Chapter 831 - 799: Shifting the Spotlight
Xu Changshan said, "When it comes to bearing responsibility, it doesn’t matter if you’re a high-ranking official or not. In the end, it’s all about earning your living based on your skills."
Xu Chunliang replied, "Grandpa, you’re speaking in riddles."
Xu Changshan chuckled, "I haven’t said anything."
Xu Chunliang buried his head in the bowl of handmade noodles his grandpa prepared for him, paired with the pickled green peppers made by Zheng Peian. There’s really nothing like home-cooked food!
Xu Changshan smiled as he watched his beloved grandson devouring the noodles, even if he didn’t eat himself, it was a happiness just watching.
Xu Chunliang gobbled down the bowl of noodles.
Xu Changshan asked with concern, "Was it enough? If not, I’ll make you another bowl."
Xu Chunliang said, "Don’t just watch me eat, you should have a bowl too."
Xu Changshan said, "I’m getting old, my digestion isn’t as good as it used to be, not like you young folks." He stood up to make another bowl for his grandson.
Xu Chunliang watched his grandfather’s back, feeling as if his grandpa’s stoop had become more pronounced. Whether he liked it or not, he had to face the reality of his grandfather’s gradual aging.
Xu Chunliang could use the "Heavenly Sustenance Chapter" to help slow his grandfather’s aging, but he couldn’t help him achieve immortality. Eventually, he had to face the reality of his grandfather’s departure.
Thinking of this, he felt a sense of loss, hardly understanding why he was suddenly so melancholic tonight.
Su Qing called at that moment, bringing bad news: the station leaders wanted them to focus their reporting on Dongzhou Barbecue, digging deep into Dongzhou Barbecue’s issues. The implication was not to sing praises, but to disclose the dark secrets of Dongzhou Barbecue.
Xu Chunliang found it amusing. The hype from Wang Tiejun’s scandal had already died down; the public’s attention was now on the subway collapse. Why was there suddenly a push to revisit Dongzhou Barbecue? What on earth were the Pinghai Satellite TV leaders thinking?
Su Qing, being a journalism graduate, reminded Xu Chunliang not to underestimate this matter and advised him to prepare early. In journalism, there’s a well-tested method—using one hotspot to defeat another hotspot—essentially, diverting attention. She didn’t rule out the possibility of relevant departments using this tactic to sacrifice a pawn to save the king.
After hearing Su Qing’s reminder, Xu Chunliang immediately realized the seriousness of the situation. Initially, the Provincial Satellite TV stood by their side. When CCTV’s "Focus" program exposed the scandal, they even helped clarify the name.
Now they’ve suddenly changed direction, indicating the Provincial Satellite TV’s leaders encountered some pressure.
It’s also possible someone aims to stir up a big storm in Dongzhou using this situation, tackling both metro safety and food safety issues simultaneously.
Xu Chunliang hung up the phone with Su Qing just as his grandfather finished cooking the noodles, urging him to have another bowl.
Just as Xu Chunliang picked up the bowl of noodles, Fan Lidada called, asking him to come to the Culture and Tourism Bureau for an important discussion.
It was long past office hours, and typically Fan Lidada would call to invite him for drinks at this time, rarely for work matters. Xu Chunliang sensed something unusual and asked more questions, but Fan Lidada didn’t explain, only saying the matter wasn’t suitable for phone discussion and urging him to come quickly.
Xu Changshan, hearing that his grandson had to leave again right after coming back, couldn’t help but have some thoughts but ultimately believed young people should prioritize work.
At that moment, thunder sounded outside, and according to the weather forecast, it was going to rain that night. Xu Changshan advised his grandson to bring an umbrella.
Xu Chunliang finished the second bowl of noodles, took the umbrella, and left home.
He took a taxi to the Culture and Tourism Bureau, headed straight to Fan Lidada’s office, finding it brightly lit; Fan Lidada was already there.
Xu Chunliang knocked on the door, which wasn’t locked. He pushed it open and walked in, "Brother Fan, can’t this wait until tomorrow..."
He found more than just Fan Lidada in the room; there were also two other people staring at him seriously.
Xu Chunliang hesitated for a moment. These two wore light blue short-sleeve shirts and dark pants, with ties on, sporting a shiny national emblem on their left chest. Though Xu rarely dealt with them, he instantly guessed their identity—both were from the prosecutor’s office.
Xu Chunliang’s heart sank as he turned his gaze to Fan Lidada, who also wore a helpless expression. It wasn’t Fan Lidada trying to deceive him; the prosecutor’s office colleagues didn’t allow him to speak frankly, insisting he call Xu Chunliang according to their instructions.
Fan Lidada said, "Xiaoxu, these two prosecutor’s office colleagues want to ask you about some situations."
Xu Chunliang nodded, "You know everything I know; it’s redundant to ask me."
Fan Lidada detected a hint of dissatisfaction from Xu Chunliang’s tone and sighed, "It’s a work requirement. The situation I mentioned is something that requires further verification from you two."
