Chapter 474: Relatives?

Zhao Xiaohui returned home to Jingzhou for the holidays, and Lu Zhou was startled to see her carrying a load of New Year goods.

"Xiaohui, what is this about? The company issues them every year, why did you buy so many New Year goods again?"

"I didn't buy them, they are company benefits."

"Company issued? All of this?" Lu Zhou pointed at the bags of rice, flour, grain, and oil on the floor, as well as the pork legs and various gift boxes of snacks.

"Yes, I am General Manager Lou's Secretary, and my benefits are in the third tier, so there is quite a lot. Oh right, there are also hundred-yuan supermarket gift cards; for those high-level leaders, the benefits are even more."

In truth, Zhao Xiaohui had also been surprised when she received these items. She had thought the benefits at her previous workplace were already very good, but she had not expected the Oriental Group's generosity to be even greater.

"We can't finish all of this, so take your share to your father-in-law and mother-in-law."

"Oh, okay."

"I'm going to tell my dad first that I might not be back tonight; you and the child don't need to wait for me."

Zhao Xiaohui went straight to the Provincial Party Committee Compound with some specialty products from Pengcheng, and Zhao Ruilong was there at the time.

Seeing Zhao Ruilong's slicked-back, greasy hair, Zhao Xiaohui felt disgusted. In Pengcheng, only greasy middle-aged men in their forties or fifties wore their hair like that, so she slapped him directly on the head.

"What is this look? You still work at a state-owned enterprise; has no one said anything to you?"

Zhao Ruilong was completely bewildered. He had wanted to show off properly, so how had he been smacked before he could even open his mouth?

"Zhao Xiaohui, don't go too far. I spent quite a bit of money to get this hairstyle done."

Seeing Zhao Xiaohui raise her hand again, Zhao Ruilong decisively ran behind Zhao Lichun.

"Dad, you should discipline her too."

"..."

"Alright, Xiaohui, it's only been half a year, and you've changed quite a bit."

If the Zhao Xiaohui of the past was worldly and slick, the current her was crisp and capable.

"Dad, I've learned a lot from General Manager Lou. They have been teaching me without reservation. After the New Year, I'm being promoted to Jinghai to be the second-in-command."

Zhao Lichun was very gratified; this second daughter did everything well. He then glanced at the greasy-haired Zhao Ruilong beside him and sighed slightly in his heart.

"Tch, maybe they only gave you the second-in-command position for our dad's sake; you really think you have the ability?"

"Look at me, I'm a Sales Deputy Division Chief now. If anyone wants to get oil or gas, they have to show me some respect, otherwise, they won't get their approval slips."

Zhao Ruilong was truly becoming arrogant. In just half a year, he had started by only taking cigarettes and alcohol, then gift cards, and now he even dared to accept cash.

"Dad?"

Zhao Xiaohui frowned as she listened. Isn't this just extortion and bribery? Zhao Lichun waved his hand; he knew about these things, but he had already turned them back in.

Zhao Lichun had also underestimated his son's bottom line and audacity; he hadn't expected him to be like an old hand after only half a year on the job.

"Ruilong, do you know how much money you've taken in these six months? Do you know that if someone reports you now, it's enough to put you in jail for two years? If this were ten years ago, I could have shot you myself."

"I, I, I only accepted some cigarettes and alcohol, how could it be that serious? Don't we also receive plenty of cigarettes and alcohol at home during the holidays?"

Zhao Lichun didn't speak, but handed him the list of bribes he had accepted over the past six months. Zhao Ruilong took it and looked, and cold sweat broke out.

"I, this..."

Zhao Xiaohui also snatched it away, and the more she read, the more shocked she became; it was simply audacious.

"Ruilong, you... your courage is too great. If someone really exposes this, not only you, but our dad will also be affected, you..." Zhao Xiaohui raised her hand to hit him again.

"No, it won't happen. Our Division Chief said this is an unspoken rule that everyone accepts; it's the same for everyone."

Hearing this, cold light flickered in Zhao Lichun's eyes. Someone was using Zhao Ruilong to try and drag him down.

