A Nominal Post

"Official title..." Fang Jibai froze for an instant, then caught on immediately. "Oh, oh, oh!" "Dai... Dai..." Looking at Dai Peilin, he lowered his voice and ventured tentatively, "Boss Dai?" Dai Peilin had reopened the black leather notebook and was reading it intently. Hearing this, he raised his head, deadpan and stern. "What is it?" "Boss," Fang Jibai cleared his throat and said clearly, "from this file, it seems Zeng Qing can be cleared of suspicion, but..." "But what?" "According to what the dossier recorded, Zeng Qing was approached by police officers who arrived after the gunshot, and under Secretary Dongfang's orders, he negotiated with them, which prevented him from providing close protection to Secretary Dongfang in time," Fang Jibai said. "Furthermore, Zeng Qing's account and Secretary Dongfang's corroborate each other." "Continue." Dai Peilin gave Fang Jibai a searching look. The boy had talked so much; there was almost certainly a turn coming, likely beginning with "however." "Their corroborating testimonies only prove the fact that police indeed arrived and Zeng Qing followed orders to negotiate with them," Fang Jibai said. "However, there is no evidence to rule out that this was an act staged by Zeng Qing and the police." "You suspect that policeman was also an enemy impostor?" Dai Peilin's brow furrowed. "You even suspect Zeng Qing and the other party orchestrated all of this together." "Yes. It cannot be ruled out that this was prearranged, one link connecting seamlessly to the next," Fang Jibai said, nodding. "Meanwhile, Secretary Dongfang, completely unwitting, ended up serving as Zeng Qing's witness to clear his suspicion." Zeng Bainian fixed his eyes on Fang Jibai. Dai Peilin glanced at Zeng Bainian, nodded, and said to Fang Jibai, "Zeng Jing, the man I trust most." "So it is Brother Bainian," Fang Jibai said politely. His first impression of this stoic, expressionless Zeng Jing was rather favorable. "Little Brother Fang," Zeng Bainian spoke up, "one point still requires a reasonable explanation." "Brother Zeng wishes to ask: assuming Zeng Qing is compromised, why didn't he make a move on the boat?" Fang Jibai said. Zeng Jing nodded silently. "It cannot be explained." Fang Jibai shook his head, his expression earnest. "I don't know Zeng Qing, and my understanding of his relationship with Secretary Dongfang is limited to the superficial impressions from merely meeting twice." He said to Zeng Jing, "Of course, precisely because it cannot be explained, Zeng Qing should merely be listed as a subject of investigation, rather than being definitively branded as guilty." "Naturally, there is a most direct method to determine whether Zeng Qing can clear his suspicion," Fang Jibai added. He looked toward Dai Peilin. "Stop keeping us in suspense." Dai Peilin glared at Fang Jibai. "You certainly are sharp." "Find the police officer who made contact with Zeng Qing back then. If that man is compromised, the suspicion on Zeng Qing only deepens. If the officer is clean, Zeng Qing is naturally cleared of suspicion," Fang Jibai said. Zeng Jing looked toward Dai Peilin. Dai Peilin nodded. Only then did Zeng Jing open the door and step outside. In less than half a minute, a young man entered to take over Zeng Jing's guard duties. "You guessed correctly. Zeng Jing is Zeng Qing's elder brother," Dai Peilin said. "Earlier, I expressed suspicion toward Zeng Qing time and again. As an elder brother, he would naturally feel anger and defend his younger brother," Fang Jibai said. "However, Zeng Jing is a reasonable man. With his own brother involved, managing such composure is truly commendable." Hearing Fang Jibai's objective evaluation of Zeng Jing, Dai Peilin gave a slight nod. He said to Fang Jibai, "Take a walk with me." "Yes, Brother Dai." Dai Peilin looked at Fang Jibai. "Is Qiming taking a walk with Brother Dai now, or accompanying Boss Dai on an inspection?" Fang Jibai asked, deliberately feigning a look of dilemma. Dai Peilin pointed a finger at Fang Jibai, chuckling without saying a word. Fang Jibai walked beside Dai Peilin, clad in his military uniform, standing straight as a pine, remarkably dashing and heroic. Reaching the corridor, they could see Zeng Jing in the courtyard leading two men into a car and speeding away. Fang Jibai sighed inwardly. He had a favorable impression of Zeng Jing, whose attitude toward him had been decent enough. Moreover, though he had pointed out Zeng Qing's suspicious aspects earlier, he had also shown Zeng Jing a direction to clear his brother's name, which could be considered forging a good bond. However, after today, it was likely that this man would find it difficult to retain Dai Peilin's trust. This had nothing to do with whether Zeng Qing cleared his name or not. *** Dai Peilin and Fang Jibai walked side by side. More precisely, Fang Jibai trailed half a pace behind Dai Peilin. "For now, we'll put your name on the roster. I'll arrange for someone to issue your credentials shortly," Dai Peilin said. "Yes, Brother Dai." One spoke, and the other listened. "Other than that, whether it's your work or your studies, everything proceeds as normal," Dai Peilin said in a deep voice. "If anything comes up, you can reach me through Zeng Jing." He turned to look at Fang Jibai. "A younger brother of Dai Yunong must not bully others relying on power, but neither shall he suffer mistreatment or swallow insults." "Brother Dai." Emotion welled in Fang Jibai's eyes. Dai Peilin meant for him merely to hold a nominal post in the Secret Service without affecting his current work and studies—holding the post for self-defense, and in critical moments, even allowing him to borrow Dai Peilin's authority as a protective mantle. His protective care was plain to see. "Work diligently, study hard, remain loyal to the Party-State, and strive to become a pillar of the nation!" Dai Peilin looked at Fang Jibai, his deep gaze brimming with expectation. "Become someone useful to the family, country, and nation, just like your two elder brothers." "Qiming will remember." Fang Jibai's expression was utterly earnest as he said, "I will surely bear Brother Dai's instructions in mind, heed Brother Dai's words, never fail Brother Dai's expectations, remain loyal to the Party-State, and become a person useful to the country and nation." "Loyalty to the Party-State, loyalty to the Leader," Dai Peilin said deeply. "Yes." Fang Jibai saluted Dai Peilin. "Heed Brother Dai's words, loyal to the Party-State, loyal to the Leader." Dai Peilin patted Fang Jibai on the shoulder, gratification in his eyes. "Go on. Once the credentials are ready, I'll arrange a car to take you back to Huangpu Road." "Yes, Brother Dai," Fang Jibai said. He saluted Dai Peilin, walked a couple of steps, then turned back and asked sheepishly, "Brother Dai, what about my luggage?" "Could someone possibly steal it here at my Secret Service?" Dai Peilin said exasperatedly. "I'll have someone put it in the trunk of the car shortly." "Understood!" Fang Jibai saluted Dai Peilin. "Goodbye, Chief Dai!" Dai Peilin watched Fang Jibai leave with his subordinate. His face returned to its deadpan stoicism, his gaze cooling significantly. "It's plain to see that you hold this Fang Qiming in high regard, Brother Yunong," Qi Shanyu said softly as he stepped out from the corridor and came up beside Dai Peilin. "Fang Jibai's second elder brother, Fang Jiyan." Dai Peilin tilted his head slightly and said to Qi Shanyu, "Yiyan, you should have heard of him." Surprise crossed Qi Shanyu's face. After pondering for a moment, he frowned and said, "I truly have no recollection." "Fang Jiyan, courtesy name Huaicheng, was from my class," Dai Peilin said. "He was a favored officer of Senior Haiou."