------------

  Xiang Tianliang and Qiao Annan stared at each other, neither of them intending to make the first move or speak up.

  Qiao Annan has a standard military temperament, and under the reflection of his uniform, he is not inferior to Xiang Tianliang in terms of image, especially with an air of heroism that surpasses Xiang Tianliang's popularity. Before the age of 35, he was already the deputy chief of staff of the Provincial Military Region's Independent Division, and naturally had something different from others.

  The two women were sensitive people and saw the hostility between the two men, both of whom reached out to pull at the hem of the man's garment.

  Tian Liang's mind turned quickly, and he judged that the hostility towards Qiao An Nan came from three aspects: last night's confrontation, because of Old Director Lao Chenggui, and more likely because he and Ye Nannan were too close.

  What's there to be afraid of? We're all men, two shoulders carrying one head, who's afraid of whom?

  Thinking of this, Tian Liang's waist straightened even more.

  The two men finally extended their hands.

  "Hello, Deputy Chief of Staff Qiao."

  "Good morning, comrade."

  The contest took place during the handshake, but Xiang Tianliang deliberately showed weakness, using only 30% of his strength, allowing Qiao Annan's hand, which had rarely held a gun, to gain an advantage.

  Qiao Annan indeed smiled and said, "Thanks for that jar of pickled beans last night, what a wonderful idea."

  "You ran too fast, even if they had a pot of beans, they couldn't catch up with you." Xiang Tianliang also responded with a smile.

  "Actually, I had a gun with me last night, and there were five bullets in it."

  "Needless to say."

  Qiao An nodded, "I figured it out, you calculated that the old director would send someone, and designed it well, wanting his people to get the things."

  "It's not necessarily the case, if the person sent by Lao Juzhang is a useless guy, I'd deserve it if he can't get it, but what I didn't expect was that the person he sent wasn't only a master of disguise and long-distance running, but also had a mole planted beside me beforehand."

  The two men both looked at Ye Nan.

  Ye Nan's face was full of embarrassment, and Li Ya Juan beside her pursed her lips and laughed.

  Qiao Annan smiled and said, "Hasn't it been seen through by you? I heard from Ye Nan that she has confessed everything."

  "Too much said, your actions are in line with my expectations. I just made a plan to make a plan, pretended to be deaf and dumb, and went along with the flow."

  "Haha, I've learned a lesson. You're really good at turning the tables on people. It's a pity you didn't become a police officer... until next time."

  Qiao Annan smiled and nodded, putting his arm around Ye Nannan as they turned to leave.

  Watching Ye Nang and Qiao An's car disappear, Xiang Tianliang was a little dazed, and Li Yajuan gently poked him.

  "Hehe, is it because you're afraid Qiao An Nan will see something?"

  "What's going on?"

  "The story between you and Yenan."

  "Hey, what's with the serious face, Li? Of course there are stories between colleagues. Don't be so gloomy, it's not good for you?"

  The two entered the hospital and had just found the ward where Lao Chenggui was located when they saw Xie Zixuan coming out of the ward from afar.

  "How did he come?" Xiang Tianliang quickly pulled Li Yajuan aside.

  Li Yajuan said in a low voice: "There are only two reasons."

  "Sister Li, you said, what are the two reasons?"

  "Last night, Qiao Annan got the stuff. At that time, maybe no one recognized him, but those people were all old police officers and should have known quickly who Qiao Annan was and who he was working for. As a result, everyone knew that the thing had fallen into La Chenggui's hands. You think, with Xie Zixuan having five bank deposit slips, how could he not come?"

  "Haha, that makes sense, what's the other reason?"

  Li Ya-jun continued: "Another reason, it's a long story, when Xie Zixiang was transferred from Binhaicounty to the city, he was bullied and forced to curry favor with everyone. He had a wide network of connections and a solid foundation, which made him more influential than ordinary deputy mayors. Xie Zixiang repeatedly took the initiative to visit him and eventually managed to establish a relationship with him. The two even became sworn brothers and addressed each other as 'brother' when they met."

  Xiang Tianliang smiled and said: "Brothers? I've heard Old Liu mention it before, but how come they don't look like brothers at all?"

  "This is right, if you want to blame someone, blame your master Yu Feilong."

  "Hehe, I think so too."

  Li Yajuan said: "After Xie Zixiang was transferred to the city, Yu Feilong was also transferred over by Xie Zixiang. Although Xie Zixiang was a good hand in the public security system and had no problem with business, Yu Feilong only knew how to talk nonsense and make small moves, and couldn't do any practical work. It is said that Xie Zixiang asked Lauchenggui to take Yu Feilong under his wing, but unexpectedly, as soon as Yu Feilong arrived at the Construction Bureau, he started playing old tricks again, and got into a conflict with Gaoxing and Sun Zhanlu. As a result, because of Yu Feilong, Lauchenggui and Xie Zixiang became nominal brothers, except for nodding to each other when attending meetings, they cut off all contact and became sworn enemies by this year."

  Tian Liang said, "There are many brothers like that, unreliable. Only those who have studied together, fought together, or done bad things together can become true brothers."

  "I see, Xie Zixiang and Yu Feilong are indeed true brothers, a pair of wolf-like brothers who collude with each other. Yu Feilong can keep the bank deposit slips with unknown sources for Xie Zixiang, there must be a very special connection between them."

