Chapter 345

“We’re brothers!” Dong Xinlei stepped forward and said. “Right!” Ren Changfeng added, “Brothers should share joys and sorrows, face difficulties together. What’s the harm in danger? At worst, we can just fight our way through it.” Xie Wendong shook his head and said, “Things might not get that bad. If too many people go, it will only make things more complicated.”
“But we’re really worried,” Gao Qiang said anxiously. Xie Wendong gave a reassuring smile and said, “I said it’s fine, so it will be fine. Even if something goes wrong, it’s easier for me to handle it alone.” Seeing that everyone still wanted to speak, he waved his hand and said, “No need to talk more. It’s settled.”
Xie Wendong still left, taking the flight that night, accompanied only by two of his subordinates. He had drunk some wine prepared by Li Shuang, Jiang Sen, and others as a farewell gift.
Everyone thought his trip to Beijing was extremely dangerous, but he didn’t think so. Xie Wendong wasn’t stupid—he was far smarter than most people in the world. He wasn’t impulsive either; few could match his scheming. If those in power really wanted to get rid of him, they wouldn’t even meet him. There were hundreds of things he had done, and any one of them could be enough to sentence him to death a hundred times. It would be easy enough to convict him and take his life—why go to the trouble of bringing him all the way to Beijing? Perhaps those in power were also hesitating, wondering whether to kill him or not. Xie Wendong sat on the plane, letting out a soft sigh with a bitter smile.
The two subordinates he brought were both from the Wendong Gang. They had followed him for not long, but they already admired this unpredictable boss deeply. Seeing him smile, even if they didn’t know why, they felt somewhat relieved.
Beijing wasn’t Xie Wendong’s first time here, but each visit gave him different feelings. This time might be the most satisfying, as he was coming openly—by order of the central authorities.
As soon as he got off the plane, he saw an old acquaintance: Dong Fangyi. It had been a long time since they last met. This old fox seemed much older now; his hair was still shiny, but his eyes lacked some luster. It seemed Dong Fangyi hadn’t had an easy time lately! Xie Wendong sighed inwardly and walked up to him cheerfully, giving him a big hug and saying politely, “It’s been so long! Brother Dong Fangyi, I hope you’re well. You still look as radiant as ever, haha.”
“Stop being so formal with me,” Dong Fangyi said with a stern expression, glancing slightly behind Xie Wendong and asking, “Did you only bring two people?”

“I still have plenty of time,” Xie Wendong said leisurely. “It’s a great honor to be summoned by the top leadership. Bringing so many people with me seems like I’m trying to show off on purpose.”
Dong Fangyi smirked at him for a while before muttering, “I don’t know what you’re up to.” He lowered his voice and added, “I thought you wouldn’t come. I gave you all the hints I could, but I didn’t expect you to be so stupid.” Xie Wendong laughed and said, “I understand what you mean. You’re saying the central government wants to…” Before he could finish, Dong Fangyi covered his mouth. Glancing around instinctively, he said anxiously, “Kid, watch your words. You don’t want to die, but I do.”
Xie Wendong looked at the nervously fidgeting Dong Fangyi with amusement and said, “Hey, you’re a high-ranking official in the Political Department. Who are you afraid of?”
“The Political Department? Hmph!” Dong Fangyi sneered. “The Political Department itself is in turmoil right now. Its status is likely to be lost at any moment; the department might be abolished at any time.”
This was news Xie Wendong hadn’t heard before. He was stunned and asked, “Why?”
“Because it holds too much power. It always makes people envious and makes some people feel their status and power are threatened. Before, we had a powerful ‘old man’ protecting us, but unfortunately, he’ll be gone soon, and then the storms will hit.” “Oh, you mean…?” “Mm, just understand. No need to say more.”
Deeply moved, Xie Wendong walked out of the airport with Dong Fangyi and got into the car. “Why did the central government want to see me this time?” he asked in the car.
Dong Fangyi shook his head. Xie Wendong raised his eyebrows. Dong Fangyi said helplessly, “To be honest, I don’t know either. But there are a lot of rumors going around, all unfavorable to you. You’ve been involved in fights in the underworld, especially recently, with the Hongmen, causing a huge uproar. The central government can no longer tolerate it. And now, you’ve blown up the headquarters of the Soul Group. For the central government, this is a good thing, but they still have to consider pressure from Japan. If they have to make a sacrifice because of this, do you think they’ll sacrifice your life or Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations?”
Xie Wendong nodded, staring at the tips of his shoes, then shook his head. “My life isn’t that valuable, I guess.”
“That’s good if you understand.” Dong Fangyi leaned back in the seat, head tilted upward, murmuring, “That’s why I said you shouldn’t have come.”

