Chapter 2448: I

Director Nan nodded and said, "Comrade Shanmin, today a comrade came to see me and reported an incident that occurred in Yanzhong City the night before last—you should already know about it, so I won't repeat it. They claim Comrade Xinghui was acting recklessly in Yanzhong City, indulging in wine and women, bringing shame to the Planning Commission and to the Central Committee!"

Gu Shanmin said, "I've already heard the details of the matter from Yu Ruizhi. Comrades Yu Ruizhi, Yu Ruoqiu, Chu Zheng, and Han Xiang Dong were all present that day. I'd like to report the truth of the matter to you."

Gu Shanmin told Director Nan the truth of the matter word for word. Director Nan said nothing the whole time, listening intently, occasionally nodding.

Soon, Gu Shanmin finished speaking. His account remained entirely objective, offering no personal opinions, but he knew Director Nan surely possessed basic judgment—he would be able to tell truth from falsehood.

Director Nan could indeed tell the truth: what Gu Shanmin said was likely the truth. Director Nan knew Su Xinghui well, and he held great admiration for him—otherwise he wouldn't have sent Su Xinghui to Yanzhong City to shoulder such a heavy responsibility.

For this mission to Yanzhong City, Director Nan had sent almost no one else; Su Xinghui went essentially alone, proving Director Nan's confidence in him—he believed Su Xinghui could complete this task successfully.

But this also required Director Nan's unconditional trust. Without such trust, it would have been impossible for Su Xinghui to accomplish an almost impossible mission alone in Yanzhong City under these conditions.

It's like an ancient general leading troops into battle, while the Emperor constantly doubted his loyalty and kept issuing orders from ignorance—how could such a general not fail?

Director Nan trusted Su Xinghui unconditionally, and precisely because of that, he needed to know the truth—so today he summoned Gu Shanmin, knowing Gu Shanmin must already know the truth.

Gu Shanmin's account was reasonable, while the rumors clearly contained implausible elements. Even in places Su Xinghui could fully control, he had never done such things—why would he, in the dangerous environment of Yanzhong City, deliberately provoke a conflict with Lu Keren's son over a singing girl? That simply didn't fit Su Xinghui's character.

Now, with Gu Shanmin's explanation, Director Nan was reassured. Director Nan said, "It seems Comrade Xinghui has made progress in his work."