Urban Crisis [Complete] - 13

Chapter Thirty-One: Exploring Hidden Traces, A Word of Glory, Encountering an Old Friend, A Golden House for a Beauty.

The moving company truck drove away from Chen Hu's sight, but he still stood there, stunned.
A few old newspapers remained where the truck had been loaded. He bent down, picked them up, and put them in a roadside trash can. He suddenly felt that he,
like those old newspapers, belonged to the category of trash that couldn't be loaded onto Jiao Xiaoyu's truck.

He leaned against the Cherokee's door and lit a cigarette.

At this moment, he most clearly realized how intense his love for Jiao Xiaoyu was. The awakening of love occurred precisely
when Jiao Xiaoyu left him without hesitation; he understood love at the very moment he lost it.

He understood: he had lost more than just a woman, more than just a woman's love; he had lost
his spiritual home. From then on, his heart was filled only withered grass, devoid of flowers, sunshine, and green fields.

Suddenly, he recalled the scene in the photo studio where Jiao Dongfang and Tian Congying were taking their wedding photos.

That was a smile in the face of death, that was self-respect in the face of humiliation; Jiao Dongfang displayed a man's dignity and
responsibility .

Chen Hu was genuinely moved. He didn't believe his colleagues' claims that Jiao Dongfang was deliberately playing the high-
flyer wouldn't understand true love.

He had personally witnessed the solemn expression on Jiao Dongfang and Tian Congying's faces, rising slowly like the morning sun.

Compared to Jiao Dongfang, he felt like a loser, a pathetic wretch abandoned by love!

"Chen Hu, what are you daydreaming about?"

Chen Hu turned around and saw He Kedai standing beside him, a black Toyota King parked behind him.

"He Kedai?"

"Yes, it's fate that we meet again."

He Kedai's tone was relaxed, completely without hostility.

"You wanted to see me?"

"How could I dare take up your time? Jiao Dongfang's case is troublesome enough for you. I heard Jiao Xiaoyu
is moving , and I wanted to come and help. Looks like I'm late."

"You knew she was moving today?"

"Yes. Director, let's be friendly. Judging from your expression, you've been hit hard by love, haven't you?"

Having just lost Jiao Xiaoyu, and now being mocked by He Kedai, Chen Hu's pride was severely wounded. He
grabbed He Kedai's collar. "You better behave yourself and stop your nonsense. Your business isn't over yet!"

He Kedai still smiled, feeling smug about provoking Chen Hu.

"Director Chen, hitting someone is illegal. But, hitting me will make you feel better, so I won't complain. Who told you to be
hit hard by love?"

Chen Hu let go and said something inexplicable: "You people have everything, except for
your hearts ."

He Kedai laughed. “I’ve already been fired by that guy you're talking about. Now I have nothing left
but people’s hearts.”

“Then keep your hearts, don’t let the dogs eat them.”

Chen Hu ignored He Kedai, opened the car door, got in, and drove away. He Kedai

stared at the Cherokee’s back, hesitated for a moment, and then drove after it.

Chen Hu saw the Toyota King following closely in the rearview mirror and couldn’t help but laugh. This kid, he’s going to follow me?
He Kedai, you’ve gone too far.

The Cherokee and the Toyota King drove into the downtown area one after the other. At a red light, the Cherokee braked suddenly, and the Toyota King, which was following closely
behind couldn’t brake in time and crashed into the Cherokee’s rear bumper. With a loud bang, the Toyota King’s headlight shattered.

A traffic policeman walked quickly from the police station and knocked on He Kedai’s car window, “Pull the car over to the side.”

Damn it, Chen Hu, I was trying to help you, and you’re playing with me! He Kedai cursed and was about to
get out of the car . Chen Hu had already gotten out of the car. He took out his work ID and said to the traffic police, "Sorry, these are all vehicles from the procuratorate,
on official business. We'll handle this ourselves."

The traffic police looked at Chen Hu's ID and handed it back to him. Then he looked at He Ke's car's license plate and said,

"Your car is fine. The Toyota King's license plate isn't for the procuratorate, is it?"

"The Toyota King has a regular plate, for work convenience. We have official business, can we go now?"

The traffic police saluted Chen Hu and waved his hand.

"Go on, don't try any more driving tricks on me."

Chen Hu said "thank you," and leaned against the Toyota King's window, whispering, "Kid, are you stupid?
Keep , don't rear-end me again."

Chen Hu returned to the Cherokee and parked it in front of the self-service store. After getting out of the car, he saw the Toyota King obediently follow him and
park five meters away.

He Ke got out of the car and squatted down to look at the shattered headlight.

"Chen Hu, are you trying to get me some weapons?"

Chen Hu asked, his hands in his pockets.

“Let me teach you a lesson. Next time you follow me, don’t get ripped off. You damaged my rear bumper, how are you going to pay for
it?”

“I haven’t even made you pay for my headlights yet, that’s at least eight hundred yuan.”

“You’ve completely smashed the Toyota King, and you, Young Master He, are just throwing away a bicycle. So, what do you want
?”

He Kedai stood up, nodded slyly, and said, “I originally wanted to help you with something, but now, I don’t.”

“Fine, let’s go our separate ways, don’t follow me anymore.”

Chen Hu opened the Cherokee door. He Kedai stopped him: “Wait, this time you follow behind my car,
five meters away, be careful not to rear-end me.”

“Follow you? What for? To shoot birds?”

“You’ll know when we get there, you won’t regret it.” He

Kedai got into the Toyota King and drove towards the highway.

Chen Hu followed closely in his car, his intuition telling him that He Kedai might be playing the trick of using someone else to do his dirty work again.

The two cars entered the highway entrance. He Ke stopped at the entrance, paid 20 yuan for both cars,
the roadblock rose, and the two cars sped off at 160 kilometers per hour.

A sign appeared on the highway: "Shenling Exit 50 meters ahead." The Toyota Dynasty turned at the exit, and
the Cherokee followed closely behind.

The car entered a scenic area with towering ancient trees and babbling rivers—this was the world-famous Shenling.

The Toyota Dynasty slowed down, waiting for the Cherokee to catch up.

He Ke braked, got out of the car, and stood in front of the Cherokee.

"Chen Hu, we're almost there. I need to discuss something with you."

Chen Hu jumped out, looking down at the hundred-meter-deep ravine, and couldn't help but recall Tao Suling's fall down the slope.

"Mr. He, are you going to push me down?" Chen Hu joked.

"You'd be lucky if you didn't push me down. Just keep going, we're almost there. Your car is too conspicuous;
the words 'Prosecutor' on the license plate aren't welcome here."

"Where are you taking me?" Chen Hu scratched his scar, a suspicious look on his face.

"I told you, you'll know when we get there. If I tell you now, I'm afraid you won't have the guts to go in. I have a suggestion: find
somewhere to park your car, then get in my car, and I'll sneak you in."

"That's mysterious enough. Can you really get in?"

"Maybe. I have a special pass here, it's my dad's stuff. They only recognize people, not people."

"So, you came here prepared today, deliberately running into me?"

"I wouldn't say prepared. Meeting you, it just popped into my head. The place we're going to isn't
important , but it's important to you. If you change your mind, we'll turn back."

"You mean, this is a bit risky?"

"Yeah, if it goes well, it'll be a close call; if it goes badly, it'll be both thrilling and dangerous."

Chen Hu scratched his scar.

"If you're playing games, I'll definitely give you a beating. Come on, let's find a place to park."

The Toyota King and Cherokee started their engines and slowly drove forward, arriving at a small hotel on Fang Street.

Chen Hu parked his car in front of the small hotel, got into his Toyota King, and sat next to He Kedai.

He Kedai took a red pass with white lettering from the glove compartment and placed it on the windshield.

"What the hell is this?" Chen Hu said, taking the pass down to examine it. He noticed the city government's stamp on it;
he had never seen this kind of pass before. The number was 02.

"How many passes like this are there?"

"I know, this one belongs to my dad. There can't be more than five, right?"

Chen Hu put the pass back on the windshield.

"Chen Hu, how's things going with you and Xiaoyu?"

"You still want to pry into other people's privacy. He Kedai, you went too far by hiring Ye Baoxin, and now you want to play this game?"

"It's just concern between friends. You might not admit it's my friend, but Xiaoyu is my friend, of course,
a friend from before. I know her a little. She's very competitive, and her intuition is extremely sharp. You don't even need to
say anything; she can tell what you're thinking."

"What's wrong with that?"

“That’s the trouble. You have no idea how you offended her so easily. Maybe it was just a
glance, a slight twitch of your eyebrow, that offended her.” Chen

Hu felt uneasy. He Kedai knew Jiao Xiaoyu better than he did.

“Let’s not talk about this. He Kedai, you were involved in the Colorful Plaza project. We’ll need you to
investigate and gather evidence for some things later. When you have free time, sort out your problems, explain them thoroughly, and get out of
this mess as soon as possible. Then you can go back to what you were doing.”

“Thank you. The only thing I don’t know is what to do next. How about going abroad?”

“Why don’t you ask about your old friend Jiao Dongfang?”

“He’s in daycare. So many uncles and aunties are teaching him to read and write. He doesn’t need me to worry about him. You
alone are enough. He’s no longer my focus. I’m concerned about someone else now.”

“Who?”

He Kedai didn't answer. A "

No Honking" sign appeared twenty meters ahead. Toyota Wang slowly stopped.

"Director Chen, do you see the fork in the road?"

To Chen Hu's left was a fork in the road, a gap carved into a mountainside, a 30-degree angled granite
slope, a two-lane concrete road, ancient trees reaching for the sky—very secluded.

"I see it. Shall we go in?"

"I've changed my mind." He Kedai started the engine. "We're not going through this gate; the security is extremely tight."

Toyota Wang drove past the intersection and continued forward.

"Mr. He, what place is this?"

He Kedai's expression was somewhat tense. After driving more than 500 meters, he said with a cold smile, "Director Chen, I don't
trust the reliability of any system. You know, of course, I'm referring to all government systems, including the public security, procuratorate
, and judicial systems. Every system is bound to malfunction. There are too many examples of this. My father was
an , and he still malfunctioned. The bureaucratic system is unreliable. The system has been infiltrated; there are no secrets left to
protect."

