Official statement: Tongwei is dead! You chose Ruijin, didn't you?

On the way back to Jingzhou, the carriage was unusually quiet.

Wu Huifen sat beside her, holding a thermos cup, her gaze fixed on the view outside the window.

The dirt road, farmland, dilapidated shops, and the rural faces watching the spectacle all gradually shrank into black dots in the rearview mirror.

Gao Yuliang leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes to rest, but the mental turmoil just wouldn't stop.

In his life, Qi Tongwei hated nothing more than being looked down upon, and he was determined to defy fate.

But when the day actually came when grass grew on the grave, the ending of this play was utterly ironic.

He enjoyed immense prestige and was always surrounded by distinguished guests during his lifetime, but none of those who benefited from him can be seen today.

In the end, only his teacher and his wife, who hated him to the core, stood before that new grave.

The officialdom is like a cup of tea; once the person leaves, the tea cools down to nothing, not even a drop of tea leaves remain.

...

"Old Gao," Wu Huifen broke the silence, her voice low, "Liang Lu's sudden appearance at Yantai today was definitely not a coincidence."

Gao Yuliang didn't even lift his eyelids: "In Handong, even tomb sweeping can reveal political signals, which is certainly not a coincidence."

"Who tipped her off?"

"There aren't many options."

Gao Yuliang said in a calm tone, "Either the supervisory team deliberately set a precedent, or it's Liang's old subordinates who aren't quite dead yet testing the waters, or it's just that she herself has people keeping an eye on the hospital every day."

Regardless of the reason, her "crying at the grave" performance today is now undoubtedly sitting untouched on the supervisory team's desk.

Wu Huifen frowned slightly: "Are you worried that she'll be used as a pawn by someone with ulterior motives?"

"She's not being used as a pawn now; she's the most useful rag in Handong right now."

Gao Yuliang sneered, "My father just died, my two brothers were placed under investigation, my husband committed suicide by shooting himself, and my reputation is ruined."

A woman who has lost her mind and is desperate can easily manipulate anyone with just a hint. Anyone who wants to muddy the waters will use her first.

Hearing this, Xiao Lin, sitting in the passenger seat, turned around, still holding the pen in his hand: "Secretary Gao, your political acumen is truly remarkable. But don't worry, our support team has already verified Comrade Liang Lu's itinerary for today, and Team Leader Zhou has also received the information."

Gao Yuliang opened his eyes and nodded lightly: "Your supervisory team is getting faster and faster these days."

Kobayashi grinned: "I learned all this from you. When investigating cases in Handong, if you're a step too slow, the clues will just grow legs and run away, and you'll have to clean up their footprints for me."

Gao Yuliang smiled and didn't continue the conversation.

.........

The car drove back to the Public Security Hospital. As soon as they entered the intensive care unit, they saw Zhou Zhengming sitting on the sofa looking through some documents.

Hearing the noise, Zhou Zhengming closed his folder, looked up, and greeted him: "Secretary Gao, you must have had a very memorable trip to Yantai today, right?"

With the help of a caregiver, Gao Yuliang sat back on the hospital bed, adjusted the position of the plaster cast, and then looked at Zhou Zhengming:

"Team Leader Zhou, are you here to offer psychological counseling and check on my feelings, or to ask Liang Lu about her?"

Zhou Zhengming pulled up a chair and sat down on the edge of the bed: "Ask them all."

"Let's start with Liang Lu."

Gao Yuliang picked up the warm water Wu Huifen handed him and took a sip. "She came to the grave today, not like she was on a mission. At least when she knelt down and begged me, she didn't have any sense of the bigger picture in her mind, she was just desperately grasping at straws."

Zhou Zhengming took out his notebook: "What's the basis for this?"

"The basis for this is that she can't even say a polite phrase."

Gao Yuliang handed the water glass to Wu Huifen. "She didn't mention the specific details of Liang Wentao and Liang Wenjie's cases, nor did she mention Liang Qunfeng's recent funeral arrangements, or even pave the way for her own future."

Gao Yuliang paused for a moment, then gave his assessment: "She's hopelessly stupid, but in that situation, stupidity means authenticity."

Zhou Zhengming nodded.

He had reviewed the on-site recordings and records sent back by the special agents, and confirmed that Liang Lu had indeed not engaged in any substantive exchange of benefits or colluded with Gao Yuliang.

But what's most feared in the discipline inspection line of work is this kind of "truth".

The most disgusting thing about this grand scheme in Handong is that everyone is using genuine feelings to mask their selfish desires.

It's true that Chen Yanshi protected Dafeng Factory, and it's also true that he conveniently covered up his daughter Chen Yang's interests; it's true that Hou Liangping believed he represented justice, and it's also true that he used the "red, yellow, and green list" given by the Zhong family to target specific individuals for elimination.

