Li Dongfang's prediction was really good, although the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Central Organization Department directly intervened twice, Zhao Qigong slipped this time.

Chen Zhongcheng's wife Song Xueli has divorced Chen Zhongcheng, refused to admit Chen Zhongcheng's final confession, and after being called to the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, she and Wang Peisong, secretary of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, cried and made trouble in the office, scolding Chen Zhongcheng for being a shameless brute, and telling such a shameless lie when he was dying. Zhao Juanjuan, who has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, does not admit that Zhao Qigong has gone to her bed, let alone that she went to Beijing with a diamond ring and Zhao Qigong to run away with the official, and insists that Chen Zhongcheng is framed. According to Zhao Juanjuan's explanation: At the end of last year, Zhao Qigong led a delegation back from abroad to attract investment, and she happened to be in Beijing to discuss business, so she invited Zhao Qigong and his entourage to have a meal. originally said that he would eat at the Wangfu Hotel, but Zhao Qigong was too extravagant and did not agree. As a result, it was eaten in a little-known small mutton restaurant, and the eight people only ate less than 300 yuan, and Zhao Qigong was afraid of wasting the remaining dishes, so he packed them and took them to the road to eat. Seeing Zhao Juanjuan's interrogation record, Wang Peisong was quite annoyed and asked the relevant personnel to intensify their work against Zhao Juanjuan, and Zhao Juanjuan immediately went on a hunger strike in prison to protest, and did not even drink water for three consecutive days, and the matter ended there.

Zhao Qigong's problem could only be that there was a reason for the incident, and there was no solid evidence, and he was finally transferred by the Central Organization Department to study at the Central Party School.

It is said that someone quietly told Zhao Qigong about Zhao Juanjuan's hunger strike afterwards, and Zhao Qigong burst into tears as soon as his body turned.

Chen Zhongcheng was finally executed, and Tian Zhuangda returned all the stolen money because of his major meritorious service, and was sentenced to a suspended death sentence. By the end of September, the eight cases arising from these two main cases had basically been concluded one by one, and it was only a matter of time before the verdicts were pronounced one by one.

A ferocious political storm finally passed, and everyone up and down the Xiajiang River breathed a sigh of relief.

However, the atmosphere after the political storm was somewhat unusual. The very humane story about Zhao Qigong who would rather wronged himself than protect his cadres became more and more widespread, and the more bizarre it became. Later, Li Dongfang's worst fear still happened: he was smeared with the bridge of his white nose and became a political villain who betrayed his comrades and friends in the mouths of many cadres. When He Jiaguo accompanied several investors to Xiushan to visit the ruins of the ancient kingdom of Xichuan, Commissioner Liu asked He Jiaguo in private: Why is Li Dongfang so ruthless? Even an old leader like Zhao Qigong betrayed? Are you desperate to become a member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee? As soon as He Jiaguo came back and said that Li Dongfang felt like he had been stabbed by someone.

The provincial party committee has recently added a new member of the Standing Committee, who is Minister Mei, who has just taken office in the Propaganda Department of the provincial party committee, and Minister Mei has been transferred from the post of director of the provincial education commission, and has been in the standing committee of the provincial party committee less than a month after taking office, while Li Dongfang, who is the number one leader in the provincial capital city, should have joined the standing committee of the provincial party committee long ago, but he still has not entered. This fact is like a gust of wind, further pushing the speed and intensity of the spread of rumors. Some people say that Li Dongfang's fart slapped the horse's leg, which not only offended Zhao Qigong, but also offended the big boss. There are also people who have made up a "Three Monsters of Xiajiang" and spread it around: the old secretary was sold in a daze, the new secretary fought corruption in order to climb up, and the fake mayor fox and fake tiger made trouble. This fake mayor obviously refers to the mayor's assistant He Jiaguo, who first ignited the fuse of this political storm and is bound to be hated.

