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"Wait, what did you say your name was?" Zhang Erhe suddenly interrupted him!

"I will never change my name or surname, Chen Yanshi!" He patted his thin chest. "I joined the Party on the front lines 45 years ago, carrying explosives..."

"Don't be in such a hurry," Zhang Erhe interrupted him. "Your name is Chen Yanshi? Where are you from?"

"A native of Handong."

"Who was the squad leader of your elite platoon back then?"

Chen Yanshi glanced at Sha Ruijin, then turned his head and said, "Our former squad leader was none other than Xiao Jinzi's father—Sha Zhenjiang."

“Squad Leader Sha!” Zhang Erhe nodded. “That matches up.”

However, he looked across at the other side, a half-smile on his face: "Chen Yanshi, are you sure—it was you who carried the explosive charge back then?"

"How come it wasn't me who carried the explosives?" Chen Yanshi felt a pang of guilt, avoiding Zhang Erhe's gaze and turning his head away. "Who in the entire Handong doesn't know that I was the one who carried the explosives back then?"

Although Sha Ruijin also had his doubts, he still reassured Chen Yanshi: "Old Zhang, everyone in Handong knows about Old Chen carrying the explosive pack back then."

"That's not necessarily true." Zhang Erhe picked up his cup and took a slow, deliberate sip.

"Let me first tell you what I knew back then."

He put down his cup and glanced around the room.

"In 1945, the Japanese were about to surrender. But the closer they got to that point, the more brutally they plundered the guerrilla areas. At that time, the troops desperately squeezed a group of Japanese soldiers into a bunker, but unfortunately the main force didn't arrive in time, and the guerrillas didn't have heavy weapons, so they had to organize a vanguard squad, and the squad leader was Comrade Sha Zhenjiang."

"In order to destroy this bunker, Sha Zhenjiang decided that the whole class would draw lots, and the person who was drawn would carry the explosives to blow up the bunker. There were three new recruits in the class at the time, one of whom was you—Chen Yanshi."

Chen Yanshi, sitting opposite Zhang Erhe, had a livid face and his hands were trembling slightly. Zhang Erhe ignored him and continued speaking.

"Squad Leader Sha Zhenjiang gave the order—except for the three new recruits, everyone else would draw lots. But the problem was, Squad Leader Sha added: 'Party members will carry the explosives.'"

"So a new recruit named Chen asked, 'Can I join the Party first?' He said he was old enough and insisted on being selected. Squad Leader Sha tried to persuade him several times, but he wouldn't listen and insisted on being selected. Squad Leader Sha had no choice but to let him be selected—and he just so happened to be chosen."

Zhang Erhe paused, then looked at Chen Yanshi.

"But when the day actually came for him to carry the explosives, this greenhorn chickened out. Several comrades who had carried the explosives before him had died on the way, and when it was his turn, his legs went weak and he didn't dare to go up. In an emergency, Squad Leader Sha grabbed the explosives and took the lead himself."

"The bunker was blown up, and Squad Leader Sha also sacrificed his life."

Zhang Erhe turned his head and looked directly into Chen Yanshi's eyes: "Comrade Chen Yanshi, is this matter true or not?"

Chen Yanshi didn't dare to speak, he just lowered his head and trembled violently.

"The entire elite squad, including squad leader Sha Zhenjiang, deputy squad leader He Suoming, and you Chen Yanshi, made a total of fourteen. Of the seven who were drawn by lot to carry the explosives, only five were left after the battle."

Zhang Erhe's voice wasn't loud, but Chen Yanshi across from him was so shocked that he trembled!

"After the battle was over, you knelt down in front of the remaining men, crying, and said that you 'didn't do it on purpose,' that Squad Leader Sha had given his life for you, that you would remember him, and that you would help take care of his child—Ruijin. Only then did the others decide to help keep it a secret. But we helped you keep it a secret, not so you could brag about it for the rest of your life."

"No! I didn't! It was Squad Leader Sha who thought I was young and made me..." Chen Yanshi's voice trembled.

"Alright, Chen Yanshi, people remember your ugly face."

"Who? Who told you? Was it Old Wang, Old Li, or Old Yu?" Chen Yanshi suddenly looked up, then turned to look at Sha Ruijin. Sha Ruijin's expression was calm, but his eyes were filled with pain. "Little Jin, did they tell you?"

"Comrade Chen Yanshi, they never told me this."

