ies were also treated by Xiao Yu, he didn’t know what to do. Since Zhang Dahai couldn't get healed with his influence, it was even less likely for these guards to be helped.At the same time, Qin Zizhu...Chapter 564

"Mayor Tang... Mayor Tang, I..." After a while, Director Yu snapped out of his daze and quickly stood up from his seat. He looked at Tang Qing, beads of sweat dripping down his face as he nervously called out.

Director Yu stared at Tang Qing's face but couldn't utter a word. He wanted to explain himself to Tang Qing, but recalling what had just happened, he realized that he had taken twenty thousand yuan from Tang Qing and thus could not say anything else.

"Father, there's still someone locked up in the room! They were also framed by them!" At this moment, Tang Ran looked towards his father and said.

Upon hearing Tang Ran's words, Tang Qing didn't speak but instead glanced at Director Yu.

"Mayor Tang, this really has nothing to do with me. It was the secretary and driver of Secretary Liu from the District Committee who made me do it! You know, I can’t afford to offend both of them!"

Upon hearing what Tang Ran said, Director Yu suddenly realized something and anxiously told Tang Qing.

In this moment, he didn't care about offending Secretary Liu's secretary and driver. If his position were lost, how could not offending those two help him Hearing Tang Ran mention Xiao Yu immediately made him think of the two people who had instructed him to do what he did, so without hesitation, he betrayed them.

"Little Li, Little Li, quickly go and release the person in solitary confinement!" After saying this, Director Yu anxiously shouted at the door.

Soon after, the police officer who had escorted Tang Ran out earlier walked towards the solitary confinement room again. Seeing this, Tang Ran followed him over too.

Seeing his son's demeanor, Tang Qing raised an eyebrow. He knew his son well; although he usually appeared very amiable and approachable, few people could truly win his favor. From the look on his son’s face now, it was clear that the person being detained held a special status.

"Uncle Judge, this is my father!"

"Father, this is the judge who gave me the calligraphy I lost in today's competition!" Soon after, Tang Ran and Xiao Yu arrived together. Tang Ran introduced them to each other.

Tang Qing sized up Xiao Yu while Xiao Yu also looked at Tang Qing with neither arrogance nor subservience. When their gazes met for a moment, both of them smiled slightly.

When Tang Qing first heard that the calligraphy was given by Xiao Yu, he thought Xiao Yu must know Tang Ran's identity and be flattering him. Moreover, he assumed that such an important piece of calligraphy would belong to some renowned master; otherwise, with his son’s teacher's level of calligraphy, he wouldn’t have bothered looking at others' works. But when he saw the look in Xiao Yu’s eyes, he immediately felt reassured.

Although he was only forty years old, he had already navigated through political waters for nearly twenty years and had developed a keen eye for people. From the moment he saw Xiao Yu, he knew that Xiao Yu wasn't someone who would engage in sycophantic behavior.

Xiao Yu felt that Tang Qing was no ordinary person when they met; his presence there was as imposing as Song Huishan’s, making Xiao Yu quite impressed with this Tang Qing. He didn’t seem to be the type of person who becomes arrogant and tyrannical once in a high position.

It seems that both father and son are not simple people but rather come from prominent families with good upbringing! After looking at the father-son duo, Xiao Yu thought silently to himself.

"Director Yu, what about the scroll" Without saying anything after exchanging glances, Tang Qing turned around and asked Director Yu.

By this time, he had fully understood his son’s intentions. It seemed that his son truly planned everything meticulously!

In fact, just as Tang Qing was newly appointed to the capital city, although their family's roots were in the capital, could anyone sitting at a high position lack strong connections there Therefore, at this level, background factors had become minor; further advancement relied on personal abilities. Moreover, this was a critical period for central authorities to evaluate them.

That’s why no one at their level would casually flaunt their backgrounds. Everyone valued the means and methods instead. Hence, after entering the capital city, Tang Qing had been struggling to establish his footing there.

But he lacked any foundation in the municipal government of the capital city, and during a meeting, when his proposal was challenged by this Party Secretary Liu, Tang Qing didn’t mind it at all; without such broad-mindedness, he wouldn't have reached his current position by forty. However, his secretary Lin couldn't bear it and continued to complain about it even at Tang Qing’s home, which Xiao Ran just happened to overhear.

So when the driver of Party Secretary Liu approached him today to buy calligraphy, he had already planned everything meticulously and included that the driver would take away his scroll in his plans.

Tang Qing had long been aware of his son's maturity, so when his son mentioned wanting to find that particular piece of calligraphy, Tang Qing knew all the plans involved.

"Mayor Tang, the piece of calligraphy was taken by Secretary Liu’s driver. It was also the driver who came up with the idea of accusing your son of fraud today. And it was Secretary Liu's secretary who suggested apprehending this gentleman, all for that same piece of calligraphy! Just now, Secretary Liu's secretary asked me to play along, solely for the sake of obtaining this gentleman’s work!"

