day about how to mend his relationship with Fei Min'an. Seeing his son's miserable state, he was filled with anger.

Yuan Wenjie's face was bruised and swollen. When he removed the bandages, Yuan Gongping couldn't believe that the person standing before him was his son. When Yuan Wenjie spoke, his voice was hoarse and breathy. Yuan Gongping was even more furious when he saw that his son's front teeth were missing, having been knocked out. Who had the nerve to beat him so viciously?

"I've told you countless times to be low-key and not to cause trouble. Now you've gotten what you wanted, haven't you?" Yuan Gongping said, his face dark with disappointment.

Yuan Wenjie sat on the sofa and said, "I've been beaten up like this. Tell me, how can I be low-key now? If I'm any more low-key, I might lose my life!"

In the world, there are many sons who fear their fathers, but Yuan Wenjie was an exception. He not only didn't fear Yuan Gongping but also often defied him. If Yuan Gongping said go west, he would go east; if Yuan Gongping said catch a chicken, he would chase a dog. Yuan Gongping had tried to change his son's behavior, but all attempts ended in failure. He found that when he ignored Yuan Wenjie, he behaved better, but when he pressured him, Yuan Wenjie would cause trouble. In the end, as long as Yuan Wenjie didn't cause major problems, Yuan Gongping would turn a blind eye.

"Go out and see if anyone still respects you as a vice governor. I've been beaten up like this, and the police don't even dare to arrest the person, openly protecting them!" Yuan Wenjie said, angry. "It doesn't matter if I'm beaten, but who will respect you in the future?"

"Enough!" Yuan Gongping slammed his teacup on the table. "I don't believe that if you don't cause trouble, no one will bother you!"

"See for yourself. My Feilong Construction building has been demolished!" Yuan Wenjie was furious. After he was released from the police station, he had someone destroy Zeng Yi's clinic to vent his anger. But in a short time, his Feilong Construction building was demolished. Tang Weiguo had declared that he wouldn't stop until he got his revenge.

No matter how arrogant Yuan Wenjie was, he didn't dare to confront those violent people. This time, the bully met a worse bully, and he had no choice but to seek help from his father. Otherwise, his building would be destroyed by Tang Weiguo.

"The worst part is that wild doctor, Zeng Yi. He's the health advisor to Secretary Fang and has opposed me several times. If it weren't for his interference, I wouldn't have been beaten up by an old cripple!" Yuan Wenjie clenched his teeth, but the pain made him wince. His teeth were all loose from the beating, and even eating tofu could cause them to fall out.

Yuan Gongping's face showed no emotion, but he was extremely angry. He was furious that Fang Nanguo and Fei Min'an's people had the nerve to beat his son to this extent, showing no respect. He was also angry at Yuan Wenjie for being so unambitious and causing trouble, to the point of being beaten up. It was embarrassing.

"I have no time to deal with your nonsense, and I won't!" Yuan Gongping said sternly. "Get out, the farther the better!"

Yuan Wenjie said, "If you won't help, I'll deal with it myself. Let me be beaten to death!" He opened the door and prepared to leave.

Xuan Secretary was standing at the study door. When Yuan Wenjie entered, he knew he couldn't leave and had to wait for instructions.

Sure enough, Yuan Gongping saw Xuan Secretary and said angrily, "Don't get involved in Wenjie's affairs. Let him apologize to the other party himself!"

Yuan Wenjie glared at Xuan Secretary and swaggered downstairs.

Xuan Secretary said carefully, "Boss, Wenjie is young. Who doesn't have moments of impulsiveness?"

Xuan Secretary had followed Yuan Gongping for a long time and knew his boss's style. The more he said not to get involved, the more he actually wanted him to. If Xuan Secretary really listened to him and didn't get involved, he would be out of a job. As a secretary, his job was to solve these troublesome issues for his boss.

Seeing Yuan Gongping's angry face, Xuan Secretary quickly refilled his teacup and said, "Should I talk to Wenjie? We're about the same age, so we might have more in common."

Yuan Gongping made no response, just grunted and sat back at his desk.

Seeing that Yuan Gongping didn't explicitly object, Xuan Secretary quickly left the study and hurried to catch up with Yuan Wenjie.

"Haha, I, Old Tang, rarely fish, but this time, Yuan Wenjie won't escape my hands!"

Tang Weiguo and Zeng Yi were sitting under a canopy in front of Tang Weiguo's house, fishing. Money had its advantages; they could fish for fresh fish without leaving home.

Zeng Yi watched the float and said, "Yuan Wenjie is just a small fish."

Tang Weiguo scratched his head and frowned. Yes, Yuan Wenjie was just a small fish. If his father weren't Yuan Gongping, he wouldn't even be a small fish.

Both of them felt a sense of gravity. Yuan Wenjie was in trouble, but whether Old Qiao would target Yuan Gongping was uncertain. They could only bully Yuan Wenjie, but they had no way to deal with Yuan Gongping. As long as Yuan Gongping remained in power, Yuan Wenjie would continue to be arrogant.

"You two, what are you doing here today?" Wei Xiangnan got out of her car and saw the two of them fishing, feeling very surprised. She knew Tang Weiguo's personality; he would kick a door open rather than use a key, so he wouldn't have the patience to fish.

Seeing Wei Xiangnan return, both of them put down their fishing rods and followed her into the house.

Wei Xiangnan had been on a business trip for several days and didn't know about this. Listening to Tang Weiguo's excited account, her brow furrowed.

Unlike Zeng Yi and Tang Weiguo, Wei Xiangnan, though now a businessman, grew up in a military compound and was familiar with political struggles. She knew the importance of planning and eliminating the root cause. If you don't finish the job, you'll be bitten back. Zeng Yi and Tang Weiguo, acting on impulse, might feel good temporarily, but it would lead to endless trouble in the future.

"Sister, is something wrong?" Zeng Yi asked, seeing Wei Xiangnan's expression.

"You two are too rash!"

With no one else around, Wei Xiangnan didn't need to be cautious. She walked into the study, and after a while, came out with a file and said, "When you beat up Yuan Wenjie's people, I knew this day would come."