“Chen Yanshi, you don’t need to ask anymore, I’ll just tell you directly.” Zhang Erhe looked at him coldly, “Of the five people who survived, the deputy squad leader He Suoming had half of his body blown off.”

You thought he was dead, and you haven't even asked about him once all these years. Unfortunately, not only is he not dead, but he's actually alive and well—he returned to his hometown in Guangdong after the Liberation War and is still alive. Should I invite him over so we can confirm it again?

Upon hearing this, Chen Yanshi finally lost his composure and began to tremble violently.

"That damn fool He! He promised me back then..."

"He promised you?" Zhang Erhe interrupted him. "Then what have you done? You said you'd help Squad Leader Sha raise his child, but besides giving him ten yuan and a few grain coupons every year, what else have you given him? If it weren't for Lao Wang, Lao Yu, and Lao Li, would Ruijin have been able to finish his studies all these years?"

He stood up and stared into Chen Yanshi's eyes.

"If Squad Leader Sha hadn't saved you back then, you would be the one who died! He could have raised his child himself, but he gave his life for you, and look how you repay him? Someone like you doesn't even deserve to call me 'Brother'! Bah!"

He spat on Chen Yanshi's face.

Chen Yanshi, however, didn't bother wiping himself. He looked anxiously at Sha Ruijin, Gao Yuliang, and Li Dakang. Not a single person in the room spoke up for him.

Chapter 569 Aftermath of the Han-Dong Incident

"Little Jinzi, I..." Chen Yanshi opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a complete sentence.

Sha Ruijin took a deep breath and instructed the staff: "Take Comrade Chen Yanshi away first."

"Wait a moment." Liu Changsheng slowly picked up a document. "Secretary Ruijin, the next issue also involves Comrade Chen Yanshi. Please ask him to wait a moment."

He opened the document: "Regarding the case of Dafeng Factory, I have had the Department of Land and Resources and the Department of Finance carefully review it these days. When Comrade Chen Yanshi presided over the restructuring of Dafeng Factory, he privately gave all of Dafeng Factory's land to the factory—but that land is state property. This is an encroachment on state property and a loss of state-owned assets. Comrade Chen Yanshi still needs to explain this matter."

"Absurd!" Chen Yanshi had caught his breath. "Back then, everyone was feeling their way across the river by touching the stones. Who knew there were so many twists and turns involved?"

"Alright, since it can't be explained clearly—" Liu Changsheng slammed the document onto the table with a "bang," "then please have Comrade Chen Yanshi explain why Zheng Xipo holds 10% of the hidden shares in Dafeng Factory on behalf of others?"

Chen Yanshi's face, which had just begun to recover, turned deathly pale again: "You're talking nonsense...you're lying!"

"I'm talking nonsense?" Liu Changsheng sneered. "I have the interrogation records of Zheng Xipo and his son Zheng Shengli from the Armed Police Detachment. The Dafeng Factory case caused quite a stir back then, all because Zheng Shengli was live-streaming and fanning the flames."

Afterwards, Zheng Shengli was arrested by the Guangming District Public Security Bureau, but Zheng Xipo came to you, and you called and ordered Zhao Donglai, the director of the Jingzhou Public Security Bureau, to release him. All of this is recorded! Chen Yanshi, what else do you have to say?

"I...I..." Chen Yanshi's eyes rolled back and his body slumped to the side. Two staff members quickly stepped forward to support him.

"Come on, put him down." Zhang Erhe came over eagerly. "I'm the best at dealing with people who are unconscious."

The two staff members looked at each other, then finally turned to Sha Ruijin. Sha Ruijin sighed, "First, move Comrade Chen Yanshi to the stool."

After moving the person, Zhang Erhe rolled up his sleeves and pinched Chen Yanshi's nose hard with his thumb. Chen Yanshi was still pretending, so Zhang Erhe increased the pressure—Chen Yanshi finally couldn't help but sit up with a "Ah!"

Where am I?

"Alright, Chen Yanshi, stop pretending." Zhang Erhe let go of his hand and patted his face. "Just honestly tell me what you're doing! You're so old and you're still jumping around all day. I'd be ashamed if you weren't.

The state stipulates that retirees should behave themselves, unlike you! You use petitions to gain fame, spouting righteousness and morality, but in private you're a scoundrel. A person like you would be a waste to die.”

Chen Yanshi spat out a mouthful of blood; this time he really wasn't faking it.

Handong has many problems, but ultimately, they all revolve around Dafeng Factory. If Dafeng Factory is demolished, Li Dakang's Guangmingfeng project can continue to move forward, and Handong's economy can find a new direction for development.