Chen Hu realized that He Kedai was no simpler than Jiao Dongfang. "

What are you trying to say?"

"Jiao Dongfang and I are very different. One difference is that he treated the system as his personal tool,
which is why he's so deeply involved. I've never trusted this system; I've only used it to a limited extent, keeping my distance.
Do you understand what I'm saying? That's what politics is. As for my father, his tragedy lies in the fact that he himself is
part of the system."

Chen Hu felt that He Kedai's words made some sense. There could be traitors within the procuratorate, and it was
possible that someone had leaked information to Jiao Dongfang. But he didn't want He Kedai's feigned detachment to succeed.

"Mr. He, you've told the truth about one thing: you also used the system to a limited extent. That's
privilege, so I advise you not to portray yourself as an innocent child. As for your father, he didn't
have problems because the system had problems; rather, his problems caused the system to have problems. You've reversed cause and
effect ."

He Kedai shook his head dismissively.

"What is cause and what is effect? We could debate this for a year and still not reach a conclusion." "I still believe the system is
the problem. It provides temptations and opportunities for some people; it can turn good people into bad ones. An individual's character
is insignificant in the face of the system. Perhaps you'll realize I'm right when you've risen to a higher position. However,
I'm not here to discuss theoretical issues with you today. I trust you as a person, so I'm bypassing the procuratorial system
to meet with you alone. I don't trust the system; it could kill me, but I trust you."

"Thank you, although I don't agree with your point of view. Where do we go now?"

"Go around to the back of the mountain, to avoid the trouble the system will cause."

Toyota stopped at the foot of the mountain.

"Let's climb up, just for fun."

"Climb up? Is there scenery up there?"

"There is scenery, there are stories, it's just tiring." “

Yeah… let’s climb!”

He Kedai and Chen Hu got out of the car.

The mountain wasn’t steep, but there was no path. A wooden sign stood at the bottom of the slope: Climbing Prohibited!

He Kedai pointed to the sign and said, “This is the system. Not just anyone can put up this sign. It
tells you that climbing is prohibited, but it doesn’t give a reason.”

The hillside was covered with bushes and piles of rocks. There was no good scenery, and even if it were allowed, no one would climb it.
He Kedai and Chen Hu reached the summit in less than half an hour. Suddenly, dense, tall, ancient pines appeared, and
the sound of flowing water filled the air.

They passed through the woods and came to the sunny side of the hillside. Below them stretched a three-meter-high iron fence, several kilometers long—
impenetrable not only by humans but even by dogs.

"We're here," He Kedai wiped the sweat from his brow, saying, "Enjoy the scenery."

Chen Hu's gaze pierced through the hexagonal holes in the iron fence down the sunny slope. He saw a
large courtyard dominated by a three-story building with flying eaves, bracket sets, and glazed tile roofs. A waterfall flowed into a stream within the courtyard, then continued downwards.

The ancient trees obscured the view, and no one was visible in the courtyard. "What kind of place is this?" Chen Hu wondered. "If
it's a private villa, it can't be enclosed on the mountain, and it can't have such a grand setup; if it's a government office, it wouldn't be located
so far from the city center.

" "Unfortunately, I can't take you inside. You're a prosecutor; without a search warrant, if you barge in and get
caught , it'll be difficult to explain." "I originally intended to take you in with my car pass, but I changed my mind, for the sake of your career."

"This is... a rather mysterious place, isn't it?"

He Ke looked around to make sure no one was watching, then lowered his voice and said, "Jiao Pengyuan's private villa was funded
and supervised by my father. It's highly confidential; almost no one knows about

it." "Hmm, I

see." "Director Chen, whether you can get inside in the future depends on your connections. But you must keep it a secret for me
and not tell your system that I provided the information. Secretary Jiao is still in power; I don't want to cause trouble."

"Unfortunately, I didn't bring a camera."

"Chen Hu, let's go down. Maybe someone is watching us with binoculars."

The two went down the mountain.

On the way back, Chen Hu smoked one cigarette after another. If this situation was true, it would be extremely serious.
The municipal government allocated special funds to build a private villa for the municipal party secretary—this was unprecedented corruption. Could it be true? He
had some doubts.

"Mr. He, are you confident about the situation you reported?"

"Confident? I can't say yes." As I just said, the system is malfunctioning. Haven't you heard that
corruption become a systemic problem? Since it's a system, it can create all sorts of pretexts. I've done this kind of thing many times myself. Maybe
this place isn't called Jiao Pengyuan Villa, or I can even guarantee it isn't called Jiao Pengyuan Villa. They could just give it any name,
like the Third Municipal Party Committee Guesthouse, or a retirement home for retired cadres, and everything would be legal. I'm not sure; I
'm just providing a lead. Systemic corruption can always find all sorts of pretexts. In the end, it's very difficult to pin
the corruption on an individual—there are official seals, approvals! Why do so many people dare to engage in corruption?
Because when things go wrong, the system covers for them. Chen Hu, isn't this a characteristic of socialism with Chinese characteristics?

Chen Hu suddenly remembered a philosopher's words, "Pain makes one's thinking clearer," and He Kedai's mind was
becoming increasingly clear.

"Mr. He, if your father's problems hadn't been exposed, and he was still the Executive Vice Mayor, what would you have done?"

He Kedai slipped a laser disc into the car, and soft violin music immediately filled the room.

"Hard to say. Chen Hu, do you like watching football?"

"I wouldn't call myself a fan, but I'm alright." "

Football is corrupt now, with referee bribery and match-fixing. The system is so convenient,
a bit like football, but even more powerful. Those who have the power to use the system are both players and
referees ; they attack when they can, and if things go wrong, they immediately change roles,
transforming from player to referee, calling fouls and awarding penalties. Do you think they can't win? Haha, definitely win. I'm not as aggressive as
Jiao Dongfang , probably because my father's wealth isn't as great as Jiao Dongfang's father's official position. Honestly, if
my dad hadn't gotten into trouble, I really don't know what kind of person I would have become. The system is so useful, so
tempting ; even a fool can become a tycoon."

"Mr. He, when you use the system to benefit yourself, do you feel guilty?"

"Of course not. Not even a little bit guilty. It's not like I'm stealing, robbing, or cheating;
I'm using power. If you want to say I feel a little superior, a little proud, that's true. " Sometimes, there's even
a sense of accomplishment, being able to control the national economy and people's livelihood—it's a symbol of entering mainstream society. Back then, I truly
felt like I could bring prosperity to the nation with a single word. You'll never understand that feeling unless you've been in that position. To use an advertising slogan, it tastes fantastic
.”

Chen Hu sneered.

“You're wrong, it should be ‘one word can destroy a nation.’”

“Here we go again, don't you? It absolutely felt like I could bring prosperity to the nation with a single word. Let me give you a personal example. I
had a real estate project that required two thousand bungalows. We went around to all the alleys with a large entourage, and I said
I'd demolish it in two months. And it was demolished in a flash. Some of the old houses were six hundred years old, inhabited by
high-ranking officials from the Ming and Qing dynasties. See? They were demolished just like that. Two thousand houses meant five or six thousand people, all moved to the suburbs.
Back then , I truly felt more powerful than the emperor, quite like I was making history.”

“And then what? What kind of houses did you build?”

“Before I could build any, my father had an accident.” " Qian Zhong is denying everything and won't issue me the permit to sell my foreign-owned housing.
That place is still deserted, and who knows when it will be."

"So you want to take revenge on Jiao Dongfang and his father?"

"It's not revenge, it's seeking social justice. Those who deserve to go to hell should go to hell."

At this moment, two Audis and a Mercedes-Benz appeared on the opposite side. The first Audi had its police lights flashing.

He Kedai hurriedly said, "Quickly lower your head! Quickly!"

Chen Hu lowered his head. The Toyota Wang and the convoy passed each other.

"It's probably Secretary Jiao's car. I recognize the license plate."

He Kedai looked back and saw that the convoy had already gone far away.

"Get up, Director Chen. It's not convenient for you if they see you."

Chen Hu looked out the back window but saw nothing. He combed his hair and said, "There were three cars in total.
Whose Mercedes-Benz 600 is it?"

"I don't know, but they're definitely going to the villa. Luckily, we didn't force our way in. We almost had
a battle." The convoy

slowly drove into the heavily guarded villa.

Chen Hu and He Ke, who were on the mountaintop, could only see a small part of the villa; the tall trees and mountains blocked
their view. Its scale was no less than that of an imperial palace in the past. Waterfalls, streams, bridges, pavilions, and
winding corridors—everything a palace had was here; dance halls, private cinemas, saunas, massage parlors, swimming pools, and gyms…
Here, you could find things that weren't in the imperial palace.

The lead car in the convoy was a guard vehicle, parked at the entrance. The other two cars crossed the white marble bridge and stopped in the driveway of
the main building .

Jiao Pengyuan got out of his car, went to the Mercedes-Benz 600, opened the door, and invited the person inside to get out. This
detail made the plainclothes officer in charge of guarding the main building nervous, because he knew that Secretary Jiao never opened the car door for anyone.
This person must be of a higher status than Secretary Jiao. Who could it be? The person

who got out was just an ordinary, unfamiliar middle-aged man.

Jiao Pengyuan and the middle-aged man hurriedly entered the building.

The two cars drove away from the driveway.

This was a rare Chinese-style living room.

One corner was a leisure area centered around three huge Taihu stones. Surrounding the Taihu stones were lush green
plants and a clear pond with hundreds of goldfish swimming around. Clear water continuously
flowed down from the top of the Taihu stones, curving into a stream and flowing outside. If it weren't for the walls and glass on all four sides, it would be impossible to tell whether this was indoors
or outdoors.

"Please sit down,"

Jiao Pengyuan said, gesturing to the rattan chair.

The middle-aged man sat down, admiring the rustic charm of the living room with great interest.

"Secretary Jiao, you're truly a living saint!"

"Actually, I rarely come here; it's my friends who come more often."

Jiao Pengyuan took a disposable cup, filled it with water from the Taihu stone dripping basin, and handed it to the middle-aged man.

"Real spring water, drawn from the mountain, and electronically disinfected—absolutely pollution-free. Please."

The middle-aged man took a sip.

"Wonderful, wonderful! Clear and sweet, and it's fresh water—how did you come up with such a thing?
It's such a waste to let such good mineral water go to waste!

