Chapter 57: Sudden Change, Hidden Forces

He pondered for a moment, his deep gaze seemingly able to see through the affairs of the world, then spoke slowly, “As for matters at the township level, though I haven't personally been involved, I cannot shirk the duty to alleviate the people's difficulties.” Within his words, an undeniable force quietly spread.

Li Chao, upon hearing this, felt the heavy stone in his heart lighten somewhat, gratitude overflowing in his expression. “Thank you, Elder Ye!”

Ye Wuji offered a faint smile, comforting him, “Rest assured, I will get to the bottom of this and give you a satisfactory answer.”

Then the gentle click of the call ending echoed in the air, like the chime of hope.

Li Chao knew well that, were it not for the dire circumstances, he would never have wished to disturb someone as lofty as Ye Wuji. But now, every step demanded caution, every plan required both wisdom and courage.

Yet, in Jiang Shiren’s eyes, this scene became an absurd drama.

A cold smile curled at his lips as he thought, “What a grand performance! Who is this man, so bold and arrogant? To him, township matters are mere trifles? Hmph, just evasive words, trying to muddle through!”

“Chief Liu, you see for yourself—this lad is just playing tricks, trying to buy time!”

Unable to hold back, Jiang Shiren fanned the flames again, attempting to pull Liu Xinyu into his camp.

“Don’t let his fake mask fool you—just act now and show him whose territory this is!”

But Liu Xinyu, the seasoned old hand, remained as calm as still water.

He knew well that every decision required weighing pros and cons; every action might spark a chain reaction. Thus, he chose silence, chose to wait.

In this quiet air, time seemed stretched, each second bearing the weight of uncertainty.

“To watch quietly is to see the truth beneath the surface,” Liu Xinyu silently recited to himself.

He understood that beneath the calm exterior, undercurrents surged. One misstep could anger forces that should not be provoked, bringing consequences too heavy to bear.

This was not only a test for Li Chao, but also a trial of both wisdom and courage for Liu Xinyu as an enforcer of the law.

“Li Chao, what are you thinking?” Liu Xinyu’s gaze locked onto Li Chao, deep in thought.

In this small room, a war without smoke quietly unfolded.

Everyone carried their own calculations in their hearts; each breath seemed to signal an approaching storm.

All these turning points stemmed from that seemingly ordinary phone call, and from Liu Xinyu’s seemingly mundane yet meaningful decision.

Time slipped by like fine sand through fingers, passing silently—a minute, three, five... Liu Xinyu’s gaze flicked now and then to the timer on his wrist, each tick questioning his patience and judgment.

His eyes reflected a storm of doubt and resolve, as if weathering a tempest within.

“Have I truly misjudged the situation?” he wondered, glancing again at the young man, his feelings a tangled mix.

“Captain Liu, should we take action?” a law enforcement officer whispered nearby.

“Wait a bit longer,” Liu Xinyu waved his hand. “Let’s see what Li Chao is up to.”

“But we can’t just keep waiting like this,” the officer said anxiously.

“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing,” Liu Xinyu reassured him.

“I think Li Chao is just stalling—he must have some secret motive,” the officer muttered.

“Don’t jump to conclusions—let the facts speak,” Liu Xinyu shot him a glare.

“Captain Liu, I think Li Chao is bluffing out of fear we’ll uncover something, so he’s deliberately wasting time,” another officer commented.

“I don’t think so. His eyes are steady—not the look of someone just bluffing,” Liu Xinyu shook his head.

“Then why isn’t he saying anything?” the officer asked, puzzled.

“He’s thinking, observing, waiting for the right moment,” Liu Xinyu explained.

“Do you really trust him that much?” the officer asked, surprised.

“It’s not him I trust, but my own judgment,” Liu Xinyu replied.

“But if we keep waiting, won’t we miss our chance?” the officer asked, worried.

“No. We must keep our composure, not let the other side lead us by the nose,” Liu Xinyu said firmly.

Just as his internal struggle reached its peak and he was about to order his team to break the stifling deadlock, a sudden ring from a mobile phone shattered the silence like a bolt of thunder.

