Chapter 59: Drastic Measures

Zhang Jun felt a sense of anxiety unlike anything he had ever experienced before.

All the glory and so-called power he currently possessed came entirely from his boss, Ma Hongqi.

Before becoming a secretary, Zhang Jun was an absolute nobody, vulnerable to anyone's bullying.

The only reason he could now use the power in his hands to crush those who had once bullied him was because he had Ma Hongqi as his backing.

What if Ma Hongqi fell from grace, or was transferred away?

Then Zhang Jun would be instantly reduced to his original, insignificant self.

What should he do?

He was merely a low-ranking secretary, having not even managed to secure a proper deputy division-chief position.

Zhang Jun slowed down the movement of pouring tea, hoping to catch as much of the conversation as possible to judge the issue of his boss's potential departure.

Xu Peiying gave a light cough and said, "Comrade Ma Hongqi, to be perfectly honest, our trip down here is specifically to ask for your opinion. Would you like to return to Beijing to work?"

Zhang Jun's hand holding the teacup nearly trembled.

Fortunately, he was composed and steady, holding the cup firmly and placing it gently before his boss.

Ma Hongqi was not in a hurry to reply. Instead, he took out a pack of cigarettes and handed one to each person present, even offering one to Zhang Jun.

Zhang Jun put down the teacup and respectfully accepted the cigarette with both hands. With no reason left to linger, he slowly backed out of the room.

Once back at his own desk, Zhang Jun felt as though he were sitting on pins and needles!

The boss was truly going to return to Beijing to take up a post!

If Ma Hongqi returned to Beijing and asked Zhang Jun whether he wanted to follow, should he go or not?

If he didn't follow, how would he manage on his own?

Zhang Jun thought to himself that before Ma Hongqi left, the most important thing he needed to do was secure his deputy division-chief rank!

As long as he became a deputy division chief, he wouldn't be in too bad of a position no matter where he went. Even if he were demoted to some municipal bureau, he would at least be a deputy director and still wield a bit of power.

Right now, he was merely a section chief—a trivial nobody wherever he went, completely insignificant.

Should he proactively ask his boss for a promotion?

Would that be appropriate?

Just as Zhang Jun was agonizing over this dilemma, Ma Li walked in.

"Brother Ma!" Zhang Jun said with a smile. "You have time to drop by and visit today?"

Ma Li glanced toward the door of the inner office and lowered his voice. "I heard that Governor Ma is heading back to Beijing?"

Feigning ignorance, Zhang Jun replied, "Why haven't I heard about that? Where did you pick up such a piece of gossip?"

Ma Li chuckled. "People from the Organization Department of the Central Committee have already arrived; how could this be false? It's been the talk of the office for a while now. Governor Ma is no ordinary person; he has powerful backers in Beijing, and his family's influence is immense. The waters in our province run too deep. If Gao Hai hadn't taken the fall last time, the one who would have died is Governor Ma! The Ma family doesn't want him taking risks, so they want to invite him back to Beijing to assume a key position in a ministry or commission!"

Zhang Jun's right eyelid twitched violently. He was now almost certain that everything Ma Li said was the absolute truth!

Ma Li said mysteriously, "I also heard that the people trying to harm Governor Ma are not to be underestimated either!"

Zhang Jun asked in a deep voice, "Jin Dalong?"

Ma Li let out a soft, mocking scoff. "Hah! Him? Who does he think he is? He's not even qualified to be a white-glove proxy! I don't know who is specifically behind it. Secretary Zhang, Governor Ma going back to Beijing is a good thing for you too, otherwise you'd be in great danger! You've served him closely for the past half year, running errands and catering to his every need—worse off than a servant—you can't possibly end up with nothing to show for it, right? Hurry up and secure a future for yourself while he's still here!"

With that, he pointed toward the door of the inner office and slipped quietly away.

Zhang Jun felt even more restless.

Put that way, Ma Hongqi's return to Beijing was a settled matter beyond doubt?

The conversation inside lasted for more than half an hour before concluding.

Two groups of people were waiting outside.

Ma Hongqi escorted Yu Jianming, Xu Peiying, and the others out, shaking hands with each of them in turn.

Judging by the relaxed expressions on their faces, Zhang Jun could tell the talk had been very pleasant.