" "It's inexhaustible. Would you like another cup?"

"Thank you. I hope I can drink your mineral water again next time I come here. If this place has changed owners by then,
I won't be able to enjoy it."

The middle-aged man directly addressed Jiao Pengyuan's concern, leaving him speechless with disappointment.

"Is it absolutely safe here, Secretary Jiao?"

"No problem." "

What about those armed police?"

"I personally selected them all, and I also arranged jobs for their families."

The middle-aged man smiled coldly. "Your private guard?" "

I wouldn't say that. I'm still the political commissar of the garrison. However, they are only responsible to me personally. They are all
extremely loyal."

The middle-aged man lit a cigarette, took two puffs, and said, "Ceau?escu had a thousand guards, but in the end, they couldn't
save his life. Let's talk business. Secretary Jiao, do you think the Central Committee will approve your resignation?"

Jiao Pengyuan bent down, picked up a goldfish from the ground, looked at it, and then put it back in the water.

"I don't think so. It's not that they like me, but they're afraid they don't have the guts. They need stability more.
What do you think?"

"I think so. The earth will keep turning no matter who leaves. So I advise you to be mentally prepared."

Jiao Pengyuan glanced at the middle-aged man, then turned his gaze back to the goldfish in the pond.

"Secretary Jiao, did you bring the black leather notebook that was found in He Qizhang's house?"

“It’s right here. I’ll go get it. Please wait a moment. ” Jiao

Pengyuan left the reception room, walked down a long corridor, passed three doors, and arrived at his bedroom. He
unlocked the door, turned on the light, and the room, previously darkened by heavy curtains, was instantly illuminated.

A naked Song Huihui stood before him, smiling shyly. "

You've come to see me, haven't you?

" Her voice was soft and high-pitched, like a kitten's. "

You've been waiting for so long; I've been looking forward to you every day." Her

voice was ethereal, sometimes near, sometimes far.

Jiao Pengyuan was stunned. He saw Song Huihui gracefully approach, extending her smooth, alabaster arm towards him.

He hurriedly reached out, wanting to grasp her hand. "

You've caused me so much suffering, Secretary."

Song Huihui stepped back, back again, lightly pressing herself against the wall, becoming a figure in a painting.

Jiao Pengyuan finally understood that Song Huihui was gone forever. Hanging in a large frame on the wall was a life-size
photograph of Song Huihui, naked. "

Alas! Huihui, I miss you so much." Jiao Pengyuan He sighed deeply, sat on the sofa, his gaze lingering on Song Huihui. Memories
of the past sweetness mingled with the bitterness of today flooded his heart.

Jiao Pengyuan looked through the viewfinder of his Nikon camera at Song Huihui standing before the purple corduroy curtains.

Photography was his fourth greatest passion. His third was collecting world-renowned watches, his second was his fondness for
passionate women, and his first was politics.

Although photography ranked fourth in his life, even professional photographers dared not rival him. He
not only owned over twenty top-of-the-line cameras such as Nikon, Rolleiflex, and Lefebvre, along with various lenses and equipment worth millions
of yuan, but he was also quite accomplished in photographic technique. On certain solemn occasions, he would impulsively walk from the stage to
the audience, raising his camera to take pictures, acting as a journalist. His special status allowed him access to certain
restricted areas for photography, making his photographs valuable, even historically and documentary in nature.

"Huihui, raise your right arm and put it behind your head. Let me see how the pose is."

"Being your model is such a hassle."

Song Huihui bent her right arm and placed it behind her long hair.

"Is this right?" Jiao Pengyuan rested his chin on his hand and stared at the camera

for a long time without saying a word. "

Is it going to work? You're wearing clothes, I'm going to catch a cold." "Sorry, I was distracted." Jiao Pengyuan looked down at the viewfinder. "It's good, but your left hand isn't in the right place, it's too stiff. Put your left hand there, cover it a little bit." "Just this once, if you still can't get the hang of it, I'm going on strike." Song Huihui's coquettishness only fueled Jiao Pengyuan's interest in taking the picture. "No, no, maybe a great photo is about to be born. Hold on a little longer, relax your hand, yes, that's the pose… no, there's something wrong with it… yes, like this!" Jiao Pengyuan's gaze left the camera viewfinder, carefully walked around the tripod, went to the coffee table, took , and walked to Song Huihui, who was three meters away. "I bet you, keep your right hand behind your head, and hold this flower in your left hand, use the flower to cover your secret, it'll definitely reveal a hidden gem." Song Huihui took the tulip, smelled it, and placed it below her lower abdomen. " Excellent, absolutely a work of art. Relax a little more, no, the lighting is still a bit off."

Jiao Pengyuan left the tripod and went to the American umbrella lamp, readjusting its angle. Feeling everything
was perfect, he returned to the camera.

"I'm starting now, relax, it's okay to move around, I'll shoot continuously."

With a flurry of shouts and yells, he fired an entire roll of film in one go.

"Alright."

Jiao Pengyuan draped a silk robe over Huihui and said excitedly, "You've worked hard. Just wait for the great
photo to be released!"

"I'm not tired," Song Huihui smiled gently. "Secretary, you're the one who's worked hard,
busy for half a day for a little girl like me."

"Busy for half a day?" Jiao Pengyuan turned off the umbrella lamp. "I should say I've been busy for you, little girl
, for two whole years. To take this photo well, I specially imported three umbrella lamps from the United States, the latest
Nikon from Japan, and the best tripod and several lenses from Germany. You can't imagine how many people worked for you.
The film also needs to be sent to Hong Kong for developing. I told He Qizhang to find the best technician to make it 11b1,
to be completed as express and confidential. At the same time, a lightbox needs to be made in Hong Kong, scanning your photo onto special paper,
like an advertising lightbox, but with a gold-plated frame. Once everything is finished, ship it back to me and put it in my villa
."

"You want to exhibit me?"

"Just for me to see."

“What a hassle, how much money would that cost? Besides, even if we get it developed in Hong Kong, it's not necessarily safe. I'm on TV
every day ; people in Hong Kong might recognize me. If word gets out, it'll be so embarrassing,”

Jiao Pengyuan laughed heartily. “In Hong Kong, a few dollars can settle anything. Capitalists
are very business-minded.”

The photos entered Hong Kong through customs without inspection and were transported to the villa. Song Huihui
was stunned ; she hadn't expected herself to be so stunningly beautiful. One was on canvas, treated in a classical oil painting
style, set in a three-tiered frame of rosewood; the other was a lightbox painting set in a gilded titanium frame, which
brought the person to life when the light was on.

"Huihui, which one do you like?"

Song Huihui nestled in Jiao Pengyuan's arms and said, "I'm not that pretty, am I?"

"You're even prettier than in the painting. How's my photography skills? Not bad."

"You could practically open a photo studio, you're really good at it. I'm really not that pretty, it must have been the Hong Kong photographer
who beautified me."

Jiao Pengyuan stroked Song Huihui's long hair, "It's my heart that beautified you."

"Thank you."

Song Huihui gently offered her lips.

Jiao Pengyuan licked his chapped lips with the tip of his tongue. Due to his anxiety and stress, his lips had cracked in several
places, and it hurt.

He sighed deeply, his gaze reluctantly leaving Song Huihui's picture frame, and went into the inner room.

A huge Japanese imported waterbed once again stimulated his senses.
He had spent countless intoxicating nights on the waterbed that rose and fell with his body, but now it was empty. He never wanted to step into this bedroom again, unless he
had no choice like today.

He opened the door of the Italian-imported wardrobe, pressed a hidden button, and an entire
wall behind the bed, clad in white wood trim, slowly rose up, revealing a 60-square-meter secret room. It had no windows, but
a very discreet door led to a cave. Even Song Huihui was unaware of this secret room; it was designed and secretly constructed by a
Hong Kong . After He Qizhang's death, only Jiao Pengyuan knew this secret.

Jiao Pengyuan's initial instruction for designing this secret room was for escape in case of emergencies or war, but its
actual purpose was to store classified documents.

Although the walls were windowless, central air conditioning kept the air fresh and the temperature comfortable.

There was a large bed, a desk, several sofas, and most notably, a safe. On the wall was a city map, clearly marking every alleyway
. The most remarkable feature of this map was its depiction of the city's underground air-raid shelter
routes —which line led to the underground command post, which to the parking lot, which to the airport, and which
to major intersections—all were clearly shown.

Standing before the map, Jiao Pengyuan suddenly had a thought that even he found absurd: what would happen if he suddenly disappeared from the
city ? Escaping through the tunnels was no problem, but could he board a plane like Lin Biao?
No, absolutely not. If he were arrested, would his guards resist? Would the military region protect him? It seemed the
possibility was extremely slim. Raising a private army in China was incredibly difficult; even Lin Biao only managed a small
fleet.

Jiao Pengyuan's dejected gaze left the map and moved to a small safe. He set the combination—it was
Song Huihui 's birthday—and the door opened.

He took out He Qizhang's black leather notebook, which Hao Xiangshou had been forced to hand over, from the first compartment.

He had read this notebook carefully three times. Some of the things He Qizhang had recorded were things he knew, some he
didn't; some were directly related to him, some indirectly;
the sheer amount of money, personnel, and funds involved was astonishing even to him. He was unsure how to handle this black notebook,
but one thing he was certain of: if it fell into the hands of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection or the Anti-Corruption Bureau, it would inevitably cause a storm.

He held the notebook in his hand. Should he hand it over? If he handed it over, he would lose his trump card, his bargaining power; if he didn't, they wouldn't
protect him, and might even collude with the Anti-Corruption Bureau to harm him. Jiao Pengyuan hesitated, holding the notebook in his hand. He glanced at his watch; fifteen minutes had passed. Any longer and the other party would become impatient. He locked the safe, went to the outer room, pressed a button, and the walls returned to normal, completely concealing the secret room inside. "Huihui, please protect me from the unseen forces." He glanced at Song Huihui's photo, left the room, and returned to his distinguished guest. "Sorry to keep you waiting," Jiao Pengyuan said apologetically, sitting down in the wicker chair next to the middle-aged man. "It's alright. Taking out treasures always requires some thought. But you've come to your senses." The middle-aged man seemed to disregard Jiao Pengyuan. "Is this place absolutely safe?" "Of course. I'm not receiving anyone today. Just you and me. The guards won't come in without permission, so don't worry. I'm still the Party Secretary; I can still control the situation."

