When the phone rang suddenly, it was already twelve o'clock at night, Li Dongfang had just fallen asleep in a daze, and it was his wife Ai Hongyan who answered the phone. When Ai Hongyan heard that it was He Jiaguo, and what she said was that Li Dongfang's little sister Li Beifang had taken bribes, she was shocked, and hurriedly woke up Li Dongfang and let Li Dongfang and He Jiaguo talk. After the call, Li Dongfang sat on the bed in a daze, no matter how he thought about it, he didn't believe it was true, and thought that he hadn't woken up and was having a nightmare.

Ai Hongyan said: "What are you in a daze? Why don't you call the north over and ask? ”

Li Dongfang then called his sister Li Beifang and asked Li Beifang to come to his house immediately.

While waiting for his sister, Li Dongfang already smelled some kind of political conspiracy. The bribe my sister received when she was the deputy director of the Xiazhong City Industrial and Commercial Bureau four years ago, why was it suddenly reported today? Would this kind of whistleblowing have happened if it hadn't been for the integrity storm he had single-handedly set off? Isn't there anyone behind this who is doing his work? It seems that it is not only the rumors in the compound of the municipal party committee that slander him, but also specific actions.

I really hope that my sister Li Beibei has not received any bribes, and I really hope that this is just a false accusation by some political conspirators. Unfortunately, Li Beifang admitted as soon as she entered the door: she was the deputy director of the Xiazhong City Industrial and Commercial Bureau four years ago, and when she was in charge of the purchase of computer equipment, she did take a kickback of 30,000 yuan from Xuntong Technology Company.

Li Dongfang was so angry that his fingers almost hit Li Beifang's forehead: "Beifang, how dare you take these 30,000 yuan rebate?" Yes? Don't you think for yourself, and don't think for me? I was already mayor by then! The mayor's own sister took bribes, how do you let me face the cadres and masses in the city! How can you have the face to go around making integrity reports! ”

Li Beifang snorted and said, "Big brother, this ...... I have to explain this: Xuntong Technology Company was affiliated with the name of the Provincial International Investment Company, and it was ...... at that time At that time, it was in charge of Zhao Qigong's wife Liu Lulu, you and Zhao Qigong have such a good relationship with a mayor and a secretary of the municipal party committee, and there are regulations for Xuntong, as long as you ...... As long as they get business, there is a business introduction fee, and Mr. Wang insists on paying the introduction fee, I ...... I couldn't push it off, so I took this ......"

Li Dongfang said angrily: "Of course, Xuntong as a commercial company can pay business introduction fees, and institutions and individuals engaged in commercial intermediaries can also get business introduction fees, but what is your identity Li Beibei?" You are the deputy director of the Xiazhong City Administration for Industry and Commerce, and you are a civil servant. For one, you can't take the referral fee; Second, you have to hand it in according to the regulations! If you take this money and put it in your own pocket, you are taking a bribe, you are committing a crime, there is nothing to say! ”

Everything is clear: the conspiracy comes from Zhao Qigong, the former old leader and old friend, while attacking the big boss Zhong Mingren, once again attacked him in secret, and treated others the way they did. I can't help but think of what Zhao Qigong once said meaningfully: Everyone is serious, but I'm afraid that everyone will be unlucky. It's not bad at all, now everyone is unlucky, no one has a good life, from Zhong Mingren, to Zhao Qigong, to him Li Dongfang.

Li Beifang also talked about this problem in a hesitant manner: "...... Big brother, people's ...... People are talking behind their backs now, saying that Zhao Qigong knows how to protect cadres, ...... Not only do you not protect, but you ...... also followed Wang Peisong of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and worked hard...... Desperately expand the striking surface! Still...... Some comrades also said that if you had listened to Zhao Qigong's words earlier, Xiajiang would ...... Xiajiang would not have been in such a situation where everyone is in danger today......"

Li Dongfang angrily interrupted Li Beifang's words: "Wrong! It is precisely because I have always listened to Zhao Qigong in the past, and obeyed Zhao Qigong in big and small matters, that I have today, and I have used so many wrong people, so that corruption has formed a microclimate! ”

Li Beifang looked at Li Dongfang, and then at Ai Hongyan on the side, pitiful, he didn't dare to say any more.

