Nonsense
When Zhang Chenglin brought up his background and reputation, he made no attempt to hide anything, and his candor shocked Ji Yuxing.
"After my father passed away, I did not devote myself to the construction of the Kuomintang, simply because the outside world had already spread the word that I was not doing my job properly and could not shoulder the responsibility. I knew my own limitations, so of course I would not get involved in that mess."
"As for working for the Communist Party..." Zhang Chenglin paused at the most important point, causing Zhuang Yanbin and Jiang Rusu to tense up, waiting for him to continue.
“That’s even more absurd!” Zhang Chenglin said with a faint smile, as if he were saying something extremely casual: “What right do I, someone who almost became Zhang Deyue’s successor, have to work for the Communist Party?”
"You two are overthinking things."
After Zhang Chenglin finished speaking, Zhuang Yanbin and Jiang Rusu exchanged a glance, but neither of them spoke first.
Just a few seconds later, as Zhang Chenglin inadvertently looked down at the hem of his clothes, Zhuang Yanbin and Zhou Zhu, who was standing behind Ji Yuxing, exchanged a glance.
Then Zhang Chenglin heard Zhuang Yanbin say, "You went to Northeast China a few days ago."
Zhang Chenglin sneered inwardly, knowing that once they found evidence, they wouldn't let him off easily.
“Uncle Zhuang really has a wide network of informants,” Zhang Chenglin chuckled before saying, “He did spend a few days in the Northeast. As you know, the Ansteel incident caused widespread panic among everyone.”
"Shouldn't your uncle know about this?"
Zhang Chenglin's words drew Jiang Rusu, who had remained silent, into the center of the conversation.
As expected, after hearing Zhang Chenglin's words, Zhuang Yanbin looked up at Jiang Rusu.
“The Anshan Iron and Steel incident has gotten a bit out of hand and has affected the Jiang family’s businesses in Northeast China,” Zhang Chenglin said with a calm smile, as if he were explaining something trivial. “My grandfather couldn’t find any good helpers, so he asked me to go to Northeast China to quell public anger.”
"Is this matter also related to the Communist Party?"
As Zhang Chenglin spoke, he bent slightly and smiled, as if he had heard something extremely funny.
Zhang Chenglin glanced at his watch, not wanting to say more, and got straight to the point: "This matter has nothing to do with Miss Fengyue. It's best not to involve others in our own affairs, otherwise people will criticize the Kuomintang for being heartless."
"So, do you two think I can take the person away?"
Zhuang Yanbin and Jiang Rusu remained silent for a moment. Zhang Chenglin was not in a hurry and patiently persuaded them: "I'll say it again, Uncle Zhuang and Uncle, if you have anything to ask next time, just ask me directly. Why go to such lengths to ask a junior about something?"
Zhuang Yanbin stared at him for a few seconds, then waved his hand, signaling his men to take Zhang Chenglin to pick him up.
With Zhuang Yanbin's approval, Zhang Chenglin and Ji Yuxing got up and walked out.
Before they could even step out of the main room, Zhuang Yanbin said from behind, "Ah Lin, you absolutely must attend your father's death anniversary in a few days."
Upon hearing this, Ji Yuxing abruptly stopped and looked up at Zhang Chenglin, his eyes filled with undisguised shock.
Zhang Chenglin simply paused, turned around, and smiled faintly: "Yes, Uncle Zhuang."
After leaving the manor with Fengyue and Ji Yuxing, Zhang Chenglin got into the car and drove away without any hesitation.
"gentlemen……"
After Zhang Chenglin left, Zhuang Yanbin's subordinate returned to Zhuang Yanbin's side and spoke softly, as if asking if there was any next step.
Zhuang Yanbin waved his hand, telling him to go down first.
Then he spoke again: "The worst thing for a person like him is to have a weakness. Old Zhang taught him for so many years, how come he just can't learn?"
After listening to Zhuang Yanbin's words, Jiang Rusu watched the tea leaves float and sink in the teacup, remaining silent for a long time before finally saying nothing.
Zhuang Yanbin is right. People like them walk in pitch-black darkness, living a life of constant danger, and their biggest fear is having a weakness.
Without any weaknesses, one only cares about oneself, concentrating intently, keeping every organ in the body on high alert at all times, to avoid any conspiracy in the dark.
Having a weakness paralyzes one's internal organs, making one vulnerable to being stabbed in the back from any angle by those lurking in the shadows.
After taking Fengyue away, Zhang Chenglin did not send her back to Huayuelou, but took her directly home.
They followed Zhang Chenglin inside and finally stopped in the main room.
Zhang Chenglin turned to look at her, but before he could speak, Feng Yue lowered her eyes and said, "I'm sorry to have troubled you, sir."
Zhang Chenglin paused for a moment, then remained silent.
"What are you talking about, trouble or not?" Ji Yuxing walked in from outside, his voice rising at the end, clearly still happy: "Even if it is trouble, it's because Alin dragged you into it."
Ji Yuxing laughed openly, so openly that Feng Yue couldn't respond to his words.
“This is none of your business,” Zhang Chenglin said. “Have someone take you downstairs to rest for a while. I’ll send a message to Aunt Rong, telling her that you’ll stay here for the time being.”
Feng Yue's eyelashes trembled, and she glanced at Ji Yuxing without making a sound.
In the past, Zhang Chenglin would never have shown his relationship with Ji Yuxing so directly, but today he actually asked her to stay in front of Ji Yuxing.
