As soon as Xue Yan arrived, the situation on the rooftop was quickly brought under control. Under Xue Yan’s persuasion, the old man was convinced to leave the dangerous place. A group of police officers rushed to help and safely brought him down.

Jiang Xiaochuan observed from the sidelines and remained silent, while Rong Shaobai monitored the situation and pondered Jiang Xiaochuan’s peculiar behavior.

Rong Shaobai remarked, “Mayor Jiang, you are truly down-to-earth and dedicated.”

Jiang Xiaochuan, without directly responding to Rong Shaobai, raised his index finger and traced a path down his nose, revealing a hint of fear in his eyes as he watched Xue Yan. His gesture conveyed an unusual unease.

Rong Shaobai sensed the subtle reproach in Jiang Xiaochuan’s manner but decided to stay composed. He spoke with a smile, “Mayor Jiang, do not worry. I’ve caused you some trouble, but I will certainly find a solution. After all, as a new official, your political performance is the most important.”

In this complex world, where black and white often blur, and distinctions between purity and impurity were less clear, Rong Shaobai was adept at employing these high-end methods to achieve his objectives.

Jiang Xiaochuan had no intention of emulating Rong Shaobai’s tactics. He observed Xue Yan helping the old man descend the stairs, surrounded by police officers, and chose to step aside. As he and Xue Yan passed each other, their eyes briefly met, but the depths of their thoughts remained hidden.

Jiang Xiaochuan contemplated the meaning of rebirth. It provided opportunities to notice people who had once gone unnoticed but held great influence. He also had the chance to see those who had a significant impact on him but whom he hadn’t previously understood. Most importantly, he could rectify his past mistakes and avoid falling into the abyss of no return.

Jiang Xiaochuan couldn’t afford to fall out with Rong Shaobai. The government’s purpose was a harmonious society. Within the practice of officialdom, there was the real world and the underworld, they all lived with each other and mostly didn’t interact under direct light. But their existence was undeniable.

In a harmonious society, if Rong Shaobai continued to cause problems, it would jeopardize Jiang Xiaochuan’s position sooner or later.

After careful consideration, Jiang Xiaochuan said, “I believe, President Rong, that you are a sensible person and don’t need a person as unwise as me to offer advice. However, I hope you can maintain a low profile in your recent actions. Make use of this time to prepare, keep a low profile, biding your time and conceal your strength. The key is to be well-prepared for the opportunities that may arise.”

In Jiang Xiaochuan’s previous life, Qingtuan and Hong families were at odds, and Rong family became entangled in their feud, leading to an anti-gang operation spearheaded by Jiang Xiaochuan.

This ordeal seriously damaged Rong family influence, even though Jiang Xiaochuan and Rong Shaobai had collaborated on various occasions. However, Jiang Xiaochuan couldn’t single-handedly manage all of the Rong family’s affairs, and many individuals from the Rong family got implicated.

In this life, if Rong Shaobai were to remain as arrogant as he was in the past, it would be difficult for him to achieve significant accomplishments.

The officials from the Central Commission Discipline Inspection understood the art of politics, which meant they could maintain a certain level of contact with Rong Shaobai as long as it stayed within reasonable limits, without crossing any lines. As long as they operated within these boundaries, no one would investigate them.

Rong Shaobai began to realize that dealing with Jiang Xiaochuan was more challenging than he had initially thought. The information about the impending clash between Qingtuan and Hong families was still confidential.

However, Jiang Xiaochuan seemed to know to some inside information. This puzzled Rong Shaobai; he wondered how Jiang knew, as this news was only accessible to high-ranking officials, and ordinary insiders wouldn’t have access to it. Unless…

Rong Shaobai’s heart raced as he considered this, but by the time he regained his composure, Jiang Xiaochuan had joined the police team and left. Rong Shaobai moved a few steps up, buttoning his shirt more formally, and remarked, “Mayor Jiang, I must express my gratitude for your help this time.”

Jiang Xiaochuan felt a mix of emotions but managed a smile and replied, “No need to thank me, as long as everything turns out well for you.”

Their understanding of this statement differed significantly.

However, Rong Shaobai didn’t take it to heart. He recognized that Jiang Xiaochuan was a shrewd individual, which was the right way to approach the situation.

