Chapter 150: Hidden Dangers

Zhao Fanglin nodded without speaking, a look of worry clouding his face. After a brief pause, Lin Fan asked, "Uncle Zhao, you must have asked me here for something. What is it?"

"What, can't I look for you unless I have something to worry about?" Zhao Fanglin pouted, clearly displeased with Lin Fan's remark.

To some extent, Zhao Fanglin was not only his ally in the political arena, but also Zhao Ying's father, and even his future father-in-law. Realizing suddenly that his phrasing might have been somewhat inappropriate, but with the words already out and impossible to retract, Lin Fan could only offer an awkward, dry laugh and said, "Uncle Zhao, you know I didn't mean it that way."

Perhaps it was a universal flaw among men; when facing their prospective fathers-in-law, they invariably felt an inexplicable sense of tension, and Lin Fan was naturally no exception.

With a heavy sigh, Zhao Fanglin furrowed his brow and said, "Yu Jiang has been released from the Disciplinary Inspection Commission. That incident dealt a massive blow to his reputation, so even if I am transferred away, he has no chance of becoming the Municipal Party Secretary of T City. Yet, he still retains his official title as the mayor of T City."

At once, Lin Fan's eyebrows knitted together slightly. Though he had long been aware of the corruption within official circles, he had never imagined it could reach such staggering depths.

However, this also made one thing clear to Lin Fan. Although Zhao Fanglin did not spell it out, Lin Fan knew that to have sat in the mayor's chair of T City for so many years, Yu Jiang must have powerful backers supporting him from behind the scenes. Otherwise, even if he escaped imprisonment, he should have at least been forced into early retirement. Viewed in this light, if he intended to deal with Yu Jiang in the future, he would need to prepare a two-pronged strategy: take down Yu Jiang and the person behind him simultaneously, or any action would be utterly ineffective.

"Uncle Zhao, what are your plans for the next step?" Lin Fan asked.

After a brief moment of silent deliberation, Zhao Fanglin replied, "Although Yu Jiang has been acquitted, I believe he won't dare make any major moves in the short term. However, I worry that he will certainly not let you off. After all, the predicament he finds himself in was brought about by you. You must exercise extreme caution from now on."

Lin Fan smiled faintly and said, "It's fine, I'm waiting for him to come." A man like Yu Jiang would never swallow this humiliation easily; it would be stranger if he didn't come looking for trouble.

Yet, much like a duel between ancient swordsmen, the more moves one made, the more openings one exposed. As long as Yu Jiang dared to move against him, Lin Fan would seize the opportunity to deliver a fatal blow. What he feared most was Yu Jiang turning over a new leaf and playing the obedient citizen, which would significantly reduce the chances of bringing him down.

"Oh, and there is one more matter," Zhao Fanglin paused, then continued, "The night before last, Yu Weihua broke out of prison. I have already mobilized all inspection agencies to hunt him down, but his whereabouts remain unknown. You must be careful. I've heard he suffered terribly inside the prison—rumored to have nearly been castrated. He will undoubtedly pin all of that blame on you. I'll wager anything he will come after you, so you must be extra vigilant."

Curling his lip slightly, Lin Fan frowned and said, "T City is a municipality directly under the central government, after all. Can the prison management really be that incompetent? To let a mere mortal escape so easily—surely Yu Jiang had a hand in this."

Zhao Fanglin naturally caught the dissatisfaction in Lin Fan's tone regarding the prison administration of T City. He sighed softly, looking somewhat helpless as he said, "I understand that, of course. But Yu Jiang still retains connections within the prison system. After all, he has been the mayor for so many years and serves as T City's second-in-command; his network of ties must be extensive. Even though I am the Municipal Party Secretary, if taking him down were that easy, I wouldn't have waited until now. I went to the prison the very day Yu Weihua escaped, but I couldn't dig up a single clue. Though I know it's tied to Yu Jiang's influence, there is simply no evidence."

Though he had never mingled in official circles, Lin Fan understood a fair bit about what his prospective father-in-law was describing. Those who survived in the political arena, regardless of their rank, invariably possessed their own intricate webs of connection. As the saying goes, pull a single hair and the whole body moves; thus, wanting to deal with one person meant preparing to confront all of them simultaneously, or else eliminating one would only invite endless troubles later on.

Naturally, his future father-in-law knew far more about Yu Jiang's network than he did, and he couldn't possibly assassinate every single one of them. Doing so would bring him no benefits whatsoever and would likely summon endless complications. All he could do was find a way to take down Yu Jiang and the figure lurking behind him. As for Yu Jiang's other accomplices in T City, leaving them for Zhao Fanglin to handle would be more than sufficient. Besides, sweeping away those corrupt officials would count as a monumental achievement for his prospective father-in-law.

"Also, because Ying'er works at the police station, this matter couldn't be kept from her. Therefore, you must protect her properly during this period, lest Yu Weihua targets those close to you," Zhao Fanglin reminded him when he saw Lin Fan remaining silent.

In truth, Lin Fan would have thought of this even without Zhao Fanglin's prompt. Although he himself did not fear Yu Weihua's revenge, it would become rather troublesome if the man shifted his target to the people around him.

At this thought, Lin Fan shivered slightly. Yu Weihua had been on the loose for two days now; it seemed imperative that he urge Tan Zhiyong to arrange bodyguards immediately. Otherwise, should Yu Weihua succeed, things would become deeply problematic. Lin Fan had no intention of letting his loved ones and friends suffer any harm.

"I understand, Uncle Zhao. I'll be careful, and I'll protect Ying'er well," Lin Fan said.

To this day, Zhao Fanglin remained unclear about Lin Fan's true background, but figuring he must be exceptional to have won the favor of Elder Tang, since Lin Fan had given his word, Zhao Fanglin naturally had nothing more to say. After all, in his heart, he had already accepted Lin Fan as his son-in-law.

Noticing Zhao Fanglin glancing at his watch from time to time, Lin Fan added, "If you have matters to attend to, please go ahead. I'll wait here for Ying'er and personally escort her home tonight." With Yu Weihua's prison break, a mountain of affairs would surely be entangled in the aftermath. As the Municipal Party Secretary of T City, Zhao Fanglin undoubtedly had countless duties to manage, and Lin Fan could hardly trap him here to share a meal.

In truth, Lin Fan harbored a tiny selfish motive as well. Constantly dining with his prospective father-in-law, though outwardly composed, required him to mind his words and actions around an elder, meaning he couldn't exactly flirt or mess around with Zhao Ying.

"Very well, I shall take my leave then. I have a meeting shortly. Ying'er will come over once she finishes up at the police station; you can wait for her here," Zhao Fanglin said, checking his watch again before striding toward the door. "Oh, and Ying'er's mother will be returning to the country soon," Zhao Fanglin added, turning back as he neared the exit, as if remembering something crucial.