Chapter 8: Secret Lore

Sun Qian looked at Lin Hao in silence for a moment, then drank down his glass in one go before slowly speaking.

“You know about the corruption scandal involving the Executive Deputy Mayor of Tianzhong City, don’t you?”

“It’s been all over the news. How could I not know?” Lin Hao didn’t reveal that he had been taken away by the Discipline Inspection Commission. He had to keep his composure.

“All I know is that it seems connected to this matter, but beyond that, I’m unclear. Executive deputy mayors in provincial capitals are often just figureheads—you can imagine how deep the murky waters go. Brother, my advice is to focus on your own duties. Some things are better left unexplored; otherwise, you’ll find yourself in trouble.”

These words were invaluable to Lin Hao. Indeed, such matters were treacherous, and without directives from superiors, recklessly investigating could lead to disaster.

The chief secretary of the provincial Discipline Inspection Commission had been bribed, and if this news got out, Secretary Gu’s reputation would be tarnished. Sun Qian was subtly reminding Lin Hao not to forget whose favor he was in—investigating the former chief secretary’s mistakes would be like slapping the leadership in the face.

Lin Hao suddenly realized this and quickly raised his glass, beads of cold sweat appearing on his forehead. Luckily, he had asked a question in advance today. If others found out and the news reached Secretary Gu, his position as secretary would be over.

“Thank you for the warning, brother. I’m still too young and inexperienced. I’ll have to learn more from you going forward. Here’s a toast to you.”

“Hey, we all work in the same unit from now on, no need for such formalities. Brother, as for your work direction, that’s not up to me but decided by Secretary Gu. Before you arrived, our focus was on liaising and reporting to the Twelfth Investigation Team. Just keep that in mind.”

The Twelfth Investigation Team? Wasn’t that Zhou Ya’s team? It seemed Secretary Gu took this Tianzhong City case very seriously. If only Lin Hao could uncover some leads.

He had initially planned to find an opportunity to deal with those two, but now this might be the moment—an opportunity to achieve merit without displeasing the leadership.

He could start with Xu Qian, find evidence, and get those two scoundrels locked up. His current patience did not mean he had given up on revenge. Wearing the green hat and risking prison—this enmity must be avenged.

He had to devise a flawless plan, not acting recklessly to avoid implicating himself.

Sun Qian then thoroughly explained the work direction and daily affairs over this period without reservation.

Lin Hao listened attentively, knowing this was crucial to whether he could remain in the provincial Discipline Inspection Commission. He had to remember every detail carefully.

At the end, Sun Qian suddenly said, “Brother, Secretary Gu is placing great trust in you. You need to understand the intention behind it carefully; don’t take the wrong path.”

Lin Hao’s eyes brightened, ready to ask more, but upon seeing the meaningful look in Sun Qian’s eyes, he immediately fell into deep thought.

As the fourth-ranking official in the province, every move Secretary Gu made was deliberate—a political maneuver, not a whim. At their level, every step was the result of careful deliberation.

Could Sun Qian’s warning mean that Secretary Gu no longer trusted the seasoned veterans within these agencies and instead sought someone with a clean background?

After pondering, Lin Hao concluded this was the most plausible explanation. Secretary Gu’s unprecedented promotion favored his clean background and shallow network compared to others.

As for the recommendation, it was probably just going with the flow; if not him, someone else would have taken the spot.

---

Had the anti-corruption struggle in the province really reached this point? Even within the Discipline Inspection Commission, trust was no longer absolute!

Lin Hao took a sharp breath. The road ahead would be tougher, but no matter what, he had to face the challenge head-on.

Otherwise, Xu Fei and Xu Qian alone could consume him.

“Brother Sun, can you give me a few pointers about any taboos or things to avoid with our unit’s leaders? I want to avoid offending anyone.”

Sun Qian immediately understood Lin Hao’s intent. Although it appeared to be about taboos, what he really wanted was to know who could and couldn’t be provoked—in other words, who had backing.

Since so much had already been revealed, a little more wouldn’t hurt.

