Urban Crisis [Complete] - 6

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

Chen

Hu was eating his boxed lunch and watching TV in his office; watching the midday news was his habit.

"Now broadcasting the news. The large state-owned enterprise, the Municipal Steel Company, has taken another new step after achieving great
success . It recently successfully acquired the Montreux Steel Plant in France, becoming the first
company in our city to merge with a foreign company, making a new exploration for aligning with international standards and developing an export-oriented economy. To
summarize the experience, the Municipal Steel Company invited some economic experts and scholars to a seminar. Sun Qi,
the deputy general manager introduced the acquisition at the seminar. Jiao Pengyuan, the municipal party secretary, and Lin Xianhan, the mayor, attended
the seminar. Jiao Pengyuan said that the Municipal Steel Company's courage to acquire a company abroad is a source of pride for the country."

Chen Hu stared intently at the TV screen, searching for familiar faces. When the camera panned across the speaker's face,
he pointed to a woman sitting next to the speaker and said to Jiao Xiaoyu, "It's Qiu Siyu again. This Sun Qi is
your dance partner."

Jiao Xiaoyu stared at the screen and said, "This Qiu Siyu, I touched her, she's the owner of the Hong Kong-held Crescent Hotel.
The hotel isn't big, a three-star."

"Xiaoyu, don't you think it's a bit much for a restaurant owner to attend an economic seminar?"

Jiao Xiaoyu snatched a cigarette from Chen Hu's hand as he was about to light it.

"Cigarette confiscated. I think this woman is trying to use the opportunity of attending a seminar with famous economists to enhance her own
status and influence."

"Now broadcasting international news: Former South Korean Presidents Park Chung-hee and Roh Tae-woo have been summoned to court on suspicion of bribery."

"Give me back my cigarette! You're like Lin Zexu now!"

"Pretty much. From a health perspective, cigarettes are also a kind of drug."

Chen Hu turned off the TV with the remote and said helplessly, "Okay, I surrender for five minutes."

"That won't do. It's an indefinite ceasefire."

"I'm going home after work; what can you do about it?"

"I'm going to search your house!"

The two fell silent like radios without power. In those awkward few minutes,
each sensed a subtle shift in the other's emotions; their secrets had been exposed, making them
both uncomfortable.

Chen Hu broke the silence first, coughing, "Okay, we're busy with work."

Jiao Xiaoyu, however, wouldn't let him off the hook, determined to follow the trail of his thoughts. "Chen Hu, I always thought you were a
hero, maybe it was just the scar on your face that gave me that illusion. Actually, you're an escapist." Chen

Hu smiled, puzzled. "Me? An escapist? What do I have to escape from?"

Jiao Xiaoyu's voice held regret and sadness. "You escape into being yourself, escaping freedom. I can
feel you like me, but you don't dare admit it, you even run away."

Chen Hu blushed, picking up the thermos. "I'm naturally timid, don't scare me. Sniff, I'll go get some water."

Only Jiao Xiaoyu remained in the room, covering her feverish face with her hands, muttering to herself, "Oh, what did I say?"

The telephone on the desk rang, and Jiao Xiaoyu picked it up.

"Hello, who is it?"

"Is Director Chen there?"

"Who are you?"

"I'm Qiu Siyu, a friend of Director Chen. Is he here?"

"He's not here right now. Call back in three minutes."

Just as he hung up, Chen Hu came in carrying a thermos.

"Your girlfriend called."

"My girlfriend?"

"She said she's your friend. She'll call back soon, don't worry. Should I leave?"

"What are you kidding? Who is it?"

"It's the person you want to see, Miss Qiu Siyu."

"Her? I haven't even looked for her, and she's already showing up." Chen Hu put the thermos on the table. "Perhaps this is
an opportunity."

An opportunity?

The phone rang. Chen Hu reached for it, hesitated, and switched to speakerphone.

"Hello, who is this?"

"Director Chen?"

"This is Chen Hu. Who is this?"

"This is Siyu. I'd like to invite you to dinner tonight. Would you do me the honor? "

"What time?"

"Seven o'clock, is that alright?"

Chen Hu looked at Jiao Xiaoyu for her opinion, and she nodded silently.

"Okay. Where?"

"At my Crescent Moon Hotel. I'll be waiting for you! Bye-bye."

"Bye-bye."

Chen Hu hung up the phone. Jiao Xiaoyu teased, "You never use speakerphone when you answer the phone, what was wrong just now?"

"We could both hear you clearly."

Jiao Xiaoyu smiled gently, "No other intentions? You wanted to give me a sense of security, pretending to be as transparent as
glass ."

"You, you have no flaws, except you're too smart. You
can see right through people's thoughts. Xiaoyu, being with a woman who's too smart is tiring for a man, because his thoughts can't be hidden."

"Okay, then I'll be a silly girl."

Chen Hu waved his hand.

"Being silly won't work, we still need you to solve the case." "Being

smart won't work either, pretending won't work, what am I supposed to do?"

Chen Hu lit a cigarette, and Jiao Xiaoyu couldn't bear to take away his rights any further.

"Let's get serious. What's Qiu Siyu's purpose in inviting me? We can't fight an unprepared battle."

"A honey trap, of course."

“I’m talking to you about work, be serious.”

Jiao Xiaoyu’s smile faded. “Who isn’t serious? I think it’s a honey trap. Corruption only manifests in two
forms : money-for-power transactions and sex-for-power transactions. Sometimes it’s both. Qiu Siyu is going after our anti-corruption
chief!”

Chen Hu touched his scar.

“I’m really lucky, someone’s using a honey trap on me! Why don’t we go together?”

“She didn’t invite me, why should I be a third wheel? You go, you can find out what she’s up to.
I can’t guarantee you’ll have the willpower, she’s a Hong Kong star after all!”

Chen Hu checked his watch. “I’m going out for a bit.”

Jiao Xiaoyu chuckled. “It’s still early until 7 p.m., why don’t you use a stick to knock the sun
down?”

"I have some other things to take care of. I'm leaving now. Goodbye."

This

was in the green space of the military region's guesthouse courtyard. A table, a few chairs, Fang Hao, two
cadres in prosecutor's uniforms, and two cadres in ordinary clothes were talking to Chen Hu.

Director Shen Feng of the Supreme People's Procuratorate introduced Chen Hu to Director Ding of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, saying, "Director Ding, Comrade Chen Hu was my..."
" Your old superior is the class monitor now,"

Chen Hu said half-jokingly. "Now you're my superior."

Director Ding didn't look particularly distinguishable, but Chen Hu knew he was famous for his decisiveness.
Director Ding , speaking in a Shandong accent, said, "Comrade Chen Hu, you're quite well-known in the Supreme People's Procuratorate!"

Wang He from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said seriously, "Comrade Chen Hu, before He Qizhang died, our CCDI spoke with him
once , asking him to explain the issues. At the time, he denied everything. The CCDI has read your municipal party committee's
conclusion report on He Qizhang's death, and we believe there are still many doubts that haven't been clarified. We
've read Regarding the disappearance of He Qizhang's black notebook, both the Supreme People's Procuratorate and the CCDI take it very seriously, so I came here specifically."

Director Ding emphasized, "We didn't notify the municipal party committee this time, so you don't need to tell anyone.
We've carefully studied the investigation materials you reported on He Qizhang's death, and there are indeed many doubts."
"The evidence is conclusive that Li Haoyi, director of the Municipal Government
clarified where the 20 million yuan he misappropriated came from or who approved it. Because Li Haoyi's case
involves high-ranking officials in the Municipal Party Committee, and He Qizhang was promoted by Comrade Jiao Pengyuan, your investigation will be
very difficult!"

Another official from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection added, "After the Central Organization Department examined He Qizhang, it rejected
Jiao Pengyuan's recommendation, believing that He Qizhang was not suitable to serve as vice mayor. But Jiao Pengyuan insisted. Considering
these special factors, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Supreme People's Procuratorate decided to begin investigating He Qizhang,
simultaneously ." Fang Hao, looking unwell, spoke with difficulty: "

Chen Hu, do you understand? The Central Committee's
determination is unwavering, and no one can stop it. Comrade Hao Xiangshou's temporary appointment to the Anti-Corruption Bureau to oversee
the investigation of He Qizhang was made without consulting the other Standing Committee members; it was Secretary Jiao's decision alone. This means the situation is becoming increasingly
complicated."

Chen Hu voiced his concerns: "I have to report all my investigation progress to Director Hao. Even Director Zhou
seems to be listening to him. What will we do then?"

Fang Hao smiled slightly, "We've discussed this issue. You continue to report to Director Hao, but
also to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Supreme People's Procuratorate."

Director Ding interjected: "Secretary Fang is right. Comrade Jiao Pengyuan is the Municipal Party Secretary and a member of the Central Committee; we must respect his
instructions . But you must understand that the whole country must remain aligned with the Central Committee; absolutely no..." "Any region is allowed
to act independently behind the central government's back for any reason. How do you handle things normally? You're a veteran prosecutor; you should be able to
manage ."

Wang He cracked his neck; he suffered from cervical spondylosis. "Comrade Chen Hu, you need to be more shrewd, firm yet flexible,
don't rely on your authority. Comrade Fang Hao is a member of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection; he'll give you specific instructions."

Seeing Chen Hu's hesitant speech, Fang Hao said, "Chen Hu, this grove is very safe
. Feel free to speak your mind."

Chen Hu thought for a moment and said, "There's something I might not say."

Fang Hao smiled and said, "You're unsure about Director Zhou, aren't you?"

Chen Hu said in surprise, "How did you come to that conclusion? He's very difficult to understand."

Fang Hao felt it wasn't time to reveal his hand to Chen Hu, and said tactfully, "We are all undergoing
the test of social change, including you, me, and Comrade Zhou Senlin."

“There’s a Hong Kong woman named Qiu Siyu. She’s very familiar with many leaders and cadres in the municipal party committee and is very active. She
invited me to dinner tonight,”

Fang Hao said humorously. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t invited.”

Director Ding jotted something down in his notebook, looked up, and said, “Don’t be late, Hong Kong people are very punctual
.”

Chen Hu touched his scar, “I wonder what she’s up to.”

Fang Hao stood up, took a few steps, stopped, and said, “Maybe she wants to know
what .” At 7

p.m.

, Chen Hu drove to the New Moon Hotel. Located next to the street park, its exterior walls were covered in white ceramic tiles,
small and delicate, like a white-clad girl standing among green trees.

The elegantly dressed Qiu Siyu, accompanied by two young ladies, greeted him at the entrance.

Qiu Siyu stepped down two steps.

“Director Chen, welcome! Welcome!”

“I’m honored that Boss Qiu came to greet me personally.”

“Don’t call me Boss, it doesn’t sound right. Just call me Siyu, please come in.”

The two young ladies led Chen Hu to a private room on the second floor. Tulips were displayed in the center of the buffet table, surrounded by various
cold dishes.

Qiu Siyu, seated at the VIP table, said, "This is authentic Cantonese cuisine, cooked by a chef I hired from Hong Kong at great expense.
I'm so honored that Director Chen is here. Thank you."

"Is anyone else here?"

"No one else, just me to keep you company. If you want some hostesses, I'll call them."

"It's best if it's just the two of us. It'll be easier to talk."

Qiu Siyu personally poured wine for Chen Hu and raised her glass.

"Director Chen, cheers to our wonderful beginning."

"Cheers to our wonderful beginning and our beautiful hostess."

"Thank you."

"Miss Qiu, is there something you need? Please let me know."

