Nominal: Energy sector enters Handong, breaking the deadlock

Chen Yanshi then slowly stood up. "Hai Zi, what do you know? This is called enjoying life. When you're retired, you have to find some fun."

Chen Hai's shoes were covered in the puppy's saliva, and he kicked the puppy away.

"Fun? Dad, if you do this, you'll ruin your reputation."

The smile on Chen Yanshi's face faded.

"Hai Zi, I've retired. I have no power anymore."

"You've retired, but I haven't. I'm still working," Chen Hai said in a low voice, glancing into the room.

Wang Fuzhen was busy in the kitchen, and the range hood was humming.

"Yes, Hai Zi, you are the director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau." Chen Yanshi was not confused at all.

"Dad, what you're doing puts me, the director of the anti-corruption bureau, in a difficult position. Should I intervene or not?" Chen Hai was worried about his career.

Chen Yanshi, wearing a pair of hands, said, "Hai Zi, you want to arrest your father, right? Come on, arrest me now."

"Dad, there's no need to arrest you." Chen Hai shook his head. "This is a crucial moment for my promotion to director-general level. You can't afford to make a mistake."

Chen Hai was thinking about the Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Handong Provincial Procuratorate day and night.

The promotion from deputy director-general to director-general is a very important step in one's career.

Chen Yanshi's face darkened.

"Hai Zi, are you saying that my keeping a few potted plants and a few birds will affect your chances of becoming a department head?"

These are all things I like, gifts from others, and I really love them.

"Dad, don't play dumb." Chen Hai said anxiously, lowering his voice even further. "Flowers, birds, Tibetan mastiffs. Why are these people coming to your yard? Isn't it because of your relationship with Secretary Sha? What you're accepting aren't gifts, they're favors. And favors have to be repaid."

Chen Yanshi fell silent.

He turned around and walked to the potted lotus, reached out and fiddled with the leaves, without saying a word.

Chen Hai followed.

"Dad, think about it. Today a group of people come, tomorrow a group of people come, and the day after tomorrow the Discipline Inspection Commission comes to investigate. How can you explain yourself? Even if you're retired and have nothing to lose, you can't stop people from gossiping."

When I'm promoted to the rank of director-general, how will I pass the formalities test?

What will others say?

They'd say Chen Hai's father had collected a bunch of stuff in the yard, and Chen Hai still wanted to be the deputy chief prosecutor?

Chen Yanshi's hand stopped on the leaf. "Hai Zi. I'm confiscating it."

"You confiscated it? Then where did these flowers come from? Where did these birds come from? Where did this dog come from?" Chen Hai pointed at the yard. "Dad, look at this for yourself. What does this look like? Is this still your yard? This is practically a flower, bird, fish, and insect market."

The kitchen door opened.

Wang Fuzhen's apron was covered in flour. "Haizi's here? Come inside and wash your hands. I'll wash some grapes for you in a bit."

Chen Hai didn't move.

"Mom, please try to persuade Dad too."

Wang Fuzhen wiped her hands. "Haizi, what are you trying to persuade me about?"

Chen Hai bluntly stated, "I advise him to return these things."

My senior, Qi Tongwei, might soon become a vice minister; I can't afford to fall behind.

Wang Fuzhen glanced at Chen Yanshi, then looked at the things scattered throughout the courtyard, and sighed.

"Old Chen, Hai Zi is right. The people who gave the gifts might be trying to scam Hai Zi and Xiao Jin Zi."

Chen Yanshi suddenly turned his head, "Scamming Haizi? Who's scamming Xiao Jinzi?"

"Old Chen, think about it," Wang Fuzhen walked over and lowered her voice. "You're a retired old man, why would anyone give you this and that? Isn't it because your son is the director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau? Isn't it because Xiao Jinzi is a provincial champion? They're playing to your strengths, trying to drag you into this mess. When Hai Zi investigates a case and it leads back to them, they'll say, 'Your father accepted bribes, and you're investigating us?' What will Hai Zi do then? And if Wu Xiongfei asks you to beg Xiao Jinzi later, do you think you should or shouldn't you?"

