Chapter 86: A Messy Situation
Announcing what?
Yuan Chenyang subconsciously speculated. Looking at Zhang Hongbo’s relaxed and composed appearance, it didn’t seem like good news.
But he himself didn’t seem to have any leverage either?
“I’ll do it.” Gu Bing stood up and said calmly: “By decision of Chief Judge Xia Hanshi, Zhang Hongbo’s City Lord position is removed? Temporarily managed by Minister of Inspection Yuan Chenyang.”
Removing my position? What exactly… Yuan Chenyang subconsciously thought, then his face suddenly stiffened, becoming very interesting. His voice was dry: “Removing Zhang Hongbo’s City Lord position?”
“Correct, congratulations City Lord Yuan.” Gu Bing nodded.
“Congratulations.” Zhang Hongbo also said.
“Ha…” Yuan Chenyang stared at Zhang Hongbo, then burst into hearty laughter. “You, pretending so well. When I walked in, seeing you act like everything was under control, I thought something was wrong with me.”
“I didn’t expect you to be the one in trouble, haha…”
“The matter has already happened, and I’ve accepted it. Am I supposed to keep a mournful face forever?” Zhang Hongbo said calmly.
“Stop pretending.” Although Yuan Chenyang still didn’t know what was going on, he still felt a burst of pent-up frustration release, laughing “haha”:
“I know you well. How many years have we partnered? Your control freak nature, do I even need to say it? The entire Inspection Department is filled with people you planted!”
Yang Yan and Gu Bing both fell silent. As fellow South Wind City high-level officials, there was definitely some friction between them.
“Pretending to maintain decorum. Who knows, maybe wiping tears in secret somewhere.” Yuan Chenyang was in a great mood, even reaching out to touch his bald head. “Old Zhang, what happened? Even the City Lord position got stripped. Corruption?”
Zhang Hongbo’s face turned ugly, and he said coldly: “Poor judgment of character. Zhang Feng colluded with the Cult of the Strange God.”
“Cult of the Strange God?” The teasing on Yuan Chenyang’s face faded, becoming more cautious. “Poor judgment? That’s your brother.”
“Old Xia has basically confirmed that Zhang Hongbo is clean.” Gu Bing added.
“I see, no wonder you’re still alive. Old Xia, so merciful.”
A City Lord position falling from the sky put Yuan Chenyang in an extremely good mood. Normally, the City Lord position wouldn’t come to him.
Now, though it’s a “temporary” one, once the news here reaches Ying Feng.
His teacher naturally wouldn’t let him step down again, and his impression of Xia Hanshi improved quite a bit.
Sure enough, it’s all rumors. Chief Judge Xia still handles cases impartially. Where does all this bad reputation come from?
Mentioning Xia Hanshi, all three of their expressions became subtly odd.
Zhang Hongbo’s originally ugly face also eased, glancing at the high-spirited Yuan Chenyang, unable to resist saying: “City Lord Yuan, you hid it really deep.”
Yuan Chenyang frowned. “What do you mean? Speak plainly, don’t beat around the bush.”
“Su Chen is truly a good seedling.” Zhang Hongbo sighed.
“What do you mean?” Mentioning Su Chen, Yuan Chenyang’s face immediately turned stern. “Are you threatening me?”
“Where are you going with that? How would I dare…” Zhang Hongbo frowned, then slowly said: “How would I dare threaten Old Xia’s student…”
“Old Xia’s student?” Yuan Chenyang’s face froze as he suddenly realized something. He quickly looked at Yang Yan and Gu Bing, who awkwardly turned their heads away.
Yuan Chenyang’s heart sank to the bottom. His big student seemed to have really been snatched away.
Seeing Yuan Chenyang’s darkened face, Zhang Hongbo’s mood greatly improved.
“Old Xia has already taken Su Chen as a student?”
Perhaps out of unwillingness, Yuan Chenyang still wanted true confirmation.
“Correct.” A voice suddenly came from behind. Yang Yan and Gu Bing immediately stood up, saying: “Old Xia.”
Yuan Chenyang turned his head with a half-crying, half-laughing expression. “Old Xia…”
“Looking like your teacher died. Old Three is still alive.” Xia Hanshi said casually.
Yuan Chenyang immediately restrained his expression, unable to resist saying: “Old Xia, Su Chen… I discovered him first.”
“I know.” Xia Hanshi nodded, saying matter-of-factly: “That’s why you’ll become South Wind City Lord without any obstruction. Otherwise, even your teacher wanting to make this happen would have to pay some price.”
“But…” Yuan Chenyang struggled. “Isn’t this a bit inappropriate?”
Xia Hanshi glanced at him in surprise, bluntly saying: “Following me has more prospects than following you. Following you, he’s a student of the Chief Judge’s student, but following me, he’s the Chief Judge’s student. The resources and status in between are completely different.”
“Besides, don’t you have plenty of teachers too? I’m only his second teacher. It’s not like he won’t acknowledge you.”
“Moreover, ask your teacher if he’ll accept this transaction.”
Yuan Chenyang was speechless. Indeed, that’s how it was. Each growth stage brings new teachers to guide you along a path.
