I slept with my sister's classmate, and she turned out to be my boss.

It's 8:30 in the morning.

Lao Nie's phone vibrated.

He picked it up and saw it was a message from Brother Shen: "Old Nie, your friend was arrested in the provincial capital. The municipal discipline inspection commission took him away."

Old Nie stared at the words, his heart sinking.

My finger hovers over the screen, unsure of what to reply.

Fang Mingyuan has been arrested.

He knew this day would come sooner or later, but he didn't expect it to come so soon.

"understood."

He typed three words and sent them.

Then I put my phone on the table, leaned back in the wicker chair, and closed my eyes for a while.

My mind is racing—

Will Fang Mingyuan betray him?

If Fang Mingyuan wants to get a reduced sentence by doing good deeds, he will implicate everyone.

The more people a person implicates, and the more serious the problems they confess to, the greater their meritorious service and the higher the reduction in sentence.

This is the policy of the Discipline Inspection Commission, and also a basic human instinct.

When people are in dire straits, they will try every possible way to save themselves.

But Fang Mingyuan was a smart man; he knew the price of revealing Lao Nie's identity.

Fang Zhiwen has already been arrested, and Fang Zhiqiang's assets in the provincial capital are also not clean.

If Lao Nie were to lift a finger, the Fang family would truly be finished.

"If you go in, I'll take care of the Fang family; if you make baseless accusations, the Fang family will have to deal with it themselves."

Fang Mingyuan understood the meaning of those words.

If you don't bite me, I'll protect your Fang family; if you bite me, your Fang family will be buried with you.

This is a transaction, not a threat.

Fang Zhiwen is his cousin, and Fang Zhiqiang is another cousin of his. He built the Fang family's foundation in Liuhe Town.

He went inside, and the Fang family dispersed.

But if he exposes Lao Nie, the Fang family's situation will not just be a matter of "falling apart".

Therefore, Fang Mingyuan will not betray him.

At least, they won't voluntarily expose him.

But Lao Nie can't gamble.

Fang Mingyuan's silence now doesn't mean he won't speak in the future.

He had heard of the disciplinary committee's interrogation methods—

For several days in a row, they deprived the other person of sleep, repeatedly asked the same question, and used evidence to gradually break down the other person's psychological defenses.

No matter how smart Fang Mingyuan is, he is still a human being.

Everyone has weaknesses, and everyone would break down in that kind of environment.

Old Nie opened his eyes, stood up from the rattan chair, and walked to the safe.

The safe was behind the bookcase, embedded in the wall, and hidden from view by a painting.

He moved the painting aside, squatted down, and turned the combination lock a few times.

The cabinet door opened, and he took out a file folder from inside.

Dark blue, with a plastic cover.

He had this file folder with him for many years, and he started putting things into it from the very first day he started working with Fang Mingyuan.

He went back behind his desk, sat down, opened the file folder, and emptied its contents—

A stack of A4 papers, some printed, some copied, and a few handwritten.

Every page was densely covered with records of all his interactions with Fang Mingyuan over the years.

Project approval documents, fund disbursement records, and the time, place, and participants of several private meetings.

Each one has a date, each one has a basis, and each one can withstand scrutiny.

Old Nie read it page by page.

He wasn't looking at the content—he knew that content better than anyone else—

He was checking, making sure that every single one was still there, making sure nothing was missing.

He stopped halfway through reading it.

He picked up one of the pages, which was a photocopy of a fund disbursement record.

The money was allocated from the provincial finance department to the municipal finance bureau, from the municipal finance bureau to the county finance bureau, and from the county finance bureau to Liuhe Town.

There are signatures at every level, and official seals at every level.

The signature on the last layer is Fang Zhiwen, but the approval opinion on the top layer contains the name Gu Huaiyuan.

Instead of a direct signature, the word "Agreed" was written in the approval column.

Next to it is Gu Huaiyuan's signature, written in a flamboyant style. It's not very clear, but those who know him well can recognize it at a glance.

Old Nie stared at the photocopy for a long time.

This piece of paper proves that Gu Huaiyuan was aware of the matter, but it does not prove that Gu Huaiyuan was involved.

