Nominal: Who isn't a son-in-law?

Chu Shijun's expression turned slightly cold, and he said with certainty, "I think the investigation is about to reach us, isn't it?"

"That's right."

Zhong Zhenguo then shared what he knew.

"I heard that he has been summoned for talks several times, but because Comrade Haiming vouched for him, the only measures taken so far have been to restrict his exit from the country and his places of activity."

"Heh, it really is like following a vine to find a whole bunch of melons—good melons on the outside, rotten inside."

Chu Shijun took a deep drag on his cigarette and exhaled a long puff of smoke.

What's your opinion?

Seeing his somewhat troubled expression, she continued, "Or rather, what is Uncle Zhong's opinion?"

Upon hearing his father's words, Zhong Zhenguo's expression changed, and he said helplessly, "He said, do whatever needs to be done."

"Wouldn't that solve the problem?"

Chu Shijun spread his hands.

"We are not afraid of offending bad people, we are only afraid of offending ordinary people."

"Since you have such an opinion of Comrade Haiming, then I believe he also has his own judgment, and he knows clearly what is right and wrong, and what to choose."

"Since the beginning of this, if we haven't stopped, we should have been prepared for this day to come. Our patience has reached its limit."

"The glory of our ancestors is not a cover to shield us from certain things. As beneficiaries, we enjoy the corresponding rights and should have corresponding actions and contributions."

"The Southern Song Dynasty poet Chen Liang wrote a poem called 'Nian Nu Jiao - Climbing Duojing Tower,' in which he wrote: 'What did the Six Dynasties do? They only pursued private interests.'"

Chu Shijun turned to look at Zhong Zhenguo.

"Old Chinese, we must learn from the vast sea of ​​history, instead of repeating the same mistakes and going through the same cycle again. Otherwise, how can we break the pattern?" (Is it okay to address Chung Cheng-kuo like this because we have a good relationship?)

"Hundreds of years of rise and fall have passed through our hands, vanishing in an instant."

"This is something that our ancestors, you and I, and our successors must always be mindful of."

"From this moment on, we will set an example, let the alarm bells ring, and awaken one person, which will serve as a warning to two, three, or more."

Zhong Zhenguo listened silently, nodded deeply, and said with emotion, "Old Chu, what you said really gave me a shock!"

"woke up?"

"I'm awake now."

Chu Shijun smiled slightly, "Then have another smoke and go back to get some rest."

A moment later, after the time it takes to smoke a cigarette, the two remained silent and then left one after the other.

However, Zhong Zhenguo hadn't gone far when he turned back to look at the young man's back and murmured, "Father was right. His heart and actions are just as his name suggests!"

Eleven or twenty-one years later, he had already retired and was no longer in public.

When the other party led a team to visit and comfort him, Zhong Zhenguo looked at the same figure whose name matched his back and said the same words.

……

The next day.

Zhong Zhenguo is reviewing documents in his office.

The secretary came in, leaned over, and whispered a few words in her ear.

"I see."

Zhong Zhenguo nodded and put down his pen.

Not long after, the secretary returned, accompanied by a man who looked to be about the same age as Zhong Zhenguo.

"Comrade Zhenguo, I apologize for disturbing you."

"Comrade Haiming, you jest. Please have a seat."

Zhong Zhenguo smiled and stepped forward to shake hands, then pointed to the sofa.

While the secretary was serving tea, he noticed a few strands of white hair on his old friend's head. It seemed like there weren't any when they last met.

Poor parents!

After the secretary left, Xu Haiming got straight to the point: "Comrade Zhenguo, you should know why I've come here."

"It's like this, Haimingtong..."

"Excuse me for interrupting."

Xu Haiming waved his hand, "You know my character. I am already ashamed that I asked you to ask this question for my son's sake. Whatever the result is, I will accept it calmly and obey it resolutely."

Seeing his expression of heroic sacrifice, Zhong Zhenguo chuckled. His previous assessment was indeed correct: stubborn, but a righteous man.

"Here, have a cigarette first."

Zhong Zhenguo handed him a cigarette, and after they lit them, he slowly said, "Comrade Haiming, first of all, it is clear that your son's matter involves Li Zhixu and is being handled by a special task force. Even I, as the deputy leader, do not know the details of the matter."

"I know."

Xu Haiming nodded.

"That's good,"

Zhong Zhenguo then asked, "Regarding your son, what did you say before?"

"I have no idea about it, I can guarantee that."

Xu Haiming gave a wry smile. "I pay very little attention to him; everyone above and below me knows that."

"I can guarantee that I have never given him any favors or made any requests, but I also know that just because I don't ask for anything doesn't mean that others won't give him face."

"Um,"

Zhong Zhenguo comforted him, saying, "Comrade Haiming, the organization trusts you on this point. Everyone knows your character. You have always been upright, extremely self-disciplined, and kept a clean separation between public and private matters."

"As far as I know, the investigation team has sorted out the preliminary clues and confirmed that all the violations were his personal private actions. You were completely unaware of, never participated in, and did not interfere with the process."

Xu Haiming shook his head.

"Ignorance does not absolve me of responsibility. The lack of proper upbringing and family values ​​is my fault. I work in Haishu District, and my family members have used my position to solicit business and seek personal gain, which is my dereliction of duty. I will fully comply with whatever the organization decides to investigate, characterize, and handle."

Seeing the other party's statement, Zhong Zhenguo nodded to himself.

This attitude alone is far superior to Nie Dahai's previous boastful talk.

"It is precisely because you are clean and have a correct stance that I can communicate with you about this today. I have already spoken with Comrade Shijun and consulted with Team Leader Yu."

"How so?"

Xu Haiming asked.

"Before discipline, there are no special family members, no exceptions. We will investigate thoroughly and will never cover up wrongdoing or make exceptions. Comrade Haiming, you should be mentally prepared."

Zhong Zhenguo said in a deep voice,

"Team Leader Yu also stated that the cleaner a cadre is, the stricter they must be in managing their family affairs, and the more they must be impartial in public affairs and impartial in private affairs. Precisely because you, Xu Haiming, are upright and never show favoritism, this case should be used to establish rules and clarify discipline, setting a benchmark for everyone."

Hearing this result, which was not unexpected, Xu Haiming's hand still trembled slightly. After taking a few puffs of his cigarette, he looked up and said, "I completely agree and fully support it. What I fear most is not that my close relatives will be punished, but that someone will use my name to seek special treatment and break the rules, which will ultimately implicate the organization and corrupt the atmosphere. Others give me face, but I can't control my family. That is my oversight."

"Comrade Haiming, we've known each other for a long time, and I'll be frank with you."

Zhong Zhenguo's voice was filled with emotion.

"Yesterday I talked with Comrade Shijun, and he said the biggest problem right now isn't your son's individual writing skills, but rather the inertia of hierarchical structures and the prevailing atmosphere."

"Many people see that you hold an important position and have a good reputation, so they habitually try to curry favor with you and offer you preferential treatment. You don't even need to ask; everyone will pave the way for you. This is the most hidden and dangerous form of power extension, and it is the most difficult to control."