Finally, the security department invited Li Maocai, the head of the personnel department. Li Maocai glared at them and said with a bandit-like air, "What's all the noise about? You're just bored and have nothing better to do than go back to work!"
The crowd brought up that same thing again, and Li Maocai glared at them, "You saw that?" Seeing that everyone was unconvinced and shut their mouths, lowering their heads in protest, he continued, "Even the police haven't closed the case yet, and you think you're better than them? What are you doing at the design institute? Go work at the police station? You're all so capable all day long, go back to work! Qi Zhijun, come to my office for a moment."
Li Maocai was an old revolutionary who came from the battlefield. Although he had not fought for many years, his imposing presence could not be ignored.
Upon entering the office, he pointed to a chair and said, "Sit down. I'll deal with your matter now. Is your family really not involved in the forgery?"
Qi Zhijun was unaware of Li Maocai's intentions, but at this point, he could only swear to heaven that he hadn't.
Li Maocai squinted at Qi Zhijun as he pointed to the sky and swore an oath. He crossed his legs, stroked his beard with one hand, and pouted slightly as he listened to Qi Zhijun's account from beginning to end. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I understand. This is something you can't explain clearly."
Upon hearing this, Qi Zhijun turned deathly pale, feeling that life had lost all meaning. He had truly grasped the power of public opinion in the past few days. He would rather die than live the rest of his life in such an environment.
Seeing his cowardly appearance, Li Maocai spat inwardly with disdain. Despite working there, he secretly despised those who were weak and useless. Clearing his throat, he said, "I'll analyze this for you, considering you're a reserve cadre being trained by my design institute. Your situation is serious. Unless you repay the losses caused to the country, obtain proof that your sister borrowed money and tickets from that fraudster, and then have your sister tell the police she was raped by that fake ticket scalper, your sister can get out, though her reputation won't be good, but it's better than going to a labor camp. The second option is that your sister will be charged with fraud, forgery, and hooliganism, and will either go to a labor camp or be executed!"
Seeing Qi Zhijun's shocked expression, Li Maocai nodded and said, "Go and discuss it with your family to see what the choice is. If it's the first option, I'll send you to work in a lower-level position for a few years until this matter calms down, then you can come back. If it's the second option, your political future is basically over."
Actually, Li Maocai wasn't so kind-hearted. His brother unit in Tongzhou and Cangzhou needed to drill wells in many places, but they didn't have any technicians. The work there was tough and tiring, and he was worried about who to transfer there! Qi Zhijun just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Qi Zhijun nodded, indicating that he would go back and discuss it with his family and give him an answer tomorrow.
Sitting in the office, I felt empty inside. I thought of Zhao Dahu's words from yesterday. Yes! Gossip is a powerful thing. Shuqing and Aiguo are already far away, why drag them into this? He couldn't even bear this situation. He finally got off work and went to the hospital. As soon as he entered the ward, he found Qi Jia's face covered in bruises, his body already stiff. He cried out, "Dad, how are you? Don't scare me!" and then sobbed heartbreakingly, "Dad!"
When Qi's mother brought the doctor in, she saw this scene. She went over and patted Qi Zhijun's back, her voice hoarse and thick with nasal tone, "Your father held on to his last breath, wanting to see you all, but he didn't see anyone, he didn't see anyone! He died with his eyes open!"
He covered his mouth, unable to continue, his eyes blurred with tears.
Qi's father loved enjoying family life and lively gatherings, but he passed away sadly. He never saw his beloved grandson or daughter, and his son did not come to see him off.
His funeral arrangements were very simple. He was buried in a suitable place, and his mother, Qi Zhijun and his wife, along with their three children, saw him off on his final journey.
When Qi Zhijun returned home, he told his mother what Li Maocai had said. His mother wiped away her tears and said, "What a tragedy! We still have some money left, but where are we going to get the tickets?"
As a result, they spent the whole day borrowing money and tickets. They were busy all day and had borrowed from everyone they could, but they were still far from enough. Qi Zhijun reluctantly went to Li Maocai. Li Maocai looked at the money and tickets in his hand and was stunned. "All told, you've only had these for less than four months and you've already used so much?"
Not counting the tickets, just considering the money, 1300 yuan is gone, and now only 580 yuan is left. 720 yuan has been spent in four months. What does that mean? An ordinary family of four, all adults, doesn't even spend 20 yuan a month. I suddenly remembered the rumor that Qi Zhijun's ex-wife gave 36 yuan a month to the family, and he handed over all of his own salary of 28 yuan. The family couldn't afford to eat, and his grandson was so hungry that he had to be weaned after only two months. It seems that not knowing how to manage money is inherited! Qi Zhijun's mother just doesn't know how to manage money.
Thinking about his toothache, he wanted to back out of it, but Qi Zhijun quickly offered to use his salary in advance to pay back the money.
Li Maocai looked at him and said, "You'd have to work for two and a half years without eating or drinking to pay it off! How about this: let the factory give you ten yuan a month, enough for your food, and keep deducting the rest until you pay off the debt!"
There was no other way; the ticket cost the equivalent of 260 yuan, so Qi Zhijun ended up carrying 980 yuan. Then he realized, now that he had the money, how was he going to give it to the police?
Li Maocai got up and went to the police station with him. He also saw Qi Zhifang, who was disheveled and dirty. When she heard that she was asked to accuse Dai Shiliang of raping her, she hesitated. Qi Zhijun said, "Fangzi, Dad couldn't take the blow because of you and left. If you don't think about us, you have to think about the children!"
Qi Zhifang lowered her head in anguish, sobbing like a wounded animal, "Dad... Dad..." Suddenly, she broke down and cried out in heart-wrenching pain, "Dad!"
She then fell into a coma and when she opened her eyes again, she was already at the hospital. She had miscarried her three-and-a-half-month-old fetus and damaged her body, and she was afraid that she would never be able to have children again.
After learning about this, she stared blankly at the opposite side. The negotiations with Li Maocai were almost complete, and Qi Zhifang only needed to sign to leave.
Qi Zhifang used all her strength to sign the document and then covered herself with the blanket. Qi Zhijun only sighed and left.
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