Therefore, Liu Changsheng chose to support Li Dakang at a crucial moment. In return, Li Dakang also leaned towards Liu Changsheng. Together with Gao Yuliang, Liu Changsheng instantly secured half of the votes in the Standing Committee meeting. Apart from the two neutral votes from the military uniform and united front departments, Sha Ruijin's side was almost at a disadvantage, except for the provincial party secretary-general and Tian Guofu.

A month later, the Dafeng Factory incident gradually came to an end. Although Chen Yanshi was not formally punished, everyone could see that he would not have a good ending—the retaliation from a provincial party secretary would not be light.

Although Chen Hai was not turned into a vegetable by Qi Tongwei's arrangement, he was still brought down by Chen Yanshi's "blessing" and with the support of Sha Ruijin and Tian Guofu.

All the security personnel at Dafeng Factory have been arrested and brought to justice, and those who needed to be dealt with have been dealt with. Those who held shares will continue to fight the lawsuit against Shanshui Group; those who did not hold shares will be resettled by the Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee and Government. The matter of Dafeng Factory is now completely resolved.

The following year, with Zhang Jue's help, Liu Changsheng completely restructured the new energy supply chain, and Handong rediscovered its engine for economic development. When he was preparing to retire, his contributions were recognized, and he was eventually transferred to a ministry position.

Sha Ruijin endured another two years, but failed to resolve any issues properly. If it weren't for Liu Changsheng's strong efforts to protect the economy, Handong's economy would probably have already completely declined. Two years later, he also entered the CPPCC in disappointment.

In Beijing, due to Zhang Erhe's interference, the Zhong family failed to gain any advantage in Handong and ended up in a draw with Zhao Lichun. Both sides suffered heavy losses, but overall, Zhao Lichun lost more—after all, he had already left his home turf in Handong.

At this point, a truce could have been reached if both sides had simply backed down. But who knew that, under the guidance of that idiot Hou Liangping, Zhong Xiaoai would actually arrest Zhao Ruilong? During the arrest, whether intentionally or accidentally, Zhao Ruilong died.

This has stirred up a hornet's nest.

Zhao Lichun served as an official his entire life; everyone who met him praised him as a kind and honest man. Unfortunately, at the very end, he succumbed to selfishness, wanting to turn Handong into a Zhao family-run territory—a taboo subject that prompted the higher-ups to send the Zhong family to intervene. Zhao Lichun had suffered a loss and had originally intended to let it go. But now, his only son had been killed by the Zhong family. What was the point of his life then?

Enraged, Zhao Lichun launched the first attack. The Zhong family repeatedly sent messengers to try and reconcile, but Zhao Lichun rebuked them each time. In the end, Zhao Lichun, at the cost of his own life, forcefully brought Zhong Zhengguo down. With Zhong Zhengguo gone, the Zhong family immediately scattered like leaves in the wind, swarming around him like bloodthirsty ants.

Zhong Xiaoai was held accountable for causing Zhao Ruilong's death. In a panic, the couple tried to flee abroad with fake passports, but they were recognized by people from the Ministry of Energy at the airport and were immediately subdued by the airport police.

What awaits them is a proper life imprisonment. No matter what, Zhong Zhengguo has to save face and send him to Qincheng Prison; but the fate of the monkeys below is uncertain—especially Zhong Xiaoai and Hou Liangping.

The kind-hearted Old Zhao became furious: He didn't care what others did, but this couple had to stay in jail until they died! The kind-hearted Old Zhao stopped arguing for anything else and gave away all other benefits. If this small request couldn't be met, then he really wasn't being fair.

Therefore, the verdicts for Zhong Xiaoai and Hou Liangping were swift—they were deprived of their political rights for life and sentenced to life imprisonment.

The staff recorded the two's performance. Zhong Xiaoai, who was hoping to get away with it, immediately changed her mind after hearing about her fate. She gave Hou Liangping a manicure and cosmetic surgery. Hou Liangping, who had recovered, stopped pretending and put on the persona of Zhao Donglai, the director of the Jingzhou Public Security Bureau, and cosplayed as a tiger-fighting hero!

According to rumors, after the video was delivered to Lao Zhao, he reportedly ate an extra half bowl of rice that day!

