Chapter 236: United in Hatred

Upon arriving in Chang'an, Han Xinpu took his wife, Li Ruoqin, home and went to the residence of his mother-in-law, Provincial Governor Tang Bing.

Along the way, he kept begging his wife to persuade her mother to help Lu Fan.

When they arrived, Governor Tang was sitting on the sofa, looking exhausted.

Li Ruoqin hurried over, diligently kneading her shoulders and rubbing her back.

Tang Bing laughed, "If you're being this attentive for no reason, you're either up to no good or after something! Speak, what is it?"

Han Xinpu brought a glass of water, placed it before Tang Bing, and said, "Mom, I have a favor to ask of you!"

"Xinpu, there's no need for formalities between family. Just say whatever is on your mind."

Han Xinpu took a deep breath and recounted with great emotion the "miserable life" his father had experienced, as well as the connection between Lu Fan and their family. As he reached the most poignant parts, he couldn't help but shed tears.

Finally, he pleaded, "Mom, please help Lu Fan, otherwise his life will be ruined!"

Tang Bing was a woman after all, and her heart was soft; moreover, this son-in-law had never asked her for anything before. She naturally understood that being good to her son-in-law was essentially being good to her daughter, so she sighed and said, "Xinpu, this matter isn't that simple! How about this: if Lu Fan truly hasn't engaged in any corruption or bribery, I can put in a word for him."

"As for the grudge between your father and the Le family, I advise you: when you lack sufficient strength, you must learn to endure!"

"The ancients say that worldly affairs are impermanent, and prosperity and decline alternate. The saying 'Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west' refers to exactly this. Endurance is not cowardice, but a form of wisdom. It allows you to remain calm in adversity, not be swayed by emotions, and gives you enough time to grow and improve your own strength!"

Han Xinpu looked like he had been taught a lesson and said with sincere conviction, "I will take your teachings to heart and not fight for momentary victory or short-term gains!"

At the Qinchuan Hotel, Yinzhou Municipal Party Secretary Wang Hongtao had ordered wine and dishes and was waiting for Li Mingzhou to arrive.

Just before nine o'clock, Li Mingzhou pushed the door open and said apologetically, "Hongtao, sorry to keep you waiting! Traffic was jammed when I entered the city."

Wang Hongtao smiled, "I only just arrived myself. I figured Secretary Li hadn't had dinner yet, so I took the liberty of ordering a few small dishes. I hope they're to your taste!"

"I'm not picky about food and drink, as long as it fills my stomach. To be honest, I really am hungry. Let's eat!"

Both men had come to Chang'an on empty stomachs, and after the long, exhausting journey, they were already starving. They immediately began to devour the food.

Before long, the dishes on the table were wiped clean. Both men were full of food and wine, and they shared a smile.

Wang Hongtao said, "Secretary Li, how do you intend to handle Lu Fan's case?"

Li Mingzhou said sternly, "Yingjiang is a government entity, after all. Even the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee must follow proper procedures. To arrest someone in my jurisdiction without me, the Municipal Party Secretary, even knowing about it—it's clear they don't hold me in any regard. I naturally have to go to them and demand an explanation!"

"Secretary Li, I'll go with you! Without any proof or evidence, they dare to arbitrarily 'Shuanggui' a Deputy County Chief? I want to ask who gave them such immense power!"

Li Mingzhou advised, "Hongtao, don't worry, I can go alone! After all, this incident happened in Yingjiang. If you go to the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee, it would be improper and irregular, and it would give people grounds for gossip. You've just taken office as Yinzhou Municipal Party Secretary; you must be mindful of your image and reputation, lest people say you are arrogant and domineering!"

"Since that is the case, I will listen to you, Secretary. However, if things don't go smoothly and a 'hothead' is needed to make a scene, I am duty-bound! Lu Fan is a child who has experienced many hardships since he was young, struggling to get by with his younger sister. He finally got a job, and he has worked diligently and conscientiously, achieving significant results! Publicly or privately, we must protect such cadres. We absolutely cannot tolerate some people acting recklessly, turning black into white, and smearing the Party's cause!"

Li Mingzhou suddenly asked, "Hongtao, Lu Fan is your student. You should have a certain understanding of him, right?"

"Yes, I know some of his situation."

"Tell me about him!"

Then, Wang Hongtao told him everything he knew, point by point.

After listening, Li Mingzhou sighed, "Truly a life of many misfortunes. It hasn't been easy for Lu Fan to get to where he is! Looking at it this way, Le Xueren's actions do indeed smack of retaliation; he has no grace or bottom line to speak of!"

Wang Hongtao said, "Secretary Li, as the saying goes, public opinion is to be feared! Lu Fan was taken away by the Discipline Inspection Committee in broad daylight at the County Committee compound. I suspect the cadres and masses in Ningyang have spread all sorts of rumors about this, as people nowadays can't stand to see others succeed. If Lu Fan's case can be resolved smoothly, my personal opinion is that he is no longer suitable to continue working in Ningyang. Could you consider adjusting his position?"

Li Mingzhou nodded and said, "What you say makes sense. After something like this, he should indeed avoid the limelight. I will consider it."

As they were chatting, Wang Hongtao's phone rang. He checked the number and answered immediately, saying with a smile, "Old leader, what are your orders?"

Guo Mingxiong laughed, "Can't I call you if there's nothing going on? How does it feel to be the top leader?"

"Trembling with fear, walking on thin ice, terrified of failing the organization's trust and your cultivation!"

"I haven't noticed anything else, but your eloquence has certainly grown! Let's talk business. Your student, Lu Fan, is in trouble. Did you know?"