What Li Dongfang didn't expect was that the cadre teams of Xichuan Province and Xiajiang City were then adjusted, Chen Xiutang, secretary of the Xiushan Prefectural Party Committee, was transferred to the position of acting mayor of Xiajiang and deputy secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, Qian Fanxing, former mayor and deputy secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, was transferred to the provincial transportation department, and He Jiaguo was transferred to the vice president of the Provincial Federation of Industry and Commerce. In this regard, Zhong Mingren's explanation on behalf of the provincial party committee is: The work of the previous period proved that Qian Fanxing was not suitable for working on the block, his position had not been placed correctly, and his work was not lawful, which caused a lot of contradictions, which was not conducive to the overall situation of the future development of Xiajiang. Chen Xiutang has worked in the provincial party committee and has been exercising in the poor area of Xiushan for several years.

Li Dongfang has no opinion on Qian Fanxing's transfer, but he is unwilling to accept this Chen Xiutang from Xiushan from the bottom of his heart, especially unacceptable: At the same time that Chen Xiutang took over as mayor, He Jiaguo was transferred. Li Dongfang put forward the question - it was solemn and tactful, first understood the arrangement of the provincial party committee from a positive aspect, recognized Zhong Mingren's evaluation of Chen Xiutang on behalf of the provincial party committee, and then asked Zhong Mingren and the provincial party committee: Xiajiang's work ideas have just been straightened out, starting from work, can He Jiaguo stay in Xiajiang and officially serve as deputy mayor?

Zhong Mingren seemed to expect Li Dongfang to speak for He Jiaguo, thought about it for a while, didn't say anything, let alone express his position, and took out a thick pile of materials from the desk: "Comrade Dongfang, let's not talk about the affairs of the family and the country first, you can take this material back and take a look at it, okay?" ”

Li Dongfang knew it in his heart, and said with a smile: "Secretary Zhong, it's nothing more than a letter of complaint, right?" I don't even know what the content is. ”

Zhong Mingren shook his head, but still handed the materials to Li Dongfang: "Comrade Dongfang, you don't necessarily know everything!" This is not a simple letter of complaint, it is a report jointly written by Comrade Qian Fanxing and the three deputy mayors of Xiajiang City to the provincial party committee, and the conversation is still quite sharp, and I and the provincial party committee cannot ignore it, even if Jiaguo is my own son, I have to let him leave Xiajiang, this is for his dog's good! ”

Li Dongfang asked in suspense: "Secretary Zhong, Mayor Qian, what do they reflect?" So that you have to transfer your home and country away? ”

Zhong Mingren let out a long sigh, very helpless: "Let's put it simply: this dog baby is too inattentive to influence, has no sense of democracy and the rule of law, and is simply lawless in some things!" For example, getting together with a town party secretary named Ji Fushun all day long, making a good end of a Taiping town into a miasma! Even the normal petitions of the masses against corruption were not allowed, and the secretary of the town party committee was even allowed to go to a meeting with handcuffs and handcuffed the petitioners on the spot! The death of the secretary of the party committee of that town, I think it has a lot to do with him! - Qian Fanxing, the mayor, is not in the right position, and he He Jiaguo, the mayor's assistant, is not in the right position, pulling the banner of the secretary of your municipal party committee, and often arguing with Qian Fanxing over trivial matters, even your deputy mayor can't stand it! When Governor Bai talked to Qian Fanxing on behalf of the provincial party committee, Qian Fanxing made it clear that he could leave Xiajiang in obedience to the organization's transfer, and hoped that the provincial party committee would also transfer his family and country out of Xiajiang. ”

Li Dongfang gasped: This Qian Fanxing didn't forget to give He Jiaguo another fatal shot before leaving, and even dragged three deputy mayors to build momentum! I don't know if I don't read this material, I'm afraid it's not just about talking about He Jiaguo, but also about him in all likelihood. Didn't the "Three Monsters of Xiajiang" with ulterior motives already scold him and He Jiaguo together? He is fighting corruption in order to climb up, and He Jiaguo is pretending to be his authority. So, he explained to Zhong Mingren: "Secretary Zhong, as you know, the comrades of the family and the country offend people, all for the sake of work, in order for you and the provincial party committee to have a more comprehensive understanding of the work of the comrades of the family and the country, I want to make a realistic report......