One of the older prosecutors named Song Hui said to Xu Chunliang, "Comrade Xu Chunliang, there’s no need to be tense. We just came to understand some situations."
Fan Lidada said, "Yes, there’s no need to be nervous."
Song Hui glanced at Fan Lidada, who sheepishly said, "Then I’ll step out for a smoke, you chat."
After Fan Lidada left, it turned into a two-against-one situation in the office. Song Hui sized up Xu Chunliang. This was a usual tactic: first, intimidate the subject with a powerful gaze to suppress them with aura, aiming to conquer without a fight.
It’s also a kind of occupational hazard. Although Xu Chunliang is quite well-known, within the system, he is still considered a low-ranking figure. Song Hui thought he could handle such a newcomer in the system, but in reality, Xu Chunliang responded with calm indifference, seemingly impervious. Song Hui even sensed disdain and scorn in the look Xu Chunliang returned.
"Do you know why we asked you to come over?" The conversation started with a question.
Xu Chunliang shook his head, clearly impatient: "Speak directly, stop beating around the bush. I haven’t done anything wrong, and I’m not under your interrogation. If we are to talk, let’s talk peacefully, don’t play that high and mighty routine with me."
Song Hui and his colleague exchanged glances. Song Hui said, "Comrade Xu Chunliang, you seem to have some emotions."
"Isn’t that obvious? I was already off duty, having dinner with my family, and one phone call from you had me braving the rain to come here. If you have something to say, just say it clearly. Why play games, having Director Fan lure me here first? I can’t help but wonder if you were worried I might flee in fear? We’re on the same side, why make things so complicated? Aren’t you tired, because I’m already tired for you."
Song Hui and his colleague were left speechless by Xu Chunliang’s words. Song Hui looked embarrassed, "Comrade Xu Chunliang, we can understand your negative emotions, but this is for work purposes, and we hope you can understand."
Xu Chunliang said, "Alright, ask whatever you need to ask. I’m in a hurry; I didn’t even get to finish my noodles at home, and they are probably all mushy by now."
The young prosecutor with Song Hui couldn’t help but laugh. Even at this moment, he’s still worried about his mushy noodles.
Song Hui glared at him. With Xu Chunliang’s interruption, the carefully crafted pressure he had built disappeared entirely. Song Hui decided to get straight to the point: "What is your relationship with the web celebrity Xu Xiaoyue, who goes by the online name Three Two Three?"
"We are friends."
Song Hui said, "During your interactions with him, have you ever provided him any convenience or jointly planned to hype up the Dongzhou Barbecue?"
Xu Chunliang detected something off in his tone: "What do you mean by that? Are you suggesting the hype around Dongzhou Barbecue was orchestrated by the two of us, or that after Dongzhou Barbecue became popular, it somehow damaged Dongzhou’s economic development?"
Song Hui said, "Web celebrities are not philanthropists. They earn money by creating hype to draw a large amount of traffic, which they then monetize. From what we know, this web celebrity blogger named Three Two Three used the Dongzhou Barbecue for leverage, gaining a lot of followers and making considerable money from it. As his introducer and one of the earliest promoters and planners of Dongzhou Barbecue, did you also profit from it?"
Xu Chunliang shook his head: "I didn’t take a penny."
The young prosecutor chimed in: "If you didn’t benefit, why were you so enthusiastic about being involved in this matter?"
Xu Chunliang laughed, "Are you guys out of your minds? Your fundamental logic is flawed. You only care about the benefits Three Two Three gained from it, but why not care about the tangible benefits Dongzhou Culture and Tourism received? Your job seems to be using a magnifying glass to find faults in us, but where were you when we were working diligently?"
Song Hui said, "Our job is to find faults. You don’t need to be upset; we are just fulfilling our duties. Now that issues have been raised, we must verify them. Actually, you should see it from another perspective; we are also here to prove your innocence."
Xu Chunliang said, "The innocent remain innocent; I don’t need you to prove my innocence."
Song Hui said, "Alright, then explain if you privately promised to hand over the naming rights of the Dongzhou Barbecue Festival to Zhang Hengyang, the owner of the Han Yuan Hot Spring Resort?"
Xu Chunliang said, "Yes, that happened. At the time, no one was interested in the Dongzhou Barbecue Festival. It was already fortunate to get sponsorship. Besides, it didn’t work out in the end; Dongzhou Barbecue suddenly became hot, and some businessmen came halfway and cut in."
Song Hui’s next inquiries made Xu Chunliang even more alert, asking about his relationships with Fu Guomin and Fan Lidada. Xu Chunliang realized that this wasn’t a regular investigation, nor was it targeted just at him. Recalling Su Qing’s earlier warning, the direction of this event became clear.
Song Hui’s investigation into Xu Chunliang ended after just half an hour, and the two prosecutors left in the pouring rain.
Fan Lidada and Xu Chunliang didn’t leave. They stood side by side in the corridor, watching the torrential rain outside, with flashes of lightning intermittently illuminating their faces.
Fan Lidada lit a cigarette, and perhaps due to the rain, the air drawn into his lungs carried a moist, damp sensation.
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