Chapter 553

Every small locality has a family power. This family power is invisible.

They dominate the locality, can call wind and summon rain, can settle everything.

Zaocheng is no exception. The Zaocheng Cui Family is the family with the greatest local power in Zaocheng.

I don't know when this family arose.

But, generally in the locality, nobody wants to offend them.

You can offend the mayor of Zaocheng City, but you must not offend the Zaocheng Cui Family.

Because the mayor gets promoted or transferred after a few years, while they, the Cui Family, have long resided in Zaocheng.

I became acquainted with the Cui Family through Kong Shi.

When Kong Shi previously governed Zaocheng, their relationship with the Cui Family was basically cooperative.

Everyone tacitly accepted this relationship,

and communicated in advance about any matter.

Thus, during Kong Shi's tenure, the Cui Family had no conflicts.

The Cui Family has deep roots in Zaocheng for a long time,

All staff in every bureau of Zaocheng City have Cui Family members, so the Cui Family knows what is happening in Zaocheng.

As I understand it, Cui Rulin married into the Bai Family of Zaocheng, which enabled his rise.

A paternal cousin sister of Bai Lang from back then married Cui Ruhai,

and Cui Ruhai was promoted under the patronage of Bai Lang's father.

After his promotion, Cui Ruhai began arranging for more Cui Family members to work in the city.

They are also ordinary staff members, just numerous and powerful.

I estimate that after seeing Kong Shi fall, Cui Rulin wanted to seize this opportunity to push his son Cui Chengshan further.

But unexpectedly, Tian Shi arrived, and Cui Ruhai's beautiful dream was shattered.

Cui Rulin poured all his resentment onto Tian Shi, believing that as long as Tian Shi was squeezed out, his son still had a chance.

Know that the Cui Family's power in Zaocheng is so great,

if they cannot secure a municipal-level position, they will be dissatisfied.

I have had several interactions with Cui Rulin; we are merely casual acquaintances, with no conflict of interest.

In the past, I and he could be considered drinking buddies, after all he is a deputy official in charge of industry.

Later he retired, and we have had no contact since.

Generally, when a new leader arrives, they will pay a visit to them, giving the Cui Family face, and the Cui Family seizes the opportunity to put forward reasons.

I believe Tian Shi is backed by the Wen Family, paid no heed to the Cui Family, and gave Cui Rulin no face at all,

and this is one of the reasons that provoked Cui Rulin's anger.

The Zaocheng Cui Family is akin to an ancient aristocratic clan, I suppose.

A family power that has long dominated a locality relies on its own strength to let more family members enter the system to work, and then serve the family.

They control both the legal and illegal spheres in the locality.

Dealing with them is not easy.

This time Tian Shi asked me to help him; surely he cannot handle it himself, and if he uses administrative orders, how could he deal with so many Cui Family members?

And give them a chance to argue; then, they might seize the pretext to cause themselves an unfavorable situation.

But not handling it is also impossible, because they outwardly comply while secretly obstructing, preventing many of Tian Shi's works from proceeding.

Using Li Ming is just one small matter; without Li Ming, there are still others they can use to benefit the Cui Family.

If Tian Shi does not yield, then in Zaocheng he cannot carry out any work at all.

If Tian Shi yields, it is tantamount to letting the Cui Family lead him around in Zaocheng.

I did not expect Tian Shi to entrust me with handling this matter, and I have already promised him to resolve the Cui Rulin affair within ten days.

Why ten days? Mainly because Li Ming's detention is only two weeks.

We must settle this before Li Ming is released; otherwise they will again use Li Ming to deal with Tian Shi.

By then, Tian Shi's work will be difficult to carry out, and my work will also be hard to do.

My relationship with Tian Shi is also cooperative,

Xiao Long's matter needs Tian Shi's help, and the Qi He Kuang matter needs Tian Shi's help.

If I do not help Tian Shi handle the Cui Rulin matter, then can Tian Shi help me?

Upon reaching middle age, all relationships are merely for profit.

There is hardly any emotion in them.

Interpersonal interactions are nothing but mutual exploitation.

Tian Shi also wants to exploit, to eliminate the Cui Family.

If he does so, his future work in Zaocheng will proceed smoothly.

Moreover, even if something happens, it will have no impact on him.

Our relationship will deepen further; I just wonder where to begin.

I lay in bed, my mind constantly calculating the arrangements Tian Shi made,

At this moment the sky had already grown bright, yet I did not get up.

I also could not sleep.

I thought I could handle it easily, but Li Ming then gave me another small trouble.

This small trouble, I must go deal with.

We cannot let things develop further; otherwise, if it blows up, it will no longer be within my control.

Take down Cui Ruhai, Li Ming will also completely lose heart,

He will become honest. He won't cause trouble anymore.

At this time, Shi Yong had already gotten up from the bed,

Seeing that I was not asleep,

Shi Yong rubbed his own head,

"Brother, you're awake, why didn't you get up?"

"How does your head hurt? Last night, how was it? Did you succeed?" I asked Shi Yong.

As soon as Shi Yong heard my question, he loudly cursed: "Hou Laoban, that damned cheat. What the hell is this? I didn't even make it into the city, and it's over. This time I've lost even more face.

"Damn it, all that gripping, silent chanting, acupressure massage is bullshit. Completely useless. If I see Hou Laoban, I'll definitely strangle him." Shi Yong cursed, pounding the bed with both hands.

Hearing Shi Yong curse like that, one can imagine he wasn't successful this time.

A man only has that much face; Shi Yong lost it completely clean.

What else can be said?

I was saying, last night, when I came back, Shi Yong was sleeping.

If he had been successful, Shi Yong would have already talked to me.

This Shi Yong, so unsuccessful, can still sleep.

I laughed then: "Alright, Shi Yong, stop always thinking about those messed-up things. Hou Laoban's skill comes from long training; you only practiced for a day and want to ascend to heaven in one go—you're dreaming.

From now on, I feel this has a lot to do with being fat.

You train every day, try losing some weight.

"Who knows, it might improve your quality of life."

"Brother, this has nothing to do with being fat; I've seen Woguo movies, those fat guys are fine too. No, I'm going to go ask Hou Laoban right now—I suspect he definitely took drugs; otherwise, it's impossible for him to be that successful."

After saying that, Shi Yong got up from the bed,

put on his clothes and was about to leave.

I hurriedly got up from the bed,

"Shi Yong, where are you going?"

"I'm going to look for Hou Laoban." Shi Yong said while putting on his clothes.

"What Hou Laoban are you looking for? We have important matters; what can I say? You can't think of anything else—you're always thinking about all kinds of messy stuff.

"Sit down." I said angrily.

"Brother, what important matters? What other important matters do we have?" Shi Yong said and then sat down on the stool.

"I said there are important matters, so there are. Do you know Cui Rulin of Zaocheng?"

"Old Master Cui, of course I know him; I and his nephew Cui Chenglong are sworn brothers. What's up? Is there something you need help from Old Master Cui?" Shi Yong said.

"Shi Yong, we want to take down the Cui family, bring down Cui Rulin—are you willing to do it?" I asked directly.

"Brother, why? Between us and the Cui family there's no grudge.

Besides, Cui Rulin has already retired,

"What's the point of a retired old man?" Shi Yong said indifferently.