Chapter 73

Despite Lin Guozhong's deep resentment towards the Xue family, he had no hatred towards Xue Xiuqing. Instead, he felt he had wronged her. After all, she had married him despite her family's opposition, even going so far as to force the issue by becoming pregnant before marriage. At this moment, his expression visibly softened as he said to Xue Xiuqing, "Xiuqing! You've changed, become a bit more worldly. When you married me, I was just a penniless young man. Now that it's our daughter's turn, why have you become so insistent?"

Hearing her husband's words, Xue Xiuqing thought about the pressure she had faced from her family when she married Lin Guozhong. A proud expression appeared on her face as she replied smugly, "Who am I, Xue Xiuqing? I'm not just any woman. I have a keen eye for people and knew that you, Lin Guozhong, had great potential. But our daughter is different. She has always been cold and is a perfectionist in matters of the heart. How could I not help her choose carefully?"

Seeing his wife's smug expression, Lin Guozhong's face gradually softened into a warm smile as he said to Xue Xiuqing, "You, you! I don't know how you can be a mother and not even know what your daughter is thinking. Tell me, why does our daughter refuse to stay in the provincial capital and insist on working in Han City? If I'm not mistaken, she's staying in Han City for that young man."

Hearing her husband's words, Xue Xiuqing, thinking about her relationship with her daughter, couldn't help but feel a bit jealous. She complained, "Our daughter has always been cold and has always been closer to you, her father. She tells you everything, but not me, her mother. How would I know so much?"

A daughter is a father's little sweetheart, as Xue Xiuqing said, Lin Xiaqing has always been close to him and has told him many things. That's why Lin Guozhong knew why his daughter wanted to stay in Han City. To avoid a deterioration in the relationship between his wife and daughter, Lin Guozhong felt it necessary to enlighten his wife.

"What do you mean by being close to me and not to you? It's because you don't pay attention to communicating with her. Although your idea of raising boys in poverty and girls in wealth is not wrong, you have ignored your daughter's feelings and often imposed your own ideas on her, forcing her to do things she doesn't like. How can she be close to you? If my guess is correct, this young man should be surnamed Wu, the one who saved our daughter years ago. She's staying in Han City to wait for him. To be frank, it's our daughter who is pursuing him. So you must be careful in this matter, or our daughter might end up seeing you as her enemy."

Hearing Lin Guozhong's words, Xue Xiuqing's face showed shock as she asked in surprise, "Old Lin! You can't be serious! Our daughter is so excellent and is about to become a deputy mayor. She would actually lower herself to actively pursue a man? No! I need to go to Han City and help her choose carefully."

In the top-floor meeting room of the Han City Police Bureau, the air was tense as the bureau's top leaders gathered. The oldest of them, with a stern face, glared at Xu Chunming, who was sitting to the side, and said sternly, "In the past, I have repeatedly emphasized in the integrity meeting that our department is a very special one. All leaders must do a good job of educating their families, and absolutely not allow anything like the Li Gang incident to happen. But some of our comrades have ignored my words, making our Han City Police Bureau famous throughout China."

"Being famous is usually a good thing, but now we are infamous. All of China's netizens know that our Han City Police Bureau has produced another Li Gang. Since the video appeared online this morning, the heads of the Jiaoning City Bureau, the Municipal Party Committee, the Municipal Government, and the Political and Legal Affairs Commission have all called to inquire about this matter and given instructions to resolve it as soon as possible and quell the negative online comments."

"Whoever made the mess must clean it up. I tell you, I will retire in two months. If anyone prevents me from retiring peacefully, I will make the next two months unbearable for them."

Hearing the top leader's reprimand and seeing the gleeful looks on the other members of the leadership team, Xu Chunming felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles. He knew that if he didn't stand up and take responsibility, his chances of becoming the head of the Han City Police Bureau would become even slimmer. He glared at Chen Shengping and finally stood up, self-critically saying, "Director Liu! Comrades present, as a member of the Han City Police Bureau leadership, I apologize. I failed to educate my children properly, leading to this situation where our bureau is the target of public criticism. Rest assured, at the press conference, I will apologize to the public on behalf of the media. I will not shirk my responsibilities."

After the meeting, Chen Shengping returned to his office, thinking about Xu Chunming's resentful gaze during the meeting. The more he thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong. Although everyone in the bureau was saying he was Xu Chunming's only competitor, he knew very well that the position of bureau chief was likely already decided for Xu Chunming, and he was just a placeholder. So why did Xu Chunming look at him with such resentment?

Just as Chen Shengping was puzzled by Xu Chunming's gaze, a knock on the door pulled him back to reality.

"Come in!" In response to Chen Shengping's call, Wang Hu pushed open the door and walked in with a grin, asking, "Old leader! The meeting is over. Has the bureau decided how to handle this matter?"

Seeing Wang Hu's excited expression, Chen Shengping remembered the words Wang Hu had said when he left his office that morning. Suddenly, everything became clear. He put on a stern face and demanded, "Wang Hu! You must be honest with me. Was it you who uploaded that video to the internet?"

Wang Hu, who trusted Chen Shengping completely, nodded without hesitation when he heard the question, replying, "Old leader! You really are my old leader. You guessed it was me. Yes, I did it. I wanted to make him miserable."

"Stupid! Wang Hu! You are so stupid! Do you really think that with this video, I can eliminate Xu Chunming? I have always told you not to get involved in this matter, but you ignored my advice. I tell you, the position of bureau chief has already been decided by the city bureau, and the chosen one is Xu Chunming. I am just a placeholder. By doing this, you have made Xu Chunming hate you. Once he takes office, you will likely be the first one he targets." Seeing Wang Hu admit to the deed, Chen Shengping's face showed a look of frustration and disappointment.