Chapter Fifty: A Rainy Night Visitor

  On his way home, Lu Zhong felt a slight heaviness in his heart, as if he had been pressed down by a stone.

  Director Yu, seems to have suddenly aged ten years, speaking, it's all a bit unclear.

  Mrs. Zhang held onto Lu Zhong's hand, wiping away tears and mentioning Lu Zhong's kindness, also bringing up Liu Baojun, another official from Wushan who had disappeared after Old Zhang's incident, even when Mrs. Zhang tried to send Yu Gong director to the hospital by car a few days ago, Liu Baojun answered with an official tone, repeatedly saying that vehicles were difficult and couldn't be arranged at the moment.

  The original municipal party committee secretary-general Qin Huailiang was transferred to the province, Liu Baojun does not know what kind of relationship he has, and was promoted to deputy secretary-general of the municipal party committee and director of the research office. In the absence of a clear secretary-general, it is heard that Liu Baojun temporarily took charge of the office and logistics, and used the car, looking for him is very normal.

  Mrs. Zhang mentioned that it's now difficult to send Old Zhang to the hospital by car, and Lu Zhong couldn't help but sigh, saying "Auntie, if you need a car, just find me, my private car will be there in no time, just give me a call." These words almost made Mrs. Zhang cry out loud.

  Liu Baojun?

  Alas, Lu Zhong shook his head, this person seemed to be getting further and further away from himself.

  ……

  He pulled the cord and the fluorescent light flickered on, casting a soft glow.

  On the sofa in the living room, a figure suddenly stood up, Lu Zhong was startled and almost took a fighting stance, then helplessly said: "How did you get in?"

  On the sofa, a charming and elegant woman stood up, wearing light blue casual pajamas that looked simple yet lively. The slightly loose sleepwear couldn't hide her slender yet full-bodied curves. Her long hair was slightly curled, revealing a unique charm, while her black waves accentuated her pale face and cherry lips' redness, making her beauty hard to describe.

  It goes without saying that it was Wei Xiangxiu.

  Wei Xiang's face lit up with a smile and she said, "You forgot, Xiao Jing has the key to this house."

  "Then don't just barge into my room, okay? I gave Xia Jing the key so she could help me clean, and you coming in like this is very rude! And another thing, that little girl Xia Jing is always getting scolded!"

  Wei Xiangxiu smiled, her sexy little red plastic high-heeled slippers making a "dada" sound on the floor, her snow-white feet, toes painted with light red nail polish, like rose petals, tempting and unspoken. The feminine charm of the female police officer at home, compared to her upright and elegant police uniform, really made one's heart itch and scratch, wishing to punish her right there and then.

  She helped Lu Zhong take off his coat while saying: "Alright, you, your official position has been revoked, but your temper is getting worse. What's going on? Do you want us to give you three bows and nine kowtows?"

  Lu Zhong was so angry that he couldn't help it, Wei Xiangxiu had already figured out his temper and was no longer as afraid of him as before, but now she was lazy and annoying.

  "Sell you to Africa tomorrow!" Lu Zhong was furious, the vicious woman who had wronged him in his past life. He himself wasn't innocent either.

  "It's always been that way, we care about you more than anything, but in the end, we still get scolded by you." Wei Xiangxiu hung Lu Zhong's coat on the door hook and carefully dusted off the dirt with a feather duster.

  "Concerned? I think you're gloating because you think I've been removed, and now you're showing off here." Lu Zhong said with his mouth, but in fact, he still felt a slight warmth in his heart.

  During this time, Wei Xiangxiu would come back for all three meals, morning, noon and night. In fact, she was coming to eat with Lu Zhong, supervising him, so that after his career setback, he wouldn't exhaust himself again.

  Moreover, chatting and laughing with Wei Xiangxiu, scolding her a few times, my mood became much lighter. Wei Xiangxiu openly used her own "dismissal" as a joke topic, it seems that she has learned psychology well. If she had covered it up and was afraid to mention this topic for fear of hurting herself, that would have been the most painful experience for her as the person involved.

  Of course, this is for ordinary people. In fact, I didn't care about being removed from office or not. Let alone that I had confidence in my heart and had nothing to do with Zhang Yigong's mistakes. Even if I was really removed, what could be done?

  "Shall we take a bath?" Wei Xiangxiu was particularly enthusiastic today, and she hurriedly ran to the bathroom to help Lu Zhong put hot water in the bathtub. As he looked at her squatting in front of the bathtub, her sensual body squeezed out curves, Lu Zhong smiled and said, "Why don't we take a bath together?"

  "Are you going to take a bath together or what? I'm scared of you?" Wei Xiangxiu rolled her eyes, testing the water temperature in the bathtub, and suddenly said: "I'll stay tonight to accompany you."

  The tone is as natural as can be, just like saying something that's completely normal.

  Lu Zhong was taken aback for a moment, then immediately understood Wei Xiangxiu's thoughts, hoping to use this method to help himself, comfort himself?

