In officialdom: After she left, I rose rapidly through the ranks!

After Secretary An left, Li Zhixing looked at Chen Min'en, feeling only excitement and gratitude.

"Comrade Min'en, I... I don't know how to thank you enough."

"If it weren't for you, I would be finished, the Li family would be finished, you saved our whole family!"

Chen Min'en looked at Li Zhixing, shook his head slightly, and said, "Zhixing, there's no need for thanks. I've already said that I recommended you to Comrade Anbang because I'm grateful for you, but more importantly because you truly have the ability and have a very good reputation as an official. It would be a loss for Qingjiang Province if such an official is not given important responsibilities and is instead implicated."

"You think I'm only doing this out of personal friendship, but in fact, I'm concerned about how Qingjiang Province's economy can develop and how its people can be happier."

At this point, Chen Min'en sighed softly and said, "Perhaps you think what I'm saying is a bit grandiose. After all, I'm not in charge of any work in Qingjiang Province, so what does the development of Qingjiang Province have to do with me?"

"What does it matter to me whether the officials in Qingjiang Province are honest or not?"

"Wrong, completely wrong! Don't forget, before I was in charge of work in Linjiang Province, I had another identity!"

"That's right, a Party member!"

"As a Party member, one must be courageous in taking responsibility and doing things, and wholeheartedly serve the people, no matter when or where."

"I hope you can remember what I said today, and I hope you can understand what I said today. Zhixing, I have high expectations for you."

Before Chen Min'en said these things, Li Zhixing did feel that Chen Min'en's words were somewhat false and empty.

While it may be said to be for the public good, there is certainly a selfish motive involved.

Chen Min'en did not deny this, but what Chen Min'en said was also what he really thought.

Li Zhixing didn't understand at first, but looking at the serious expression on Chen Min'en's face, he understood.

I truly understand now. It's not that Chen Min'en has a problem; it's that he has a problem. His thinking is flawed, and his actions are also problematic.

Moreover, having reached the level of Chen Min'en, he is no longer confined to a single time or place. Whether he works in Linjiang or Qingjiang, it doesn't mean he can't keep the development of other places and the happiness of the people in mind. Perhaps it seems inappropriate now, but what about in the future?

People, from different perspectives!

"Comrade Min'en, don't worry, I know what to do."

Chen Min'en nodded, checked the time, and said, "The test results will take at least a few hours to come out. Zhixing, if you have something to do, you can go back first. If you don't have anything to do, you can stay here with me."

"You just said that Jingcheng's adoptive parents were injured and are currently hospitalized in the provincial capital, is that right?"

Upon hearing this, Li Zhixing quickly nodded and said, "Yes, Comrade Min'en, Chen Dachuan and Li Sumei have been admitted to the hospital. I have arranged for people to take good care of them. Don't worry, they are fine."

"Chen Dachuan's injuries are just superficial wounds; he just needs to rest. However, Li Sumei's injuries are more serious. The county hospital performed surgery a bit late. After she was brought here, because she had already undergone surgery, a complete cure could not be performed. Therefore, she will probably need to recuperate for a period of time before she can receive thorough treatment."

Li Zhixing had asked the doctor about this in detail, so he was able to describe the symptoms immediately.

Chen Min'en looked at Li Zhixing, nodded slightly, sighed, and said, "Zhixing, Jingcheng owes you a huge favor. Putting everything else aside, just the matter of his adoptive parents alone is something we should thank you for."

"And I should also thank you. From what you've told me, this couple dotes on Jingcheng in every way, even more than their own children. They're such good people, truly good people."

"They are Jingcheng's adoptive parents, and even more so, his benefactors and second parents. I am very grateful to them."

"After all, without them, whether Jing Cheng would still be alive, and whether I would still have the chance to meet him, are all other things."

"Similarly, without them, even if Jing Cheng were still alive, whether he would have been adopted by other people with ulterior motives and not good intentions, and what his current situation would be, is another matter entirely."

"So, it was Jingcheng's good fortune to meet them, and it was also my good fortune."

Upon hearing Chen Min'en's words, Li Zhixing quickly shook his head and said, "No, no, I just did what I should do. Anyone else would have done the same."

"But Mr. and Mrs. Chen Dachuan are indeed kind people, good people."

"Comrade Min'en, there's something I'm not sure whether I should say or not."

At this moment, Li Zhixing did hesitate, because he knew that what he was about to say might displease Chen Min'en.

After all, the matter involves the relationship between Chen Jingcheng and his adoptive parents.

However, he felt that he still wanted to say a few words for Chen Jingcheng's parents, and at the same time, he felt that doing so was also for Chen Min'en's good.

Chen Min'en looked at Li Zhixing, smiled, and said, "Are you asking about how to get along with Chen Dachuan and his wife if Jingcheng is really my child?"

"Are you worried that I'll become more attached to Jingcheng and his family than to me because of our strong family ties, and that this will make me unhappy?"

Li Zhixing looked up at Chen Min'en and nodded with a wry smile.

He realized that he was indeed no longer familiar with Chen Min'en, his former colleague.

The Chen Min'en of the past was young, passionate, energetic, and dared to love and hate. He was bold and decisive, and he also had his own thoughts, but he certainly did not have the ability to see through people's hearts at a glance.

Come to think of it, that makes sense.

Chen Min'en was murdered and lost his child. How could he dare to be as simple as before? He didn't know how Chen Min'en had survived all these years. Others might only see Chen Min'en's glamorous life, but at this moment, Li Zhixing saw Chen Min'en walking on thin ice!

Chen Min'en said with a smile, "Don't worry, I will never interfere with the relationship between Jing Cheng and his adoptive parents. They are Jing Cheng's benefactors and his parents, with whom he has lived for more than 20 years. Although they are not his biological parents, they are closer than biological parents."

"I'm so grateful to them, how could I do something bad?"

"On the contrary, if Jingcheng becomes less close to them after acknowledging me, then that would truly disappoint me."

Upon hearing this, Li Feitu quickly replied, "Don't worry, Jing Cheng isn't that kind of person."

Chen Min'en smiled, pointed to the sofa next to him, and said, "Zhixing, since that's the case, if you're not leaving, you can stay here tonight and rest for a while."

"I will notify you once the assessment results are available, or rather, once the Standing Committee of Qingjiang Province issues a decision."

At this point, Chen Min'en sighed softly and said, "Zhixing, do you know what I want to do most right now?"

Upon hearing this, Li Zhixing noticed the hesitation and longing in Chen Min'en's eyes, thought for a moment, and said, "You want to see Jing Cheng?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Min'en nodded slightly and said, "Yes, I want to go to the oasis immediately. I want to see my son right away."

"However, I am very uneasy, not only because Secretary Zhou will not arrive in Qingjiang until tomorrow. Before he arrives, I will be responsible for all the affairs of the Linjiang Province delegation. Now that I am in this position, I have no choice but to do what I want."

Li Zhixing thought for a moment, but still didn't say what was on his mind.

He wanted to persuade Chen Min'en not to worry so much, but given Chen Min'en's status, any trip he took required strict security measures.

Moreover, it's not like you can just go wherever you want right away. Of course, it's not impossible, but that would alert some people.

However, it's not entirely without a solution!