Chapter 7: Making an Example to Instill Swift Justice!

The morning market in Pinghu Town was lively and bustling. Vendors sold fried dough sticks and sugar cakes; others served hand-pulled noodles and boiled wontons; some fried potstickers or baked sesame cakes... The prices were only a third of those in the city, but the flavors were rich, full of the warmth of everyday life.

Tang Ye bought five potstickers and asked the landlady for a serving of wontons. Sprinkling chili flakes and a few drops of aged vinegar, he ate until sweat broke out all over him.

During a rare moment of leisure, the landlady bantered and joked with a table of married women by teasing her husband.

“Oh, you look well lately, life must be treating you kindly.”

“Don’t mention it. My husband’s like a water meter reader—he checks the meter once a month.”

“Once a month? That’s pretty good. My husband’s like a newspaper delivery guy; he just tosses the paper in the mailbox and that’s it,” said a middle-aged woman loudly, drawing the attention of nearby tables.

“Well, you’re lucky. Mine’s like a milkman—he leaves the milk at the door every day and walks off.”

Laughter erupted around the room.

Caught up in the lively, everyday atmosphere, Tang Ye couldn’t help but smile.

At that moment, his phone rang. He answered, “Secretary Xu, hello.”

“Come to my office after work. I want to discuss something with you.”

“Alright, I’ll be there in half an hour!”

Tang Ye suspected it was about last night’s incident involving Xu Jie.

In the secretary’s office, shelves neatly displayed boxed editions of the Four Books and Five Classics.

Xu Yiping poured Tang Ye a cup of tea with a conciliatory look. “There was a misunderstanding last night.”

Tang Ye ignored the plea for peace in Xu Yiping’s eyes.

For an official, concealing emotions is a basic skill. Even if one harbors a head full of grievances, one must maintain an inscrutable composure.

He took the tea cup, set it on the table...

“Secretary, I planned to report this to you as soon as I arrived at work. Xu Jie is the town’s star entrepreneur, repeatedly recognized as an outstanding figure. Allegations of insulting a woman... if this spreads, it will severely damage our town’s business environment.”

Tang Ye adopted a preemptive, high-handed approach, tying the gravity of the matter directly to the government’s image.

Xu Yiping leisurely lit a cigarette and took a drag. “I know Xu Jie well. He’s not a bad person by nature, but his marriage is troubled—they’re divorcing. His way of pursuing Gu Wenqin was thoughtless! He should have divorced first before confessing his feelings.”

Confessing? For a strong, capable woman?

That was utterly ridiculous.

Tang Ye despised Xu Jie deeply, but being new to Pinghu Town and facing Xu Yiping head-on would hinder his work. He had to keep things civil.

Moreover, viewing Xu Jie differently, he could be a detonator for future explosive issues...

“Secretary Xu, I understand your meaning. We don’t need to dig too deep into Xu Jie’s matter, but he must apologize to Gu Wenqin.

“Also, I suggest administratively detaining him for a few days. Otherwise, the cost of his mistakes is too low; he won’t reflect deeply, and it will be hard to convince the public.”

Xu Yiping chose to let things settle temporarily, also having learned about Tang Ye’s background.

Tang Ye had been promoted ahead of schedule to a deputy section chief within a year of work, saved former deputy municipal party secretary Hong Ruilin, had the chance to become secretary to the municipal party secretary, but chose to take a temporary post elsewhere...

“Do as you suggest.”

Xu Yiping stubbed out his half-smoked cigarette in the ashtray.

His nephew had grown wings these past years.

Sometimes, when he acted out, a small punishment was necessary.

At the town party committee meeting, members studied and discussed Tang Ye’s economic reform proposals.

The most important point was making the “transformation and upgrading of the garment industry” the top priority.

Xu Yiping’s stance was puzzling yet clear: “Full support for Tang Ye!”

Tang Ye knew well that Xu Yiping was actively signaling goodwill.

Thanks to Xu Yiping not dwelling excessively on the Xu Jie incident, stopping at just enough.

Xu Yiping did not want to strain relations with Tang Ye for now—Tang Ye was no pushover.

Anywhere, being too weak only invites abuse.

Showing some resilience earns respect.

...

At the police station.

Xu Jie hadn’t slept all night. By dawn, no one had come to bail him out, and he grew anxious.

Yet he wasn’t overly worried; he had done far worse before.

There was a noise at the door as Wan Ming strode in.

Xu Jie’s eyes lit up with hope. “Can I leave now?”

Wan Ming shook his head with a wry smile.

“I wish you could leave right now, but I just got a call from Secretary Xu. You need to stay a few more days and pay a fine!”

Xu Jie’s heart sank.

“The money’s no problem! How many days?”

Wan Ming squinted, smacked his lips, sighed, “Seven days. Visiting allowed. Call home and have them send some daily necessities.”

Xu Jie clenched his teeth in anger, slapping the table. “Are you kidding me?”

