Right path to power

After hanging up the phone, Lin Xiao opened her high school classmates' group chat. The number of unread messages had reached 99+. Before this, everyone was like fish that had sunk to the bottom of a lake, only surfacing occasionally. But today's lively scene far exceeded that of an offline class reunion.

It started when Xie Tiancai posted a few pictures of himself singing at a karaoke bar in the group chat. Then he pretended to ask Lin Xiao if something had happened and he urgently needed money, saying that as a good brother, he would definitely help him if he was in trouble.

Immediately afterwards, someone mentioned in the group that Lin Xiao had been sent back to his hometown, and then the group exploded with discussion.

Of course, most people expressed regret and asked with concern what exactly happened. Some people sarcastically said that the grassroots level is the best place to train people, and that experience in townships is invaluable and should be cherished.

A few people who were closer to her called or texted her to ask questions, and Lin Xiao answered them all.

Later, Lin Xiao also sent a message in the group: "Thank you everyone for your concern, I'm fine!"

However, after that, he found his chat history with Xie Tiancai, took a screenshot, and posted it in the group.

Now the group chat is even more lively, with exclamation marks, question marks, eye rolls, and other superlatives constantly appearing.

As expected, Xie Tiancai called soon after: "Lin Xiao, what do you mean?"

"What do you mean?" A cold smile appeared on Lin Xiao's lips.

"What do you mean by posting screenshots of the chat history in the group? I never said I wouldn't pay you back." Xie Tiancai was full of anger.

Lin Xiao smiled and said, "Didn't you ask me in the group what happened? So, if I answer you, doesn't that show I respect you? What do you mean by that?"

At this moment, Xie Tiancai was gritting his teeth, wishing he could slap Lin Xiao across the face. He angrily shouted, "Stop talking nonsense! Take down the screenshot right now, and I'll return your money immediately."

"Too late!" Lin Xiao said, acting as if it were none of her business.

"What's late? Time..."

"Yes, it was just a few seconds too late to take it back. So, it's late, but the money you owe me isn't over yet."

"You...you just wait, my uncle..." Xie Tiancai tried to threaten him in a fit of rage, but Lin Xiao interrupted him directly.

"Are you going to say that your uncle lives in Nangang Township, and that my life there will be difficult from now on? No problem, I'll go with that. But you need to settle the matter of repaying the money as soon as possible."

"Go to hell..."

Before Xie Tiancai could finish speaking, Lin Xiao had already hung up the phone.

In fact, Xie Tiancai wasn't exaggerating. His uncle, Wei Shaogong, did work in the Nangang Township government and was the third-ranked deputy secretary of the Party Committee, but Lin Xiao didn't care at all.

After putting down her phone, Lin Xiao walked out of the bedroom. By then, her uncle Xiang Aiguo had already left.

"Mom, I've taken care of Uncle's matter. I'll withdraw the money tomorrow, and you can give it to him together. Also, tell him not to rush to pay it back, that he's getting old and shouldn't overwork himself."

"Okay, your uncle wanted to thank you in person, but I said it wasn't necessary. There's no need to treat your own nephew like an outsider, so I let him go back first."

"Yes, we're all family."

"By the way, your cousin's settled down now, what about you? Your dad and I rarely ask you about these things, but you should tell us too, we're all waiting to hold our grandson, right, his dad?"

Xiang Fangjing gave Lin Changhe a look, and the latter nodded in agreement with what Xiang Fangjing had just said.

"Dad, Mom, you'll definitely get to hold our grandson, but it won't happen anytime soon! Anyway, if I think someone is good enough to be your daughter-in-law, I'll definitely bring her home for you to see."

Lin Xiao didn't mention Fan Yuyan, nor did he ever bring her home. This relationship came and went quickly.

"Oh, you child..." Xiang Fangjing sighed and didn't say anything more.

Back in her bedroom, Lin Xiao didn't have a sleepless night because of being sent back to her hometown. Instead, she became more open-minded and fell asleep without realizing it.

The next day, Lin Xiao went to the bank early in the morning to withdraw the money, then handed it to her mother to take to her eldest uncle, and then took a bus to Fengdu, the provincial capital, by herself.

Sitting on the bus, Lin Xiao dozed off, pondering her current predicament and devising a plan to break the deadlock:

First, we must prevent Hong Feng from taking office, because once he gains more power, he will be more ruthless in eliminating dissidents and suppressing opponents, which could damage the political environment.

Furthermore, they will be more adept at covering up the truth about certain things, including, of course, the truth about Gao Dayong's death. Whether Gong Lei, the deputy secretary of the county party committee, will succeed him is not so important. In short, the minimum requirement is that Hong Feng cannot become the county head.

Secondly, we must find out the real cause of Gao Dayong's car accident as soon as possible. In addition to bringing the perpetrator to justice, we must also find out the mastermind behind the accident, restore the truth to society, and give Gao Dayong justice.

Finally, even if we have to stay in Nangang Township, we can't let emotions get the better of us. Instead, we need to move forward step by step, believing that opportunities will always arise...

As he pondered, Lin Xiao gradually closed his eyes. When he woke up again, the bus had already stopped at the final stop of his journey—Fengdu Bus Station. After getting off the bus, he took a taxi straight to Chuandong University.

My mentor, Liang Weiwang, lived on the first floor. There was a small, independent courtyard in front of the door, where he grew some flowers and plants. There was a small pergola on the south side of the courtyard, with tables and chairs placed under it. On summer mornings, Liang Weiwang liked to sit in the pergola to drink tea and read books.

As Lin Xiao looked at the small courtyard, she recalled the time she asked her mentor Liang Weiwang for advice here.

Then he knocked on the door: "Knock knock knock..."

A moment later, the door opened, and Mrs. Guo Fuying, wearing an apron and holding a spatula, smiled at Lin Xiao and said, "Little Lin, you're here."

"Hello, Teacher Guo!" Lin Xiao nodded and greeted him.

"Hello, hello, please come in."

As Guo Fuying spoke, she gestured for Lin Xiao to come in, but when she saw that Lin Xiao was carrying something, she subconsciously scolded, "Old Liang, I've told him several times to remind you not to bring anything every time you come to visit us, but you always bring so much."

"Teacher Guo, please don't blame Teacher Liang. He has told me several times, but I, as his student, didn't listen to him. It's just some local specialties from the countryside, like tea and honey."

"You silly child, next time you come, you definitely shouldn't bring it again." Although she was "scolding" her, Guo Fuying was actually quite pleased.

"Okay, Teacher Guo."

"Go inside, Lao Liang and the others are chatting in the living room."

"Um!"

While pondering who the "they" that his teacher's wife was referring to were, Lin Xiao put down his things and walked into the living room.

In the living room, Liang Weiwang was chatting with a middle-aged man on the sofa. He recognized the middle-aged man at a glance, which surprised him. He never expected to run into the middle-aged man again at his mentor's house.

It has to be said, this is fate!