Chapter 3: Beating Liu Dajin in Fury

When He Shinian left, Qiao Yina did not see him off, nor did anyone from the Qiao family.

Even at night, Ninghai in August remained unbearably hot.

Yet at that moment, He Shinian’s heart was bitterly cold.

Qiao Yina’s attitude, and the attitude of her family, had changed his state of mind—or rather, his attitude toward power.

Power. It was because he had none that these people dared humiliate him so.

An overwhelming desire for power began to burn in He Shinian’s heart.

After returning home, He Shinian lay on his bed and pondered his life.

What displeased him most was that throughout the entire night, he had not received a single call or message from Qiao Yina.

The next day, shortly after he arrived at work and sat down, Liu Dajin entered with a cold expression.

There was a sharp smack.

Liu Dajin slammed a stack of documents onto He Shinian’s desk and shouted angrily, “He Shinian, look at the mess you’ve made. Jinchang Agriculture is planning to withdraw its investment. You’ve caused a huge disaster. Just wait until they deal with you.”

After being cursed out by Liu Dajin the day before and then suffering an emotional crisis, He Shinian had been left with nowhere to vent his anger.

Seeing Liu Dajin’s attitude, he retorted coldly, “What a fine load of blame you’ve dumped on me. What does Jinchang Agriculture’s withdrawal have to do with me? I was only carrying out my duties within the scope of my authority.”

“You still claim it has nothing to do with you? If you had reviewed the procedures concerning the land transfer in time, would Jinchang Agriculture have withdrawn its investment?”

“Do you know that Jinchang Agriculture was brought in through investment promotion? It was an investment project personally overseen by County Magistrate Feng. You’ve ruined it, and you still say it has nothing to do with you?”

Liu Dajin roared, spraying saliva almost all over He Shinian’s face.

County Magistrate Feng? Wasn’t that Feng Zhi-kuan, Feng Anping’s father?

He remembered Feng Anping saying at Qiao Yina’s home the night before that He Shinian would be transferred to Wangri Township, the most remote place in the county.

Could it be because he had ruined Feng Zhi-kuan’s political achievement?

For something like this, it seemed excessive for a deputy county magistrate to target a mere second-level staff member.

But with Feng Anping—the man pursuing Qiao Yina—involved, it became entirely possible.

“Whether I’m exiled or not is a matter for the bureau’s leaders and the personnel section. As a section-level chief, you shouldn’t have the authority to decide whether I stay or go, should you?” He Shinian shot back, refusing to indulge him.

Everyone in the office froze.

Was this really the same He Shinian who was usually honest and meek, accustomed to obeying orders and following instructions?

“Why, you little—!” Liu Dajin trembled with rage. Pointing at He Shinian’s nose, he cursed, “He Shinian, you’ve grown bold! You dare talk back to me? I’m your immediate superior. Believe it or not, I can have you thrown out today!”

He Shinian no longer cared.

Now that he knew he was likely to be sent away, and since working under Liu Dajin offered no benefit to his future, he decided to let go completely.

“Fine. Have me thrown out today. If you can’t do it, then you’re nothing but a coward.”

“He Shinian, you’re unbelievably arrogant. Fine, very fine. Today, I’ll make you get out!” Liu Dajin was furious enough to feel his lungs might burst.

At that moment, Lin Anyan, who worked in the same office, came over and tugged at He Shinian’s sleeve.

“Senior, stop talking,” he whispered.

He Shinian straightened his back and could not be bothered to waste more words on Liu Dajin.

But Liu Dajin continued sneering. “A mere grunt with no father or mother, a worthless nobody, and you still think you’re qualified to challenge me?”

He Shinian had never known who his father was. He and his mother had depended on each other for survival and shared a profound bond.

But during his second year in the military, his mother contracted acute leukemia and passed away not long afterward.

Because his unit had been assigned a special mission, he had not even been able to see her one last time.

It had become a permanent pain in his heart—and a forbidden wound no one was allowed to touch.

A sharp smack rang through the office.

Amid the startled cries of the others, the imprint of He Shinian’s five fingers appeared on Liu Dajin’s face.

Blood began to run from Liu Dajin’s nose, and his cheek slowly swelled.

The slap had been so loud that Liu Dajin was struck senseless.

He had never imagined that He Shinian would dare hit him in front of so many people.

“You... you... you actually hit me! He... He Shinian, are you tired of living?”

Seeing the murderous look in He Shinian’s eyes, Liu Dajin grew frightened, and his voice began to tremble.

He had always bullied the weak and feared the strong. He had been accustomed to mistreating others, never expecting that He Shinian, a former soldier, would have a line he would not allow anyone to cross.

“Liu Dajin, this slap is a warning. Learn how to speak like a decent human being and conduct yourself properly. If there’s a next time, it won’t end with just one slap.”

He Shinian’s icy gaze made Liu Dajin uneasy.

At that moment, a deep, authoritative voice sounded from the doorway.

“What are you doing?”

Everyone in the office turned toward the entrance in unison and greeted him together, “Good morning, Director Kong.”

The newcomer was Kong Zhengyou, executive deputy director of the Land Resources Bureau.

Director Li Xiangnan had fallen seriously ill and been hospitalized, so Kong Zhengyou had been presiding over the bureau’s work during this period.

Seeing him, Liu Dajin walked over, enduring the pain in his face while putting on an ingratiating expression.

“Comrade Dajin, what happened?”

Liu Dajin seemed to have found someone to rely on. He straightened his back and recounted the entire course of events.

However, he omitted his insults about He Shinian having no parents and being a mere grunt.

To Liu Dajin’s surprise, after listening, Kong Zhengyou not only failed to speak in his defense but sternly rebuked him instead.

“Liu Dajin, I heard everything you said just now from outside the door.”

“Is insulting a soldier and someone’s parents the conduct and speech expected of a state employee? You were in the wrong. You must apologize to Comrade Shinian.”

What?

Everyone present stared in astonishment.

He Shinian was no exception. He had never imagined that Kong Zhengyou, the executive deputy director, would stand up for him and speak on his behalf.

Compared with his usual demeanor, Kong Zhengyou seemed like an entirely different person.

In the past, even if he had not deliberately suppressed He Shinian, he had never shown him the slightest kindness, much less defended him.

Had the sun risen in the west?

“But... Director...” Liu Dajin was shocked, his face darkening as he tried to explain.

Kong Zhengyou raised a hand and cut him off.

“That’s enough, Liu Dajin. You have nothing more to say. Apologize now—immediately.”

One rank higher was enough to crush a subordinate, and Kong Zhengyou was the executive deputy director, the person closest to the director’s position.

Though humiliated and resentful, Liu Dajin ultimately apologized to He Shinian.

It was a spectacular public humiliation in the most literal sense.

Compared with being slapped by He Shinian, having to apologize now made Liu Dajin feel even more disgraced.

After Liu Dajin finished apologizing, Kong Zhengyou ignored him.

He turned toward He Shinian. The stern old face he had worn moments earlier instantly blossomed into a smile as bright as a rotten persimmon flower.

He Shinian found the change baffling, but still asked, “Director Kong, did you need something?”

“Comrade Shinian, come to my office.”