Zhong Mingren was very stubborn, waved his hand and said: "Comrade Dongfang, don't report now, or read the materials first, and then talk after reading it, I can give you a time to report." The enlarged meeting of the provincial party committee has just been held, and the "Internationale" has just been sung, and our thinking can no longer be confused! Dongfang, I can tell you frankly: Governor Bai and I also know that Qian Fanxing and the three deputy mayors have personal emotions about the problems they reflect, and we also know that our family and country have offended many people for their work, but there is one thing that Qian Fanxing said well in the materials: no one should try to be a savior anymore, and the solution to China's problems depends on our party, the cadres and the masses under the ****, and democracy and the legal system, not on a few blue masters! No matter how capable any of our party members and cadres is, they must put themselves in a correct position, and they must not be above the party and the party at any time. Therefore, Comrade Dongfang, I can't help but remind you: You are the secretary of the Xiajiang Municipal Party Committee of the Communist Party of China, leading a city-level political organization of the Communist Party of China. I and the provincial party committee fully affirmed your work achievements in the past period, and I and the provincial party committee accepted all the correct opinions, and they accepted them sincerely, without any reluctance or hypocrisy. However, the complicated and special situation in the past of Xiajiang does not exist, everything is on the right track, and your special relationship with your family and country is about to end, and your family and country can no longer be a lone ranger for you! Comrade Dongfang, imagine this: if this situation continues, how will the new mayor Comrade Chen Xiutang work? What do the deputy mayors do? Dongfang, I, the secretary of the provincial party committee, will make mistakes, you, the secretary of the municipal party committee, will also make mistakes, anyone can make mistakes, the more vigilant you must be at this time! ”

Zhong Mingren said sincerely and sincerely, Li Dongfang was speechless, so he had to take the materials and go back in a depressed mood.

Passing by the door of Zhao Qigong's house at No. 2 Liuyin Road, Li Dongfang noticed that the car in front of Zhao's house had stopped a lot on this day. When some provincial and municipal cadres learned that Zhao Qigong was going to study at the Central Party School, they all went to Zhao's house to visit him and see him off. The car in front of the door has any brand name, and some are still foreign cars. Li Dongfang's heart became more and more depressed: after such a violent political storm, Zhao Qigong's influence not only did not decrease, but seemed to have strengthened! And he, the winner, didn't even keep a favorite of himself! What's wrong with this?

Unexpectedly, on the same night, Zhao Qigong took the initiative to come to the door to "explain" Li Dongfang.

Zhao Qigong took his young and beautiful wife Liu Lulu and a few boxes of rare southern fruits, saying that they were all sent by the comrades below, and that he was about to go to Beijing, and Liu Lulu couldn't eat it alone, so he asked Li Dongfang and his wife to help solve it. During the chat, Liu Lulu also took the initiative to mention Ai Hongyan's work problem, saying that the eldest sister's head nurse could no longer go down, so if she couldn't do it, she would be transferred to work with her. Ai Hongyan smiled and said that she had already thought about it, and she would go through the procedures for leaving the post and retiring at the end of the year. Zhao Qigong said: That's fine, this time our comrades in the East will speak hard in front of the laid-off workers.

Zhao Qigong talked and laughed as if nothing had happened, and said to Li Dongfang happily: "Old man, you are having a better life now, Comrade Fanxing is gone, Comrade Xiutang is here - Comrade Xiutang has worked beside Secretary Zhong for many years, Secretary Zhong's good thinking and style have learned a lot, I believe it will be very pleasant for you to cooperate, Secretary Zhong and the provincial party committee have great expectations for you!" ”

Li Dongfang nodded and smiled: "Yes, yes, Comrade Xiutang is here, which is also more beneficial to immigration work!" Comrade Xiutang used to be the secretary of the Xiushan Prefectural Party Committee, and now he is the mayor of Xiajiang, so I don't have to worry much about the resettlement of Xiajiang, let Comrade Xiutang go through to the end! ”

Zhao Qigong also revealed: "However, I have a little different opinion on the transfer of my family and country - my family and country are not my son-in-law, and I don't need to avoid any suspicions - to be honest, this comrade has a lot of problems and is not very mature politically, but after all, he has enthusiasm for work, he wants to do things, and he is also very capable of doing things!" I talked about my views at the Standing Committee: Keeping this comrade in Xiajiang may be more beneficial to the overall situation, and if he runs in with it, he should become a good helper of Comrade Xiutang. Secretary Zhong didn't agree with my opinion, and said a lot, Governor Bai and they also followed Secretary Zhong to make peace, so I couldn't insist anymore. ”

