In November in the Capital, it’s the season to wear coats.

A white car stopped outside of Xizi Bay. Lai Shengxia, who was driving, didn’t unbuckle her seatbelt, and instead turned her head to the back seat and said to her son, "I won’t go up. Do you know what to say when you see your dad?"

Han Xudong looked at his mother, who was still striking in her fifties, and nodded.

Lai Shengxia couldn’t help but lean over, reaching out to touch her son’s head, and sighed with helplessness in her voice, "You’re about to go abroad. I shouldn’t let you be distracted, but I really have no choice. Your uncle’s family is involved in such a big smuggling case, your aunt calls me every day—"

Before she could finish, her son interrupted, "I know."

Lai Shengxia didn’t continue.

Indeed.

Lai Yuaner is already a top flower in Mainland Entertainment, and her marriage naturally attracts attention.

Since July, when the current President announced on television a crackdown on corruption and subsequently people became victims one after another, the atmosphere in the entire Capital has changed. Especially with the arrest of the elder of the Zuo Family, it made everyone realize that the one in charge wasn’t just making empty slogans, but was serious.

This rain later turned into hail.

Pelting with crackling sounds, causing countless people to suffer head injuries.

Even though Zuo Yuliang had already passed away, his son was by no means easily captured. Not to mention the patronage of the Zuo Family, among those politicians who have not yet retired, how many have connections with the Zuo Family?

Lai Shengxia had heard about how Zuo Da was caught.

Just thinking about it made her spine chill.

Before the press conference was held at Tan Palace to announce the arrest of Zuo Hong, the city bureau hadn’t even received a message, and even the Zuo Family didn’t know that the family head had disappeared.

After the press conference ended, the current President posted a photo on his personal Weibo account, with a message: "This is the result of our actions last night. Another evil element has been arrested! He has harmed the lives and property of the people, damaged the sovereignty and dignity of this nation, and disrupted the open, just, and fair market economy operations! This is intolerable to me, and I must ensure this public enemy faces the most severe consequences for his actions! Only then can I live up to the people and to this country!"

In the photo, Zuo Hong, wearing a hood and handcuffs, was being taken out of his residence by two fully armed Marines Special Forces soldiers, along with his family.

Zuo Hong was always a dignified person in Beijing.

Yet when he was arrested, there was a stain of coffee on his lapel.

Zuo Hong’s wife, pulled by the arm and dragged out the door, was disheveled, to say the least.

The Marines, the only force the President of the country can directly deploy, equipped with the most advanced weapons, whose role is to protect the President’s personal safety, yet now being used as a personal force by the one in charge.

The photo posted on Weibo infuriated the Zuo Family and roused public indignation online.

But the public wasn’t angry at the one in charge for arresting people arbitrarily, but at Zuo Hong’s illegal acts of accumulating wealth through smuggling!

Without waiting for the Congress to challenge the one in charge, the public took to the streets first, demanding that Zuo Hong be punished severely to serve as a warning.

Once public resentment rises, it’s hard to quell it easily.

Eventually, the Zuo Family had to abandon Zuo Hong.

Half a month later, Zuo Hong died in the detention center.

He drowned in a septic tank undergoing repairs after drinking too much at night.

It could be said, he died quite disgracefully.

As for how there was alcohol in the detention center.

Investigations revealed that Zuo Hong had bribed a staff member to purchase it.

That staff member was also duly punished.

Other than that, no one else was held responsible for Zuo Hong’s death.

The Zuo Family, of course, was dissatisfied with this outcome, as Zuo Hong wasn’t a drinker. Before they could exert pressure on the city bureau, the instigator went to them in person.

It is said that Zuo Hong’s eldest son, Zuo Yi, hosted the shameless President throughout with a pale face, fearing his father might be roused in a fury while the President wept tearfully before Zuo Bin’s body.

The President’s actions repeatedly challenged the bottom line of everyone’s understanding of human nature.

After leaving the Zuo Family, he turned and posted on Weibo.

Said that Zuo Yi had reported in real name that another family was also suspected of smuggling and suspected that Zuo Hong was silenced by them.

Zuo Yi was furious and registered on Weibo that night to personally write a handwritten essay to clarify.

The result was predictable.

The next day, the other family was also arrested.

The President had no intention of stopping there.

Afterwards, more and more people were involved.

Lai Yuaner’s father-in-law, Cen Yiming, the former Vice President who had retired with honor, learned that he was also on the circulated list for reckoning, couldn’t sleep at night since, lived in fear that the Marines Special Forces would appear at his home the next second, to take him to the detention center to eat excrement and drink urine.

In desperation, he sought help from Han Jifeng.

