The car was not moving very fast. The driver seemed to know the location of the municipal compound and drove there slowly.

Lian Cheng and Jiang Xiaochuan sat side by side, observing Jiang Xiaochuan’s indifferent expression in the rearview mirror.

“No matter how much the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection knows, it can’t do anything without evidence.”

What he said was the most realistic situation, and it was indeed the case. Even if they knew a lot about official corruption, many instances exist where they couldn’t bring it to justice due to various reasons.

Jiang Xiaochuan remained silent because many people reported privately but were unwilling to testify. In many cases, all the evidence needed to be re-collected by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, and China’s disciplinary inspections had certain level restrictions.

Municipal-level disciplinary inspection departments could only investigate county-level cadres below them, but city officials needed provincial-level disciplinary inspection departments to prosecute them.

Taking Chengzhou as an example, if the Chengzhou Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection discovered a corruption by an official of the Chengzhou Municipal Government, it could only collect evidence or various information and reported it to the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, which would then decide how to deal with it.

There was a time limit issue here. Nowadays, many corrupt officials had very good connections abroad. When the news broke out, it wasn’t impossible for them to escape, and catching them back required negotiation with foreign countries, which was very difficult.

Moreover, who knew if the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection was completely clean?

Even if the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection had no problem and was dedicated to investigating corruption, if someone did bad things at the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, all the work of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection would be in vain.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection was probably facing the same dilemma, right?

Jiang Xiaochuan thought for a long time and finally asked directly: “What does Deputy Director Lian want to know from me?”

This was very straightforward, but Lian Cheng liked it very much. ‘Let’s get straight to the point; no one wastes time.’

“If there are any new developments in the case of Rong Family’s Club, could I ask Mayor Jiang to inform me?”

He didn’t have much clue about that case yet, but judging from what he knew so far, it was scary enough. The whole case not only focused on human life but also involved some strange details — it was these details that Lian Cheng wanted to know.

“The officialdom in Chengzhou is very strange. Although I know that your Central Commission for Discipline Inspection holds a lot of evidence, many times I won’t say anything until I have clearly considered the stakes.” Jiang Xiaochuan felt a little relaxed next to Lian Cheng.

He spent almost all of his last days in prison with this young man. At that time, Lian Cheng said a lot of different things, but he was the only one who knew about the darkness of officialdom. Lian Cheng knew better than anyone else, but he just said it.

In the last period of time, Lian Cheng learned a lot of different information from Jiang Xiaochuan. At that time, Jiang Xiaochuan was about to die, and there was nothing he could say, but it was different now.

Even though he felt very relaxed around Lian Cheng, the string in the dark officialdom of reality was always tight in his heart — he didn’t dare to say anything bold that crossed the line. How dark was Chengzhou now? Jiang Xiaochuan himself didn’t know.

“I have seen Mayor Jiang’s political achievements before he was elected as deputy mayor. The people above you think very well of Mayor Jiang.”

Jiang Xiaochuan’s previous resume was almost a benchmark. It was impossible to be nominated as deputy mayor without outstanding political achievements. This resume was almost unique even when viewed across the country.

He still remembered that when Zhang Qing, the secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, was handling his case in his previous life, the man found it ironic every time he saw Jiang Xiaochuan’s resume.

That was the last thing they wanted to see when they were doing disciplinary inspection work: a good official who worked hard for the people, a good official who was honest and self-disciplined, was gradually stained by this officialdom, and then slowly stained others.

The people above are naturally very optimistic about Jiang Xiaochuan. Such a young deputy mayor had a bright future.

Jiang Xiaochuan smiled, then stretched out his hand to hold his empty wrist, and said: “There are always unstable factors in things in the world. No one can tell what will happen in the future.”

In other words, the people above were optimistic about him, but others might not always be optimistic about him.

Lian Cheng’s eyes dropped to his wrist, and he sat there without moving: “How harmful the underworld in Chengzhou is. Mayor Jiang, you are responsible for public security, and you should know better than me. This time, if you are successful, once the matter with the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection is resolved, the underworld in Chengzhou will almost collapse. I know it is difficult for you, the person I met for the first time, to make a choice, so I am always waiting for your arrival during my stay in Chengzhou. This is my business card. Mayor Jiang should get rid of it after reading it.”

Jiang Xiaochuan hesitated for a moment, took it, look at it, and then put it into his suit pocket.

“I’ve thought it through and will come to you, but Deputy Director Lian, don’t put too much hope in me.”

“My hopes for Mayor Jiang are indeed very high.” Lian Cheng didn’t shy away from it at all. He withdrew his gaze, looked at the beautiful isolation belt in the middle of Chenghua Avenue, and suddenly said, “Chengzhou’s greening is very good.”

“It’s the credit of the Minister of Environment,” Jiang Xiaochuan answered casually, but he felt that Lian Cheng’s words had a different meaning.

At the meeting just now, Minister Environment, Wei Dong’s performance—could it have reached Lian Cheng’s ears? Wasn’t this too magical?

Logically speaking, Lian Cheng shouldn’t know so quickly, but if he said he didn’t know, Jiang Xiaochuan wouldn’t believe it. So, if Lian Cheng knew about it, where did he hear it from?