Li Dongfang believed that Zhao Qigong would put forward this opinion at the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, and he also knew that this opinion was meaningful, and he also knew that Zhao Qigong's proposal of this opinion could only play the opposite role, so he smiled and said implicitly: "Old leader, don't talk about the affairs of the family and the country, it's okay if he leaves, at least no one will tie him up with me and scold him." ”

Zhao Qigong was silent for a long time, took a long breath, and sighed: "In the final analysis, our big boss is powerful!" Everyone sang "The Internationale" together, checked and did it together, but in the end, I went to Beijing to study, my family and country were transferred, but Comrade Fan Xing went to the first hall of our province to be the leader, and Comrade Xiutang also went to Xiajiang, the provincial capital, to be the mayor, what a wonderful arrangement! ”

Li Dongfang understood everything, but he didn't seem to understand anything: "It's really exciting, our big boss can use people!" Comrade Fanxing has been working on the rules, not very suitable for the local work, and thinking about doing great things all day long, just to the Department of Transportation to show his skills, the transportation infrastructure in our province to do a good job, I told Comrade Fanxing, in two days, the Standing Committee members will see him off! ”

Zhao Qigong was stunned for a moment, and suddenly laughed: "Okay, good, old man, you won this battle so beautifully!" ”

Li Dongfang also laughed, and laughed with tears in his eyes: "Yes, yes, this battle is very beautiful, those corrupt elements have gone where they should go, the International Industrial Park has been closed, and the lawsuit of Hongfeng Mall has also been overturned, and I, Li Dongfang, the secretary of the municipal party committee, am somewhat worthy of the nurturing grace of the people!" Wiping away the tears rolling down his face, he clasped his arms with both hands, and looked at Zhao Qigong with a smile, "So, old leader, if I am given another choice, I will still fight this battle!" ”

However, after Zhao Qigong and his wife left, Li Dongfang seemed to be a different person, sitting on the sofa without saying a word, and fell into deep thought.

Ai Hongyan walked over and quietly persuaded: "Dongfang, don't think about the past, do you really want to be a member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee?" ”

Li Dongfang shook his head: "It's not a problem of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, but a problem of this kind of personnel arrangement, Secretary Zhong and the Provincial Party Committee are still not at ease with me!" - After taking office, I wiped their butts clean, and wiped their butts clean, but the smell came to me! ”

Ai Hongyan comforted: "Don't be so discouraged, there are a lot of people who praise you now, and they all say that you are a real Communist Party......

Li Dongfang smiled bitterly: "Who is the fake Communist Party?" When singing "The Internationale", even Zhao Qigong burst into tears! ”

At this point, the doorbell suddenly rang, ringing unscrupulously.

Ai Hongyan looked at the quartz clock on the wall: "It's so late, who will it be?" Then ring the bell! ”

Li Dongfang didn't even think about it: "Who else will it be?" It must be a family and a country, only he dares to ring the bell like this and not let go, go and open the door! ”

Sure enough, it was He Jiaguo, and the young man brought a bottle of Wuliangye and a bag of peanuts.

Li Dongfang had realized something in his heart, but there was a look of surprise on his face: "Family and country, what kind of fame?" ”

He Jiaguo sat down: "Chief, don't pretend to me, I'm here to say goodbye to you today!" ”

Li Dongfang was silent for a moment, and asked as calmly as possible: "Did the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee talk to you?" ”

He Jiaguo smiled as if he was crying: "Chief, this time the level is very high, higher than the time I was invited to come to power - it was Governor Bai who talked to me on behalf of the provincial party committee!" Governor Bai told me about the personnel adjustment of Xiajiang City, and after listening to it, I also told Governor Bai clearly: It's okay to leave Xiajiang, I won't go to the Provincial Federation of Industry and Commerce, I was originally to hire cadres, or go back to Xichuan University to engage in my Huamei International Company! Governor Bai said that he could consider making a transition and become the vice president of Xichuan University in the future. This also made me push back, I said, I won't serve anymore! ”

