Chapter 103 Inside the Military Department

Inside the military department.

An Ze Cheng had just instructed the guard to set out the exquisite dishes when Tan Hengqiang strode in. "Oh, Lao An, I really didn't expect you to have an interest in cooking."

"Haha, well, people always need to have some hobbies." An Ze Cheng replied modestly, "I'm physically weak and can't manage a garden or fish pond, but no one will interfere with me doing some cooking."

Hearing this, Tan Hengqiang pointed at An Ze Cheng and replied with a smile, "You're satirizing me again."

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. Please, have a seat!" An Ze Cheng gestured, personally opened the lid of a food platter, and said to the beautifully arranged grouper inside, "Try my cooking and give me your opinion. See if I can open a high-end Chinese restaurant when I retire."

"Alright!" Tan Hengqiang nodded.

The guard beside him walked over, bent down, poured red wine for the two of them, and then left.

Tan Hengqiang lightly picked up a bit of grouper, chewed it twice, and said flatteringly, "Pretty good, very fresh!"

"Steaming fish, seemingly simple, is all about the heat. It needs to preserve the freshness of the ingredients without being bland!" An Ze Cheng raised his glass. "This is a bit like life. We Chinese emphasize the Doctrine of the Mean. We need to be prudent and cautious, not too hot and not too cold. It's difficult!"

"I think you've mastered the heat very well," Tan Hengqiang replied with a light smile. "The grouper on the table is delicious, which shows that your skills are enough to dominate the political arena."

"Haha!" An Ze Cheng laughed and waved his hand, "Commander Tan, you're speaking like an amateur!"

"How so?"

"A good dish on the table doesn't just rely on the chef's skills." An Ze Cheng replied as if chatting casually, "The selection of ingredients requires people, and the preparing chef must also understand your cooking habits. When the dish is ready, the waiter serving it must also be responsible, with a steady hand and a steady step. If the soup spills, it will ruin the taste of the dish. If the vegetables used for garnish are scattered, it will ruin the aesthetics of the dish."

Hearing this, Tan Hengqiang nodded slowly with a playful smile on his face. "There's some truth to that. I've felt this deeply recently. No matter how well I cook, it can't stand up to a bad waiter or preparing chef. Xin Chaojie's mistake directly brought the investigation team, making me passive everywhere, without any initiative."

"It's all difficult, all difficult." An Ze Cheng didn't continue the conversation but simply raised his glass and said, "The cooking discussion is over. Come, have a drink!"

"Cheers!"

The two clinked glasses and took a sip of red wine.

"Knock, knock!"

Just as they put down their glasses, there was a knock on the door from outside.

"Who is it?" An Ze Cheng asked, turning around.

The door opened, and the guard regiment commander walked in with Yu Mingyuan.

As soon as An Ze Cheng saw Yu Mingyuan, his face darkened, and he asked with a frown, "What are you doing here?"

"Uncle, my matter has been dealt with," Yu Mingyuan replied.

Tan Hengqiang turned his head to look at Yu Mingyuan and asked tentatively, "This is your wife's nephew?"

"Yes, this disappointing kid is driving me crazy. He's the waiter with the unsteady hand and floating feet. He'll kill me sooner or later." An Ze Cheng waved his hand at the guard regiment commander, who knowingly walked out.

Facing the two big shots, Yu Mingyuan dared not get too close, nor did he dare to sit down, but stood near the door and shouted, "Hello, Commander Tan!"

Tan Hengqiang nodded lightly and said nothing more.

"What's the matter?" An Ze Cheng asked while eating fish.

Yu Mingyuan paused for a moment. "Uncle, the Association has split up. All the separation procedures have been completed. From now on, I and the high-level members of the Association, led by Su Tianyu, will no longer have any working relationship."

An Ze Cheng didn't reply, and Tan Hengqiang just ate seafood, not paying attention to Yu Mingyuan.

"It's because of the military supplies business." Yu Mingyuan was sweating on his forehead as he continued, "I really don't know the situation on the border, and no one told me in advance... Now that the investigation team is here, my aunt called me the other day and scolded me... saying it would affect you, so I can only split up the family."

An Ze Cheng wiped the corner of his mouth, "Do you believe what you're saying?"

"Uncle, the border matter really has nothing to do with me! That A Shui is not my man either. They are with Su Tianyu. Everyone outside knows this," Yu Mingyuan explained urgently. "I'm really not lying...!"

"Bullshit! You're the chairman. Who would believe that you didn't participate?" An Ze Cheng said indifferently, "I don't believe it myself. Would the investigation team believe it?"

Hearing this, Tan Hengqiang looked at An Ze Cheng and asked softly, "Does the military case have anything to do with the Tongji Association?"

"There's a bit of a relationship, but not really. They were set up by someone," An Ze Cheng replied straightforwardly. "People went, and before they could even act, the guns went off!"

The investigation team was making such a big show of catching A Shui. It was impossible for Tan Hengqiang not to know that the Tongji Association was involved in this incident, so he wasn't surprised by Lao An's words. "Hehe, is it that someone did it, but you don't know?"

"Bang!"

Hearing this, An Ze Cheng suddenly slapped the table, turned his head to look at Yu Mingyuan. "I'm telling you, no one will believe your words!"

"Uncle, if this matter really had something to do with me, I wouldn't have split up with Su Tianyu!" Yu Mingyuan said anxiously, his face pale. "...The kind of impact this would have, we could have thought of it before we did it! Would we have been so passive?"

"Forget it, don't explain it to me. I'm not the investigation team." An Ze Cheng waved his hand directly and turned to look at Tan Hengqiang. "Commander Tan, the military supplies business has too much impact. Xin Chaojie can't handle it, and I might not be able to handle it either! A thug died in Dragon City, and this case inexplicably leaned towards the Tongji Association. Once the higher-ups investigate and find out that the association chairman is my wife's nephew, then tell me... wouldn't I have eight mouths and still not be able to clear my name?"

Tan Hengqiang picked up a napkin and wiped his mouth. "It's a little hard to explain once it's investigated to this level."

"That's exactly what I'm saying!" An Ze Cheng pointed at Yu Mingyuan. "Commander Tan, if you consider me, Lao An, as a friend, take this kid away with you when you go back later."

"Hehe, how do you mean?"

"Hand him over to the investigation team. They can investigate however they want. I can't handle the judging and I can't figure it out." An Ze Cheng replied directly. "If the matter is related to him, directly interrogate and directly judge. If it's not related, let the investigation team release him. This way, I can at least show my attitude to the higher-ups. At least they won't say I'm covering up, right?"

"Haha, you're really going to send him?"

"Of course I'm really going to send him!" An Ze Cheng replied, "If the soup spills while serving the food, then fire him!"

"Lao An, you're so impartial?" Tan Hengqiang asked.

"Just trying to survive!" An Ze Cheng and Tan Hengqiang looked at each other, sparks flying in their eyes.

...

Tianhong Port.

Su Tianyu sat in a chair and said to Fei Pingsheng, "Go out and avoid the limelight for a while. It's safer that way!"