"Alright, give it to me."

Jiao Pengyuan handed the black leather notebook to the middle-aged man.

"This is it."

The middle-aged man opened the notebook, his hand quickly flipping through the pages, sometimes pausing, sometimes flipping through several pages at a time.
Soon , he finished flipping through them all and put the notebook into his briefcase.

"Secretary Jiao, just based on the fact that He Qizhang wrote all this down, he truly deserved to die, truly deserved to die!
He Qizhang died well, died at the right time. The conversation you had with him that time had an effect. Now, all we can do
is try to salvage the situation and keep your position."

Jiao Pengyuan's heart skipped a beat. The last thing he wanted to remember was his last
conversation with He Qizhang in the early hours of May 3rd.

From midnight on May 2nd to the early hours of May 3rd, Jiao Pengyuan endured every agonizing minute. For him,
that night felt like a century.

At midnight, he was making love in Song Huihui's bedroom in the Lakeside Community when he was suddenly
interrupted that was the beginning of his nightmare. Shen Shi said on the phone that He Qizhang requested an urgent meeting regarding a 100 million yuan issue.
He immediately realized the seriousness of the situation; the ship was already leaking, and if the leak wasn't plugged in time, it might
soon sink. The pleasures of their bedroom suddenly seemed insignificant, and he immediately returned to the municipal party committee.

His meeting with He Qizhang in his office was very unpleasant. The 100 million yuan, originally intended for highway construction
, was now tied up in a fundraising scheme in H city, leaving him both furious and deeply regretful. He had personally approved the fundraising,
and therefore bore significant responsibility. Moreover, since his son, Dongfang, had directly planned and handled the scheme, the responsibility was even greater;
if investigated, Dongfang would be unable to escape accountability. In his desperation, in front of Shen Shi, he rebuked He Qizhang for misappropriating
funds and ordered him to immediately find a way to remedy the situation. He Qizhang left hesitantly, still feeling uneasy. Even
a god couldn't conjure up 100 million yuan overnight. The important thing was to get He Qizhang to hand over the signed approval
slip for participating in the fundraising. Even if there was an investigation, he could get away with it, at most bearing the responsibility for negligence. Of course,
Dongfang was more suitable to come forward and get the approval slip.

He picked up the phone and dialed the president's office at the Horizon Hotel.

"Dongfang, come to my office immediately. No, wait... don't come to my office, Xiao Shen
is on duty, don't let him see you. Come to the room where I take a nap."

His son's voice came from the phone: "So urgent, Dad?"

"If you don't hurry, you're dead. Stop sneezing and hurry up."

Before Dongfang arrived, Jiao Pengyuan wanted to give him a good scolding as soon as they met. If it weren't for your bewitching idea
to participate in this fundraising and get a 35% return, your old man wouldn't have been dragged into this mess, and things have
gotten out of control now! But when his son rushed over and stood in front of him with a guilty look on his face, he didn't get angry. "Yes,
what's the use of getting angry now?"

Jiao Dongfang said emotionally, seeing his father's worried face. "Dad, you've gotten thinner again these past few days."

Jiao Pengyuan sighed. "Guan Yu lost Jingzhou due to carelessness. He lost not only a piece of land, but also his
life. My territory is much larger and more important than Jingzhou. If a similar
tragedy of losing Jingzhou were to occur, our fate might be even worse than that of Guan Yu and his son. The Guan family father and son are dead, but
they left behind a good reputation; the Jiao family father and son will probably be cursed by everyone. When that happens, we
won't even have the right to defend ourselves."

"Dad, I know your worry. You're worried that your approval document will leave a hidden danger."

"A hidden danger?" Jiao Pengyuan lit a cigarette with a match. "The hidden danger has become an open fire. Once the fire spreads,
it will burn down a city in an instant."

Jiao Dongfang moved the ashtray next to his father.

“Dad, I’ve already considered your concerns. As soon as Li Haoyi got into trouble, I thought of your approval slip.
It’s very unsafe for it to be in He Qizhang’s hands. I’m thinking of meeting with He Qizhang tonight to make him hand over the slip and
take full responsibility.”

“Hmm, that would be best. Qizhang is a man of principle; he should understand that
when no egg remains unbroken. Invite him immediately; he just left me to discuss a solution with Ma Zhongliang.”

“Then I’ll be going. Dad, is there anything else you need?”

Jiao Pengyuan turned and lay down on the bed; he was utterly exhausted.

Jiao Dongfang moved away quietly.

The floorboards creaked and split open from the middle to the side, revealing a bottomless black hole beneath.
Lying on the bed, Jiao Pengyuan first felt the bed shake violently; he thought it was an earthquake. Then, the bed tilted, and
the entire bed fell into the black hole. A cold wind howled in his ears as his body plummeted downwards.

He broke out in a cold sweat, checked his watch—it was two in the morning.

The phone was still ringing. Jiao Pengyuan rubbed his bloodshot eyes; if the ringing hadn't woken him from his nightmare,
he would have continued to suffer the torment of falling into a black hole.

His hand touched the phone, but he didn't pick up the receiver. Who was calling in the middle of the night? This confidential phone
number was known to very few people and was generally not used except in emergencies. Who could it be?

He picked up the phone, and an old, hoarse voice came through: "Old Jiao?"

"It's me."

Jiao Pengyuan recognized the voice and immediately became respectful.

"Old Jiao, your son called me. I know everything. Dongfang's influence isn't enough;
He Qizhang probably won't listen to him. I think you should talk to He Qizhang yourself; he'll listen."

"I... okay."

The other person hesitated for a moment on the phone. Based on past experience, Jiao Pengyuan knew that what followed was the most
important. It was the other person's old habit to hesitate before giving his most important opinion.

"Old Jiao, the overall matter ends with you. Your matter ends with He Qizhang."

The phone was abruptly hung up, meaning he had to comply. Jiao Pengyuan pondered these two sentences repeatedly. The meaning of the second sentence
was clear: all unfavorable leads had to be stopped with He Qizhang, but how could this be
achieved ? The more he thought about the first sentence, the more terrifying it became: the matter ended with him, Jiao Pengyuan, which meant he might be the one to be
thrown out!

If everything could end with He Qizhang, he wouldn't be in any major trouble. Yes, he
needed to talk to Qizhang, but where should he begin?

He lay in bed, unable to fall asleep again. He drifted in and out of sleep until 4:35, just as he was starting to feel drowsy, when
his son called.

"Dad, He Qizhang is a damn scoundrel! At this crucial moment, he's trying to outsmart us; he refuses to hand over..."
Not only did he issue the approval slip, but he also spoke rudely, calling you Chiang Kai-shek. I gave him a good scolding. He just left; if he
gets hit by a car on his way out, everything will be fine!

Jiao Pengyuan wasn't surprised. How could He Qizhang so easily hand over the approval slip? He actually thought it
was his son who spoke rudely; how could he insult the deputy mayor, especially since He Qizhang had leverage over him?

"Dongfang, you're being ridiculous. You can't confront Deputy Mayor He head-on. Call him and apologize."

"But he won't hand over the approval slip!"

"Don't worry about it. Call him and apologize immediately. It's all your fault for insisting on participating in that woman's
fundraising . What great things can a woman accomplish? Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous."

At 6:15 a.m. on May 3rd, He Qizhang rushed from the home of female model Cui Yan to Jiao Pengyuan's lounge in the municipal party committee office building .
As was customary, Jiao Pengyuan would usually have his secretary, Shen Shi, call He Qizhang, but just now,
Secretary him. He Qizhang knew there must be something special, so

he hurried over. Upon entering, he didn't find anything unusual or urgent. What was unusual was the presence of a bottle of
Moutai and two wine glasses on the coffee table. Although Secretary Jiao drank a little, he had never invited anyone to drink in the early morning. "

Secretary Jiao, what's this?"

"Sit, sit, Qizhang. We've never drunk together in the early morning before, but we'll make an exception today."

He Qizhang sat nervously on the sofa, unsure of Jiao Pengyuan's intentions. This was
the first time he had experienced such confusion; previously, he didn't need Jiao Pengyuan to spell out his intentions.

Jiao Pengyuan picked up the bottle, and He Qizhang reached out to take it, but Jiao Pengyuan smiled and pressed him back down on the sofa.

“Let me do it. You know I never pour drinks for others, but I'll make an exception today.”

Jiao Pengyuan poured wine for He Qizhang first, then poured one for himself.

“Come on, Qizhang, let’s drink this.”

They clinked glasses and both downed their drinks in one gulp.

“Secrets shouldn’t be shared with everyone. Qizhang, it’s just you and me now. Tell me the truth, besides the 100 million that’s been tied up in a losing position
possibly going down the drain, what other troubles do we have?”

He Qizhang hesitated, then picked up the bottle and let Jiao Pengyuan pour him a drink, filling his own glass as well.

"Qizhang, don't worry. I'm still the Party Secretary of the Municipal Committee, and the public security, procuratorate, and courts are under my leadership, including the anti-corruption
department. You're also a member of the anti-corruption leading group. We have the ability to control the situation. I'm just explaining the situation to
put my mind at ease."

"Okay, actually you know the main situation. Apart from that 100 million yuan being misappropriated from highway construction funds, in recent years,
sigh, if they were serious about us, adding up the embezzled taxes and the taxes that should have been turned over to the central government,
it would be close to 20 billion yuan."

"20 billion yuan? That much?" "

It's about 20 billion yuan, it just depends on whether they're serious. It could be none, or it
could be 20 billion yuan, or even more, it just depends on where they want to put us. People can
say whatever they want."

Due to nervousness, anxiety, and a daze, Jiao Pengyuan knocked over his wine glass, which shattered on the ground.

He Qizhang's heart trembled a few times. He was particularly superstitious when his life was at stake, and this was an ominous sign. He muttered
, "Peace and safety, peace and safety."

Jiao Pengyuan placed his right hand on He Qizhang's shoulder, conveying his brotherly affection.

"Well said, may everything be alright. As the ancients said, 'Better to be a broken piece of jade than a whole piece of tile.' Qizhang, we've worked together for so
many years, sharing joys and sorrows, and our cooperation has been very pleasant. Now that something's happened, I'll take responsibility for what's mine. If
you feel you can't bear the burden, don't worry, I'll shoulder it for you..."