"Can't I invite you here if there's nothing wrong? Here, the roast suckling pig has crispy skin, it's a beauty food."

"With that scar on my face, beauty? Miss Qiu, are you making fun of me?"

"What? The scar adds to your masculinity. Come on, let's have another drink."

In another room of the New Moon Hotel, Jiao Dongfang, a cigarette dangling from his lips, watched the footage of Chen Hu and Qiu Siyu clinking glasses, transmitted via a secret camera from a private booth .
His

bodyguard, Zhu Ni, nestled against Jiao Dongfang on the armrest of the sofa, watching the footage with interest. Jiao Dongfang pinched
Zhu Ni's thigh and said, "Looks like Chen Hu isn't all that great. He won't get past Siyu tonight."

Chapter Thirteen: The Beauty Trap. A feast for the eyes, a frame-up, a hypocrite

. Qiu Siyu, under the guise of toasting, leaned into Chen Hu's arms. Her hazy eyes lifted, and
the faint gave Chen Hu a feeling he had never experienced before. Truly a natural beauty;
it was no wonder she could mingle with the powerful and influential.

"Director Chen,

you have a huge capacity for alcohol! Come on, another drink!" "You have an even bigger capacity! Boss Qiu's business here is quite large!"

"In your mainland terms, it's just small-time stuff."

Jiao Dongfang, watching the television monitor, saw Qiu Siyu wink at the camera, implying...
So, this behemoth Chen Hu has fallen into my lap, hasn't he?

Chen Hu suddenly asked, "Miss Qiu, around 7 PM on May 2nd,
what did you talk about on the phone with Vice Mayor He?"

Qiu Siyu raised an eyebrow, then gave a seductive smile.

"I've called Vice Mayor He many times, but I can't remember exactly what we talked about each time.
Come on, have some food."

Jiao Dongfang nervously watched the television monitor and turned up the volume.

“Miss Qiu wouldn’t forget, because Vice Mayor He died the next day.”

“Oh, I remember now. I flew to Nanjing the next day to ask Vice Mayor He to write a letter of recommendation, but I didn’t receive it.
I flew to Nanjing the next afternoon and tried to call back, but I couldn’t reach Vice Mayor He anywhere. Later, I learned that he
had committed suicide.”

“At two o’clock in the morning, you called Vice Mayor He again. What did you say?”

“Yes, I called again later. I was afraid he was busy and forgot about writing the letter. Vice Mayor He wasn’t there;
his driver answered the phone and said that Vice Mayor He had finished writing the letter of recommendation and put it in the drawer. So I hung up
.”

Chen Hu’s thoughts were consistent with what Du Xinzheng had said, but there was definitely more to the story.

"Who else knows about you asking Vice Mayor He to write a letter of recommendation? What business are you doing in Nanjing?"

Qiu Siyu asked cautiously, "Director Chen, are you interrogating me?"

"It's a misunderstanding, Miss Qiu. I'm asking you for a favor."

"Alright, so you won't suspect anything. Going to Nanjing is a business deal that Dongfang introduced me to. The US wants to
open a fast food restaurant in Nanjing, and Dongfang said that Vice Mayor He has friends in Nanjing who can
guarantee ."

In front of the monitor, Dongfang patted the sofa armrest and said, "That slut, I sent her to trap the wolf, but the wolf bit
her instead , and she betrayed me!"

"Should I send someone to call Siyu out right away?"

Jiao Dongfang pressed down on Zhu Ni, who was about to get up.

"No, this is good too. Let's see what cards Chen Hu has in his hand."

Chen Hu poured wine for Qiu Siyu.

"Miss Qiu, let's have a drink. May your wealth increase and all your wishes come true!"

"Thank you."

"So, it was Jiao Dongfang who suggested that you call Vice Mayor He to urge him to finish writing the letter?"

"Yes, Dongfang is very concerned about this matter."

Jiao Dongfang couldn't sit still in front of the monitor.

He stood up, pointed at the screen, and cursed,

"This is clearly a false confession. This slut can't even hold up to a false confession. She's useless."

"Should I call Siyu out?"

"This slut deserves her bad luck. It has nothing to do with me."

Chen Hu changed the subject.

"I see the Crescent Moon Hotel is doing well. How long has it been open?"

"Only half a year. It was there before, but it wasn't doing well, so I bought it and renovated it. It cost more than 50 million. It's
still a long way from breaking even!"

"Miss Qiu is really wealthy, spending 50 million at once. Is it a joint venture or are you the sole investor?"

Qiu Siyu smiled slyly. "Director Chen, this is a trade secret, so I can't say."

Jiao Dongfang patted the monitor and said, "Damn it, this bitch is so tight-lipped about her own affairs."

Suddenly, Qiu Siyu fell into Chen Hu's arms and pleaded, "I've had too much to drink, and I'm dizzy. Could you please take me
to my bedroom?"

Qiu Siyu hugged Chen Hu and pressed her face against his.

Jiao Dongfang sat back down on the sofa. "The show's just begun! Where were you all this time!"

Chen Hu helped Qiu Siyu walk out, but she couldn't move an inch. Her body slid down Chen Hu's legs onto the carpet,
her hands clinging to his calves.

Chen Hu bent down, lifted Qiu Siyu from the carpet, and carried her away from the private room to the main hall.
There was no one there.

"Is anyone here? Is anyone here?"

The hall was silent. The dining table was clean, but the lights were bright.

Chen Hu thought for a moment, smiled, and walked towards a large table for twelve people.

Qiu Siyu let out a soft moan in his arms, a moan that was hard to tell if it was pleasure or pain.

Chen Hu laid her flat on the table. Since Qiu Siyu was feigning drunkenness, she had no choice but to let him do as he pleased.

"Miss Qiu, Miss Qiu!"

The only response to his call was a seductive moan. Qiu Siyu pulled down the collar of her cheongsam with one hand.

Chen Hu smiled slightly, took out a pen, and retrieved a bill from the table holder.
He wrote three neat lines on the last blank space of a long list of dishes, including roast suckling pig, shrimp balls, assorted burgers, and fresh lobster:

Dish Name: Delicious

Food Price: Market Price

Cooking Method: Authentic Hong Kong Cuisine

Chen Hu placed the menu on Qiu Siyu and strode away.

As Chen Hu reached the entrance, he said to the uniformed security guard, "Your boss Qiu is drunk and lying on the counter.
Don't let her get cold. Goodbye."

He casually walked towards his Cherokee.

After Chen Hu disappeared from the restaurant, Qiu Siyu, supported by the arriving security guards, got off the counter.

She pushed past the doorman irritably, "Why aren't you standing guard at the door? What are you doing coming in?"

"A customer said you were drunk."

"I'm fine. Go back to where you belong!"

Qiu Siyu picked up the menu, looked at it, and laughed.

Jiao Dongfang and Zhu Ni walked over.

Jiao Dongfang glanced at Qiu Siyu with disdain and said, "You've ruined everything. You tried to steal a chicken but lost the rice instead, and you're still
grinning like an idiot!"

Qiu Siyu handed the menu card to Jiao Dongfang.

"Dongfang, look, this is what Chen Hu wrote."

Jiao Dongfang glanced at it.

"This kid tricked you?"

Jiao Dongfang was about to tear it up, but Qiu Siyu quickly snatched it away.

"Don't tear it up, I want to keep it as a souvenir."

Qiu Siyu said with a hint of smugness, "I'll read it to you. This is Chen Hu's evaluation of me. Dish name:
Delicious . Price: Market price. Cooking style: Authentic Hong Kong cuisine."

Zhu Ni was amused and giggled.

"So funny! So funny!"

Jiao Dongfang smiled wryly, "You two are still happy after being tricked."

Qiu Siyu gently kissed the menu card, "It's rare to see Chen Hu so humorous. I thought he couldn't get rid of me no matter what.
I didn't expect him to pull such a trick, very clever, and gentlemanly, without hurting my face. Let's not
be rude ."

After leaving the New Moon Hotel, Chen Hu went to the parking lot.

He opened the car door, turned on the headlights, and standing in the light was none other than Jiao Xiaoyu.

Chen Hu stared blankly at Jiao Xiaoyu in the lamplight.

"It's you,"

Jiao Xiaoyu from Xiaowu Factory walked over, leaning against the car door, her chin resting on her hand. "I was afraid you'd be too busy enjoying yourself to go to work tomorrow
, so I came to pick you up."

"Enjoying myself in a romantic setting? I don't have that kind of luck. When did you arrive?"

Jiao Xiaoyu smiled sweetly.

"I really feel sorry for you, missing such a good opportunity."

A gentle ripple stirred in Chen Hu's heart.

Under the moonlight, Jiao Xiaoyu's two bright eyes were deeply embedded in Chen Hu's heart, illuminating his mind and body.

"Come on, I'll drive you home."

"There's a small park nearby. You were enjoying yourself there, and I've been waiting like an idiot for ages. I'm tired. Shall we
go in and sit for a bit?"

Chen Hu hesitated.

"What, are you trying to avoid me again?"

"No, no, I just thought it wouldn't be convenient to park the car at the restaurant. Let's drive there." Jiao

Dongfang lifted the curtain of the window next to the parking lot, wanting to see if Chen Hu had left.

He was surprised to see Jiao Xiaoyu standing beside Chen Hu under the streetlight.

He exclaimed in surprise, "Xiaoyu? What's she doing here?"

Jiao Xiaoyu got into the car.

She started the engine, and the car drove away from the Crescent Hotel.

Jiao Dongfang could see clearly from the second-floor window that the Cherokee drove into the small garden separated from the hotel by a wall.

Chen Hu parked the car by a secluded, tree-lined path in the garden, and he and Jiao Xiaoyu got out.

They walked along the path deeper into the garden. The lighting was dim, and almost every bench had couples embracing.

A couple left a bench in a corner. To save space, Jiao Xiaoyu quickly led Chen Hu to
a bench and sat down.

"The lilacs smell so nice. Chen Hu, you and your girlfriend used to go to the park often, right?"

Chen Hu nervously wanted to smoke, but Jiao Xiaoyu stopped him from taking out a cigarette.

"Don't smoke, please. Smell the flowers, and tell me, have you ever had a girlfriend?" “

I’ve had two boyfriends, both relationships ended! Back then, I didn’t have the scar on my face yet, but they didn’t like what I did.
What about you? Have you ever had a boyfriend? Dating is rampant in college, what about you?”

Jiao Xiaoyu pressed closer to Chen Hu, looking directly into his eyes.

“I like it when you ask me these kinds of questions, because it means you care about me,”

Chen Hu said, touching his scar. “I’m just asking casually. Just friendly concern.”

“So, you take that first brave step, and then run away? I have many casual friends, and I’ve had a bad relationship
once. But my Prince Charming has never appeared. I don’t like bookish types, nor do I like
physically strong but simple-minded men; I don’t like men around my age either, they’re like a thin book,
you finish it after a few pages. A man should be experienced, weathered, at least have a sense of vicissitude, he should
be a thick book, I could never finish it in my lifetime, that is, he should have a rich foundation.”

“Your conditions are quite strange, do such people even exist?” “

No before, but now there is.”

“Oh, who is he? I’m sorry, did I violate your right to privacy?”

“I won’t tell you.”

“Perfect, I’m not that curious. And you, who are you?”

Jiao Xiaoyu leaned on Chen Hu’s shoulder.

“I don’t know who I am. Quite simple, yet quite complex. Like a glass of water, but under a microscope,
it contains everything.”