Chapter 570 Spilled Water Cannot Be Gathered

In 2016, after a year's absence, Zhang Erhe returned to Nanluoguxiang. That year, he and Guan Xue traveled extensively in the south, thoroughly enjoying themselves. However, as a certain date drew closer, Zhang Erhe felt increasingly anxious. Guan Xue noticed this and, understanding her feelings, the two returned together.

Just as they reached the courtyard gate, they heard a commotion coming from the neighboring yard. Zhang Erhe disregarded everything, shoved his things into the driver's hands, and turned to run into the yard. Guan Xue, who was behind him, missed her and angrily pointed at his retreating figure, cursing, but Zhang Erhe pretended not to hear!

In the courtyard house, Liu Guangtian was exceptionally excited today—his son came to share the good news that he had become a great-grandfather! Liu Guangtian himself never imagined that he would see a great-grandson in his lifetime. Actually, it's quite simple: his son and grandson both took after him—they weren't good at studying, so they got married early. And now, at the age of 72, he's holding a great-grandson in his arms.

After his grandson left, Liu Guangtian drank two ounces of liquor at home, and then, feeling dizzy, went out the door. He walked up to the front of Yan Jiefang and Yu Li's house and kicked it, yelling, "Yan Jiefang, Yu Li, get out here!"

The couple inside were terrified—the years of trials and tribulations had turned Yan Jiefang into a gaunt old man, bald, wrinkled, and hunched over; Yu Li was also old beyond recognition, toothless, her face sagging. Hearing the door kicked open, they could only tremble as they emerged. Yu Li walked shakily to Liu Guangtian, closed her eyes, and asked, "Go ahead and hit me?"

But the expected slap didn't land. Instead, Liu Guangtian looked disgusted and said, "Yu Li, do you know? I'm going to be a great-grandfather! Great-grandfather! If you hadn't messed things up back then, you would be a great-grandmother by now."

Unlike now, following Yan Jiefang, I've spent half my life cleaning toilets and smelling toilet odor! I've come to terms with it. Hitting you now would just dirty my hands—I need these hands to hold my great-grandson! From now on, I'm too lazy to hit you. You two turtle bastards aren't worthy of my hands!

The people in the courtyard were extremely disappointed when they heard this—damn it, the fun has been dwindling over the years, and now even Liu Guangtian doesn't beat Yan Jiefang anymore, so what's the point of living in this courtyard!

Zhang Erhe was also extremely disappointed. He thought that after so many days apart, the beast would have prepared a "gift" for him, but who would have thought that Liu Guangtian would have such a change of heart—what the hell are you having such a change of heart for? Why don't you just hit me! Yu Li cheated on you back then, and she cheated on you twice!

And Yan Jiefang, you cowardly piece of trash, you've been beaten for so many years and you don't even have a single complaint? Are you even a man? If you can't beat them, then use biological weapons! You've been exposed to excrement every day, you've developed an immunity to it. When Liu Guangtian comes up again, just throw a bag of excrement over his head, and even the toughest man will be vomiting. Wouldn't that be your chance? Seriously!

Zhang Erhe looked disappointed and was about to leave when Nan Yi saw him. Nan Yi, leaning on his cane, came over and said, "Erhe, you're back?"

"Ah, you bet."

Sha Zhu chimed in, "Uncle Erhe, are you disappointed that you missed the excitement today?"

“Yes,” Zhang Erhe admitted casually, “I moved into this courtyard intending to watch the excitement. But I never expected that the old folks would pass away one by one, and the fun would be gone.”

“That’s right,” Nan Yi chimed in. “Even Jia Zhangshi has stopped cursing. She’s all smiles in the courtyard all day long. My great-grandson thinks she used to be such a kind person.”

After a moment of reflection, Nan Yi asked, "Erhe, now that you're back, you're not going out again, are you?"

"They shouldn't go out."

"Okay, let's find some time later to have a drink."

Zhang Erhe chuckled: "I might be okay with that, but you two... especially you, Nan Yi, do you think Liang Ladi would let you drink?"

Nan Yi blushed: "She...she can control me? I'm the one who calls the shots in my house! Let's not pick a date, tonight it is. Zhu Zi, have He Xiao send some dishes to Erhe's house, we'll have a drink tonight."

"Sure," Sha Zhu replied with a smile.

That evening, the three men sat around the table drinking. Zhang Erhe, with his sharp eyes, noticed two scratch marks on Nan Yi's neck. Without making a sound, he nudged Sha Zhu with his toe and gestured towards Nan Yi with his lips. Sha Zhu saw it too, and the two mouthed the same thing: "Liang Ladi."