  "You, where are you going? Do you know what a good man is? A good man doesn't eat food that's easily available." For some reason, Lu Zhong felt a bit uncomfortable in his heart, this was also a kind of masculine sentiment. Consolation prize? Forget it, it's really not interesting at all.

  Is this a snack? Am I just an apple in your eyes? You take two bites when you feel like it? And when you don't, the apple won't have any opinion, right? Wei Xiang was so angry that she almost sprayed the spray directly at Lu Zhong, and just as she thought of doing so, the doorbell suddenly rang.

  "Who is it?" Wei Xiangxiu hastily got up to open the door, and naturally didn't need to wait for Lu Zhong's instructions, anyway she was already used to being ordered around by this live bandit.

  Who would have thought that when the door opened, a tall and thin man in his 40s, dressed in a suit and tie, with a pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks, stood outside with a somewhat lewd face.

  The one who opened the door was a stunning beauty, and the visitor was also taken aback for a moment. He looked up at the doorplate, hesitated with some doubt, and asked: "Is this Director Lu Zhong's home?"

  Lu Zhong slowly walked out and smiled: "Deng Chu? What's going on? You're visiting my humble abode? Shouldn't you be calling me to 502 for an investigation?"

  Wei Xiangxiu heard the impoliteness in Lu Zhong's words and also coldly said, "What do you want? What time is it now? You're knocking on doors randomly!" She didn't care about being a director or not, anyway she was going to get divorced, this police station chief wouldn't last long either, at worst she would just quit, following Lu Zhong, and wouldn't starve to death.

  It's with this mindset that she's now doing a great job as the head of the police station, impressing her superiors and making them look at her in a new light. They think highly of Little Wei, who can keep those old slippery characters in line, truly living up to the saying "a woman is not inferior to a man".

  As for her being pretty and having a good figure, causing some rumors and gossip, isn't that also not her fault? In a socialist country, how can we still have the feudal society's "beautiful woman brings trouble" mindset?

  The newcomer was a regular section-level organizational member of the Central Organization Department's Cadre Supervision Bureau. He and his colleagues took Lu Zheng away from the airport directly.

  Weixiangxiu actually had a vague idea that he was someone from above, but seeing him sneaking around alone, Weixiangxiu felt quite confident. The official's door path was very clear to Weixiangxiu. If it were an official matter, it would be impossible for someone to come alone. All law enforcement departments are the same, and solo law enforcement is the most taboo. Internal investigations within the organization are also the same.

  Director Deng was ridiculed by Lu Zhong for a few sentences, and then, out of nowhere, a beautiful woman with a cold face scolded him, causing his old face to turn slightly red. He awkwardly said to Lu Zhong: "Director Lu, can we go inside to talk? I've been waiting downstairs for you all along, and only came up when I saw the lights on in the house."

  Lu Zhong slightly nodded, and Wei Xiangxiu, who was like a door god, finally let go of the road. For the cadres who came to investigate Lu Zhong, she undoubtedly hated him too, and since she had also held leadership positions in the public security system for some time, she naturally had an air of superiority and an attitude that her official position could be taken or left. She didn't fear the people coming from above at all.

  Following Lu Zhong into the living room, under Lu Zhong's instructions, Wei Xiangxiu reluctantly poured a cup of hot water for Deng Chuzhang. Seeing Deng Chuzhang's suspicious appearance, Wei Xiangxiu thought to herself: could it be that Huo Tulei has used some trickery to capture him? However, Wei Xiangxiu knew that Huo Tulei was extremely bold and wouldn't care if someone was a central government official or not, she was only afraid that he would dare to play tricks on anyone.

  "Deng Chu, it's so late, do you have something to say?" Lu Zhong didn't have a good impression of this Deng Chu from the beginning. After bringing himself to the 5th floor of the municipal party committee guest house, where the investigation team was stationed, he and another discipline inspection system cadre took turns playing the "red face" and "white face", asking him to confess about his economic ties with Zhang Yugong, and questioning where his car and house came from. Between the lines, they were hinting that if he followed their lead and implicated Zhang Yugong, he would be let off.

  Deng's approach is undoubtedly similar to the style of various investigation groups during the Cultural Revolution, and still follows that same old routine.

  Lu Zhong's cooperation is just cooperation, but after all, it's just a few words back and forth. With Zhang Yuke, it's just a normal superior-subordinate relationship. The car was given by a friend, the house is also rented from a friend.

  At that time, Deng was so angry that he was fuming with rage. For three consecutive days, he had Lu Zheng "invited" to the reception room for investigation, but Lu Zheng remained uncooperative and left him helpless.

  Later on, for some unknown reason, the investigation team never summoned Lu Zhong again.

  Then, it was Director Deng who came to our door today, and he had a somewhat arrogant yet flattering attitude.

  "Director Lu, you see..." Deputy Director Deng hesitated, his eyes occasionally glancing at Wei Xiangxiu.

  Lu Zhong then gave Wei Xiangxiu a look and said: "Little Wei, you go back first."

