Chapter 631: with translation of chapter title

At ten o'clock in the evening, Lu Fan was still reviewing documents in the Provincial Party Committee Office.

After finishing his work, he lit a cigarette and quietly gazed out the window.

This year his smoking habit grew stronger, staying up late took its toll, he woke easily during sleep, and he spoke less and less. He had never thought before how a person could become so dependent on a cigarette; now he understood that when one feels lonely, even a tiny glow at the fingertip can be warm.

Suddenly, Lu Fan heard a knock on the door and said, 'Please come in!'

Looking up, he saw that the visitor was none other than Executive Deputy Provincial Governor Gu Yunhao, though it was not unexpected.

Gu Yunhao said with a smile, 'I've long heard of Secretary Lu's dedication; indeed, the reputation is well deserved. Since you took office, the lights in your office are often on—truly a model for us all!'

Lu Fan rose and said, 'Governor Yunhao, you flatter me! Please have a seat!' After saying that, he personally brewed tea.

Gu Yunhao continued, 'My comrades and I have wanted to welcome you properly, but you've been so busy your feet hardly touch the ground. When you have some free time, let's have a few drinks; I know a place that serves whole roasted lamb with authentic grassland flavor.'

Lu Fan replied with a smile, 'No problem, it's my turn to treat everyone. In the grasslands, where I'm unfamiliar with the terrain, I rely heavily on comrades' support at work.'

'That goes without saying—it's for the nation and the grasslands' cause; we should naturally unite as one, work together in solidarity, and strive for perfection.'

……

After the opening remarks, Gu Yunhao said, 'Secretary Lu, I came today to discuss the issue of Jiang Yizhong from the Provincial Justice Department. Now there are some unfavorable voices among cadres, claiming the Discipline Inspection Committee handles cases without procedure, acting arbitrarily and recklessly, which makes people angry; this trend must be stopped, otherwise it will affect the province's overall stability.'

Lu Fan replied calmly, 'Rumors cease with the wise, arise from the foolish, and are started by the schemers. Once we clarify Jiang Yizhong's case, the rumors will collapse on their own. As for work, I can endure this bit of injustice.'

Gu Yunhao asked, 'As for Jiang Yizhong, I still have some understanding of him; I've interacted with him often at work. Although his abilities are average, he should not have serious problems in clean governance. The Justice Department is undertaking this year's model activity for building a law-based government, a responsibility of great importance and arduous tasks. If Jiang Yizhong has no major issues, I personally suggest letting him return to his unit to take charge.'

Lu Fan thought for a moment and said, 'That probably won't work. To be frank, the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee has gathered many corruption leads on Jiang Yizhong, involving embezzlement of no less than one hundred million yuan, and there are serious problems in his personal conduct; it is likely another major case. Moreover, over ten years ago he caused a fatal accident while driving drunk, found a substitute to take the blame—an extremely heinous act. Let me give you the inside scoop: he is very unlikely to get away.'

Gu Yunhao sighed and said, 'Truly, one can know a person's face but not their heart—I never expected Gu Yunhao to be so greedy and corrupt to this extent, which is heartbreaking! Since he has serious corruption problems, we must investigate to the end!'

Secretary Lu, developing the grasslands cannot be done without a stable political situation and social environment, nor without the proactive efforts and solid work of all provincial cadres; making the grasslands better and better is our shared aspiration, which is beyond doubt.

As the saying goes, cooperation brings mutual benefit, separation brings mutual harm. Only through cooperation can we achieve win-win outcomes and avoid actions that harm others without benefiting ourselves.

As the saying goes, winning hearts wins the world. To achieve a grand undertaking on the grasslands, one must gain the support and following of grassroots cadres and masses; otherwise, any achievement is like a fool's dream. Understanding how to shift perspective and consider issues from the standpoint of the overall situation, balancing the interests of both sides and even multiple parties, is necessary to create a multi-win situation.

Secretary Lu, I sincerely hope you can stand together with the grassroots cadres, sharing honor and disgrace, jointly planning development and creating brilliance! You will surely achieve what you wish for, walk a smooth path, enjoy much happiness and lasting peace.

Lu Fan's face showed sincerity as he said, 'From the moment I arrived and took office on the grasslands, I became a grasslander; the grasslands is my new hometown. At this important moment when the grasslands' reform and development surge forward mighty, I can join this great current, become one of its members, contribute my modest effort to promote the undertakings of myriad people—this is both my honorable mission and my good fortune in life. Naturally, I am willing to work together with everyone, giving my all and uniting our hearts, so that the grassland people gain more, more direct, and more substantive feelings of gain, happiness, and security.'

Although my time on the grasslands has been short, I have noticed some signs: the cadres here place great weight on 'jianghu righteousness,' forming many small cliques; when corruption occurs, they help and cover for each other, and in the exercise of power and distribution of benefits, clique interests prevail. As for those outside the clique, they are often excluded.

Such corrupt cliques are especially hard to root out, because their internal ties are extremely close and mutual cover‑ups are common. I ask Governor Yunhao for guidance: how can we net them all, so that grassroots cadres become united in thought, aligned politically, synchronized in action, and concerted in undertaking, truly doing solid work for the people, handling good deeds, and alleviating public grievances.