Almost instinctively, Liu Xinyu took out his phone. The caller ID made his heart skip a beat—“Direct Superior from the County.”

“Hello, Leader, do you have any instructions?” Liu Xinyu asked respectfully.

“Liu Xinyu, what are you doing?” The leader’s tone was somewhat stern.

“I’m carrying out my duties, sir,” Liu Xinyu answered.

“Carrying out your duties? Do you realize your actions have already stirred considerable controversy?” the superior said.

“Sir, I am only following orders and haven’t broken any regulations,” Liu Xinyu replied.

“Still talking back? Do you know your actions have attracted the attention of the county committee?” the superior pressed.

“I truly didn’t know, sir,” Liu Xinyu responded.

“I’m telling you, your conduct has already caught the attention of the county committee. If you don’t resolve this promptly, you’ll face serious consequences,” the superior warned.

“I understand, sir. I’ll handle it as soon as possible,” Liu Xinyu promised.

“Good, I hope you won’t disappoint me,” the superior said.

“Yes, sir. I won’t let you down,” Liu Xinyu replied.

After hanging up, Liu Xinyu felt even more burdened.

He realized now that his actions had drawn the attention of the county committee. If he couldn’t resolve the matter quickly, he would face severe consequences.

That sudden call was an irresistible force that yanked him from the mire of hesitation.

Liu Xinyu’s heart raced, a strange sense of foreboding rising within. He quickly moved aside, lowered his voice, and answered.

“Hello?”

“It’s me.”

“Hello, Leader!”

“How’s work lately?”

“It’s going well, thank you for your concern.”

“I’ve heard about the matter in Lijiabao. You’ve handled it well.”

“Thank you for your praise, sir. I’m just doing my duty.”

“Yes, but be careful—Lijiabao’s issue may be more complicated than you think. Handle it with care.”

“I understand, sir.”

“Anything else?”

“No, thank you.”

“All right, that’s all then.”

Though brief, the call seemed to span mountains and rivers, every second heavy with meaning.

As he listened, a fine layer of sweat beaded on Liu Xinyu’s forehead—a product of tension and pressure.

When he finally hung up and returned, his face was unusually grave. His back was soaked with sweat, as though he bore a thousand pounds.

During that short conversation, his superior had not mentioned the current situation directly, but made a few simple inquiries about recent work.

It was precisely these seemingly trivial exchanges that made Liu Xinyu realize his earlier judgment may have been too hasty.

He began to reassess the whole event, to reevaluate the young man’s words and actions, and the complex web of relationships that might be hidden behind them.

At this moment, Liu Xinyu knew that every decision would have far-reaching consequences.

He had to act with caution, upholding the dignity of the law while avoiding unnecessary conflict and loss.

His superior’s words fell like a hammer from the sky, not only shaking Liu Xinyu’s heart, but also sending ripples throughout the room.

Though the call never directly mentioned the Lijiabao dispute, the underlying meaning was as sharp as a sword, piercing through all pretenses to the heart of the matter.

Liu Xinyu’s feelings were now complicated beyond words. He knew well that in the officialdom’s chess game, every step must be carefully planned; each choice could become the key to his career.

His superior’s reminders and warnings were clear—fairness and justice are not only principles of law enforcement, but also the way of the official.

He looked again at Li Chao, seeing in those eyes countless stories and unyielding resolve.

Meanwhile, Li Fugui stood aside, his face stunned, clearly caught off guard by this sudden turn.

Liu Xinyu sighed inwardly. In officialdom, human relationships are often more complex than one might imagine.

“In truth, this matter could have been settled quietly,” Liu Xinyu began, his tone tinged with both helplessness and resolve.

He knew sometimes, a small step back opens a vast sky—if both sides could reach a private agreement, not only would conflict be resolved, but unnecessary losses avoided.

“In my view, if both parties can settle this privately, that would be best,” he continued, his gaze shifting between Li Chao and Jiang Shiren, as though seeking some point of balance.

“Chief Liu, I, Jiang Shiren, have always upheld the law. You must not listen to slander and wrong a good man!” Jiang Shiren jumped up in agitation, his face turning ashen, a trace of panic flashing in his eyes.