As they left Rong Family’s Club, Jiang Xiaochuan accompanied the police team in the car. The paramedics had examined the old man, and they drove the vehicle through the crowd toward the police station.

he looked back, Jiang Xiaochuan noticed that the staff from Rong Family’s Club were working to disperse the crowd. They knew that having too many people around could lead to problems.

Each world had its own set of rules, including the realm of politics and organized crime. However, there would always be individuals who betrayed these rules.

Sitting in the same car as Jiang Xiaochuan, Xue Yan looked at him. Lu Xiu was in the passenger seat and communicated with the team about the situation at the scene through the intercom.

Jiang Xiaochuan broke the silence and asked Xue Yan, “Are you a reporter?”

Xue Yan nodded but didn’t elaborate on his profession.

Jiang Xiaochuan continued, “You were following the case’s progress, right?”

Xue Yan responded, “Mayor Jiang, do you suspect any issue with my involvement?”

He had been following the life lawsuit related to Rong Family’s Club, not merely as a reporter, but also because the victim was his friend, which compelled him to take action.

Jiang Xiaochuan sensed a certain level of hostility from Xue Yan but couldn’t discern the source of it.

After arriving at the police station, the officers became somewhat reserved when they realized Vice Mayor Jiang was present. Whether they had good intentions or not, they all appeared to be hard at work.

Xue Yan, as a reporter, was greatly feared by Lu Xiu and others, but he was needed to provide a statement. Jiang Xiaochuan refrained from interfering in the affairs of lower-level departments and remained seated outside, while the other police officers respectfully distanced themselves.

Xue Yan sat next to Jiang Xiaochuan and couldn’t help but sneer when he observed how people were avoiding him. “Mayor Jiang, you certainly hold a lot of authority.”

They were waiting outside as Uncle Qiu was still inside, taking notes.

Jiang Xiaochuan’s suspicion that Xue Yan was hostile to him was confirmed. He confronted Xue Yan, asking if he was concerned that Jiang might try to sabotage him behind his back. He noted the prevalence of nepotism in the government, implying that it could come back to haunt Xue Yan.

However, Xue Yan didn’t fall for the trap. He shared that he discovered an additional report in the TV station’s mailbox a few days ago, as he was responsible for sorting the mail at that time.

After a brief exchange, Jiang Xiaochuan realized the implications of that report and what it meant when Xue Yan asked if he was a good official.

“Did it say something about me?” Jiang Xiaochuan inquired, curious about the content of the report and how this information had come to light.

Xue Yan nodded but remained tight-lipped. Jiang Xiaochuan, however, appreciated the information and expressed his gratitude.

As Uncle Qiu emerged from the station, the full story came to light.

His son had worked at Rong Family’s Club and had died suddenly. Upon inspecting his son’s body, Uncle Qiu suspected foul play and pressed for an explanation from Rong Family’s Club. When they failed to address his concerns, he demanded an autopsy, which revealed his son had died of a heart attack. Convinced that foul play was involved, Uncle Qiu sought justice for his son, leading him to petition and file complaints to address the issue.

Xue Yan, ready to depart with Uncle Qiu, approached Jiang Xiaochuan. Uncle Qiu was overcome with emotion and took Jiang Xiaochuan’s hand before he unexpectedly broke into a smile, leaving Jiang with mixed emotions.

Watching Xue Yan and Uncle Qiu depart, Jiang Xiaochuan felt the weight of their encounter.

What was the definition of a “good official”?

What separated a “corrupt official” from a “good official”?

These questions weighed heavily on his mind, and he found himself questioning the clarity he once had.

.

As Jiang Xiaochuan arrived home, he noticed Yue Qingci’s presence at the military compound. The proximity of the municipal courtyard to the military compound indicated that their lives were deeply interconnected. With a premonition of impending complications, Jiang Xiaochuan couldn’t ignore the gaze of Yue Qingci, who had already become a part of his life.

Jiang Xiaochuan’s focus was now on discovering who had submitted the mysterious report letter to the TV station. He needed to uncover who was operating behind his back.

As he entered his home and turned on the TV, he saw Vice Mayor Zhang Jiuyu on screen, welcoming foreign businessmen from the Lisen Group to Chengzhou. This visit could be the opportunity Jiang Xiaochuan needed for his future endeavors.