0164 173 Leaving Beijing
However, Ling Xingzhi underestimated the importance of leaving the capital.
Ling Qingyun froze all the bank cards under his name. Ling Xingzhi found it ridiculous. How could someone as old as him, the mayor of a city, be short of money? The money problem was solved, but transportation was not an option. When he went to the airport, the security personnel took him to a room. He was unable to leave even after several flights from Beijing to Kunming. He was locked up for three days and three nights.
In the end, Qingyun sent someone to pick him up and take him home. Seeing a row of black cars stop and a police car behind them, Ling Xingzhi chuckled, got in, and with the police car leading the way, he swaggered home.
Now, probably everyone in the capital knows that he wanted to go to Kunming but couldn't. Ling Xingzhi, who hadn't taken going to Kunming seriously before, now had to take it seriously.
As soon as Ling Xingzhi arrived home, he saw Ling Qingyun sitting at the dining table eating, while Guo Huaisheng stood beside him serving soup.
She turned her head and saw Ling Xingzhi, smiling slightly. It had been a long time since she'd seen her adopted son; they hadn't seen each other much during the New Year holidays, mostly due to social engagements and banquets. Now that she saw him, she politely asked, "You're back? Come and eat!"
Ling Xingzhi glanced at Ling Qingyun, who was eating, then sat down, took the bowl and chopsticks handed to him by Guo Huaisheng, picked up a piece of food and put it in his rice, but didn't eat it. Looking at the hot food on the table, his anger flared up.
During the days he was locked up, he could only drink water and had no hot food or meals. He could smell the instant noodles through the crack in the door, which made him feel nauseous but also very hungry. Meanwhile, the person who started it all was eating and drinking well at home. Ling Xingzhi took a deep breath, but did not react. He remained calm and even smiled as he finished his meal.
The dining table was filled with a peaceful atmosphere, a warm and harmonious family scene.
As Ling Xingzhi was about to leave after finishing his meal, Ling Qingyun spoke up, "Ling Xingzhi, there are some things I can tolerate you for, but there are some things you can't do. You can let those insignificant women get away with it, but don't touch Zhou Xiye, don't even think about it."
Ling Xingzhi turned to look at his father, his face calm. "I know, I will do everything you say. If I go to Zhou Xiye at this time, it will definitely be bad for the Ling family. But, Dad, besides being a member of the Ling family, I am also myself. I have my own political ambitions. I have found someone who shares my ideals, and I want to walk with her."
Ling Qingyun put down her chopsticks and watched as her child finally acted like an adult, negotiating and bargaining with her on an equal footing.
"Since you know it's wrong, why do you still do it?"
Ling Xingzhi shook his head. "Doesn't Zhou Xiye know how dangerous this is? She can forge her own path on her own. Dad, why do you think I can't?"
"Because you're not Zhou Xiye!" Ling Qingyun slammed her hand on the table and stood up. "You're different from her. You don't need to forge your own path. I've already arranged everything for you! You don't need to work so hard. What is she? Her actions may seem noble, but we've all been through similar experiences. I've had my idealistic moments too. So many people on this path can't do it, can't persevere, but can she? This isn't a TV drama. We don't need heroes. This is reality. Ling Xingzhi, wake up!"
“I am clear-headed enough that I did this.”
Ling Xingzhi looked at his father, "Perhaps you have had your idealistic moments, but I haven't. You are my father, and you have no right to deprive me of my choices. If... you think I will bring trouble to the Ling family, then please... pretend you don't have a son like me."
Ling Qingyun was furious, so angry she laughed. She pointed at Ling Xingzhi and said, "What kind of bewitching drug did that woman give you? Hmm? Pei Zhiyu from the Pei family too, now he's drinking every day for that woman, neglecting his work. And look at you, now you want to sever ties with me for her sake!?"
He ordered his men to remain silent and stand still.
"Do you think that just because I've severed ties with you, you're no longer a member of the Ling family? All your achievements today are thanks to the Ling family. Without the Ling family, you are nothing!"
Ling Xingzhi felt the same way, and said firmly, "So I'll see what I really am after leaving this family."