“There’s no remedy for regret in this world,” Xie Wendong said with a smile. “Since I’m here, I’ll make the best of it. Besides, I’m not yet regretful.” “Because you’re a madman.”
The person who wanted to meet Xie Wendong was indeed a high-ranking official—so high that describing him as “second only to the leader, above everyone else” was no exaggeration.
Diyutai, Beijing. The magnificent buildings within the complex were grand and antique, with lush green lawns, towering ancient trees, and a vast inner lake that was crystal clear, as smooth as a mirror. For Xie Wendong, Diyutai was mysterious, even sacred, as only national leaders and foreign dignitaries were allowed to live there. Like Tiananmen Square and the Great Hall of the People, it was a symbol of the nation. He never imagined he would one day sit there and meet such high-ranking figures. The excitement he felt was beyond words. The “important person” mentioned by Dong Fang Yi was an elder, though he appeared much younger than his actual age—around fifty, with black, thick hair, a face marked by subtle wrinkles, a straight nose and square mouth, and no beard. His eyes, slightly upturned at the corners, gave him an air of authority even at rest, exuding an overwhelming presence that seemed to pierce through one’s heart.
Indeed, it was authority. Xie Wendong had seen this man on TV and in newspapers many times, but meeting him in person gave him a completely different impression—he could truly feel the natural aura that set him apart from ordinary people.
“Are you Xie Wendong?” The elder sized him up, his gaze calm yet tinged with surprise.
Xie Wendong seemed accustomed to such looks. Whether it was high-ranking or lowly officials, they always greeted him with that kind of gaze and tone at first meeting. “I’m probably younger than you think, right?!” “Haha!” The elder nodded. At that moment, hotel staff brought in tea. Though he hadn’t tasted it yet, its fragrance filled the air—subtle yet enticing. Xie Wendong wasn’t very familiar with tea customs, but he liked it anyway, and he couldn’t help but say, “Good tea.”

Two words made the old man realize once again how extraordinary Xie Wendong was. Ordinary people, including the local officials, would become extremely nervous when they saw him—like a drawn bowstring, tightly strung, with all their attention fixed on him, cautious at every turn. Yet Xie Wendong, a young man in his early twenties, still had the leisure to appreciate the fragrance of tea—truly not someone ordinary. The old man said with a smile, “Top-grade Longjing—considered fine tea. Nowadays, young people increasingly dislike drinking tea, but you seem different.”

Xie Wendong replied, “Tea tastes bitter on the first sip, fragrant on the second, and sweet only on the third. Compared to all those various beverages, people no longer prefer tea, which is bitter at first and sweet later.”

“Hehe,” the old man laughed kindly and amusingly. “Not bad. Young people have brains, their own ideas, and they make sense.” After a pause, he added, “It’s good to have brains, but it depends on how they’re used. If used rightly, it benefits the country; if misused, it causes great harm and is unacceptable under the law.”

Xie Wendong was shaken and said softly, “It’s sometimes hard to distinguish between right and wrong.”

The old man’s expression became solemn, dignity evident on his face. His words were firm and decisive, “But when the country’s interests are at risk, it’s no longer a matter of right or wrong.”

Xie Wendong understood what he meant and replied calmly, “But I also know that if I don’t act, the country will suffer even greater unknown harms.”

The old man’s gaze flashed, an invisible light like a sharp knife piercing straight into Xie Wendong’s heart. He said, “You’re removing threats for yourself, aren’t you?”

Xie Wendong was speechless. The old man’s gaze seemed to see through his thoughts, and his words hit the mark. Indeed, his main intention in dismantling the Soul Group was to eradicate the source of trouble. As long as the Soul Group existed, he couldn’t sleep peacefully. Concern for the country’s interests was just a cover story—a deception that could fool others but not the authorities. After a long silence, he sighed and said slowly, “Regardless of my motives, the end result is that I’ve removed a threat from the country.”

“But it’s also dragged the country into a messy diplomatic quagmire,” the old man said. “If such drastic measures weren’t necessary, I wouldn’t have approved your entry into the Political Department in the first place.”

“Ah?” Xie Wendong was shocked. “Was it you who approved my entry into the Political Department?”

“Hehe.” The old man chuckled, placing a hand on his cheek, and said, “Do you think it’s easy for ordinary people to join the Political Department?!?” He took out a stack of documents from under the coffee table and handed them to Xie Wendong, saying, “Any new member of the Political Department requires my approval. I need to review all their documents one by one. The Political Department holds too much power, so I also need to be accountable to the country.”
“Unfortunately,” Xie Wendong sighed, “I’m not a good fit for that role.”
Suddenly, the old man stood up and began walking around the room with his hands behind his back. After a while, he stopped, turned around, and said, “Japan is pressing hard right now. We can’t alienate them over this matter—it would cause enormous economic losses to the country. So, we must give the Japanese government an explanation.”
Xie Wendong narrowed his eyes, his mind racing. Without hesitation, he replied, “If we have to give an explanation, then just give them my life.” Using retreat as a strategy to find a way forward, Xie Wendong was now ready to go all out.
The old man stared at him intently. After a long while, he smiled slightly and said, “Whether what you say is true or not, you haven’t brought shame to the Political Department.” Then, he changed the subject and said, “By the way, Dongxing Group is developing rapidly. It must be one of your enterprises, right?!”
Xie Wendong’s eyes sparkled as he replied, “That’s correct. But I can assure you that whether I’m alive or dead, Dongxing Group will not collapse and will continue to operate normally.” After all, the central government didn’t want to see a powerful local enterprise fail like this. Moreover, Dongxing Group placed great importance on its social image, regularly donating large sums to benefit society. Recently, with Yu Chao’s active efforts, they were preparing to establish a Northeast Social Welfare Fund, promising to invest 200 million within three years to improve the living conditions of vulnerable groups. If Dongxing Group collapsed because of Xie Wendong, that fund would also be ruined, causing severe negative social impacts.
The old man’s eyes lit up with admiration. He sighed softly and said, “You’re indeed very smart. If only…” He didn’t continue his sentence. He sat back down and after a while, said gently, “I also don’t want to see a young person like you fall into the hands of Japan. Go now.”