Jiao Xiaoyu placed her right hand on Chen Hu’s chest, clearly feeling the heartbeat she had been waiting for. She
tilted her face up like a bright moon.

Suddenly, a camera flash went off in a dark corner, and everything fell silent.

Chen Hu was a little nervous, “We’ve been photographed.”

Jiao Xiaoyu, however, was unconcerned, “So what if they take pictures? What’s there to be afraid of? Come on, let’s go to a bar for a drink.” Leaving the park, Chen

Hu drove into the bustling commercial district.

Neon lights flashed on both sides of the street, pedestrians were numerous, and the night market was noisy.

Chen Hu drove, with Jiao Xiaoyu sitting beside him.

A car passed by from the opposite direction. Chen Hu swerved to let it pass. In that instant, he thought of Tao Suling.

Chen Hu slammed on the brakes, even though there was nothing in front of him.

Jiao Xiaoyu asked curiously, "What's wrong? Why did you brake?"

"Sorry, nothing."

Outside the window, the traffic flowed like a tide; it was the start of the nightlife.

Many luxury cars were parked in front of the bars, and hostesses greeted customers with smiles at the entrance.

Chen Hu and Jiao Xiaoyu got out of the car.

"Do you often come to places like this?"

"Occasionally, I come here to waste some money and pretend to be rich."

The place was decorated in the style of an early American Western bar, with dozens of replica old guns hanging on the wooden walls, a band
of five or six Filipinos playing American country music, and most people drinking beer.

Chen Hu smoked a cigarette, and Jiao Xiaoyu took out a gold-plated lighter to light it for him.

"You brought a lighter?"

Jiao Xiaoyu handed the lighter to Chen Hu. "Here you go." Chen

Hu admired the lighter and said, "Is it gold-plated?"

"What's the difference between gold-plated and steel-plated? If you like it, it's yours."

"It's so expensive, I don't want it."

"Afraid of being bribed?"

"You've made me quit smoking, and now you've given me a lighter, putting me in a dilemma. Okay, I'll accept it, thank you."

"I heard you're a good dancer, teach me.

" "No thanks, don't make a fool of me."

"Do you feel you bear emotional responsibility for Tao Suling's death?"

"Why are you suddenly asking such a question?" Chen Hu was taken aback; Jiao Xiaoyu could actually see through his thoughts
. "Don't mention it."

"I feel you've been living in the shadow of Tao Suling's death. Chen Hu, life goes on. The world
won't stop because of someone's death. Why are you always stuck in guilt and regret?"

"I'm sorry, I don't want to talk about this." He

Kedai and A Si entered the bar.

He Kedai unexpectedly spotted Chen Hu and Jiao Xiaoyu.

He sat down and silently observed. This bar used to be a place he and Xiaoyu frequented. Although
he and Jiao Xiaoyu had broken up and had no contact, seeing his former lover being
intimate with someone else—who might be his enemy—made him feel very uneasy. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, He Kedai took
a cigarette and walked to the table, saying, "Excuse me, could I borrow your lighter?"

Jiao Xiaoyu raised an eyebrow in surprise, "Kedai?"

"Aren't you going to offer me a seat?"

Chen Hu patted the chair. "Please sit down, Mr. He."

He Kedai took the lighter Chen Hu offered and lit a cigarette.

He Kedai said sarcastically, "Even anti-corruption bureau officials are using lighters costing over five thousand yuan now."

Jiao Xiaoyu glanced at him with displeasure. "Kedai, what's the matter?"

"What serious business can you have at a bar? Nothing more than drinking, picking up girls, and indulging in some decadence."

Jiao Xiaoyu's face darkened. "Please have some self-respect."

He Kedai was finally overwhelmed by his sense of loss. He wanted to make others feel bad too. "I not only respect myself, but I also
respect others. Chen Hu, Jiao Xiaoyu is my former woman, you could even say my fiancée. We spent
unforgettable years together. I have no objection to you taking over my position. Please, take good care of her."

Chen Hu clenched his fist, then relaxed it, stood up, and said calmly, "Goodbye."

Chen Hu left. Only then did he realize that he had fallen in love with Jiao Xiaoyu; otherwise, he wouldn't have done something so foolish as to leave suddenly
.

He Kedai watched Chen Hu's retreating figure and said, "Still got quite angry."

Jiao Xiaoyu slapped He Kedai across the face, "You're despicable." Jiao Xiaoyu stormed out

of the bar.

Outside the bar, Chen Hu had just started the engine and driven away.

Jiao Xiaoyu rushed in front of the car, blocking it, shouting, "Chen Hu! Chen Hu!"

Chen Hu swerved around Jiao Xiaoyu and drove away.

Jiao Xiaoyu, filled with grievance, walked along the sidewalk.

Chen Hu reversed back and stopped beside Jiao Xiaoyu.

Chen Hu silently opened the car door.

Xiong Xiaozhi got in.

She buried her face in Chen Hu's shoulder and cried, "It's all in the past."

Chen Hu was silent, gently stroking Jiao Xiaoyu's shoulder. At that moment, he understood that he had
a man .

Under the same starry sky. On the same night.

Jiao Dongfang drove his Mercedes on the neon-lit city road. Qiu Siyu's failed attempt to seduce him left him feeling
dejected . After leaving the New Moon Hotel, he went to the school to pick up Tian Congying, hoping to find
his lost peace in the simple and innocent woman.

Tian Congying sat next to him.

"Sorry for calling you out so late."

"My roommates seem to know I have a boyfriend. Please don't come looking for me at school. With your Mercedes
, they'll say I've hooked up with a rich guy."

"Hooking up with a rich guy sounds bad?"

"Of course it sounds bad, I'm not that kind of person. Hui, Dongfang, I designed a software that might
sell . It's financial management software."

"Congratulations! Do you want me to buy your patent?"

"I'll design a restaurant management software for you later, free of charge, as a reward for winning the grand prize at the restaurant."

"You've already rewarded me; I've won the grand prize too."

"What grand prize did you win?"

"You. A female college student with ideals, kindness, and a pure heart—aren't you my grand prize?"

The Mercedes stopped at the quiet park entrance, and Jiao Dongfang honked the horn inside.

A gatekeeper came out and shouted from behind the iron fence, "Why are you honking like that? Showing off your
beat-up car!"

Jiao Dongfang poked his head out of the car.

"Open the gate, I want to go in."

"Are you crazy? It's midnight, the park should be closed by now! Even if it weren't, you can't drive in."

Tian Congying pleaded, "The park is closed, let's go back."

"Never mind that."

Jiao Dongfang got out of the car and went to the iron fence. "

Open the gate."

"Why should I open the gate for you!"

Jiao Dongfang took out his business card and handed it through the gap in the fence.

Tian Congying got out of the car, nervously went to Jiao Dongfang's side, and took his hand, saying, "Let's go back."

"With this, call your boss home and tell him I insist on going in."

The person on duty looked at the business card, went back to the duty room to make a call. Tian Congying couldn't stand it anymore, "It's so embarrassing to bother people in the middle of the night." "Don't rush, this is called Sesame Sesame

, open the gate quickly." Before Jiao Dongfang finished speaking, the automatic iron gate slid open to both sides. The person on duty rushed out, all smiles, and said, "I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting. I really wouldn't dare break the rules without asking my superiors. The boss said you can stay as long as you want." "Can I drive in?" "Yes, of course you can. You can drive wherever you want. The park's already closed, there's , so there won't be any accidents." "Thank you." "Thank you so much. My goodness, the boss almost fired me when he heard I wouldn't let you in." Jiao Dongfang got back into his car and drove into the park. The Mercedes drove through the quiet park. It was dark inside; the streetlights were already off. Suddenly, all the streetlights and colored lights in the park turned on. Tian Congying exclaimed in surprise, "All the streetlights are on! It's like a park party!" Jiao Dongfang said smugly, "They're afraid I'll drive the car into the water and they won't be able to bear the political responsibility." "How much electricity does that use!" "The park's night view is really beautiful. What do you think?" "Our school has a power outage one night a week, and the students use kerosene lamps to study. Electricity is scarce now, and nighttime is when rural areas use electricity for irrigation." "You've thought of everything, but unfortunately, that's not something you should be thinking about." Jiao Dongfang parked the car by the lotus pond. He and Tian Congying sat on a bench by the lake. The lotus leaves in the pond looked particularly beautiful under the lights. Jiao Dongfang put his arm around Tian Congying's shoulder, and she felt a little awkward. This time, she truly understood what privilege meant; the park at night was only open to one person because he was the son of the municipal party secretary and a member of the Central Committee. "It's just the two of us in the whole park, this is truly a rare treat. Do you remember Zhu Ziqing's 'Lotus Pond by Moonlight' ? A dream veiled in gauze. Yingying, stand by the lake." "Why?" "I want to see." Tian Congying went to the lakeside, becoming a black silhouette. Jiao Dongfang admired her, all his worries vanishing. 'What a beautiful picture, a graceful young woman. Even Zhu Ziqing could only imagine the flowers as graceful young women, but I have a real young woman beside me, this is truly worthy of nature's gift.' Jiao Dongfang walked to Tian Congying's side, hugged her, and kissed her.

Tian Congying gently pulled away, saying wistfully, "This shouldn't be my life; it's not real."

"You've really entered into the realm of a dream veiled in mist."

"I'm talking about us. Dongfang, this shouldn't be our life. My father is just an ordinary office worker,
I haven't even graduated from university yet, I'm too far removed from your life."

"A girl from a modest family is better than a lady from a wealthy family; she doesn't have that artificial air about her, and I hate women with that artificial air the most."

"So many lights are on for the two of us; it's too much of a shock. I'm not worthy of your family. Not worthy of your status.
Dongfang, let's break up. Let me go back to my old life; that way, I'll feel at peace."

"What I love is your simplicity. I'm so tired. I've told you before, there's too much darkness in my heart
; I need a little light, a little sincerity, a little purity. In this deceitful reality
, that's the most precious thing. Yingying, please don't leave me."

'Oh, it's not as good as you think. Let's break up; the sooner we break up, the less painful it will be.'

Jiao Dongfang paced back and forth, suddenly roaring, "Why? Why break up?" "Don't I even have the right to
true love ?! Just because I'm rich? Just because I'm the son of the municipal party secretary and a central committee member? I
can only spend every hour and every minute watching sycophantic, fake smiles! Listening to
sweet words spoken out of hatred for my own sake! I have no right to hear people's heartfelt words! I have no right to live a normal
life!"

Tian Congying lowered her head sadly and said, "Dongfang, I never imagined you had so much pain."

Jiao Dongfang hugged his head and returned to the bench.

Under the moonlight, a tear rolled down his cheek.

"Yingying, I truly love you. If we're talking about the disparity in status, you're above me, a normal person, while I
'm not normal, someone who can't turn back even if I want to. I can only walk on a tightrope, not on
flat ground. When I sway and about to fall off the tightrope, won't you even help me up?"

"Dongfang, I can't associate failure with privileged people. Are you saying your business will fail?
What difficulties have you encountered in running the restaurant?" "

What do the closure of ten restaurants have to do with me? I'm afraid of failing in my life. Yes, you won't understand my feelings in a short
time . To be honest, sometimes I'm so lonely that I don't even have the chance to speak a human word.
I'm surrounded by lies and deceit. I have to look at them the other way around. When they laugh, they must be
crying inside. When they shake their heads and sigh, they must be laughing triumphantly inside. Tell me, is this how a human being lives? "
Chang

Tian Congying felt a chill run down her spine.

"Dongfang, what you're saying is making me more and more afraid."