  Wei Xiangxiu hesitated, regardless of whether Lu Zhong had taken down Deng Chuzhang or not. Since she and he were alone together as a single man and woman, it wasn't very good. So she agreed with a "yes" and said: "Okay, I'll come to pick up the tape tomorrow." She turned around and left with a rustling sound.

  Only after hearing the sound of the door being closed did Deng Peigen smile apologetically and say to Lu Zhong: "Director Lu, I came this time to inform you that the investigation team's investigation into you has been concluded. The facts have proven that in terms of political stance, moral integrity, and work ability, you are a representative of an excellent cadre within our party..."

  Lu Zhong waved his hand and said, "The title of Director is not suitable, you are an old organization, if you continue to call me that, it will be a mistake. Also, is this considered a formal notification of the investigation results?"

  Deng Peigen smiled awkwardly, "Yes, yes, then I'll call you Secretary Lu. You're the Party Secretary of Changming Company, after all."

  Lu Zhong nodded slightly and said, "Suit yourself."

  Deng Peigen sighed and said, "Secretary Lu, I didn't understand you well before, maybe I did some things that hurt your feelings. This time I came specifically to apologize to you, hoping you can forgive me."

  "Apologies are not the issue here, are they? It's all for work. If our positions were swapped, I would do the same." He subtly guessed why Deng Peigen had come.

  Deng Peigen didn't know whether Lu Zhong was telling the truth or not, anyway he pretended to breathe a sigh of relief: "Thank you Secretary Lu for understanding, our joint investigation team should also leave Wushan now, hoping we haven't brought too much trouble to the cadres and masses of Wushan."

  Lu Zhong smiled and said, "Don't worry about this, everyone understands."

  "It's fine, it's fine." Deng Peigen picked up his water cup and took a few sips, saying: "Alright then, Secretary Lu, I'll take my leave first. The investigation conclusion from the team will be formally sent to you tomorrow."

  Lu Zhong nodded slightly.

  Lu Zhong has always been nonchalant, and Deng Peigen, who had stood up to leave, turned his eyes around and sat back down, leaning forward and saying mysteriously: "Do you know? Deputy Mayor Wang joined the party two days ago."

  "Is it Vice Mayor Huo?" Lu Zhong was taken aback.

  Lu Zhong was indeed interested in this topic, and Deng Peigen smiled proudly, "It's him, he was specially approved by the Central Committee, and Vice Mayor Wang will be in charge of daily work to assist Secretary Zhongyu. The Hebei Provincial Party Committee has already passed a resolution, appointing Vice Mayor Wang as a member of the Municipal Party Committee and Standing Committee. In a few days, there should be an official announcement."

  Lu Zhong slightly nodded, it seems that the top now thinks that Wang Deputy Mayor entering the Standing Committee as a party member is more beneficial than serving as deputy mayor without party affiliation for political service. There must be a relationship with Huanghe Enterprise in this matter, of course, also inseparable from the old man's personal connections. It's just that in the past, the old man had no desires and was not interested, but this time, it was the organization that actively proposed to arrange his party membership.

  Of course, the attitude of the newly appointed municipal party secretary Duan Zhongyuan is crucial. Perhaps Duan Zhongyuan was the one who introduced the old man to join the party. This new nobleman, who holds both party and political power, must hope to firmly grasp power in his hands. Appointing a vice mayor with no ambition for political status is what he would like to see. After all, he has just been transferred to Wushan and hopes that there will be fewer of the original powerful figures in Wushan who stand out, fearing that he would rather have the entire municipal party committee replaced with new people.

  "But there's something I don't know if you're aware of." Deng Peigen's voice dropped lower and lower, as if someone was eavesdropping next to him. "I heard that Director Li said that Vice Mayor Wang has started refusing to join the party, just because he's speaking out for you. The old man said that if a capable cadre like you is being pushed aside, then this organization is really chilling, and he doesn't want to join the party either."

  Deng Peigen felt that he shouldn't spread this content, and forced a smile: "Vice Mayor Wang's temper is indeed stubborn, but as for your investigation, we still have to continue. Organizational principles can't become a bargaining chip, right? But Vice Mayor Wang was right, you are indeed a clean and honest official. Now that the investigation is clear, it's also good news for you, it's lifted a burden off your shoulders, don't you think?"

  Lu Zhong nodded slightly, but didn't think that there were so many stories inside. Although he wasn't afraid of being investigated, the old man's protective attitude was truly admirable.

  When in Hong Kong, the old man never showed much affection or appreciation for me. Now, however, he is willing to make concessions on the issue of joining the party for my sake. Although this also reveals that the old man is quite naive politically, his kind intentions are truly moving.

  Deng Peigen mysteriously added: "I also heard that this time, the Wushan area team made a big adjustment, and many positions were vacated. You should be able to move up one grade."

  Lu Zhong smiled silently, without making a sound.

  At this time, Lu Zhong didn't look so leisurely, but he was doing something that even Wei Xiangxiu, who was close to him, had no idea about.

  After seeing Deng Peigen off, Lu Zhong returned to the living room and picked up the phone again...