The conversation was not going well; seeing Lu Fan so unreasonable, Gu Yunhao felt there was no need to continue, gave a few perfunctory replies, and rose to take his leave.

Lu Fan saw him to the elevator entrance, observing the proper courtesies.

Returning to the office, Lu Fan recalled Gu Yunhao's earlier words and sensed that they would certainly take action.

This time coming to the grasslands, I bear the earnest expectations and sincere instructions of Secretary Hong Tao; Lu Fan could never go with the flow and become corrupt—he is fundamentally not of that ilk.

Moreover, if a person lacks the heart to kill a tiger, the tiger will have harmful intent; when one's stomach is upset, one cannot trust any fart! Once a compromise is made, one may easily fall into an irredeemable situation.

The night was deep, all sounds hushed, the whole city immersed in dreams. Du Wenlong slept soundly, then took over from Du Hongxuan as chief of Investigation Room Three, refreshed and continued interrogating Jiang Yizhong, head of the Provincial Justice Department.

At this moment Jiang Yizhong had gone a day and night without sleep, sitting in a chair with his head bowed, looking listless and powerless, his complexion sallow, clearly exhausted to the extreme.

Nevertheless, he clenched his teeth, relying on willpower to stay awake, even afraid to sleep lest he confess in his dreams.

After taking his seat, Du Wenlong said, 'Director Jiang, only by voluntarily explaining the problem can one turn back from error and return to the right path. Any means of resisting the organization's investigation and examination is tantamount to spinning a cocoon to bind oneself, self‑deception, and ultimately cannot escape the Party's strict discipline. As a veteran of the judicial system, you surely know how severe organizational scrutiny is.'

If you can survive the first day but not the fifteenth, why suffer needlessly? Your problem can basically be clarified; tomorrow I will show you the evidence. Frankly, investigating you is merely a means; the result I want is not you. Do not overestimate the offensive‑defensive alliance you have set up; if you refuse to confess, someone else will step forward to claim merit, and by then you may face an even heavier penalty. I can tell you clearly: by then, not a single cent of your corrupt money will be lost, and your wife, children, and elders will struggle to put food on the table. As for sentencing, you might even become the first person on the grasslands to receive the death penalty.

Hearing these words, Jiang Yizhong stared fixedly at Du Wenlong, eyes full of anger and resentment, yet he was powerless to change the situation.

After a while, Jiang Yizhong spoke in a hoarse voice: 'Secretary Du, show mercy where mercy is due; people reap what they sow. Besides, even if I confess, you must consider the consequences—that is not something you can bear!'

Du Wenlong gave a slight smile and said, 'Do you know which department I used to work in? The consequences you mention are mere bird droppings; I specialize in dealing with all sorts of demons and monsters. Don't think I'm boasting—if you don't believe me, just wait and see!'

Jiang Yizhong seemed to understand why many people would rather choose suicide, jump from buildings or into rivers, preferring to be smashed to pieces with no remains left, rather than linger another second in this world!

……

The chief of Investigation Room Three, Du Hongxuan, returned to her room, took off her outer garment, and lay exhausted on the bed.

Just as she was about to fall asleep, the phone rang; Du Hongxuan glanced at the number and wearily answered.

'Hongxuan, has there been any progress on the Jiang Yizhong case today?'

'Secretary Yun, you also know that our case work is subject to confidentiality rules.'

'How come, as a Deputy Secretary, I want to know the case's progress—is that not allowed? Hongxuan, a person must not forget their roots; always remember you are a grasslander, your roots are in the grasslands—do not do foolish things that hurt loved ones and please enemies. Moreover, how did you come to hold your current position? Don't you have a sense of that in your heart?'

'I just want to be a good person!' Du Hongxuan shouted inwardly, but things are not up to her; after an internal struggle, she replied, 'Secretary Yun, I think Jiang Yizhong can't hold out much longer; Secretary Du is an expert, he personally took charge and just went to interrogate again.'

'Pass him a message: if he truly can't hold out, let him only admit his own deeds—it's no big deal, a few years inside and he'll be out, and the rest of his life will still be comfortable. If he dares to 'bite randomly,' that's a dead end; he should think of his family.'

'Secretary Yun, I'll do my best!'

'Not just best—it's necessary!'

……

After hanging up, lying in bed, Du Hongxuan's thoughts raced: if you take a wrong road you can turn back, but if you go the wrong way in life, can you turn back? One misstep breeds eternal regret; one careless move, every step is a loss; one wrong step leads to eternal ruin.

After leaving Lu Fan's office, Gu Yunhao went straight to a private club where the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee, Yun Zhangsheng, Deputy Provincial Governor Yun Junjie, and the Political and Legal Committee Secretary Yang Jiale were waiting for him.

Upon entering and seeing their expectant gazes, Gu Yunhao shook his head and said, 'Obstinate and unresponsive—talk won't get us anywhere; let's think of other methods.'

Yun Zhangsheng said, 'I estimate Jiang Yizhong won't hold out much longer; Du Wenlong is our top figure in the discipline inspection system, and Jiang Yizhong won't last a few moves under him.'

Yun Junjie pondered, then said in a deep voice, 'No matter what, Jiang Yizhong must not be allowed to speak; this case must go all the way to him!'