At this time, Ai Hongyan, who had been silent, interjected: "Dongfang, this is at home, don't just talk about these big words that don't solve the problem, let's talk about something practical: what should I do about this matter in the north?" She's in, where are our faces going? Look, can you come forward to say hello to Secretary Wang Peisong or the Municipal Procuratorate first......"

Li Dongfang glared at Ai Hongyan: "Can you fight this kind of greeting?" Don't be principled anymore? Then he said to Li Beifang angrily, "Beifang, let me tell you, and I will give you a confession: this time I and the municipal party committee have made up our minds to pursue the corrupt elements to the end, even if it involves Zhao Qigong!" So, don't have any illusions, go and confess to the city procuratorate early tomorrow morning, take the initiative to hand over the stolen goods, and explain all the facts of the bribery, the only thing I can do is: if the money is not enough, I can help you make it up! ”

Li Beifang said: "I can take out 30,000 yuan." There are still illusions in my heart, "Big brother, can you wait a little longer?" I just took some kickbacks, and if I am your own sister, the city procuratorate may not arrest me. ”

Li Dongfang shook his head: "No, you have to take the initiative yourself and take the road of confession and leniency." ”

Ai Hongyan said: "It's not unreasonable to say something in the north, at least the city procuratorate will report to you......"

Li Dongfang was annoyed and angry: "Don't say it, if the procuratorate doesn't arrest it, I have to let them arrest it!" My every move now is being watched by many eyes, and I must stand upright and stand upright! If you are not right, how can you be a righteous person! ”

That night, after his sister Li Beifang left with obvious resentment, Li Dongfang lost sleep, thinking about it all about Zhao Qigong, the more he thought about it, the more he felt that this political man was terrible, on the one hand, he desperately tied him to his political chariot, creating a false appearance of Zhao Li alliance and consistent views for Zhong Mingren and Wang Peisong, leading comrades; On the other hand, he has never given up secretly attacking and attacking him, and the rumors and facts today fully prove this. Moreover, it is inconceivable that this politician still has the initiative in such a passive, so far, including Chen Zhongcheng and Zhao Juanjuan, so many cronies and celebrities have fallen into the legal net, and Zhao Qigong is unharmed. Chen Zhongcheng is still tight-lipped about the secret of his relationship with Zhao Qigong, and Zhao Juanjuan did not involve Zhao Qigong on any issue after her arrest, Zhao Juanjuan confessed that Chen Zhongcheng and five or six officials who had slept with her, but never talked about Zhao Qigong. Zhao Qigong's thoughtful calculations and accurate predictions are not something that ordinary people can achieve.

Because he is a political person, Zhao Qigong also understands politics very well, and no one can see the weakness in his heart, and the number of appearances has suddenly increased for a while. The Xichuan News of the Provincial Television Station has footage of this public almost every day, either speaking here, inspecting there, and even reciting poems at a poetry meeting organized by the Provincial Writers Association. People have the impression that this member of the Standing Committee of the provincial party committee and vice governor is not in danger of falling, but is in the limelight.

I also thought that since this politician could not fall for a while, then he would definitely continue the political offensive tenaciously, and the next step would definitely force him to fight to the death with Zhong Mingren on the issue of the international industrial park, and he would sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight.

Sure enough, a week later, during the foreign affairs activities of jointly receiving a political and cultural delegation from Europe, Zhao Qigong quietly pulled Li Dongfang aside, still as affectionate as ever, and said with a smile: "Dongfang, I accepted your old buddy's criticism, and I have done everything that should be done and everything that should be said, what should you do?" Yes? Shouldn't the international industrial park be closed yet? As a responsible secretary of the municipal party committee, how long are you going to let the people of Qinghu endure it? ”

Li Dongfang smiled quite naturally: "Old leader, don't worry, you know what I am, don't say it, you know everything in your heart!" The work that should be done has been done for a long time, and we are ready to hold a meeting as soon as possible to shut down the first batch of the 12 most polluting enterprises! ”

Zhao Qigong said very earnestly and knowingly: "Dongfang, it's best to close the whole park, don't delay, don't have any illusions, it's better to strike while the iron is hot, it's better for you and Xiajiang!" If you close the park now, the big boss will put the account on my head, and you won't have too much pressure, it's me who fired at the democratic life meeting of the provincial party committee! Moved by himself, he said, "We are old buddies, and in addition to having a problem of being responsible for the party and the people, I also have a question of being responsible for your old buddy." ”

