Chapter 333: If You’re Going to Lie, At Least Keep Your Story Straight

“Deputy Secretary Zhang, what is this place?”

After getting out of the car, Secretary Deng Zhiping looked around and asked Zhang Jinan.

“Ah, this... It’s a safe house I set up so I could come here and rest whenever I get too exhausted.”

“I serve the Chairman and can’t even spare a minute to rest, so I’m genuinely jealous of you, Deputy Secretary Zhang.”

“Haha, is that so? The table’s already been set inside.”

Secretary Deng Zhiping followed Zhang Jinan into the dining room and was quite pleased.

All of his favorite dishes were laid out on the table.

“Deputy Secretary Zhang, how did you know what kind of food I like?”

“We’ve known each other for years, Secretary Deng. How could I not know?”

“Hahaha! Well then, I’ll gladly help myself.”

With a satisfied smile, Deng Zhiping sat down in an empty chair.

Zhang Jinan let out a quiet breath and sat across from him.

“Secretary Deng, why don’t we save the drinks for a little later?”

“That would be better. Tell me why you wanted to meet with me.”

“Everything I’m about to say must remain strictly between us.”

“Agreed. Go ahead.”

“I’m planning to present the Chairman with a gift of thirty tons of gold.”

For a moment, Deng Zhiping frowned in confusion.

Zhang Jinan was in a position where he could obtain a private audience with Xi Jinping at practically any time.

That meant he could personally hand the gold over to the Chairman without relying on any middleman.

After voicing those thoughts, Deng Zhiping asked what the problem was.

“The reason I’m talking to you about the gold is Politburo member Liu Peiqi.”

“Because of Politburo member Liu?”

“He’s also planning to present the Chairman with gold.”

“I know that.”

“If you already know, this will be easier to explain. He wasn’t able to obtain as much as he needed.”

“Don’t tell me...”

Zhang Jinan understood perfectly well why Deng Zhiping had stopped mid-sentence.

“Exactly. Liu Peiqi has his eyes on the gold I acquired.”

“And what are you basing that conclusion on?”

In truth, Zhang Jinan had no solid evidence whatsoever.

But he had no intention of admitting that.

“To win the Chairman’s favor, Liu Peiqi needs to give him more gold than I do. Yet he hasn’t made any attempt to acquire an additional shipment.”

“Suspecting him based on that alone seems like quite a stretch.”

“You can never be too careful.”

“That’s true, but how exactly can I help you?”

Zhang Jinan inwardly sighed in relief.

From Deng Zhiping’s tone, it was obvious that he was inclined to cooperate.

Remembering Vice Chairman Wei Chen’s words, he answered.

“First, tell the Chairman that I’ll present the gold to him tomorrow morning.”

“Can’t you tell him yourself?”

“Secretary Deng, you know as well as I do how much the Chairman dislikes people currying favor with him.”

“That’s true... Now that I think about it, you’re right.”

“That’s why I’m asking you. And, of course, I’ll reward you generously for your trouble.”

“If you’re offering, I won’t refuse.”

‘As if refusing is something he’s ever been good at,’ Zhang Jinan thought.

“Haha, then it’s settled. Now for my second request. Just to be safe, I’d like the military to escort the trucks transporting the gold bars.”

“Just to be safe?.. You mean there’s a chance Liu Peiqi might try to seize your gold by force?”

“I won’t deny the possibility.”

“It’s hard to believe, but for the sake of security, I’ll agree to your request.”

“Thank you very much for helping me.”

“No need to thank me. Still, wouldn’t it be easier to have Public Security guard the shipment instead of the military?”

On that point, Zhang Jinan agreed with Deng Zhiping.

However, remembering Wei Chen’s warning, he changed his mind.

“Liu Peiqi has close ties with Vice Minister of Public Security Chen Yirong.”

“I see what you mean. But why not ask Vice Chairman Tang Guochang directly?”

To be honest, Zhang Jinan had considered that.

However, during the investigation into the sinking of the Silver Crystal, he had gotten into a major argument with Tang Guochang.

Their relationship had remained strained ever since.

“Unfortunately, Vice Chairman Tang and I aren’t on the best of terms.”

Zhang Jinan briefly explained the essence of their conflict, naturally leaving out anything that made him look bad.

“...So I feel extremely awkward asking him personally.”

“Ah, now I understand.”

“If you carry out my request, I’ll give you one ton of gold.”

Deng Zhiping nearly froze in disbelief at his luck.

Zhang Jinan’s request required almost no effort, yet he was offering an entire ton of gold in return for helping him.

Still, in order not to look too greedy, Deng Zhiping decided he should at least put up a token resistance.

“Deputy Secretary Zhang, isn’t that a little too generous?”

“Consider it recognition of just how important your role is.”

“I see. To make sure I don’t embarrass myself in front of Vice Chairman Tang, I’d like to personally see the gold.”

“Of course. Follow me.”

After following Zhang Jinan down into the basement, Deng Zhiping looked puzzled for a moment.

There seemed to be less gold than he had expected.

“Deputy Secretary Zhang, are you sure there are thirty-one tons here?”

“It only looks like less because most of the bars weigh twenty-five kilograms each.”

“Ah, I see. Wait a moment.”

Breaking off the conversation, Deng Zhiping called Vice Chairman Tang Guochang.

After several rings, a surprised voice came through the phone.

[Secretary Deng? What happened at this hour?]

“Vice Chairman Tang, I have a request.”

[I’m listening.]

“Tomorrow morning, Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan intends to present the Chairman with something very important.”

[Ah, you mean the gold for the Chairman?]

“How do you know about that, Vice Chairman Tang?”

[I have ears too. What do you need from me?]

