Chapter 063: The Bishop of the Great River

This story is purely fictional. Will paused for a moment, gazing at the club executives as he said, “On the day of the match, you’d better be prepared to win. After all, Hao Benshan is a celebrity, and for them, it’s all about saving face. You know what saving face means, don’t you?”

“And also, he’s going to invite local celebrities from H City: there’s Ah Wei, Young Feng, and Joker. They’ll all be there to support Hao Benshan, cheering him on.”

As the meeting ended, Mr. Will inquired about the head coach of the Dahe Team. “According to reliable sources, the head coach of Dahe is currently in a bit of trouble. There are reports that his only son, Nian Liang, is suspected of match-fixing, and the police investigation has made some substantial progress. Make sure you keep a tight grip on the flow of information, or that nosy journalist with the big nose will stir up more trouble,” Will warned.

“That big-nose has always been like that—let him say what he wants. If he has no evidence, what can he do? These sensational stories aren’t worth your attention. The more you respond, the more excited he gets. He’s always been this way over the years,” replied the club’s general manager.

“You’re right. Let’s handle it quietly,” Will agreed.

Turning to Gao Yating, Will asked, “The chief superintendent of Dahe is in, isn’t he? There are a few matters I need to negotiate with him. Would you come with me?”

“I contacted him first thing this morning. He should be in his office now. We can head to the Dahe Police Station right away,” Gao Yating replied.

In Ma Shengwei’s office, smoke curled through the air as he meticulously checked his finances on the computer, line by line.

Watching the numbers on his bank card steadily climb, a knowing smile spread across his face. He shook his head, apparently not yet satisfied with the current pace of making money. Now that Duhau Company was thriving, he was ecstatic.

Duhau’s business had grown from a humble storefront to more than thirty across Dahe, and the company’s reach now extended nationwide, with even the southwestern frontier showing evidence of Duhau’s presence.

Ma Shengwei called Lü Jiahui to inquire about Duhau’s specific business metrics. “Send Duhau’s financial statements to my email. I want to see how the company is doing.”

“Just a moment, boss, I’ll send them right away,” Lü Jiahui replied.

“Don’t send them to my QQ email, use my MSN account,” Ma Shengwei reminded him.

“Understood, boss,” Lü Jiahui said, emailing the files as he spoke.

Upon receiving the financial statements, Ma Shengwei poured over them carefully. He needed to accelerate his earnings, hoping to amass enough before retirement. Otherwise, it wouldn’t suffice to support his several lovers, not to mention the expenses of sending his daughter with Jin Yan to the United States—a considerable sum in itself.

Xiao Jin returned to the police headquarters, bursting into the superintendent’s office without knocking.

The superintendent, busy reconciling accounts, shouted, “Get out!”

Feeling embarrassed, Xiao Jin retreated and knocked properly.

“Come in,” the superintendent finally called.

“I tell you every day to follow discipline and rules. You barge into my office without knocking—are you showing discipline and respect for rules?” he demanded.

“Yes, Chief,” Xiao Jin replied with a salute.

“Are you?” The chief’s face was stern.

“I mean yes, I will follow your instructions and observe discipline and rules,” Xiao Jin quickly corrected himself, realizing his slip.

“How is the investigation into Shi Tou’s murder coming along? The provincial leadership is very concerned about the case.”

“I heard someone recorded a video of Shi Tou’s friend being killed. Is that true?”

“When we arrived at Shi Tou’s friend’s house, he was already dead. Not only was his throat slit, but his Achilles tendons had also been severed. We suspect both deaths were at the hands of the same killer,” Xiao Jin replied.

“Get to the point!” the chief ordered.

“The point is, the claims that Wu Zhengzhe has found new evidence are completely unfounded. You don’t need to worry.”

“The situation now is that the top official in the provincial department won’t let go of this case. There’s nothing I can do. All we can do is ensure those following up on the case get nowhere. Drag it out as long as possible.”

“There’s an important update: Wu Zhengzhe is having serious doubts. Last time we investigated together, he made it clear he didn’t want to pursue the case anymore,” Xiao Jin said confidently. “In my opinion, why not bring Wu Zhengzhe over to our side?”

