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

Wei Zhiqiang did not rush to continue.

He stared at Fang Mingyuan for a few seconds, as if confirming something—

Confirm his status and whether he is ready to be investigated.

Fang Mingyuan kept his head down and didn't look at him.

"Xiao Hu, come in here for a moment."

Wei Zhiqiang called out towards the door.

"Director Wei, I'll be right there."

A young woman walked in quickly, carrying a laptop in her hand.

She sat down next to Wei Zhiqiang, turned on her computer, placed her fingers on the keyboard, and waited to take notes.

Wei Zhiqiang looked at Fang Mingyuan and officially began.

"Fang Mingyuan, according to Party discipline and regulations, you are suspected of serious violations of discipline and law, and the organization has decided to take detention measures against you."

Before proceeding, we need to verify your basic information as part of the procedure.

Please answer truthfully.

Fang Mingyuan nodded without saying anything.

"Your name."

Fang Mingyuan.

"age."

"48 years old."

"Position".

"Standing Committee Member of the Qingshun County Party Committee and Executive Deputy County Head".

"Date of joining the Party".

Fang Mingyuan was silent for a second.

He remembers that day, July 1st, more than 20 years ago.

He took an oath in front of the Party flag in the conference room of the township government.

He was 26 years old at the time, one of the youngest Party members in the county.

July 1, 1997.

Wei Zhiqiang nodded, signaling Xiao Hu to write it down.

"Work experience, starting from when you started working, in chronological order."

Fang Mingyuan took a deep breath and began to speak.

He spoke slowly, recounting his journey from being assigned to a township after graduating from university, to becoming deputy mayor, mayor, party secretary of the township, director of the county development and reform bureau, deputy county head, and executive deputy county head.

Step by step, one by one.

He recounted his more than twenty years of political career in less than ten minutes.

After he finished speaking, he lowered his head and stared at his hands.

Wei Zhiqiang offered no comment or further questions.

He glanced at Xiao Hu to make sure she had finished taking notes, and then continued.

"Fang Mingyuan, I am about to explain your rights and obligations during your detention. Please listen carefully."

Fang Mingyuan raised his head and looked at Wei Zhiqiang.

"According to relevant regulations, you have the following rights during the detention period:"

The right to make a statement, the right to defend oneself, the right to request recusal, and the right to health.

You have the right to request the recusal of investigators.

If you believe that an investigator has a conflict of interest with the case that may affect the impartial handling of the case, you may submit a written application for recusal.

You have the right to state the facts, make a defense, and raise different opinions on the issues identified in the investigation.

Your right to physical health is protected, and your basic medical needs will be guaranteed during your detention.

Wei Zhiqiang paused for a moment, letting Fang Mingyuan process this information.

"At the same time, you shall fulfill the following obligations:"

You must truthfully state all the facts you know, without concealing or fabricating anything;

Cooperate with the investigation and do not resist it;

Collusion is prohibited, as is concealing or destroying evidence.

Comply with the management regulations of the detention facility.

He stopped and looked at Fang Mingyuan.

"Fang Mingyuan, are you clear about your rights and obligations?"

Fang Mingyuan's Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

"clear."

"Alright. Now I will read the detention order to you."

Wei Zhiqiang pulled a document out of the folder, held it in his hand, and read it aloud word by word.

The voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear.

Fang Mingyuan sat there, motionless.

His gaze fell on the document in Wei Zhiqiang's hand, but he couldn't read a single word; his mind was buzzing.

He knew this day would come sooner or later, but when it actually arrived, it still felt unreal.

After reading the detention order, Wei Zhiqiang placed the document on the table and pushed it in front of Fang Mingyuan.

"Fang Mingyuan, please sign."

Fang Mingyuan reached out and picked up the pen on the table.

His hand was trembling, and the pen tip quivered on the paper.

He took a deep breath, steadied his hand, and signed his name on the detention order.

Fang Mingyuan—three words, signed for decades, never before has it felt so heavy.

Wei Zhiqiang took back the detention order, glanced at the signature, and then handed it to Xiao Hu.

"Just asking about the basic details."

Xiao Hu nodded and opened his notebook.

She didn't look at Fang Mingyuan; her gaze was fixed on the notebook, as if she were reading a questionnaire.

"Fang Mingyuan, your family situation. Spouse's name and workplace."

Fang Mingyuan paused for a moment, then told her his wife's name and workplace.

"Situation of children".

She mentioned her son's name and that he was studying abroad.

"Parents' situation."

He mentioned his parents' names; both were retired and lived in their hometown.

"Personal health condition. Do you have a history of chronic diseases? Do you have any illnesses that require long-term medication?"

"no."

After asking his question, Xiao Hu looked up and glanced at Wei Zhiqiang.

Wei Zhiqiang took over the conversation and looked at Fang Mingyuan.

"Fang Mingyuan, we've finished asking about the basic information. Now I have a question for you. You can answer it or not. Think it over before you speak."

Fang Mingyuan looked at him.

"Do you have any questions you need to explain to the organization?"

The room fell silent.

Fang Mingyuan lowered his head, staring at the wood grain on the table.

He had too many questions to explain to the organization—

The 1160 million yuan in Liuhe Town, Fang Zhiqiang's 17.5 mu of land, the fake contracts of Hongda Trading, and the four houses in the provincial capital.

