Chapter 1696

Wang Liu said: "You've done many good things, driving the economic development of Changshan County so well—you certainly can't be a corrupt official."

Su Xinghui smiled: "There's even less of a necessary connection between the two. History is full of capable ministers who were also very good at accumulating wealth—like Xu Jie, like Zhang Juzheng."

Wang Liu was confused; she looked at Su Xinghui and said: "County Chief Su, everyone else in your position would do anything to clean their name—but why are you saying this? Do you really want to label yourself a corrupt official?"

Su Xinghui laughed: "I'm not trying to label myself a corrupt official. I just want you not to judge people by appearances or talent—anyone can have two sides, and I might have two sides too."

Wang Liu asked seriously: "County Chief Su, then—are you really a corrupt official?"

Su Xinghui could clearly see the seriousness on Wang Liu's face; at this moment, she looked almost like a simple seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl.

Su Xinghui chuckled: "How can you ask like that? Even if I were a corrupt official, I couldn't tell you. If I say I'm not, you wouldn't believe me anyway."

Wang Liu still said seriously: "If you say you're not a corrupt official, I'll believe you."

Wang Liu's seriousness moved Su Xinghui—unconditional trust like this was rare in the world.

Su Xinghui then dropped his smile and said seriously to Wang Liu: "Then I'll tell you—I'm not a corrupt official."

Wang Liu let out a long breath.

But Su Xinghui added: "However..."

Wang Liu grew tense again: "However what?"

Su Xinghui said: "But I'm not exactly a traditional honest official either. I want my family to live well, so I'm probably quite good at managing finances."

Wang Liu asked: "Then how do you manage your finances?"

Su Xinghui said: "My paintings sell fairly well—now they can fetch ten thousand yuan each, but I don't paint much anymore because I'm too busy. The money from selling them bought me a house, some storefronts, and a few collectibles—they're worth quite a bit now. The annual rent from the storefronts probably exceeds my salary, so I'm not short on money."

Wang Liu said: "Then all that should be legal income—how much are these investments worth now?"

Su Xinghui did a quick calculation and replied: "The house was in the best location—now it's worth at least two or three hundred thousand. There are two storefronts, also in prime locations—each worth at least two hundred thousand. The collectibles haven't been appraised, but they're probably worth several hundred thousand."

Wang Liu exclaimed in awe: "So you're a millionaire?"

In the 1990s, having a few hundred thousand was already remarkable; a millionaire was something Wang Liu had only heard of, never seen—now she was sitting with one, and this millionaire was none other than the vice-county chief she admired. The feeling was utterly surreal.

Su Xinghui smiled carefree: "I've never calculated how much I have. I just want my family to live well—I don't want to become corrupt because I'm poor. That's why I made these investments. That's why I say I'm not a traditional honest official. This might disappoint you?"

Wang Liu shook her head: "No. As long as what you do is free of guilt, that's enough. If you don't embezzle or steal, aren't you an honest official?"

Su Xinghui felt moved—he hadn't expected this beautiful, talented woman to be his true confidante.

"I work hard to earn and manage money precisely because I don't want to be tempted by it. But I don't want too much—just enough for me and my family to live comfortably, not like Hai Rui, who couldn't even afford rice. I think an official who reaches that point isn't normal."

Wang Liu listened quietly to Su Xinghui. She knew hearing these confessions from him was rare—and this was her first step toward understanding this man's heart.

Su Xinghui also felt a desire to speak today. Some things he couldn't tell even his own family, but he felt he could tell Wang Liu. She gave him the feeling of a confidante—especially her quiet, attentive posture made him feel at ease. The time and place of their conversation felt especially fitting.

"I don't want my wealth's origins to be questioned and me brought down by a whistleblower report that cost nothing but an eight-cent stamp. So I'm cautious—I keep clear records of every asset's source, and I've preserved all original receipts. I know how the officialdom in our country works—trying to get things done is incredibly hard."

"Anyone could report me. Because I act for the majority's benefit, I must harm the interests of a small group—and that small group holds most of the power. So to avoid being toppled by them, I must be prepared. Yet now, someone still sent a whistleblower report."

Hearing Su Xinghui's words, Wang Liu recalled all the things this man had done since arriving in Changshan County nearly a year ago—each one confirmed his words.

Shutting down quarries, reforming hospitality expense systems, building roads, setting up factories, developing animal husbandry, promoting tourism, constructing infrastructure—each action benefited all the people of Changshan County, yet harmed the interests of a few privileged groups. Wang Liu realized how immense the pressure he bore must be.

This man, always standing tall and solid as a mountain before anyone, no one would guess he carried such mountainous burdens.

A tenderness welled up in Wang Liu's heart. She whispered: "Don't mind those flies buzzing—they won't hurt you. As long as your conscience is clear, you'll be fine."

Su Xinghui laughed heartily: "I'm sure everything will be fine, so don't worry. Your program will air normally soon—I believe it'll be a huge hit."

Wang Liu hadn't expected Su Xinghui to still remember her program. She knew herself—her outburst today wasn't about the program. She was worried entirely about the man beside her.

She showed a shy, girlish expression, lowering her head: "I'm not worried about the program..."

Before she could finish, Su Xinghui said: "Enough. It's very late. Your husband must be worried. Let me take you home."

Wang Liu instantly fell into self-pity: "He won't worry about me."

Su Xinghui was startled—what was going on? Did Wang Liu have problems with her husband?

He said: "Comrade Wang Liu, that's not right. Are you having trouble with your husband? Marital conflicts are normal, but you can't just run away every time. It's so late—you're out alone, he must be worried. Come on, I'll take you home. It's almost eleven."

Hearing Su Xinghui speak like a neighborhood women's federation director, Wang Liu couldn't help smiling—he's even younger than me, and just married himself, yet he's lecturing me?

But immediately, a pang of sadness struck her—clearly, Su Xinghui felt absolutely nothing romantic toward her. He saw her purely as a friend. Was she really that unattractive?

Yet her heart quickly softened—still, he treated her as a friend, spoke to her so casually, even intimately. That was already good—a decent start.

She then realized another thing: even in this situation, he never tried to take advantage of her. His character was truly good—he could be called a true gentleman. Only such a gentleman was worth her affection.

She wasn't Zhang Ailing, blindly devoted to a scoundrel like Hu Lan Cheng.

She stole a glance at Su Xinghui. In this whirl of thoughts, her heart rose and fell like a tiny boat on a wave—and at this moment, she quietly smiled, her face suddenly burning hot.