“I know Wu Zhengzhe well. Bringing him over is easier said than done. I’ve tried several times before and failed. He’s stubborn as a mule. Especially now, given the circumstances.”

“You’re mistaken, Chief! From what I’ve observed, he really is backing off. I know his personality. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have shown such dejection in front of me. I’ve followed him for years—I trust my judgment. Why not talk to him yourself?”

“You’re certain?”

“I’m very certain. He said he’d be back at work tomorrow. Once he returns, you should talk to him and find out what he’s thinking,” Xiao Jin said confidently.

“Very well, I’ll talk to him tomorrow. If there’s nothing else, get back to work—I have someone coming to see me soon,” the chief said.

After Xiao Jin left, Ma Shengwei locked the door again, then returned to his accounts, humming a little tune with self-satisfaction...

Gao Yating and Will arrived at Ma Shengwei’s office. Ma peeked out into the corridor with his round head, then closed the door behind them.

At the Dahe Club’s training grounds, the players had mostly drifted away. The head coach watched the figure of Fan Wei sprinting off, shaking his head. It was unclear whether he pitied this troubled young man or admired his football talent and potential. One thing was certain: the coach liked this young man.

After Fan Wei left, the coach slowly made his way to the parking lot, opened his car door, and sat in the driver’s seat. He glanced at his stubbled face in the rearview mirror, then pulled an electric shaver from the center console and started shaving.

It had been nearly two years since he and his wife separated and began divorce proceedings. Normally, after three years of separation, a divorce would be granted automatically. Thinking back, he realized he had endured all kinds of hardship during this time, with no end in sight.

After his shower, Fan Wei hurriedly put on the casual clothes his aunt had bought him. He looked into his locker, filled with snacks and small trinkets brought back from out-of-town trips. Though he had traveled with the team to many places, he had yet to play a single match—even as a substitute.

He quickly sifted through the snacks, picking out a few of his aunt’s favorites: Poria biscuits and hawthorn slices from the capital. He made sure to pack them into his backpack.

Fan Wei hurried to the parking lot, looking around for the coach’s sports car.

The coach stuck his head out the window and called, “Over here!”

Hearing this, Fan Wei jogged over. As he was about to open the back door, the coach motioned for him to sit in the passenger seat.

“Okay,” Fan Wei replied, sliding into the passenger side.

Seeing Fan Wei with a bag full of things, the coach asked, “Are those gifts for your aunt? I have plenty of stuff too. Want to swing by the dorm so I can bring some as well?”

“No need, I always bring a few little gifts. It’s been a while since I visited, so I have more than usual this time. Otherwise, my aunt would scold me for spending money recklessly!” Fan Wei replied as he placed his things on the back seat. Suddenly remembering something, he asked, “Oh, do I need to leave a note for the duty officer?”

“No, I’ve already told the team you’re going out with me for some errands. We’ll be back a bit late. There’s nothing to worry about. When you’re with me, do you need to worry about leave?”

“Not really. The team is usually strict about our whereabouts. If we’re late, we get a proper scolding. But for me, I rarely go out. If I have time, I’m always on the training field. They never get a chance to pick on me,” Fan Wei said with a sheepish smile.

The coach reminded Fan Wei to fasten his seatbelt. “Alright, let’s go!”

As soon as they passed the club’s gate, the coach floored the accelerator. The car roared, blue smoke spouted from the tailpipe, and it vanished down the road leading into Dahe city.

Along the way, the coach showed Fan Wei every possible care and concern. Since joining Dahe Club, no one had ever treated Fan Wei so warmly. His heart was filled with gratitude toward the coach.

When they arrived at the coach’s old apartment complex, the coach got out and entered one of the buildings. Only after seeing him disappear did Fan Wei recline his seat, making himself comfortable for a rest.

He knew the coach had remained single since his divorce and lived with his elderly mother. Whenever he had time, he would return home to visit her, year in and year out. Fan Wei deeply admired this commitment.

Suddenly, Fan Wei seemed to remember something. He patted his jacket pocket, then his pants pocket. When he finally found his phone, he let out a long sigh of relief. “That scared me—I thought I’d lost my phone again.” (To be continued)