Usually all that integrity and incorruptibility Lin Guowen showed was just for appearances; in reality, who knows how much money he’s skimmed off.

By the time the Lin Family found out about this, the Wang Family had already reported it to the disciplinary committee. Lin Guowen was immediately taken into custody. And my dad’s side was also put under investigation by the military.

But this didn’t throw the Lin Family into disarray. After Grandpa Lin learned about Wang Qianjin’s situation from Liang Hongmei, he went straight to the higher‑ups and explained everything.

This Zhang Dandan has already cut ties with the family now. The eldest branch and their family never got along in the first place, and a few years ago they even fell out badly and hadn’t been in contact for years. Right before the New Year she did come looking for them, but the eldest brother threw her out.

That man of Zhang Dandan’s isn’t even her husband, none of them know him. Maybe because they drove her away and made her lose face, he deliberately used their name to do these conscienceless things. Strictly speaking, they’re also a deceived party.

What they said was in fact true, but during the investigation, somehow that Wang Qianjin suddenly changed his story, saying it was the Lin Family’s eldest who told him to open this timber factory, that the eldest introduced clients to him, and that for the money, he took thirty percent and the Lin Family seventy. He said he was helpless too, doing something illegal but getting the smallest cut.

With him saying that, the two sons of the Lin Family who could have gotten out originally were now in real trouble. There was no way to explain this clearly anymore.

When Liang Hongmei found out, she forced herself to hold back her temper, but insisted on going over to Zhang Dandan’s place to beat him up.

In the end she was stopped by Lin Wan and Mu Qing.

"Mom, this probably has something to do with the Wang Family. This past year or so we’ve taken down so many of their people, and he knows perfectly well who was behind it. Everyone knows without saying. We miscalculated this time, didn’t expect the Wang Family to keep such a close eye on things." Lin Yinghui had already discussed this with Grandpa—this Wang Qianjin must have secretly met with the Wang Family, and they definitely gave him a lot of benefits for him to talk like this.

"Then what are we going to do? I’m not even familiar with him. He’s slandering us like this, your dad and your second uncle are still being detained and investigated." Liang Hongmei couldn’t calm down at all, she was anxious to death.

"It’s necessary to go see Zhang Dandan, but you can’t be the one to go. How about this: Saozi and I will go together. I have a way to make Zhang Dandan leave him. With what Zhang Dandan can say, Grandpa can weigh the situation again. Dad and Second Uncle are completely in the clear. Besides, Second Uncle hasn’t done anything in violation of discipline all these years, and Dad is the same. If they really had, they wouldn’t have failed to catch anything on Dad and Second Uncle for so long." Lin Wan’s analysis was on point. That was also why the Lin Family and the Wang Family had been deadlocked for so long: one after another, the Wang Family people went down easily, while not a single person from the Lin Family had been touched.

Seeing her daughter say this, Liang Hongmei hurriedly urged the two of them to go.

Lin Wan knew where Zhang Dandan lived, but they weren’t sure whether the Wang Family had already contacted Zhang Dandan.

If they had, then things would really be hard to say.

"Xiao Wan, when we get there, how are we supposed to talk to her?" In the car, Mu Qing asked.

"Now that Zhang Dandan is with Wang Qianjin, her life definitely isn’t going well. When we saw them in Shanghai that day, I noticed that Wang Qianjin had a pretty bad attitude toward Zhang Dandan, and Zhang Dandan was all meek and submissive with him. It should be very different from when the two of them were living apart from everyone before. Besides, it’s not like this Wang Qianjin ever thought it through: even if the Wang Family gives him benefits now and can guarantee he gets out, he never thought that once he’s out, we can just as easily put him back in."

"Yeah, but can Zhang Dandan actually persuade Wang Qianjin?"

"Right now no one is allowed to see Wang Qianjin. There’s no way Zhang Dandan can persuade him. But I can make the two of them bite each other instead." Lin Wan chuckled.

Mu Qing seemed to understand something. "You know Zhang Dandan pretty well. What do you think would attract her?"

"Saozi, same method as last time." Lin Wan said, pointing to the back seat. "See that? This time it’s two hundred thousand. Enough for Zhang Dandan to buy an apartment in a city and live a decent life. I’m guessing she’s never seen that much money while tagging along after Wang Qianjin. This money will definitely hook her. Tell me, is she going to be happier spending this money on her own, or being all meek and obedient trailing after someone like Wang Qianjin?"

"I got my money back last time. Your money this time—can you get it back?"

"Saozi, sometimes you can’t be stingy about this little bit of money. What you swallow here, you’ll cough back up somewhere else. Just wait and see." Lin Wan was full of confidence. She knew Zhang Dandan too well. At a time like this, Zhang Dandan probably didn’t even know that Wang Qianjin had implicated people from the Lin Family inside.

After the things Zhang Dandan did those years, she herself felt too ashamed to ever face them again, let alone now.

When the two of them arrived at the place Zhang Dandan had rented, they hadn’t expected the couple to have rented a little villa. The rent alone must be no small amount.

When they knocked on the door, they happened to see Zhang Dandan pulling a suitcase out, clearly about to go on a long trip. Lin Wan thought to herself that their timing really was perfect.

She exchanged a look with Saozi; they understood each other without speaking.

"Cousin, Cousin‑in‑law, you... how come you’re here at this time?" Zhang Dandan was obviously surprised.

"Why, isn’t this the perfect time to come?" Lin Wan smiled, glanced at the suitcase behind her, and said, "Aren’t you going to invite us in?"

Zhang Dandan came back to her senses, let out an "oh," and hurriedly opened the door for the two of them.

"Cousin, Cousin‑in‑law, what brings you here today? Is something going on?"

Leading them inside, Zhang Dandan asked as she walked.

"Dan Dan, let’s not beat around the bush. You should already know in your heart why we’ve come."

"Cousin, I really can’t get involved in this. It was all Wang Qianjin acting on his own, I don’t know anything."