"You'll know who you are once you're with Zhou Xiye?"
"Not necessarily, but I'm willing."
Ling Qingyun was furious and staggered backward. Guo Huaisheng quickly supported him, saying, "Ling Xingzhi, why don't you apologize to your father right now!" After saying this, he turned around and shouted, "Where's the doctor! Call the doctor!"
A group of doctors rushed over, and the restaurant was instantly packed with people coming and going.
Ling Xingzhi took a few steps back; this was the best time for him to leave. He strode back into the house, took out his phone, called the director of the Transportation Bureau, and hung up after only a few words. Ling Xingzhi himself understood what was going on. Ling Qingyun was serious, and so was Ling Xingzhi this time.
So he found his other ID cards in the safe, each with a different name. Eliminating the identity Qingyun knew, he took two usable IDs. There was security at the gate, so he had to climb over the wall to get out. Once outside, he hailed a taxi, gave the driver 500 yuan in cash, threw his phone into the car, and said, "Sir, this is the fare, and you can keep the phone. Please drive to the airport. If you dare not go, I'll call the police and have you arrested."
The driver didn't understand what was going on either, and could only agree to Ling Xingzhi's words.
After finishing that, Ling Xingzhi took out another cell phone from his pocket and called Cheng Haodong.
The car pulled up quickly, and Ling Xingzhi opened the door and got in. "Let's go, take me to the train station."
Cheng Haodong started the car with a smile. "What's wrong? Is your old man running away from home? What's so important in Kunming? Is my sister Zhou pregnant with your child and wants to have an abortion?"
Ling Xingzhi didn't have time to joke with him. "Hurry up and drive, or someone will be chasing you soon." After saying that, he took out his phone, looked at it for a while, and turned to Cheng Haodong, saying, "Give me your phone."
He used Cheng Haodong's phone to buy fifteen train tickets, for all sorts of destinations. While waiting at a red light, Cheng Haodong calculated how much Ling Xingzhi had spent and was shocked. "Dude, no, you...you, why did you buy so many train tickets...Are you really going to run away from home?"
Ling Xingzhi used his phone to buy a few more train tickets. When Cheng Haodong asked him, he didn't even look up and just grunted "Mmm".
Before Cheng Haodong could ask any more questions, his phone rang. The person on the other end said a few words, and Cheng Haodong grunted a few times, threw down his phone, and slammed on the gas pedal. "You were right. We've received orders to arrest someone."
Ling Xingzhi was not surprised at all. "Just drop me off at Beijing Station."
Cheng Haodong didn't understand why Ling Xingzhi was doing this, but as a friend, this was all he could do to help him. The car stopped at Beijing Station, and Ling Xingzhi got off. Cheng Haodong said with a grin, "Keep it up, you're almost forty. If you don't have children soon, you won't be able to have any more."
That's bullshit.
Ling Xingzhi waved and disappeared into the crowd.
Cheng Haodong started the car, but before he had gone more than a few meters, he was surrounded by several police cars.
I rolled down the window and asked, "Why are you buying so many train tickets?"
Cheng Haodong frowned. "It's none of your business. This is my privacy."
"Get out of the car!" the policeman said to Cheng Haodong.
Cheng Haodong works in the same department as the Ministry of Public Security, but they are also related by marriage. Without getting out of the car, he said in a pretentious manner, "Call your station chief. I have something to say to him."
"Chief? Even the bureau chief can't do anything about it, get out of the car!"
Cheng Haodong's eyes darted around. "Why should I get off the bus just because you tell me to? I'm a colonel."
"get off!"
Cheng Haodong ignored him, rolled up the window, and sped away. Police cars gave chase, their sirens blaring. He tried everything to buy Ling Xingzhi time, hoping he could leave Beijing safely.
On the other side, Ling Xingzhi wandered around in the crowd for a while before taking a taxi to the North Station.
Arrived safely.
But after I boarded the train and put my briefcase away, a group of police officers came a few seconds later and checked my ID.