To know so quickly, either he knew it in advance or someone told him on the spot. No matter which possibility it was, it didn’t seem to be a very good possibility.

“Chengzhou is building a garden city, but the Warwick Group’s investment bidding has recently been approved. Minister Wei’s path may be very difficult.” Lian Cheng’s words seemed to be implying something.

He knew it all too well.

Jiang Xiaochuan suddenly realized that he had underestimated Lian Cheng in his previous life.

In fact, who in the officialdom wasn’t scheming? When he was in prison, he no longer had any interests, but here, he still had many issues to consider. Lian Cheng came with a purpose. It was impossible for him to completely relax by Lian Cheng’s side.

He was as relaxed before, but it was suddenly becoming a sad delusion.

Having said all that, Lian Cheng was just hinting to him that he had an informant in the municipal government. If Jiang Xiaochuan was willing to cooperate, the chance of success would be great.

However, Jiang Xiaochuan still had many worries.

“Garden City or whatever, the credit doesn’t fall on me. It has nothing to do with me.” Jiang Xiaochuan looked very indifferent.

When Lian Cheng heard what he said, he slightly curled his lips, and his smile was so light that it was hard to tell. “Mediocre people can’t reach the position of Mayor Jiang.”

The municipal compound was almost there. Jiang Xiaochuan was thinking about when to get off the car, but he said: “Deputy Director, you think highly of me.”

Jiang Xiaochuan’s eyes fell out of the window, signaling his intention to leave, so Lian Cheng waved to the driver to stop and then said: “Have you noticed, Mayor Jiang, you know it well. In order to avoid bringing trouble to Mayor Jiang, I can only send you here.”

Jiang Xiaochuan stood up to leave but was suddenly stopped by Lian Cheng.

“Wait a minute, Mayor Jiang.”

“Is there anything else you need from the deputy director?” Jiang Xiaochuan frowned.

Lian Cheng just took out a bracelet with copper coins from his pocket, put the copper coin in his palm, and the red rope hung from between his slender fingers, giving it a casual feel.

Jiang Xiaochuan was stunned when he saw the copper coin bracelet.

Lian Cheng’s face was sideways, his forehead full, his nose high, his lips slightly thin, and a few strands of hair fall by his ears. He had an indifferent aura all over his body, which was very reassuring.

This coin bracelet was something Jiang Xiaochuan had been looking for a long time.

“Square hole round coin, the mother coin of Qianlong Tongbao, the market price is 8,000, use it to make bracelets, Mayor Jiang has good taste.” Lian Cheng said lightly, seeming to be smiling.

“Why is it with you?” He didn’t know why, but he was a little unhappy when he saw the red rope with copper coins in Lian Cheng’s hand.

He bought it for his father. Jiang Encheng said that the pile he bought back was all rubbish. The man only picked some coins and made it into a bracelet for him.

From Lian Cheng’s words, this coin bracelet seemed to be a luxury item?

Lian Cheng didn’t mind Jiang Xiaochuan somewhat bad tone, but he just touched the copper coin with his fingers, seeming to like it very much and feeling a little reluctant to part with it. “Mayor Jiang, you misunderstood. I just like to collect these gadgets, and I just happen to have this little coins in my hand right now. But it seems that these coins are very important to Mayor Jiang. A gentleman does not take away what others love, so– I return it to its original owner.”

He stretched out his hand, pressed the copper coin on the second knuckle of his index finger with his thumb, and handed the thing to Jiang Xiaochuan.

Jiang Xiaochuan didn’t expect him to say this, but this thing was indeed very important to him. He took it directly, but only held the red string on one side. After the bracelet completely left Lian Cheng’s hand, he took it into his palm.

“This thing… thank you, Deputy Director.”

Lian Cheng shook his head, “It’s a little effort.”

Jiang Xiaochuan stopped talking, opened the door and walked out, “Well, Deputy Director, goodbye.”

“Goodbye, Mayor Jiang.”

.

The car door closed, and Lian Cheng’s sight was blocked by the brown window glass. He lowered his eyes and thought for a moment, then turned back and said to the driver: “Go back to the hotel.”

Jiang Xiaochuan got out of the car and walked to the shade of the roadside.

Tied the bracelet back on, but just tied it up, and when his fingers touched the slightly warm copper coins, he suddenly froze.

No – Lian Cheng had never seen him before. Even if Lian Cheng picked up the bracelet, how would he know it was his?

Lian Cheng hadn’t reached the municipal government when he dropped the bracelet.

He thought of something and turned around to look at the ordinary Audi that was driving away. The windows blocked everything and he couldn’t see anything, not even Lian Cheng inside.

He remembered that when he dropped the invoice on a rainy day in the subway station square, someone helped him pick it up – at that time, his wrist was exposed.

At that time, the back of the man holding a black umbrella looked familiar, but now he suddenly remembered it.

It was Lian Cheng.

Jiang Encheng’s name was on the invoice, and he was the payer. Lian Cheng naturally knew who the bracelet belonged to.

Jiang Xiaochuan looked up at the sky. It was sunny today and it didn’t rain.

The copper coin was warm under the pressure of his fingertips.