Chapter 45: The Rougher the Seas, the More Valuable the Fish!

Wan Ming saw Guo Chuan off and then joined forces with Tang Ye.

"They are all crafty, millennium-old foxes. As soon as he heard a murder case was involved, Guo Chuan sensed something was amiss and took off immediately. However, I did promise him that those involved in gambling will just pay a fine and be released after being detained for a few days."

Tang Ye smiled faintly. "Guo Chuan isn't stupid; he knows that stepping into this game means becoming someone else's pawn."

"By the way, did you find out anything else?" Wan Ming asked curiously.

Tang Ye raised an eyebrow. "Take a look at the interrogation record."

Wan Ming looked at Tang Ye in astonishment. "Hong Lei's death was a murder?!"

"Old Wang, the driver of the truck involved in the accident, stated that he was instructed by someone else to drive the sand truck into the motorcycle that day. Hong Lei was already dead before the collision. The traffic accident was just staged to cover up the truth."

Wan Ming's reaction was unexpected. "Quite a surprise! The more we investigate this case, the more interesting it gets."

Tang Ye touched his chin and said softly, "Things aren't that simple. The other party will definitely take countermeasures."

Wan Ming said carelessly, "Let the storm rage even harder! I can't wait for them to expose more flaws!"

Tang Ye thought to himself that Wan Ming truly shared his worldview.

Treat life and death with indifference; if you refuse to submit, just fight!

...

Tang Ye set an alarm and fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.

When he opened his eyes, the eastern sky was turning pale.

Although he had only slept for two or three hours, because of his exceptionally high sleep quality, Tang Ye was fully recharged.

Compared to normal people who sleep eight hours a day, Tang Ye slept less than half that time, which meant he had much more time to handle his work—a special ability of his.

Throughout history, many people who achieved great things possessed extraordinary vitality.

Many people believe that intelligence determines a person's upper limit.

In fact, physical stamina is also a critical factor determining that limit.

Tang Ye always maintained a fitness routine, running 5.2 kilometers rain or shine every day, doing one hundred push-ups, and twenty pull-ups.

After breakfast, Tang Ye dialed Gu Wenqin's number. "Are you free? Come with me to take care of some business later."

Gu Wenqin didn't ask what it was for and readily agreed.

Today, Gu Wenqin wore a light yellow coat, a black skirt, and nude-colored leggings. She had carefully applied makeup, making her delicate facial features look very dimensional. Although she didn't know what kind of people Tang Ye was taking her to meet, she knew she had to take it seriously.

Tang Ye noticed that Gu Wenqin's heels were a bit high, and he said gently, "Don't wear shoes this high in the future; it's easy to twist your ankle."

A trace of sweetness welled up in Gu Wenqin's heart. "I only wear them occasionally. Thank you for the reminder."

Tang Ye found a Santana and gave the driver the destination.

He sat in the back row with Gu Wenqin.

In the confined space, a faint, soft fragrance emanated from Gu Wenqin.

Recalling the moment last night when she leaned against Tang Ye's shoulder, Gu Wenqin couldn't help feeling her cheeks grow warm.

Tang Ye, however, didn't have many distractions; his mind was occupied with how to break the deadlock ahead.

"Who are we meeting later, and what do you need me to do?" Gu Wenqin asked softly.

Tang Ye smiled and said, "You don't need to do anything later. Just like me, lift your chin slightly, keep a completely blank expression and no emotion, and give off a cold and aloof aura."

Gu Wenqin raised her chin, revealing her slender, snow-white neck.

"Tilt it up a bit more, yes!" Tang Ye closed his fingers and gestured backward, smiling as he said, "Pull it back just a little, keep this exact angle, and remember how it feels right now."

Gu Wenqin stretched her neck, gave Tang Ye a reproachful look, and complained, "Why do I feel like you're treating me like a doll?"

Tang Ye laughed heartily. "You're no doll; you're a priceless Ming or Qing dynasty porcelain vase."

Gu Wenqin glared at Tang Ye playfully. She hated nothing more than being called a vase, and if it were anyone else, she would have turned around and left immediately.

On second thought, she comforted herself: since Tang Ye called her a vase, wasn't that a recognition of her appearance?

They arrived at the Haihua Building on the eighteenth floor in the city center.

Tang Ye stated his identity at the front desk.

Although they didn't have an appointment, the receptionist still reported upstairs and, upon receiving instructions, led the two of them to the general manager's office.

The room featured light yellow wallpaper with a tasteful and elegant design, surrounded by a semi-circle of deep yellow sofas around a glass coffee table.

A man and a woman were sitting on the sofa.

The man was around forty years old, of average height, wearing a gray suit with his hair slicked back and shining.

The woman, due to excellent skincare, looked ageless; her facial features were delicate, with an ambiguous smile lingering at the corners of her mouth, and a pair of seductive peach blossom eyes that seemed to speak.

A warm smile appeared on the man's face as he proactively stood up and extended his hand. "Welcome."

Tang Ye shook hands with the man, whose grip was very strong.

After they sat down, the woman gestured toward a white porcelain teacup with her slender fingers. "Please have some tea!"

