Chapter 76: A New Way to Get Along

The officers at the precinct, including the political instructor, all wanted to refute Yang Changfeng’s accusations, but they had no evidence to prove they hadn’t laid a hand on him. Without proof of their innocence, they had no choice but to let him say whatever he pleased. Regret was a bitter pill, though only those involved knew its true flavor.

If only they’d known about his powerful connections, why would they have provoked him in the first place! Now, their only hope was that their department wouldn’t make things worse. Otherwise, with his wealth, he could ruin them effortlessly.

Wang Hu was finished too—anyone with eyes could see it.

“Let’s do this,” Yang Changfeng said, feigning magnanimity. “I won’t make things too hard for you. Write me a note, confirming that my eye was seriously injured by your officers. I’m in a hurry to go deal with some business of my own. You can take your time discussing compensation. I’ll consult with the hospital to see what my eye is worth. Consider this my way of making things easier for you.”

The head of the sub-bureau immediately shook his head. Was he joking? Signing such a note would put all the blame squarely on him. Even a minor injury to an eye could mean hundreds of thousands, even millions, in compensation. Where would he find that kind of money? And why should he pay?

“How much do you want?” the sub-bureau chief asked, glancing at the officers cowering like quails. He steeled himself: a million each, and if they had no money, they could sell everything they owned. There were plenty who had actually struck him.

Yang Changfeng sighed, “Clearly, you don’t realize how complicated this is. Forget it. Give me my phone—I need to contact a lawyer and the media.”

The sub-bureau chief shook his head again.

Yang Changfeng added another charge, “Obstructing a citizen from seeking help, to make it easier for you to cover up the truth.”

The city bureau called again, this time with an even tougher stance: “Are you capable or not? If not, hand in your resignation immediately. If you can’t resolve this in five minutes, the city bureau will step in and revoke your position.”

Were they serious?

Now the sub-bureau chief understood—this wasn’t going through the motions, this was for real.

He couldn’t have known that Sun Zhaoxing, who had all the details of the conflict between Yang Changfeng and Wang Hu, had already submitted the materials to the departments responsible for criminal investigation and national security. Bigger, more powerful agencies were involved now. The city bureau was desperate.

Gritting his teeth, the sub-bureau chief conceded.

“I’ll sign the note!” he declared. “Even if you extort a hundred million, I’ll get it out of these people. As long as I keep my seat, everything’s manageable. At worst, the sub-bureau gets a warning, but the ones paying are these precinct officers. They’re all tied to the underworld, their families have money, and if not, their fathers will pay. If the previous generation can’t, the next will find a way. Serves them right for meddling.”

“Finally, that’s how it should be,” Yang Changfeng said, pocketing the note signed personally by the sub-bureau chief and the other leaders. He clapped his hands. “Alright, your internal affairs are your own problem. I’ll get a hospital checkup and let you know what the compensation will be.”

There would surely be someone to broker a truce. Yang Changfeng didn’t intend to extort much, but he needed to teach them a lesson. Otherwise, there’d be others in high positions backing Wang Hu, and if they kept coming after him, it would get troublesome.

A suitable mediator would make things much easier. It would remind the sub-bureau what kind of people they couldn’t afford to provoke, and earn him a little extra on the side. Such a good opportunity—Yang Changfeng almost wished he could do this every day. A new path to fortune, one that no one else could manage.

But agreeing to leave didn’t mean leaving on his own.

“I won’t demand compensation for damage to my reputation or emotional distress—provided that my reputation is restored and my spirit comforted,” Yang Changfeng said, sitting back down cross-legged.

The sub-bureau chief nodded without hesitation. Embarrassment was the least of his worries now.

If the city bureau called a third time, it would truly be to announce his dismissal.

Yang Changfeng glanced at his watch, looked at the precinct chief, and raised another demand: “Strip off his police uniform. Whoever struck me, I must return the favor.”

This was a bit much.

But Yang Changfeng didn’t care. He strode out of the precinct and got into the sub-bureau chief’s official car. He had no intention of making peace with these people. If they were offended, so be it.

The sub-bureau decided: the leader in charge of discipline would stay at the precinct to handle the fallout, while the sub-bureau chief, accompanied by the officers stripped of their uniforms and stuffed into the car, followed Yang Changfeng’s orders and headed straight for the company.

The company hadn’t closed for the day yet. Yang Changfeng’s dramatic return left everyone stunned. Just moments before, Wang Hu had threatened over the phone, and the managers and even executives who had ignored Chen Aijia’s directives were now scrambling to make amends. Better late than never.

Wang Hu was terrified. He finally realized that Yang didn’t lack connections—he simply hadn’t used them.

Escape!

Wang Hu hurriedly packed his things, hoping to leave early, but was blocked at the door by a crowd. These were the fence-sitters: just moments ago, they had followed Wang Hu’s lead in making things difficult for the boss; now, they blocked his way, determined to make him take responsibility. If he ran, who would bear the consequences?

Would they cover for him?

At the company entrance, under the furious gaze of the police, Yang Changfeng slapped the precinct chief twice, and punched the two officers who had detained him several times. He didn’t hold back, but made sure the injuries were hidden—no blood, no visible marks.

The sub-bureau chief felt today was the most humiliating day of his career. His men were struck right in front of him, and he could do nothing but swallow his anger.

Go see their boss!

Unexpectedly, just as the sub-bureau chief was about to take the stairs, a smiling receptionist informed him that the boss had already reported their misconduct and negligence to the relevant authorities, and was actively contacting the media to expose some of the sub-bureau’s internal chaos.

Ruthless!

Still reeling, the sub-bureau chief received another call from the city bureau—this time from the leader in charge of discipline. He wasn’t asked to explain anything, but was ordered to carry out a “thorough, complete, inside-out, soul-to-image” reform.

The warning was heavy, though the punishment left some room.

As he left the company’s gates, the sub-bureau chief sighed deeply. No matter who he faced, his opponent was shrewd. Yang Changfeng struck his subordinates, but never challenged him directly. A true master.

It seemed that the company, which once could have been bullied by a mere precinct, was no longer a target for the sub-bureau. As for himself, a chief with real authority, he would have to personally come and apologize in the future.

He hoped the extortion wouldn’t be too severe—what a mess!

This was the recognition the company deserved. Chen Aijia hadn’t acted recklessly, but neither was she inactive. With Vice President Su’s advice and support, she boldly declared to society that her era had arrived.