In Yanjing City, a palace-like building, the golden glazed tiles shine dazzlingly in the sun. Around the main hall, the ancient trees are towering, the green trees are shady, the red walls and yellow tiles are splendid. The two dragons on the cornice, with golden scales and golden armor, were vivid, as if they wanted to fly into the air.

A slender old man with silver hair was sitting on his back on the sofa. From his godless eyes, it was not difficult to see that there was a fierce battle between heaven and man. He is the Ji Rufei that Xiang Ziliang just mentioned.

Li Bingyi's phone call was like a bolt from the blue, breaking Ji Rufei's peaceful life. Ji Rufei, who was just spreading out the rice paper and preparing to paint, suddenly became like frost after receiving the call, and the whole person was stunned. Seeing such a situation, the secretary next to him was so frightened that he asked repeatedly: "Chief, do you want to go to the hospital for a physical examination?" ”

"No, I don't have to. You go out for a while, let me calm down for a while. Ji Rufei was half-lying on the sofa and waved his hand weakly. When the secretary heard him say this, of course he didn't dare to disobey. I had to add boiling water to him, and then I retreated lightly. The secretary didn't dare to go far, just stood at the door and listened to the movement.

"Thirty-five years, thirty-five years. What should come always comes, and debts that are owed must always be paid. Ji Rufei kept muttering in his mouth. His words were not understood by others. Will an official of Ji Rufei's level still owe debts to others? If it is really a debt, then the amount of this debt will not be small. Ordinary debt, how could it be so frustrating for Ji Rufei!

Ji Rufei's eyes were blank and confused. His mind had returned to 1951. Liberated, entered the city, as a member of the victors, Ji Rufei became a member of the military management committee, and received the cheers of the people everywhere. He was drunk, flowers, wine, everywhere. He has this capital, and he also has such pride, and he enjoys the fruits of victory to the fullest.

"Comrade Ji Rufei, do you know Xiang Ziliang?" A senior leader who always lives in seclusion, usually only hears and does not meet, is questioning. This leader is none other than Yan Lao, who has always been famous in history, that is, Yan Zi'an's grandfather.

From the time he entered the office, Ji Rufei had always been nervous. Such an important leader usually makes himself look up to the same existence. He didn't know what a character like Yan Lao was doing to rush from the capital to talk to him.

Hearing such a question, his heart was relieved. Thinking of his life-saving benefactor, Ji Rufei replied respectfully: "Report chief, I know Comrade Xiang Ziliang. He is the 'nightingale' of our party within the enemy. On the eve of liberation, he also rescued me from the enemy's prison. ”

"Really?" The other party's voice was a little cold. It was so cold that Ji Rufei couldn't help but shiver.

Ji Rufei was about to answer a 'yes' when he opened his mouth, but this shiver made him stunned on the spot. For what, why do you ask such a question? With these obvious facts, why would the people around the core of the supreme leadership rush over from the capital and talk to me in such a tone?

Ji Rufei, who has experienced many party purges, faintly sensed that something was wrong. The leader sitting opposite was an expert in charge of purging. Under his old man, the old-timers who were beaten down as 'Trotskyists', 'spies', 'traitors', "Red Flag Party" and other bad guys were not a small number. God, how did he get to find my door?

Seeing that Ji Rufei didn't say anything, but was a little worried, Yan Lao nodded with satisfaction. Then he said in a deep voice: "After our investigation, Xiang Ziliang is not a 'nightingale' at all, let alone an underground worker of our party. This person was originally a military commander spy and had a lot of blood debts. After liberation, he refabricated his identity in a vain attempt to blend in with the revolutionary ranks. ”

What, what? A good comrade like Xiang Ziliang would be a spy who tried in vain to break into our interior! No! Ji Rufei's conscience is calling for him. The experience on the eve of liberation told me that this was a conspiracy, a conspiracy to frame one's own comrades.

"What! Comrade Ji Rufei, do you have any doubts about the conclusion of the organization? Before Ji Rufei could think about it, the leader on the other side had already noticed the struggle on his face and asked coldly.

As soon as Ji Rufei wanted to answer 'yes', he saw the other party's deep gaze. Blue, cold, chilling. He seemed to have exhausted all his strength before swallowing back the 'yes' that had already reached his mouth.

"Well, that's right." The leader on the other side noticed the process of Ji Rufei's ideological struggle and praised him with satisfaction: "On major issues of right and wrong, there are no personal grievances to talk about. Your attitude is very good, and the party needs a good comrade like you. ”

At this time, Ji Rufei had rows of sweat beads on his forehead. According to the usual experience, Yan Lao's arrival is not to tell himself such a big truth, but to have something tricky to do. God, I just hope you don't let me do anything that is unconscionable, and I'll thank God.