The one in charge, in ancient times, would be a ruthless official.

Nowadays, those who participated in the impeachment case of Song Baiyan, how many don’t live in fear?

They’re either at home cursing the former Army Chief Commander who promoted Song Jingtian, or scolding the voters for their ignorance, having a brother who was impeached and deposed, yet still dared to vote for him in the election. Actually, the most blame should be on themselves.

When Song Jingtian ran for election, who didn’t mock him as a clown, with his unruly hair and clothes that never fit.

When he first started in the military and joined a live-ammunition exercise, he even crouched down in fear, covering his head.

Such a simpleton, the Song Family exhausted all their efforts to help him run for the presidency, and after pouring in sixty billion, they did succeed in getting him into Tan Palace.

This weepy President on election day has now suddenly turned into a bloodthirsty wolf, determined to devour them all...

The unease of Cen Yiming, Lai Shengxia cannot empathize, but she knows one thing clearly: the Cen Family cannot fall.

Her father is old, the Ouyang Family has long been incapable, Han Jifeng has withdrawn from politics, if anything happens to the Cen Family, the position of the Lai Family in the Capital will no longer be what it was.

By then, Yuanyuan’s husband, Cen Changbin, might have to step down from his position in the state-owned enterprise.

Since Han Jifeng embarked on his political career, he’s always been involved in the legal, judicial, and prosecution route, in that system he has many acquaintances, as long as he’s willing to speak, Cen Yiming’s matter might be resolved lightly.

Watching her son enter the apartment building, Lai Shengxia finally relaxed her grip on the steering wheel.

Han Xudong stood in front of the apartment, not pressing the doorbell.

He had visited this apartment countless times.

Since five years ago, his father never returned home.

He had lived here alone ever since.

Even though his parents were not yet divorced, they were even more distant than strangers.

Of course, this distance was one-sided from his father.

In those first two years, his mother accompanied him to the apartment, but later, he didn’t know what his father said to his mother, and since then, she never stepped into this apartment building again.

So—

If this is how his father treats his mother, how could he care about his aunt’s family?

Turning to leave, the apartment door opened.

Han Xudong looked toward the sound, it was the housemaid.

The maid recognized him and called inside with a trash bag in hand, soon his father appeared at the entrance.

Clearly of the same age as his mother, but his father looked much older.

After the housemaid left and he changed shoes to enter, by the lamplight he also saw the new white hairs on his father, when his father brought him hot water, hesitated for a moment, but finally spoke.

After his father listened, he asked him, "Did your mother put you up to this?"

Without needing him to answer, his father already guessed the cause and effect.

"If it’s for this matter, go back."

This was the first time his father mercilessly issued an eviction order on him.

He looked at his father through the hazy steam, and his father explained, "The person up above is fishing. The bait is set so well, just afraid those involved won’t take the bait. At times like this, whoever gets involved is doomed, unless... you want your father to spend the rest of his life in prison."

Just that last sentence made his face go ashen.

"Is there really no way out?" He didn’t want to make it difficult for his father, but he also didn’t want to make things difficult for his mother.

Over the years, his mother had mentioned more than once that his uncle often helped Tianyi with business.

Moreover, his aunt was always very kind to him.

If his father didn’t help, the Cen Family would certainly have thoughts.

Although he was still a college student and often surfed the internet in his spare time, the current President had a very high approval rating among the public. The phrase, ’Although I’m not the son of a farmer, my heart is with you all,’ earned him immense public favor.

The public said he was the most approachable President in history, but his aunt said at home that his thorough investigation of the smuggling case was just to settle a personal vendetta.

He didn’t understand these things; he simply didn’t want anything to happen to his family.

When he looked up at his father, his father finally spoke again, "Everyone must take responsibility for what they have done, no exceptions."

"Including Mother?"

His father was silent.

"Mother didn’t steal Second Aunt’s ashes."

Regardless of whether his father would believe it or not, he still clarified for his mother.

Before his mother, his father had a previous wife, he knew that, and it was his second aunt, the daughter his grandfather had outside.

Seeing his father didn’t refute his words, he couldn’t help but say, "Although Mother deceived you before, Second Aunt’s ashes going missing really had nothing to do with her."

Even though saying this was disrespectful to the dead, he still spoke up, "Mother might be petty, but she wouldn’t hold a grudge against someone who’s already dead—"

Before he could finish, his father got up and went to the entrance.

Then, he opened the door and said to him, "You have school tomorrow, go back."

At the apartment door, he turned to look at his father, "Have you always lived here because of my Second Aunt?"

This was a question that had been buried in his heart for many years.

Han Jifeng did not deny it.