Chen Yanshi's expression changed.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed it back.

"I...I just love these flowers and plants."

"You like them?" Chen Hai smiled wryly. "Dad, if you like flowers, go to the flower and bird market to buy them yourself. If you like birds, go to the bird market to find them yourself. But these things were gifts from others. Gifts are never free. There's no such thing as a free lunch. And if a pie falls from the sky, it might even be poisoned."

Chen Yanshi fell silent.

He walked up to the lovebird. The birdcage was hanging on a tree branch, and the little red-beaked bird was hopping around, chirping sweetly.

He reached out and teased the bird, which tilted its head to look at him.

"This bird was a gift from Secretary-General Qian."

"Secretary-General Qian?" Chen Hai frowned. "That incompetent Secretary-General Qian!"

"Mm." Chen Yanshi nodded.

"Why did he give you a bird?" Chen Hai asked.

Chen Yanshi felt guilty as he said this, "He said... he said I'm retired and I'm raising a bird to relieve my boredom."

"To keep you entertained?" Chen Hai sneered. "Dad, do you believe that Secretary Qian would send you a bird just to keep you entertained? Why doesn't he send one to someone else? Why doesn't he send one to his own father?"

Chen Yanshi fell silent.

Chen Hai turned around and walked to the Persian cat. The kitten had snow-white fur and one blue and one yellow eye.

"Dad, why did someone give you a cat?"

"They said...they said I stay at home and keep a cat for company." Now, Chen Yanshi realizes it was all a trap.

Sure enough, a bunch of troublemakers came to our house.

"Keep us company?" Chen Hai's voice rose. "Dad, are you all alone? Where's Mom? Where's me? And your eldest grandson, Little Pipi Ball? Aren't we all human beings? Why would anyone tell you to keep a cat for company? They have ulterior motives."

Chen Yanshi's face flushed red. "Hai Zi, what... what kind of attitude is this? I'm your father."

"It's precisely because you're my father that I'm telling you all this." Chen Hai took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "Dad, think about it. Today they send flowers, tomorrow birds, the day after a cat, and the day after that a dog. Why are all these people coming to your yard? Isn't it because of your relationship with Secretary Sha?"

Chen Yanshi kept his head down.

Looking at the things filling the yard, his eyes held a complex expression.

"I...I just feel it's a waste to throw these things away."

"What a pity?" Chen Hai exclaimed anxiously. "Dad, if you think it's a pity, you can buy it yourself. But you can't accept gifts from others. If you accept them, you'll owe them a favor. And if you owe them a favor, you have to repay it. Then, if they ask you for a favor, will you do it? If you don't, they'll say you're ungrateful. If you ask me to do it, that's a violation of rules and regulations. What do you say we do?"

Chen Yanshi fell silent.

I walked up to the potted lotus, squatted down, and stared at the flower for a long time.

"These flowers are truly beautiful."

Wang Fuzhen walked over and patted him on the shoulder.

"Old Chen, there are plenty of beautiful things out there. But some things, once you've seen them, you can't bring them home."

Chen Yanshi sighed, "Hai Zi, what do you suggest we do? You, the head of the anti-corruption bureau, might as well arrest me."

Chen Hai was stunned. "Dad, what are you saying?"

"I said, you arrested me." Chen Yanshi stood up, looking at Chen Hai, "I'm your father. I accepted gifts, and as the director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, you should arrest me. Arresting me is a good way to establish your authority; arrest your own father."

Chen Hai's face turned pale. "Dad, don't talk nonsense."

"I'm not lying." Chen Yanshi's voice calmed down. "Hai Zi, you're right. These things shouldn't have been accepted. But what can we do now that we've already accepted them? Arrest me. If you arrest me, people won't gossip. If you arrest me, your position as deputy chief prosecutor will be secure."