Guide to Rising to Power as a Wife in Beijing's Elite Circle

Fang Jingxiu closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, the suppressed undercurrent in his eyes had been completely frozen, leaving only a calm, bottomless pool of cold water.

He walked back to his desk and picked up the red landline phone.

The first call was to Wang Hongwen, the Party Secretary of Yongzhou City.

The phone rang five times before it was answered.

The background noise on the other end was a bit loud, like it was coming from a conference room.

"Director Fang?" Wang Hongwen's voice carried just the right amount of enthusiasm. "It's rare for you to call me. What instructions do you have?"

Fang Jingxiu did not respond to the small talk.

He spoke, his voice steady, but each word sounded as if it had been carved from ice: "Secretary Wang, my men almost died in Yongzhou."

There was an instant silence on the other end of the phone.

Even the background noise disappeared, which must have been Wang Hongwen signaling the others to be quiet.

"Director Fang... what did you say?" Wang Hongwen's voice changed.

"At 10:47 this morning, in a village in the south of Yongzhou City," Fang Jingxiu said slowly, but every detail was clear. "My girlfriend, Chen Nuo, was attacked by three knife-wielding thugs while visiting victims of forced evictions. Her carotid artery was slashed, and she is in hemorrhagic shock. She is currently in the operating room of Yongzhou First People's Hospital, undergoing emergency treatment."

He paused, then added, "The people who did it were hired by Zhao Zhiqiang of Yongzhou Investment and Development Group."

I heard the sound of a chair being pushed away suddenly on the other end of the phone.

"This...how is this possible?!" Wang Hongwen's voice was filled with shock, a mixture of genuine and feigned shock. "Has Zhao Zhiqiang gone mad?!"

"He's not crazy," Fang Jingxiu said. "He's just doing what he thinks is safe, cleaning up trouble on his turf."

These words were so blunt that Wang Hongwen was speechless for a moment.

"Secretary Wang," Fang Jingxiu continued, his tone still calm, but that calmness was more chilling than a roar, "I would like to ask you a question."

"...You say."

"Has the security situation in Yongzhou deteriorated to the point where someone can commit murder with a knife in broad daylight in a resident's home?"

"this……"

"If so," Fang Jingxiu didn't give him a chance to answer, "then I suggest you submit a report to the Provincial Party Committee and the Central Committee, requesting a special rectification campaign. If not..."

He paused, his voice growing colder: "That means this isn't a security issue, it's a political one. Someone has built their own little kingdom in Yongzhou, and is running rampant."

Wang Hongwen fell completely silent.

long silence.

Then, his voice hoarse, he said, "Director Fang, this matter... I will definitely investigate it thoroughly and give you an explanation."

"An explanation?" Fang Jingxiu laughed, a soft laugh that was chillingly cold. "Secretary Wang, what I want is not an explanation. What I want is for everyone involved in this, from the henchmen who carried out the act to the mastermind behind it all, not one of them can be missing."

"this……"

"Furthermore," Fang Jingxiu interrupted him, "from now on, my people will be involved in the investigation. Representatives from the Jiangnan Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, the Jiangnan Provincial Public Security Department, and the Jiangnan Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission will all be there. I hope the Yongzhou Municipal Party Committee and Government will actively cooperate."

These words carry immense weight.

My people's involvement means that Fang Jingxiu will use his connections at the provincial level to put direct pressure on Yongzhou.

Active cooperation is an order, not a request.

Wang Hongwen remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "...Okay. We will definitely cooperate."

After hanging up the phone, Fang Jingxiu didn't stop.

The second call was to Zhao Jianguo, the deputy secretary of the Jingjing Discipline Inspection Commission, who was an old subordinate of his father.

The call was answered very quickly this time.

"Jingxiu?" Zhao Jianguo's voice was steady. "What is it?"

"Uncle Zhao," Fang Jingxiu changed his form of address, but his tone remained serious, "there's been a heinous crime in Yongzhou. My girlfriend was almost killed."

He briefly explained the situation.

After listening, Zhao Jianguo remained silent for a few seconds, then asked, "What do you want me to do?"

"Investigate Zhao Zhiqiang," Fang Jingxiu said directly. "Investigate all his bank statements, all his properties, and all his connections. Especially... investigate the people above him."

"The people above?" Zhao Jianguo keenly grasped the key point. "You suspect...?"

"I suspect this isn't a simple business dispute," Fang Jingxiu said. "It's a systemic, protected criminal organization. Zhao Zhiqiang, a state-owned enterprise executive, dared to commit such a heinous act of wiping out an entire family; there must be someone behind him."

Zhao Jianguo pondered, "Jingxiu, this matter... will cause quite a stir."

"I know," Fang Jingxiu said, "but Uncle Zhao, if even my girlfriend can have her throat slit in broad daylight, what about ordinary people? Do they even have a chance to survive?"

This was a very skillful way of speaking, elevating personal grievances to the level of people's livelihood.

Zhao Jianguo sighed: "I understand. I will send a working group down."

"Thank you, Uncle Zhao."

The third call was to the Executive Deputy Director of the Public Security Bureau of Jiangnan Province.

The fourth call was to the Secretary-General of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the Jiangnan Provincial Committee.

In every phone call, Fang Jingxiu's tone was almost the same: calm and restrained, but every word carried an undeniable power.

He didn't roar, he didn't threaten, he didn't even raise his voice.

But it is precisely this calm anger that is more terrifying than any hysteria.

Because he wasn't venting his emotions; he was making plans.

Deploy a network, a massive network that can shake the entire Yongzhou.

After making the fifth call, Fang Jingxiu put down the landline and looked out the window again.

The sun was still shining brightly.

But he knew that dark clouds were gathering over Yongzhou.

Secretary Qin knocked and entered, his face grave: "Boss, the plane tickets are booked. We'll fly to Yongzhou at 7 PM and arrive at 9 PM."

"Okay." Fang Jingxiu nodded.

"Also..." Secretary Qin hesitated for a moment, "Uncle Zhenguo just called to ask if you're coming home for dinner tonight. I told him you have to go on a business trip."

"Hmm," Fang Jingxiu responded without saying anything more.

Secretary Qin looked at him, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

"Is there anything else?" Fang Jingxiu looked up.

"Sir," Secretary Qin lowered his voice, "won't this... cause too much of a stir? What about Yongzhou..."

"Is this too much of a commotion?" Fang Jingxiu interrupted him, his eyes cold. "Secretary Qin, I ask you, if it weren't Chen Nuo whose throat was slit today, but any ordinary citizen of Yongzhou, how would this matter be handled?"

Secretary Qin was taken aback.

"It will be suppressed." Fang Jingxiu answered himself, "It will become a public security case, it will be handled according to the law, and then... it will be forgotten. Because ordinary people don't have a boyfriend like me, they don't have the resources to get the Jiangnan Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection moving with just one phone call."

He stood up, walked to the window, and said with his back to Secretary Qin, "I'm doing this not just for Chen Nuo. I want those people in Yongzhou to know that there is still a law in this country."

Secretary Qin solemnly replied, "I understand."

"Go and prepare," Fang Jingxiu said. "We're going to Yongzhou tonight."

"Yes."

Secretary Qin left the office.

Fang Jingxiu picked up his phone again and opened WeChat.

The pinned chat box was from Chen Nuo, and the last message she sent that morning was: "Brother Xiu, I've arrived at the urban village. I should be able to get more information today."

He stared at that message for a long time.

wait for me!

No matter where she is, no matter how badly she is hurt, he will go to her.

Go pick her up and take her home.

Go and seek justice for her.