Chapter 840

But less than two months after becoming general manager, local thugs came to the hotel one after another to cause trouble, leaving her overwhelmed and forced to swallow her pride to find Tang Long.

Facing his friend's plea for help, the chivalrous Tang Long agreed without hesitation. That very day, he packed his luggage and followed him to the Great Wall Hotel. Before Chen Chen Qinghua could even arrange his employment, five Hong Xing thugs ran to the hotel entrance and threw feces.

Unsurprisingly, the five Hong Xing thugs were knocked to the ground by Tang Long in a few quick moves. Sitting in the car, Dinosaur's face turned livid, his eyes becoming fierce and cold: "Daozai, take a few brothers tonight and take out that meddlesome bastard. Tuen Mun is my turf. Daring to hit my people in Tuen Mun, he doesn't know how to write the word 'death'!!" ===== CHAPTER 1588 =====

Guangdong Industrial Bureau

Coming out of the interrogation room, Bureau Chief Director Jiang took Cao Cao Weiguo to a teahouse, frowning as they discussed the cases of the past few days.

This trip south to Guangdong was not a simple inspection or visit, but carried the arduous task of "purifying the style and correcting discipline." Because of reports from the masses, higher-level leaders had appointed Bureau Chief Director Jiang to lead a team to investigate and ensure the "black sheep" were rooted out.

After two days of open and secret investigations, Cao Cao Weiguo alone had rooted out six corrupt officials, one of whom left a deep impression on him.

This corrupt official was only a deputy factory director, yet in just two years, he had embezzled and taken bribes of over eight thousand Brother Yuan, toyed with over a dozen women, and caused one woman to lose her life due to an accidental miscarriage. His corrupt behavior was extremely vile.

Before this person became a factory leader, he lived a simple life and worked diligently. He had risen from a propaganda officer to a factory leadership position, indeed putting in a lot of blood and sweat and achieving many bright results. Because of his courageous, hardworking, and daring style, he was deeply trusted and appreciated by his superiors.

Moreover, this person had excellent eloquence and writing skills. During the movement, he had written many materials, profoundly exposing the erroneous thoughts of the power-holders and reporting several corrupt cadres. After his promotion, he was strict with himself and set an example, receiving commendations from superiors several times.

After being caught, he was still solemn, taking out a stack of certificates to desperately prove himself. Only in the face of ironclad evidence did this high-achieving deputy factory director have to cover his head and repent, revealing his own process of corruption.

This deputy factory director's father was an honest and simple farmer who worked from dawn to dusk, rain or shine, relying on farming to support the whole family and sending him to school. After graduation, he entered the factory as a propaganda officer and became the pride of the village.

Later, his father became ill from overwork and could not get up. On his deathbed, he held his hand: "Son! You must work hard, work with all your might. You must achieve a career, hold onto your iron rice bowl, stand out, and bring honor to your ancestors..."

He remembered his father's dying instructions, working until he forgot to eat and sleep. He didn't know how many days and nights he had stayed up, how much sweat he had shed, or how much blood he had spilled. During the flood relief, he resolutely jumped into the rushing flood to save people, becoming a hero praised by everyone. He finally stood out, becoming a section-level cadre in his thirties, a deputy factory director managing thousands of people, and a big figure famous far and wide in his hometown.

Such achievements were hard-won, and he cherished everything especially, being careful in both work and life, acting very cautiously for fear of making a mistake and failing his father's expectations.

After becoming deputy factory director, many people came to him to pull strings, sending money and gifts one after another, but he refused them all. Eager for progress, he dared not take a single needle or thread, fearing that he would be caught and leave a stain on his resume, affecting his political future.

But in the end, he still could not escape the hunter's pursuit. A commune cadre from the same clan pulled him into the mire. Three years ago on New Year's Eve, this commune cadre came to visit in the name of comforting the elderly. As soon as he entered the door, he moved rice, flour, and oil into the house. Accompanying him were village elders, saying that all the elderly in the village who reached the age had them. His mother couldn't bear to refuse the rice, flour, and oil, leaving him no way to refuse.