Ling Xingzhi calculated the time; it wasn't long after the Lunar New Year, and the National People's Congress meeting hadn't started yet. Checking ID cards now was definitely because of him. Ling Xingzhi didn't have time to think further and turned to leave before the police arrived.
But at the other end of the carriage were also police officers, leaving them in a dilemma.
Ling Xingzhi sighed deeply. It was a dead end. He looked out the window, wondering if jumping out was a viable option.
Before he could catch his breath, someone grabbed him. "It's him, it's him!"
The next second, everything went black, and Ling Xingzhi was pinned down.
The car fell silent for a moment, then a few seconds later a woman's laughter could be heard, "Excuse me, we're from the Discipline Inspection Commission, we're here to arrest corrupt officials, don't be afraid."
Li Ling's voice gradually relaxed my tense muscles.
The police officer's voice rang out, "Oh, Director Li, are you arresting someone?"
"Yes, Director Tan, you've come to arrest people personally?"
"No, it's just that it's the Spring Festival peak season, and we're short-handed, so I came to help. Going to the grassroots level has its advantages."
After the two talked for a while, Li Ling ordered her men to take Ling Xingzhi away.
Director Tan wanted to see, but Li Ling stopped him, speaking in a rather serious tone, "These are the people we need to arrest. This is a matter for the Discipline Inspection Commission; you can't afford to delay it."
Once those words were spoken, the police had no choice but to drop the matter.
Li Ling helped Ling Xingzhi into the car, removed her mask, and handed Ling Xingzhi a bottle of water, saying, "Thank you for your hard work, Mayor Ling."
Ling Xingzhi glanced at it, then turned to look out the car window. "What does this mean?"
"It's nothing, I'm just seeing you off out of the capital."
Ling Xingzhi nodded, unscrewed the bottle cap, took a sip of water, and after a while, asked, "Do you know Zhou Xiye?"
“We used to have a very good relationship, but now…” Li Ling turned to meet Ling Xingzhi’s gaze, “We’re just colleagues.”
“Then you…” Ling Xingzhi was not quite convinced that Li Ling could send him out of the capital.
"You can disbelieve me, but you can't disbelieve Zhou Xiye. You and I both know her current situation. I can't go see her, so I can only place my hopes on you."
Ling Xingzhi smiled and didn't ask any further questions.
A few hours later, the car drove out of Beijing and arrived in Tianjin. Ling Xingzhi got out of the car, and Li Ling handed him a document. "Use this, and you can get to Kunming," she said, before closing the car door and driving away.
Ling Xingzhi opened the document and looked at it; it was a brand new identity document. He watched the car drive away and smiled.
After a long and arduous escape, they arrived in Kunming two weeks after Zhou Xiye's incident.
Ling Xingzhi hadn't washed or shaved; his face was covered in stubble. His hurried steps halted when he saw Zhou Xiye at the hospital. Seeing the familiar face sitting on the hospital bed, pale and thin, he was suddenly overcome with a feeling of déjà vu after not seeing him for years.
They really haven't seen each other for a long time, have they?
But no, it's just that there were too many things between them, which stretched the short week into several times its original length.
Ling Xingzhi straightened his collar, walked slowly to Zhou Xiye, and bent down to look at her.
Zhou Xiye met his gaze, her eyes filled with confusion. "Who are you? Big brother, who are you looking for? Have you seen my mother? She said I have to give her away, but I don't want to go. I'll be good from now on..."
Ling Xingzhi was stunned, his eyes filled with disbelief. The next second, his nose tingled, and he touched Zhou Xiye's hair. "You're such a good actor..." He gritted his teeth, suppressing his emotions. "Stop pretending, okay? Don't scare me."
Zhou Xiye still looked at him, puzzled, noticing the tears on his cheeks.
"You're an adult, you can't cry."
Ling Xingzhi nodded, reached out and hugged Zhou Xiye, burying his head in her neck. After a few seconds, he straightened up, sniffed, cupped Zhou Xiye's head in his hands, and touched her face.
His eyes were filled with tears as he looked at her tenderly.
"Don't be afraid... Zhou Xiye, don't be afraid, I'm here... I'll walk this road with you."
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