33: Chapter 33 You've already dragged me into this.

Zhao Yang: Here it comes. This is likely the real reason Sun Hongwei invited him over today.

Without stopping his vegetable washing, he said to Sun Hongwei:

"Brother Sun, I've been thinking about this issue lately as well. Let's talk more once the food is on the table."

Zhao Yang's hometown was in the mountains of Yongning City. As a child of a poor family who had to step up early, laundry and cooking were a piece of cake for him.

An hour later, two braised dishes and two stir-fried dishes were served.

Looking at the dishes, which were excellent in color, aroma, and taste, Sun Hongwei praised him repeatedly.

Except for his last trip back to Ningzhou, he hadn't eaten such a sumptuous meal in nearly two months.

He quickly opened a bottle of Tongan Daqu and filled the glasses in front of them.

Zhao Yang raised his glass, clinked it with Sun Hongwei's, and smiled.

"Brother Sun, try my cooking!"

"Mmm, it's really good!" Sun Hongwei gave Zhao Yang a thumbs up.

Zhao Yang set down his glass, his expression turning solemn.

"Brother Sun, have you ever thought about how everything, from the start of the case to the forced confession and the lack of progress from the Special Investigation Team, has been strange all along?"

Sun Hongwei naturally knew this. Ever since he was subjected to a forced confession, he knew he had been deliberately framed.

He simply nodded, waiting for Zhao Yang's further explanation.

Zhao Yang continued, "It was only during my last trip to Ningzhou that I learned Uncle Sun's identity. It was also then that I heard from a classmate at Donghai Satellite TV that Uncle Sun was in the middle of a cadre observation period."

"There aren't that many coincidences in the world. With these two things happening together, it's definitely someone's intentional doing."

As soon as he said this, Sun Hongwei felt a chill down his spine, and at the same time, a surge of anger rushed to his head.

At first, both he and his father suspected that someone had targeted him to prevent Sun Zhendong's promotion.

However, they were unwilling to believe the other party would be so devoid of a moral bottom line.

Xiao Zhiyuan and Sun Zhendong were merely competing for a promotion; it hadn't reached a point of life-and-death enmity, so there was no need to go to such extremes.

Now, hearing it from Zhao Yang in the tone of an observer, Sun Hongwei was forced to reconsider.

"Are you saying... it's not just the Tongan Police manipulating this?"

After so many days, Sun Hongwei naturally knew the matter wasn't that simple.

But he could never figure out who in Tongan City would actually target him.

Zhao Yang spoke bluntly, "Yes. Behind the Tongan Police, there should be this person from Tongan City."

As he spoke, he gave a thumbs up and pointed toward the ceiling twice.

The meaning was crystal clear: the top leader of Tongan City.

If it really was him, then everything that had happened so far could be explained.

Perhaps there was some connection between Ji Hongwen and Xiao Zhiyuan that he just didn't know about.

Sun Hongwei suddenly felt a jolt in his heart, as if he had grasped a glimmer of light in the darkness.

Although the Zhao Yang before him was young, his insight into the situation was incredibly profound.

No wonder his father admired him so much and held him in such high regard.

Sun Hongwei looked searchingly into Zhao Yang's eyes. "Since you've realized this, why are you still risking everything to help me?"

Zhao Yang answered decisively, "I'll say it again: if they can frame even a division-level cadre at will, what hope is there for ordinary people?"

"This is something no upright person with a conscience would want to see."

Of course, the latter sentence was more like a facade.

What truly supported him in doing this was a deep obsession from his past life—his hatred for the masterminds behind the scenes.

Now that he had a second chance at life, he would never allow those people to remain at large.

Seeing his serious expression and sincere gaze, Sun Hongwei couldn't help but feel a sense of solemn respect.

"Zhao Yang, it's truly rare to find someone like you these days. Come, let me propose a toast to you!"

He raised his glass with both hands and clinked it against Zhao Yang's with a 'clink'.

Zhao Yang drained his glass in one gulp and took a bite of food.

Seeing that the atmosphere was right, Zhao Yang began to steer the conversation in the direction he wanted.

"Brother Sun, if Uncle Sun has connections here in Jianghan Province, you might want to approach this from a different angle. It might lead to a breakthrough."

"What angle?" Sun Hongwei's eyes lit up.

He was feeling anxious; if his issue wasn't resolved, both his and his father's political careers would come to a halt.

In another two years, once his father, Sun Zhendong, passed the age for promotion and moved to the Peoples Congress or CPPCC, the people behind the scenes would be even more unscrupulous.

The suspicion of corruption and bribery currently hanging over their heads would likely be solidified by then.

"The Commission for Discipline Inspection." Noticing the eagerness in Sun Hongwei's eyes, Zhao Yang uttered those words with conviction.

After a pause, he continued, "Given the position of that person in Tongan City, it would be best if a higher-level Commission for Discipline Inspection dispatched a special work group."

Sun Hongwei looked doubtful. "Even if the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection sends a special work group, without any clues, they still won't have a place to start."

Zhao Yang smiled slightly and shook his head.

"Don't you think Director Wang from Yanjing's handling of Wang Lei from the Criminal Investigation Detachment was somewhat inadequate?"

"This..." Sun Hongwei was left speechless by the question.

Logically, Wang Mingyuan was personally appointed by Lin Feng and was definitely someone to be trusted.

Could Wang Mingyuan also have problems?

Seeing Sun Hongwei's growing confusion, Zhao Yang pointed out the key issue.

"The problem isn't with Director Wang. He was dispatched by the Ministry, and he's too focused on evidence. If the Commission for Discipline Inspection gets involved, it won't be so easy for Wang Lei to take all the blame."

Having been in the system for many years, Sun Hongwei had some understanding of how the Commission for Discipline Inspection operated.

Compared to the public security, procuratorial, and judicial organs, the Commission for Discipline Inspection had more flexibility in its investigations.

If Wang Lei fell into the hands of the Commission for Discipline Inspection, the case would very likely be investigated much more deeply.

Zhao Yang's words were like a heavy hammer striking Sun Hongwei's chest.

When he returned to Ningzhou last time to handle his wife's funeral arrangements, he and his father discussed various ways to fight back but always felt they had no way to start.

Everything could only be replanned after the case was solved.

He never expected that Zhao Yang would suggest such a way to break the deadlock.

In his excitement, Sun Hongwei blurted out:

"That really is a way. My father's former subordinate, Gong Chengze, is now the Secretary of the Jianghan Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection."

Zhao Yang was overjoyed. As expected, a big shot like Sun Zhendong definitely had connections he hadn't anticipated.

Keeping a calm face, he took the opportunity to say:

"Brother Sun, if you trust me, find a way to get me transferred into the special work group. With my understanding of the Tongan Police, I can definitely get to the bottom of this."

With a look of gratitude, Sun Hongwei looked at Zhao Yang and slowly shook his head.

"They killed my family; this struggle is a matter of life and death."

"You've already done enough for me. If this doesn't work out, it will definitely implicate you. I can't do that!"

Zhao Yang looked at Sun Hongwei and gave a bitter smile.

"Brother Hongwei, you've already implicated me."

Calling him "Brother Hongwei" was much more intimate than "Brother Sun," and it warmed Sun Hongwei's heart. He couldn't help but ask:

"Zhao Yang, how have I implicated you?"