Chapter 83 Acquaintances

, so it's impossible for everything to be tested. I've gone through a systematic revision, however, and now feel more confident."Su Cen thought this was reasonable—Schuyi Yang and Liu Rui were decades...Chapter 83: Acquaintance

Jin Donghai immediately became alert upon seeing his demeanor and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong"

Both he and Liu Cheng were seasoned detectives. One was a chief inspector, the other a bureau-level inspector; their investigative skills and counter-investigative awareness were exceptional. Liu Cheng always acted cautiously; even cunning rabbits had three holes, so this villa must be one of his secret hideouts known by few people. Jin Donghai was considered trustworthy enough to let him come here for discussions. For others, however, it could be said to be a restricted area.

Liu Cheng then withdrew his gaze and shook his head, "Nothing." He had seemingly seen some shadows on the opposite slope earlier but upon careful observation, there were dense trees and no signs of anyone being there.

Jin Donghai turned around to exit through the main gate; two men in black suits nearby turned as well. Jin Donghai indicated with a glance towards the slope and instructed them both, "Go check it out."

Subsequently, he returned into the villa, and Liu Cheng was pleased by this extremely perceptive action of his. They then proceeded to discuss other matters.

A short while later, the two men who went up the mountain in plainclothes came back and shook their heads at Jin Donghai, indicating that there was nothing.

In fact, when Su Can saw Liu Cheng and Jin Donghai enter the villa to converse, he knew it would be futile to investigate further. Staying here any longer would only waste time; he therefore got up and shouldered his backpack, leaving through another trail out of this area.

Everything was proceeding according to its original trajectory. This matter targeting Liu Cheng could not be rushed as his status was significant, affecting an entire province’s jurisdiction. In the future, it would take over a year of meticulous preparation and evidence collection in each phase of anti-gang operations before gradually tightening the noose around him.

In the future, facing the prosecution's charges, Liu Cheng would use his rich criminal investigation experience to refute them on the spot, denying any receipt of large bribes and distancing himself from organized crime. He even outright denied multiple violent crimes, often shifting blame entirely onto his wife when accused.

Ultimately, it was only after his wife spoke up and they discovered the hiding place of the vast sums that Liu Cheng had no choice but to remain silent.

Su Can now needed to accelerate this process for Liu Cheng, essentially altering a major event. He must be extremely cautious; should he be detected by Liu Cheng with his background in organized crime, there would be absolutely no consequences for any actions taken against him.

He had become the key figure in this matter concerning Liu Cheng now.

The current political situation in the southwest seems rather unstable. But can Liu Cheng alone overturn a major figure from the Wang clique and shift the balance of power in the southwestern region

Su Cen, who is not involved in politics, understands that this must involve much intricate detail and likely isn't just about Liu Cheng but also the faction he represents.

Zhang Zhimo's downfall has led to adjustments at the provincial level as well as neighboring cities. Wang Bo now appears even more isolated and powerless; his family clique is in a state of utter decline.

Perhaps this isn't just limited to the southwest—many watching from afar must feel a deep sense of sorrow over it all.

Liu Cheng, while not representing the entire faction's power, is undoubtedly a pivotal lever figure. If he were to face problems in the future, how many would be taken aback What kind of political shifts could this bring about

Before, these matters would have been far removed from Su Cen, an ordinary citizen. Moreover, he's not just any ordinary citizen; he is merely a first-year high school student still in the process of awakening.

But after his rebirth, everything has changed. Su Cen suddenly realizes that, through sheer coincidence, he now possesses the power to influence the current political landscape of the southwestern province—this key lies within the camera on his person.

In August, with autumn in full swing, Liu Cheng sped down the road back to his villa on Ma Horse Mountain. The birch trees between the mountains were a golden hue at dusk, swaying in large waves as wind blew through them. His mood was similarly light and carefree.

Back home, he made himself some hot tea and started watching TV while fiddling with the phone and digital camera his son had sent from abroad.

As darkness fell, the luxurious villa’s interior lights were brightly lit, and the courtyard lampposts outside added an elegant touch.

Around what he thought was the right time, Liu Cheng took two sealed oil-paper packets out of his house. He walked to the pond's edge, patted them, cautiously glanced around, then tossed one into the water; with a splash and some bubbling sounds, it sank below the surface.

He did this again with another packet—splash! A wave of water spread out.

The sound of these splashes brought him great satisfaction, as if something important had settled within his life, leaving an indescribable sense of fulfillment.

Patting his hands together, Liu Cheng began to consider whether he should get a guard dog for the villa. The taps and fridge surfaces were already oxidized from disuse; having friends or relatives in Xia Hai take care of it regularly seemed necessary to avoid the eerie feeling of leaving such an empty house.

After standing by the pond for a while, the red sun set behind the mountains. Liu Cheng's posture at this moment, with his hands behind his back, had an otherworldly flavor to it, resembling someone like Du Ku Qiu Bai who secluded himself in some remote corner of the world.

On the opposite slope covered with reeds and birch trees shedding yellow leaves slowly, a boy was bathed in the glow of the setting sun. He held a camera strap in his hand, and his hair had a bright halo around it under the light. He turned to grin at the villa.

If viewed from a helicopter's perspective, one would see that the two men separated by a mountain peak were in strange postures, like two swordsmen who agreed to duel somewhere.

