Special forces soldier demobilization: Starting from the county government compound, a meteoric rise

The late autumn sun slanted into the study, bathing the old-fashioned room in a thick layer of orange-gold.

Old Lin sat on the large mahogany chair, not in a hurry to speak, but with trembling hands, he took out a black and white old photograph that was already somewhat damaged but was very well sealed in a red lacquered wooden box on the table.

In the photo, two young soldiers, wearing liberation shoes and covered in mud, are grinning foolishly at the camera with their arms around each other's shoulders. One of them, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, is none other than Lin Zhentian in his youth; while the other, with the undisguised madness and gentleness between his brows, is exactly like Liu Ming at this moment.

That was Liu Ming's grandfather.

"Your grandfather was a real madman."

Old Lin stroked the photograph, his voice hoarse, carrying a profound sense of timelessness.

"That was in southern Xinjiang in 1979. The cat-ear caves in Laoshan were full of ankle-deep mud and poisonous insects. Our two squads were blocked on Hill 021 by a reinforced enemy platoon. We ran out of ammunition and water. Just when I was about to pull the pin on my last grenade, that bastard of your grandfather actually carried two bundles of cluster grenades and climbed up the cliff all by himself."

Old Lin chuckled to himself, the glistening tears in the corners of his eyes particularly dazzling in the sunlight.

"When he charged into the enemy lines that day, he was shouting and cursing as he went, saying that he hadn't even gotten married yet and he absolutely couldn't die at the hands of those southern barbarians. In that battle, he saved my life and also saved the gate of our nation at that outpost. He said that his grandson must be more successful than him in the future."

Liu Ming stood ramrod straight to the side. He didn't interrupt, but listened quietly.

He had never heard his father mention these stories, nor had he seen them in any files. They were the purest, yet most tragic, private memories among the older generation of soldiers.

"Later, when the founding of the nation was in trouble, I was in the Northwest overseeing the closure of nuclear tests. By the time I received the news and rushed back to Beijing, he had already..."

At this point, Old Lin suddenly stopped. In an instant, a raging fire, powerful enough to incinerate everything, ignited in his cloudy old eyes.

"That's the greatest hatred I, Lin Zhentian, have ever felt in this life! Right here under these red walls, someone actually dared to lay a hand on the only son of my old comrade-in-arms! Those compradors, those traitorous scum, did they think they could get away with it by faking a suicide? They've forgotten that this world isn't theirs to call the shots yet!"

Old Lin slammed his hand on the armrest.

"Xiao Ming, you did an excellent job in Ningzhou and the provincial capital this time. That old fox Luo Binwang has been entrenched in Jiangnan Province for decades, his influence is deep and his influence is so great that even Chu Tiankuo has to go around him. But what about you? You were like a red-hot dagger, stabbing straight into his heart and ripping out all his filthy intestines. It felt so good! It felt so damn good!"

Old Lin stood up. Although his steps were slightly unsteady, his imposing aura was like a majestic mountain, making the air in the entire study seem to stop flowing.

He walked up to Liu Ming, carefully examining the young man, his eyes filled with undisguised doting and expectation.

"Your trip to Beijing was appointed by the Organization Department of the Central Committee, and it was also something I directly decided at the Central Military Commission meeting. I had only one sentence—if anyone dares to block the path of the Liu family's descendants, I will lead my guard company to their house and tear down their roof!"

Liu Ming took a deep breath. He could sense the political cost the old man had paid behind these words.

In Beijing, a city that values ​​balance and rules, Old Lin's almost barbaric act of protecting his own was undoubtedly a declaration of war against all factions.

"Commander, I..." Liu Ming was about to speak when Old Lin waved his hand to interrupt him.

"Don't call me 'Commander,' at home, call me 'Grandpa.'"

The old man stared into Liu Ming's eyes, speaking slowly and deliberately, his voice low yet heavy.

"The High-Tech Industry Department you've taken over is the lifeline of the nation. It has dozens of divisions, each with approval authority over billions of yuan. You think it's a cushy job? No, it's a pit of fire. Although the Zhao family has fallen, their remaining influence in the ministries and the henchmen of those multinational corporations behind them are probably already preparing a 'protective umbrella' and a 'deadly nail' for you."

Old Lin slowly walked back to the table, took out a black magnetic card without any markings from the drawer, and gently pushed it in front of Liu Ming.

"This card can access military warehouses in the western suburbs and also mobilize all the 'dark networks' that the Lin family has woven in Beijing over the past thirty years."

"In the open, you are the youngest director-general in the National Development and Reform Commission, a pillar of the country. If you act according to the rules, no one can find fault with you. In the shadows, the Lin family's resources are the heavy machine gun in your hands."

"I want you to remember one thing."

The old man approached again, and the oppressive aura of someone who had long held a superior position and had the power of life and death surged towards Liu Ming like a tidal wave.

"In this capital city, rules are rules, but people are flexible. The Lin family doesn't bully others unprovoked. But if anyone dares to show their claws to you, you'd better break them! Even if it's those old fogies in the ministries, even if it's those so-called 'young masters from wealthy families,' as long as they're not clean, you'd better investigate them thoroughly and expose their past!"

"Even if the sky falls, my old bones haven't decayed yet; I'll hold it up for you. Just charge forward and smash that door locked up by those foreign devils to pieces!"

Liu Ming looked at the black magnetic card on the table. He knew that this was not only a symbol of power, but also a weighty entrustment.

This is a true inheritance of family will beyond bloodline.

"grandfather."

Liu Ming raised her head, and the coldness that belonged to "Shura" in her eyes instantly disappeared, replaced by an absolute calmness and confidence that made even Elder Lin tremble.

"Now that I'm back, it's time to change the way the waters of this capital city flow. Those bloodsucking insects hiding in the shadows, I will nail them one by one to the steps of the Martyrs' Cemetery."

"good!"

Old Master Lin laughed out loud, extending his calloused hand and patting Liu Ming's shoulder heavily once more. The force seemed to convey his pride and integrity to this younger generation.

"You truly are my grandson, Old Lin! Don't leave at noon today; have a drink with me. That's half a jar of thirty-year-old strong liquor that I specially saved after your grandfather performed meritorious service. Let's drink to our hearts' content, just the two of us!"

……

It was noon when we left the Lin family's old house.

The late autumn sunlight shone on the red walls, reflecting a dizzying sense of solemnity.

Liu Ming carried his briefcase, clutching the black magnetic card in his hand. He could sense that the gazes lurking in the shadows around him had completely changed at this moment.

Originally, those gazes were filled with scrutiny and hostility.

And now.

In those gazes, only deep fear and awe remained.

he knows.

From the moment he uttered that word "Grandpa," he was no longer a lone warrior fighting alone in the turbulent land of Beijing.

He now has a towering tree that can shelter him from the wind and rain.

He truly gained the right to overturn any table in this city.

"Director, shall we go back to the ministry?"

Li Erniu had changed into a black suit, his back ramrod straight, looking like a sharp blade ready to be drawn at any moment.

Liu Ming opened the car door and sat in the back seat.

He turned his head, looking at the slowly closing black door, a wild smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"No."

"Go to a ministry."

"Go and meet with that... Deputy Director Zhao Ruihu."

Liu Ming looked out the window at the ancient street scene rushing past, her voice calm yet powerful.

"Since we're going to make changes, let's start with our own homes."

He touched the cold magnetic card in his pocket, his eyes becoming as vast as an ice field.

"Erniu, drive faster."

"Don't keep our 'old colleagues' waiting too long."