  Li Ya smiled and said: "Let's go see Lao Chenggui first, and then we'll investigate the story of Xie Zixu and Yu Feilong later."

  Lao Chenggui didn't want to see two people at the same time. Li Yajuan entered the ward first, and Xiang Tianliang waited outside the door.

  His family members are not around and no nurse is in sight. People can visit him casually. By dawn, it's estimated that Lao Gu should be out of danger.

  About ten minutes later, Li Yajuan came out.

  She looked up at Li Yajuan, hoping to catch something on her face, but Li Yajuan's expression was as usual, without anything unusual.

  "He's on a phone call, let him go in ten minutes." Li Yajuan pulled Xiang Tianliang to sit down on the long bench.

  "Lǐ jiě, what did he say to you?" Xiàng Tiānliàng still couldn't help but ask.

  Li Yajuan said lightly: "It's still the same old routine, it can be considered as an apology to me. All these years he has been holding me back, otherwise I should have already become a full-time deputy director."

  "Hmm... He's not terminally ill or anything, no need to treat him as if he's going to die and take his words as a will."

  Li Yajuan said: "Don't worry, he won't die. An hour ago, Mayor Chen Guohua came to see him and informed him that on the first day of work after the Lunar New Year, he would be officially announced to be transferred to the Municipal Political Consultative Conference. At the same time, tomorrow he will be transferred to the Provincial Sanatorium. I'm telling you this as a farewell message."

  "Hehe, this old man's life is basically safe and sound now."

  That's because you let him off.

  Xiang Tian Liang nodded and said: "Sister Li, we can think deeply about it. By letting him go, we are also setting ourselves free."

  "Hmm... you're right."

  There was a strong smell of medicine in the ward. As dawn broke, I carefully closed the door and walked quietly to the bedside.

  "Director Lao, your complexion looks good, should be no problem."

  As soon as they met, they spoke kindly, and on the first day of the Lunar New Year, Lao Cheng's humble smile appeared.

  "Xiao Xiang, sit down and talk."

  Facing upwards, she sat leaning against the sickbed, as dignified as ever.

  However, the smile on Lao Chenggui's face soon disappeared, replaced by a cold and frosty demeanor. A pair of old eyes shot out a chill, all focused on Xiang Tianliang's face.

  It's better to be frank and open, now he also understands that a good horse is ridden by people, a good person is bullied by people, whether you stick your head out or hide it, the knife will still fall. What should be faced, can't be avoided in the end.

  What's more, Labour is already a cicada in deep autumn, soon to hibernate underground, and the handle he dropped is still clutched in his hand, what's there to be afraid of?

  "You little scoundrel... you win."

  Finally, Lauchenggui spoke up, with suppressed anger and a deep sense of helplessness.

  "Sorry, Director."

  Lao Cheng hummed in agreement.

  "Is that thing still in your hand?"

  "Yes."

  "Also including my laptop?"

  "Director Lao, you're mistaken, I returned the laptop to you, all that's left are a few rolls of film."

  "Isn't that one and the same?" Lao Chenggui said with a dark face.

  "You can understand it this way too." Xiang Tianliang smiled slightly.

  "You really don't want to give it back to me?"

  "Sorry, old chief, I'm still useful for something, but I'm of no use to you."

  "Can we talk about the conditions?"

  "No." Tian Liang shook his head firmly, without a hint of politeness.

  "Wealth or rank?"

  "You can't give it to me, I want a hundred million, or I'll be the mayor, you see if you can afford it?"

  "You stinky little brat, you're really a scoundrel!" Lauchenggui finally lost his temper.

  "Haha, I learned from you, just an old rascal and a young rascal, we're even, but I have the advantage of age, you know what I mean."

  Lao Cheng was silent for a moment, this kid has changed, he's become more mature, but also more corrupted.

  "Ugh... you little stinker, you win."

  "Director Lao, you must take care of your body." Xiang Tianliang stood up, his attitude neither arrogant nor humble.

  "Hmph, don't worry, I'm not going to die yet."

  "Looking at your complexion, this is not an illness, it's a sign of longevity and living to be 100 years old." Flattering words like these are inappropriate for the occasion.

  "Cut the act, let's talk, what can I do for you?"

  "Thank you, leader. I want what belongs to me, and you should understand that." Tian Liang didn't dare say it out loud, but he still had some expectations for the position of deputy director of the municipal office, after all, it was once his own position.

  "Oh, I see...... So, can I trust you?" La Chenggui nodded, wasn't he just the deputy director of the bureau's office, a small deputy department level position? He signed off on his way out, no big deal.

  "Let's put it this way, you can't not trust me, you can only choose to trust me. Of course, you can rest assured and spend your later years in peace. I guarantee that anything that happens in the future will absolutely not involve you."

  Lao Cheng looked up at the sky with a complex expression. He slowly shook his head and didn't say another word, as if admitting defeat.

  "Director Lao, you take a rest, I'll go back first."

  Not yet out of the hospital gate, Deputy Director Gao walked towards him with a smile, and he couldn't hide in time.

  What's even worse is that Gao Xing's wife, Jiao Chun, was still wearing her white coat and hadn't taken it off yet. On one side, she waved at Gao Xing, while on the other side, she rushed over to Li Ya Juan.

  Toward the dawn, he gritted his teeth and faced it head-on.