Gu’er didn’t think much of the two cars, but Li Zhi frowned slightly, and a glint appeared in Dingzi’s eyes.
"What’s wrong?"
Gu’er didn’t understand, but she was perceptive and noticed the change in Li Zhi.
"Look at the license plates."
Li Zhi pointed at the license plates for Gu’er to see. When she looked, her heart gave a lurch.
"Are those cars from the province? Why would cars from the province co to a small village like this?"
Gu’er was puzzled as she looked at the license plates.
"These aren’t just from the province; they’re from the Provincial Committee. As for why they’re here... if I’m not mistaken, they must be here for Uncle Lin."
Li Zhi looked grim. If the Provincial Committee was really here to investigate Lin Shan, and if soone had spoken ill of him, it would definitely have an impact. Forget about a promotion; it was hard to say if sothing worse might happen.
’Gu’er’s heart sank. In her past life, she’d never been exposed to this kind of thing, so she didn’t understand the secrets behind license plates. What Li Zhi said must be true. Dad has been in the township for less than a year; it won’t even be two full years until next September. Why would people from the province co now? To inspect his work? It’s too early for that. Normally, the Provincial Committee would send people to investigate his work after two years, just as a formality. And they should be questioning people in the township, not coming all the way out to a small village like this.’
’Could soone have reported Dad?’
"Mom, Grandma, don’t get out of the car yet. We’re going to go check on the situation first."
Gu’er spoke to the others in the car. Quite a few people had co along this ti—in addition to Chen Fengjiao and Lin Shuying were Zheng Xinghua, Grandma Sun, Grandma Dingzi, Lin Sui’er, Lin Zheng, and even Aunt Zhao. It wouldn’t be good for such a large group to get out all at once. Gu’er felt they should scout things out first. If everything was fine, the rest could get out then.
"Gu’er, your dad... he’s not in trouble, is he?"
Chen Fengjiao’s face was etched with worry.
"It’s okay, don’t worry. We’ll go ask around first. I’m sure it’s nothing. You know what Dad is like."
Gu’er tried to reassure Chen Fengjiao.
"That’s right. Our Lin Shan is such a good person. He’ll be fine."
Grandma Sun nodded in agreent.
Thinking about Lin Shan’s character—how he was never greedy and was always good to the people—Chen Fengjiao felt slightly more at ease.
Gu’er, Sun Jiaming, Li Zhi, and Dingzi asked around the village and learned that Lin Shan had gone to a house in the furthest part of the hamlet. They initially wanted to find Lin Shan, but on second thought, they decided to see what the people from the Provincial Committee were up to first. So, they headed to a house where they’d heard the officials were making inquiries.
Unlike in the city, gates in the village were usually left open, so Gu’er and the others entered without any trouble. There were already quite a few people in the courtyard, listening in and whispering amongst themselves. They looked a little startled to see Gu’er’s group but didn’t ask any questions, apparently assuming they were with the officials inside.
More and more people followed them into the small courtyard.
Just as the four of them reached the entrance, they heard a voice from inside ask, "Grandpa Wang, we don’t an anything by this. We just want to know what Lin Shan is really like. Has he taken money from the people? Has he done work for them? Whatever the situation is, please feel free to tell us everything."
Hearing this, the group exchanged glances. So they really *were* here for Lin Shan.
"Secretary Lin is a good man! I’ve never t a better official. He listens to us common folks and gets things done for us. No matter the problem, if you go to him, he’ll help you solve it. He’s a good official, a truly good man."
A sowhat frail, elderly voice replied, filled with praise for Lin Shan.
Gu’er breathed a small sigh of relief. ’Looks like the locals have a good impression of Dad,’ she thought.
"Grandpa Wang, we’re here to hear the truth, not just pleasantries. You have to tell us the real story. Rest assured, as long as you tell the truth, we guarantee no one will dare to do anything to you."
But the man who had spoken before was not satisfied with the old man’s answer and pressed on.
"What’s that supposed to an?"
A furious shout erupted from inside, followed by the sound of a hand slapping hard against the edge of the bed. It was Grandpa Wang’s voice, now booming, "I *am* telling the truth! What’s that supposed to an? Are you calling a liar? I’m over eighty years old, almost ninety! I could be dead tomorrow, you think I have ti to bullshit you?! I fought the devils back in the day! I wasn’t afraid of their machine guns, so what is there for to be afraid of now? My three sons were killed by those devils. I’m all alone in this world. What kind of revenge could I possibly fear? I call it like I see it, and Secretary Lin is a good man! What is it you want to say? You want to fra a good man? Just who are you people? Do you have so kind of grudge against Secretary Lin?"
The old man’s voice was thick with anger, clearly furious that the n inside would dare to question his word.
Gu’er’s heart felt heavy. Though she couldn’t see the old man inside, Grandpa Wang, she could tell he was a man of great integrity. Like Grandpa Jia Ming, he had fought the devils and had no children to leave behind. A man like that had nothing to fear. If he didn’t truly believe soone was a good person, no one on earth could threaten him into lying.
The onlookers outside had also heard the old man and were nodding nonstop in agreent.
"Sir, we didn’t an it like that. It’s like this: didn’t the state allocate fifty thousand yuan to the province? The money was supposed to be for the township’s use. However, Secretary Lin spent it on this village, saying it was to build a road. We received a report that Secretary Lin didn’t use the money on the road at all and pocketed it instead. That’s why we’ve co to verify the situation and find out if Secretary Lin really did embezzle the money."
An explanatory voice ca from inside the house. It wasn’t the sa man who had been questioning the elder before; this one sounded calr and more composed.
Gu’er glanced at Sun Jiaming, then at Li Zhi and Dingzi. All four of them looked grim. Once money was involved, it was no small matter. They all knew Lin Shan would never embezzle fifty thousand yuan, but if soone was determined to make an issue of it, things could get complicated.
"What? The money for the road was ant for the township? Not for our village?"
Grandpa Wang asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
"That’s right. The funds were originally allocated to the township. We were surprised to hear Secretary Lin claid he used them to build a road for the village. And as for building this road... how exactly was it built? Did it really cost all fifty thousand yuan? That’s hard to say. That’s why we’re here, to get a clear picture. We have to make sure so people aren’t just claiming to serve the people while stuffing their own pockets."
The mont she heard that, Gu’er clenched her fists in anger. ’This man is just slinging mud at Dad!’ she thought. If he were talking to soone less discerning, they might actually be swayed by his words. Gu’er was about to rush in when Sun Jiaming grabbed her arm, silently warning her not to be rash.
"Bullshit!"
Gu’er didn’t get the chance to rush in. From inside the house, Grandpa Wang’s furious roar cut through the air.
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