The mayor only allowed him to stay at home... that's already the best outcome.

"But what about Wanyin?! The Jiang family is just too lucky!" Madam Song's face was full of resentment.

How could she accept this?! She thought she could make the Jiang family lose face and ruin their reputation in the entire capital, but who knew it would even alarm the mayor!

Song Huiquan remained silent for a while, then immediately went out.

"Where are you going?!" Madam Song asked, following behind him.

Song Huiquan did not answer her.

When he arrived outside the police station, Jiang Shaozhen and Shen Mingzhi were just coming out.

He strode forward and blocked Jiang Shao Chen's path. "You were all prepared? Waiting for me to fall into your trap?"

"So what?" Jiang Shaozhen shielded Shen Mingzhi behind him. "I didn't want to end up like this with your Song family. You're the one who led me to this predicament!"

Song Huiquan's cloudy eyes were fixed on Jiang Shaozhen. "Don't think you've won!"

“I’ve already won. Some people in the military know what you’ve done, and if I want, it will continue to spread.” Jiang Shaozhen said coldly. “I’m leaving you a way out now only because I’ve told the mayor. It’s not out of consideration for our two families, nor for my childhood friendship with Song Wanyin. It’s to tell you that if I want, you can end up in an even worse situation at any time.”

Song Huiquan's face tightened, his eyes shifting from cold to ruthless as he looked at Shen Mingzhi standing behind him. He snorted coldly, "No matter what, you still don't have a legitimate claim!"

"Is that so?" Jiang Shaozhen smiled.

Song Huiquan always felt that there were things he didn't know.

Even if... he fabricated that evidence, Shen Mingzhi and Zhang Ping were already connected, so how could the higher-ups possibly be completely on their side?

Knowing he couldn't understand, Jiang Shaozhen looked at Shen Mingzhi behind him and said, "Go wait for me in my dad's car. He's over there."

It was only then that Song Huiquan realized that Jiang Guofu was not far away.

Shen Mingzhi glanced at the furious Song Huiquan, sneered, and left.

When it was just the two of them, Jiang Shaozhen looked at Song Huiquan and asked him, "Do you know Zhang Ping's character? Why did the mayor believe us so easily? Why did the mayor still stand up for us even though Shen Mingzhi had hosted a banquet with him?"

Song Huiquan remained silent.

Jiang Shaozhen moved closer to him and said, "Zhang Ping has sacrificed his life, but you don't know what happened to him in the army, and you never will. Don't try to take advantage of him again, or next time you won't just be suspended for six months."

So the problem lies with Zhang Ping?

"Zhang Ping to the end—"

"It's none of your business. Aren't you supposed to have a wide network and be able to do anything? Go check it out yourself." Jiang Shaozhen said this and left.

Back in the car, Jiang Shaozhen sat next to Shen Mingzhi, took her hand, and said, "I'm sorry you had to suffer with me."

"It's alright, there's a bed to sleep in and food to eat, it's not much different from home." This was her second time in the police station, but this time she wasn't as scared as before, and she answered whatever they asked.

"Let me take you home first so you can take a hot shower and change your clothes. The Lantern Festival is just a few days away, so it's good that we can celebrate it together." Jiang Guofu started the car with a happy expression.

"Xi Nian is gone?" Shen Mingzhi asked, her tone tinged with regret.

"Well... as soon as the policy was announced, I quickly bought him a boat ticket. If I delayed, things might change. Who knows what trouble Song Huiquan might cause then?" Jiang Guofu actually wanted to ask Shen Mingzhi why she knew about the policy so early and why she matched every detail of it.

But he didn't know how to ask.

"It's like this..."

Only after he left did Shen Mingzhi realize that she had indeed let Wang Xinian down.

Even though she knew he was so dependent on her, she still insisted on sending him abroad.

Seeing her downcast mood, Jiang Shaochen reached out and pulled her into his arms. "It's only four years. When you come back in four years, he'll be a very rare college student."

College students who have returned from studying abroad are the key individuals we should be nurturing.

Shen Mingzhi felt a little better after hearing his words.

That's true. Four years of studying abroad will give you a bright future, so this little bit of sadness is nothing.

Back at the courtyard house, Jiang Qing was looking out from the doorway.

Seeing them get out of the car, she rushed forward, hugged Jiang Shaozhen, and burst into tears, "You rascal, you made your mother worry to death!"

Jiang Shaochen patted her back. "It's alright now. Come on, let's go inside. The neighbors are watching."

As soon as the Jiang family's car drove into the alley, many people came out of their courtyards to watch the spectacle.

Although they returned intact, Song Huiquan's propaganda that day had a significant impact on the Jiang family.

"Hey... no conviction? What happened? I heard they were going to execute him."

"Yes, is there some misunderstanding?"

Although everyone asked this question, they all had ulterior motives.

Before Jiang Qing could even start cursing, Shen Mingzhi turned to the neighbors and said, "Someone abused their power to convict us. How could we be executed? Not only will we not be executed, but things will only get better this year."

"Yes, our district head is going to be replaced," Jiang Shaozhen said calmly.

Shen Mingzhi was unaware of this matter. Upon hearing this, she unconsciously looked at him and asked, "Really?"

"Yes, he's already suspended. I'll try my best to get him removed!" Jiang Shaozhen said with a smile, then put his arm around her shoulder and led her into the courtyard.

The neighbors were shocked.

Back in the courtyard, Jiang Guofu asked, "If you've really been suspended, can you be reinstated?"

“He’s been suspended, but I won’t be reinstated. I’ve already received my demobilization pay, and the project is still underway. By the end of this year, we should have made a lot of money.” After saying this, Jiang Shaozhen took Shen Mingzhi’s hand and said, “Let’s go in and take a shower and rest. You can call us for dinner tonight.”

"Okay." Jiang Guofu had a million doubts in his mind, but he suppressed them.

I'll ask again when I have the chance.

After taking a bath, Shen Mingzhi lay on the warm kang (heated brick bed) and waited for Jiang Shaochen.

A moment later, Jiang Shaozhen came in, drying his hair. He saw Shen Mingzhi lying on the bed and said with a smile, "Why aren't you asleep?"

"I want to know what preparations you made last year. Tell me about them," Shen Mingzhi said, her curiosity piqued.

You have to understand that Song Huiquan was the district head, with a lot of power. The fact that he was able to get rid of him so quietly shows he has quite the ability.

Jiang Shaozhen sat on the edge of the bed, looking at her for a while before saying, "Thanks to what you told me last year about the new rural reconstruction, I managed to get the blueprints we drew to him. When he met me, I told him about my difficulties, and he should have started paying attention to Song Huiquan then."

"Why would a district head like him care about Song Huiquan?" Shen Mingzhi felt it was unnecessary; the mayor of Beijing was already a very high-ranking official.