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

Zhao Mingyuan is still the Party Secretary of Linchuan County, while Li Feitu has not yet been officially reinstated.

However, those in the know are well aware that Zhao Mingyuan, the county party secretary, won't be in office for much longer and could be taken away by the discipline inspection commission for investigation at any time. As for Li Feitu, the dismissed county head, it's only a matter of time before he's reinstated and takes charge of the county party committee.

Seeing Zhao Mingyuan's tired face and how much older he looked, Li Feitu stopped and said calmly, "Secretary Zhao, has the city's conference ended so quickly?"

"Hehe, but I don't think we have much to talk about."

"Is there anything else? If not, I have other things to do, so I won't chat with you here any longer."

Before Zhao Mingyuan spoke, he had anticipated Li Feitu's attitude, but after experiencing it firsthand, the anger and helplessness he felt made him extremely uncomfortable.

But he couldn't lash out, because Li Zhixing was completely ignoring him, and now the only one who could save him and give him some dignity was Li Feitu.

"County Magistrate Li, to make a long story short, I have lost. I have no complaints, but I hope you can give me some dignity."

"Can I retire and leave Linchuan County?"

Upon hearing this, Li Feitu burst out laughing.

He lost, and he has no complaints? So you want to give him a dignified retirement?

When did such a cheap thing become available in this world?

When you lose, I'll give you dignity and let you retire peacefully. But when you win, why do you always think about sending me to prison?

Repay evil with kindness?

Well, even if it's about repaying evil with kindness, it depends on who it's directed at. At least, Li Feitu doesn't have the slightest intention of repaying Zhao Mingyuan with kindness right now.

"I'm sorry, Secretary Zhao, whether you retire or not is up to the organization. As for whether you'll be given a dignified retirement, well, you've come to the wrong person. I can't give you that. I'm just a county head who has been dismissed."

"Of course, if you are innocent, then why be afraid to accept the organization's investigation? You must trust the organization; the organization will definitely clear your name."

Anyone can tell that's just bureaucratic jargon.

Zhao Mingyuan said in a deep voice, "County Chief Feitu, I know you have grievances against me, but in reality, there is not much conflict between us. Initially, I did not intend to do anything to you. The person who wanted to target you was not me, but Sun Yikun."

"I admit I have a problem with you, but I was dragged into this too. The one who really wanted to ruin your chances of recovery wasn't me."

Li Feitu chuckled and patted Chen Jingcheng's arm, then looked at Zhao Mingyuan and said with a smile, "Secretary Zhao, didn't you see Director Jingcheng is back?"

"How can you be so forgetful?"

"Have you forgotten what you said to Director Jing Cheng, and how you had the county discipline inspection commission take him away in front of everyone?"

"You humiliated Director Jing Cheng, stomped on him several times, and even spat on him. I was one of those whose dignity you trampled on."

"Secretary Mingyuan, how could you possibly forget?"

Chen Jingcheng's expression was calm, without resentment or anger; he simply looked at Zhao Mingyuan with a serene expression.

A person whose fate is already sealed has no need to say more to vent his resentment.

He's still holding onto this resentment, but he won't let it out now.

Zhao Mingyuan certainly saw Chen Jingcheng, and he also saw Li Guangming.

From the moment he learned of Sun Yikun's incident—no, from the moment Chen Jingcheng was taken away—he already knew that Chen Jingcheng would leave the Discipline Inspection Commission's investigation room safely. He knew, however, that the evidence proving Chen Jingcheng's innocence might not be genuine to others.

Therefore, it was only a matter of time before Chen Jingcheng left with a clear conscience.

At this moment, watching Li Feitu bring up Chen Jingcheng's experience, Zhao Mingyuan sighed and tried to find a reasonable explanation for himself.

"County Chief Fei Tu, I truly admire Comrade Chen Jingcheng, and I think Comrade Chen Jingcheng is well aware of this as well."

"However, the Discipline Inspection Commission has its own procedures for handling cases. When Comrade Chen Jingcheng was reported by name for soliciting and accepting bribes, and the news had already leaked, the people from the county Discipline Inspection Commission waited for him in the county committee compound because they were afraid that he would flee to avoid punishment. This was not my intention. I just did not stop him."

That's a fine line; it wasn't his intention, he just didn't stop it.

Chen Jingcheng smiled but didn't say anything.

Li Feitu looked at Zhao Mingyuan and shook his head, saying, "Alright, Secretary Zhao, we're all smart people, so why say something so unwise that would make us a laughingstock?"

"I can't help you with your problem. If there's nothing else, then that's fine."

Seeing that Li Feitu showed no intention of staying, Zhao Mingyuan gritted his teeth and said, "Li Feitu, are you really not going to give me any face at all?"

"I just want a decent retirement, which shouldn't be difficult for you."

"I guarantee that as long as you allow me a smooth retirement, I can agree to any of your conditions, including everything you want to know, and also ensuring you smoothly take over the power of the entire Linchuan County!"

"You know, I've been operating in Linchuan County for many years. Even if I step down, if I don't want you to sit comfortably in this position, you won't be able to stay there. But with my help, it's different."

"I don't believe you'd really dare to replace all the leading cadres in Linchuan County!"

Before Zhao Mingyuan could speak further, Li Feitu's eyes turned cold, and he said in a chilling voice, "Why wouldn't you dare?"

"Why can't I replace an official who holds a position without doing his job, who only cares about using his power to embezzle and accept bribes to make money, and who doesn't do anything for the people?"

"I've said before that the officialdom in Linchuan County needs to be changed, completely changed."

"Only in this way can Linchuan County turn the tide, move faster, more steadily, and better, and make its people happier."

"Zhao Mingyuan, don't think that just because you can't do something, or dare not do something, I, Li Feitu, can't do it, or dare not do it!"

"I am not you!"

"To change the current situation in Linchuan County, to make Linchuan County better, and to make its people happy, I, Li Feitu, can do anything, and dare to do anything!"

"There's nothing to say between us. Besides, even if I wanted to help you, do you think I could?"

"Whatever it is, tell the provincial discipline inspection commission officials when they arrive!"

After saying that, Li Feitu led Chen Jingcheng and Li Guangming back to his residence.

The three of them sat on the sofa in the living room, and Li Feitu got straight to the point.

"Guangming, Jingcheng, I have received a notice from the city that after the Linjiang Provincial Party and Government Delegation leaves the Oasis, around 9:00 AM tomorrow, the Organization Minister of the Municipal Party Committee will personally come to Linchuan County to hold a meeting of all leading cadres."

"I will be reinstated at the conference, while Zhao Mingyuan and the others will be taken away directly from the venue!"