“Assign an army unit to escort the trucks carrying the gold.”

Deng Zhiping explained the request in detail.

“...Send the soldiers here no later than nine tomorrow morning.”

[Wouldn’t it be better if I sent men there right now?]

Deng Zhiping decided to accept Tang Guochang’s suggestion, just to be safe.

But just as he was about to answer, something unexpected happened.

The basement lights suddenly went out.

“W-what the...!”

[Secretary Deng, what happened?]

“The... lights suddenly went out.”

[Don’t tell me...]

Deng Zhiping immediately understood why Tang Guochang had stopped mid-sentence.

“No way. That can’t be it.”

[Better safe than sorry. Lock the front door and don’t move until we arrive.]

“Understood.”

Click.

The moment he hung up, the basement, which had been plunged into darkness, lit up again.

At the same instant, an anxious Zhang Jinan rushed over to him.

“Secretary Deng, what did Tang Guochang say?”

“He promised to send the army here right now to guard the safe house. He also told us to lock the front door.”

“The front door is already locked, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Well then, shall we head upstairs and have a proper drink?”

When Zhang Jinan and Deng Zhiping returned to the living room, they nearly fainted from shock.

Politburo member Liu Peiqi was lounging comfortably on the sofa.

“W-what...”

Pfft!

While Zhang Jinan struggled to get the words out, Public Security Bureau Chief Pu Zhenghua pulled the trigger of a suppressed pistol.

“Kgh...!”

The bullet struck Zhang Jinan directly in the head, and he collapsed to the floor with a dull thud.

Keeping Deng Zhiping at gunpoint, Pu Zhenghua walked over to Zhang Jinan, who lay crumpled near the stairs, lifted his eyelids, and reported to Liu Peiqi.

“Dead.”

And just like that, Deputy Secretary Zhang Jinan’s life ended absurdly and swiftly.

Without wasting a second, Pu Zhenghua approached Deng Zhiping, who was trembling like a leaf, and tightly bound his hands and feet with rope.

Then he grabbed him by the shoulder and sat him down on the sofa directly across from Liu Peiqi.

Liu Peiqi stared intently at the secretary trembling in fear and spoke.

“Secretary Deng, it’s unfortunate that we have to meet under circumstances like these.”

“......”

Liu Peiqi held out his hand behind him.

As though reading his mind, Pu Zhenghua immediately placed the pistol in it.

Pointing the weapon at Deng Zhiping, Liu Peiqi continued in an ice-cold voice.

“From this moment on, if you decide to exercise your right to remain silent or start spouting nonsense, I’ll methodically put one bullet after another into you. If you don’t believe me, feel free to test it.”

“...I’ll answer every question honestly.”

Deng Zhiping clearly had no desire to die, so he answered in a broken, trembling voice.

“That’s more like it. What’s in the basement?”

“Gold bars.”

“Hahaha!”

Liu Peiqi burst into genuine, delighted laughter.

Director Liu Haoran and Chief Pu Zhenghua also broke into broad grins.

Only Deng Zhiping remained sitting silently on the sofa, trembling violently from head to toe.

After looking him over from head to toe for a long moment, Liu Peiqi finally stopped laughing and continued.

“I have no intention of repaying the four and a half billion dollars I borrowed from you. What do you have to say about that?”

“Do as you see fit, Politburo member Liu.”

“You’re quick-witted, Secretary Deng. Now let’s get down to business. Where’s the laptop?”

Only now did Deng Zhiping fully understand Liu Peiqi’s plan.

He was after Chairman Xi Jinping’s secret funds.

If Liu Peiqi took that money, Deng himself would never be allowed to live.

How could he possibly reveal where the laptop was under circumstances like these?

“I left the laptop in my office.”

Pfft!

Without warning, Liu Peiqi shot Deng Zhiping in the right thigh.

“Aaaagh!”

Deng Zhiping screamed wildly and pressed his bound hands against his wounded leg.

“Deng, I’m done tolerating your lies.”

“......”

“I’ll ask again. Where’s the laptop?”

“...In the car,” Deng Zhiping breathed in a defeated voice, realizing he wouldn’t be able to hold out for long.

Pu Zhenghua walked over to the dazed secretary and searched his pockets.

After pulling out the car keys, he unlocked the front door and rushed outside.

Liu Peiqi glanced after him, then turned back to the captive.

“I’m not going to kill you.”

The words ‘If you’re going to lie, at least keep your story straight’ nearly escaped Deng Zhiping’s lips, but he showed incredible restraint.

His fear of being killed was stronger.

“Can I trust your words, Politburo member Liu?”

“Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘Blessed is he who believes’?”

“Of course I have.”

“Then you must understand why I want your laptop.”

Instead of answering, Deng Zhiping merely nodded.

“Excellent. I’m not planning to take every last cent of the Chairman’s secret funds.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I’ll share some of the money with you.”

Deng Zhiping saw straight through Liu Peiqi’s intentions.

He was simply trying to lure him over to his side with empty promises.

But voicing that thought aloud would have been foolish.

“I’m touched by your generosity, Politburo member Liu, but I’m afraid I have to decline.”

“And why is that? Don’t you like money?”

“I do like money, but I’m not sure I could live the rest of my life constantly hiding from the Chairman.”

“I can send you to a country where the Chairman’s reach will never find you.”

“...Is that true?”

“What, have people been lying to you your whole life?”

At that moment, Pu Zhenghua returned to the room carrying the laptop.

He opened the lid, pressed the power button, and placed the device in front of Liu Peiqi.

Liu Peiqi turned the screen toward Deng Zhiping and said with a predatory grin,

“Well then, shall we help ourselves to the Chairman’s slush fund?”