He Qizhang knew his time to stand up for him had come, and he stood up solemnly, saying, "I'd die for a true friend.
Secretary Jiao, with your words, I have everything. Without your and your wife's support, I wouldn't be where I am
today. I'll repay your kindness tenfold. As long as we can salvage the situation, I'll hand over this 180 jin (a unit of weight) to them
and let them decide fate."

Jiao Pengyuan put his arms around He Qizhang's shoulders, "I didn't misjudge you. To have one true friend in life is enough, enough."

He Qizhang glanced at his watch.

“I should go now. It would be inconvenient for you if someone saw me.”

“Alright… take care of yourself.”

Reaching the door, He Qizhang turned back, as if he already sensed that this parting would be forever.

“Secretary Jiao, there’s an ancient poem you surely remember: ‘The wind howls, the Yi River is cold, the hero departs, never
to return!’”

He Qizhang opened the door and walked out resolutely.

Back in the Executive Vice Mayor’s office, He Qizhang took
the pistol and put it in his briefcase.

At seven o’clock, his driver, Du Xinzheng, came to pick him up. He got into the car carrying the heavy briefcase and headed to Yeshanpo to meet
Jiao Dongfang.

The wheels turned, carrying him towards a road of no return.

Clear spring water dripped from the Taihu stones into the fishpond.

Jiao Pengyuan remained silent, tormented by the past. The middle-aged man smiled and wagged his finger. "Secretary Jiao, are you
still saddened by He Qizhang's suicide? There's no need for that. The progress of history is immeasurable; a woman's sentimentality will lead to
mistakes. However, Qizhang died a worthy death, at the right time, which is quite commendable."

"To be honest, I often dream of him."

The middle-aged man patted his briefcase and said, "This booklet of He Qizhang's shows that he also kept something from you.
Secretary Jiao , do you have a photocopy of this booklet?"

"No, I don't think so. I didn't make a photocopy. I don't know if Hao Xiangshou made one before giving it to me."

"Who knows about this booklet? Who has seen it?"

"Hao Xiangshou got it from Chen Hu; Jiao Xiaoyu found it when she searched He Qizhang's house. Zhou
Senlin knew about it. Hao Xiangshou is probably the only one who has seen it in detail; he
wouldn't have handed it over voluntarily if I hadn't asked him for it."

"Does Fang Hao know about this booklet?"

“Fang Hao never mentioned this to me. I think Chen Hu must have reported it to Fang Hao. Chen Hu is Fang Hao
's henchman.”

The middle-aged man stood up.

“Forget about this matter, just pretend it never happened. I'll take my leave.”

“I'll see you out.”

“Please stay. Forget about this meeting too.”

The middle-aged man shook hands with Jiao Pengyuan lightly and said goodbye. “Goodbye.”

“If I take a few more minutes of your time, do you think your father, or the Central Committee, will approve my resignation?”

The middle-aged man smiled bitterly and said, "I'm just a businessman; I haven't been involved in politics for a long time. Submitting your resignation, in my opinion,
was your mistake. You gave them an excuse; you offered it voluntarily, so even if it's approved, you have no
grounds for complaint . However, it won't happen anytime soon. There's a process to go through, weighing the pros and cons, calculating the operational costs,
predicting the consequences, and finding a replacement. Old Jiao, as my father said, this matter ends with you
. Take care of yourself."

The empty room was now empty except for Jiao Pengyuan. He paced back and forth restlessly.

So heartless! He hadn't even uttered a word of concern for Dongfang. He knew perfectly well that Dongfang
was imprisoned in a detention center, bearing the brunt of all the consequences for his cronies, yet they
turned a blind eye to their suffering brother, showing no concern whatsoever! No compassion whatsoever!

Dongfang, you've suffered. I can't even protect my own son; what kind of leader am I? The hatred he once
felt for his son, especially the resentment stemming from his son's humiliation of Song Huihui through the videotape incident that led to her suicide,
gradually faded with his son's arrest, leaving only worry and longing.

Jiao Pengyuan picked up the phone and called a deputy director of the Public Security Bureau.

"How is Dongfang doing these days? Is he eating well?"

"Secretary Jiao, I was just about to report to you. The higher-ups have decided to transfer Dongfang to another province or city, but I don't know
the specifics , and I can't find out anything."

"This is outrageous!" Jiao Pengyuan roared into the receiver.

"I'm sorry, I have to hang up. Take care of yourself, Secretary Jiao."

He felt a tightness in his chest, took out six nitroglycerin pills from his pocket, poured them into his palm, and put them under his tongue.

He called a guard to bring them to him and said, "Go to the detention center."

The guard was somewhat taken aback by this instruction. Although he knew that Jiao Dongfang was being held in a detention center, he didn't know if
the leader's visit was a father visiting his son or an inspection. If it was an inspection, why was no one accompanying him?

He didn't ask anything and immediately made arrangements. The motorcade left the villa and headed towards the detention center.

The three vehicles quickly arrived at the detention center. A heavy iron gate, armed guards, and a high wall surrounded it.
Jiao Pengyuan's heart ached. He glanced at the gate and said in a low voice, "Don't go in. Circle the wall
several times."

Just as the driver was about to turn into the gate, he turned the car around and drove onto the perimeter road encircling the detention center.
The first police car, which had already turned onto the gate road, turned back and continued ahead of the Audi, with the rear car following
closely behind .

The detention center, covering more than ten square kilometers, was surrounded by a wide
perimeter . The main road was just outside the perimeter.

Jiao Pengyuan's convoy slowly circled the detention center like an inspection.

The first lap took more than ten minutes.

When the convoy returned to the detention center gate, Jiang Dabing, the police chief, who had learned of Secretary Jiao's visit,
led several detention center officials and officials from the procuratorate stationed at the detention center to greet them at the gate.

Jiang Dabing stood at the front, waiting for the convoy to appear. He saw Secretary Jiao's stern face through the car window .
Just as he was about to open the door and ask him to get out, the Audi suddenly accelerated, sped past, and
disappeared around the corner.

Jiang Dabing dared not leave; what if Secretary Jiao's motorcade circled back? Since Jiao Dongfang's trial,
Secretary Jiao had remained silent, not uttering a word about his son's arrest. Today, this sudden outburst, circling the detention center—this wasn't
an inspection, it was a demonstration!

Jiang Dabing nervously pondered; Secretary Jiao must be returning to the political stage!

He felt it necessary to inform Zhou Senlin, the head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, because Jiao Dongfang's case was handled by the Anti-Corruption Bureau; Jiao Dongfang was being held in a detention center under the city bureau's jurisdiction
only because the procuratorate lacked a detention center. If Secretary Jiao
wanted him released, Zhou Senlin should handle it.

Jiang Dabing said to the detention center warden beside him, "Report to Director Zhou Senlin immediately, saying Secretary Jiao
is still at the detention center. Hurry."

The warden immediately ran back to the gatehouse to make the call.

At this moment, the motorcade circled back to the gate for the second time. Jiang Dabing waved, and the convoy sped off
without .

Zhou Senlin sat in Fang Hao's office, frowning and smoking silently. Fang Hao had just told him bad news: Li Yunlong, the Interpol China Center's officer in charge of extraditing Sun Qi from
the US , called from America—Sun Qi
had disappeared under the cover of the American Mafia.

Fang Hao sat on the sofa in his office, receiving an IV drip, flipping through the files on his lap. The pencil in his hand
trembled . The doctor had told him that his hand nerves might become paralyzed, and he wouldn't be able to hold a pencil anymore.

"Old Zhou, Ge Mengmeng disappeared in Hong Kong, Hao Xiangshou disappeared before we arrived, and now
Sun Qi Interpol not cooperating?"

"I think two unfavorable factors have come together to create this huge predicament. The public security, procuratorate, and judicial systems aren't
a vacuum; corruption inevitably leads to informants. Secretary Fang, shouldn't we investigate from within?"

The phone on the desk rang, and Zhou Senlin picked it up.

"...Um...um...I understand."

Zhou Senlin put down the phone, his face growing even more gloomy.

"Secretary Fang, the detention center called. It was Director Jiang who sent the call. Secretary Jiao is driving two police cars around
the detention center ."

"Drive around? What are they driving around?"

"The convoy is driving around the detention center, circling the isolation road. I don't know what Secretary Jiao's intention is. Director Jiang asked
me to go check it out.

What do you think?" Fang Hao abruptly pulled the IV needle from the back of his hand, a bead of blood immediately oozing from the needle hole. What did this mean?
He couldn't tolerate Jiao Pengyuan's absurd act of exceeding the Party's authority by driving a convoy around the detention center in a demonstration. Fang Hao
slammed his hand on the coffee table, shattering the glass.

"Old Jiao… what does he mean by this! Demonstrating against the Party…"

Fang Hao's angina flared up again, and he clutched his chest, shrinking into the sofa. Zhou Senlin quickly took a nitroglycerin pill from Fang Hao's
pocket and put it in his mouth, then went to pour water.

Zhou Senlin handed the glass to Fang Hao, but he didn't hold it; the glass first fell onto his knee, then
rolled onto the terrazzo floor. The water soaked his trousers.

"Secretary Fang, let's go to the hospital."

"I'll go to the detention center. You'll come with me."

Zhou Senlin knew Fang Hao couldn't handle the ordeal and tried to dissuade him, saying, "I can go to the detention center by myself.
You should go to the hospital."

Fang Hao struggled to his feet from the sofa.

"Detention Center. You and Cai Dabing can't stop him, let's go. Did you hear me? Let's go."

Zhou Senlin helped Fang Hao out of the office, but as soon as they reached the corridor, Fang Hao shook off Zhou Senlin's arm and walked away on his own.
He didn't want the thousands of eyes of the Municipal Party Committee to see his sickness, especially now that the anti-corruption struggle had entered a white-hot stage.

In order to take good care of Fang Hao, Zhou Senlin got into the same car with Fang Hao.

In the car, Zhou Senlin expressed his concerns.

"Secretary Fang, are you afraid that the father and son will meet and collude?"

