On weekday mornings, students with backpacks and office workers carrying briefcases hurried along the streets. Most people out and about seemed to be in a rush.
Of course, since this was near a hospital, most of the people carrying insulated lunch boxes were family members bringing food to patients.
"What that mayor is thinking? How would I know?"
Lu Bai picked up a soup dumpling with his chopsticks and popped it into his mouth, savoring the broth as it burst across his palate.
Xu Qiang glanced at the crowds coming and going along the sidewalk, then lowered his voice. "You need to be careful lately. I think this is aimed at you."
"Could they be ordering low-ranking officers to frame me?"
Lu Bai didn't feel particularly threatened. He cheerfully lifted his bowl and gulped down the rest of his congee.
Setting down the empty bowl, he said with a grin, "Enough about me. Weren't you planning to hold a press conference first thing this morning?"
They'd only decided at the last minute yesterday to hold the press conference early, and then Lu Bai had called him in the middle of the night to clean up the mess. It all seemed a little rushed, didn't it?
"I've already spoken with the media. There's nothing else to prepare."
Xu Qiang checked the time and continued, "Anyway, until we expose the mayor's identity, you'd better watch what you say and do. You've seen the online public opinion.
I'm already under a lot of pressure for not suspending you. Don't go causing any more trouble."
In the end, he didn't take a bite of the youtiao in his hand. He stood up and added, "All right, I'll leave it there. Keep an eye on things at the hospital, and let me know immediately if