In the afternoon, the sun shone so brightly that the earth became scorching hot, as if it was going to burn everything.
Li Lin left the hospital and returned to Gao Qiang's home.
I had just made a cup of tea and was ready to calm down when Li Lan sent me a message.
"Xiao Lin, I'm back in the provincial capital. Whenever you come to the provincial capital, be sure to contact me."
Li Lin remained silent and replied with a plain message, "Okay, Sister Lan, have a safe trip."
The provincial capital! The city where he has stayed the longest besides Shannan County...
On this quiet afternoon, he couldn't help but think of the former executive vice mayor, Qian Lingyun, whom he once served.
At that time, he often accompanied Qian Lingyun to the provincial capital to do business, and sometimes when it got late, he would stay at his house for a night.
Qian Lingyun is both his mentor and leader.
He not only gave Li Lin endless guidance and support in his work.
The two of them became close friends who could confide in each other in life.
The tacit understanding between them does not require words; a look or a smile can convey each other's thoughts.
This unique relationship allowed Li Lin to continue to grow in his official career and also made him feel real care and trust!
It was precisely because of the deep feelings between the two that Qian Lingyun was taken away for investigation by comrades from the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection.
When some city leaders hinted to Li Lin that he should sever his ties with Mayor Qian as soon as possible, it would be best if he could proactively provide some evidence of Qian Lingyun's violations of discipline.
Li Lin flatly rejected this shameless act of backstabbing!
Moreover, when assisting the Commission for Discipline Inspection in its investigation, he was even more outspoken in expressing his attitude.
Mayor Qian would never engage in corruption, he is being slandered. As his secretary, I, Li Lin, can use my party spirit to vouch for him!
Of course! For a deputy section-level official like him to guarantee for a deputy department-level official could only become a joke.
However, his action directly angered some leaders, who completely regarded him as Qian Lingyun's close friend and demoted him to Weishui Township.
But he had no regrets! He always believed that Qian Lingyun was slandered!
The fact was just as Li Lin had expected. After more than a month of investigation and evidence collection, the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection did not find any evidence that Qian Lingyun had taken bribes.
And the so-called evidence - a tea can containing 20,000 US dollars - did not contain Qian Lingyun's fingerprints.
This is not enough to prove that Qian Lingyun knew in advance that the tea can contained US dollars instead of tea leaves!
The investigation into Qian Lingyun ended here, and the provincial party committee promptly restored his reputation.
However, the honor could be restored, but the reputation was tarnished from then on, and coupled with the relentless pursuit of those political opponents, the provincial party committee was in a very passive position.
In desperation, Qian Lingyun was transferred from Pingyang City, promoted in name only but demoted in reality, to the Provincial People's Congress as the director of the Agricultural Office...
Li Lin also became an abandoned child who was hated by everyone and was sent to the remote Weishui Township...
Come to think of it, it has been a while since I visited this old leader.
I don’t know if he has adapted to his new life now.
...
Provincial capital, Hanjiang Provincial Party Committee Office Building.
The armed police soldiers standing guard at the door have postures as straight as pine trees, eyes as firm as iron, and steel guns tightly grasped in their hands, like an indestructible fortress.
They exude an aura of majesty that makes people feel awe.
Next to them, on a striking warning sign, there were eight large characters written: "Guards are sacred and inviolable."
These eight words are like an insurmountable gap, separating the outside world from the provincial party committee.
They constantly remind people that this is a solemn and serious place that no one is allowed to desecrate easily.
In the provincial party committee compound, apart from a few birds occasionally coming down to peck at food, there was almost no one in the room, and it seemed quiet and peaceful.
Qian Lingyun was standing in the office on the second floor at this time, quietly looking at things downstairs through the window.
For the past six months, his life in the provincial party committee has been monotonous and complicated. He comes to his small office at eight o'clock every morning, makes a cup of tea, reads the newspaper, and occasionally one or two former colleagues come to chat...
He is only fifty years old and he has already retired early.
He was depressed and miserable. This non-challenging job made him feel that life had no meaning at all.
At this moment, the phone in the office suddenly rang. The General Office of the Provincial Party Committee informed him that he had to submit a report on clean government and asked him to prepare it in advance.
He couldn't help but smile bitterly. This place was even more leisurely than the Qingshui Yamen...but he still couldn't forget to be honest and self-disciplined. It was really ironic!
As an educated person, he started his official career by writing reports for the provincial party committee secretary. At that time, his writing style was steady and he was highly regarded by the provincial leaders.
However, since I took up a leadership position, I have almost never written reports myself, and the skills I have are no longer rusty.
He shook his head helplessly and called the department in the NPC office that was responsible for writing materials.
"Xiao Wang, I'm Qian Lingyun."
"Oh, hello, Director Qian, do you have any instructions?"
"I have an integrity report to write. I will provide you with some of my personal information. Please help me to moisten the pen."
There was silence on the other end of the line for a moment, and then a voice laughed awkwardly, "It's like this, Director Qian, the National People's Congress has an important meeting to be held in the next two days, and we can't spare anyone to help you write the report for the time being. You see... you should write it yourself first."
Qian Lingyun frowned slightly, and the feeling of loss in his heart increased even more.
This is the reality. If you have no power, no one will even take your words seriously!
How could he not know whether the National People’s Congress had important meetings?
This is clearly an excuse the office staff is making to reject Qian Lingyun!
Qian Lingyun didn't hesitate or get angry, and said calmly, "Well, let me, an old guy, do it myself!"
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