Chapter 140: Price
Wen Chong's eyes lit up, and he quickly understood Tu Lanxun's intention, but he still repeated, "Zheng Liefeng?"
Zheng Liefeng is far away in another city, and Zheng Dongyang has been sent to Xiaokunshan.
Tu Lanxun's eyes were dark, and he said in a very gentle tone: "Yes, twins."
twin.
The secret red space on Xingfuquan Road and the secret red space on Xiaokunshan are exactly the same. Can they be called twins?
Who are the other twins?
Brothers Kris and Dong Yijian.
The police have not been able to find a way to enter the red space, but could it be related to the twins?
Zheng Liefeng was immediately recruited from Sunshine City. During the few hours of waiting for him, Tu Lanxun and Wen Chong once again confirmed the status of the detained ghosts.
"How's the situation at Nanlu?" Tu Lanxun asked.
Wen Chong said, "It's still dormant, a vegetative state among ghosts. Treatment research isn't my specialty, so I've asked the Tourism Bureau to delegate this task to other experts."
That means both Mu Xiaozhen and Bu Linlin are possible, Tu Lanxun thought.
Tu Lanxun had another important question he wanted to ask. "Um... Director Wen, if things ever come to an end, what will happen to ghosts like Sonia?"
Wen Chong: "Sonia?"
Sonia was strolling along Xingfuquan Road and was unaware of their conversation.
Tu Lanxun said naturally, "Yes. Sonia was forced to do bad things in the past, but it was all because of the harm she suffered at the hands of the Heavenly Kingdom Group. These ghosts are kind by nature and can be very helpful to our investigations, even providing protection..."
She asked this not only on behalf of Sonya, but also on behalf of Mikhail and N.
It's impossible for her to just muddle through until the end, where the Kingdom of Heaven Group is defeated, and then her ghost friends turn around and contribute their souls and strength, only to end up being detained or even eliminated, right?
If that was the case, she would rather let them go and flee to the ends of the earth, or run away with them herself.
Although the last words were spoken in anger, Wen Chong caught the eagerness and determination in Tu Lanxun's eyes. With a faint smile, he broached the topic: "The Tourism Administration will give you a lifetime position, the power to manage the development zone, and the generous salary that comes with it."
Tu Lanxun remained unmoved: "I can withdraw from the lifetime employment system, return the power to manage the development zone, and receive a high salary... The money I have saved now is enough to support my whole family for the rest of their lives."
This was a gamble, but also a subtle threat. She was betting that Wen Chong and the Tourism Administration still cared about her role in the investigation, and threatening them to make a guarantee to the ghosts on her side.
Tu Lanxun's face was stern, her eyes and eyebrows relaxed, but her lips were pressed into a straight line. She didn't care whether she had a subtextual conflict with her direct superior; she was waiting for an answer.
"You're such a person." Wen Chong was slightly furious, but beyond that anger was a larger, more indistinguishable emotion. She looked only slightly angry, her eyes shifting twice over Tu Lanxun's face, like a homeroom teacher examining a ridiculous homework assignment—all blank calculations with wrong answers, but filled with sketches of figures that could dominate the top school exams—and Wen Chong sneered, "You're so prepared for a rainy day, it's infuriating."
Wen Chong tapped Tu Lanxun's face and said calmly, "In ancient times, an army like yours that announced its retreat before the battle began would usually be killed on the battlefield."
Tu Lanxun bowed his head slightly. "I understand, but what's coming is not only a tough battle, but a fierce one. I can't let my friends risk their lives for everyone without any reputation or profit, without any protection, and even risk being arrested later. Director Wen, please give us an explanation."
Wen Chong squinted his eyes and asked, "Aren't you afraid that I won't have the final say and might go back on my word?"
Tu Lanxun straightened his neck and said, "I believe in Director Wen's character. If that day ever comes, I must have misjudged him."
"You know, I once wanted to take you in as my student and successor, with a higher priority than Lu Lianbing and Zhao Kuanqiao." Wen Chong sighed deeply, smoothing his frown. "You're the best person to learn from me, and even more than that, from the other directors and professors at the Tourism Administration. You'll have a chance to try your hand at it."
Tu Lanxun's eyes flashed with emotion, and he replied firmly: "Thank you for your consideration, but I think you have changed your mind."
"Of course. Your situation and the people you're with are too dangerous and unstable. Just like what you said to me today." Wen Chong smiled easily and said, "But you can rest assured that I gave up your position as the first heir a little earlier than the time you came to me to make a promise."
Tu Lanxun wasn't very interested, but still cooperated and asked, "Why?"
"The second and third reasons are that being the director of the Tourism Administration isn't easy, and there's also the pressure of personal life. Even for regular employees like Xiao Lu and Xiao Zhao, all information must be strictly monitored. Life, family, hobbies, and thoughts must all be transparent. Add to that the extremely high-pressure work environment..."
Wen Chong shrugged and concluded, "So naturally, many of my colleagues have no lives, no families, no hobbies, and none of the ideological dynamics derived from the first three."