"Collusion? Let them collude, the more they collude, the more problems will be exposed. I'm worried that if Secretary Jiao
shows up like this, it will shake the confidence of the majority of police officers, which is more terrible than anything else. Also, I'm afraid that the secretary will make a mistake."

"Hmm, you think very deeply. Jiao Xiaoyu's mood hasn't been quite right lately. She has formally asked me to
withdraw from the special task force and be reassigned to another job. I haven't replied yet."

"How is her relationship with Chen Hu?"

"Hard to say. They are very polite to each other when they meet, but they don't talk about anything except work." “

Xiaoyu, that child, her position is too special. It wasn't
unusual for someone like her to appear in the 1950s and 60s; back then, right and wrong were very clear, and people would easily distance themselves from their families.”

Zhou Senlin chuckled. “You're not talking about me, are you? I've expressed that stance too, over a hundred times, and
almost failed to get me admitted to the Party.”

“Sniff?”

“You forgot, I come from a poor landlord family.”

Fang Hao said with a wry smile, “So that's why you've been so cautious these past few decades; that's where the problem lies. My
family background wasn't good either; we were capitalists. In the early days after liberation, very few children of workers and peasants could go to university. The
determinism of did indeed influence the promotion and use of a considerable number of cadres for a long period of history.”

Zhou Senlin sighed, “It even affected university entrance exams. However, Secretary Fang, I still have some concerns.” Recently, I've heard this kind of talk, saying that the reason they're so harsh on Communist Party cadres, ignoring decades
of hard work and merit, even dragging their children down with them, is because they're considered rightists, never truly loyal to the Party, using the anti-corruption campaign to mock the Communist Party, a counter-offensive after long-term oppression by landlords, rich peasants, counter-revolutionaries, bad elements, and rightists. They say if there were another Cultural Revolution, they'd definitely drag them out. The implication is, they're leftists, and we… Zhou Senlin hesitated, knowing Fang Hao had been wrongly labeled a rightist in 1957 and didn't want to revisit painful memories. Fang Hao smiled slightly: "Why did you stop? They say I'm a rightist. Hmph, the extreme left has caused immense damage to our , and now they're using the banner of the extreme left to oppose anti-corruption and protect their privileges. The extreme left, in essence, is privileged thinking, a sense of entitlement, transcending Party discipline and national law , opposing social and public opinion supervision—isn't that privilege? Comrade Xiaoping said we must be wary of the right, but primarily oppose the left." This directive must also be followed in the fight against corruption. Li Haoyi is usually very left-wing, Hao Xiangshou even considers himself a left-wing theorist, and there are also Sun Qi and He Qizhang; they all cling to the planned economy system. Do they really love the planned economy that much? What they want to protect is the privilege of allocating quotas and targets granted to them by the planned economy, using this privilege to reap benefits. In fact, they wouldn't agree to a complete planned economy either; they want to retain market elements and use the dual-track system to their advantage. Old Zhou, the fight against corruption must pay special attention to the entry of power capital into the market, because it will seriously disrupt the economic order and cause monopolies and unfair competition. We must crack down on several major cases like this. The entry of power into the market will not only cause a large-scale loss of state-owned assets, but also lead to political corruption, which is far more terrifying than losing billions! Zhou Senlin secretly felt a chill for Fang Hao. He knew that Fang Hao's theories were in the minority within the municipal party committee, no wonder some people said behind his back that Fang Hao's views had right-wing roots; especially corruption, usually only economic corruption was mentioned, limited to the economic field, but his introduction of the concept of political corruption immediately made it ten times more serious. If someone included Secretary Fang in the category of "opposing the right," the consequences would be terrible. He whispered, "Old Fang, I can accept whatever you say in private. But in the Standing Committee or at meetings of middle-level cadres, should n't you be a little more careful with your words, so as not to give people something to criticize?" Fang Hao turned his head and said, "What, do the people of the Communist Party have any views to hide? In the past, I didn't fully understand what Chairman have no special interests of our own apart from the interests of the people. Now, seeing some cadres of the Communist Party, including some high-ranking cadres, who no longer care about the interests of the people in order to pursue their own interests, I understand the profound meaning of this sentence. Old Zhou, I'm afraid I only have one path left: to devote myself to the cause until my dying breath." “ That’s true, but we still need to be strategic and not be too outspoken. In some special situations, it’s not necessarily a bad thing to say a few things against our conscience. Even Premier Zhou Enlai said things against his conscience in certain situations, let alone us. Things haven’t reached the point where a single word can make or break a nation. I meant well, and perhaps I’m wrong .” “Thank you, Comrade Zhou Senlin.” Fang Hao gently patted Zhou Senlin’s knee. The car arrived at the entrance of the detention center, and Fang Hao immediately saw Jiao Pengyuan’s car slowly driving towards the large iron gate, about fifty meters away. “Quick, park the car across the gate.” " With Fang Hao's command, the driver sped up, heading straight for the detention center gate from the sloping road. Fang Hao's car blocked the entrance. Jiao Pengyuan's Audi was blocked by this suddenly appearing car. Jiang Dabing , were startled and stopped in their tracks, looking bewildered. Jiao Pengyuan saw the car blocking his way from inside his car and recognized it as Fang Hao's. "Secretary Jiao," the driver turned around, "should we go around and drive in, or stop?" Jiao Pengyuan gritted out two words: "Bastard!" The two Audis stopped ten meters apart. Jiao Pengyuan's car, like an arrow, pointed directly at the detention center's iron gate, while Fang Hao's car stood like a shield in front of it. Jiang Dabing and everyone else held their breath, watching this contest. They dared not let Fang Hao's car move , nor did they dare let Jiao Pengyuan's car back. This was a heavyweight contest in the arena of power, and there was no place for them. Jiao Pengyuan pushed open the car door, got out, one hand on the door, the other on his hip, his arrogant gaze sweeping over everyone around him.

Fang Hao pushed open the car door to get out, but Zhou Senlin pulled him back.

"I'll get out."

"You stay in the car, I'll get out."

Fang Hao got out, stood straight, and met Jiao Pengyuan's gaze without fear.

This was a confrontation of steel against steel, a clash of swords against swords.

Jiao Pengyuan remained coldly silent.

Fang Hao remained coldly silent.

No one could calculate the duration of the standoff; everyone present felt a strong sense of oppression, as if
time had frozen in the confrontation.

Later, there were two completely different versions of the story within the municipal committee regarding this standoff. One version said that Fang Hao couldn't hold back and
his car moved aside, but Secretary Jiao's car had no intention of entering; the other version said that Secretary Jiao
returned to car, had the driver reverse, and left the detention center.

Both versions had one thing in common: Secretary Jiao's car did not enter the detention center gates.
Chapter Thirty-Three: The Prisoner's Arrests Were Heavily Guarded; The Selection of New Officials Was Unpredictable

. The airport was heavily guarded. Armed police officers, in groups of three, patrolled the highway leading to the airport.
Police cars were parked at major intersections along the route

This kind of deployment is only used during the highest level of security, but no leaders went to the airport this morning.

A truck full of soldiers drove up, followed by ten police cars imported from Japan, and then
two .

The first three police cars carried officers temporarily borrowed from the Armed Police Force, responsible for escorting prisoners.
For secrecy and security, no municipal authorities were involved in this operation.

The fourth police car carried Jiao Dongfang, the fifth carried Shen Shi, the sixth carried
Hao Xiangshou's deputy, the deputy director of the Municipal Party Committee Office, the seventh carried Ma Zhongliang, and
the eighth carried Sha Li.

Each prisoner was guarded by three officers. The ninth police car carried Chen Hu and Zhou Senlin. The tenth police car was armed police
for handling emergencies.

The first Audi behind the police cars carried Fang Hao and a leader from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, and the last Audi carried Li Yunlong from the
Interpol China Center Bureau and another cadre.

"Chen Hu," Zhou Senlin handed Chen Hu a cigarette, "you're about to board the plane. This time in Latin America,
you must find out the truth behind Hao Xiangshou's disappearance. Don't return empty-handed."

"Yes."

"Work well with Comrade Yunlong; he's very experienced in handling foreign affairs."

"Don't worry, we cooperated very well in Hong Kong."

Chen Hu wanted to ask why Jiao Xiaoyu wasn't included in this operation, but he didn't dare. He
shouldn't . But he was very worried about Jiao Xiaoyu on this long trip.

"Director Zhou, I have a personal matter to ask you."

"When did you start having personal matters?" "

Xiaoyu's situation seems a bit unstable. Could you help her out?"

"I know what I'm doing. Even good steel can't be forged endlessly. If you keep forging people, everyone will burn out.
I intend to let her rest; I won't assign her any work for now."

The convoy entered a military airport, and a special plane was parked on the tarmac.

Police cars drove directly to the aircraft maintenance area and stopped.

Jiao Dongfang was the first to be escorted off the vehicle, boarding the stairs under the supervision of two police officers on either side, and entering the cabin.
Next was Ma Zhongliang. Then came Shen Shi and Sha Li.

Fang Hao and the head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection got off the vehicle, watching the prisoners being escorted onto the plane. Zhou Senlin and Chen Dian stood
by the stairs counting the number of people.

"Chen Hu, I need to board now, and you need to go to the civil aviation airport to board your flight. I'll come back as soon as I've made the arrangements there and
wait for your news."

Zhou Senlin shook hands tightly with Chen Hu, then turned and walked to Fang Hao's side.

"Do the two leaders have any further instructions?"

Fang Hao, clutching his aching chest, said, "Old Zhou, this time, when changing the detention location, you must be careful to maintain secrecy.
Absolutely no more passing notes or collusion."

"I understand."

"Old Zhou, thank you for your hard work." The head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection lowered his voice, "The measures for isolating
the prisoners , but you still need to be careful. Once you arrive at the location, someone will assist you. Here is the list."

He handed Zhou Senlin a list.

"Only these four people have the authority to interrogate the prisoner. No one else, regardless of
the letter of introduction , may interrogate him."

"Yes, sir, strictly as instructed."

"Good, you can board the plane now."

Zhou Senlin turned and climbed the stairs.

The military aircraft closed its cabin door, turned onto the runway, taxied for a short distance, and then roared into the rising sun.

Fang Hao grabbed Chen Hu's hand.

"Xiao Chen, I won't go to the airport to see you off. Apprehending Hao Xiangshou is extremely important, because He Qizhang's notebook
may have been taken abroad by him. I'm relieved that Comrade Yunlong is traveling with you."

