"I was beaten so many times that I got scared and couldn't continue to be a soldier. Later, my father came to the army to see me, gave me money, and asked me to buy cigarettes and alcohol for the army leaders to improve my relationship... At first I didn't think money could solve any problems, but after I used the money to treat my classmates to dinner a few times and bought a few packs of good cigarettes for the leaders, everyone seemed to suddenly change their attitude towards me..."
"Those comrades who looked down on me started to get close to me. Those veterans would put their arms around my shoulders and tell me I could come to them if I had any problems in the future. Those leaders would even open a back door for me to take early leave... At that moment, I suddenly realized that this was how my dad got to the top. If he could do it, there was no reason why I couldn't... It was as if hope was rekindled in my life."
Zhao Jie's throat was smoking, so he took out the mineral water and took a sip.
Cheng Xinghan sat in the driver's seat, listening carefully, feeling the same way and resonating with the audience unconsciously.
Zhao Jie then said with emotion, "After I was demobilized, my father used money to find connections and arranged for me to work in the township. Within a few years, I was promoted to deputy township head. A year later, I became a member of the township party committee... For a while, I was in the limelight... I was so happy that I forgot everything. I felt that within two years, I could climb to the position of township head and secretary by this means."
"Then Li Lin showed up. I looked down on him at first, so I teamed up with Lu Yuming to bully him... But he was like an indestructible cockroach. No matter how we suppressed him, he just held his head high and refused to fall... For a moment, I admired him. I admit that if I were him, I would have fled back to the county town in disgrace."
"Later, I gave him money to get him to withdraw from the competition for the deputy secretary position. He scolded me. I was very angry at the time and even thought about how to deal with him... It was then that I was surprised to find that he had such a good relationship with the county party secretary."
"He had such a good relationship with the county party secretary, and he was so low-key. That time, I admired him from the bottom of my heart."
Cheng Xinghan was surprised when he heard this. He could never imagine that Li Lin was only a deputy section chief at that time, and ranked behind Zhao Jie. How could he dare to challenge Zhao Jie? What was even more surprising was that Li Lin was willing to stay in Weishui Township and be ostracized even though he had a relationship with the county party secretary? What was he thinking? Was he being low-key or stupid?
Cheng Xinghan was puzzled.
Zhao Jie continued, "That was the first time I gave money to Li Lin. Although it was rejected, I didn't think anything of it. I simply thought that Li Lin didn't have the guts to accept the money. But today, he is already the township party secretary and has been promoted to deputy director level. He could have taken money to do things like other leaders did, but he didn't do that."
"He told me that money might be able to buy a lot of things, but not in front of him, Li Lin!"
"Xinghan, when I heard these words, I don't know why, I was shocked and ashamed. I wanted to find a hole in the ground to crawl into..."
"He is a real gentleman, and I am a villain, I always have been. I am ashamed... So I said, I was wrong from the beginning!"
Cheng Xinghan looked solemn and fell into deep thought.
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