Chapter 457

After leaving the Xinlinyin, I drove while calling Xi Meizhu, telling her to get her things ready so I could come pick her up.

Xi Meizhu cried out in surprise on the phone, "Where are you taking me?"

I said in a low voice, "You'll know in a moment."

I didn't tell her because I was afraid she would tell my mother about the news of my aunt being arrested. If my mother found out, I would have caused a huge disaster. My mother's physical and mental state could absolutely not withstand this blow.

Seeing that I refused to tell her the reason, Xi Meizhu refused to go with me.

I persuaded her, "Be good, aren't you willing to help me?"

Xi Meizhu hesitated and said, "I'm willing to help you, even if it's murder or arson. But Mother is home alone, and I'm worried."

I forced a smile and said, "Don't worry, I'm here."

After hanging up the phone and turning through two main streets, I arrived at the road in front of my house.

I parked the car on the side of the road, waiting for Xi Meizhu to come over. I couldn't go home now; I was the type of person who easily wore my emotions on my face, especially in front of my mother, where I almost never hid anything.

My mother could easily discover problems from my words and actions; no one knows a son like his mother!

Before long, I saw Xi Meizhu come out empty-handed; seeing me from afar, her pace quickened significantly.

When she stood in front of me, I asked expressionlessly, "Why didn't you bring your luggage?"

"What should I bring?"

"Clothes, toiletries, and such."

"Are we going on a long trip?"

"No."

"If we aren't going on a long trip, why would I bring those?" Xi Meizhu smiled faintly and asked, "Brother, what are you doing? Mother is home alone."

I opened the car door, sat in, and told her about my aunt's situation.

As I spoke, tears streamed down Xi Meizhu's face, and she asked with a choked voice, "What about the child?"

"He's with Weiwei," I said, starting the car. "You help out for a few days."

"Help with what? You both have to work; I'll go bring the child back. With Mother and me there, you can be ten thousand percent at ease."

"I'm afraid my mother will find out," I said worriedly.

"It's fine, just say Aunt went traveling and needs us to help look after him for a few days," Xi Meizhu said confidently. "Mother will grumble a few times at most and won't ask too deeply."

This suggestion gave me a flash of inspiration; it was indeed a good idea.

This was Xi Meizhu's first time at the place where Huang Weiwei and I lived; she looked around curiously and praised, "This place is really nice!"

I didn't respond, walked straight to the door, and took out the key to open it.

As soon as the door opened, I was startled to find my aunt sitting on the sofa, calmly breastfeeding the child.

I shouted, "Aunt, how did you get back?"

My aunt smiled faintly and said, "You rascal, don't you want me to come back?"

I shook my head hurriedly and said, "How could that be! I just thought, how could they let you come back?"

"Aunt hasn't been back for even ten minutes," Huang Weiwei said, poking half her body out from the kitchen. Seeing Xi Meizhu, she asked in surprise, "Meizhu, why are you here?"

Xi Meizhu smiled awkwardly and said, "Sister-in-law, I came to take the child back."

Huang Weiwei said "Oh," and gave me a reproachful look, saying, "Chen Feng, you suspect I can't take good care of the child, don't you?"

I laughed and said, "Not at all. You have to work; you can't take the child to work with you."

Meanwhile, my aunt pretended to be unhappy and said, "Xiao Feng, you bad boy, are you hoping I wouldn't be able to come back? Making long-term plans?"

Three women make a play; they started chattering away.

With my aunt back home, the stone in my heart fell to the ground. It was as if the thousand-pound burden on my body had suddenly been lifted, and my whole being felt infinitely relaxed.

My aunt must have returned after I left the Xinlinyin. Her return just happened to prove that my aunt's case wasn't about the Luqiao Company, but about this list.

"Did they say anything?" I asked worriedly.

"Who?"

"The people from the Public Security Bureau."

"What would they say? They didn't say a word," my aunt laughed. "When they wanted to let me go, I didn't even want to leave. It's easy to invite a god but hard to send one away; they brought me in for no reason, didn't say a word, and then let me come back so easily—they have to give an explanation."