"Just because I told you some truths, you're afraid? Do I have to lie to you
to feel at ease? Sigh, why is communication between people so difficult? Just now, I saw my sister
hugging a man. They seemed quite sincere."

"You mean Jiao Xiaoyu?"

"Yes, her."

"Then you should be happy for your sister."

Jiao Dongfang said fiercely, "But she fell in love with my enemy."

Under the same starry sky, on the same night,

Qiu Siyu lay on the chaise lounge smoking. This rosewood chaise longue was from the Ming Dynasty imperial palace, a
birthday gift from He Qizhang.

From Chen Hu's questions, she clearly sensed that she had become a target of investigation. "I need to find
a new backer quickly. Who should I choose?

Jiao Pengyuan? Qian Zhong? Hao Xiangshou? Shen Shi? Jiao Dongfang? Sun Qi?" Familiar figures flashed before her eyes
.

Secretary Jiao? I opened an account for him in Hong Kong with the more than ten million I won playing golf last time.
Of course, would do his best to protect me; there was no need to sleep with him again.

Hao Xiangshou? He was unfathomable, possessing a complete understanding of history, watertight. Relying on him
should be the safest option, but I hadn't found a good opportunity to approach him. He lacked enthusiasm for women;
could he be impotent?

Shen Shi? No way. He was just Secretary Jiao's lackey, useless.

Qian Zhong was an old fox; if something happened to me, he would never cover for me. Sun Qi? He's been with
too many 'll sleep with you one day and not recognize you the next. That kind of playboy is unreliable. Jiao Dongfang
is too flashy; he can't accomplish anything significant.

After much thought, Qiu Siyu focused on how to win over Hao Xiangshou. She picked up the phone and dialed.

"Director Hao? This is Siyu."

Hao Xiangshou's cold voice came through the phone.

"So late, what's up?"

"Director Hao, some friends are going to play golf next Sunday. I wonder if I could get you to help?"

"Contact me again tomorrow morning to see if I can free up some time. Goodnight."

"Goodnight. "

Qiu Siyu dialed again.

"Boss Wang, this is Siyu."

It was the same night under the same starry sky.

Looking out the large window of Wang Yaozu's office, one could see the lights of Hong Kong.

Wang Yaozu picked up the phone.

"I just got back to Hong Kong, and you're already calling. What can I do for you, Miss Qiu?"

"Play golf again, with your friends, okay?"

"Who will you greet them with this time?"

"Director Hao Xiangshou." Wang Yaozu hesitated for a long time before saying, "

Miss Qiu, thank you for your kindness. Last week, I played a game with Secretary Jiao,
and several friends lost over ten million yuan. They're worried about what kind of return Secretary Jiao will give them.
If we play another game, they might not be able to afford to lose. Should we postpone it and see how the last golf tournament
goes?"

"A mere ten million yuan has scared you like this. Uncle He said now is the time for you to bleed yourself dry.
If Secretary Jiao isn't stable, and the municipal party committee and government are reorganized by the central government,
won't all the money you've spent on them be wasted? With a new batch of people, you'll have to start investing in relationships all over again, and the cost will be even greater.
Rather than feeding one group after another, it's better to spend some money to keep this group together. Stability is paramount!"

"What you say makes sense, but we've spent our hard-earned money too. Is Hao Xiangshou really that important?"

"Hao Xiangshou's position is very important. Secretary Jiao sent him to the Anti-Corruption Bureau to personally oversee the investigation of He Qizhang's case. "
Your relationship with He Qizhang, Jiao Dongfang, and Qian Zhong is not ordinary, but your relationship with Hao Xiangshou...
"We haven't had much contact. If Hao Xiangshou traces it back to you, then even burning incense won't help!"

Wang Yaozu felt that Qiu Siyu's advice made some sense. "Let me think about it, let me discuss it with my friends,
and then I'll call you back."

"I'm thinking of you, bye-bye."

Qiu Siyu hung up the phone.
Four

under the same starry sky, on the same night.

After hanging up with Qiu Siyu, Hao Xiangshou immediately drove to Jiao Pengyuan's house. He reported
the important matter of high-ranking officials from the Supreme People's Procuratorate and the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection secretly meeting with Fang Hao and Chen Hu at the military region's guesthouse.

Jiao Pengyuan's eyes revealed unease.

"Is what you said true? Did the comrades from the Supreme People's Procuratorate and the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection really come to our city?"

"No, how could I dare to report this to you?"

Jiao Pengyuan said with a worried face, "When the higher-ups come, they always give advance notice, but this time they didn't even meet in person. It
's strange."

"There's something I dare not say, because saying it would be an organizational mistake."

"This is my home, what are you afraid of? Just say it." "

People from the Central Committee came without prior notice. This shows that the Central Committee has a negative view of you and doesn't... trust you as much anymore."

Jiao Pengyuan suddenly stood up from the sofa, opened the window, and looked up at the starry sky.

"They don't trust me? Then let them dismiss me! That's right! I recommended He Qizhang, but Marxists aren't fortune tellers,
are they? Even if they predict correctly, people can still change! Over the years, I've done
more , and some people don't like that. They don't trust me, and I don't trust them either! Anyone
can talk big, but so many overpasses and highways—can you just talk big? I did it all.
Alas, people's hearts are unpredictable, unpredictable indeed!"

Hao Xiangshou walked to Jiao Pengyuan's side and draped a coat over him.

"Don't worry, they're using He Qizhang as a pretext. Actually, they're using him as a pretext to target
you, but bringing down someone as powerful as you won't be easy. You yourself are part of history." "
If you're brought down, certain parts of history will have to be rewritten,
will . Secretary Fang Hao is mixed up with them, which is a bit troublesome."

Jiao Pengyuan's face turned ashen with anger. "I need to have a serious talk with Fang Hao. He said he was studying at the Party School
and couldn't come back when the Municipal Party Committee had business; but when people from the Central Committee came, how come he had time to come back?"

"This... I can't say anything, Secretary Fang is also my superior."

Jiao Pengyuan sighed deeply: "Perhaps it really is time for me to retire."

Hao Xiangshou waved his hand anxiously and said: "Please don't think like that, and please don't mention retiring. The higher-ups are eager for you to retire
so they can find a way to make you step down. If you retire, won't we, the lowly soldiers, be
at a loss?"

Jiao Pengyuan shouted angrily: "The higher-ups are pressuring me, and you lower-ups are deceiving me, how am I supposed to do anything?"

Jiao Pengyuan's wife came in.

"I'll have the housekeeper prepare some late-night snacks for you."

Jiao Pengyuan waved his hand, "No, I won't eat." "

Secretary Jiao, please eat something. We're counting on you for shade!"

Jiao Pengyuan sat back on the sofa. "Hmph, if someone cuts me down, you'll all be going to the sauna and
sweating it out!"

Under the

same starry sky, on the same night,

the construction site of the bridge across the river was brightly lit, as bright as day, with construction machinery roaring.

Li Shangmin angrily rebuked his nephew Ni Xia in the construction site office: "When did you contract the bridge project
?"

Ni Xia had never seen his uncle so angry. Trembling, he said, "I originally wanted to discuss it with you, but Auntie
said you were abroad for an inspection. He Xilai, who originally contracted the project, was pressing me hard. I thought, since you
're the project's chief commander, and I'll make money after contracting it, I agreed."

"You dared to subcontract without the approval of the engineering command?"

"The command approved it, it's stamped. As soon as they heard you were my uncle, all the subcontracting procedures were
completed in half a day." Li Shangmin felt a chill run down his spine. "

I told you all before, don't use my name.
Ni Xia, you're so foolish! How did you meet He Xilai? Who brought you together?"

"I didn't know He Xilai before. Yang Ke, assistant to Jiao Dongfang, the president of the Capital Horizon Hotel,
introduced ."

Li Shangmin realized he had fallen into a carefully designed trap. "The problem is complicated... Ni Xia,
after you took over, have there been any problems with the construction quality?"

"The materials and construction techniques used fully meet the design requirements. Uncle, I regret it now.
I found that during He Xilai's contract, everything from the materials used to the process specifications did not meet the design requirements . If
there is a quality accident on the bridge in the future, it's hard to say whether it's his responsibility or mine. It's too late to regret it now. I
've been working on the job with my heart pounding, not daring to be careless at all, afraid that something will go wrong."

Li Shangmin sighed, "You were too eager to make money and fell into someone else's trap. I don't
care about my personal honor or disgrace, but if something goes wrong with the bridge, how can I explain it to the people?"

"Uncle, I was wrong."

After thinking for a moment, Li Shangmin said resolutely, "Any substandard work in the early stages, any parts with hidden dangers, should be demolished or
reinforced. You must ensure that everything is foolproof."

Ni Xia shook her head in distress, "That requires a huge sum of money. Where am I going to get that much money? Even if we don't
make a profit , our company can't come up with it even if we sell everything we own. The responsibility belongs to He Xilai; we should go after him."

Li Shangmin angrily cursed, "You bastard! Now you're the contractor for the bridge, and I want you to come up with a solution!
If there's an accident with the bridge, I'll take you to court first!"

Suddenly, the bridge collapsed with a loud bang, the electrical wires short-circuited and extinguished the fire, and terrifying
screams .

"Help! Help!"

Li Shangmin pointed at the bridge, his heart suddenly pounding, his movements stiff, but his arm still pointed towards the bridge. The news of

Li

Shangmin's sudden death from a heart attack left the workers who had placed their hopes on him heartbroken and
furious. On the unfinished outer ring road, a long funeral procession stretched, entirely made up of road construction workers.

A truck carrying a cardboard coffin moved slowly forward.

A photograph of Li Shangmin was displayed on the truck's hood.

Paper banners fluttered, and many people carried wreaths, following the procession.

Along both sides of the road, farmers from the surrounding villages continued to join the funeral procession.

The ink on the long mourning couplet was still wet: "

Public servants, serving the people morning and night, their

lofty ambitions unfulfilled, regret in life, regret in death. " A bridge

was broken

, a road was broken, good and evil were indistinguishable.

An old worker banged a gong and cried out, "Vice Mayor Li is back in the city! Vice Mayor Li is back in the city!"

The road construction workers wept uncontrollably and echoed, "Vice Mayor Li is back in the city!"

"Vice Mayor Li is back in the city!"

The mournful procession slowly moved forward.

From the opposite direction, several Audis slowly drove towards them.

The Audis stopped, about twenty meters apart. A standoff ensued.

Jiao Pengyuan, Hao Xiangshou, Shen Shi, Qian Zhong, and others got out of their cars one after another, and they stood still.

A silent standoff. A silent standoff. The sudden death of

Li

Shangmin shocked Jiao Xiaoyu, who lived on the same floor as him. She lived on the fifth floor, and Li Shangmin lived
on the sixth . She walked upstairs with heavy steps.

The Li family had three bedrooms and a living room. Li's elderly parents lived in one room, and Li and his wife lived in the other. The living room was small, furnished with a
fourteen- hour television, a sewing machine, and a single bed; everything appeared simple and unadorned, even somewhat shabby and
cramped.

Jiao Xiaoyu knocked on the door, and faint sobs could be heard from inside.

Li Shangmin's wife opened the door. Jiao Xiaoyu sobbed as she hugged Li's wife.

"Sister-in-law!"

Li's wife didn't cry, but instead comforted Jiao Xiaoyu.

"Don't cry, Xiaoyu, don't cry."

"Sister-in-law!"

"Come in and sit down."

Li Shangmin's parents looked blank, their tears seemingly dried up.

Their daughter sobbed softly, her head resting on the table.