Fortunately, he had arranged for people to report the things Zhao Ruilong had embezzled to the Discipline Inspection Commission in Zhao Ruilong's name after the fact, otherwise, he would have been in a passive position if someone had reported him.

"Enough, you really are stupid enough. Your Division Chief will likely spend the New Year in prison."

"Dad, then, what should I do? That Zhao Zhangjun will definitely inform on me; I can't go to jail."

Precisely because they both shared the surname Zhao and were birds of a feather, Zhao Ruilong had gotten along exceptionally well with him over the past six months.

"Why do you think you are still safely at home right now? Take a good look at this."

"Ah?"

Zhao Ruilong scrambled to take the file Zhao Lichun threw at him. It was exactly the evidence Zhao Lichun had arranged for the Discipline Inspection Commission, along with a Report Letter written in Zhao Ruilong's name.

This meant that the current Zhao Ruilong was not only not an accomplice to corruption and bribery, but an honest official who did not associate with corrupt officials and dared to face corruption head-on.

"This, this... is this right?"

Zhao Ruilong's head was a bit dazed. He hated the twists and turns when he was at his previous unit, and now that he had entered a state-owned enterprise, he felt his brain was even less sufficient.

He had clearly committed corruption and bribery, but ended up accidentally performing a meritorious service.

"I want to verify the cards."

"..."

"Ruilong, do you know how sinister human hearts are now? After the New Year, go report to the Union; it's quiet there, without all the twists and turns."

"Oh, oh, okay." Zhao Ruilong's mind was completely blank, and he responded casually.

After the New Year, Zhao Ruilong went to the Union in a low-key manner, and Zhao Xiaohui also finished her handover in Pengcheng and went to report to Jinghai.

"Welcome Secretary Zhao Lidong to the Oriental Group Branch to guide our work."

As soon as Zhao Xiaohui arrived at the Jinghai Branch, she saw several long banners. The name "Zhao Lidong" caught her attention; for no other reason than it was only one character different from her father's name.

"Are you Manager Zhao? I am General Manager Gao's Secretary, Xiao Wu. General Manager Gao is currently receiving Secretary Zhao, and she asked me to wait for you here."

"Okay, sorry for the trouble."

"You are too kind, this is what we should do. Please, this way."

This was a Deputy Manager, which could be considered her direct superior, so she naturally dared not be negligent.

"Xiao Wu, who is this Secretary Zhao?"

"Oh, Secretary Zhao is our Jinghai Political and Legal Affairs Committee Secretary. Our Oriental Group strictly pays taxes and is a benchmark in Jinghai, so he came to our company to guide our work."

"Oh, oh."

Zhao Xiaohui did not ask any further; one could not simply assume someone was a relative just because their names were similar, otherwise what would one do about people who shared the same name?

"Manager Zhao, this is your office. Let me know what is missing and I will arrange it for you."

"No need, it is already very good. Let's go to the site and take a look."

"Very well, Manager Zhao, please follow me."

Xiao Wu brought Zhao Xiaohui to the fifth floor, where Gao Xiaofeng was currently leading a man in his forties dressed in formal attire, followed by a group of Cadres.

"Manager Zhao, the one in the lead is our General Manager Gao, and behind her is Secretary Zhao Lidong."

"Mm."

Zhao Xiaohui also carefully sized up the two; Gao Xiaofeng was indeed excessively young, but her aura was powerful.

Zhao Lidong looked to be in his forties, with a broad face and slicked-back hair; he was stern and serious, and while his features did not resemble her father's, there was something strangely familiar about his brows.

Zhao Xiaohui did not linger and found a random excuse to call Zhao Lichun.

"Dad, I saw someone in Jinghai, and I keep feeling like they are somewhat familiar."

"Oh? Who is it?"

"The Political and Legal Affairs Committee Secretary of Jinghai City, Zhao Lidong."

"Zhao Lidong? I have never heard of this person."

Zhao Lichun had spent his childhood in Sijiucheng and still had some vague impressions, but he had moved to Jingzhou later on, and he only had one older sister and one younger sister, with no brothers.

"Oh, then I might have been mistaken."