Chapter 123: There Will Be Plenty of Time Ahead

For Liu Zi, he wasn’t actually as bold as he appeared; he just had a daring look about him. He was brave enough to help an old lady cross the street, but there was one thing he never dared to do: get involved with the "underworld" of Jiangzhou in any way.

Yet, he once happened to see Wang Hu beating someone—it looked like he was about to beat the man to death. The victim was the very same guy whose forehead Zhang Baode had smashed today.

"I don't know why Wang Hu was beating him, but I’m certain he intended to kill him. Yet, a few days later, the guy was back. I didn't dare ask, but I heard others say he’d just been sick and resting. That’s definitely suspicious. Why would Wang Hu let him off? Someone must have put in a good word," Liu Zi said, growing agitated. "And there's more. This guy is strange. We chatted via text for a long time at noon, but before I left, he actually told me his phone was out of power and asked to borrow mine. He ended up deleting all the text records."

Wang Hu was someone you couldn't afford to provoke, but this Minister Yang was even more untouchable. Wang Hu took lives, but this man not only took lives but would also grind his enemies into the dirt so they could never recover. One killed, while the other killed and broke spirits; serving this leader required even greater caution.

Even Zhang Baode had developed a ruthless streak, showing that the Security Department had truly changed.

Yang Changfeng nodded at Zhang Baode, who went to fetch the last person. Yang walked up behind a relieved Liu Zi and patted the back of his head, saying flatly, "Remember, from now on, be a decent person first. As for going against Old Zhang, I don't mind playing favorites. Old Zhang is my friend, while you are still standing on the opposite side of me."

A chill ran up Liu Zi’s spine. The words were icy, laced with murderous intent.

A cold hand patted the back of his neck, and Liu Zi shuddered violently. It was as if he had only just realized he had been walking the line between life and death.

If he were truly branded a mole, Liu Zi knew he would end up in a sorry state. This man surnamed Yang was ruthless and capable—unlike Wang Hu, who relied on numbers to bully others. This man had surely taken lives before. As that hand patted him, Liu Zi felt a cold shiver race from his heels to the top of his head.

However, based on that tone, it seemed they might be kept on?

Liu Zi actually cared deeply about this job. By eating at home, he didn't spend much throughout the year. Aside from his personal expenses, he could reliably send two thousand yuan home every month. He knew he would never find a job with such good benefits if he left the company.

Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, Liu Zi suddenly felt an uncomfortable sensation in his crotch. Looking down, he realized he had been so terrified he had wet himself.

He didn't dare move.

Outside the room, Zhang Baode didn't go to retrieve the man with the bloodied forehead. After Yang Changfeng stepped out, Zhang asked in a low voice, "Leader, I feel something is off. They went to such great lengths; they must have other plans. Otherwise, with a mole assisting them, these idiots would be the perfect accomplices. They have plenty of ways to sneak that hard drive out of the company."

Zhang Baode was finally applying himself, which pleased Yang Changfeng.

"Have a smoke. No rush. It’s almost dawn; everything will surface soon." Yang Changfeng handed Zhang a cigarette. Zhang took it, puffed a few times, and said, "Leader, I'm worried my abilities still aren't enough..."

"Then step up your learning. Old Zhang, you have a great personality. Keep it up, and believe me, you’ll only become more capable." Yang Changfeng then asked about something else. "How was the snack?"

Zhang Baode was thrilled, squinting as he smiled. "Of course it was delicious. Heh, I even ate a couple of bites myself. It really tasted good."

"I'll take you out for a meal later. The owner gave me a card; it's on the house." Yang Changfeng knew that no matter how good a man Zhang was, he still needed to be courted. By taking him to decent places, his confidence would grow, and he would eventually be able to manage the Security Department. It was essential to cultivate talent.

Zhang Baode didn't say anything else. After finishing his cigarette, he said, "I'm going to interrogate that kid. It looks like they’re trying to use Liu Zi as a scapegoat."

"No need to interrogate. With people like that, you won't get much. All you'll get is a phone number or a vague description. Don't waste your energy on it. Continue recruiting. Don't worry, if we keep Liu Zi and the others, they will do their absolute best to complete this task for us. Don't forget, Liu Zi is a local from Jiangzhou. He’s very clever; he just doesn't like to use his brain. Later, make him a squad leader. Trust me, he'll do an excellent job." Yang Changfeng patted Zhang’s shoulder, smiled, and added, "Alright, call the police. Let them come; I suspect they’re already prepared."

Zhang Baode was stunned. It took him a while to realize this was another case of collusion between internal and external elements. However, his confidence had truly been bolstered. He had been right to be suspicious; there was indeed a mole.

He would keep an eye on him. Whether he tried to leave or resign, those would be clear signals.

"I doubt the kid will resign. Staying at the company allows him to provide plenty of information to the people he serves," Zhang thought to himself. He yawned and looked out at the brightening sky, smiling slightly. He felt his position was now secure.

Police cars wailed as they arrived; they were from the nearby station, which had a refreshed look after a change in leadership.

Yang Changfeng stood by while they surveyed the scene. When the officers concluded it was a simple case of burglary, he didn't argue with them, appearing to accept the explanation quietly.

Things had gone beyond what he had planned to handle, but there was no rush. Stalling was necessary for now.

He wasn't the one who should be anxious. Finding out who sent these people, whether it was the mole or the burglars—that wasn't important, at least not for the moment. What mattered was that the opposition was nervous, and that was exactly what the company needed.

Stability, development, and establishing investment directions all required a brief window of a stable environment.

As he saw the police off, Yang Changfeng yawned and told Zhang Baode, "Go to the breakroom and lie down. I'll sleep in the study. We have things to do when dawn breaks; we need to draft a report before the boss comes in for work."

Zhang Baode understood and nodded. "I understand. Also, how should we arrange the shifts?"

Yang Changfeng said proudly, "Don't worry. I actually hope those blind fools come back for another round."

The few policemen exchanged smiles. Very well, they knew exactly what they needed to know now.

They had underestimated someone else's intelligence.

What was the most important thing to the company?

It wasn't development, it wasn't positioning, and it wasn't capital. It was the boss, Chen Aijia.