"Sister-in-law, life will be even harder for you from now on. Let my younger sister live with me. I have a
two-bedroom apartment by myself; it'll fit. I can even tutor her."

"No need to trouble you. The child can take care of her grandparents."

Jiao Pengyuan and Lin Guanghan entered with sorrowful expressions. Li's wife greeted them with a bitter smile.

'Look at Secretary, you're so busy, yet you still come to see us so late.' Jiao Pengyuan shed tears. "

We've let Lao Li down. We didn't take good care of him. I told you long ago, if he continued working
like that , something bad was bound to happen sooner or later. Alas, who would have thought he'd leave us like this?"

Lin Guanghan seemed much older. "He was more than ten years younger than me, yet he passed away before me."

Jiao Pengyuan glanced around the room. "You're all living in such cramped conditions. I've offered to move you out so many times, but Lao
Li refused. He said he was always working at the grassroots level and had enough housing. The municipal committee has decided to move you out immediately.
You have to move this time, whether you like it or not. This is the municipal committee's compensation to Lao Li."

Li Shangmin's wife smiled bitterly again. "Lao Li would never have agreed. When he was alive, all five of us
could fit in. Now that he's gone, we can fit in even more. What's the point of having so many houses now that he's gone? The municipal committee should allocate them to
comrades in need."

Jiao Pengyuan waved his hand. "Don't say I'm in charge this time. A high-ranking cadre building, seven rooms and a living room—who
can just move in like that? " "We'll move you after Lao Li's memorial service," said

Li Shangmin's father, who had always been very cold to the guests. Suddenly, he said, "No, if we move, my son's
soul won't be able to find its home."

Ba

Linguanghan, Zhang Guangda, Zhang Xiangdi, Qian Zhong, Hao Xiangshou, Zhou Senlin, Jiang Dabing, and others entered the municipal party committee meeting
room.

Jiao Pengyuan was the last to enter and sat at the head of the table. He coughed and said, "This expanded meeting of the Standing Committee is the
one I least wanted to hold, but we have to because the problem is very serious. Although
we are deeply saddened by Comrade Li Shangmin's sudden death, we are thorough materialists and must face reality, seriously investigate the responsibility for
the bridge collapse, recover the losses, and eliminate the negative impact. The municipal party committee has formed an investigation team, which I will lead
. Now, Comrade Hao Xiangshou will talk about the relevant situation."

Hao Xiangshou took out several documents from his briefcase, placed them on the table, and said, "This bridge collapse is
not only a technical accident but also a political accident, causing extremely negative impacts both domestically and internationally. The workers and citizens
have reacted strongly, demanding that the leadership be held accountable." Comrade Li Shangmin, as
the chief commander , bears an unshirkable responsibility. Following a tip-off from the public, a preliminary investigation confirmed that the contractor for the river-crossing bridge was
Guangming Engineering Company, whose manager, Ni Xia, was related to Li Shangmin. Ni Xia used Vice
Mayor Li Shangmin's influence to forcefully remove the original contractor. The tip-off letter exposed that Ni Xia , relying
on the power of her uncle-in-law Li Shangmin, cut corners, used inferior materials, and failed to follow construction standards, leading to
the serious . The public strongly demands an investigation into the corruption surrounding the outer ring road project.

"I heard they've also been owing the workers several months' wages?" Qian Zhong said sarcastically.

Hao Xiangshou opened the documents. "That's true. I don't know what Vice Mayor Li did. We
're not so poor that we can't pay our workers' wages. The funds have all been in place as planned. The road construction workers
have a lot of complaints about the Party and the government. " Lin Xianhan looked concerned. “

Vice Mayor Li is a diligent and conscientious worker; he shouldn’t have made such
a big mistake. He’s raised this with us several times, and the 100 million yuan in funding for the damaged highway project has been delayed.”

Jiao Pengyuan tapped the table with his pencil, displeased. “Being diligent and conscientious are two different things. We
can’t ignore Li Shangmin’s mistakes just because we have feelings for him. Merit can’t cover up faults. His nepotism
in awarding such a large project to his relatives speaks volumes.
It’s painful to see a comrade make a mistake, but we can’t engage in the feudalistic system of protecting officials. The Municipal Party Committee has decided to
investigate Li Shangmin and his responsibility for the damage to the bridge. If there is any money-for-power exchange or abuse of power, we must not be lenient.
The Central Committee has repeatedly demanded that we be firm on both fronts; the fight against corruption, no matter who is involved or what level of cadre is involved,
must be thoroughly investigated. Now, comrades, please give your opinions.” " The death of

Jiuli

Shangmin was a bolt from the blue for Chen Hu. Why do good people not live long?

He took out a sheet of Xuan paper, a bottle of ink, and a brush. He laid the Xuan paper on a newspaper on the table, poured
the ink into the lid of a fast food container, and moistened the brush.

"You want to write?"

Jiao Xiaoyu had never seen Chen Hu write calligraphy before, and she didn't know where his sudden passion and interest came from.
She stood aside and watched quietly.

Chen Hu wrote:

"Wealth and honor do not corrupt, poverty and hardship bring joy;

a man who reaches this point is a hero."

The calligraphy in the tribute to Comrade Li Shangmin

was flowing and powerful.

Jiao Xiaoyu hadn't expected Chen Hu to write such beautiful calligraphy with such passion. She couldn't help but exclaim, "You wrote
so beautifully! It must have come from genuine feeling. Are you going to send a eulogy to the memorial service?"

Chen Hu raised an eyebrow. "These are two lines from the ancients. How could we juniors send eulogies? Let's just hang it
on the wall as a reminder."

Chen Hu pinned the eulogy to the wall with thumbtacks.

Zhou Senlin pushed open the door and saw the eulogy. He shook his head slightly and said, "Mayor Li is such a pity. Everyone
was very saddened to hear of his sudden passing. Mayor Li had only been in office for less than three years, and two of his secretaries
couldn't bear the hardship of running around with him and were transferred one after another. The time he attended a municipal government office meeting, he was blocked by the guards,
which made everyone laugh. I never expected him to leave us so suddenly... You, put the eulogy away. The municipal party committee
has decided that the anti-corruption bureau, together with other departments, will open a case to investigate Comrade Li Shangmin."

Jiao Xiaoyu felt as if she had been struck on the head.

"Open a case against Vice Mayor Li?"

Chapter Fourteen: A Rambling Outburst at the Training Ground, A Bond

of Brotherhood at Bao Gong Temple. Chen Hu slammed his fist on the desk, the glass shattering under his powerful punch.

"What? Investigate Li Shangmin? Ignoring Vice Mayor He, who has problems, why investigate Vice
Mayor Li, who has no problems? They're both vice mayors, why such drastically different attitudes? If this is truly a case of turning black into white, then just
remove the 'anti' from the 'Anti-Corruption and Bribery Bureau' sign at the entrance and change it to 'Corruption and Bribery Bureau'!"

Zhou Senlin wasn't angered by Chen Hu's outrageous words, only saying, "Come with me."

Chen Hu followed Zhou Senlin into the bureau chief's office.

"Please sit down, Comrade Chen Hu."

Chen Hu sat on the sofa. Zhou Senlin picked up a letter from the desk and placed it on the coffee table next to the sofa. "
Open it and see, it's a report against you."

Chen Hu pulled out the folded letter from the envelope, unfolded it, and inside was a photo of him and Qiu Siyu dancing the tango.

He quickly finished reading the letter.

"Chen Hu, the letter alleges you entered the Wenren Hotel banquet hall without an invitation or search warrant. Is that
true?"

"Yes, it is."

"You were dancing wildly with Hong Kong star Qiu Siyu. Is that true? And that you were eating and drinking excessively?"

"That's also true."

"You haven't submitted the self-criticism I asked you to write, and you've acted without authorization again. Explain yourself clearly."

"It's simple, for work. Qiu Siyu is always mingling with the city leaders and is connected to Vice Mayor He's
death, so I had to contact her."

"Is dancing and showing off part of your job? Can't you conduct an investigation without flaunting a Hong Kong star? Is that a place
for ? Why didn't you inform me beforehand? Do you have any sense of organization? As
an officer of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, your presence at a foreign business reception created unnecessary
psychological pressure on them, impacting their investment confidence and causing them to worry about policy changes.
Can you bear this responsibility? You know you should consult with relevant departments before contacting foreign businesspeople, so why did you
knowingly violate this rule? Especially with city leaders present, your unauthorized actions put them in a difficult position. Singaporean
businessman Wang Yaozu immediately protested to city leaders, questioning why your senior Anti-Corruption Bureau officials
arrived uninvited and danced, disrupting the original arrangements! Wang Yaozu even demanded
an apology . I've been suppressing this, but I can't anymore. Comrade Chen Hu, how much
trouble have you caused the organization!"

"Director Zhou, I admit I didn't think things through. Qiu Siyu invited me to dinner, and I went. Perhaps you'll soon receive
another report accusing me of having an affair with a Hong Kong star. But my several contacts with Qiu Siyu have yielded results;
I've discovered important clues. Qiu Siyu was one of the people Vice Mayor He was in close contact with before his death, which cannot be
ignored. I'm willing to examine my mistakes. But there's one thing I don't understand: are we
acting according to the whims of foreign businessmen, or according to the demands of the people's interests? Why would a single report from a foreign businessman throw
us into disarray?"

Zhou Senlin slammed his teacup on the table, spilling tea.

“Chen Hu, you’ve gone too far! You think you represent the people? The mayor and deputy mayor were elected by the people, don’t
they represent the people? What do you mean by pleasing foreign businessmen? That’s policy! It seems your mistake isn’t a momentary
oversight, but a lack of trust in the organization—a huge error of principle! You must understand this deeply.”

Zhou Senlin offered Chen Hu a cigarette, softening his tone: “Chen Hu, the organization has decided to transfer you to handle
Li Shangmin ’s case. Jiao Xiaoyu will be in charge of the investigation into Deputy Mayor He’s death. Go back and give her your instructions;
immediately begin the investigation into the bridge accident. I’ve always trusted you and given you a lot of freedom.
Everyone , but don’t let that breed arrogance. Here’s what we’ll do:
I’ll take responsibility for Wang Yaozu’s whistleblower letter. You can leave now.”

Chen Hu stood up, took off his peaked cap, and placed it on the table.

“Transferring me out of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, wouldn’t that solve your problem once and for all?” Chen Hu turned and walked towards the door.

Zhou Senlin shouted angrily behind him, " What kind of attitude is this! Are you threatening your superiors by shirking your duties?" Chen Hu could no

longer contain his anger. He waved his hand and shouted, "Isn't that how it is? In the case of the Finance Bureau's fraudulent foreign exchange transactions, He Qizhang was the director of the Finance Bureau at the time. When I continued to investigate the whereabouts of the 3.5 million yuan in embezzled funds, you transferred me away! Now that there is about to be a major breakthrough in the cause of He Qizhang's death, you have transferred me away again, sending me to frame an innocent person. Why is that!" Chen Hu turned around, opened the door, and slammed it shut with a loud bang. Zhou Senlin looked at the hat Chen Hu had left on the table and paced back and forth irritably. When Jiao Xiaoyu saw Chen Hu return with an angry expression, her unique female sensitivity and intuition told her that something unpleasant must have happened. She said softly, "Chen Hu, what happened? Where is your hat?" Chen Hu ignored her. He took a few deep drags on his cigarette, stubbed it out in the ashtray, spread a sheet of Xuan paper on the newspaper, and began to write furiously: " Orchids and magnolias grow deep in the forest, their fragrance undiminished by the absence of admirers. A virtuous person cultivates morality and upholds integrity, unwavering in adversity. " He then threw down the brush. "Comrade Jiao Xiaoyu," he said, "I just received a notice from the organization that you are in charge of the investigation into Vice Mayor He's death. I'm transferring..."