It's a mix of truth and falsehood, making it extremely difficult to separate the two.

Zhou Zhengming gathered his thoughts, pulled a photocopy from the folder, and pushed it onto the bedside table in front of Gao Yuliang: "After Liang Lu returned to the city, she didn't go back to the old cadres' compound. She went directly to the supervisory team's residence and delivered this letter."

Gao Yuliang raised an eyebrow: "To whom? A letter of denunciation?"

"Written for Qi Tongwei."

Wu Huifen stood there stunned: "What's the use of writing a letter when the person has been burned to ashes?"

"She requested that this letter be included in her personal record of repentance. It should not be made public or publicized." Zhou Zhengming pointed to the photocopy. "The letter didn't say a single word in defense of the Liang family, but it did recount a very interesting old story."

Gao Yuliang picked up the photocopy and glanced at the paper.

Liang Lu's handwriting was very neat, even revealing a numb calmness.

The first half of the letter recounted her troubled marriage with Qi Tongwei, without complaining or weeping, as if she were writing someone else's story.

The focus is on the second half.

More than 20 years ago, on the playground of Handong University, after Qi Tongwei's dramatic kneeling, Liang Qunfeng said something to his children in the Liang family's study.

Liang Lu copied it down verbatim in the letter:

"If this child can kneel down, then we can use him in the future."

But we can't let him go too far, nor can we let him climb too fast. Give him a little taste of success, let him know that the Liang family can give him anything he wants, and can also take it all back at any time.

Upon seeing these words, Gao Yuliang paused for a moment, his fingers gripping the paper.

Zhou Zhengming observed Gao Yuliang's reaction and said, "If this statement is verified, it will directly prove that the Liang family used organizational and personnel power and marriage to politically control and bind Qi Tongwei to personal dependence for a long time."

"Liang Qunfeng is dead, and there is no way to verify the facts."

Gao Yuliang put the letter back on the table, his tone calm, "Now that Liang Lu has brought up these words, it will be difficult for the organization to make additional claims against Liang Qunfeng based on just one letter."

"Therefore, we only archive it, and do not use it as the sole basis for a final decision."

Zhou Zhengming said, "But this letter, together with Kong Lingpei's confession and the archival records provided by Lao Hu from the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department, forms a complete corroboration. The Liang family's rise to power is now fully revealed."

Gao Yuliang leaned back on the pillow and said calmly, "Even in this predicament, Liang Lu has finally done something decent. She's completely severing ties with the Liang family to ensure a peaceful life for the rest of her days."

Wu Huifen sighed softly beside her: "She hasn't had an easy life."

Gao Yuliang turned to look at Wu Huifen, his voice turning cold: "Teacher Wu, in the face of political rules, the words 'not easy' are not a get-out-of-jail-free card. Was it easy for Qi Tongwei to be shot during the drug raid at Guying Ridge back then?"

Wu Huifen opened her mouth, but in the end she didn't say anything and went to clean up the water glasses on the table.

Zhou Zhengming carefully put away Liang Lu's letter, then changed the subject: "Secretary Gao, there's another matter I wanted to discuss with you today. Zhao Ruilong spoke up last night in the detention center."

Gao Yuliang's eyes narrowed: "To what extent?"

"Lingang Old City Renovation Project"

Zhou Zhengming stared at Gao Yuliang. "Zhao Ruilong confessed that the grand scheme back then wasn't just about giving money. The core was the financial pilot qualification, foreign exchange quotas, the green light for overseas procurement, as well as channels for their children to go abroad and the shareholding of their agents."

After listening, Gao Yuliang remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded: "That makes sense now."

Zhou Zhengming asked, "You guessed it all along?"

"This isn't a guess; it's basic logic."

Gao Yuliang laughed, a mocking laugh. "Team Leader Zhou, do you think Zhao Lichun would carry several suitcases of cash to knock on the doors of Bai Wangshan or the Zhong family patriarch?"

That's insulting; they wouldn't even let him in the door. Older comrades at that level don't lack money; they consider cash dirty.

Gao Yuliang raised his hand and tapped the edge of the bed with his finger that wasn't in a cast: "What can truly move them is a set of 'institutional arrangements' that can be openly explained. Preferential policies, financial pilot programs, compliant overseas trusts, and the exceptional appointment of protégés and old friends."

Every single one of these measures can be openly included in government work reports and meeting minutes, but at the operational level, each one conceals enormous private interests. Money is merely the lubricant for this system; the real transactions are the channels through which power is monetized.

Zhou Zhengming was secretly alarmed upon hearing this.

Gao Yuliang's analysis of the corruption ecosystem at the highest levels is like a scalpel, so precise it sends chills down your spine.

