Nominal: Who isn't a son-in-law?

According to Lin Chao, it happened three summers ago, during a rainstorm.

The then village party secretary of Nanshan Village ran along the river embankment, looking up and down.

It was raining heavily that day. He was returning from buying medicine in town when he passed by a river and saw two people on the riverbank.

He didn't pay attention at the time, only glancing at it a couple more times, but he didn't expect that the person behind him would suddenly make a move, pick up a stone from the ground, throw it at him, and then push him into the river.

Lin Chao was terrified and quickly hid in the nearby field.

Only when the man hurriedly passed by did he realize that the man was Zhang Chongyue, the director of the police station.

After seeing him walk away, he mustered his courage and ran to the riverbank. There was no one in the water anymore. He found a torn badge on the ground, picked it up, and quickly ran away through the mud.

The next day, news came that the village secretary had gone missing. That evening, Zhang Chongyue, along with the police, found the body, which had turned white from being submerged in water, on a riverbank. The swift current had caused the body to crash into many obstacles, so it was later determined to be an accidental fall into the water.

"You had this in your possession, and you saw it with your own eyes, so didn't you think of reporting it at the time?"

Wang Xingmin questioned.

"I don't dare. Everyone in the village knows I'm a coward. I only went there after I mustered up my courage. Afterwards, I even thought about burning the badge. My mother is sick. What if they retaliate?" Lin Chao whispered.

He told his mother about it and considered giving it to the old Party Secretary, but his mother said that it might harm the person, so he kept it.

He recently heard that the new town mayor was sent by city leaders and was certainly not afraid of retaliation, which is why he mustered up the courage to give it to Chu Shijun.

"Alright, Comrade Xingmin, what's done is done. At least now there's a chance to clear his name," Chu Shijun patted his shoulder and looked at Lin Chao. "Brother Lin, we will give the old Party Secretary justice. Don't worry, once this is resolved, we will wipe him out. Don't worry about retaliation. Just live your life."

"Yes, I believe you. I only gave it to you because I heard from the villagers that you were going to do something big and that you seemed like a good official. Besides, my mother doesn't have many years left, and I don't have a wife. I'm not afraid of revenge now!" Lin Chao nodded, his voice low.

Chu Shijun looked at him, took out some money from his pocket. He didn't have much with him, just over three hundred, and handed it all over. "Take this and buy some good food for your mother."

"I can't accept this..."

"Take it."

Chu Shijun forcefully placed it in his hand, stood up, wrapped the badge up, and handed it to Tian Wenming.

Seeing this, Wang Xingmin also took out his money and gave him all the sixty-odd yuan he had on him.

Seeing that Lin Yingcai also wanted to touch it, Chu Shijun chuckled and said, "You're just starting out, how much money do you have? Just do your job well."

"Brother Lin, just act as usual for the next few days. When you need to testify, just speak the truth without hesitation." After saying this, Chu Shijun turned and walked towards the gate. "Let's go back to town."

"Mayor, are we not going to those wealthy families' houses anymore?"

Wang Xingmin asked.

"Go where? We have a better solution. Use this case as a starting point, make sure we arrest them, and we can get them to talk. But we can't neglect other aspects either. Let them watch us do it."

Chu Shijun snorted coldly and opened the door.

When the group came outside, they saw Huang Youli, Zhu Daqiang, and Zhang Chongyue walking towards them together in the distance.

"Mayor Chu, Deputy Mayor Wang, we just arrived and heard that you came to Nanshan Village and have arrived here."

Huang Youli greeted them with a smile, glanced at Lin Chao behind Chu Shijun and his group, noticed the money in Lin Chao's hand, and said with a smile, "Mayor Chu, are you here to show concern for those in need?"

"We should help people who are in trouble."

Chu Shijun said calmly, glancing at the group, and chuckled, "What brings Deputy Mayor Huang here? And with the police station chief and organization committee member—who are you planning to arrest?"

"Mayor Chu is joking. Actually, this matter is related to you."

Upon hearing this, Huang Youli's pupils contracted, but his smile remained unchanged. He walked towards Lin Chao and said, "Here, I don't have much money on me. Your family is struggling, so take this."

Zhu Daqiang and Zhang Chongyue immediately followed behind, taking money out of their pockets.

"this……"

Upon seeing the group, especially Zhang Chongyue, Lin Chao's voice trembled slightly; he didn't know whether to extend his hand or not.

"Your family is in financial difficulty, take this," Chu Shijun said.

Upon hearing this, Lin Chao bowed and scraped as he accepted the money, thanking him profusely.

Huang Youli and the others were not surprised by his timid appearance, because they knew that Lin Chao's family was poor, he had a sick mother, and he was timid and still couldn't find a wife even though he was over thirty.

After Lin Chao accepted the money, Huang Youli turned around, walked to Chu Shijun's side, and the group set off together.

"Mayor Chu, our visit to Nanshan Village is indeed related to you. After your investigation these past few days, the villagers have raised some issues, and we have all realized our mistakes. So we each bought chickens, ducks, and geese, returned them to the villagers, and even paid them extra money," Huang Youli said.

"Yes, Mayor Chu, we will have to make a self-criticism at the upcoming meeting and deeply reflect on our mistakes. We will also need your supervision in the future," Zhu Daqiang added.

"Not bad, Deputy Mayor Huang, Committee Member Zhu, Director Zhang, your attitude is excellent. This is how a Party member and cadre should behave," Chu Shijun said with a satisfied smile. "However, you must do a good job of self-criticism at the meeting and set an example for other cadres. You must always remember this."

"Yes, yes, we will definitely reflect on our mistakes and acknowledge them." Seeing Chu Shijun's attitude, Huang Youli sneered inwardly. He was still too naive; all bark and no bite. "Then, Mayor Chu, you've been here for so many days, and we haven't even had a meal together yet. How about we get together tonight for a meal so everyone can get to know each other?"

"Okay, but let's have it at the town government. Keep the meals simple and don't exceed the budget." Chu Shijun did not refuse.

"Haha, don't worry, I'll personally oversee it, it absolutely won't exceed the limit!"

Huang Youli laughed heartily, a huge weight lifted from his heart. "Then, Mayor, we'll continue visiting the villagers' homes. There are still a few households we haven't visited. You must come tonight!"

The two groups separated here. After they were far apart, Huang Youli sneered, "It seems that our Mayor Chu is not so unyielding after all. Director Zhang, go back and inform them to prepare the food properly and not to exceed the quota."

"Hehe, Mayor, don't worry, I guarantee he won't be able to find fault with me."

"So I was right, weren't I? These people with connections, all talk and no action, they give you face, it's all about saving face!" Zhu Daqiang said with a mysterious expression, almost as if he was holding a fan.

……

On the other side, after walking a distance, Chu Shijun looked at Lin Yingcai, who seemed hesitant to speak, and said with a smile, "Little Lin, do you have something to say?"

Lin Yingcai nodded, then mustered his courage and asked, "Mayor, aren't they problematic? Why are you having dinner with them?"

"You're still too green. Learn more from the mayor. Things are still undecided, so of course we can't alert them," Wang Xingmin said.

"Oh, I see. This is to lull the enemy into a false sense of security, make them lower their guard, and then take them down in one fell swoop."

Lin Yingcai quickly said that he had just been worried that the mayor had changed his attitude.

"What is taught in books is all dead knowledge. No matter how much you learn, you only know if it is useful after you use it. Being adept at human relationships is literature, and being insightful about the ways of the world is knowledge."

Chu Shijun also offered some advice.

"Oh, I understand. I will definitely read more, ask more questions, and learn more in the future." Lin Yingcai nodded.