Liang Bing’an was trying hard to maintain a low profile, switching from a car to a bicycle and treating his colleagues with the gentleness of a spring breeze. Even the doorman felt Deputy Bureau Chief Liang had become quite approachable lately, occasionally receiving warm greetings that left him feeling flattered and surprised.

Liu Fang was the type who couldn’t contain herself.

With the dark cloud of the Fan Zhenchuan incident dispersed, Liu Fang once again became the haughty “Mrs. Liang.”

Liang Huan also sensed the change in the family atmosphere. Learning that her father was about to be promoted to Bureau Chief, her “psychological trauma” almost healed without treatment. She walked with more energy and became more lively at school… In her class, Fan Han used to be the leader, all because his father was Fan Zhenchuan!

Now that Fan Zhenchuan had been arrested and her father was about to be promoted from deputy to chief, Liang Huan felt she should be the school’s number one.

The girls who had accompanied Liang Huan to the provincial capital weren’t quite convinced. Liang Huan had boasted that “Lan Feng Huang” was her uncle’s store and how much he doted on her, but when they visited, it wasn’t all that special. Her cousin had even argued with her, and despite the store’s size, her aunt didn’t seem to think much of Liang Huan!

Liang Huan spoke with great contempt:

“No matter how big the store is, it’s still just a private business. If it weren’t for being relatives, I wouldn’t even go there!”

Could Lan Feng Huang, with its scale, really be called just a private business?

Liang Huan spoke with such arrogance, but when people heard that her father might be promoted, they could only continue to flatter her.

She had always been popular with male classmates, and girls only hung around her for benefits – her princess-like temperament was hardly tolerable unless you had ulterior motives. Fan Han smiled coldly to himself; Liang Huan had known her cousin was supposed to marry into the Fan family but hadn’t said a word. Now that the Fan family was in trouble… Liang Huan was getting cocky again?

As if Liang Bing’an would get promoted.

Fan Han thought about the people who had come to find him. Why had Fan Zhenchuan fallen from grace? Wasn’t it because he tried to force Liang Huan’s cousin into marriage?

Liang Huan’s cousin had spirit and backing and could resist Fan Zhenchuan. Now many people in He Dong County had been arrested – all those close to his father Fan Zhenchuan. Everyone knew what bad things they had done together, but if it weren’t for the attempted forced marriage of Liang Huan’s cousin, who knows when these people in He Dong County would have been dealt with? Liang Bing’an hadn’t had time to fully align himself with the Fan family, but the Liang family had worked hard to facilitate this marriage. Could they emerge completely unscathed and even get a promotion?

Liang Huan was truly dreaming!

Previously, it was Liang Huan who had worked hard to please him, which was why Fan Han was friendly with her and even took her to the Fan family’s old house.

Who knew Liang Huan was just using him as a stepping stone, pleasing his grandmother to the point where his grandmother almost arranged for her to become Fan Han’s stepmother… At the time, when Fan Han learned that Liang Huan didn’t want to marry his father, he was quite pleased, thinking that although Liang Huan was a bit vain, at least she wasn’t confused. Fan Han had even helped by suggesting she dress more innocently to avoid catching his father’s eye.

But in the end, the Liang family wanted to offer someone to Fan Zhenchuan, and Liang Huan hadn’t said a word to him!

“Brother Han, look…”

“It’s fine, let Liang Huan enjoy herself for a few days. Young girls can’t help being impatient – she could at least wait until her father’s appointment is confirmed before getting smug!”

When Fan Zhenchuan fell, many fair-weather friends scattered.

But Fan Han was someone who dared to report his own father – he was ruthless enough that some followers still respected him and remained loyally by his side.

“How’s that woman doing?”

“She bought a train ticket and left He Dong County. We didn’t do much to her!”

Indeed, they hadn’t done much – just caused trouble at her residence daily, ruined her new job, and let everyone know she was a maid who had an affair with Fan Zhenchuan. Xiao Yu couldn’t possibly live a normal life in He Dong County. Only after forcing Xiao Yu to leave He Dong County did Fan Han feel somewhat satisfied.