The head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection walked over with Li Yunlong. He said, “I just spoke with Comrade Li Yunlong.
Chen Hu, the responsibility rests on your shoulders. Hao Xiangshou took the initiative. It’s unlikely he escaped alone; the plantation’s
laborers are strictly guarded. Either Hao Xiangshou was kidnapped by someone with ulterior motives, or he escaped through an inside-outside operation. You must
get to the bottom of the clues; bring him to justice, dead or alive.”

“Yes, sir!”

Chen Hu and Li Yunlong rode in the same Audi, leaving the military airport and heading towards the civil aviation airport.

Two suddenly appearing minor figures made the already unsettled municipal party committee even more unsettled.

One was Su Nanqi, who replaced Shen Shi as Jiao Pengyuan’s secretary.

The other was Xin Mao, who replaced Hao Xiangshou as deputy director of the municipal party committee’s general office.

Su Nanqi was forty-five years old, with a square face and gold-rimmed glasses. A graduate of Renmin University, he had been
holding a sinecure in the municipal party committee’s policy research office as a section-level researcher.

Xin Mao was forty years old, with a broad upper body and narrow lower body, the build of an athlete. Five years ago, he received
his doctorate and, after returning to China, became the deputy editor-in-chief of the municipal party committee’s internal publication, *Theory and Practice*.

What set him apart was that he never wore a suit, always a faded green military uniform; in winter, he didn't wear a leather overcoat,
only a green soldier's cotton overcoat.

But his black three-piece leather shoes were always impeccably polished.

They were nominated by Jiao Pengyuan, assessed by the Municipal Party Committee's Organization Department, and appointed through collective discussion by the Standing Committee.

The Municipal Party Secretary's move to reorganize the leadership team had dispelled rumors of his potential downfall, and the pro-Jiao faction raised their heads,
saying that the Municipal Party Committee was now under the control of the Western winds.

Su Nanqi and Xin Mao walked side-by-side through the two doors to Jiao Pengyuan's office. The Municipal Party Secretary's large, warm hand...
He shook hands with them.

He poured a cup of tea for the two newcomers and placed it on the coffee table.

"Thank you, Secretary Jiao." Su Nanqi said with the solemnity of someone appointed to a critical position.

Xin Mao sat upright, exuding a military air, even though he had never served a day in the army.

"Nanqi," Jiao Pengyuan sat back in his leather swivel chair, "For so many years, you've been relegated to the sidelines.
But things always have two sides. Although investigators don't have much power, your access to information
is far superior , which is a valuable asset."

"Xiao Xin, what I admire most about you, do you know what it is?"

Xin Mao shook his head in confusion.

"It's the calmness and courage you showed in the face of major issues. After June Fourth,
Chinese students flocked to get green cards, groveling to curry favor with the US. But you, with righteous indignation, resolutely returned to China,
giving us a sense of pride."

Xin Mao smiled shyly and remained silent.

"Nanqi, you studied Marxism-Leninism. Xiao Xin, you studied Marxism-Leninism and also
got a doctorate in political science from the United States. Currently, our city's focus is on anti-corruption. Tell me,
what ? You need to explain it clearly in theory. This is your task for the coming period."

Su Nanqi understood that this was Secretary Jiao's first test. It was
his first time sitting so close to such a high-ranking figure, and he couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

"Deputy Editor-in-Chief Xin's theory is stronger than mine, so let him speak first."

"From now on, I'll call him Secretary Xin. Xiao Xin, what are your insights?" Yan

Xinmao wasn't intimidated. His old friend, a senior cadre, had
even in his own living room.

"The reason why cadres like He Qizhang, Hao Xiangshou, and Li Haoyi became corrupt, besides their own reasons,
is also due to more important social reasons. Reform and opening up were carried out amidst controversy. If we recall, every theory put forward since the Third Plenary Session of
the Eleventh Central Committee has been ambiguous. 'Practice is the sole
criterion for testing truth'—this statement is a fallacy, the crux of which lies in the word 'solely'." When scientific communism was proposed,
no country had yet practiced socialism or communism in their true sense, yet it was the truth. The
Internationale, while not necessarily realized, also lacked sufficient social practice, but can we say it wasn't the truth? Conversely,
what has been tested by practice is not necessarily the truth. The socialist bloc in Eastern Europe disintegrated, and the first socialist country,
the Soviet Union, collapsed, becoming capitalist. But can we conclude that socialism failed and capitalism
triumphed ? Of course not. The "cat theory" of "it doesn't matter if a cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice," and
the "crossing the river by feeling the stones" theory, both confuse right and wrong. As for the current Party policy of "not asking whether it's socialist or capitalist," it
essentially strips away the soul and highest principles of Marxism-Leninism. We, the Communist Party, were
founded, developed, and grew strong precisely on the fundamental point of asking whether something is socialist or capitalist. If we don't ask whether it's socialist or capitalist, what's the point of having us, the Communist Party?
Furthermore, the "three benefits" have completely slid into the quagmire of pragmatism. The current widespread corruption is history's
revenge on reform and opening up. Compared to 1989 when I returned to China, the output value of the non-state-owned economy has now
surpassed that of the state-owned
economy
in terms of quantity, and its development speed is rapid, while state-owned assets are being lost at a rate exceeding 100 billion yuan annually. Socialist public ownership is declining, while capitalism is rising like the sun. The economic foundation of the socialist republic is shaking, and the superstructure will inevitably follow suit. Morality belongs to the superstructure; moral decline provides legitimacy for corrupt
officials ; the market economy provides channels for corrupt officials to amass wealth; reform and opening up
have given corrupt officials a cloak of truth; and the large-scale intrusion of capitalist factors into the economic base and superstructure
has opened the green light for corrupt officials to embezzle state-owned assets. If this continues, it will not only lead to corruption, but also to decay.
Therefore , the fight against corruption must get to the root of the problem, correct theoretical and policy errors, re-establish
the worldview that only socialism can save China, and bring China back to the path of communism. Simply arresting people is a drop in the ocean and
futile. Secretary Jiao, my views may contain many errors, or at least be out of step with the times. If you feel I
am not suitable for this job, I will go back to editing magazines. The inversion of right and wrong on the theoretical front pains me deeply.
There are few places left for genuine Marxists-Leninists to publish their articles; newspapers and magazines are mostly filled with articles promoting
bourgeois liberalization, and television is practically a cultural trap that induces a bourgeois lifestyle.”

Xin Mao suddenly stopped his impassioned speech, tears silently welling in his eyes.

The room fell silent.

“I’m sorry.” Xin Mao took out a tissue to wipe away his tears.

Jiao Pengyuan listened to every word Xin Mao said without showing any emotion. This young man spoke eloquently and with unstoppable force,
completely different from the empty talk and clichés he was used to seeing among the cadres. During the "Gang of Four" era,
cadres spouting Marxism-Leninism were everywhere, but now it was almost impossible to find one. And this person's Marxism-Leninism wasn't feigned. He felt that choosing
Xin Mao as his secretary was the right move. He guessed that Xin Mao's views must have been influenced by his old intellectual, that famous
theorist. Promoting him at this time was also a subtle way of currying favor with the theorist, while also strengthening his own
legitimacy and helping him weather the current crisis. Moreover, Xin Mao was Fang Hao's nemesis. Fang Hao was a well-known
reformist in the municipal party committee. By having Xin Mao specifically clash with Fang Hao and engage in endless theoretical battles, he could reap the benefits.

Jiao Pengyuan turned his gaze to Su Nanqi.

"Comrade Su Nanqi, do you think Xin Mao's views are accurate? I think Xin Mao's views are somewhat biased."
"The path of reform and opening up is the right one, and it cannot be shaken."

Su Nanqi slightly bowed, lifting his back from the sofa to show respect for his superior.

"Secretary Jiao, I feel that the most urgent thing right now is to maintain consistency with the Central Committee in theory and practice. In this
regard , we cannot afford to give others any more ammunition; it's never too late to mend the fence after the sheep are lost. Only by turning passivity into initiative can we overcome
the shock caused by He Qizhang's suicide. My humble opinion is just for your reference."

Another slippery character, but steady and usable. Jiao Pengyuan thought to himself.

Jiao Pengyuan nodded, determined to load Xin Mao into the cannonball.

"I just want to have people who dare to speak the truth working around me. Xin Mao, the new job won't affect your theoretical research
, and I can even create some conditions for you. How can our communist ideals be realized if we don't oppose bourgeois liberalization and fight against hostile forces inside and outside the Party, at home and abroad
? That's what I did in 1989, and I
will continue to do so in the future. Some leading comrades of the Municipal Party Committee only focus on trivial details, forgetting the fundamentals, and even..."
Using anti-corruption as a pretext to target comrades who uphold Marxism-Leninism is unacceptable under Party discipline and national law. I
'm considering launching a major campaign to study Marxism-Leninism in the municipal Party committee and government. Xin Mao, you need to come up with a
plan . Deputy Director Su, your first task upon taking office is to handle this important matter well. Make sure the article is substantial and
comprehensive, and publish an editorial in the municipal Party committee's official newspaper. Suppress this unhealthy trend!

After the meeting, Jiao Pengyuan invited Xin Mao to stay for a working lunch.

The municipal Party committee's small canteen is where cadres at the bureau level and above eat their working meals. There are only eight tables, surrounded by
leather sofas. Jiao Pengyuan never eats working lunch with his secretary, so when he entered side by side with Xin Mao, it
attracted surprised glances.

Xin Mao was originally two steps behind Jiao Pengyuan, but Jiao Pengyuan pulled him in as they entered side by side.
This detail immediately caught the attention of Lin Guanghan and Qian Zhong, who were already waiting there.

Qian Zhong greeted them with a smile and said, "Secretary Jiao, please sit down."

Jiao Pengyuan sat down in the chair. "Secretary Xin, you two weren't very familiar before, were you?" Qian

Zhong shook Xin Mao's hand. "I've heard so much about you, the city's chief writer. Secretary Xin, how is Mr. Yan's health?" The

person Qian Zhong referred to as "Mr. Yan" was Xin Mao's father-in-law.

"Thank you, he's in very good health."

Xin Mao wasn't very enthusiastic towards Qian Zhong, finding him overly obsequious.