Tu Lanxun's mind flashed to the salary subsidy form that Zhao Kuanqiao had shown her. Not to mention an ordinary staff member like Lu Zhao, even a cleaner in the General Administration had an average monthly salary of an unimaginable amount, which was almost like making a lot of money without doing anything.
——Lying down does not mean leisurely, it means that you may lie on the sofa to catch up on sleep, lie on the hospital bed to recuperate, or even lie in the incinerator of the funeral home at any time.
Wen Chong winked at Tu Lanxun. "And the confidentiality period is very long, longer than a person's life. The Tourism Administration is a relatively new organization, but there have been cases of employees whose ghosts have continued to serve the Administration after their deaths."
Tu Lanxun thought of Professor Shen.
Chen Ou and Mu Xiaozhen were former husband and wife, and he was also proficient in various skills of the Tourism Administration. It is very likely that his last job before his death was the Tourism Administration.
As for why he continued to serve the Tourism Administration after his death, Tu Lanxun speculated that it might be the combined effect of contractual agreements and habitual hobbies.
Suddenly I remembered that Wenchong had just mentioned the four words "lifelong establishment".
Perhaps lifelong refers not only to the demise of the body, but also to the soul?
Wouldn't that be like selling your soul to the Tourism Bureau?
Wen Chong seemed to read Tu Lanxun's thoughts and smiled, "It's not that scary. We're a high-ranking, legitimate organization. When we hired you as a special employee, we didn't sign any kind of indenture." She changed the subject, "But habit is a terrifying thing. It can change and shape a person."
Tu Lanxun brought the topic back to the beginning. "You said the second and third reasons for giving up on me were because you were worried I wouldn't be able to handle the high pressure. What about the first reason?"
Wen Chong said, "You're wrong. I'm not afraid you're incapable, I'm afraid you're too capable. Your personality isn't suited to this path. You're highly motivated, but your self-control fluctuates. In this respect, you're not as capable as I or any other director back then. Furthermore, you're too opinionated. You appear soft on the surface, but you're actually extremely unruly, even more rebellious than I was a dozen or twenty years ago. These are all destabilizing factors. You're born to rule the land, so you'd be perfect for stabilizing the development zone."
Tu Lanxun felt that Wen Chong was beating around the bush. He had already selectively ignored two issues and even offered a sugar-coated compliment. She refused to accept it and rebelliously reminded him, "Director Wen, the first reason has to do with your attitude towards protecting my ghost friends. I apologize."
Wen Chong raised his eyes resignedly, his face etched with "I knew it." But he could tell she loved painting the blue xun, like a fine duck egg among a pile of eggs. Although he didn't put it in his basket, Wen Chong still sympathetically said, "The first reason is a secret for now. Someone doesn't want your soul..."
Wen Chong nodded to the side of her head. Tu Lanxun was surprised but not surprised at all. She had heard that all regular employees of the Tourism Administration who held high positions or performed dangerous tasks had implanted positioning devices as a double insurance for both their souls and bodies, which might also have some other functions.
This is both to provide oversight—the current power of the Tourism Bureau is far too great—and to protect those at high risk, facilitating timely support and rescue efforts.
However, seeing Wen Chong personally hinting at the admission today still shocked Tu Lanxun.
Wen Chong smiled and said, "Someone doesn't want you to be like us."
Tu Lanxun subconsciously asked, "Who is it?"
Wen Chong didn't answer, but just said, "I've already said it all. Keep it secret for now."
Tu Lanxun frowned: "Why should that person help me make a decision?"
Wen Chong: "I didn't make a decision for you. I simply pointed out the risks and disadvantages of the matter and asked us to fully inform you when you make your choice. As for whether the other party's personal attitude affected my consideration of you, I must honestly tell you, it did a little."
Tu Lanxun felt like hitting someone. Although she absolutely did not accept the rules and regulations being drafted by the Tourism Administration, it was still very strange to be kicked in the face by someone in advance.
But her heart suddenly turned cold, and she asked Wen Chong cautiously, "If you decide to recruit me, will you fully consider my free opinion?"
"Both in theory and in practice," Wen Chong said with a complicated expression. "But you have to understand that our unit is undertaking a brand-new, collective, and ambitious undertaking... Can 'free opinions' that are influenced by emotions, habits, or even subconsciously brainwashed by ourselves still be considered truly 'free'?"
It seems that many people signed the terms after the superiors, becoming a sharp knife extended by the Tourism Administration. They received the best maintenance, but the body and soul of the handle were stamped with the mark of the Tourism Administration.
There is nothing to blame Tu Lanxun. After all, many decisions in normal life are made under the influence of various factors. Where is the real "freedom"?
It’s just that the Tourism Administration’s exit mechanism is not two-way free.
Then came the second question, which was what Tu Lanxun was really concerned about. Wen Chong saw the look in Tu Lanxun's eyes, sighed slightly, and said, "I promise you, isn't that enough?"
Tu Lanxun's eyes lit up: "Really?"
Wen Chong nodded. "As long as the ghosts around you are not on our wanted list, I will not pursue them and report them later. Is that okay?"
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