"Director Hu, coming uninvited is a bit presumptuous." Tang Ye took a small sip and smiled faintly. "Let me introduce the lady sitting beside me. Her name is Gu Wenqin, the owner of the Qin'ge Garment Factory. Of course, she has another identity: she is Hong Lei's wife."

Gu Wenqin tried her best to suppress her emotions.

Why did Tang Ye bring up Hong Lei?

Hu Mingsheng fell silent for a few seconds, then let out two loud laughs. "Mayor Tang, if you have something to say, please come straight to the point!"

Tang Ye took a newspaper from his briefcase and read aloud, "Recently, municipal party secretary Zhou Chengwu went to the municipal leading group office for combating organized crime and the municipal public security bureau to investigate the normalized efforts against organized crime.

He emphasized that carrying out the struggle against organized crime on a regular basis must be treated as an important political task, maintaining a clear understanding of the stubborn and complex characteristics of criminal syndicates, strengthening enforcement in accordance with the law, highlighting a comprehensive approach to both root causes and symptoms, better safeguarding overall social stability, and resolutely protecting the people's happiness and peace."

Hu Mingsheng frowned and said coldly, "Mayor Tang, what do you mean by this? Are you implying that I am a criminal boss? I am a law-abiding, good citizen."

Tang Ye shook his head and explained patiently, "Director Hu, I simply want to share some recent important actions taken by the municipal government. Every emperor has his own court. Three months into the municipal party secretary's tenure, it is precisely the time for him to push through a series of policies. You should be able to figure out what signal he is sending by visiting the public security bureau for an investigation."

Gu Wenqin had regained her composure by this point.

She had heard of Hu Mingsheng's formidable reputation.

She never expected that Tang Ye would bring her to meet a underworld figure.

At that moment, her body felt tense, and fine beads of sweat seeped out of her back.

Recalling Tang Ye's instructions, she quietly clenched her fists, desperately controlling her emotions and managing her facial expressions so as not to reveal her inner panic.

Tang Ye drained the tea in his cup in one gulp. "In my view, this operation is a very good opportunity for you."

"An opportunity?"

"Times are changing, and certain positions shouldn't be occupied by the same person forever."

"Are you trying to sow discord?"

"Director Hu, as far as I know, your parents were both fishermen. You should have known since childhood that the bigger the wind and waves, the more valuable the fish!"

Hu Mingsheng suddenly fell silent, his expression shifting between light and shadow.

The atmosphere suddenly froze.

Seeing that Tang Ye's teacup was empty, the woman stood up and wanted to refill it for him.

Tang Ye smiled and refused. "No more. I've said what I needed to say, so I'll take my leave now!"

A smile returned to Hu Mingsheng's gloomy face. "I'll see you out."

Hu Mingsheng escorted Tang Ye and Gu Wenqin to the elevator lobby.

Only after the elevator doors closed did the smile fade from his face.

Returning to the office, the woman asked quizzically, "Why did you agree to see him? He's just a deputy town mayor."

Hu Mingsheng took out a cigarette, held it between his lips, but didn't light it. "Of course I wouldn't care about a deputy town mayor. But the woman with him is Hong Lei's wife. Do you know who Hong Lei is?"

The woman looked at Hu Mingsheng in confusion. "Hong Lei? Sounds familiar?"

A gleam flickered in Hu Mingsheng's eyes. "Hong Lei is the grandson of the former municipal deputy party secretary, Hong Ruilin.

My godfather's only son was targeted for severe punishment at Hong Ruilin's behest, and he died of a sudden illness after entering prison.

How could my godfather swallow that kind of insult? After Hong Ruilin retired, he took hidden revenge—first luring Hong's son onto a wicked path, and later setting a deadly trap for his grandson.

Zhou Chengwu, the newly arrived municipal party secretary in Hanzhou, was Hong's student."

A look of astonishment appeared in the woman's eyes. "You mean this anti-crime operation is aimed at godfather?"

Hu Mingsheng's gaze gradually hardened.

The woman walked over and tightly grasped Hu Mingsheng's hand. "No matter what decision you make, I will always support you."

On the way back to Pinghu Town.

Seeing that Gu Wenqin remained silent all the way, Tang Ye said softly, "You can talk now; you don't have to keep up that cold aloofness!"

Gu Wenqin spoke in a low voice, "I am Elder Hong's granddaughter-in-law. Is this the real reason you helped me?"

Tang Ye shrugged and smiled, "I didn't approach you just because you're good-looking—are you a bit disappointed? However, partnering with you in business was indeed because I was attracted by who you are. You have the potential to become an outstanding entrepreneur."

Gu Wenqin's previously gloomy mood eased slightly, and she let out a slow sigh. "You look sunny, but you carry a lot of things in your heart."

Tang Ye smiled. "Do you think I'm rather terrifying and planning to stay far away from me?"

Gu Wenqin gave a helpless smile. "I'm already on a pirate ship, and since I can't swim, even if I wanted to run, I lack the ability."

Her phone rang, and Tang Ye answered the call.

Wan Ming's tone was somewhat heavy. "The other party has made a move. Dozens of sand trucks have blocked the town government building."

Tang Ye was extremely surprised!

The storm had arrived much faster than expected!