Moreover, based on his understanding of his own teacher, he would probably accept it.
“I hope you treat him well.” Yuan Chenyang helplessly lowered his head.
“Nonsense!” Xia Hanshi was dissatisfied. “He’s my student. Of course I’ll treat him well. Do I need you to tell me?”
This Chief Judge was somewhat impatient. “Alright, since you’re back, Yang Yan, tell him about the recent events and hand over the handling to him.”
The wooden-pile-like Yang Yan finally stepped forward and explained in detail.
Yuan Chenyang’s already not-great complexion gradually turned pale and green.
“Heituo Priests are here too? What exactly is in South Wind City?”
“What, Heituo Statue!? They’re preparing to summon a Strange God Carrier!”
“Old Xia took action, how did he still escape…” Yuan Chenyang paused, swallowing the rest of the sentence.
What a freaking mess this is.
If not handled well, South Wind City could be done for. What’s the point of him having this City Lord position then?
Watching Yuan Chenyang’s changing complexion, Zhang Hongbo’s mood became even more comfortable.
“Don’t worry. If something really goes wrong, just push Zhang Hongbo out to take the blame. You won’t be affected.” Xia Hanshi said it bluntly. “After all, his brother can’t escape responsibility.”
“For Su Chen’s sake, I’ll help you.”
Zhang Hongbo’s face instantly stiffened.
Yuan Chenyang was slightly stunned, his mindset quite subtle. He didn’t expect Xia Hanshi to consider things so thoroughly.
Because Su Chen fits his preferences so well, loving the house for the sake of the tile?
Teacher valued because of the student? Why does it feel so strange…
Yuan Chenyang quickly entered work mode, checking the previous information.
Xia Hanshi quietly disappeared again without a trace.
“…Transfer Su Chen to the North City Branch…” The new City Lord Yuan quickly found a transfer order, immediately looking up in anger: “Zhang Hongbo, you’ve gone too far. Who allowed you to use Su Chen as bait?”
“So, I paid the price.” Zhang Hongbo’s reaction was very flat. He deeply glanced at Yuan Chenyang: “Old Yuan, you hid it really well. Double Crimson Gold, just left unmanaged in South Wind.”
The furious Yuan Chenyang suddenly froze. Double… Crimson Gold?
By the time he reacted, Zhang Hongbo had already left. Vaguely from the doorway came his voice: “Come in. City Lord Yuan is waiting for you.”
The next moment, Su Chen walked in.
Yuan Chenyang’s face became complex, wanting to speak but stopping.
Su Chen felt the atmosphere was a bit subtle and couldn’t help saying: “Teacher, about…”
“Sigh.” Yuan Chenyang sighed. “It’s my incompetence. I couldn’t keep you.”
Uh… Su Chen was slightly stunned. He had wanted to apologize to Yuan Chenyang.
Yuan Chenyang stood up from behind the desk. The door automatically closed, and he smiled bitterly: “I didn’t expect Old Xia to be the one coming this time. You’ve suffered.”
Taking over the City Lord position made Yuan Chenyang feel like he had sold Su Chen to get all this.
“Not that bad. I think Old Xia is pretty good.” Su Chen felt others had some misunderstanding about Old Xia, probably because Old Xia’s way of doing things was indeed unconventional.
Yuan Chenyang couldn’t help pondering, also thinking: “I’ve been away from Ying Feng for a long time. Most news about this Chief Judge is rumors. Perhaps it’s really all hearsay.”
“Perhaps, for you, it’s indeed not a bad thing. Your future will be even broader.”
Su Chen immediately said solemnly: “Teacher, everything you’ve done, I will remember in my heart.”
Yuan Chenyang couldn’t help feeling gratified. “I didn’t misjudge you.”
Then he instructed again: “Remember, you can learn other things from Old Xia, but in terms of style and conduct, try to avoid it.”
“Understood.” Su Chen nodded firmly.
Yuan Chenyang wasn’t one to dwell excessively, so he turned to chatting idly with Su Chen, couldn’t help complaining:
“That bastard Zhang Hongbo left me such a mess. That priest and Heituo Statue are still on the run. I’m afraid the sky will suddenly go dark and Heituo will descend just like that.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll definitely find them.” Su Chen comforted.
“Hopefully…” Yuan Chenyang prayed, then said again: “I’m taking over the City Lord position. What do you think about Du Jingming taking over the Minister of Inspection position?”
Du Jingming, that was Du Yu’s father. Su Chen understood in his heart and said: “You decide.”
Yuan Chenyang was actually asking not him, but Xia Hanshi.
But Su Chen thought briefly. “Since Du Jingming is taking the Minister position, that leaves a Deputy Minister spot open, right?”
“What do you mean?” Yuan Chenyang looked over.
“Brother Sun… Sun Tai.” Su Chen said: “The clue about the Trade General Warehouse was revealed by Sun Tai despite the pressure from Zhang Hongbo.”
This kind of achievement, Sun Fatty couldn’t bring up himself, so Su Chen naturally did it for him.
“I see.” Yuan Chenyang had no objection. That was also his old subordinate. He pondered: “Sun Tai is also very senior. Though still a bit short, with you vouching, it’s no problem.”