Li Dongfang was not much surprised, but said indifferently: "Jiaguo, you are already acting early, and you are a little rash!" ”

He Jiaguo unscrewed the wine bottle and poured a glass of wine for Li Dongfang and himself, tears welled up in his eyes: "Don't say it, it's sad to say it!" Come, Secretary Li, I salute you with a glass for your kindness! Because of you in this life, I have this strange brilliance in my life! ”

Li Dongfang didn't drink: "Jiaguo, I don't like to hear this, the matter is not over, don't give me a eulogy first!" ”

He Jiaguo understood what Li Dongfang meant, and immediately said: "Secretary Li, you must not go to the big boss to do work again, I know better than you, my Uncle Zhong never wanted me to go on a career path!" Especially if you follow you on your career! Since fate is destined for me to be the Li Ka-shing of the mainland, I will do it well! I told you what Zhao Juanjuan said before she was arrested, and now it seems that she is right: it is difficult for a person like me to tolerate this rigid system, even if he stakes his life a hundred times, he will not be able to shake its strong foundation, and the reward for people's loyalty to us can only be to throw us into the sea! ”

Li Dongfang was furious, slammed, and kicked the wine glass on the coffee table, because of the excessive force, the wine glass shattered, and the wine juice overflowed.

He Jiaguo was startled, stunned for a moment, and hurriedly cleaned up the messy coffee table with Ai Hongyan.

Only then did Li Dongfang realize his gaffe, try to calm his emotions, and after a long time, he said very seriously: "Jiaguo, until now, you are still in the position of assistant to the mayor, and your comrade is still a deputy city-level cadre under the leadership of the Xiajiang Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, how can you be so unprincipled?" Who threw us into the sea? The provincial party committee fully affirmed our work in the previous stage! ”

He Jiaguo sneered: "Chief, are you really confused or pretending to be confused?" What is the result of full affirmation? You, the secretary of the Xiajiang Municipal Party Committee, are still not members of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Chen Xiutang is here, but I am gone, this is called affirmation? Is this the reward for our loyalty? ”

Li Dongfang asked: "Do you have to ask for a return for your loyalty to the party and the people?" Is loyalty in return still loyalty?! ”

He Jiaguo suddenly became excited, and his words were quite intense: "Chief, who wants to ask for a return?" Is it you, or am I? All I ask for is the right to serve the country and the people! Of course, I know that I am still in the position of assistant to the mayor, and if the dismissal document of the provincial party committee is less than a day in Xiajiang, I will work for a day as an assistant to the mayor! I'm here with you today to talk to you about the final struggle! What should be done should be done immediately, and it cannot be delayed any longer, especially the adjustment of some district and county cadres, which must be completed before Chen Xiutang arrives, at this point, you must learn from the style of the big boss! It's really so democratic, you can't do anything, and in the end you really feel sorry for the people and the party! ”

Li Dongfang looked at He Jiaguo with a thoughtful look: "It's too simple to consider, isn't it?" Mayor Qian hasn't left yet, can he not shoot a horizontal cannon? ”

He Jiaguo pointed to his nose and said: "The cannon to deal with Qian Fanxing is here, since it is the wind and the water is cold, and the strong man is gone, I will put the last few cannons for your chief, and make this cannon fodder to the end!" Don't hide it, tell the truth, spread out everything one by one, and see if he, the mayor, and some of our comrades are responsible for the people! -- There is also the withdrawal of townships and towns, you don't want to mention it, I will also bring it up first, you take it to the Standing Committee to decide, let Comrade Chen Xiutang implement it after he takes office, and stop changing tricks and tossing around! ”

Li Dongfang's heart was both sour and moved: What a good young man, he not only stresses principles, but also attaches importance to feelings! What is he doing here? Do you have any self-interest? Apparently not, the young doctor did not want to climb up at all. Because selflessness can lead to fearlessness, he believes that as long as he does not stop it, this mayor's assistant will definitely perform a magnificent drama of bidding farewell to the Xiajiang political arena.

However, it is precisely because of this that the farewell scene cannot be staged!

