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

Time is a ruthless and merciless force, showing no mercy to anyone.

Lei Tie, the police chief who once held immense power in Ningzhou and whose orders could make even the most rebellious people tremble, has finally reached the age to take off his police uniform.

Unlike those retired cadres who always put on airs or live a secluded life writing memoirs, Lei Tie was, at heart, a rough and unassuming man who couldn't stand being alone.

Out of consideration for their past relationship, Liu Ming originally wanted to arrange a leisurely and prestigious advisory position for him in the ministry, but Lei Tie flatly refused.

"Brother Liu... no, you should call me 'sir' now."

Lei Tie laughed heartily on the phone, "The most glorious time of my life was those years when I followed you in the anti-gang campaign in Qingyun County and Ningzhou. It was so exhilarating! Now that I'm old and can't do it anymore, I'd be ashamed to keep occupying this position without doing anything."

So, this former iron-fisted bureau chief packed a few old clothes, along with the chipped teapot that had saved his life years ago, and happily moved to the city.

There was no other reason; he just wanted to be closer to Liu Ming. Even if he couldn't be of much help, being able to breathe the same air in the same city would make him feel at ease.

……

In the late autumn of the city, the fallen leaves are golden. In a corner of Beihai Park, several old men are gathered around a stone table, playing a lively game.

"General!"

"Hey! You old rascal, what are you doing setting up the cannon here? My horse has nowhere to jump!"

An old man in an old jacket, with gray hair but a sprightly spirit, slapped his thigh and shouted in frustration.

This old man was none other than Lei Tie.

He's now a "celebrity" in this small square, showing up without fail every morning and evening, always carrying that chipped teacup, either playing chess or bragging to people.

"Old Lei, your chess skills are just lousy, yet you keep bragging about being a high-ranking official. If you were really a high-ranking official, how come you can't even keep a rook?"

Across from him, an elderly man in a traditional Chinese jacket smiled and put away his chess pieces, mercilessly mocking him. This man, it was said, had been the head of the logistics department of a ministry before retiring, and his favorite pastime was arguing with Lei Tie.

"Hey! You old geezer!"

Lei Tie glared at him, and the imposing presence of a former police chief instantly rose up, startling the old man opposite him into shrinking back.

"I may not be as good as you at chess, but back in the day, I, Old Lei, was a man who carried a gun and had men in my hands!"

Lei Tie picked up the teacup and took a big gulp, his voice as loud as a bronze bell.

"Let me tell you, back in Ningzhou, those gangsters were all like mice before a cat when they saw me!"

Several elderly men who were watching nearby burst into laughter.

"Old Lei is bragging again!"

"Last time you said you single-handedly took down a drug den, are you going to say this time you've fought aliens?"

"Haha, with his physique, he gets out of breath just climbing stairs, let alone carrying people."

Lei Tie blushed as his old buddies laughed at him, but he wasn't annoyed. He liked this kind of lively atmosphere; it was the kind of life he wanted most after taking off his uniform.

"You really shouldn't disbelieve me."

Lei Tie pulled out a pack of cheap cigarettes costing two yuan from his pocket, lit one, and took a deep drag. His gaze seemed to drift far away through the smoke.

"The coolest thing I've ever done in my life isn't how many thieves I've caught."

"It's because I followed the right person back then."

As they were talking, a large screen next to the square was broadcasting the evening news.

"...Today, Mr. Liu Ming, Special Advisor for Life on my country's Top Science and Technology and Security Strategy, stated clearly during a meeting with a delegation from a certain country that in the field of core technologies, China will unswervingly follow the path of independent innovation, and no form of blockade can stop it..."

On the screen, Liu Ming, dressed in a sharp Zhongshan suit, sat in the main seat.

Although he didn't speak, his imposing aura, as if he controlled the entire world, was enough to inspire awe in everyone, even through the screen.

That was a man who truly stood at the pinnacle of human power.

The old men in the square fell silent instantly, all eyes drawn to the news.

"This Advisor Liu is truly the pillar of our Dragon Kingdom."

The old man in the traditional Chinese jacket sighed, his tone full of respect, "I heard it was him who single-handedly broke the West's energy blockade. We probably won't even have the chance to meet such a big shot in our lifetime."

"Yes, yes, this is truly a peerless national hero." The others nodded in agreement.

Lei Tie stood there, looking at the familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar face on the screen. He recalled the shock he felt when he first saw those three first-class merit awards at the Qingyun County Armed Forces Department.

I recalled the fear I felt watching that "God of Killing" who single-handedly wiped out the entire group in the underground casino in Ningzhou.

He also recalled the young man's words, "A wise choice," as he patted him on the shoulder when he handed over his pledge of loyalty in that dimly lit alley.

For some reason, my eyes suddenly felt hot.

"See that?"

Lei Tie slapped his thigh and pointed at the radiant man on the screen. His wrinkled old face radiated an undisguised, almost fanatical pride.

"That kid's name is Liu Ming!"

"You guys always think I'm bragging, today I, Lao Lei, will tell you the truth!"

Lei Tie stood ramrod straight, his chest held high, and his voice echoed throughout the small square.

"Back in the day, in Ningzhou..."

"That's my...sworn brother, Lao Lei's!"

"The two of us have drunk together, fought together, and together we brought down all the corrupt officials in Jiangnan Province!"

He calls me "Old Lei"!

The entire room fell silent.

All the old men stared at Lei Tie as if he were an alien, their expressions seeming to say: This old man, he's really gone too far with his boasting today! This isn't just boasting, this is terminal delusions!

"Get out of here! This is getting more and more ridiculous!"

The old man in the traditional Chinese jacket rolled his eyes and waved his hand. "Why don't you just say you've played mahjong with the highest-ranking official? Hurry up, you lost this round, give up your seat!"

"Hey! You old codger, I'm telling the truth!"

Lei Tie panicked, his face turning bright red.

"Don't believe me? Just you wait!"

He pulled out his old smartphone and frantically searched through his contacts, but after searching for a long time, he still didn't press the number.

That was a special number he had saved for years but never dialed. He knew that once that call went through, no matter how big the problem was, that person would take care of it for him. But he couldn't bear to part with it.

He didn't want to bother the man who was steering the nation with such a trivial matter.

"Forget it, I can't explain it to you ordinary folks."

Lei Tie put away his phone and gave a haughty snort.

He sat down again on the stone bench, picked up the chipped teacup, and took a sip.

The tea had gone a little cold, but his heart was warm.

That's enough. In his life, Lao Lei was able to be on friendly terms with such people and participate in such a magnificent period of history.

I can die without regrets.

"Come on! Another plate!"

Lei Tie slammed his hand on the chessboard and waved his hand dramatically.

"This time, I'll show you what a 'double carriage mismatch' really means!"

The autumn wind swept across the water in Beihai Park, creating ripples, and the laughter and chatter of the elderly mingled with the sounds of chess pieces being placed.

This is what a peaceful and prosperous world looks like, and it's the scenery that those who bleed and sacrifice in the darkness most want to see.