“Mr. Jiang, don’t worry. I will judge this fairly,” Liu Xinyu reassured him, his tone firm and grave, leaving no room for doubt.

But as he uttered, “Otherwise, I will have no choice but to act according to regulations and render a just decision,” the atmosphere in the room froze instantly.

Jiang Shiren was dumbfounded, utterly bewildered—he had not expected things to come to this.

Perhaps, in his heart, he was silently asking: How could the wind change direction so suddenly?

Feng Yuanxing, however, was unwavering in his heart; as an enforcer, he knew he must hold to principle and not waver due to personal feelings or outside pressure.

Jiang Shiren felt as if struck by a boulder, his heart in turmoil.

Never had he imagined that a seemingly ordinary countryman could stir county-level leadership, causing a small-time local “figure” like himself to stumble so badly.

He edged closer to Liu Xinyu, hoping to glean more from his words, but Liu Xinyu’s dark, almost stormy expression deterred him from asking further.

“You have the nerve to ask! You’ve dragged us all into disaster!” Liu Xinyu muttered angrily, each word a heavy blow to Jiang Shiren’s heart.

He knew it was his rashness that had not only placed Liu Xinyu in a predicament, but also damaged his own reputation in official circles.

“Just now, the county leader personally called and ordered me to handle this justly!” Liu Xinyu’s words betrayed deep anxiety and helplessness.

He understood well that this so-called “justice” was not just a legal standard, but a touchstone for the complex relationships of officialdom.

In this world full of hidden currents, the slightest deviation could trigger a chain reaction, dragging one into deeper whirlpools.

Jiang Shiren was stunned beyond belief.

He looked once more at Li Chao—the countryman he once thought he could manipulate at will now seemed shrouded in mystery, becoming unfathomable.

He realized he might have touched a forbidden zone, behind which lay a vast, intricate network of connections.

Jiang Shiren, trembling: “Brother Liu, I… I really didn’t know things would end up like this. I just wanted to help you vent your anger, I never thought it would turn out this way.”

Liu Xinyu, through gritted teeth: “You think you were helping me? You were dragging me down! Do you realize your impulsiveness has landed us both in trouble?”

Jiang Shiren, full of remorse: “I was wrong, Brother Liu. I really was. So what do we do now?”

Liu Xinyu, after a moment’s thought: “What else can we do? We must handle this as the county has ordered—fairly and justly.”

Jiang Shiren, unwilling: “But then all our previous efforts are wasted?”

Liu Xinyu, helpless: “If we don’t, our situation will only worsen. Do you think the county leaders are pushovers? Now that they’re involved, they won’t let us muddle through.”

Jiang Shiren, dejected: “Fine, I understand. Brother Liu, what should we do now?”

Liu Xinyu, taking a deep breath: “Release Li Chao first, then find a way to make up for our mistakes.”

Jiang Shiren, hesitating: “But then we’ll have to apologize to him?”

Liu Xinyu, glaring: “And what if we do?”

Jiang Shiren, resigned: “Fine. I’ll do as you say.”

“How… how could this be?” Jiang Shiren muttered to himself, filled with confusion and regret.

His eyes reflected deep doubt and self-reproach, as if asking himself, “How was I so blind?”

He knew he must reassess the situation and adjust his strategy, or he would only sink deeper.

Liu Xinyu, watching coldly from the side, was filled with complex emotions.

His brow furrowed, a flash of anger in his eyes as he cursed inwardly, “That fool, so rash!”

At the same time, he blamed himself for not realizing the gravity of the situation sooner.

Jiang Shiren turned to Liu Xinyu, his gaze revealing helplessness and bewilderment, as if silently asking, “What should we do now?”

Liu Xinyu took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and spoke calmly, “Things have come to this—we must face it calmly. First, we need to reconsider our approach, find the root of our problems, and then think of ways to recover our losses.”

Jiang Shiren nodded, a hint of resolve in his eyes. “You’re right, we can’t keep going like this. We need to find the cause and make a new plan.”

A trace of relief flickered in Liu Xinyu’s eyes. “Good.” He knew this storm was far from over, and both he and Jiang Shiren would face even more severe trials ahead.