Free Web NovelChapter 183: Chapter 183: Demanding an Explanation
When Lin Shan finished speaking, everyone in the room reacted differently.
Chen Kui hadn’t expected Lin Shan to be so disrespectful. In truth, he had miscalculated. He and Lin Shan weren’t on the same level at all. If it had been Yu District Chief, Lin Shan might have shown a little deference. But who did Chen Kui think he was, trying to pressure Lin Shan? Lin Shan couldn’t care less about him.
"Heh heh. And what sort of explanation might Brother Lin want from me?"
Just then, a laugh echoed as several people walked in through the doorway.
Gu’er’s eyes narrowed. She saw the middle-aged man from last time. But the speaker wasn’t him—the voice was wrong. It sounded like the person beside him.
To the middle-aged man’s left was a man in his forties. He wasn’t bad-looking, but he had triangular eyes that were particularly unsettling to look at.
Judging by the voice, this had to be the Yu District Chief everyone was talking about. The dry chuckle had come from him.
’But he’s walking behind the other middle-aged man right now. That means the other man’s status is higher than his. Who is he?’
Lin Shan’s eyes narrowed, and a jolt went through him. It wasn’t because of Yu District Chief, but because of the middle-aged man leading the group. He recognized him. Though they had only met twice, he could never forget that face.
Seeing the men approach, Lin Shan wiped the anger from his face, composed himself, took a step forward, and called out, "Secretary Yuan."
’Secretary Yuan?’
Gu’er frowned. ’What kind of secretary is he?’
’Yuan? Is our city’s party secretary named Yuan? I have no idea.’
’But his status must be higher than Dad’s, or Dad wouldn’t seem so suppressed.’
Secretary Yuan nodded at Lin Shan. Then his gaze fell upon Gu’er. He remembered this girl. The wild boar dishes she had helped prepare for him last time had been exactly to his taste. When he had finished his meal, he’d wanted to find her to say a few words of thanks, but he learned she had already left, so he didn’t pursue it. He hadn’t expected to see her again today, and embroiled in another conflict. Last time, it was some young man trying to lowball her price, which caused a scene. This time... His eyes flicked to Xiao Li, who looked rather pathetic. ’It seems the men in her life are quite protective of her,’ he thought.
"And you are?"
Secretary Yuan asked, as he didn’t know Lin Shan’s identity.
"Secretary Yuan, this is the chief of our Yonghong District, Mr. Lin—Lin Shan," Manager Shang hurriedly introduced.
"Ah, Mr. Lin."
Secretary Yuan nodded.
Lin Shan’s expression soured. This wasn’t a city-level secretary, but a provincial one—the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee. Furthermore, he was in charge of personnel, which meant he wielded immense power.
The first time he’d laid eyes on the man was when he had just arrived in the village himself. Secretary Yuan wasn’t yet a secretary back then, but he was already an official. Lin Shan had heard that Secretary Yuan had been "sent down" to that village for a time, though he had officially left by then.
He saw him again last year while attending a study session in the provincial capital. By then, Secretary Yuan had just been appointed Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and was constantly surrounded by people. A man of Lin Shan’s standing didn’t even have the right to approach and offer his congratulations.
As a person, Yuan Weiping had a very good reputation. Having spent time in the village himself, he was known for looking out for officials who didn’t come from influential backgrounds.
During his time in the village, Secretary Yuan had been on good terms with the You family. And since Yu District Chief was also named You and came from that same village, Lin Shan now understood. ’Secretary Yuan is his backer.’
’A mere district chief like me is nothing compared to a deputy provincial secretary. There’s no comparison. On top of that, I made the mistake of hitting someone today. And Secretary Yuan is in charge of personnel... If he pulls a few strings, my career as a district chief is over.’
A chill entered Lin Shan’s eyes. But then he straightened his spine. Even if it meant losing his position, he would not let anyone bully his daughter. He, Lin Shan, would not throw away his principles.
"Lin Shan... Mr. Lin, you’ve got some nerve," Yu District Chief began before Lin Shan could speak, his expression stern as if he were reprimanding a subordinate. "You hit someone, and now you’re demanding an apology? Where did you learn such rules? Is this how our Mr. Lin normally conducts his business?"
Lin Shan’s expression turned icy. ’Never mind that this man, You, is my peer. I wouldn’t be afraid of him even if he became the party secretary in my own district. He wants to reprimand me? He should take a good look at himself and see if he, You Erbaihua, has what it takes!’ frёeωebɳovel.com
"Whatever nerve my dad has, it can’t be bigger than yours, can it? You walk in and immediately start slapping labels on people. Is that how you normally handle your affairs?"
Gu’er couldn’t stand by and watch. She stepped forward. Her father was trying to protect her, but he was outnumbered and isolated. There were things he, as an official, couldn’t say. But she could. The rules of discipline didn’t apply to her.
Yu District Chief frowned. ’A mere girl dares to question me?’
"Gu’er."
Lin Shan called out, not wanting his daughter to get involved and suffer for it.
"Dad, I’m one of the people involved. I can’t run from this. Since they want an explanation, let’s talk it out."
Without another word, Gu’er stood beside Lin Shan.
Lin Shan glanced at Gu’er, his eyes filled with love.
"My father and I came here to have dinner today. We are guests. We walked in, and he," Gu’er said, pointing a finger at Xiao Li, "as an employee of this hotel, came right over and started insulting me. That is a personal attack. My father is a father. When someone curses his daughter, is he supposed to do nothing? Yes, he’s a district chief. He holds a public office and must abide by certain disciplines. But he’s not on the clock right now. In here, he is just a father protecting his daughter. What is wrong with that? If we hadn’t acted first and restrained him, *we* would be the ones getting beaten right now! We came here as paying customers, only to be verbally abused. Then they threatened us, saying they’d ’take care of us,’ that we wouldn’t walk out of this hotel alive. So I’m the one who should be asking: is there any justice left in this world? Is this how this hotel treats its guests? Is this how you, Yu District Chief, manage your people? We can’t even have a meal without our safety being threatened, and you’re demanding an explanation and justice from *us*?"
A fierce aura emanated from Gu’er as she challenged the room. The faces of those she called out darkened. Her words might have been a bit much, but she wasn’t wrong. As customers, they had been insulted by the staff; they had every right to be angry and to fight back. There were only two of them. If they hadn’t struck first to seize the initiative, they might very well have been the ones getting beaten. They had initiated the physical conflict, but Gu’er had a point: a father who simply stands by and watches his daughter be insulted is no father at all. And Xiao Li’s group had, in fact, made threats. The way Gu’er framed it, both the hotel and Xiao Li’s posse were undeniably in the wrong.
Secretary Yuan glanced at Gu’er. ’The young man with her last time was quite the talker,’ he mused. ’I didn’t expect her to be so articulate herself. The way she lays it out, they’re clearly in the right.’
Secretary Yuan smiled faintly but didn’t intervene. He wanted to see how the others would handle this. He now felt a flicker of interest in Gu’er’s father, Lin Shan. He wanted to see if the man would bow his head.
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Thank you to Lan Niao Fei for the monthly ticket. The third update will be tonight.