Finally, he answered after a long pause, "It’s me and your mother who owe her."

Han Xudong’s hands clenched tight at his sides, although there were all kinds of rumors outside, he still learned the truth from his father—those rumors were not without basis.

This result made him unable to say anything further.

Downstairs, he saw his mother waiting by the car.

"What did your dad say?" His mother approached him as soon as she saw him.

Upon learning Han Jifeng didn’t want to get involved, Lai Shengxia was disappointed, yet facing her son, she forced a smile, "Your dad has his concerns, let’s not push him."

The next day, Lai Shengxia personally went to the Cen Family.

Informed that her brother-in-law refused to help, Lai Yuaner’s mood worsened. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Her husband’s family’s trouble would inevitably affect her career, unless she chose to divorce.

"Everyone says the law doesn’t punish the masses. Back then, my father-in-law was at most just a cheerleader, not even an accomplice. Besides, it’s been decades since, and they’re making a clearing list now—every family involved has some reputation with stakes to consider like this, they might as well arrest everyone!"

As her father-in-law said, this is a mad dog.

Still a mad dog that doesn’t even consider Congress!

Lai Shengxia spoke, "Back then, Song Baiyan stopped the car for Tang Li, which could save your brother-in-law from the corruption and dereliction of duty case. Now, this person is Song Baiyan’s brother. Do you think if we use the same method and mention it’s Tang Li’s relative, he might have some consideration?"

Their thorough investigation into Song Baiyan’s old case shows how much they value family ties.

So, someone related to his elder brother would naturally make him remember his late brother, not considering the person’s reputation but the ties, and since Cen Yiming didn’t commit great evil back then, it’s possible he could be spared.

"Should we stop the car in front of Tan Palace then?"

Lai Yuaner was not very willing.

She’s now a front-line actress, trying to stop the car in front of Tan Palace would degrade her status!

Lai Shengxia crossed her legs and handed her cellphone to her sister, "Next Wednesday is the Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers. Song Jingtian will present flowers at the cemetery base, it’s a rare opportunity."

Afraid her sister wouldn’t dare to go alone, Lai Shengxia patted her hand, "Don’t worry, I’ll go with you."

"But at that time, when you see Song Jingtian, and mention Tang Li, you can’t act as you usually do."

Lai Shengxia reminded her sister.

Lai Yuaner pouted, returning the cellphone, "Isn’t it just pretending sisterly affection? I’m an actress after all; I have the skills for that."

Lai Shengxia smiled, "As long as you know how to act."

Han Jifeng found out that Lai Shengxia and Lai Yuaner had been arrested on Wednesday noon.

Almost at the same time, news of the President’s assassination attempt was trending on all platforms.

Lai Shengxia never expected that when she and her sister went to stop the car near the cemetery, as they barely avoided security and the motorcade was about to arrive, a man with explosives strapped to him rushed onto the road. Just before he lit the fuse, alerted special agents kicked him to the ground, the lighter flew out and landed right beside Lai Yuaner’s feet.

Then, they became accomplices to the assassination attempt.

When the city bureau found out Lai Yuaner was Cen Yiming’s daughter-in-law, it further confirmed their intention to retaliate against the President. Regardless of what Lai Shengxia and Lai Yuaner explained, the fact that they appeared at the secured scene couldn’t clear their suspicion.

As the first assassination attempt since Song Jingtian took office, all involved were heavily sentenced.

In the audience, Ouyang Qian fainted at the scene when she heard her younger daughter sentenced to twenty years and her elder daughter to sixteen years.

Still, after all, they were husband and wife, Han Jifeng didn’t neglect to seek connections.

The response he received was—

"The city bureau found records of your wife checking the President’s schedule on her cellphone."

So, they didn’t just happen to be there; it was premeditated.

"The man with explosives has already been executed. Initially, it was planned for all three to face the same sentence, but once the President found out it was your wife and sister-in-law, he changed it to fixed-term sentences."

Han Jifeng never dealt with Song Jingtian but was aware there were no favors with him. In the phone receiver, a friend’s voice came, "I heard from the President; it seems he’s taken something from you but doesn’t intend to return it. So, consider this an equivalent exchange."

Equivalent exchange...

Han Jifeng didn’t recall losing anything like that.

"The President said it’s something his brother cared about," the friend’s voice came again, "so the President hopes this item will return to his brother."

Han Jifeng slowly tightened his grip on the cellphone.

In his possession, the only item related to Song Baiyan...

was Tang Li only.

That’s it.

——

I forgot to wish everyone a Happy New Year early this morning!

I’ll make up for it tonight!

Two Chapters are combined and presented! Tomorrow’s extras will resume this lifetime, mwah!