A Dish Best Served Cold (The Man In Rage)
Chapter 1150 The Fickle Finger of Fate

"Secretary He is a busy man holding an important office. I'm just a nobody. I don't deserve his attention at all," said Ye Fan. He Lan-Shan shook violently when he heard that. His face turned a deeper shade of pale.

Li Hong-Ze knew what Ye Fan was trying to tell him. The young man disliked He Lan-Shan and didn't trust him. "Since Mr Chu doesn't think that He Lan-Shan can carry out the task properly, why don't we let Wu Wei-Tao handle the investigation instead? This is a chance for him to atone for his mistakes. Would that please you, Mr Chu?"

"Let's not bother. I'll end up being prosecuted for some terrible crime and my whole family clan will end up being sentenced to death. Let Han Dong-Min handle the investigation. He cares deeply for the people and is a just and righteous man. He's the best man to run Jiangdong."

Ye Fan's words had another layer of meaning hidden within them.

He seemed to be advocating for Han Dong-Min to take He Lan-Shan's place in running Jiangdong and heading the Jiangdong provincial government.

"Han Dong-Min? Who might that be?"

Li Hong-Ze worked in the central government and knew little about the officials who worked in the cities.

When it came to Jiangdong, he only knew a few people working in the provincial government.

"He's the deputy mayor of Yunzhou and his authority is second only to Wu Wei Tao's," whispered one of Li Hong-Ze's men.

"Is that so? Well, summon him right away. He must be someone with extraordinary abilities to have gained Mr Chu's approval.

I can't wait to meet him," said Li Hong-Ze excitedly before he instructed someone to get Han Dong-Min.

"There's no need forthat. I'm right here."

Han Dong-Min raised his hand unsteadily

before Li Hong-Ze could issue his instructions. He had been standing there all along.

"Aha! So you're Dong-Min. A government official's greatest achievement isn't the construction of towering buildings or grand bridges and roads but the winning of their people's hearts. You appear to have won Mr Chu's favor. That alone shows that you are a great leader who is loved and respected by all. Mr Chu has made his recommendation. I shall have you assume Wu Wei-Tao's office temporarily and deal with the mess in Yunzhou."

What?

Wu Wei-Tao plunged into the depths of despair when he heard what Li Hong-Ze had said.

Li Hong-Ze had just promoted Han Dong-Min. It was obvious that Han Dong-Min was going to replace him as the head of Yunzhou.

There shall be no place for him in Yunzhou in the future.

The revelation devastated Wu Wei-Tao.

Yet there was nothing he could do about it.

He had made a huge mistake and had no idea if he was going to walk out of this alive. He had lost his fight to fight for power.

Everyone expected Han Dong-Min to thank Li Hong-Ze profusely but instead, he turned down the position that the latter had offered him.

"I would be happy to comply with your orders, but I've just been stripped of my office and deployed to the countryside by He Lan-Shan and I'll be leaving tonight. I won't be able to conduct the investigation that you demanded in the village," said Han Dong-Min as he shook his head.

Blood rained from He Lan-Shan's face when he heard that. He nearly burst into tears.

He cursed inwardly at Han Dong-Min. The man was trying to get him into trouble!

Li Hong-Ze was naturally furious when he heard what Han Dong-Min had said.

"What a fine job you're doing as provincial secretary, He Lan-Shan. You demoted a deputy mayor without a just cause or any investigation and banished him to the countryside. You abused your power and oppressed our people. I had such high hopes for you but it appears that I've misjudged your character. You're the one who should be stripped of your office and sent to the countryside."

"No, Mr Li, please let me explain. This is a misunderstanding..." He Lan-Shan said frantically.

Li Hong-Ze had lost his patience. He issued his orders without hesitation.

He Lan-Shan was stripped of his office and sent to the village. Wu Wei-Tao was stripped of his duties and placed in confinement. He would be questioned and then sentenced accordingly to the gravity of his misdeeds.

Dong-Min, you know how it is. With

greater ability, comes greater responsibility. Why don't you take over He Lan-Shan's duties too? This is going to be temporary. When I return to Yanjing, I'll discuss with the rest and reassign your duties. You wil receive our official instructions soon. It's an honor to have your abilities recognized by Mr Chu. Make sure you do a good job. Mr Chu thinks highly of you. I'm sure you're going to have a bright future ahead of you," laughed Li Hong-Ze as he patted Han Dong-Min firmly on his shoulder. His words were filled with encouragement and approval.

Everyone could tell that his regard for Han Dong-Min was all because of Ye Fan.

If Ye Fan hadn't mentioned his name, Han Dong-Min would never have the chance to speak to Li Hong-Ze or earn the latter's approval and recommendation.

Wu Wei-Tao and He Lan-Shan trembled violently and finally collapsed in a heap on the ground.

He Lan-Shan could not have foreseen that he would be ruined by a young man. His whole life and his career had been destroyed.

The hate and regret that he felt could not compare to what Wu Wei-Tao was feeling.

His former subordinate had just risen swiftly up the ranks and within a single bound, ended up in the position of provincial secretary of Jiangdong.

Waves of bitterness swelled inside Wu Wei-Tao and threatened to drown him.

Wu Wei-Tao had tried so hard to win the favor of the Lu and Xur families and had made an enemy of Ye Fan because he had been so desperate to attain the position that Han Dong-Min now held. Han Dong-Min had easily gotten what he had worked so hard and so long for.

He had acquired the position because of a few words that Ye Fan had said.

If Wu Wei-Tao had known that had been all it had taken, he would have killed himself before he turned against Ye Fan.

Regret was a bitter pill indeed.

If life was a game of chess, he had just lost the game because of a single misstep.

"The fates play us like fools. How I wished I had made a different move," lamented Wu Wei-Tao as bitter tears streamed down his cheeks.

How he wished that he had done things differently.

He had started off on a friendly relationship with Ye Fan.

He had attended Mufan Real Estate's opening ceremony and extended his well wishes to Ye Fan and Qiu Mu-Cheng. In fact, he had even written a couplet to congratulate them on their new business. He had countless opportunities to win Ye Fan's trust and approval.

But he had wasted all of them.

Han Dong-Min had been the one who

benefitted from his loss.

Having dealt with these troublesome matters, Li Hong-Ze turned towards Ye Fan again and smiled. "Mr Chu, are you willing to accept the title now?"