But he didn't know where to begin, nor did he know what would happen to the Fang family after he spoke.

The silence lasted for more than ten seconds.

Wei Zhiqiang didn't urge him, but leaned back in his chair and waited.

"Yes," Fang Mingyuan finally spoke, his voice low, "but I need time to think about it."

Wei Zhiqiang looked at him and remained silent for a moment.

"Fang Mingyuan, you'll be here for quite some time. Think things through before you speak; it's better to speak first and then think it through."

Fang Mingyuan remained silent.

Wei Zhiqiang turned around and looked at Xiao Hu:

"Let's go, let him be alone for a while."

Xiao Hu closed his laptop, stood up, and followed Wei Zhiqiang out of the interview room.

The door closed behind me with a click.

Fang Mingyuan sat alone in the interview room.

He looked at the Party flag on the wall and recalled the scene when he joined the Party—

At the age of 26, in a township meeting room, a dozen people stood in a row, facing the Party flag and taking an oath.

He was the youngest one, standing on the far left.

After he finished taking the oath, the old Party Secretary patted him on the shoulder and said, "Xiao Fang, do a good job, you have a bright future."

At that time, he felt that he must be a good cadre in his life, worthy of the Party flag and the expectations of the old Party secretary.

Now that he's sitting here, I wonder if he can still be considered a "good cadre".

It probably doesn't count.

He violated Party discipline and state laws and was detained.

Later, he'll even go to jail...

Fang Mingyuan lowered his head and looked at the few pieces of white paper and the pen on the table.

Wei Zhiqiang said, "I'll think it through before I talk to you," but didn't say when he would come to ask.

Maybe this afternoon, maybe tomorrow, maybe longer.

He didn't know how much time he had, or whether he could figure things out in that time.

Fang Mingyuan reached out and picked up the soft pen.

He wrote his name on a piece of white paper—"Fang Mingyuan".

The three characters were written slowly, stroke by stroke.

He stared at those three words for a long time, then put down his pen.

He did not write any more.

He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

My mind is a mess, various images flashing through my mind like a revolving lantern—

When Fang Zhiwen was a child, he followed behind him and called him "brother".

The back view of a wife cooking in the kitchen.

The happy look on my son's face when he received his acceptance letter from a foreign university.

The cold look in Lao Nie's eyes when he said in the hotel, "From today onwards, this is the end of our business."

Every scene was like a knife, stabbing into his heart.

He opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling.

……

After leaving the interview room, Wei Zhiqiang walked down the corridor toward Han Yuming's office.

He walked at a moderate pace, his mind processing the content of the conversation he had just had—

There are no problems with Fang Mingyuan's basic information, and there are no problems with the notification of his rights and obligations.

He did not file for recusal, did not request a lawyer, and did not ask any questions about the case.

But he said he "needs time to think about it," which is true, but it could also be a delay.

Wei Zhiqiang walked to the door of Han Yuming's office; the door was open.

Han Yuming was sitting behind his desk, looking at documents.

He looked up, saw Wei Zhiqiang, and put down his pen.

"How is it?"

Wei Zhiqiang went in and sat down opposite him.

"His identity has been verified, and his rights and obligations have been explained. He was also asked some basic questions. He said he needs time to think about it."

"Have you confessed?"

"No. He said there were some issues that needed to be explained, but he needed time to think about them."

Han Yuming remained silent for a moment.

He'd worked at the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection for so many years and had seen far too many cases like this—

Those detained said they "need time to think it over." Some were genuinely reflecting on their actions, while others were figuring out how to explain themselves to reduce their punishment.

Some are waiting, waiting for outsiders to help them destroy evidence and collude on testimonies.

Which type is Fang Mingyuan?

He wasn't sure yet.

Give him time. But don't let him be idle.

Wei Zhiqiang looked at him.

"In the afternoon, I arranged for him to study the Party Constitution and Party regulations. I had him review the oath of joining the Party and reflect on it in light of his ideals and beliefs."

Wei Zhiqiang nodded.

"besides--"

Han Yuming looked at him and added a sentence.

"He needs time to think, and we also need time to investigate."

Before he speaks, go through the evidence again.

Fang Zhiqiang's assets in the provincial capital, the flow of funds from Hongxin Consulting, and the records of overseas accounts were all compiled.

If he won't speak, show him the evidence, let him know we have something in our possession.

"it is good."

Wei Zhiqiang stood up, turned around and took two steps, then stopped.

"Secretary Han."

Han Yuming raised his head.

"Fang Mingyuan is still protecting people. He's not speaking up not because he hasn't thought it through, but because he's afraid to. He's protecting the Fang family, and also protecting the people behind him."

Han Yuming looked at him but didn't reply.

"What if he doesn't say anything?"

Wei Zhiqiang asked.

No, it won't.

Han Yuming leaned back in his chair.

"He's a smart man. Smart men know when to speak up. He'll speak up when he realizes he can't take it anymore."

Wei Zhiqiang nodded, turned around and left.

Han Yuming sat alone in his office, staring out the window.

Fang Mingyuan didn't speak, but he knew that Fang Mingyuan would speak sooner or later.

The question is, once he starts talking, to what extent will he reveal his secrets?

Will they only reveal the events in Liuhe Town, or will they also reveal the people from the provincial capital?