The people waiting outside stood up and bowed slightly.

After seeing the guests off, Ma Hongqi nodded at the two remaining people and said, "You two, come in together!"

The two men accepted with a smile and followed Ma Hongqi inside.

Throughout that day, Ma Hongqi was either receiving visitors or attending meetings.

A provincial meeting lasted all the way until the end of the workday before it was dismissed.

Zhang Jun drove Ma Hongqi back to the State Guesthouse.

Along the way, there were countless things he wanted to ask, yet he dared not voice them, fearing that inappropriate questions might arouse his boss's suspicion.

After getting out of the car, Zhang Jun carried the briefcase and escorted Ma Hongqi to the entrance of the villa.

Ma Hongqi paused and took the briefcase from his hands.

This was a clear signal that he did not intend to keep Zhang Jun around.

"Xiao Zhang, follow up on Jin Dalong's case once more! Make it swift and decisive!" Ma Hongqi suddenly instructed.

"Understood, Boss," Zhang Jun replied respectfully.

The attendant waiting inside stepped forward with a smile to help Ma Hongqi change his shoes.

Leaving the State Guesthouse, Zhang Jun headed straight to the hospital ward where Jin Dalong was being detained.

It was an isolated room located at the very end of the corridor, convenient for surveillance.

The two duty police officers guarding Jin Dalong recognized Zhang Jun and greeted him as he approached, "Secretary Zhang is here!"

Zhang Jun nodded and asked, "How is Jin Dalong doing?"

The taller policeman shook his head. "He's awake, but whenever we question him, he just complains of a headache and claims he doesn't remember anything."

Zhang Jun checked his watch and said, "Can I go in and talk to him? Just for five minutes."

The two officers exchanged glances.

With a composed expression, Zhang Jun stated, "Governor Ma sent me to question him!"

The tall officer nodded, "Very well, Secretary Zhang, please go ahead."

Saying thank you, Zhang Jun walked into the ward and closed the door behind him.

Jin Dalong lay on the hospital bed, his gunshot wound wrapped in thick gauze, with various monitoring equipment hooked up to his body, making it look much like an intensive care unit.

Zhang Jun walked over and stood right in front of Jin Dalong.

Jin Dalong kept his eyes closed and let out a grunt, "Is it time for dinner?"

With a cold sneer, Zhang Jun retorted, "You're still thinking about dinner? You can kiss the meals of this world goodbye forever!"

Jin Dalong snapped his eyes wide open, stared at the person before him, and muttered with sudden realization, "I've seen you before! Who the hell are you?"

Zhang Jun opened his briefcase and slowly pulled out a knife.

Startled, Jin Dalong asked in a panic, "What are you doing? Police! Officers!"

Yet no police officers entered the room.

Flustered, Jin Dalong tried to scramble toward the edge of the bed in desperation, but with his wounds still unhealed and tubes and monitors attached to his body, he was completely unable to move.

Zhang Jun placed the tip of the blade right against his injured area and said, "If I were to add another stab wound right here, your official cause of death will be listed as a relapse of old injuries, unresponsive to medical treatment."

"Ah!" Terrified, Jin Dalong inched away toward the side of the bed, his eyes filled with dread.

Someone who had already brushed with death was still deathly afraid of dying.

After all, even a miserable life was better than death.

A flash of murderous intent crossed Zhang Jun's eyes.

He needed to extract the identity of the mastermind behind the attempt on Ma Hongqi's life as soon as possible.

If the true culprit wasn't caught, Ma Hongqi would likely be recalled to Beijing by his family for his own protection.

Wherever Ma Hongqi went, he would remain a leader; it would merely be a change of post without major consequences.

But Zhang Jun's entire career would be completely ruined!

Therefore, he was more desperate than anyone else, which drove him to resort to such drastic measures.

Sensing the cold ruthlessness in Zhang Jun, Jin Dalong trembled with fear, his teeth chattering as he stammered, "Who on earth are you? Who sent you?"

Pressing the freezing blade tightly against the soft skin of Jin Dalong's neck, Zhang Jun spoke with a vicious tone, "If you want to live, you will answer whatever I ask. Get a single word wrong, and I'll send you straight to the netherworld right now!"