In officialdom, there is a blurred line between "being informed" and "participating".

Being aware of something at most constitutes negligence; participating in it constitutes a violation of discipline.

He had no evidence to prove Gu Huaiyuan's "involvement," only these materials that could prove Gu Huaiyuan was "aware" of the matter.

However, if these materials are handed over to the Discipline Inspection Commission, the Commission will investigate further.

If the investigation goes on, we might find evidence of Gu Huaiyuan's "involvement".

Maybe you won't find it.

All Lao Nie knew was that this was the most important card in his hand.

It wasn't meant to threaten Gu Huaiyuan—he wouldn't dare.

It's for saving lives.

If the disciplinary committee finds him one day, he can use these things to "voluntarily confess".

He didn't know if confessing would get him a lighter sentence, but he knew it was his leverage.

Old Nie put the page back and continued reading.

After looking at it for nearly an hour, he rearranged all the materials in chronological order, put them back in the file bag, and zipped it up.

Then he stood up, walked to the safe, put the document bag inside, closed the door, turned the combination lock a few times, and moved the painting back to block the safe.

He stood there, staring at the painting for a few seconds.

The painting is a landscape, a gift from Gu Huaiyuan.

Five years ago, Gu Huaiyuan took it down from his office and said, "This painting is nice, I'll give it to you."

Old Nie reached out, took the painting down, placed it on the ground, and leaned against the wall.

Behind the painting is a bare wall, with the outline of a safe vaguely visible.

He glanced at it, then hung the painting back up.

Old Nie walked out of the study and into the living room.

The wife was making breakfast in the kitchen, her figure barely visible through the cooking fumes.

She knew nothing about Fang Mingyuan, nothing about Lao Nie, and nothing about how much longer this family could hold on.

She was frying eggs, the range hood was humming, and the oil in the pan was sizzling.

Old Nie stood at the kitchen door, watching her back for a long time.

"Old Nie, what are you doing standing there?"

My wife's voice came from the kitchen, muffled by the noise of the range hood, but warm.

Old Nie opened his mouth as if to say something, but nothing came out.

His wife came out carrying two plates of breakfast, placing one in front of him and the other in front of herself.

Fried egg, millet porridge, and a dish of pickled vegetables.

"Eat up, what are you standing there for?"

Old Nie picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of pickled vegetables, and put it in his mouth.

The pickled vegetables were very salty. He chewed them a few times and swallowed them.

He didn't know if he would ever be able to eat this pickled vegetable again.

……

Meanwhile, Gu Huaiyuan was reviewing documents in an office at the provincial government.

He had no plans to go out today and spent the morning handling some routine tasks in his office.

Secretary Tang Ming stood at the door with a folder in his hand, but did not go in.

He was waiting, waiting for Gu Huaiyuan to finish reading the document in his hand.

Gu Huaiyuan put down his pen and looked up.

"What is it?"

Tang Ming walked in, placed the folder on the table, and did not open it.

"Governor Gu, there's news from Qingshun County."

Gu Huaiyuan looked at him without saying a word.

"Fang Mingyuan was arrested in the provincial capital this morning. He was taken away by the municipal discipline inspection commission."

Gu Huaiyuan tapped his finger lightly on the table.

Fang Mingyuan—it took him a few seconds to remember who this person was.

It wasn't that he had a bad memory; it was that he had seen too many grassroots officials, and Fang Mingyuan was just one of them.

But he remembered the name, not because of Fang Mingyuan himself, but because of Lao Nie.

Lao Nie had mentioned this name to him, more than once.

"understood."

Tang Ming did not leave.

He stood in front of the table, waiting for Gu Huaiyuan to continue.

"Over there with Lao Nie—"

Gu Huaiyuan suddenly spoke.

"Has he taken care of everything related to Fang Mingyuan?"

Tang Ming shook his head: "He didn't destroy them. He said he had sorted them out."

Gu Huaiyuan remained silent for a moment.

Instead of destroying it, it was organized—Old Nie was leaving himself a way out.

He understands, but doesn't agree.

If he were Lao Nie, he would destroy everything, leaving no trace.

