Rebirth of Corrupt Officials

Not long ago, he was discussing ‘choice’ with Wei Lai, but in the blink of an eye, the harsh reality of choice unfolded before him.

Exiting the ward, he spotted Lian Cheng standing upright on the opposite wall, observing.

Jiang Xiaochuan’s early emergence surprised Lian Cheng.

In front of others, Jiang Xiaochuan displayed a somewhat melancholic expression for the first time. “She’s fine. Once she adjusts, she will remain your most formidable witness.”

Zhang Xiaoli was someone capable of being resolute.

“Deputy Director, may I ask a rather impolite question?”

Jiang Xiaochuan gazed directly at Lian Cheng, displaying a newfound strength.

Anticipating the question, Lian Cheng couldn’t outright say, “Sorry, this matter is still under investigation. We have no conclusions on why Zhang Xiaoli encountered trouble. Additionally, this matter involves internal affairs of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. It’s a secret, and we can’t disclose it to anyone.”

Though he claimed secrecy, Lian Cheng indirectly revealed much.

Firstly, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection was clueless about how this incident occurred. Someone under their strict protection was suddenly bound near the river and almost thrown into its waters. The Commission’s failure to promptly investigate indicated a powerful and elusive culprit. They faced a capable adversary, adept at maintaining secrecy.

Secondly, the matter delved into internal secrets of the Commission. Whether related to the Commission’s internal workings or personnel relations, Jiang Xiaochuan’s inquiry into Zhang Xiaoli’s situation pointed to a significant oversight by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, involving internal secrets.

Once more, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection had its own flaws.

One might struggle to find an entirely clean team across the entire nation, right?

Jiang Xiaochuan suddenly felt caught in an infinite cycle. Such calculations and precautions were seemingly impossible to prevent…

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Lian Cheng had said enough, and Jiang Xiaochuan chose not to inquire further. Too many questions might convey excessive concern about the matter, and who knew what others might think of him?

As a gray official awaiting self-examination and investigation, he figured it wise to stay where it was calm, avoiding lively places when idle.

“In that case, I hope the deputy director can inform me when there will be results. After all, Zhang Xiaoli used to be a highly capable subordinate of mine, and now something like this has happened…” Jiang Xiaochuan played the emotional card, which, in this instance, stemmed genuinely from his heart.

Glancing at the watch on his wrist, worn for many years, he noted it was almost time. Today, a condolence group from the military region was scheduled to visit Jiang Xiaochuan’s home to express condolences to disabled soldiers like Jiang Encheng.

He was concerned and wanted to return home to check on things.

“Goodbye, Deputy Director Lian.”

Lian Cheng walked half a step behind and escorted him out of the corridor. “Mayor Jiang, walk slowly. Goodbye.”

This was the etiquette of subordinates towards superiors. This kind of treatment from him was really—

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When Jiang Xiaochuan got into the taxi, he still felt a little strange. In his last life, he was a corrupt official, suspended during an investigation by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. He became an ordinary citizen.

Although Lian Cheng was only a deputy bureau at that time, that deputy bureau was different from ordinary ones. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection had a secret investigation bureau. Ordinary people didn’t know its existence. Lian Cheng was powerful enough to be the deputy bureau of that secret team.

At that time, Lian Cheng was an official, and Jiang Xiaochuan was a citizen, so he felt inferior. Even though they communicated as equals, but now, his official rank was higher than Lian Cheng’s, and he had to accept the subordinate toward superior etiquette.

He hadn’t felt like this in their previous meetings. Those occasions were either too alienating or too special, with no chance for such contact.

Originally, Lian Cheng planned to find someone to send him off. However, if the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection sent someone, Jiang Xiaochuan’s situation might be as dangerous as Zhang Xiaoli’s.

It was dangerous to send, and it was dangerous not to send. Now in Chengzhou, there were hidden dangers everywhere.

Zhang Xiaoli was going to expose and report weeks ago. This news had not had time to be revealed, and few people knew about it. Something like this had already happened.

Was it because those corrupt officials with guilty consciences have too much power and too many eyes and ears? Or did the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection have fallen to that level?

It was very dangerous to report officials because the whistleblower usually worked alone and was a lone hero. Officials worked as a team. If one was reported, the rest were afraid something would happen to them, so they must take extreme measures.

Lian Cheng now not only had to protect Zhang Xiaoli, but Zhou Qian must also be strictly protected. Although Zhou Qian had not relented yet, the ability of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection wasn’t just a decoration. Sooner or later, he would relent.

Once he relented, many people involved might took action against Zhou Qian.

They dared to harm people at the hands of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. What else these scums not dare to do?

What Lian Cheng thought was also what Jiang Xiaochuan thought.

But none of this was Jiang Xiaochuan’s business. He sat in the back seat of the car and fell asleep with his eyes closed.