Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 43 Climbing both new branches and old vines

Jintang Hot Spring Resort is a hot spring resort without walls.

The main road within the resort is also used by many private vehicles.

The reason is that the resort is too big, so there is no need to build a wall, and it can also attract passing vehicles to stay overnight and soak in the hot springs.

In fact, this is true for many large hot spring resorts.

Su Taohong was wearing sunglasses late at night, but Wu Zhiyuan still recognized her at a glance.

The man with her was also wearing sunglasses.

The man appeared to be in his thirties.

Sun Runcai also recognized Su Taohong and coughed lightly: "Zhiyuan, isn't that woman in front Su Taohong?"

Wu Zhiyuan sneered: "If it's not her, then who is it? Who knows which man she's hooked up with!"

"They were probably going to a hot spring or a masquerade ball."

Zhiyuan, let's go to the hot spring resort to relax.

"If Kou can go, so can I."

"I'm not interested. Su Taohong and I have already broken up. It's her freedom to sleep with whomever she wants. I can't control where she goes, and I have no interest in asking."

Sun Runcai stared at the man in sunglasses for a while, then suddenly said, "That guy is most likely Sang Chenglong, and his father is the deputy mayor, Sang Jiaquan."

Wu Zhiyuan knew Sang Jiaquan, but not Sang Chenglong, so he asked, "Runcai, do you know Sang Chenglong?"

"Of course I know him. Once, during a crackdown on prostitution, a private club was shut down, and more than a dozen clients and prostitutes were arrested, including this Sang Chenglong."

As soon as he was brought to the station, a phone call came pleading for leniency. That same evening, he was fined 500 yuan and released.

This guy owns several GG companies and, leveraging his father's connections, has practically monopolized the GG business in Dragon City.

He's also a famous eligible bachelor; he doesn't get married, but he's a groom every day.

Wu Zhiyuan asked in confusion, "Then I don't understand. Since Sang Chenglong is single and unmarried, and Su Taohong is also unmarried, why are they both wearing sunglasses late at night?"

Clearly, they're wearing sunglasses to avoid being recognized. What are they worried about?

Sun Runcai hesitated for a moment, then said, "Zhiyuan, why don't you pull over? I'll go check if it's really Sang Chenglong."

Wu Zhiyuan said he didn't care about Su Taohong, but he was still very curious about what kind of high-status relationship she had climbed up.

So he agreed.

Sun Runcai got out of the car and followed behind Su Taohong.

Wu Zhiyuan was looking at his phone in the car.

Lin Keke sent a message: Zhiyuan, are you free tomorrow night? I'd like to invite you to dinner.

Wu Zhiyuan knew that Lin Keke was thanking him for saving her life.

But as a secretary, there really isn't much free time.

Although Xu Youwei doesn't like working overtime, he can't be sure he'll be free tomorrow night.

He replied: I'm not sure if I'll have time tomorrow night.

Lin Keke first sent a smiling emoji, then replied: Zhiyuan, you're busier than the mayor's secretary.

Wu Zhiyuan suddenly realized that, up to this point, Lin Keke did not know that he was Xu Youwei's secretary and thought he was a forest ranger at Qinglong Mountain Forest Farm.

He didn't hide anything and told the truth.

Lin Keke was astonished: Zhiyuan, really? That's great! I'll have your back from now on.

Wu Zhiyuan replied: I heard your father-in-law is a high-ranking leader, why would he need me to protect him?

Lin Keke replied: He is him, and I am me.

This statement reveals at least two pieces of information.

First, Lin Keke's father-in-law is indeed Tao Sizhong, a member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee and Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission.

Secondly, she and Tao Sizhong did not have a good relationship.

Wu Zhiyuan replied: I'll text you after get off work tomorrow to confirm if you're free tonight.

Lin Keke replied: Okay, I'll wait for your reply.

Wu Zhiyuan closed his eyes and pondered. If Lin Keke were single and unmarried, would he pursue her? Or would Lin Keke offer herself to him?

Sun Runcai is back.

"Runcai, you're back so soon?"

"Zhiyuan, I wasn't soaking in a hot spring! It's confirmed! The woman is Su Taohong, and the man is Sang Chenglong. I even pretended to bump into them and greeted them separately."

Sang Chenglong is a womanizer who changes women like he changes clothes, but he never gets married.

My wife told me that Sang Chenglong had an affair with a female reporter from the city TV station. The reporter developed feelings for him, but Sang Chenglong refused to marry her.

The female reporter attempted suicide by cutting her wrists, but fortunately, she received timely medical attention and is out of danger.

"Runcai, are you saying that Sang Chenglong is just playing around with Su Taohong?"

Sun Runcai countered, "Isn't that right?"

Wu Zhiyuan was taken aback for a moment, then said, "I'm curious, why are they wearing sunglasses so late at night? There's really no need for two single men and women to hide themselves."

Sun Runcai chimed in, "I'm curious too."

Wu Zhiyuan was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Runcai, there's something I've been keeping from you because it's hard to say."

I broke up with Su Taohong because she not only betrayed me, but also brought men into our home…

Wu Zhiyuan recounted what he witnessed when he returned from an early business trip.

"Zhiyuan, why didn't you say so sooner? I'm not 100% sure, but I'm 90% certain that the man who jumped off the building that night was Sang Jiaquan!"

Wu Zhiyuan was utterly astonished: "No way? How is that possible?"

Sun Runcai said smugly, "Zhiyuan, have you forgotten what I do? I'm a policeman! I'm a professional! I studied criminal investigation! Let me analyze this for you."

You may not know about Sang Jiaquan's dark history. He is capable, but he is also a womanizer.

Rumor has it that Sang Jiaquan never checks into hotels because he feels it's unsafe, given that hotels are a mixed bag of people.

He preferred to go directly to his mistress's house. As the ancients said, "A wife is not as good as a concubine, and a concubine is not as good as a stolen lover."

Once, probably the year before last, his lover's husband suddenly came home. He jumped out of the third-floor window, broke his leg, but managed to escape.

He told reporters that he was working overtime that night and tripped on the stairs, spraining his ankle.

He stayed in the hospital for a few days, and during his hospitalization, he hooked up with a pretty nurse.

Would you say this guy is a talent? No wonder, in terms of appearance, he's quite handsome, with thick eyebrows and big eyes; plus, he has power.

Why is Sang Chenglong wearing sunglasses? It's not to protect himself from others; he's a single man, and Su Taohong is a single woman—why would they need to hide anything? He's afraid the entire Sang family will find out!

Wu Zhiyuan was stunned by Sun Runcai's analysis, and after a long while, he said, "Runcai, are you saying that the man who jumped out of Su Taohong's window that night and was injured was very likely Sang Jiaquan? Your imagination is running wild!"

Sun Runcai stated with certainty: "The time, place, relationships between people, and behavioral patterns all match up."

The high branch that Su Taohong has climbed is probably not just Sang Chenglong, this "new branch," but also Sang Jiaquan, this "old vine."

Su Taohong and Sang Chenglong kept their distance from others because they were afraid the entire Sang family would find out.

Su Taohong is no simple woman!

Wu Zhiyuan shook his head and said, "Runcai, this is just your analysis, and there's no evidence. I still don't believe it."