Li Dongfang slowly shook his head: "Jiaguo, we'd better not do this!" The big boss reminded us correctly: To solve China's problems, we must rely on our party, the people, and democracy and the legal system, not on a few big men -- of course, we are not this kind of big men -- I think the big bosses and the provincial party committee have misunderstood us a little and have not fully understood the situation. I am ready to have a solemn talk with the big boss again, and if the situation is all clear, and he still can't change his decision, then I will resign to the provincial party committee! ”

He Jiaguo jumped up and shouted excitedly: "Secretary Li, you must not do this, you and I are not the same thing, you are the leader of Xiajiang, and you are the hope of the people of Xiajiang!" If you do this, you will be sorry for the two million people in Xiajiang, and you will just flee from the battle! ”

Li Dongfang smiled, took another wine glass, poured himself full of wine, and raised the glass: "Come, Jiaguo, don't call, drink bar, I believe that the big boss is not so confused, and he will not get to the point of letting me resign!" I understand, and you should understand, that he is not Zhao Qigong, nor is he a bureaucrat and politician who does not care about the lives of the people. In the past twenty-one years, he has broken his heart for Xiajiang and Xichuan. Let's put ourselves in his shoes and think about it: the purpose of his transfer of Chen Xiutang to Xiajiang and let you leave Xiajiang is to better open up a new situation in Xiajiang! If you think about this thoroughly, there will be nothing to be angry about, let's do more work and do the work at home! ”

He Jiaguo drank all the wine in the cup, looked up to the sky and sighed: "It's too difficult to be a good official and do something good for the people!" ”

Li Dongfang patted He Jiaguo on the shoulder: "So, I must keep you as a seedling of a good official for the people!" ”

That night, after He Jiaguo said goodbye and went back, Li Dongfang stayed up almost all night, first reading the materials, and then preparing an outline for reporting to Zhong Mingren and the provincial party committee for the materials with ulterior motives. He not only talked about the question of the country's stay or retention, but also talked about the issue of in-depth reform of the political system and how to train and use new political personnel in the practice of reform and opening up. Of course, the newcomer is immature, and of course he will have shortcomings and mistakes of one kind or another, but as long as he is willing to sacrifice his life and sacrifice his loyalty and blood for this country, for this nation, and for the people of this land, our system should give him this opportunity. People like Qian Fanxing should be restrained and use their strengths to avoid their weaknesses. As for politicians like Zhao Qigong, loopholes should be plugged in the system so that they will no longer breed. There must also be a mechanism for killing and expelling, and even if such political freaks breed, they must be effectively killed or expelled.

The dawn sun squeezes out another long night at the end of the century, and a new day begins.

Li Dongfang felt that this was a day full of hope.

The omen is very good, a bit of a willow and a bright one.

When making an appointment with Zhong Mingren on a confidential phone call to report at a time, Zhong Mingren not only agreed to listen to the report, but also had a subtle change in his attitude, and took the initiative to put forward a new suggestion from Governor Bai: Since He Jiaguo is unwilling to go to the Provincial Federation of Industry and Commerce, he can arrange to be a deputy commissioner in Xiushan. Zhong Mingren said on the phone that he felt that Governor Bai's suggestion was reasonable, and he couldn't let He Jiaguo, the dog, be depressed, and he had to play his role, saying that he was carefully considering Governor Bai's suggestion, and asked Li Dongfang to come over immediately after work to talk about his opinions.

Li Dongfang has a bottom in his heart, even if he can't leave He Jiaguo in Xiajiang, he also leaves He Jiaguo in another post that can serve the country and the people. It is not a bad thing for He Jiaguo to stay in a poor area like Xiushan for a few years, and after some beating, this young doctor may grow into another commander of Xichuan Province's reform and opening up sometime in the next century.

Of course, He Jiaguo went to Xiushan, which was very unfavorable to the next step of Xiajiang's work layout, and Chen Xiutang's domineering style and good achievements were also well-known in the province. However, there is nothing to be afraid of if you want to wear it, so it's amazing to sing "The Internationale" again and fight for the truth! Anyway, as long as he becomes the secretary of the municipal party committee for one day, Xiajiang will never allow anything to harm the people under the banner of the people!

At breakfast, another good sign appeared: the Persian cat, which had been lost for a few days, suddenly returned.

Li Dongfang's long-depressed mood gradually became happy on this hopeful morning......