"Since you've put your logic into such a smooth way, you must know something else." Zhou Zhengming looked at him.

Gao Yuliang laughed: "Team Leader Zhou, you're getting more and more direct with your questions these days, not even beating around the bush."

"Going around in circles with you is too time-consuming and an insult to your intelligence."

"What I know may not be directly usable as evidence, but I can point you in the right direction to find evidence."

Gao Yuliang's smile faded, and he said seriously, "Back then, the Lingang project held a high-level expert review meeting to go through the formalities. The official list of guests consisted of top domestic economists, a clean and tidy panel. But the final decision on the project was made in a small, closed-door meeting the night before."

Gao Yuliang looked at Zhou Zhengming: "That closed-door meeting had no formal meeting minutes, nor was it recorded."

"How do we investigate?"

"Check the meeting service list."

Kao Yu-liang continued, "No matter how much secrecy is maintained, tea breaks, fruits, high-end cigarettes, and meal allowances will all be reimbursed based on actual costs. The consumption figures will accurately reveal the actual number of attendees."

Standing in the back row, Xiao Lin's eyes lit up, and he blurted out, "Go check the accounts of the Provincial Party Committee's Reception Office?"

"Not in the reception office."

Gao Yuliang shook his head, rejecting this line of thought. "Zhao Lichun was very cautious back then. That meeting was just a front for the 'Industrial Planning Project' of the Handong Provincial Development and Reform Commission, and it was all done through the Commission's accounts. You should go find the old accountant from the Provincial Development and Reform Commission back then."

Zhou Zhengming immediately opened his notebook: "Who handled this?"

"Jiang Guoping".

Gao Yuliang named a name, "This man is now retired and lives in Luzhou. He is extremely timid, but has a serious occupational hazard; he keeps detailed accounts better than anyone else."

When he was auditing the accounts that year, he discovered a discrepancy between the actual number of attendees and the number of people reimbursed. To avoid being held responsible later, he secretly made a copy of the actual reception documents and hid them.

Zhou Zhengming paused, looking up at Gao Yuliang with a scrutinizing gaze: "You even know that an old accountant at the National Development and Reform Commission was hoarding attachments?"

Gao Yuliang met his gaze calmly: "I am, after all, the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission. I have just as many informants as you, but I can only pretend to be blind."

"Then why aren't you pretending to be blind anymore?"

Gao Yuliang pointed to the cast on his body: "Because I'm currently extremely unlucky. When a person is not at their wit's end, many secrets in their mind are automatically categorized as 'things they shouldn't know'; but once they reach their wit's end, their memory suddenly becomes surprisingly good."

Xiaolin couldn't help but burst out laughing from behind and quickly covered her mouth.

Zhou Zhengming also twitched the corners of his mouth, but quickly regained his seriousness.

Gao Yuliang's words were crude, but the truth was profound.

"I will immediately arrange for someone to go to Luzhou to find Jiang Guoping." Zhou Zhengming stood up.

"Keep it down."

Gao Yuliang cautioned, "Although Zhao Ruilong has vomited about the Luzhou Food City line, the intricate network of vested interests beneath it hasn't been completely eradicated. Jiang Guoping may not be safe now; we shouldn't scare him away or drive him to his death."

"Understood." Zhou Zhengming closed his notebook, walked to the door of the ward, put his hand on the doorknob, suddenly stopped, and turned to look at Gao Yuliang.

"Secretary Gao, did you regret standing in front of Qi Tongwei's grave for a while today?"

The ward fell silent instantly.

Gao Yuliang remained silent for a full half minute before finally uttering two words crisply: "Regret."

Zhou Zhengming was somewhat surprised that he answered so readily.

Gao Yuliang stared at the ceiling, his voice heavy: "I regret that back then I always thought of myself as a superior chess player, scheming and plotting, forgetting that my students were also living, breathing people. But regret doesn't count for anything under the law, nor does it reduce my sentence. I will not shirk my responsibility in any way I can."

Zhou Zhengming looked at him for a few seconds and nodded: "I will record this sentence verbatim in today's summary of the conversation."

Gao Yuliang laughed: "Take a note. Just polish it a little, don't portray me as an utterly wicked villain."

Xiao Lin poked half his head out from the doorway and replied in a serious tone, "Secretary Gao, your request is like giving our supervisory team a very difficult task of drafting a document."

Gao Yuliang: "..."

Wu Huifen, who was standing to the side, finally couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

The previously cold and tense atmosphere in the ward eased slightly because of this joke.

But everyone knew that as soon as Jiang Guoping's connection in Luzhou was touched, the most crucial old debt that the Zhao family had buried in Handong would be completely turned over a new page.