Madmen don't keep diaries

Chapter 254, Section 253: The Neutral Faction Without Backing

Gu Zhili bluntly stated, "This matter is inherently difficult. You can control Shen Yanzhi, but you can't control others. Even Qin Xiuyuan, who is so close to the Duke of Daguo, is unwilling to give this face, let alone the officials sent by the government."

Feng Xiuhu looked at Xiyao'er: "The personal stories and private matters of these officials in the file you gave me are probably not worth them risking their heads to attend the prayer meeting—this job is more troublesome than I imagined. I should have known better than to take on this trouble."

Slender Waist stood up and walked behind Feng Xiuhu, gently massaging his temples: "Master, I don't understand all these complicated and profound things you're talking about, but I only recognize one principle."

"Your teacher is a god-like figure, naturally he sees things much more clearly than we do—since he chose you, he must think you are capable of handling this task. So, sir, why don't you think about what he saw in you that led him to choose you?"

Feng Xiuhu chuckled – what did he see in him? He saw in him his bad reputation.

But while the words may be rough, the reasoning is sound; what the girl with the slender waist said is not without merit.

After a brief recollection, Feng Xiuhu felt that Vadracho might actually have meant that—to find the person least afraid of offending others to do the most offensive thing.

Having figured this out, Feng Xiuhu asked Gu Zhili, "We've already dealt with both the tough and easy challenges tonight. Tomorrow, we need to find something that's neither too tough nor too easy. Who do you think would be suitable?"

Gu Zhili glanced at the list on the table, and after scanning it for a moment, pointed to one of the names: "If you can handle this person, then the rest of the neutral officials will be easy to deal with."

Feng Xiuhu looked down and realized that Gu Zhili was pointing at Zheng Muwen, the Director of the Education Department.

"why would you say so?"

Feng Xiuhu asked.

Gu Zhili replied, "Because he has status and prestige, and is a role model for the neutral faction. If he can agree to participate in the prayer, other neutral officials will not have such a great psychological burden."

……

Gu Zhili told Feng Xiuhu that the so-called neutral faction was actually a group of officials who did not want to be involved in political struggles, while at the same time claiming to be aloof and virtuous.

These types of officials usually find it difficult to hold high positions or obtain lucrative jobs. Zheng Muwen is already the highest-ranking official among them.

Feng Xiuhu had never met Zheng Muwen before and didn't know how to deal with this kind of person, but adhering to the principle of courtesy before force, he had Xiyao'er prepare gifts early the next morning and went to visit Zheng's residence with Gu Zhili.

Shortly after the doorman announced their arrival, the butler respectfully invited the two inside.

Zheng Muwen was an old man in his sixties. He was relatively polite to Feng Xiuhu, but the distance between them was also obvious.

After all, in his view, the Department of Education had nothing to do with a priest like Feng Xiuhu, and Feng Xiuhu bringing gifts to his door meant that he had something to ask for.

She learned from Xiong Guiyuan that Zheng Muwen loved playing chess, so Xiyao'er prepared a Go set as a gift to please him.

Feng Xiuhu placed the gift on the stage. As Gu Zhili opened the gift box, the exquisite craftsmanship of the Go set immediately caught Zheng Muwen's eye.

Turning his gaze away, Zheng Muwen picked up his teacup and took a sip: "Father Feng is polite and knows his place. I don't think he's as exaggerated as the outside world says."

Feng Xiuhu nodded: "Who says it isn't? Those are all rumors."

"but……"

Zheng Muwen suddenly changed the subject, pushing the chessboard a bit towards Feng Xiuhu: "I can't accept something for nothing. I appreciate Father Feng's kindness, but please take the things back."

Feng Xiuhu pushed the chessboard back and asked, "Does this mean that you can receive a gift if you make a contribution?"

Zheng Muwen's eyelids twitched: "Father Feng, you may speak frankly—but I am but a nobody and I am afraid I can't be of much help."