Wan Ming frowned, tossed a stack of letters on the desk, voice cold, “According to these instructions, you must also write a letter of apology to the victim!”

With that, Wan Ming left, the door slightly ajar.

Xu Jie sat helplessly, overwhelmed, tugging at his hair in frustration.

Wan Ming saw this through the door crack and felt a measure of satisfaction.

Who would have thought this local tyrant Xu Jie would one day fall flat on his face?

Xu Jie’s detention quickly became the talk of the town.

“What? Er Luzi’s in? Why?”

“Same old crap from his pants. He tried to assault Gu Wenqin in the poplar grove and was caught by the new deputy town mayor!”

“Gu Wenqin is a good woman, strong-willed! If it were anyone else, Er Luzi would have had his way long ago.”

“What’s Tang Mayor’s background, daring to mess with Er Luzi?”

“Who cares! The outcome is refreshing!”

...

At Pinghu Town’s Golden Capital Restaurant, famed for its river delicacies, especially the exquisite pufferfish with wild greens.

Gu Wenqin, in gratitude to Tang Ye, booked a private room there.

When collecting the apology letter at the police station, she tried inviting Wan Ming.

Wan Ming readily agreed, happily accepting the invitation.

Tang Ye pushed open the door of the private room.

Gu Wenqin rose gracefully.

She wore a pale yellow slip dress, high-heeled sandals, a sheer shawl draped over her shoulders. Her brows curved like the moon, lashes like curtains, eyes clear and deep as an autumn lake—youthfully radiant, she could easily pass for a college girl at first glance.

Tang Ye sat down, cupped his hands in apology. “Sorry for being late.”

Wan Ming smiled. “Mayor Tang is busy; we understand.”

Tang Ye picked up a 70-milliliter wine glass and said, “I’ll punish myself with three cups!”

Three shots of liquor burned like boiling water in his stomach, fiercely fiery.

Wan Ming smiled with a hint of meaning, “Didn’t expect Mayor Tang to be so generous. Your refined demeanor is quite deceiving.”

Gu Wenqin quickly offered Tang Ye two slices of braised beef, concern in her voice, “Drinking on an empty stomach makes you drunk easily. Eat something first.”

Wan Ming chuckled, “Right, eat a bit first, or it won’t be a fair fight.”

With people like Wan Ming, openness and wholeheartedness were the way to go.

“When I worked at the Bureau for Veteran Cadres, a retired police chief told me that when dining with police comrades, you must treat them as brothers. Drinking can’t be secretive or reserved. Although I haven’t built up tolerance, I’m sacrificing myself today for a worthy gentleman. I toast you!”

Wan Ming laughed heartily, clinking glasses with Tang Ye before downing his drink.

“Refreshing! What’s the old chief’s name?”

Tang Ye set down his glass with a mysterious smile. “If I tell you, you’ll definitely know—Di Renjie of Hanzhou.”

Wan Ming slapped his thigh heavily, his eyes brightening. “Chief Gu was my old leader! I spent a few years in the city bureau’s criminal investigation unit before transferring to Pinghu Town. Chief Gu had already retired then. His drinking skills rivaled his talent for solving cases!”

Tang Ye raised his glass, coaxing Wan Director up, “Great generals don’t have weak soldiers. Wan must be a good drinker too.”

Gu Wenqin also lifted her glass.

Tang Ye took the glass from her hand.

“You’re injured; don’t drink.”

Wan Ming thought to himself that Mayor Tang was quite the romantic, playing the chivalrous protector.

He rolled up his sleeves and pounded the table. “Mrs. Gu, don’t interfere. Today, Mayor Tang and I must see who wins!”

Tang Ye laughed, “Later, I’ll trouble you to see old Wan home safely.”

Wan Ming laughed heartily, telling Gu Wenqin, “I don’t need your help. You take care of Mayor Tang!”

Glasses clinked, toasts exchanged. Before long, Wan Ming began recounting the past to Tang Ye.

“Mayor Tang, I see myself in you. Here’s to your sense of justice.”

“I’m just a lucky cat stumbling on a dead rat,” Tang Ye modestly replied.

Suddenly, Wan Ming’s expression grew serious as he sighed, “Like you, I was exiled here. I used to lead anti-gang efforts at the city bureau, only to find a street police chief harboring four henchmen—one ran gambling, one led theft gangs, one organized prostitution, and one managed bars and nightclubs. They paid him tribute; he took the lion’s share. I gathered evidence and reported him by name, got that scoundrel sent away—but soon after, I was transferred to Pinghu Town.”

“Fellow travelers cast away by fate!”

Tang Ye nodded, admiring this seemingly smooth yet fundamentally upright man.

“With your talent, Pinghu Town is beneath you. Your future is boundless.”

“Ha! A thousand cups to a kindred spirit; words don’t fit, half a sentence is too much. Come, our drinking pace is slow—I toast you!”

An hour later.

Tang Ye was pleasantly tipsy.

Wan Ming was being escorted away by two colleagues...