"The work has begun. All the materials are in your hands. Best of luck. Goodbye."

The golf ball soared high, tracing an arc in the air.

Hao Xiangshou, club in hand, looked like a general going into battle. The investigation into Li Shangmin rapidly elevated Hao Xiangshou's
position . He single-handedly handled the cases of two vice mayors, making officials uneasy
in his presence. He was even more sought after by foreign businessmen. The day after the Li Shangmin case was filed, Wang Yaozu immediately accepted
Qiu Siyu's suggestion to play a game of golf with Director Hao, a game he could only lose.

Wang Yaozu, Qiu Siyu, and several Hong Kong tycoons applauded.

"Director Hao's shot was truly professional, I admire it!"

"Director Hao, you are truly radiant!"

Hao Xiangshou pointed at Wang Yaozu with his golf cup and said, "Those who don't understand the art of curved shots will never succeed. That's the essence of
golf ! Straightforwardness is a major taboo in business. Enough of that, watch me hit my next shot." "

This is a special skills training ground for public security, procuratorate, and judicial officers. Several cars are practicing sudden
braking

, sharp turns, and obstacle courses. Chen Hu, wearing a helmet, is riding a high-powered motorcycle at high speed, darting back and forth. He moves in a straight line and suddenly
turns, displaying skillful technique.

Tao Tieliang is instructing riot police on how to drive.

'Not enough acceleration, try again!'

A car driver suddenly accelerates and leaps forward. Tao Tieliang nods in satisfaction, his anxious gaze following
Chen Hu's motorcycle.

A policeman walks up to Tao Tieliang.

'What is Chen Hu taking his anger out on with the motorcycle? He's acting like a madman.'

'He's been wronged, he's venting. '" Jiao

Xiaoyu appeared in the stands wearing a red silk trench coat. She watched Chen Hu speeding back and forth on his motorcycle.

Suddenly, Chen Hu overturned and fell off.

Jiao Xiaoyu rushed anxiously towards Chen Hu.

Chen Hu got up, picked up his motorcycle again, and sped off.

Jiao Xiaoyu took off her red trench coat, held it in both hands, and waved it on the track, signaling Chen Hu to stop. Chen
Hu sped towards the red trench coat. The motorcycle collided with the red trench coat and sped past, and Chen Hu turned his motorcycle around.

Jiao Xiaoyu... Jiao Xiaoyu continued waving the red trench coat, trying to get Chen Hu to stop. Chen Hu drove towards the red
trench coat again, hitting it once more before disappearing in a flash.

Jiao Xiaoyu yelled, "Bastard—Bastard—!"

Chen Hu turned his car around and charged again. Jiao Xiaoyu waved the red trench coat to block him. The motorcycle hit the red trench coat,
which Jiao Xiaoyu deftly flung away with both hands.

The policeman standing next to Tao Tieliang was stunned. "Officer Tao, I've only ever seen bullfighting on TV,
never motorcycle fighting. This is suicidal!"

Tao Tieliang pulled out his pistol and fired a warning shot into the air.

All the vehicles braked sharply.

Chen Hu's motorcycle braked sharply just before it reached the red trench coat.

The arena suddenly became very quiet.

Tao Tieliang put away his gun, rushed to Chen Hu, pulled him off the motorcycle, grabbed his jacket collar,
and yelled, "Are you crazy?!" The bastard

Chen Hu took off his helmet, hugged it to his chest, and remained silent.

Tao Tieliang continued to curse, "If you want to commit suicide, go bang your head against a wall, you bastard! You're going to kill Jiao Xiaoyu!"

Jiao Xiaoyu took the helmet from Chen Hu's arms, "Thank you, Director Tao. He didn't hit me, I was bullfighting!" Her

red windbreaker was torn by the motorcycle.

Tao Tieliang smiled wryly and said, "I won't interfere in your internal affairs, just don't cause me trouble here."

Chen Hu and Jiao Xiaoyu sat on the training ground's bleachers.

"How did you know I was here?"

"Catching a deserter is easy."

"Did Tie Liang tell you?"

"I said, catching a deserter is easy! You just slack off like that?"

"Why not investigate He Qizhang, who's really problematic? Where did his Hong Kong credit card come from? Instead, you make
me investigate Li Shangmin, who doesn't seem to have any major problems. I can't do this job. I'm quitting and going into business."

Jiao Xiaoyu said without hesitation, "Okay, I'll quit too. Let's open a husband-and-wife shop."

Chen Hu was stunned for a moment. "A husband-and-wife shop? I don't have a wife."

"Buy a tricycle. You can pull the rickshaw, and I'll sell popsicles. Maybe things will be pretty good."

"Are you kidding?"

"Who's kidding? It's just acting like a couple with Tiger Girl. What's so great about that?"

"You can't go into business."

Chen Hu felt a warm glow inside. Jiao Xiaoyu calling herself Tiger Girl touched him deeply, even though he hadn't considered
marrying her. He felt that was still a long way off.

"You deserted without even taking your wife?"

"My affairs are none of your business. I've said it before, I don't have a wife!"

"I never expected you to be such a coward!"

Jiao Xiaoyu stood up, grabbed her red trench coat, looked at it, and threw it hard at Chen Hu's head before running off the stage.

Chen Hu took the red trench coat off his head, lost in thought.

Jiao Xiaoyu stopped, waiting for Chen Hu to catch up, but he didn't get up. Tears welled up in Jiao Xiaoyu's eyes, and she rushed off
the stage .

Chen Hu held the red trench coat, deep in thought.

Jiao

Xiaoyu hadn't expected to be in charge of He Qizhang's case. Without Chen Hu's guidance, she didn't know
where begin. She worried that Chen Hu wouldn't be able to withstand the blow and would give up on himself. In her confusion, only one thing
remained clear: to continue investigating He Qizhang's death. She invited He Kedai out, hoping to get a
breakthrough .

Jiao Xiaoyu and He Kedai strolled along the lakeside. He Kedai lit a cigarette and said, "I apologize for what happened at the bar.
I heard Director Chen resigned?"

"No, that's not true."

"You've fallen for him?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? I'm here to talk about the theft at your house."

"You can't fool me."

He Kedai and Jiao Xiaoyu sat on a lakeside bench, Jiao Xiaoyu intentionally sitting a little further away.

"Last time I came to your house to pick up some documents, you said you used to steal secretly, now you rob openly. What's
going on ?"

He Kedai whistled, "Nothing happened, nothing was stolen from my house."

"I've already investigated. The guards in your compound clearly heard you shout 'Stop!'
and nearby residents also confirmed that a car was parked for a long time in the alley next to your house's wall in the middle of the night, and
then a dark figure got into the car before it drove away. Kedai, I chose this place to talk to you without issuing you
a summons, knowing your predicament, and saving you face. Please don't make things difficult for me."

He Kedai stubbed out his cigarette. “Xiaoyu, do you remember? When we were dating, we often came here
and sat in this chair.”

“You don’t dare report it, do you? Look at me.”

He Kedai remained silent.

“Because the stolen items from the safe are suspected of being of dubious origin—perhaps bribery, perhaps embezzlement.
You don’t want to use these things as evidence of your father’s corruption, do you?”

“You’re really something. In just a few years, you’ve become a mystery novelist, Christie.”

“Please answer my question directly. If your father has problems, it’s definitely not just about the safe
. You can’t hide it. Your father has so many connections; if one doesn’t cause problems here, another
will , it will all come to light. You absolutely mustn’t get involved! You’re still young, and not inherently bad.
Who knows? I don’t know people at all now. If something really happens to you, I can’t help you. Have you heard
the saying, ‘God only helps those who help themselves’? You must help yourself!’”

He Kedai whistled again, “Can a person pull themselves out of the mud?”

“If you want to save yourself, then reach out your hand, and I'll lend you a hand. What interests me isn't the money in
the safe anything, but why the thief is going through the documents in the safe. What is he looking for? Maybe
stealing the money is just a pretense; what the thief really wants are those documents.”

“Xiaoyu, you're very sincere to me, thank you. Our house was burgled before; some foreign currency and gold and silver jewelry were stolen.
We didn't dare report it, and you guessed right, we were afraid of causing unnecessary trouble. I saw someone climb over the wall in the dark
. The thief was tall and slender, about 1.75 meters tall, and judging from his build, speed, and strength, he was
about 25 years old. Unfortunately, I couldn't catch him. After entering the house, I went straight to the safe and found that three documents were missing.
I remember there were originally eighteen, but only fifteen are left. I've always suspected there's some kind of political conspiracy here.”

Jiao Xiaoyu realized this situation was important. “What documents are missing?”

“I don't know, I haven't looked at them closely. I'm not interested in my father's documents.”

“Then how did you know three documents were missing?”

“I know the quantity. There’s something that might be useful to you. My father seemed to
have a premonition about his death. About three days before he died, it was very late at night, and he woke me up…”

He Qizhang frantically searched for something in the safe.

“Kedai, have you touched the safe?”

“No, what’s missing?”

“A very important document is missing. I remember putting it in the safe!”

“Take your time looking. Maybe you put it somewhere else?”

He Qizhang sat wearily on the sofa.

“Kedai, from now on, you have to be careful around everyone. When you do business, especially financial transactions, you must
have backup documents. Otherwise, if any disputes arise later, you won’t be able to explain yourself because you won’t have any evidence.”

“I understand, Dad.”

‘Manchang, you absolutely mustn’t go in. The officialdom is treacherous!’

“Dad, I have no interest in being an official. I’m tired of seeing you all since I was little.”

“But when you do business, you inevitably have to deal with officials, even high-ranking ones. You have to be especially
careful with them. What benefits you give them, you must keep a record. ”

“I gave them 100,000 yuan, I can’t expect them to give me a receipt.” “

But you need to keep a record of everything, the time, the place, and who was there
. You might need it later.”

He Qizhang suddenly slapped his forehead, walked to the bookshelf, took down an encyclopedia with a cover from the top shelf, and
pulled a piece of paper from the fold of the cover.

“My memory! I put it here, how could I forget!”

He Kedai walked over, “What document is it that you value so much?”

He Qizhang waved a piece of paper and said, “Someone is trying every means to take back this document and pin the blame on me
.”

“Can I take a look?”

“It’s no use looking at it. This document isn’t safe in our house, I need to find a safer place.”

He Kedai put his hand on Jiao Xiaoyu’s thigh and said, “Xiaoyu, do you think the thief is looking for
this document that my father has already moved?” Jiao Xiaoyu moved He Kedai's hand away. "

That's possible. What kind of document is it?"

"I told you, my father didn't let me see it. It was just a piece of paper, not like a formal document. Formal
documents are usually not single pages and are bound together. I remember it was just a single page; it was either a loan agreement
or an approval document, definitely not a formal document with official seals. I'm sure of that."

"Where would your father have moved the document?"

"I don't know, but it wouldn't be in our house. If it were

, you would have found it long ago." "Have you ever seen your father's black leather notebook before?"

"I have. Sometimes I go to his study and occasionally see him writing something in it, but
I've never looked at it, and I never thought my father would hide it in the storage room."

"Your father's position as an official must have been very difficult, very scheming!"

"Politics, boring, all crossroads, you fight me in the dark, I fight you."