Hearing Tang Qing's inquiry, Director Yu dared not withhold anything and spilled out everything he knew.

Director Yu realized that if he were honest about what happened, there was still a chance of survival. If he remained silent, however, his fate would be sealed today.

The act of extortion for 200,000 yuan and targeting the mayor directly, if pursued by Tang Qing, no one could save him—not even Secretary Liu—especially since Secretary Liu himself didn't know how to explain this matter. Despite Tang Qing only just arriving in Beijing, it was not something they dared provoke.

Upon hearing Director Yu’s explanation, Tang Qing did not speak but turned and left the scene. This incident wasn’t suitable for him to intervene personally; otherwise, it would indicate a lack of tolerance towards others. Allowing the police department to handle this case sufficed, while he waited for the outcome—particularly as results should have been evident by tonight if Secretary Liu was smart enough.

Regarding this matter, Xiao Yu had maintained an attitude of watching from the sidelines and didn’t intend to intervene. He made that decision upon seeing Tang Ran when getting into the police car, given how extraordinary young Tang Ran’s performance was; he wanted to see what kind of family could raise such a remarkable child.

After leaving with Tang Qing, his secretary Xiao Lin stayed behind, waiting for the arrival of the head of the Public Security Bureau. Although the boss hadn't directly instructed him, Xiao Lin knew what needed to be done.

A short while later, Xiao Lin's phone rang. He quickly picked up upon seeing it was a call from his boss.

Xiao Lin briefly responded before hanging up.

"Comrade, where is your restroom" After hanging up the phone, Xiao Lin asked Director Yu.

"The bathroom is on the first floor! Just go down and turn left!" Hearing Xiao Lin's question, Director Yu hurriedly replied. In reality, there was a toilet on the second floor near his office, but he immediately changed his mind upon realizing something and promptly corrected himself.

"Hm!" Kobayashi responded and headed downstairs to look for the bathroom, but when he reached the entrance of the restroom, instead of going in, he took out a cigarette and started smoking.

It turned out that just now, Tang Ran had called him to come outside for a walk around.

After Kobayashi left, Chief Yu quickly dialed the numbers for Secretary Zhang and Driver Xiao Zhao upon seeing Kobayashi go downstairs.

The moment they heard Chief Yu's call, their hands trembled slightly as the phones nearly dropped. At that time, Driver Xiao Zhao was sitting in the driver’s seat waiting for Secretary Liu to finish work. Upon receiving the phone call, he hurriedly got off the car and went to report to Secretary Liu, but just after getting out of the car, he stumbled and almost fell.

Even so, Driver Xiao Zhao dared not waste any time; after rolling up from the fall, he rushed towards Secretary Liu's office. Although he only drove for Secretary Liu, Jing City’s executive vice mayor was a legendary figure; if such a person sneezed, it could potentially kill him. Furthermore, Chief Yu had specifically mentioned the matter of the calligraphy.

As this driver ran upstairs, Zhang Secretary also received a phone call from outside Secretary Liu's office. Upon receiving the call, he instantly froze in astonishment; though that piece of calligraphy did not concern him directly, Xiao Ming being taken away by Xiao Yu was an ominous sign!

Driver Xiao Zhao didn't understand this, but Zhang Secretary knew! During a recent meeting, Secretary Liu had been at odds with the new mayor. Now, who could guarantee what might happen Though they couldn’t control Secretary Liu, taking down them would be effortless for the other side; so after hanging up the phone, Zhang Secretary too entered Secretary Liu's office in alarm.

After Xiao Yu and Tang Ran left the police station, they bid farewell to them. Although Tang Ran wanted to invite Xiao Yu to eat with him but was politely refused by Xiao Yu. He planned to leave Beijing tomorrow and wished to have dinner with his mother and sister.

The Tang family also decided to depart once seeing Xiao Ming take a taxi away. Tonight, Secretary Liu would probably pay them a visit so they returned home rather than the government office.

Currently residing in housing provided by the Beijing municipal government for officials, the Tang family lived in an apartment complex just outside the government compound. This small complex had only two six-story buildings but was well secured; most of Beijing's officials lived here, making it a kind of residential area for the government staff.

Less than an hour after returning home, there came knocks on their door. Secretary Liu stood respectfully at the entrance with his secretary and driver standing behind him. They all wore forced smiles when they faced the family’s main gate even though their expressions were grim.

Though he hadn't acted until now, everyone could guess what had transpired, so he couldn’t avoid it now or else who would dare to work with him in the future Moreover, circumstances compelled him to come. If not, perhaps he wouldn’t be safe himself.ness and stability that is unmistakably his.While the boy's handwriting was undoubtedly excellent, the elderly man’s work also had its own merits. Thus, deciding between them was no easy task for the...