Lin Xianhan had noticeably lost weight, and he couldn't even find a way to interact with Jiao Pengyuan. Based on his years of
political experience, he felt that Jiao Pengyuan's return to work might be a last gasp.
During the celebration parade after the smashing of the "Smoke Gang," Ma Tianshui was still standing on the Tiananmen Rostrum, only to be dismissed and investigated soon after. But
he couldn't ignore personal feelings and the debt of gratitude for Jiao's mentorship; he couldn't afford to be seen as a treacherous and opportunistic sycophant. Although he
hadn't had much professional contact with Xin Mao in the past, he knew that Xin Mao had a deep political background and powerful resources. His father-in-law couldn't possibly be unaware that Xin Mao had become Jiao
Pengyuan 's secretary during his time of crisis. What did this mean? Was it
support for Jiao Pengyuan, or simply taking advantage of him? In officialdom, two things determine a person's fate: connections—
which line you're on; and power resources—who gave you that power. Lin Guanghan knew that the
idea that power comes from the people was merely theoretical. His connections were a system created by Jiao Pengyuan's predecessors, and his power
resources also came from this system. This created a community of shared interests where everyone prospers or suffers together. Could he exist independently
of this community? He constantly doubted himself.

Jiao Pengyuan patted Lin Guanghan on the shoulder and said, "Old Lin, you don't look well. Go see a doctor. I'll
say it again: as long as I'm the Party Secretary, you'll be the Mayor. I trusted you in the past, and I'll
trust you in the future. If I'm no longer the Party Secretary, you can find another job, abandon the darkness for the light, it's not too late."

Lin Guanghan's heart tightened suddenly; Jiao Pengyuan was clearly warning him. He forced an awkward smile and said,
"Secretary Jiao, let's eat together."

"No, thank you," Jiao Pengyuan waved his hand, "I'll eat with Secretary Xin."

Jiao Pengyuan and Xin Mao sat down in a corner, and he said softly, "Xiao Xin, as the ancients said, '
What good is it to prop up a pillar that's about to collapse?' If you become my secretary now, you might end up being buried with it!"

Xin Mao hadn't expected Jiao Pengyuan to be so frank, contrary to the strategy of high-ranking officials keeping a low profile, openly
speaking his mind to his subordinates. This deeply moved Xin Mao.

How should he tell Jiao Pengyuan? Xin Mao hesitated. At this moment, the waiter brought over a working meal consisting of four dishes and a soup.
"Secretary Jiao, please have your meal," Jiao Pengyuan said, "thank you." After the waiter left, he lit a cigarette.

"It's hard to say, isn't it? The secretary profession, though not high-ranking, has a lot of power. I've been a secretary before,
and so has Yan Gong. Back then, we secretaries were very cautious and never acted on our own. But when political movements came
, we couldn't avoid being impacted; some were arrested, some committed suicide. Later, the atmosphere deteriorated, and
the power expanded. One leader's secretary and another leader's secretary, several leaders' secretaries
, could finalize any major matter by singing karaoke together. Hao Xiangshou, Li Haoyi, and Shen Shi all ran into trouble! And Yan Gong,
does he support you working with me?"

Just as the old scholar had predicted, Xin Mao thought that the mind for practical work was simpler than that for theoretical work.

Last Saturday evening, in the old scholar's study, the silver-haired old man rubbed
his eyes, which ached from high eye pressure, and said, "Jiao Pengyuan is a local warlord. He's lost his composure, grasping at straws. He's using you to seek
my protection. How can I interfere? A warlord becoming too powerful is always a taboo. This man is arrogant and self-important, dominating
his territory and looking down on everyone. The Colorful Square is a prime example. There are two approaches to writing. One is to make the weight seem light,
appearing incredibly heavy, but finding a fulcrum makes it easily tilted. Archimedes said, 'Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which
to place it, and I shall move the world.' That's the idea. The other approach is to make the light seem heavy, but this 'heavy' is a deliberate heavy,
not a matter of physics." The significance of this is clear. When dealing with Jiao Zhuangyuan's problem, it's best to handle it lightly at first, then heavily later
. His corruption, his indulgence of his children and subordinates in extortion and embezzlement, is a fulcrum, an excellent
fulcrum ; but once it's overturned, caution is needed. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Xin Mao nodded, but still seemed puzzled. "I'm not going to seriously punish Jiao Pengyuan, I'm going to be his secretary. Do you
think better for me to go or not?"

The old man smiled. "Come here."

Xin Mao followed the old man to a group photo of hundreds of people hanging on the wall, about a meter long and twenty centimeters wide. Pointing to
the man in his sixties, sitting high in the middle, the third from the right, he said, "Him, of course you know Jun, the chief editor."

Xin Mao nodded. The old man traced the glass frame of the glasses with his fingertip and said, “This is one of my best students. He
was mediocre in talent ; his articles needed nine revisions before they were usable. But now he holds a high position, and besides me, who dares to say he was mediocre?
What makes him extraordinary is that he didn't rise through the ranks by following the right people, but by following the wrong ones. During the ‘Gang of Four’
period , he followed the wrong people from the very beginning, misjudging three individuals and rising three ranks. Later, he followed three more wrong people,
and those three fell from grace, retired, or became idle, while he rose three more times. What’s the secret? He could see that his superiors
were about to fall, and he helped those who were trying to bring down his superiors find a good foothold, so he made a significant contribution and rose even higher.”

Xin Mao suddenly felt disgusted with this man and said disdainfully, “If the people are corrupt, their writing will also be crooked. He will never write
a good article.”

The old man shook his head.

“Don’t be too demanding. Cats have their ways, and dogs have theirs. Whether you go or not is not my concern. But you…”
"If they follow along in corruption and fake Marxism, I will intervene."

Xin Mao didn't relay the old scholar's words to Jiao Pengyuan; he felt there was no obligation or necessity to do so. He
trusted Jiao Pengyuan could accurately assess his own situation.

"Secretary Jiao, my coming to work for you is firstly an arrangement by the Party organization, and as a Party member, I obey.
Secondly, it's your trust in me, and thirdly, I'm willing to come. You possess a rare personal integrity among senior cadres, daring
to speak the truth, daring to raise dissenting opinions, and not pushing others forward, unlike some who act according to the whims of their superiors all day long,
obsequious and scheming. It's an honor to be your secretary; if you are dissatisfied with me, you can transfer me at any time, and I
won't be upset."

Jiao Pengyuan smiled with satisfaction, picked up a spoon, and said, "Come on, from now on, we'll
share the soup... It tastes good." Jiao

Pengyuan, engrossed in his meal, suddenly felt agitated. He glanced out the window and saw Fang Hao and Jiang Dabing
approaching him anxiously. Since He Qizhang's death, Jiao Pengyuan had discovered that his
aversion to Fang Hao was no longer rational or emotional; it had transformed into a physiological, magnetic aversion and conflict. Whenever Fang Hao appeared, even from afar,
even with his back turned and unseen, his magnetic field would immediately emit a repulsive wavelength, which
would spoil even the best mood.

"A jinx," he mumbled, but Xin Mao heard him clearly.

"Secretary Jiao, I'm sorry," Fang Hao said, approaching the table. "I'm sorry to disturb your meal; there's an emergency." "

Do you even respect me as the Party Secretary? You still report to me?" Jiao Pengyuan was dissatisfied, but he didn't say it aloud.
The scene at the detention center entrance still bothered him.

Jiao Pengyuan originally wanted to put down the spoon in his hand, but he didn't want to give Fang Hao the respect he deserved. Instead, he
put the bowl, scooped up a spoonful of soup, put it in his mouth, drank it, and then slowly said, "What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry
? Can't you even let me eat in peace?"

Fang Hao felt neglected and didn't know what to do.

Xin Mao stood up from his chair, "Secretary Jiao, if you have something to do, I'll take my leave."

Jiao Pengyuan glared at Xin Mao and said, "Sit down, eat, eat. Food is the most important thing for people, eating is eating heaven,
and eating is greater than heaven. Didn't the ancients say that eating is greater than an imperial edict?"

Xin Mao smiled apologetically at Fang Hao and sat back down. Jiao Pengyuan didn't ask Fang Hao to sit down, and he couldn't
take the liberty of asking Fang Hao to sit down.

"Speak." Jiao Pengyuan took another sip of tea.

"Alright, sorry, we'll wait for you after you finish eating. Director Jiang and I will wait for you outside."

Fang Hao said, turning and leaving.

The impromptu meeting was held in the small canteen. Besides Jiao Pengyuan, Lin Guanghan, Fang Hao, Xin Mao, Su Nanqi,
Jiang Dabing, and Qian Zhong, Tian Xing, the deputy director of the Municipal People's Congress, whom Jiao Pengyuan had urgently summoned to the meeting, was also present. She was a shrewd
and capable woman who had just returned from an overseas inspection trip. Because she had previously worked at the refrigeration equipment factory where the accident occurred
, she was quite familiar with the situation, so Jiao Pengyuan had specifically called her in.

Jiao Pengyuan slowly turned the teacup in his hand. "I have already submitted my resignation to the Central Committee. I am getting old and
my health is not good, so it is not suitable for me to continue working on the front line. As the Party Secretary, I bear some responsibility for the problems of He Qizhang, Jiao Dongfang, Li Haoyi
, and Hao Xiangshou. However, some leaders hope that I
can continue for a while, and the Central Committee has not yet discussed my resignation report. So what should I do? Should retired veterans still stand
their last post?" "I'll continue. Some people might feel uncomfortable, so I'm sorry, but please be patient
and wait a while longer. The Party's interests come first!"

No one around the two tables spoke. But everyone understood that Secretary Jiao's words were directed at
Fang Hao.

Fang Hao remained silent, his expression calm.

"Today's meeting will only discuss one issue. Like a weasel biting a sick duck, the municipal party committee and government have
problems, and now they're causing problems at the lower levels as well. Just now during dinner, Comrade Fang Hao came to me and said there's a problem at the refrigeration equipment factory
. A model worker's family committed suicide by poisoning themselves, and the workers are preparing to riot. Comrade Fang Hao is the secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission,
in charge of public security. Fang Hao, if something happens, I will hold you accountable. Fang Hao will report the details to the comrades
. Old Fang, you speak."

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