"What crossroads?" "

He Kedai laughed sarcastically, "You don't even know 'Sanchakou'? It's a Peking Opera martial arts play. My dad used to take
me to see 'Sanchakou' when I was little. Liu Lihua and Jiao Zan were both kung fu masters. One dark night, they got into a fight in a tiny
shop . It's a famous Peking Opera play, and you don't even know it?"

Jiao Xiaoyu smiled self-consciously, "Our generation has zero knowledge of Peking Opera."

"That's why we need to start revitalizing Peking Opera from childhood."

Jiao Xiaoyu and He Kedai both laughed.

Jiao Xiaoyu suddenly felt guilty, feeling that she was using their old relationship to extract information. "
Can you give me a list of the things stolen from the safe? Only I know."

He Kedai lit another cigarette, "Anyway, you already know, so I can't let the thief get away with it, and I can't let
the conspirators behind the thief get away with it either. I'll give you a list. Of the missing thirty thousand dollars, ten thousand
dollars were consecutively numbered, brand new bills, unused. I have the serial numbers."

Jiao Xiaoyu felt more confident. "Besides the safe, did the thief break into anything else? Like
the desk drawers , cabinet doors, or anything like that?"

"No, he seemed to go straight for the safe."

"So, the thief is very familiar with the layout of your belongings. Are there any suspects among your acquaintances?"

He Kedai thought for a moment.

"I really can't think of anything right now. Maybe it's because I know too many people."

Jiao Xiaoyu extended her hand to He Kedai in a friendly manner, "Kedai, thank you for your cooperation."

He Kedai suddenly hugged Jiao Xiaoyu and kissed her, but Jiao Xiaoyu turned her face away.

"Xiaoyu, don't be angry. After all, we used to watch the moon together on this bench."

(No. 22 01-04 11:34 [Enlarge Font])
The

bar was mostly filled with young people. A small rock band was playing, the singer singing almost frantically.

Take it off! Take it off! Take it off!

Take off your clothes, show your chest!

Take off your disguise, show your true self!

Playing games with a mask on is not as good as going naked to sunbathe!

A charming fake smile is not as good as real tears! A hypocritical

handshake is not as good as punches and kicks!

Truth is about being uninhibited!

Falsehood is about hiding!

"Truth or fiction,

do whatever you want!"

Chen Hu sat on a high stool at the bar, slightly drunk. Since storming out of Zhou Senlin's office, he
hadn't gone to the anti-corruption bureau for five days. He hadn't heard from Jiao Xiaoyu since their breakup at the training ground. The bar owner
was his elementary school classmate; he came here every night to drown his sorrows.

"Hu Zi, stop drinking!"

"One more, stop talking nonsense."

The owner poured Black Label into Chen Hu's glass.

"Hu Zi, in middle school, you were better than me; now, you're far behind! Look at me, I run a bar and ride
a BMW . Why not go into business? You have so many friends in the officialdom, they're so successful,
they'd be perfect for you."

Chen Hu was so drunk he could barely open his eyes, but his mind was still clear. "Go into business? Open a bar."

"You don't necessarily have to run a bar; there are plenty of other ways to make money. What's the point of wearing that official robe? Take it off and
give it back to them."

Chen Hu grabbed the bartender's shirt across the counter. "Take it off, you want to wear it? Do you even deserve it?"

The bartender pried Chen Hu's hands off and laughed loudly. "Even if you paid me 100,000 a month, I wouldn't wear that stuff.
Don't think you're Bao Zheng, a paragon of justice. No way! What about Bao Zheng?
He only became so powerful because he saved the emperor's mother. If he hadn't had that thought of saving his mother, he'd still be no good. Hu Zi, did you
save the emperor's mother? You didn't even save the emperor's brother-in-law. What chance do you have? Justice? Truth?
That's just for kids, bullshit!"

"...You...are a bad guy..."

"Okay, okay, I'm a bad guy. Hu Zi, stop drinking."

Jiao Xiaoyu came in, her eyes searching, and found Chen Hu's head slumped on the bar.

Jiao Xiaoyu walked to the bar and said casually, "Did he pay for his drinks?"

"Who are you?"

"I'm his colleague."

The bartender thought this girl was quite attractive. "I didn't expect Chen Hu, with his scarred face, to be able to pick up a pretty girl like you. Hu Zi
grew up in the same alley as me, no doubt about it. Don't worry about the money, mind your own business. Why don't you sit down and
have a drink; it's on me."

Jiao Xiaoyu put on a stern face. "Did he pay? Get it over with!"

"No. "

"How much?"

"One hundred and sixty-seven yuan."

After paying, Jiao Xiaoyu helped Chen Hu out of the bar.

The bartender clicked his tongue and said, "This girl is really pretty. I didn't expect Hu Zi to be so skilled." Jiao

Xiaoyu

helped Chen Hu into a taxi. The car stopped in front of her building. With the driver's help,
she dragged Chen Hu out of the car, let him lean against her, and carried him up the stairs. As soon as she let go, Chen Hu
collapsed to the ground. She opened the door, struggled to lift Chen Hu, and finally managed to get him into the house, exhausted and covered in sweat.

Jiao Xiaoyu helped Chen Hu lie on the bed and took off his leather shoes.

Facing Chen Hu, who lay there like a dead pig, her heart broke. She couldn't bear to see her idol crumble. She suddenly realized
how ridiculous it was that she had loved Chen Hu in the past; this man was only outwardly strong, but actually very fragile. Thinking about this, she
fell asleep on the sofa.

Dawn blew in through the curtains.

Chen Hu sat up in bed, not knowing where he was.

Jiao Xiaoyu was still fast asleep on the sofa.

Chen Hu muttered to himself, "Where am I?"

Jiao Xiaoyu woke up and stared coldly at Chen Hu.

Chen Hu said awkwardly, "How did I get here?"

Jiao Xiaoyu didn't move. "You should lie on the street; that'll sober you up faster."

"Was I drunk yesterday? Where am I?"

"This is my house. The upstairs is Vice Mayor Li's house."

Chen Hu jumped off the bed. "How did you get me here?"

"You want to go to the shelter? Put on your shoes. You know the way to the shelter; you don't need me to take you, do you?"

Chen Hu felt very uncomfortable under Jiao Xiaoyu's icy gaze.

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to come."

"I dragged you back like a dead dog. Now you can leave."

"I'll go, I'll go."

Chen Hu put on his shoes, his steps unsteady. He grabbed the wall and knocked over a vase on the cabinet. The clattering sound sobered him
up.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'll pay, I'll pay."

Jiao Xiaoyu's face was icy. "I'll be very grateful if you can walk out by yourself."

Chen Hu staggered away and left the room.

Jiao Xiaoyu sat on the sofa without moving. With a bang, the door closed, and she couldn't help but
sob .

Chen Hu stood on the street, lost in thought.

Bicycles flowed past him.

Jiao Xiaoyu stood on her balcony overlooking the street, watching Chen Hu, overwhelmed with mixed feelings. She turned and went back inside.

She unfurled the banner Chen Hu had written in his office. She liked it, so she took it home, pinned it to the wall with thumbtacks,
and muttered to herself, "Not bad handwriting, didn't expect him to be such a coward. I'll help you out."

Jiao Xiaoyu picked up the phone and dialed.

"Party School? I'm looking for Comrade Fang Hao."

"Fang Hao's line is busy."

"I have an urgent matter, could you please tell him that you can answer my call first?"

"What's your surname?"

"My name is Jiao Xiaoyu."

"Please wait a moment."

A voice came through the phone: "This is Fang Hao." "

Secretary Fang, this is Jiao Xiaoyu. Chen Hu was transferred to investigate Li Shangmin, but he refused and has been drinking every day.
He hasn't been to work for a week."

"I already know. I'll be back in the next day or two. Sniff, don't tell anyone about your call
."

Under the pressure of Zhou Senlin's angry rebuke of Chen Hu, "Are you even a Communist Party member?", Chen Hu had no choice but to take on the task of
investigating Li Shangmin's case. He entered the Li family home with two officers. Li's wife gave him a cold look.

"Excuse me, we are ordered to search this place. This is the search warrant."

Li's wife stopped Chen Hu. "What's wrong with Old Li?"

"Please don't obstruct official business."

Li Shangmin's father threw out a sentence: "Let them investigate."

Chen Hu directed the search, avoiding the gazes of Li Shangmin's family, feeling ashamed.

The officers found several receipts.

"Director Chen, look at the receipts."

Chen Hu took the receipts, looked at them, and put them in his wallet, saying, "Excuse me, sorry to bother you."

Eight

, in a secret room at the New Moon Hotel, Qiu Siyu handed a Hong Kong Standard Chartered Bank deposit slip to Hao Xiangshou.
The contest between officials and businessmen on the golf course quickly came to a conclusion.

"My lord, your brilliant achievements on the golf course are absolutely safe,"

Hao Xiangshou said, not even glancing at the deposit slip on the coffee table. "Your office is very elegant."

The intercom on the boss's desk rang, and the secretary's voice came through: "Boss, a fax has arrived from Hong Kong;
you need to come and handle it."

Qiu Siyu turned off the intercom, smiled apologetically, and said, "I have some business to attend to; please wait a moment." Qiu Siyu
swayed away, leaving Hao Xiangshou alone in the room. He quickly picked up the deposit slip and glanced at it.

Hao Xiangshou put the deposit slip into his wallet. The secretary came in and said, "Boss Qiu is handling official business and will be delayed for a while; she
asked me to keep you company."

Hao Xiangshou stood up. "No, I have other matters to attend to. Please tell Boss Qiu that I'll be leaving now and will contact you later."

Hao Xiangshou left with light steps. When

Fang

Hao returned from the Central Party School, Hao Xiangshou went to greet him.

Inside the Audi, Hao Xiangshou offered Fang Hao a cigarette, but Fang Hao waved it away, and he put the cigarette back in its case.

"Secretary Fang, it's so good you're back! Everyone's been waiting for you to come back from the Party School and convey the central government's directives to us
."

Fang Hao glanced at Hao Xiangshou with concern. "Old Hao, tell us about the situation first."

"Secretary Jiao gave several mobilization reports and convened an on-site meeting on anti-corruption, dealt with two deputy
county heads, and filed a number of cases, especially the case of Deputy Mayor Li Shangmin's bridge collapse. It wasn't exactly a huge success
, but it was quite effective. We were just waiting for you to come back and take charge."

"So, you're serious about this?"

"The municipal party committee used the bridge collapse as a breakthrough point and is determined to fight corruption. We can't afford to be indifferent."

"Hmph, Old Hao, take me to Li Shangmin's house, then you can go back."

"You're going to his house? Is this appropriate at this time?"

Fang Hao remained silent. Hao Xiangshou felt uneasy.

The Audi stopped in front of Li Shangmin's house, and Fang Hao went upstairs. He knew that Jiao Pengyuan had already
reported Li Shangmin's case to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, and one of his tasks upon returning was to investigate this case. After meeting Li Shangmin's wife,
he didn't know what to say. It was too early to say whether Li Shangmin was guilty or innocent before the investigation was complete. He
comforted Li Shangmin's wife, saying, "The collapse of the bridge will definitely be investigated thoroughly. I'll handle this personally.
The conclusion will be at the end of the investigation, not at the beginning."

"Old Fang, what's their purpose in trying to smear Old Li?"

Fang Hao avoided Li Shangmin's wife's question. "Sigh, sorry to bother you. I'll go
see ."

"She lives downstairs." Fang Hao shook hands heavily with Li's wife and left.