She had enjoyed plenty of good fortune these past few years – why should she be able to leave Fan Zhenchuan peacefully and live a normal life?

Fan Han had robbed Xiao Yu’s money, ruined her job, and destroyed her reputation in He Dong County.

This was the retribution Xiao Yu deserved – Fan Han felt he had been too kind! But what could he do? Before his mother died, she had held his hand and made him promise to be a good person, not to learn from Fan Zhenchuan.

The once-proud Fan family in He Dong County truly scattered like monkeys when the tree fell.

When Fan Zhenchuan was first arrested, his attitude was still defiant.

Facing interrogation, he resisted passively. Having done so many bad things, his psychological fortitude was strong – he was cruel to others and no less so to himself.

He wouldn’t confess even with evidence right in front of him!

His mother wept and tried to find ways to save him, but the evidence against Fan Zhenchuan was mountainous, and there were many victims. Previously cowed by Fan Zhenchuan’s power, now that he was arrested and his followers had fallen, the victims finally dared to speak the truth.

Fan Zhenchuan initially refused to confess to anything, but after being detained for two days, he began feeling pain in his lower back.

The pain came in waves, driving him to distraction.

Later, as the pain grew worse, Fan Zhenchuan asked to see a doctor. The interrogators thought it might be kidney stones or something similar, which could indeed be excruciating. But when they sent Fan Zhenchuan to the hospital for X-rays, his kidneys were perfectly fine!

Fan Zhenchuan continued to complain of pain, sweating so much during the worst attacks that his clothes would be soaked through.

Even someone as tough as Fan Zhenchuan eventually cooperated with the investigation – he had no choice, as the interrogators wouldn’t give him painkillers.

Although the painkillers weren’t very effective when the pain struck, taking them was better than nothing… Fan Zhenchuan thought back to that punch he had taken at the Municipal Party Committee guesthouse. It had only hurt for a moment then, who knew the aftereffects would be so severe! If he had known at the time, he would have fought to the death rather than let those people escape – none of them should have gotten away!

Fan Zhenchuan now suspected the whole thing had been a trap. Whose man was Liang Bing’an really, deliberately offering to introduce his niece – it was all a conspiracy.

He realized it too late!

Looking at the evidence before him, Fan Zhenchuan knew they were determined to destroy him. He couldn’t escape this time.

However, Liang Bing’an shouldn’t expect to get away easily. Fan Zhenchuan bared his teeth in a grin, speaking with a slight whistle due to his missing teeth:

“I’ll confess. I’ll confess everything about myself…”

“Is Bureau Chief Liang here?”

“Bureau Chief Liang, your tea is ready – it’s Xinyang Maojian as usual.”

“Bureau Chief Liang…”

Liang Bing’an had suddenly become the unit’s popular figure, with people reporting to him even on matters outside his jurisdiction.

Especially today, when they would announce the new acting bureau chief at the meeting. With no leader, someone had to take charge of the work. Liang Bing’an mentally reviewed his competitors in the unit; it seemed none had his seniority. He wasn’t very old, but had started working early, with particularly long service – he had enough experience to be bureau chief.

At 10 AM, the meeting indeed brought up the matter of the acting chief.

“The bureau’s work needs to proceed…”

These formalities were useless – Liang Bing’an was just waiting for the appointment announcement.

Just as they reached the crucial moment, several people suddenly appeared, interrupting the meeting. Liang Bing’an trembled involuntarily; the leader looked familiar – he had taken Fan Zhenchuan away at the Municipal Party Committee guesthouse that day. Liang Bing’an gripped his teacup tightly.

What were these people doing here, why were they walking toward him?

“Comrade Liang Bing’an…”

A pair of hands landed on Liang Bing’an’s shoulders, and his ears buzzed so loudly he couldn’t hear what they were saying.