However, this time, it seemed that this middle-aged peerless expert had been sneakily attacked.

In mid-August, Zeng Na's celebration banquet was held at the Kerry Hotel. Ten days prior, she received her admission notice for the dental school of Southwest Medical University in榕城 (Rongcheng). Domestic universities rank low internationally and Western countries barely recognize Chinese university degrees; however, the dental program at Southwest Medical University is an exception. Every year, students from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, as well as overseas come to study there, and patients also come from both domestic and foreign regions. It's the only university major in China that has entered the world's advanced ranks, making it one of the most famous and prestigious programs in China.

One can imagine how significant Zeng Na's admission into Southwest Medical University's dental program would be to the Su Clan.

Zeng Ke and Su Licheng only knew about the reputation of Southwest Medical University but were unaware of its prestige until introduced by Zeng Quanming.

For the first time, Su Can received unprecedented respect. His aunt-in-law, his eldest uncle who was becoming increasingly authoritative in recent days, even his haughty elder sister all looked at him with new eyes.

During the period when Zeng Na was filling out her college applications, Su Can had various reasons to stay at their house.

Su Can knew from future knowledge that Zeng Na's academic performance stood out. She most wanted to apply for Southwest Medical University's dental program but worried about not having high enough scores since it wasn't difficult to get into Southwest Medical University, but the score line for its dental program was absurdly high. In the past, despite achieving her desired score, she missed her ideal school because of this consideration and ended up applying to another medical college.

This was the only pain in his elder sister's heart from the future, after graduating with a master’s degree, she couldn't get into any official hospitals but had to rely on connections to find work at an army-affiliated hospital's health center. While her job was relatively easy, it wasn't what she dreamed of.

Zeng Quanming, now the director of the Construction Committee and the head of the Construction Bureau, hosted a banquet with over twenty tables set up in Kerry Hotel's grand lobby filled with joyous atmosphere. Zeng Na wore a beautiful long dress and seemed to have applied light makeup specifically for the occasion; she stood at the door greeting guests along with her mother while her little brother Zeng Yuan secretly elbowed him, whispering, "I've never seen my elder sister look so pretty!"

The cars parked outside included Mercedes-Benzes and Audis. Anyone could tell that a prominent figure was hosting an extravagant feast here.

The heads of the municipal party committee also attended to celebrate, along with representatives from the banking and financial systems and the Xiahai city real estate industry—people who are well-known in Xiahai. All were present at the banquet.

Zeng Quanming, Su Cun's maternal uncle, no longer had the irritable intellectual image he had a year ago. Now, his demeanor was dignified yet composed and approachable, with less of an irascible temper. He even smiled when addressing some of the city's top leaders; it was known that he rarely smiled in daily life. His words were appropriate for these occasions, and his smile conveyed a unique sense of ease to others. The atmosphere at his table was lively.

Su Cun’s family naturally sat with other relatives. Zeng Zhao Ding, Su Cun's maternal uncle, had risen even higher in status; thanks to his ability to navigate social circles adeptly and his elder brother working in the municipal construction committee, he had achieved some success in his work. This was evident from what his son, Zeng Yuan, wore—clothes like Adidas or Nike that cost at least a couple of thousand yuan.

Zeng Zhao Ding moved around, chatting with people present and then said to Zeng Ke with a grin, "Hey, when your son gets into university, I’ll be waiting for you to treat me to dinner!"

Zeng Ke chuckled, thinking that no matter how much money they made in their careers, as long as his own son excelled academically and achieved breakthroughs, this would bring them more joy than anything else.

Zeng Ke replied, "My son isn’t your nephew. Why don’t you say you’re treating him to dinner Oh yeah, you’ve been waiting for this meal."

Zeng Zhao Ding glanced at Su Cun; he always had a strained relationship with him and felt somewhat awkward. He smiled and said, "Ah, when my nephew gets into university, I definitely have to give a generous gift. A dinner is easy enough, I could do that anytime, but the present represents my uncle’s heartfelt sentiment."

"Senior sister, I heard you got accepted by Southwest Medical College, congratulations!" A pleasant voice rang out as Zeng Yuan instinctively looked toward the door and paused.

Chen Lingshan handed a glass box containing a white jade horse to Zeng Na at the entrance with an expression of surprise.

"Thank you! It’s so beautiful!" Zeng Na took it, then her eyes lit up as she looked at Chen Lingshan. "Lingshan, you look very pretty today too!" She then smiled and invited Chen Lingshan's parents to come inside, saying, "Uncle Chen, Auntie, please come in."

Chen’s father exchanged a glance with his wife; they were naturally very excited. Three months ago, when their business was at its lowest point, it seemed their company was on the verge of collapse. However, these past three months had seen them encounter a benefactor who helped turn things around.

Back then, he wouldn’t have been invited to such an important banquet hosted by the municipal construction committee head where only high-ranking officials and successful businessmen were present. But now, he was able to attend this feast at Mayor Zeng Quanming's residence. His wife felt even prouder; it seemed their family had overnight become part of Xiahai’s upper echelons.l overwhelmed with joy!Although she had experienced rebirth, such a gorgeous scene still made Su Cen's heart flutter. Especially when Lin Lisan lightly touched his belly. During break times, they were...