Official excuse: I've put you on patrol in Handong, and the whole province is in a panic.

Chen Hai's voice was dry and hoarse.

"I've been dismissed from my position as head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau. The Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection will also initiate an investigation against me."

There was silence around the flower bed for a good five or six seconds.

Chen's mother almost dropped the water glass in her hand, and it slammed onto the stone table with a "clatter," spilling half of the water.

The straw hat in Chen Yanshi's hand stopped in mid-air, and he stood there frozen.

Then, the straw hat was slammed onto the stone bench.

"What did you say?"

Chen Yanshi stood up abruptly.

"Dismissed? You, the head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, are you just going to dismiss him like that? What did you do wrong? Were you corrupt? Or did you commit a wrongful conviction?"

Chen Hai shook his head with a wry smile.

"Dad, I didn't commit corruption, nor did I handle any wrong cases. It's just about Ding Yizhen's escape... It was Hou Liangping, whom you know. He works at the Anti-Corruption Bureau of the Supreme People's Procuratorate. In the middle of the night, without any proper procedures, he called me and told me to arrest him. I consulted with Chief Prosecutor Ji, who said I had to report to the Provincial Party Committee according to procedure... As a result, Ding Yizhen was tipped off and escaped. Now, a deputy leader of the inspection team named Su Zhe is fixated on the procedural issues, saying I leaked information and neglected my duties. He even demanded my dismissal in front of Secretary Sha. The Provincial Party Committee agreed..."

Chen Hai sighed softly.

"To put it bluntly, Hou Liangping gave orders in violation of regulations, while I followed the rules, and yet the blame was pinned on me."

Chen Yanshi's face immediately turned extremely ugly.

He opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again, repeating this several times before finally slamming his hand on the stone table, making the cup jump.

"This is outrageous! This is utter nonsense!"

"That Hou Liangping made an illegal phone call—that's the root of the problem! You followed the rules and asked for permission—that's called procedural justice! What crime did you commit? Which law did you violate? Why should you bear responsibility for leaking secrets? Did you let Ding Yizhen escape?"

Chen Hai quickly reached out and supported his father's arm.

"Dad, please calm down and watch your blood pressure..."

"Don't bring up blood pressure with me!" Chen Yanshi shoved Chen Hai's hand away. "No, justice must be served!"

Chen Hai shook his head.

"Dad... there's no way to reason with this! The provincial party committee's official decision, the inspection team's opinion, it's set in stone... Ji Jian told me to keep my mouth shut for now, not to complain everywhere, and to wait for the disciplinary committee's punishment. Dad, don't worry about it anymore. I didn't suffer this blow for nothing; at least I'm safe and sound, and I didn't commit any fundamental mistakes..."

"You're quite optimistic!"

Chen Yanshi interrupted him, raising his voice even louder.

"You're not worried, but I am! I, Chen Yanshi, have spent my whole life talking about politics and putting the big picture first. What hardships haven't I endured? What losses haven't I suffered? In the end, I can't even protect my own son. What's the point of me living? If you can't get justice, I, as your father, will help you!"

Chen Hai was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but ask, "Dad? Who are you going to seek justice from?"

"Sharikin!"

Chen Hai was startled.

"Dad! Secretary Sha is the top official of the Handong Provincial Party Committee! How can you, a retired cadre, possibly meet with him? Why would he even bother to see you?"

Chen Yanshi sneered.

"He dares not see me!"

Chen Hai was taken aback.

Chen Yanshi turned around, puffed out his chest, and said something in a powerful voice that sent chills down Chen Hai's spine—

"Xiao Jinzi is an orphan that I and several old comrades adopted! Your mother and I scrimped and saved to pay for his tuition from elementary school to university! Now that he's the provincial party secretary, he thinks he's all grown up and dares to be ungrateful? I'll break his legs!"

Chen Hai was completely dumbfounded.

"Dad... what did you say? Secretary Sha... you adopted him?"

Chen Yanshi snorted.

"I guess so! It was adopted by a few of us old comrades! Over the years, I haven't skimped on a single penny! He even called me Uncle Chen when he was little! With that kind of bond, I don't believe Xiao Jinzi would join those people in falsely accusing you!"

Chen's mother sighed at the door.

"Old Chen, take it easy... Xiao Jinzi is the provincial party secretary now, he's not the same as before."

"So what if he's the provincial party secretary? Does that mean he can be heartless? Frankly, Chen Hai should call him 'big brother'!"

talking.

Chen Yanshi picked up his phone.

Chen Hai looked on with anticipation.

Chen Yanshi then turned to look at Chen Hai.

"Um...do you have Xiao Jinzi's phone number?"

Chen Hai: ?

No, you raised your child from a young age and you don't even have his phone number?

Chen Yanshi coughed lightly and explained, "That kid later developed his career in Yanjing and married the daughter of one of my old comrades-in-arms. We lost contact a long time ago. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have bothered looking for him!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Hai sighed softly.

My father is a bit eccentric.

soon.

Chen Hai contacted a friend in the provincial party committee office and got Sha Ruijin's mobile phone number.

He then told Chen Yanshi.

Chen Yanshi nodded.

They quickly dialed Sha Ruijin's cell phone.

After three long rings, the call was connected.

"Feed? Who?"

"Little Gold!"

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.

"You are...?"

Chen Yanshi had a big smile on his face.

"I am Chen Yanshi!"

The voice on the other end of the phone instantly brightened with joy.

"Uncle Chen! It's you! I was just about to visit you, but I didn't expect you to call first!"

Upon hearing Sha Ruijin's voice, Chen Yanshi felt a slight sense of pride and looked at Chen Hai.

Chen Hai was happy to see how helpful the old man was.

Chen Yanshi laughed and said, "Hey! Little Jinzi, what are you doing here? I don't need you to see me! I only have one question for you. Tell me, do you know anything about Chen Hai?"

Sha Ruijin paused for a moment, then said, "Chen Hai? Uncle Chen, you mean Chen Hai from the Provincial High Procuratorate's Anti-Corruption Bureau? Could he be your...?"

Chen Yanshi nodded.

"Yes! He's my son!"

Sha Ruijin laughed and said, "Then this can be considered a son following in his father's footsteps! Not bad..."

Chen Yanshi snorted.

"What do you mean by 'son follows father'? You just arrived, and you've already dismissed him from his position? Sigh... Little Jin, isn't Chen Hai your brother? Is what you're doing appropriate?"

Upon hearing this, Sha Ruijin couldn't help but feel somewhat helpless.

"Uncle Chen, I know about this. I understand Chen Hai's situation..."

"Your understanding is wrong! If you understood it correctly, would this be possible?"

Chen Yanshi shouted, "That Hou Liangping made a phone call in the middle of the night, violating regulations and forcing someone to be arrested. Chen Hai reported to Ji Changming according to regulations, and Ji Changming then reported to your provincial party committee! As a result, the information leaked, and the man escaped! How can you blame Chen Hai for this? Instead of investigating that troublemaker Hou Liangping, you dismissed my son? What kind of logic is this? You, Sha Ruijin, are the provincial party secretary; tell me, is this fair or not?!"

Sha Ruijin opened his mouth, and even more sweat appeared on his forehead.

Is it fair or not?

Where does this come from?

Where is there so much fairness in officialdom?

If everything were fair, would I be qualified to be the provincial party secretary?

What merits or abilities does your son Chen Hai possess to become the director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau of the Provincial High Procuratorate at such a young age?

If we're talking about responsibility, the primary responsibility undoubtedly lies with Hou Liangping!