Li Dongfang nodded again and again, and Ying He said: "Yes, yes, old leader, who doesn't know your people and the cadres and masses of Xiajiang?" Everyone misses you a lot these days! Now there is a lot of discussion in the compound of the municipal party committee, all of them say that your old leader knows how to protect cadres, even my little sister Li Beifang said so, blaming me for not listening to you at the beginning. ”

Zhao Qigong waved his hand: "Dongfang, don't listen to these unprincipled words, and don't go to your heart!" I, a person, used to be too emotional, too kind, and always thought about the good of people, but as a result, I made a lot of mistakes in employing people, which also caused certain losses to the work of Xiajiang and caused trouble to your current team! Speaking of this, he stopped, and asked seemingly casually, "Oh, Dongfang, how did you hear that your little sister was also involved?" ”

Li Dongfang is also very casual: "I can't stand the test, I received a kickback from a computer company four years ago, I was reported, and I took the initiative to return the stolen goods, and the procuratorate said that I could not arrest it, but I didn't agree, let them arrest it, it was the day before yesterday." ”

Zhao Qigong patted Li Dongfang on the shoulder: "Your old buddy is just having a hard time!" After thinking about it, he said in a friend-like tone, "But don't go to extremes!" Should you care or care, after all, it's your own sister, if you are so straightforward, the people will scold you! What do you scold for? Scold you for only cherishing your own feathers, and scold you for being unhumane! is inhumane to his own sister, and will he still be humane to the people? Yes? ”

Li Dongfang only smiled bitterly: "Old leader, this is all in your hands, I can convince you......"

Speaking of which, a provincial secretary general came over and said that the talks with the European delegation of experts on China were about to begin, and the two provincial and municipal leaders were invited to take their seats. Li Dongfang and Zhao Qigong interrupted the conversation and walked into the multi-functional international conference hall.

It was a very interesting day, because the conversation with Zhao Qigong was hidden, and the next meeting with more than a dozen experts on China in Europe was also hidden. According to our interpreter, there is an expert on China named William in the European delegation, who has visited China eight times and has been paying close attention to the historic reform that China is underway.

At the beginning of the meeting, Congressman William went straight to the point and said: "I have three things I don't understand about China: First, you have a famous song that says: 'In 1979, it was a spring, and an old man drew a circle on the shore of the South China Sea', and my first question was: How did this circle work like this? ”

Zhao Qigong smiled and replied very gracefully: "The place where Comrade Xiaoping drew a circle is Shenzhen, that is, the decision to set up a special zone, and this decision to set up a special zone conforms to the desire of the Chinese people to open the window to see the world, conforms to the reality of China's reform and opening up, and conforms to the fundamental and long-term interests of the Chinese people. ”

Councillor William asked rhetorically: "I would like to ask Mr. Deputy Governor: Is this a personal superstition?" ”

Zhao Qigong reacted shrewdly: "Mr. Senator is an expert on China issues, and he must know the unfortunate history of China's '*****'. If we say personal superstition, before the reform and opening up, the Chinese people's personal superstition of Mao ** was quite powerful, but Mao ** drew many circles on the *** issue and knocked down Comrade Xiaoping three times, because it went against the will of the people, and finally did not work, and Comrade Xiaoping still became the second-generation leadership core of the Communist Party of China. ”

Senator William raised a second question: "When you have a meeting, only one official speaks, why are so many officials sitting on the stage?" What are they doing on stage? Are you willing to waste your time and your life like this? ”

Zhao Qigong kicked the ball to Li Dongfang beside him with a smile: "Mr. Councilor, let's ask Mr. Li Dongfang, the highest party and government official in Xiajiang City, who often sits on the rostrum, to answer this question!" ”

Li Dongfang didn't know how to answer for a while, he was really inferior to Zhao Qigong in terms of this kind of political wit. But the ball was spinning at his feet, and he couldn't do anything without saying anything, so he had to say carefully every word: "This is a relatively common phenomenon in China's current political life, and it is also one of the drawbacks that we are trying to reform." The factors that contribute to this disadvantage are multifaceted and difficult to explain in a few words. For example, it is a criterion for judging: the number of officials sitting on the stage and the level of the official's position prove the importance of the meeting by the relevant parties. There are some meetings that I don't want to sit in, I have a lot of more important things to do, but it's not okay not to sit down, people will think that you don't pay attention to the meeting. ”

