In the special room, there were no hard objects to speak of.
Walls, windows, even the washbasin and toilet were all padded; committing suicide in there was harder than reaching the heavens.
Accompanied by two ard guards and a dedicated cadre, Liu Zhizhong t with Ma Xudong in the small living room of the room.
Aside from looking slightly haggard, Ma Xudong hadn't changed much.
He was still tall, still stout, and his hair was washed clean.
He showed no fear and remained calm, just like the first ti Liu Zhizhong had visited him here.
However, he was now wearing handcuffs, and there were shackles on his feet as well. The materials were special, allowing him to walk without much difficulty, and they were not tal, so they did not harm the body.
Liu Zhizhong gave him a cigarette, and although the match extinguished after two seconds, it was enough ti to light the cigarette.
Three people sat nearby, accompanying and guarding them; both Ma Xudong and Liu Zhizhong were accustod to this.
As soon as the cigarette was lit, Ma Xudong spoke indifferently, "Zhizhong, thank you for really coming. I thought that, given my situation, you wouldn't co again. It was my request for you to co, not the Provincial Disciplinary Committee's. You could have chosen not to co. After all, I'm about to beco a criminal of the organization and the people; you don't need to involve yourself with anymore. It would be harmful and not beneficial for you if word got out."
That was indeed true.
Given that the Provincial Disciplinary Committee had notified Liu Zhizhong again this morning and considering Lu Yuqing's return to the unit, it seed unlikely she would keep quiet about it. After all, Liu Zhizhong had taken leave, surely there needed to be a reason?
Once this was revealed, everyone would know, and so might think that Liu Zhizhong still had issues. If there were no issues, why keep accepting etings with Ma Xudong? What did that imply if not a problem?
Liu Zhizhong exhaled a plu of smoke and said with a wry smile, "This morning, when the phone call ca, they still referred to you as 'comrade.' Until the trial, you are still one of us. When our comrade needs us, how could I, a lesser comrade, refuse?"
Ma Xudong cracked a smile, sowhat relieved, and nodded, "Mm, thank you, Comrade Liu Zhizhong. Others might keep away from a comrade who has erred like , but you are different. I'm very fortunate to have had you as my secretary—I'm truly sorry for choosing you as my secretary. I'm sorry that I couldn't be of help to you before things ca to this, haha..."
He spread his hands, took a deep drag on his cigarette, his relieved smile tinged with bitterness.
Liu Zhizhong felt a twinge of pain in his heart.
To say he had benefited, yes.
That he had been affected, indeed.
But Ma Xudong had been kind to him, truly ridding him with guilt.
Humans, sotis those who are kind-hearted and conscientious, are just so contradictory.
"Secretary Ma, please don't say such things. There's no need for apologies or guilt. If we were to say...oh, there's surveillance and recording here, all I can say is that you were once my leader, who gave opportunities for promotion. In the City Committee Courtyard, it was a rare life experience and a test for , where I was able to learn a lot. In Yangzhou, you were honest, upright, selfless, and possessed political aspirations and ideals. No matter what may happen to in the future, I will still cherish this brief ti spent working here, which really broadened my perspectives and tempered as an individual."
Ma Xudong was truly moved, and even the Provincial Disciplinary Committee officer in charge couldn't help but nod in agreent. Liu Zhizhong really did have outstanding qualities.
Here, Liu Zhizhong was not uncomfortable, free from any pretense, seeming genuine and straightforward.
When the forr leader was in trouble, he could have chosen not to visit, but he ca, and promptly at that. This bore witness to a profound loyalty, sothing very precious.
In officialdom, among those who busied themselves dissociating from troubleso relations, he was a rarity!
Ma Xudong nodded, a smile of relief reappearing as he said, "Zhizhong, you are excellent, one can see it in every action, every word. Your little aunt's father admires you greatly. If there's another life, I would still choose you as my secretary, to properly nurture you. But for this lifeti, that's it! Today, I've asked you here to speak my mind and perhaps to entrust you with so final matters...sigh."
As he said this, the atmosphere grew noticeably heavier, and Liu Zhizhong silently nodded.
Seeing that the cigarette was almost finished, he offered another to Ma Xudong.
Ma Xudong took it, igniting it with the stub of the old one, and began to speak as he smoked.
"Zhizhong, let's not dwell on the corrupting influence of officialdom. You, I'm certain, are clean and honest, not greedy or corrupt, and a good comrade, of that I am sure—it's truly comndable."
"But just because you keep to a path of integrity, does that an you have no weaknesses? Will people use you, will they cultivate you? It seems rather unlikely. Because you are too clean, those around you seem tainted, and few dare to associate with you. I wanted to bring you into the fold, but my ti is over."
"At my position, looking across the world, is there an innocent snowflake? If there was innocence, it would not reach this position. But I must confess and accept my punishnt, my connections can't protect , instead, they need protection from !"
"This punishnt, for , is quite severe. The amount involved in the case is 800 million, but they will only acknowledge 200 million—the remaining 600 million, its whereabouts unknown, I have no idea."
"The villa at ho will be confiscated and auctioned off because it was a gift from soone else. Then, Qingqing will soon be holess. My poor daughter, she's really about to be without a ho..."
Tears almost overwheld Ma Xudong's eyes, wrenching Liu Zhizhong's heart as he rembered Ma Qingqing. Before the trouble, they had kept in touch privately, happily so!
After Ma Xudong's troubles began, Ma Qingqing had turned off her phone and logged out of WeChat.
Ma Xudong lowered his head to wipe his eyes before looking up at Liu Zhizhong, "Zhizhong, give Little Sister Qingqing a ho, your little uncle entrusts her to you, okay? If not, there's likely no one else who will take care of her. She's only 19, still so young...sigh... That's the main reason I wanted to see you today."
Finally, Liu Zhizhong understood.
His little uncle truly was at his end, truly making his final arrangents, even entrusting his daughter!
User Comments
0 comments from readers