After some thought, Sun Qian said, “As chief secretary, most people will show you respect. The three deputy secretaries—well, none of them would hold their seats without some backing. Our Office Director Ma coordinates with many units; his ability is indisputable. As for the others, you’ll have to figure it out yourself.”

A peculiar smile crossed Sun Qian’s face as he spoke.

“There’s also the Research Office, the Propaganda Department, the Party Discipline and Conduct Supervision Office, the Supervisory Group stationed at the Public Security Department, plus the Eighth, Ninth, Twelfth Investigation, and Thirteenth Review Offices. You’ll need to be careful with some people there. The rest are basically under your support.”

These were critical pieces of information. Lin Hao was immensely grateful; this dinner had not been in vain.

“You’ll definitely have people looking at you sideways since you’re new and low-ranking. Many will try to pick fights. You can’t always back down. You have to show some presence— not everyone is as easygoing as I am.”

Sun Qian’s warning came with a sense of camaraderie. Lin Hao’s attitude today had earned his goodwill; he was willing to befriend him.

But with others, it might be different—they’d see such behavior as weakness and bully him more.

Lin Hao nodded in agreement. He was no pushover.

Though the provincial Discipline Inspection Commission was full of talent, some fools surely existed. Many entered as deputy division chiefs straight out of graduate school—young, proud, and ambitious.

Not everyone was as worldly and tactful as Sun Qian, knowing when to hold back and when to advance.

If someone was determined to undermine his position, they would leave him no choice but to retaliate harshly.

Sun Qian’s candidness made Lin Hao clearly understand his aim—a political alliance.

Such people were shrewd. Knowing the situation was irreversible and seeing Lin Hao’s ability to hold his position, they immediately changed their stance to maximize benefits.

Making friends with such a person could be a double-edged sword; it depended on how one used it.

For now, the benefits outweighed the risks. In this unfamiliar environment, Lin Hao had at least gained a foothold.

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Sun Qian went on to explain many other things, but it was late and the Provincial Party Committee compound was busy; it wasn’t possible to cover everything in one day. After their last drink, the two parted ways.

“Brother, from now on at the unit, we’ll look out for each other and walk the bright path together.”

Only now did Lin Hao relax slightly and agree to join forces with Sun Qian for mutual progress.

“Brother, I have high hopes for you. In time, you will rise to great heights.”

“Ha, you flatter me... See you tomorrow, brother.”

After Lin Hao left, the slightly intoxicated Sun Qian suddenly sobered up and took out his phone—it was already on a call.

“Director Ma, this kid is clever, a good person, and looks promising. His skills and emotional intelligence are impeccable. More importantly, he knows how to keep his mouth shut and doesn’t make empty promises.”

“You two seem to be getting along well, becoming good brothers. You just blurt everything out, don’t you?”

Sun Qian scratched his head awkwardly. “You heard all that? I was just drunk enough. Since he has potential, it’s worth befriending him. I can’t hold this position anyway. Instead of being bitter, it’s better to have a political ally. No harm done.”

“Alright, I know you well. You’re cunning, but your performance tonight went too far. Once he goes back, he’ll probably figure out what’s really going on. This was all under my direction.”

Sun Qian was stunned, disbelief on his face: “No way? I thought I played it well. He could see through me?”

“You really think he’s a rookie in officialdom? Do you think Secretary Gu promoted someone without thorough investigation? Now tell me, are you convinced?”

“Convinced, convinced. He’s definitely qualified for this secretary role.” Sun Qian laughed awkwardly, fully convinced.

Indeed, this had all been Ma Bo’s test. If Lin Hao hadn’t earned Sun Qian’s approval, there would have been no dinner. Now that he had, things would change moving forward.

“Alright, that’s enough for now. Since he’s a promising young man, find ways to help him, so he owes you one. That’ll help you secure your director position. Otherwise, if you weren’t promoted to Secretary Gu’s chief secretary and sent around, some might resent it.”

“Understood.”

Meanwhile, Ma Bo stood outside a room, ending the call. He rose and walked toward the study.

He knocked on the door, and a voice came from inside:

“Is it done?”