Chapter 82: The Truth

Ning Yu laughed heartily; it had been a long time since he felt so carefree, the last being on the eve of leaving the army, when he embraced his brothers in the regiment with unrestrained joy. Upon returning to his hometown, he had barely entered the Criminal Investigation Unit of Yangjiang Public Security Bureau when he received an order to go undercover beside Liu Dashan, the city’s biggest entrepreneur. It took him four years to become Liu Dashan’s right-hand man, and in the following six months, he tirelessly gathered evidence of Liu Dashan’s crimes.

Liu Dashan, while appearing composed, had the temperament of an underworld figure. In everything he did, if persuasion failed, he would resort to force. The recent kidnapping was merely to facilitate the opening of a private school; he had schemed endlessly, and as he liked to say, there was nothing in Yangjiang he couldn’t accomplish.

Ning Yu laid out all the details. Originally, Liu Dashan was to stand trial on the third day of the New Year, and everything was supposed to be kept secret, but Jiang Xiwen had already pieced together most of it, so Ning Yu decided to tell him everything.

Liu Dashan and Fan Qiang had conspired together to gain Tian Weidong’s trust. The Tianxing School already had the qualification to run a private school; Fan Qiang had spoken highly of Liu Dashan to Tian Weidong so Liu could attach his private school under Tianxing’s name. Liu Dashan promised Fan Qiang a ten percent share in the private school if it succeeded.

It could be said that Fan Qiang, through Liu Dashan’s misfortune, had found some luck. So far, he hadn’t received a single benefit, so he hadn’t broken any laws and needn’t be held accountable. But after Ning Yu told him that Tian Weidong had learned of the affair and was furious, it seemed Fan Qiang’s days were numbered.

As for Zhang Yong, Ning Yu only learned about his situation after returning to the police unit last night. Zhang Yong had been threatened even before his daughter was kidnapped, and he immediately reported it to the director of Yangjiang Police Bureau. Gong Xiang’s father had done the same.

Though these two fathers had no concrete evidence, they knew it was Liu Dashan threatening them. Yet, after hearing the police director’s request, they chose to conceal the matter, pretending nothing had happened.

At this point, Ning Yu clenched his fists, deeply grateful to these two fathers. To ensure his safety as an undercover, and to give him enough time to collect all of Liu Dashan’s criminal evidence over the years, they made this decision. It was a testament to their trust in the police, and in Ning Yu.

They were not only good officials, but true men of courage.

Jiang Xiwen felt somewhat ashamed; he had always misunderstood Zhang Yong. Now it was clear that wasn’t the case at all. Liu Dashan had been arrested, and Zhang Yong must know by now. Thus, the issue between Old Master Zhang Song and him would surely be resolved.

When Captain Wu of the Criminal Investigation Unit heard from Wang Wu that the call had been made by Jiang Xiwen, and then from Ning Yu about Jiang Xiwen’s bravery, he praised Jiang Xiwen endlessly and said he would present a silk banner to Yangjiang No. 2 High School to honor him. Ning Yu offered a different suggestion, passing Wu’s idea to Jiang Xiwen and asking his opinion.

“A true man is one who keeps a low profile. The silk banner is too much trouble; the school will surely use it as a propaganda example, and I don’t like going around giving reports…”

Jiang Xiwen’s answer sounded casual, but its meaning made Ning Yu truly appreciate him—it was also his own principle in life.

The next day, Jiang Xiwen received Ning Yu’s message: Tian Weidong planned to host a banquet at Yangjiang River Fresh Restaurant to thank Jiang Xiwen for saving his life. That day, the middle-aged entrepreneur had been imprisoned and was actually quite frightened, though his composure allowed him to appear calm.

Thus, he felt it wasn’t an exaggeration to call it a debt of life.

Ning Yu had told Tian Weidong about Jiang Xiwen’s wish to keep things low-key, and Tian Weidong fully understood, agreeing to simply host a dinner without publicizing it.

Jiang Xiwen also wanted to meet Tian Weidong sooner, or more precisely, to finally get the 1.6 million yuan he’d been waiting almost two months for.

After saying all this, Ning Yu fell into slight contemplation, and Jiang Xiwen noticed he was preoccupied. He asked, “Old Ning, don’t be coy—if there’s something, let’s talk it over together.”

Ning Yu sighed, “Xiwen, talking to you—I really can’t treat you like a kid. I’m thinking Liu Dashan won’t admit defeat so easily. I know his character well; he appears reserved and steady, but inside he’s extremely competitive. Captain Wu said arresting him was very straightforward, likely because Liu Dashan never expected us to know the place he was negotiating with Tian Weidong, and was careless. Yet he surrendered so quickly; I’m sure he still has cards up his sleeve.”