But Zhang Chenglin's words left her no room for argument, so she nodded and said, "Yes, sir."
Soon, the old steward of the Zhang family came to take Fengyue to rest. Ji Yuxing took two steps forward, casually found a chair to sit down, and asked Zhang Chenglin, "Don't you plan to acknowledge her as your wife?"
As if afraid of hearing Zhang Chenglin's denial, Ji Yuxing added seemingly unintentionally, "So many years have been wasted."
Zhang Chenglin glanced at him but didn't say anything.
He was different from Ji Yuxing. Even if Ji Yuxing got into trouble, he still had the Ji family and Ji Ruqiong behind him. At least there were people who could protect Chai Feixue and help her survive in this chaotic world.
If he were to reunite with Fengyue, who is now all alone, he would be the next to suffer if something were to happen to him.
It's fine this way. At least if he's gone, she can still live a normal life like countless others.
Ji Yuxing sighed silently. He understood the reasoning, but he still felt it was a pity.
*
Fengyue stayed at Zhang Chenglin's residence for ten days. She didn't actually see Zhang Chenglin very often. Most of the time, he would come back in the evening, have dinner with her, or stay at her place at night.
There is no other overlap.
But the snow scene I saw at Zhang's residence was ultimately different from the one I saw at Huayue Tower.
So many years later, when Fengyue told others that she had "seen a colorful snow scene," many people thought she was crazy.
But how could they possibly understand that vibrant, colorful beauty?
December 27th arrived in the blink of an eye, the anniversary of Zhang Deyue's death.
After Zhang Deyue's death, his tomb was built in Zaozhuang. So this morning, many Kuomintang members and Zhang Deyue's old acquaintances gathered in Zaozhuang from various places.
The main streets of Zaozhuang were filled with the roar of various cars from early morning, making the bricks and tiles rattle and disturbing the peace.
The people of Zaozhuang were naturally full of resentment, but they dared not speak out.
Zhang Chenglin didn't arrive early; Zhang Shengmin was standing at the door greeting him when he arrived.
Compared to Zhang Chenglin, Zhang Shengmin is now much more valued by the old marshals of the Kuomintang.
Zhang Chenglin, standing at a great distance, listened to those people praising Zhang Shengmin. He lowered his eyes, chuckled softly, but remained silent.
As the people who had been talking in front of Zhang Shengmin gradually dispersed, Zhang Chenglin stepped up to Zhang Shengmin and said, "Brother."
"You've arrived?" Zhang Shengmin nodded and asked.
"Hmm." Zhang Chenglin didn't know what else he could say besides agreeing.
After all, he and Zhang Shengmin hadn't had anything in common for a long time.
“Go in first,” Zhang Shengmin said, seeing another old Kuomintang leader enter the room. “My mother is inside.”
Zhang Chenglin, who had already taken a step, suddenly stopped. He exchanged a glance with Zhang Shengmin, nodded, and then went through the door first.
After entering, Zhang Chenglin did not go directly to see Jiang Xuyin, but instead sat down in the seat arranged for him.
Zhang Chenglin looked around. He recognized most of the people present, but the rest were all completely new faces he had never seen before.
It seems that even after Zhang Deyue's death, Zhuang Yanbin still managed to place many of his trusted confidants within the Kuomintang.
A short while later, Sheng Dongsheng and Tan Yuanbo accompanied the General Secretary in from outside. Many Kuomintang leaders present stood up first and greeted the General Secretary with smiles.
The General Secretary has always been kind to people, and he was an old acquaintance of theirs. Whenever they met, he would always exchange some polite words.
During the brief pause in the conversation between the General Secretary and those people, Sheng Dongsheng turned his head to look at Zhang Chenglin, who was sitting in his seat, and nodded to him.
Zhang Chenglin didn't move or return the greeting, but he understood perfectly well that Sheng Dongsheng meant everything had been arranged outside, and those of them inside had to protect the General Secretary's safety.
Just as the General Secretary, Sheng Dongsheng, and Tan Yuanbo sat down, another commotion erupted outside. In the instant Zhang Chenglin turned his head, he saw the General Secretary and Sheng Dongsheng exchange a glance.
Sheng Dongsheng didn't assign Zhang Chenglin any other tasks, but Zhang Chenglin felt that the General Secretary must have other plans.
After Zhuang Yanbin and Jiang Rusu entered the room, they went straight to Zhang Chenglin's table.
Zhang Chenglin looked up and greeted them first: "Uncle Zhuang, Uncle."
Jiang Rusu glanced at him and nodded.
Zhuang Yanbin smiled and replied, "Ah Lin, we meet again."
Zhang Chenglin hesitated slightly as he held the teacup, then smiled and lowered his eyes: "Yes, we meet again."
Zhuang Yanbin looked at the smile on his face, his eyes slightly darkening, but he said nothing.
As they were talking, the General Secretary's gaze seemed to inadvertently drift towards them for a few seconds from the table next to them.
Sheng Dongsheng looked over and his gaze dimmed when he saw the smile on Zhang Chenglin's face.
At this moment, Tan Yuanbo got up and poured a cup of tea for the General Secretary, drawing the attention of both the General Secretary and Sheng Dongsheng back to the present.
After regaining his senses, Sheng Dongsheng glanced at Tan Yuanbo, who gave him a look that said, "Take it easy."
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