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

After leaving the park, Liu Ming and Xi Wanqing did not take a car, but instead walked slowly westward along the old street paved with bluestone slabs.

In the western part of the city, there is an old residential compound built in the 1990s. Although the houses are old and the walls are peeling, the courtyard is full of oleander and osmanthus trees, making it particularly quiet.

"County Chief Wen lives here?" Xi Wanqing looked at the somewhat dilapidated three-story residential building in front of her, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. "He was the second-in-command of Qingyun County back then. After Li Yuankui fell from power, he served another term as secretary. How come he didn't even go to a decent retirement home after retiring?"

"You know him, he's got a temper harder than a rock."

Liu Ming looked up at the balcony on the second floor with the security door open. "Back then, the province wanted to transfer him to the CPPCC to retire, but he refused. He said that if he left Qingyun County, he wouldn't even be able to enjoy his meals. As for the house, he said that he felt at ease living in this old, dilapidated place, without all the shady scheming."

The two walked up the stairs side by side.

The corridor was filled with the rich aroma of soy sauce and pork ribs, the familiar smell of everyday life to the people of old Qingyun County.

The door on the left side of the second floor was not closed; it was ajar.

Liu Ming gently pushed open the door.

In the small courtyard, an elderly man with a full head of white hair, wearing an old sweater, was slowly watering several pots of clivia with a watering can in his hand, wearing reading glasses.

Wen Boyan.

This former county magistrate, who once held absolute power in Qingyun County but was forced to retire due to illness after being sidelined in order to protect the interests of the people, now looks just like an ordinary old man next door.

Hearing the noise, Wen Boyan turned around.

He saw Liu Ming standing at the door, and the hand holding the kettle suddenly stopped, causing the water to veer off course and spill onto the floor tiles.

The two gazed at each other quietly, separated by several pots of lush green clivia.

There was none of the fear and obsequiousness that subordinates show when meeting their superiors, nor the polite and insincere greetings exchanged after a long separation.

Wen Boyan simply put down the kettle, took off his reading glasses, casually wiped his hands with his sleeve, and a very gratified smile slowly spread across his lips.

"You're here?"

Just those two simple words made it seem as if Liu Ming was reporting to him in his office yesterday, and today he was just dropping by for a visit.

"You're here, Uncle Wen." Liu Ming smiled and walked over. Instead of shaking hands, he moved over a small, peeling stool from the yard and sat down casually. "I arrived right at mealtime, because I could smell the aroma of your stewed ribs."

"You little rascal, your nose is even sharper than a dog's." Wen Boyan pointed at Liu Ming, then turned and shouted into the house, "Old woman, add two more sets of bowls and chopsticks! Cook two good dishes, and fill the bowls with that braised pork that Little Liu used to love!"

A surprised and delighted response came from inside the house.

Wen Boyan turned his head and looked at Xi Wanqing, who was following behind Liu Ming, with a hint of affection in his eyes: "Wanqing, you're here too? Please sit down. You two are very busy people now, and it's an honor for my little courtyard that you can take the time to visit this old man."

"Uncle Wen, please don't flatter us. Without your guidance and protection back then, where would we be today?" Xi Wanqing smiled as she accepted the tea offered by Wen Boyan.

"What cultivation and protection? That's your own ability, and it's also a blessing for the people." Wen Boyan waved his hand, then suddenly seemed to remember something, turned around and went into the house.

A moment later, he carefully carried out a glass bottle wrapped tightly in newspaper.

"Good stuff." Wen Boyan mysteriously peeled back the newspaper, revealing an old wine bottle without any labels, and even a bit blackened. "The night you sent that bastard Li Yuankui to prison, I buried it myself under the osmanthus tree in the yard. It's been ten years. It's original aged liquor, and I haven't been able to bear drinking it, just waiting for you to come back."

Liu Ming looked at the bottle of wine, her eyes slightly warming.

This is not just a bottle of wine; it represents the expectations that the people of Qingyun County had for a young cadre ten years ago, and even more so, the concerns that the former county head has held for the past decade.

He stood up, took the bottle, and gently stroked the rough glass with his fingertips.

"Uncle Wen, I'll pour the wine today."

"Alright, let's see what you can do, kid." Wen Boyan laughed as he sat down and pulled out two chipped rough porcelain bowls from under the stone table.

"Gulp, gulp..."

The pale yellow liquor was poured into a rough porcelain bowl, creating a fine layer of foam. An extremely mellow aroma, mixed with the scents of earth and osmanthus, instantly filled the small courtyard.

There were no snacks to go with the drinks, and not even a few extra words were exchanged.

The two picked up the porcelain bowls and gently tapped them together in mid-air, producing a crisp "clang".

"Dry."

Liu Ming tilted his head back and downed the bowl of strong liquor in one gulp. The pungent liquor burned down his throat and into his stomach, but it also stirred up a surge of heroic spirit.

Wen Boyan finished his wine in his bowl, put it down, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and a kind of fanatical light suddenly flashed in his cloudy eyes.

"Little Liu."

He looked directly at Liu Ming, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.

"You've done a fantastic job these past ten years! Absolutely fantastic!"

The old man gripped the edge of the stone table tightly with both hands. "Back in Qingyun County, you were a knife; later, when you went to Haishi, you became a giant axe that cut through deep-seated problems; now, you sit in the highest position."

Watching the news, seeing you make those foreign devils bow their heads, seeing you send those bloodsucking compradors to prison... I feel so good! It's a million times better than when I brought down Li Yuankui back then!

He became more and more emotional as he spoke, and tears were already welling up in the corners of his eyes.

"Uncle Wen, I just did what I was supposed to do." Liu Ming refilled their glasses, her tone calm. "This society has been sick for too long; someone has to go through the pain and get the real treatment."

"Yes, someone always has to be the villain who offends others." Wen Boyan sighed, picked up his wine bowl, and looked at the wrinkled old face reflected in the bowl.

"I used to worry that you were too ruthless and climbed too fast, and that you might easily fall in this unfathomable officialdom. But now I understand."

He raised his head, his eyes filled with boundless pride and satisfaction.

"You are not a bureaucrat, you are a national hero."

Wen Boyan picked up the bowl of wine and stood up shakily.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled into this small courtyard, gilding the old man who had persevered in the darkness with a sacred golden light.

He raised the wine bowl above his head, addressing Liu Ming and the newly reborn city, and spoke loudly.

"This glass is for you!"

"Xiao Liu, the people of Qingyun County remember your kindness every day."