Chapter 24

"Persist in cracking down on both 'tigers' and 'flies,' with emphasis on investigating disciplinary and legal violations that show no sign of restraint or cessation."

"Enhance awareness of risk prevention and improve the effectiveness of corruption governance."

"Ice three feet thick does not form in a single day. Likewise, corruption problems are not formed overnight..."

Cheng Chen rode his bicycle through the village, carefully recalling a news article he had once seen on a headline page in his previous life.

He remembered the article clearly: among the list of personnel implicated, pulled out along with the radish and its mud, Liu Wenjiang and his second son Liu Guanchang were prominently listed.

"In that case, the main culprit began accepting bribes and embezzling as early as 1996."

"Liu Wenjiang was among the first to establish ties with him; if we find evidence of illicit funds, we can topple him effortlessly!"

Cheng Chen muttered to himself.

"Brother, after you've settled things at home, what are your plans?"

Gao Yuanyuan asked softly, seated on the bicycle seat.

A light breeze brushed her long hair, stirring her bangs, and gently fluttering the hem of her skirt.

On the cement-paved provincial road, trees on both sides had only recently sprouted, slowly turning green, their trunks still bearing faint traces of winter's severity.

"Lai Dao said I should first train with the film crew, and he'll call me over when he starts a new drama next year. For now, the urgent priority? Get money!"

"Get money? Are you really short on cash?"

After speaking, Gao Yuanyuan realized she had said something foolish—she had seen Cheng Chen's family situation.

He must be short on cash.

Cheng Chen merely smiled indifferently:

"Who isn't short on money? There are so many things I want to do, like..."

"Like what?"

"Digging up graves."

Gao Yuanyuan:...

Cheng Chen slowed his bicycle speed and said:

"We're here!"

Gao Yuanyuan curiously stepped off the seat; directly ahead lay a roughly twelve-to-thirteen-mu patch of wasteland covered in trees.

It stood out abruptly, utterly incongruous with the surrounding lush green wheat seedlings.

"Where is this?"

"A mass grave," Cheng Chen said, pulling a shovel from his bicycle and slinging it over his shoulder, while helping Gao Yuanyuan put on her rubber boots. "I don't know who planted so many trees, but they've been here since I was a child. According to our local customs, children who die young cannot be buried in the ancestral graves, so they're all dumped here."

Looking at Gao Yuanyuan, who looked slightly frightened, Cheng Chen slapped the dirt off his hands and said:

"Don't worry, sister. There's nothing to fear—I'm here."

Gao Yuanyuan nodded timidly; she had originally thought Cheng Chen's talk of digging graves was just a joke.

But now, seeing him put on gloves and carry a shovel, she realized he was serious.

Seeing Gao Yuanyuan's hesitation, Cheng Chen felt a mischievous urge.

With Gao Yuanyuan's startled cry of "Ah!" Cheng Chen grabbed her hand and dashed into the small grove...

Watching Gao Yuanyuan's hesitant expression, Cheng Chen felt a mischievous urge.

"Where is it? Should be this way... Liu Guanlong... Liu Guanlong."

Cheng Chen held Gao Yuanyuan's hand, walking and muttering to himself.

Beneath their feet lay decaying leaves mixed with soil, especially difficult to walk through after the recent rain.

Around them rose countless graves, some marked with steles, others mere small mounds of earth.

A gust of wind blew through the grove, producing a rustling sound; Gao Yuanyuan felt every hair on her body stand on end.

"Brother, let's go. Why are you digging up other people's graves for no reason?"

Gao Yuanyuan tugged at Cheng Chen's sleeve, pleading.

"Sister, our family's future—life or death—depends on this trip. There's a great secret hidden here!"

Cheng Chen turned to face Gao Yuanyuan, speaking with solemn gravity.

So serious? Gao Yuanyuan was startled by Cheng Chen's intensity.

Though terrified inside,

she still forced herself to stay with him.

"Brother, it's broad daylight—what if someone sees us?"

Gao Yuanyuan asked anxiously.

"Don't worry. This place is several miles from our village."

"These trees are decades old, thick and dense—they've already hidden us completely."

"Besides, people here are superstitious. They dare not even approach this place normally..."

These are all decades-old trees, so thick and dense they've already blocked us from view.

And the people here are superstitious—they dare not come near this place normally…

Before Cheng Chen could finish speaking, a sudden sound rang out; Gao Yuanyuan shrieked and clung tightly to Cheng Chen's arm.

"Uh... sister, your phone's ringing. And you're pressed... too close."

Feeling the pressure, Cheng Chen awkwardly reminded her.

Hearing this, Gao Yuanyuan blushed and immediately let go of his arm, pretending calm as she answered the call.

Sensing the pressure, Cheng Chen awkwardly reminded her.

Upon hearing this, Gao Yuanyuan blushed and immediately let go of his arm, pretending to be calm as she answered the phone.

"Hello…"

"Sis, you're holding your phone upside down."

Cheng Chen reminded her.

"Hmph…"

She shot Cheng Chen a glare, then repositioned her phone and answered.

Cheng Chen then resumed his "grave-hunting" journey.

After about ten minutes, Cheng Chen finally found Liu Guanlong's "grave."

"This is it!"

Cheng Chen picked up his shovel and began "digging up the grave."

Gao Yuanyuan, having finished her call, saw the partially dug-up mound and was both startled and frightened.

"Is the production team calling to hurry you back?"

Cheng Chen asked while working.

"N-No, they're looking for you."

"Looking for me?" Cheng Chen asked curiously: "Who is it?"

"Remember that person who wanted to buy your song? She's finally finished her work and said she's coming to Jingcheng to find you. I told her you're back home, so she said she'd come directly to you—she's expected to arrive tomorrow at noon."

Gao Yuanyuan turned her body, trying hard not to look at Cheng Chen's "grave-digging" scene.

"Oh? So she's serious? Is she reliable?"

"Of course she's reliable—she has her own company and distribution channels, though she's nowhere near the industry giants."

"Her company was founded only a few years ago and desperately needs a few high-quality songs to break into the market, so I gave her your 'Love Transfer.'"

Cheng Chen: …

Gao Yuanyuan talked for a long time, but Cheng Chen said nothing.

She thought he was rejecting the company she'd found, and snapped angrily:

"Say something—if you don't like it, I'll just send her back and save the cost of a plane ticket."

"What do you mean 'like it or not'? I trust you to handle it."

Cheng Chen said casually.

Hearing his words, Gao Yuanyuan felt both proud and reassured.

"Pfft."

Gao Yuanyuan turned around, ready to praise him—but when she saw his appearance, she burst out laughing.

Cheng Chen's face and body were caked in dirt—he looked exactly like a mud monkey.

Though his acting days had been dusty and often messy, seeing him like this in real life was comical.

Especially as he was vigorously swinging his shovel, "digging up the grave."

"Stop laughing. Pack up—we're leaving."

"Did you find what you wanted?"

"Of course I did."

Cheng Chen climbed out of the pit, holding a pitch-black briefcase.

Seeing Gao Yuanyuan's puzzled expression, Cheng Chen explained:

"The village chief, who took over our land, had four sons. His youngest son, Liu Guanlong, died young."

"He hid his bribery ledger inside his youngest son's grave. As for his son's actual grave… it was moved long ago. This one's just an empty grave, meant to deceive people."

…