Me! A high-ranking official!

He took the soy milk and drank a couple of mouthfuls, feeling a bit more awake. He casually asked the villagers gathered around, "How's it going? Has the construction team to install the streetlights in our village arrived yet?"

A villager surnamed Wang eagerly replied, "They're here! Secretary, they're moving so fast! I saw they installed more than twenty in just one morning. The construction foreman said that at this rate, in another two or three days, all the main roads in the village will be lit up!"

Another old man came up and asked with concern, "Secretary, you said in your live broadcast yesterday that you would solve the problem of the clinic. Is there any truth to that? My old back has started acting up again these past two days. It hurts so much that I can't move. When I went to see a doctor in the next village, my back felt like it was going to break after just a couple of bumps on the tram."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jianguo smiled and reassured him, "Uncle, don't worry. I went back to my hometown last night and I've made progress on the village doctor's matter. I've contacted Yang Zhenhai, the son of Yang Erxiu from Qianzhao Village. He graduated from a regular university of traditional Chinese medicine. I'm currently persuading him, and I estimate that he'll be confirmed in the next couple of days."

"Hey! Is that Yang Erxiu's son?" The villagers immediately erupted in excitement upon hearing this: "He's the descendant of a famous doctor! My facial paralysis was cured by Old Yang a couple of years ago, it's amazing, his son must be just as good."

Zhao Jianguo followed up, saying, "Young Yang's medical skills are excellent, and he's formally trained. Besides, once Young Yang comes, how could Old Yang neglect his son's career? I'll try to persuade Old Yang to come and see patients every few days. What do you all think?"

"Great! That's wonderful!"

Seeing the joy on the villagers' faces, he felt a warm glow in his heart. The pie he had just dreamed of yesterday was now a tangible hope. This sense of accomplishment from being rooted in the land was far greater than writing a hundred reports at the bureau.

After finishing his meal, he took a walk around the village. Sure enough, the construction team was busy, and brand-new streetlights had been erected. He took out his phone and snapped a few photos. This was called leaving a record of his work; it would be a key indicator for future reports or publicity.

As he was scrolling through his phone, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a slightly dejected figure flashing by and disappearing into a courtyard.

That's Luo Ming.

His gaze darkened, and he put away his phone. It was time to thoroughly resolve Luo Ming's matter. It was like a piece of rotten flesh in Luo Family Village; if it wasn't removed, it would always be a hidden danger.

He strode to Luo Ming's door and knocked twice forcefully: "Luo Ming, open the door!"

There was a brief silence inside, followed by Luo Ming's deep, wary voice: "Who is it?"

"I am Zhao Jianguo!"

The courtyard fell into a deathly silence. After more than ten seconds, slow footsteps were heard, and the door opened a crack. Luo Ming's slightly haggard, gloomy face appeared, staring coldly at Zhao Jianguo: "What are you doing here? Coming to see me make a fool of myself?"

He glanced at the somewhat desolate courtyard and said calmly, "Let's go inside and talk."

As he spoke, ignoring Luo Ming's attempts to stop him, he squeezed into the courtyard. After looking around and not seeing any woman, he casually asked, "Where's Auntie?"

Luo Ming snorted, his tone stiff: "She went back to her parents' home."

He knew perfectly well that Luo Ming had been dismissed from his post and taken the blame, his reputation in the village was ruined, and his wife couldn't hold her head up in the village. This was most likely because he had gone back to his parents' home in a huff.

He pulled up a stool and sat down, then kicked another one next to him and pointed, saying, "Sit."

Luo Ming, his neck stiff, didn't move: "Speak up if you have something to say, or shut up if you have something to say."

"Director Luo, you've been the village director for a long time." Zhao Jianguo looked up at him, his eyes sharp. "Although we haven't had much contact, I think you're a smart man, and more importantly, an honest one. You don't have many ulterior motives. This time, you were actually taking the blame for Luo Shuishan, weren't you?"

Luo Ming's face stiffened, and his tightly pursed lips trembled slightly, clearly indicating that his sore spot had been touched.

"I know you hate me in your heart." He said calmly, "But I'm not afraid of your hatred. I came to Luo Family Village to solve problems. Anyone who stops me from doing practical things for the villagers is my enemy. I never show mercy to my enemies. Your mistake is not because you followed Luo Shuishan, but because you are too cowardly and don't know the bigger picture! You should bear all the consequences. Don't feel wronged."

Luo Ming's face turned from white to pale, and his eyes turned red: "You...you're here to comfort me or to kill me emotionally?"

"I'm here to show you a way out." His voice turned cold. "You know perfectly well that what I'm doing is good for the village, but you insist on letting Luo Shuishan lead you by the nose. What else can you be but confused? I know that Luo Shuishan has something on you that could kill you."

"You... what nonsense are you talking about!" Luo Ming's face suddenly changed, and his expression instantly turned terrified.

"I already know everything about Wang Xiujuan." His calm words were like a thunderclap, causing Luo Ming to take two steps back.

"I didn't mention this before not to cover it up for you, but because I was looking for an opportunity. I was looking for experts in the capital to help Wang Xiujuan clear her name and get medical treatment."

"What right do you have to meddle in other people's business!" Luo Ming suddenly roared like a raging lion, then rushed to the door and slammed it shut. When he turned around, his eyes were already brimming with tears: "Secretary... Secretary Zhao! I... I know I was wrong. I'll listen to you in everything from now on. Zhiyong... he was only in his early twenties back then. He was so immature! He only made that one mistake. Please... please have mercy on him!"

He stood up abruptly and shouted angrily, "Luo Ming! How long are you going to stay so muddle-headed? Do you think you're helping Luo Zhiyong? You're harming him!"

"You think I brought this up today so you'd beg for forgiveness? You're not even the village head anymore; everyone in the village hates you. What use are you to me?"

Seeing Luo Ming lower his head in humiliation, he sighed and softened his tone: "Director Luo, you are a senior director, and I don't want to push things to the limit. To tell you the truth, I have contacted a top expert in the capital. They said they are confident that even if Wang Xiujuan's illness cannot be completely cured, she can recover to be almost like a normal person."

"Have you thought about this? Once Wang Xiujuan regains consciousness and reports the crime, Zhiyong will be passively arrested, which is a serious crime! I'm giving you this opportunity today so you can persuade Zhiyong to turn himself in and try to get leniency. If you continue to conceal it, that's harboring a criminal, and you'll go to jail too!"

"No...no, this won't do!" Luo Ming suddenly knelt down in front of him with a thud, gripping his trouser leg tightly with both hands: "Secretary, please! Zhiyong is only thirty years old, he's his only son. If he goes in, the Luo family line will end, everything will be over!"