Fang Hao went downstairs to Jiao Xiaoyu's door and knocked.

Jiao Xiaoyu opened the door with a surprised expression, saying, "Secretary Fang!

" "Not welcome?"

"Please come in."

Jiao Xiaoyu reported everything she knew in one breath, and Fang Hao listened attentively.

"That's all?"

"Yes, I've reported everything I know."

Fang Hao stood up and admired the living room. He saw a banner pinned to the wall with thumbtacks.

"Good calligraphy, good calligraphy." “

Chen Hu scribbled something in his office, so I brought it home.”

“Can you give it to me?”

“I’ll get it down for you.”

Fang Hao looked at the scroll with great interest.

“‘Orchids and magnolias grow deep in the forest, not suffering because no one is there; a virtuous person cultivates morality and establishes virtue, not changing their principles because of hardship.’
I never expected Chen Hu to have such good calligraphy, top-notch, top-notch. Chen Hu is very learned!”

“The writing is good, but Chen Hu only wrote two sentences from the ancients, how can that show he’s learned?”

Fang Hao’s gaze remained on the scroll.

“These are two sentences that Chen Hu copied from Confucius’s family letters. The second half of the original sentence is, ‘A virtuous person cultivates morality and establishes virtue, not
changing their principles because of hardship,’ without the word ‘hardship.’ Chen Hu added the word ‘hardship’ to
make aesthetically pleasing, making the original sentence more profound. Isn’t that learning?”

“You can see that Chen Hu added a word, you’re even more learned than him.” "

Chen Hu has rich practical experience and has read many books; he is the truly learned person."

"Xiaoyu, sit down. Do you often visit Secretary Jiao?" Fang Hao gestured for Jiao Xiaoyu to sit on
the sofa .

"I'm so busy with work all day, I don't have time."

"That's not good, you, as a junior, should care for your elders. Secretary Jiao cares about you a lot, doesn't he?"

"Of course, he's very good to me. His whole family is very good to me."

Fang Hao thought to himself: Family ties are unbreakable; the situation is truly complicated.

Jiao

Pengyuan, Lin Guanghan, Zhang Guangda, Kong Xiangdi, Qian Zhong, Fang Hao, and other Standing Committee members
held a meeting .

Jiao Pengyuan presided over the meeting. "Comrade Fang Hao has been back from studying at the Advanced Party School for two weeks. At this Standing Committee meeting, we will hear
Comrade Fang Hao report on his learning experiences at the Party School."

Jiao Pengyuan didn't use the usual phrase "convey the spirit of the Central Committee," but instead used "report to everyone,"
intending to warn Fang Hao not to overstep his bounds. After Hao Xiangshou reported that Fang Hao went directly to Li Shangmin's house, he was very displeased.
He felt comfortable, but Fang Hao's failure to report to him privately at his home also displeased him.

"Since I returned, I've been focusing on the investigation of Li Shangmin and the case of the bridge crossing. Let me first show you some receipts,
which Chen Hu found during the search of Comrade Li Shangmin's home."

Fang Hao handed the receipts to Jiao Pengyuan, who then passed them on to everyone in turn.

"The search yielded nothing but these receipts. What are these receipts? As you can see,
they are three donations from Comrade Li Shangmin to Project Hope, totaling 2,900 yuan. But they demonstrate
the sense of responsibility of a Communist Party member. The investigation also revealed that Comrade Li Shangmin was also responsible for
the school fees of a child in rural Shaanxi who had dropped out of school. Chen Hu's investigation into the collapse of the river-crossing bridge has made significant progress.
Ni Shi, a relative of Li Shangmin and the legal representative of Guangming Company, which contracted the construction of the river-crossing bridge, has been detained for investigation. According to Ni's confession, Li Shangmin was unaware that he had
subcontracted , and he severely criticized Ni, demanding that Ni take measures to eliminate
the hidden dangers left by the previous construction. According to the technical department's assessment, the collapsed part of the river-crossing bridge was
the part that He Xilai, the previous contractor, was responsible for constructing. I suggest that the legal responsibility of the previous contractor, He Xilai, be investigated. Of course,
the investigation into Li Shangmin should be carried out simultaneously and with greater intensity."

Organization Minister Zhang Guangda said with a firm tone, "Whoever's child it is, they should take them back. They can't take the wrong one."

"The reason why the 100 million yuan has been delayed for so long must be investigated.
The responsibility of Comrade Li Shangmin in the Changqiao accident must be further investigated, and an accurate conclusion must be reached as soon as possible. There must be limits; no one is exempt.
Under Secretary Jiao's personal oversight and leadership, we have achieved certain results in the previous stage, and we can say that we are now on
the verge of fully understanding the situation. Behind the death of Vice Mayor He, there are indications that a major
corruption case is hidden, and we must investigate it thoroughly. The Central Committee has repeatedly emphasized the need to crack down on major cases, especially those involving
embezzlement and bribery by leading cadres; we cannot be lenient. As the old saying goes, no matter which level of cadre is involved, there should be no
hesitation ." (Li Haoyi in s) The province has already begun to explain the problems. Can we go easy on him just because he's Mayor Lin's old secretary?
Of course not. We're not like some people say, only swatting flies and not tigers. One righteous act can suppress a hundred evils. As long as
we are righteous, we have nothing to fear from the crooked and wicked. There will definitely be pressure, otherwise what are we for?
Secretary Jiao , my report ends here. Let's hear everyone's opinions.”

Fang Hao's actions completely deviated from the tone Jiao Pengyuan had set when he greeted them, leaving the attendees at a loss. They
couldn't go against Secretary Jiao's wishes, nor could they object to Fang Hao, who had returned with such authority.
Jiao Pengyuan angrily adjourned the meeting. Early on the morning

of the 11th

, Zhou Senlin and Fang Hao were practicing push hands in the park, surrounded by people doing their morning exercises.

Zhou Senlin's tone was low: "Using the collapse of the bridge across the river to divert attention and cover up Vice Mayor He's problems—
that's the current situation."

Fang Hao, like a seasoned Tai Chi master, moved with a soft yet firm touch. "What progress has been made in the investigation of He Qizhang?"

"It's basically stopped."

"Old Zhou, you must be
aware of ."

"Hmm."

"Our situation will become even more difficult. We need to investigate Vice Mayor Li's case as soon as possible; the sooner we clarify it,
the better for us. We need to expedite the investigation of Vice Mayor He even more."

"No, Secretary Jiao has given clear instructions: only investigate the cause of death, and don't expand the scope of the investigation. Moreover,
all investigation materials must be sent to Secretary Jiao for review."

Fang Hao pondered as he pushed Zhou Senlin's hand. "I know. Then you set up a secret office and conduct a secret investigation."

Zhou Senlin was inadvertently pushed out of the circle by Fang Hao.

"A secret investigation? Does Secretary Jiao know what to do?"

"Find reliable comrades to participate. Actually, Vice Mayor Cai's case and Vice Mayor He's case are intrinsically
linked. Vice Mayor He is in charge of finance; how could he not know that 100 million yuan of special funds for the outer ring road went missing? His
three Hong Kong credit cards are highly suspicious. Chen Hu discovered during his investigation of the bridge accident that the original contractor, He Xilai
, was arranged by Jiao Dongfang's assistant, Yang Ke, to subcontract the project to Ni Kuai. Why is Jiao Dongfang
so interested in subcontracting?"

The two continued to push each other along.

Zhou Senlin said, "You mean openly investigate Li Shangmin and secretly investigate He Qizhang?"

Fang Hao nodded, "That's called a roundabout tactic. Old Zhou, if things go wrong, our necks will be on the chopping block.
You must be cautious, but also resolute. My responsibility is to maintain contact with the Central Committee and seek their support." The rain

poured

down. The rain in the suburbs was even heavier, almost obscuring visibility.

Chen Hu drove, while Zhou Senlin sat beside him, smoking silently.

"Director Zhou, where are we going?"

"You'll know when we get there."

"In the middle of nowhere?" "

What are you looking at? Be careful, the roads are slippery."

The car stopped in front of the Bao Gong Temple.

The temple was empty, but a few sticks of incense still burned on the altar.

Zhou Senlin and Chen Hu entered the main hall.

Zhou Senlin offered incense to the statue of Bao Gong, his expression solemn. Chen Hu found it amusing but remained silent.

After offering incense, Chen Hu smiled and asked, "You still believe in this?"

Zhou Senlin replied devoutly, "Old Bao is a senior prosecutor of ours; we don't forget our ancestors."

“That’s true,”

Zhou Senlin said, fiddling with the incense sticks. “In an era when the legal system was imperfect, in a
country , the common people could only hope for the Qing Dynasty to return. That’s why Bao Zheng’s incense offerings never cease. Now, rule by men
and rule of law coexist, and sometimes the power of rule of law is not as strong as rule by men, so people still burn incense for Bao Zheng. The Chinese
people are pitiful; they haven’t yet escaped the misconception of hoping for a just and upright official to uphold justice for the people. Chen Hu,
why ?”

Zhou Senlin answered his own question, then continued, “It’s because corrupt officials in reality are too hateful, even more so than corrupt officials in history.”
They're even more outrageous. Historically, corrupt officials haven't reached the point of colluding with international forces, nor have they been able to transfer money
abroad . But modern corrupt officials, alas! They abuse their power, doing whatever they please. They've combined the best of corruption throughout history,
pushing embezzlement to its historical peak, reaching the pinnacle! China's prosecutorial system has made significant
progress under Bao Zheng; doesn't he frequently initiate public prosecutions? Even the emperor couldn't stop him from investigating major cases involving relatives of the emperor.
We are Chinese citizens, living in the 1990s; our behavior shouldn't at least not
be ashamed before Bao Zheng.

Chen Hu chuckled self-deprecatingly, "We talk a good game than Lao Bao. He can't talk as well as we can."

Zhou Senlin suddenly stared directly into Chen Hu's eyes. "We've decided to set up a secret office to
investigate , starting with his credit cards, and also secretly investigating those around him."

Chen Hu felt Zhou Senlin had become a different person. "Director Zhou, this isn't like you."

"We only have one style, and that's loyalty to the Party and the people. This is a matter of losing your head, or at least
your official position. Do you have the courage to participate?"

Chen Hu regained his lost sense of mission. "Director Zhou, thank you for your trust in me."

Zhou Senlin paused, then said, "Besides you, there's another person. You'll have to cooperate well with him."

"It's difficult."

"An old comrade. He'll be here soon. We joined the procuratorate in the same year. I became the director, but when
he sees me, I'm nothing. I've been so indebted to him my whole life."

After the initial excitement, Chen Hu calmed down. A secret investigation was undoubtedly operating behind the backs of the higher-level Party committee, and the consequences would be very
serious.

"Director Zhou, you're going to create a huge mess. Will the higher-ups support you?"

Zhou Senlin patted Chen Hu on the shoulder. "If anything goes wrong, I'll take full responsibility. It has nothing to do with the higher-ups.
I'll go to hell."

Chen Hu's eyes welled up with tears. Zhou Senlin suddenly seemed much taller in his eyes. He felt guilty; he had cursed Zhou Senlin as a cunning old fox
countless .

A jeep stopped in front of the shop, and Bao Baozhu arrived in the rain. Gang Senlin walked out of the temple to greet Bao Baozhu,
shaking his hand tightly.

He hadn't expected the notorious drunkard to come, and that Zhou Senlin would trust this man so much. Chen Hu couldn't help but worry
. Could this old prosecutor, who only knew how to drink and had no fighting spirit, shoulder such a heavy responsibility?

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