"After our verification, on April 20, 1949, you were ordered to enter Jinling City, and successfully completed a major task, effectively reducing the casualties of our army and ensuring the integrity of Jinling City. Again, you don't encounter any surprises during your mission. Because of such merit, you will be reused in the organization. Yan Lao's voice echoed in the small space.

What the! I didn't have any accidents? Is it also illusory that I am faced with the enemy's bayonet? Could it be that the gloomy prison is also an illusion? No, Elder Yan must have said something wrong. Ji Rufei wanted to argue, but swallowed under the gaze of Yan Lao's unfathomable eyes.

"Some people say that you have been arrested, and that is a false accusation. That's a lie deliberately fabricated to frame you for being a traitor. After a careful investigation in the organization, it was confirmed that you are a good comrade, a good comrade without any stain. When Elder Yan said this, he had already stood up, as if he was making a report in the auditorium, waved his arms and said, "Comrade Ji Rufei, I know that you will have ideas. This is not surprising, this is the critical moment to test whether you have party spirit or not. To be a traitor, or to be a hero? See for yourself. ”

Such a choice is not easy to make. It's a fact that I ran into Xiang Ziliang by myself. Moreover, it was the other party who saved his life. From the perspective of human nature, I should admit such a fact calmly. Although it may not be able to repay the favor, it will not lead to a conscience.

The consequences of this are also serious. As long as you admit that you have met Xiang Ziliang, you have to take the risk of becoming a traitor. Judging from the current situation, this is not a misunderstanding, it is very likely to be a fact that it is ironclad and cannot be run. If you become a traitor, won't everything you have worked for become illusory?

People are selfish, and at the crossroads of facing their own future, Ji Rufei still chose obedience and compromise. When he signed his name on the circumstantial evidence, he immediately fell on the table and began to cry. Yan Lao turned a blind eye to his regret and self-blame, and when he left, he just said softly: "Ji Rufei, your testimony is a fact that can never be modified. ”

Thirty-five years have passed, and the scene of that day has always been like a nightmare, always entangled in Ji Rufei's heart. Whenever there was a dead of night, he would ask himself: Am I worthy of Comrade Xiang Ziliang? Lao Xiang, are you okay?

After so many years of changes, Ji Rufei gradually climbed to the top of the pyramid. He saw the rise of several influential figures, and also saw their fall. The unattainable Yan Lao back then has long since become an outdated figure. Not only was it too late, but it was nailed to the pillar of shame in history. Many old people who were framed back then were eager to pick up their bones and burn them to eliminate the hatred in their hearts.

Although he has now become one of the political figures, Ji Rufei is still depressed. Whenever I am alone, whenever I am quiet in the dead of night, I always can't help but think of Xiang Ziliang. The frowning energy, the hearty laughter, I can't forget it, I can't forget it. The older you get, the clearer it becomes.

He wanted to escape, but he couldn't forget it. He wanted to face it, but he didn't know what to do. Ji Rufei, who was in a high position, couldn't explain the testimony that he signed his name back then. Although he deliberately did not inquire about the outcome of the matter, it can also be inferred that Xiang Ziliang will not have a good ending.

"What should come is still coming. The debts you owe always have to be repaid. Since Li Bingyi's phone call came, Ji Rufei has been repeating such a sentence.

What to do? When I went to see Xiang Ziliang, I had a feeling of facing Jiangdong's father without face. People saved themselves, but they took revenge, and at the critical moment, they pushed them behind their backs. If you don't see it, you can't say it on your conscience. Seeing that there is a chance to open the lock of the heart, but letting it go, isn't it forever immersed in pain?

Ji Rufei really wanted to find a friend to discuss, and at this time, he really understood the truth of 'the height is not cold'. Over the years, the higher his status has been, the fewer friends he has been. So much so that when it came to the present, I couldn't even find a friend to talk to.

"Xiao Wu, bring me a box of cigarettes." Regarding his situation, Ji Rufei shook his head, and there was nothing good to think about. When I got to the end, I just called the secretary in.

"Chief, the doctor said you can't smoke." After the secretary heard Ji Rufei's request, he was taken aback and couldn't help but scream.

"Don't talk nonsense!" What the secretary said, Ji Rufei didn't know. It's just that he was irritable in his heart, where could he listen to it, and with a snort in his mouth, he lit a cigarette by himself. took a big puff of cigarette, and because he was not adapted, Ji Rufei coughed violently. In a hurry, Secretary Wu hurriedly rushed over and slapped him on the back.

After patting for a long time, Ji Rufei stopped coughing. In just a few moments, even the health care doctor received the news and rushed over from the duty room. For the secretary's moves, Ji Rufei did not blame. He also knows that other people's children are also for their own good. Alas, Xiao Wu, you can let the doctor come to my body, but you know that heart disease is not easy to treat!