Feng Xiuhu said, "I don't need your help. I just saw that you were bored every day, so I signed you up for a senior Go interest class. Remember to attend it—it's on Friday afternoon, at the Misty Grand Hall."

Zheng Muwen was taken aback: "What class?"

But he quickly realized, "Why should I go to church? That's not appropriate."

Feng Xiuhu corrected him: "I think it's appropriate."

Zheng Muwen frowned. Although he did not know Feng Xiuhu’s purpose for the time being, he knew that he must not fall into the trap. So he made his attitude clear: “Even the Duke of Daguo knows that I have always adhered to the principle of doing my job well and never getting involved with the church and temple. Whatever Father Feng’s plans are, he has probably picked the wrong person.”

Feng Xiuhu raised an eyebrow: "So determined?"

Zheng Muwen nodded with a righteous expression: "That's it."

Feng Xiuhu pointed at the chessboard: "Even giving gifts isn't allowed?"

Zheng Muwen turned his head away: "I, Zheng, have never cared about such mundane things." Feng Xiuhu thought for a moment: "What if I set your house on fire?"

Zheng Muwen roared in fury: "How dare you!"

Feng Xiuhu smiled sheepishly: "I really dare."

Zheng Muwen realized who was in front of him and understood that he really dared to do so, so he angrily rebuked again: "Even if I have to sleep on the streets, I, Zheng, will not change my mind!"

"Have some backbone."

Feng Xiuhu gave him a thumbs up.

Zheng Muwen sneered: "Hmph, you flatter me."

Feng Xiuhu pointed at him with his finger: "Fine, you wait."

After saying that, he got up and left.

Zheng Muwen called out to him from behind: "Wait, take your things away. My house cannot be tainted by such filth."

Feng Xiuhu looked at the chessboard on the table and said, "No rush, I'll come back to get it later."

Leaving the Zheng residence, Gu Zhili felt something was off—Feng Xiuhu had left too easily today.

He then asked, "What do you do when you encounter someone who won't listen to reason or pressure?"

Feng Xiuhu countered, "So-called neutral parties just mean not taking sides, right?"

Gu Zhili nodded: "More or less."

Feng Xiuhu then asked, "Then to put it another way, they have no backing, no one to support them."

Gu Zhili was puzzled: "Does the Director of Education need someone to back him up? He's already a high-ranking official."

"That depends on who you run into."

Feng Xiuhu licked his lips: "Come on, I'll take you to eat cake."

……

Meixiang Dim Sum Shop.

Mike and Cheng Aimei were already waiting here.

This morning, Feng Xiuhu asked Shunzi to pass on a message to Mike, which is why Mike went to find Cheng Aimei and brought her here to wait for Feng Xiuhu.

Cheng Aimei's wife, Zheng Sumei, was busy in the shop. Feng Xiuhu did not disturb her and went straight to Cheng Aimei's table.

Cheng Aimei didn't know why Feng Xiuhu wanted to see her, nor did she realize the seriousness of the matter. She greeted Feng Xiuhu with a smile: "Squad Leader Feng, I haven't had a chance to congratulate you yet—not everyone gets to experience something like coming back from the dead."

Feng Xiuhu sat down and put his arm around Cheng Aimei's shoulder: "Do you know what the most crucial point is about coming back from the dead?"

Cheng Aimei was taken aback: "What is it?"

Feng Xiuhu said solemnly, "It is courage, the courage to live in the face of death."

Cheng Aimei couldn't understand what he was up to: "Heh, heh... Is that so?"

Feng Xiuhu asked him earnestly, "So, do you have that kind of courage?"

A bad feeling rose in Cheng Aimei's heart, and she forced a laugh, "I've never died, how would I know..."

Feng Xiuhu waved his hand: "It's alright, they can all be trained. Let's start with the simple ones."

"For example, slap your father-in-law a few times first."

P.S.: The neutral party is actually the easiest to manage.

(End of this chapter)