“Oh? Old Ning, what could he do? He won’t break out of prison like in the movies, will he? You just said he committed quite a few crimes over the years, and you’ve collected all the evidence.”

“His influence is vast. Although Jiang Qi and he are both detained, there may still be people outside passing information to him. I worry he’ll send someone to destroy the evidence I’ve gathered.” Ning Yu paused, “Though my mission is over, it isn’t truly successful. Liu Dashan still has someone inside the police bureau—I haven’t found out who. If that person helps Liu Dashan, he might still pull it off.”

Jiang Xiwen listened and pondered, then said, “Why don’t we lure the snake out of its hole…”

“Will it work?” Ning Yu was hesitant. “Liu Dashan’s people aren’t fools; this trick…”

“Isn’t that how TV dramas do it? As melodramatic as it is, the key is Liu Dashan needs this. If he doesn’t grab it, he’s finished—it’s like selling water in the desert, a ten thousand dollar bottle, and someone will take it!” Jiang Xiwen proposed the demand theory.

Ning Yu thought it over, then nodded with a smile, “Alright, Xiwen. If this succeeds, I’ll get you a reward.”

After spending another day in the hospital, and with the doctor’s approval, Jiang Xiwen was discharged, though his hand was still in a cast. As the saying goes, it takes a hundred days for tendon and bone injuries to heal, and Jiang Xiwen’s greatest worry was having to type with one finger for the next three months.

Tian Weidong learned Jiang Xiwen was discharged and personally called his home. Fortunately, Jiang Xiwen answered himself; he didn’t want his parents to find out about the software so soon, fearing they wouldn’t be able to handle hearing he’d suddenly earned so much money.

A son raised from childhood, who had never touched a computer, suddenly wins first prize in the city’s computer competition for students—that could be explained. But to suddenly create commercial software worth over a million yuan—even if Jiang Xiwen were full of wild stories, he couldn’t explain that.

Entering Yangjiang River Fresh Restaurant, he found the same private room Fan Qiang had booked the other day. Jiang Xiwen found it amusing—if the real and fake Tian Weidong met, who knows what would happen.

When he saw Tian Weidong, he was much younger than he remembered. It shouldn’t be possible for ten years to change someone so much. The Tian Weidong before him was still middle-aged, lacking the reserved steadiness he’d develop a decade later. Though he tried to conceal his youthful vigor, the sharp ambition in his gaze could not be hidden.

A decade of business battles can transform a person’s temperament so greatly, Jiang Xiwen couldn’t help but wonder what he himself would be like ten years from now. Perhaps he’d be sitting with Forbes, sipping tea; in his previous life, that was only a fantasy, but now Jiang Xiwen had the ability to make it reality. “Come, Xiwen, sit here; thank you so much for everything,” Tian Weidong greeted him warmly, and Jiang Xiwen could not tell if it was sincerity or pretense.

“Chairman Tian, no need to be so formal.” Jiang Xiwen smiled, “It was all coincidence. If I hadn’t been there when Liu Dashan kidnapped my classmate, I wouldn’t have had the chance to save you.”

He implied that even without him, someone else would have appeared at that moment to spare Tian Weidong from danger.

When humility was called for, Jiang Xiwen was humble. Based on his understanding of Tian Weidong, the man never liked arrogant people, and he himself was reserved and prudent. Even with time advanced by a decade, his temperament wouldn’t change much; the way he tried to hide his sharpness proved this.

Tian Weidong’s lips curled into a slight smile of approval. Jiang Xiwen had only met him once more than ten years later; at that time, Tian Weidong always appeared calm and steady, like a deep well. Only at the final banquet, when the software was handed over, did Jiang Xiwen see his approving smile—and now, that very smile was on the face of the middle-aged Tian Weidong.

“Xiwen, good, good, good!” Tian Weidong said three times in succession. “I hear you’re quite discreet, so today’s meal is simply a gathering of Yangjiang’s good friends—you’re one of them. Two of my university classmates will also join us; I believe they’ll appreciate you as well.”

Tian Weidong made no mention of the software, which puzzled Jiang Xiwen. Still, he was confident: once Tian Weidong saw his software and heard the price of 1.6 million, he would surely accept.

You don’t mention it, nor do I; patience is something I have plenty of. From the staff at Tianxing’s Yangjiang branch, I’ve already confirmed you called to inquire about the software’s trial. Fan Qiang, thinking he could earn a share, recommended it to you, and at that time he was eager for you to buy the software. Even if he inflated the price, it wouldn’t be higher than the typical rates of software companies.