"To be honest, I came to the province specifically for this matter. Why? Has this reached Cheng Cang already?"

"Not quite. My secretary is a good friend of Lu Fan's and asked me to help. Wait, you're in Chang'an? I just arrived too!"

"Qinchuan Hotel, room 888. Would you like to come over for a bit, old leader?"

"That sounds good! How about we call Guoquan? I haven't seen him in a while!"

"Fine, I'll contact Minister Li later."

After hanging up, Wang Hongtao said apologetically to Li Mingzhou, "Secretary, I'm sorry, I took the liberty. Secretary Guo Mingxiong of Cheng Cang and Minister Li Guoquan of the Organization Department have been my mentors. How about we have a few drinks together?"

They were all powerful figures. Li Mingzhou had the desire to integrate into the Qinchuan political scene, so he was naturally happy to see this happen. He laughed, "Your experiences have already become a legend in Qinchuan. As long as you don't find me an eyesore, I'm in!"

Wang Hongtao quickly said, "Secretary, what are you saying? You are the distinguished guest we couldn't even invite!"

After saying this, Wang Hongtao immediately called Li Guoquan.

Less than half an hour later, Guo and Li arrived together. They exchanged pleasantries with Li Mingzhou with enthusiasm and courtesy, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

Wang Hongtao had Si Daiqiang bring in two bottles of deer blood wine, and the four of them began to drink and chat.

As they talked, the topic turned to Lu Fan.

After understanding the situation, Li Guoquan analyzed, "This matter started with the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee, and it ends there too. My personal feeling is that Lu Fan's case wasn't ordered by Secretary Liu Tuo; it's likely some Deputy Secretary or Standing Committee member playing 'dirty tricks.' Secretary Liu might be completely in the dark. After all, Secretary Liu hasn't been at the Discipline Inspection Committee for long, and that department is very complex. It's unrealistic to expect him to have full control in such a short time."

Li Mingzhou said, "Guoquan's point has some merit. Tomorrow, I'll go to the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee to test the waters. Regardless, the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee must give me a reasonable explanation! To 'Shuanggui' a Deputy County Chief in Yingjiang without consulting me, the Municipal Party Secretary, beforehand is pure nonsense. Even if the sky falls, it won't do!"

Wang Hongtao said, "Secretary Li, I'll wait for your news tomorrow! If the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee pushes back, prevaricates, or shifts responsibility, I will directly report the issue to Secretary Jiazhong of the Provincial Party Committee! I don't believe there's anyone who can cover the sky with one hand and turn black into white!"

Guo Mingxiong said righteously, "Hongtao, I certainly won't stand idly by regarding your affairs. Count me in for going to the Provincial Party Committee!"

Finally, the four of them, united in hatred, formed a unified front.

Just as the two bottles of deer blood wine were finished, Wang Hongtao said with a smile, "Leaders, it's not that I'm stingy and reluctant to bring out more wine; it's just that this wine is too potent, and the after-effect is too strong! Especially Secretary Guo, you have to take it easy!"

"You brat! My stock is almost out, replenish it for me immediately!" Guo Mingxiong gave a direct order.

Li Guoquan said embarrassedly, "Hongtao, I'm not greedy, but whatever you replenish for Old Guo, you absolutely cannot give me one bottle less!"

Unexpectedly, Li Mingzhou joined in the fun and laughed, "Hongtao, we should share the blessings. You can't favor one over the other!"

The banquet ended in laughter. Being able to gather and drink together, all four understood what it meant.

At this moment, Wang Yujia of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee had just returned to her home in Jingcheng.

After entering, her grandfather, Liu Guoqiang, put on his pajamas, came out, and asked in surprise, "Yujia, why are you back in the middle of the night?"

Wang Yujia said bluntly, "Grandpa, you showed me Lu Fan's file that day. Do you know what has happened in the last two days? Lu Fan has actually been 'Shuanggui'ed' by the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee. Don't you think that's absurd? With something like this happening, aren't you going to do anything?"

Liu Guoqiang shook his head and said, "I'm not the Discipline Inspection Committee Secretary, how can I intervene?"

Wang Yujia was burning with anxiety, her eyes wide, and she said, "Are you just going to watch them act recklessly?"

Liu Guoqiang frowned and said seriously, "Do not seek to govern if you are not in the position! Besides, why should I intervene for him?"

"Grandpa! In my heart, you have always been upright and hated evil! Lu Fan is a very excellent cadre, but now he is suffering unfair treatment. Can't you help him?"

Liu Guoqiang looked at his granddaughter's pleading eyes, and his heart stirred, but he immediately returned to calm.

"Grandpa! I admit, I have a good impression of Lu Fan, is that enough?"

Liu Guoqiang said earnestly, "Yujia, the officialdom is like a battlefield; one careless step and you fall into an abyss from which you can never recover. It is truly inconvenient for Grandpa to intervene in this matter. Since Lu Fan chose this path, and some things were started because of him, he must bear the corresponding consequences. He needs to rely on his own strength to overcome this hurdle!"

Hearing her grandfather's words, Wang Yujia felt very disappointed and sad. She couldn't understand why her grandfather, who had always loved her so much, refused to help her!

Tears welled up in her eyes, but Wang Yujia held them back, turned silently, and walked toward the door.

Watching his granddaughter's departing back, Liu Guoqiang sighed to himself: With Li Mingzhou and Wang Hongtao involved, my intervention would be a grand gesture and an unnecessary move!

He then picked up his phone and made a call, arranging for people to secretly protect his granddaughter and ensure her safety. ===== CHAPTER 237 =====