From then on, every holiday, that commune cadre would send rice and flour, caring for the elderly with meticulous attention, even more filial than to his own mother. As time went on, their relationship became close, and they became good brothers who talked about everything. At work, he was cautious everywhere, but he opened a "gap" for this good brother. Later, he was almost responsive to every request, and the return gifts he received became more and more... His grand political ambitions were slowly worn away in the midst of wine, sex, wealth, and anger.

In the quiet teahouse, Bureau Chief Director Jiang smoked one cigarette after another, while Cao Cao Weiguo held his teacup in silence. During the conversation, the two exchanged ideas and warned each other.

At this time, Cao Cao Weiguo was no longer a green recruit; he was already a department-level cadre holding real power, personally participating in many major projects and handling many major cases... The power in his hands was much greater than those factory directors, deputy directors, and section chiefs he had taken down, and the interests involved were equally much greater.

Fortunately, Cao Cao Weiguo was famously "not greedy for money." Since entering the Industrial Bureau, he could pat his chest and say he had not embezzled a single cent. Even if he received gifts during holidays, he would return them. Everyone in the bureau knew this; he left no handle for others to grasp and no faults to pick. As for those who asked him for favors, the gifts they brought could not move him.

Laozi sits on ten thousand acres of fertile land, countless cattle and sheep, and mountains of gold and silver; could he care about those few pennies? Could he lose the watermelon for a sesame seed?

Bureau Chief Director Jiang knew Cao Cao Weiguo's "not greedy for money" point well and appreciated it very much, so he often entrusted him with important tasks, regarding him as his right-hand man and confidant.

"Not greedy for money" was Cao Cao Weiguo's advantage, but the flaws did not obscure the virtues; Cao Cao Weiguo also had "shortcomings," which were that his interpersonal relationships were intricate, and his friends and acquaintances were like crucian carp crossing the river, so much so that Bureau Chief Director Jiang broke into a sweat for Cao Cao Weiguo.

He was not afraid of thieves stealing, but of thieves thinking about it. There were too many temptations in this world, and he worried that Cao Cao Weiguo would make a mistake if he wasn't careful. That was why this teahouse conversation happened, hoping to warn his confidant.

Cao Cao Weiguo said frankly: "Using copper as a mirror, one can straighten one's clothes; using history as a mirror, one can know the rise and fall; using people as a mirror, one can understand gains and losses. Please rest assured, leader, I, Cao Cao Weiguo, will definitely stick to my original intention, firm up my beliefs, and never do anything to let down the people. I will learn from Comrade Jiao Yulu, serve the people wholeheartedly, and contribute to the development of the motherland."

Bureau Chief Director Jiang nodded with satisfaction: "Cao Weiguo, I believe you will do what you say, because I will not misjudge people."

After parting at the teahouse, Cao Cao Weiguo returned to the guesthouse alone and picked up the *People's Daily* to study it word by word. But before he could finish reading, the phone in the room suddenly rang.

On the phone: "I am so-and-so... The chief asked me to tell you that the situation in the so-and-so factory you are investigating is complex and involves... Now the production task is heavy... You understand."

Cao Cao Weiguo hurriedly replied: "Yes, yes, yes. Please tell the chief, please let the chief rest assured, I will try my best to ensure that production is not affected..."

On the phone: "The chief said that you have done a good job in the past two years, it has been very hard, and your achievements are very prominent. The chief is very satisfied with you and hopes you will take care of your health and continue to work hard. There are heavier burdens for you to shoulder in the future."

Cao Cao Weiguo: "Yes, yes, yes. Thank you for the chief's concern, I will definitely not let down the chief's cultivation."

After putting down the phone, Cao Cao Weiguo sat on the bed, looking at the headline on the newspaper, shook his head with slight fatigue, and lay on the bed, lost in thought while looking at the ceiling.

As his position got higher and higher, the level of contact also got higher and higher. Cao Cao Weiguo felt more and more pressure. There were eyes everywhere, and invisible shackles everywhere. A single word from the chief made him rack his brains. It was not as comfortable and free as when he was at the Red Star Rolling Mill. ===== CHAPTER 1589 =====