"What did they say?"

"Nothing! No one bothered me, they just told me to go home quickly," my aunt sighed. "If it weren't for worrying about my son, I would have demanded an explanation."

I understood in my heart that they let my aunt go home just to show me. As long as I didn't know what was good for me, it would be easy for them to take my aunt back in.

I felt it was necessary to give Wu Quanzi a call.

After taking a sip of water, I lit a cigarette and stood alone on the balcony, starting to call Secretary-General Wu.

Secretary-General Wu asked me on the phone, "Are you home?"

I gave a grunt.

"Is everyone at home well?"

"Thank you, Secretary-General Wu," I said sincerely. "Should I come over now and give you the things?"

"No need!" Secretary-General Wu laughed heartily and said, "Xiao Chen, there is no such list in this world; what list are you giving me? Why don't I understand what you're saying?"

I suddenly realized and said hurriedly, "Sorry to disturb your rest, Secretary-General. I apologize."

He laughed and hung up the phone; I held the receiver, wanting to cry but having no tears.

This is the highest realm of being an official! I had to admire it. They resolved a massive issue into nothingness without a sound.

I took out the list, not wanting to look at it for even half a second, tore it into pieces, and threw it into the wind.

The torn pieces of the list fell like heavy snow, fluttering down. My heart fell with them.

Suddenly feeling someone beside me, I looked sideways and saw my aunt. Her eyes followed the floating fragments, her expression melancholy.

"It's all over," I said. "From now on, I want to be a person with an open and honest heart."

My aunt smiled miserably and sighed, "Xiao Feng, from now on, you will never be able to be a person with an open and honest heart again."

I asked curiously, "Aunt, I don't understand what you mean."

My aunt said sternly, "You tore up the list, but a seed has already been planted in your heart. This is a seed of desire that will drive you crazy."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because you surrendered."

"I surrendered for the sake of family," I defended.

"Xiao Feng, since ancient times, the success of one general is built on the bones of ten thousand. If a person is constrained by family, love, and sentiment, they are destined not to go far or stand steady."

"You mean, as long as one succeeds, everything can be abandoned?"

"That's how it is for being an official. Not for being a person!" My aunt quietly squeezed my hand and turned back into the house.

I looked at the towering buildings, my heart surging like the wind and clouds.

I tore up the list—was I surrendering to the tyranny of Wu Quanzi and his group? Was I thinking about the position in the Provincial Public Security Department's office?

I shook my head, wanting to distinguish it clearly. But the more I thought, the more confused I became, to the point that when Huang Weiwei came to disturb me for dinner, calling me several times, I remained deaf to it.

It wasn't until she pushed me that I woke up, looking at Huang Weiwei and smiling foolishly.

"What are you smiling so foolishly about?" Huang Weiwei asked with full concern. She could read my expression; we had been together for several years, and although we were often apart, our hearts were connected.

"Nothing," I said evasively. "Let's go inside."

"Is something on your mind?"

"No."

"You're lying! I can tell."

"I'm really not lying to you," I comforted her. "I have nothing to hide from you."

"I'm your wife; your business is my business. As long as we think of a way together, there's nothing that can't be solved," Huang Weiwei said softly. "If something is on your mind, say it out; two people thinking of a way is always better than one."

I hesitated and said, "The Provincial Public Security Department wants to transfer me."

"Really?" Huang Weiwei was delighted to hear this, her voice rising significantly. "That's a good thing."

"But if I get transferred, I have to leave you."

"Leaving is leaving. You can come back when you have time, and I can go see you when I have time. It's nothing."

I sighed long and hard, saying nothing more.

My gentle wife, why don't you think about whether I can come back once I go?

"When do you plan to leave?"

"It's not confirmed yet."

"I want to tell my mother this good news," she said excitedly, wanting to make a call.

I grabbed her and said in a low voice, "Wife, it's not even a sure thing yet, no rush."

"I'm in a rush," she laughed with full joy.

"When it's time to tell the elders, I will definitely go tell them. For now, let's just enjoy this meal."

I hugged her shoulder, pushed open the glass door, and stepped into the living room.