Zhao Qigong humorously interjected: "Mr. Li Dongfang is a pragmatic official, so he is reluctant to sit, but not all officials are unwilling to sit. Some of our officials have become slaves of the meeting, I think, except to sit on the rostrum, I am afraid that I will not do anything, what will be the meeting to know where to sit, if the conference staff put the wrong sign and let him sit in a position lower than his level, it will cause an incident, gentlemen, it is an incident! ”

William and the dozen or so foreigners in the conference hall laughed in a friendly manner.

Li Dongfang saw that Zhao Qigong was talking very relaxed, so he let go a little more, and continued: "The problem is not only the officials, but the common people also force our officials to sit on the rostrum: if you don't show up when you should appear, rumors will spread everywhere, thinking that you, an official, have fallen." ”

Zhao Qigong humorously interjected again: "So, many of our efforts at the reform conference have not yielded much so far, and it is very frustrating compared to the results of the reform we have achieved in the economy!" ”

The foreigners were again greeted with friendly laughter and applause.

At this time, William asked a third question: "I often see reports in the Chinese media about popular legal education—I am not talking about popular legal education for ordinary people, but about popular legal education for ** officials." I don't understand, how can you ** officials govern without knowing the law? You still want to popularize the law now, do you mean that you didn't abide by the law before? I would love to hear the views of Mr. Vice Governor on this issue. ”

Zhao Qigong said eloquently: "China's legal system has been gradually perfected in the more than 20 years of reform and opening up, and there are now so many legal documents and so many categories that it is impossible for any official to be familiar with them, unless he is an expert in legal research." Our legal education for officials is to educate and advocate officials to act in accordance with the law, to govern according to the law, and not to violate the relevant laws in the course of administration, and unfortunately become defendants and lose the lawsuit. Gentlemen, due to the increasing perfection of the legal system, it is not uncommon for Chinese officials and power departments to be brought to court by the people, and it would not be strange if one day our Xichuan Province ** was sued by a few ordinary Chinese people......"

Subsequently, several more guests talked about human rights issues and meritorious issues, and Zhao Qigong answered them politely and principledly. Although the views are all the views that China has repeatedly announced to the world, it can be said from Zhao Qigong's mouth, and there is a subtle persuasion and affinity, and a certain degree of communication has been reached with the guests.

Looking at Zhao Qigong's laughing face, Li Dongfang sighed again: After so many years of working together in a team, he knows too well in his heart that in terms of work ability and intelligence, Zhao Qigong is really not under the big boss Zhong Mingren and any of the main leaders of the current provincial party committee. Zhong Mingren's recommendation to the central authorities for Zhao Qigong as a future governor is grounded. If Zhao Qigong was a straw bag, Zhong Mingren would not recommend it, and he would not have surrendered to this person so much during the eight-year cooperation. It is a pity that this person is too smart, and he has never had the interests of the people, the country, or the party in his heart, only his own political interests, and he is too fond of playing political power, which has ruined himself, many of his cadres, and the image of the party and the cause of reform......

It was also on this day that a piece of news that had been circulating in the provincial and municipal organs for a long time was finally confirmed: The relevant central departments have attached great importance to Zhao Qigong's problem, and a joint investigation team of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Central Organization Department has flown to Xiajiang to launch a comprehensive investigation into Zhao Qigong's problem. On the evening of the day when he and Zhao Qigong received the European political and cultural delegation, a leading comrade of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee of the joint investigation team invited Li Dongfang to the guest house of the provincial party committee at No. 44 Liuyin Road, where he had a serious and serious conversation with Li Dongfang. At this time, Li Dongfang, who had suffered a lot of trauma in his soul, had already seen through the essence of Zhao Qigong, and without any hesitation or hesitation, he reported to the leading comrades of the joint investigation group everything he knew and thought in line with the two principles of being responsible to the party and the people and seeking truth from facts.

After talking to his heart's content, when he left the Provincial Party Committee Guest House in a sky full of stars and moons, Li Dongfang was in such a comfortable mood, and he had a feeling of unburdening and dripping with joy......