But Lao Nie is not him. Lao Nie is a businessman. Businessmen are used to keeping records and leaving themselves a way out.

"You told him to destroy it, not to keep it for the disciplinary committee to investigate?!"

Tang Ming paused for a moment, then replied:

"it is good."

Gu Huaiyuan thought about it again.

Fang Mingyuan has been arrested, but will he implicate Lao Nie?

Will Lao Nie betray him?

If Lao Nie gives him up, it might cause some trouble.

It's not because he was involved in those things, but because "knowing but not reporting" is also a problem.

As a vice-governor, he knew what his subordinates were doing but did not stop them or report it; this is dereliction of duty.

Neglecting one's duties won't land one in jail, but it will affect one's career.

He is 55 years old this year, and he still has the opportunity to take another step forward.

If this case affects our progress, then we'll never get to that point.

"Governor Gu, is there anything else you wish to say?"

Gu Huaiyuan shook his head.

Tang Ming turned and left.

The moment the door closed, Gu Huaiyuan leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling.

Fang Mingyuan was arrested, but he wasn't worried that Fang Mingyuan would implicate him.

Fang Mingyuan didn't know him; Fang Mingyuan only knew Lao Nie.

If Lao Nie confesses, Fang Mingyuan's words will serve as evidence.

But Lao Nie won't betray him.

Old Nie dared not.

Old Nie has been in the provincial capital for so many years, he knows the consequences of offending him.

Gu Huaiyuan picked up the pen on the table and continued reading the documents.

But his attention was no longer on those words.

He was thinking about a question—should he cut ties with Lao Nie?

Not now. If we make a cut now, it will be too obvious and attract attention.

Once Fang Mingyuan's case is settled and the storm has passed, we can gradually distance ourselves from him.

If Lao Nie gets into trouble again, it won't be his problem anymore.

Gu Huaiyuan signed the document, closed the folder, and put it aside.

……

At 10 a.m., Fang Mingyuan was taken to the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection.

The car drove into the compound of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection and did not stop outside, but drove directly to the entrance of the building.

The car door opened from the outside, and sunlight streamed in, making him squint.

"get off."

Fang Mingyuan bent down and got out of the car.

He stood at the entrance of the building and looked up at the gray building.

He has been here several times, either for meetings or to report on his work.

Every time he came, he would enter through the main entrance, greet the security guard, take the elevator upstairs, knock on the door, go in, sit down, and report.

Today, he also entered through the main gate.

But no one greeted him, the security guard didn't look at him, he didn't take the elevator, and he took the stairs instead.

"Let's go."

The person behind him urged him on.

Fang Mingyuan didn't say anything and stepped into the building.

The corridor was quiet, and his footsteps echoed in the empty space.

Every sound felt like it was stepping on my heart.

Boom, boom, boom.

He kept his head down and didn't look to either side.

But he knew that there were offices on both sides, with people sitting inside.

Those people would hear footsteps, wonder who was coming, and peek out through the crack in the door.

He didn't know if anyone saw him, but he didn't care anymore. He had already come this far, so what was the use of saving face?

Third floor, at the end of the corridor.

Wei Zhiqiang stood in front of a door, waiting for him.

Fang Mingyuan walked over, and Wei Zhiqiang glanced at him without saying a word before pushing open the door.

"Go in."

Fang Mingyuan went inside.

This is a meeting room with a table and three chairs.

A Party flag hangs on the wall, next to which are eight large characters: "Confess and be treated leniently; resist and be punished severely."

Fang Mingyuan stood in the middle of the room, unsure where to sit.

He glanced at Wei Zhiqiang, who raised his chin, gesturing for him to sit down.

Fang Mingyuan sat down in the chair.

The chair was made of wood, hard as a rock, and uncomfortable to sit on.

He placed his hands on his knees.

His face was expressionless, but his hands were trembling slightly.

Wei Zhiqiang sat down opposite him, leaned back in his chair, and looked at Fang Mingyuan.

"Fang Mingyuan, do you know what sitting here means?"

Fang Mingyuan nodded: "I know."

Wei Zhiqiang said with a serious expression, "Good to know."