Two young n followed him, one wearing glasses.
"Secretary Lin is a good man. He’s helped my family out so much."
"That’s right, that’s right! You can’t fra Secretary Lin. He’s a genuinely good official who works for the common people."
"Exactly! You can’t believe those people spouting nonsense. You have to stand up for Secretary Lin and clear his na!"
Seeing them erge, the people in the courtyard surged forward, all talking over each other, saying nothing but good things about Lin Shan.
A sharp glint flashed in the eyes of the middle-aged man in the lead.
"Alright, alright, we understand the situation. Please don’t block the path. Director Zhao is already aware of the situation, and we will report it truthfully. Everyone, please go ho."
The young man with glasses stepped forward and announced loudly.
’So he’s a director too,’ Gu’er thought, looking at the middle-aged man in the lead. ’I wonder what kind of director he is.’
Hearing what the man with the glasses said, many people were relieved. The crowd had not yet dispersed when a few more people entered from outside.
"Director Zhao, Director Zhao, we’re back."
One of them even shouted.
As she looked at the shouting man, at his prominent forehead, Gu’er’s eyes widened. She recognized him. It was none other than Yu District Chief, whom she had t at the restaurant—the man she suspected of being the one who had her carried away.
She had originally planned to investigate if he was the one who had arranged for her to be taken and abandoned, but she got busy and forgot. It had also been too many years, and she wasn’t familiar with that village, so she never looked into the matter. To think he would actually appear here today.
The mont she saw him, it was clear to Gu’er: this man, You, was undeniably connected to what was happening today.
"Ah, Director You, you’ve arrived. How did it go? Did you learn anything on your end?"
Director Zhao perked up at the sight of Director You.
Gu’er frowned. ’Isn’t this man, You, a district chief? When did he beco a director? What kind of director is he?’
"Director Zhao, you flatter . I’m just a township office director; how could I possibly compare to you? You’re the director of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection’s Supervision Office. You really shouldn’t call Director."
Director You smiled as he flattered Director Zhao.
Gu’er glanced at Li Zhi. ’Wasn’t this man supposed to be from the Provincial Party Committee? How is he now from the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection?’ Gu’er didn’t really understand these titles.
Li Zhi’s expression, however, was grim. The Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection’s Supervision Office was the departnt that specifically investigated officials and Party mbers. Although he was only a director and not the Secretary of the Provincial Commission, the very fact that a director had co ant soone must have reported the matter to the provincial governnt. ’Who could it be?’
When Gu’er saw Li Zhi’s grim expression, her heart sank.
"Heh, no need for that, Director You. As long as you’re serving the people, your position doesn’t matter. We’re all parents to the people, are we not?"
Director Zhao said, speaking in official platitudes.
’Parents my ass! You think you’re worthy?’
Gu’er almost blurted out the words, but she held her tongue.
"You are absolutely right, Director. Here’s the situation: we went back to the village, and after asking around, we found out quite a few things. We found several witnesses, and they all say that Lin Shan used road repairs as an excuse to line his own pockets. And he didn’t just take a little, either. It’s infuriating! I an, the money the state gave the township, he stuffed it all into his own wallet. How is soone like that fit to be a state cadre? He should be stripped of his post."
Director You said angrily. With that look of righteous indignation on his face, anyone who didn’t know better would have thought he was telling the truth.
"You! You need evidence to back that up. With which eye did you see Secretary Lin take money? You can’t just make things up with baseless accusations!"
Gu’er couldn’t hold back any longer. She understood now. This man, You, was just so office director in the township, which ant he’d been demoted. He must be holding a grudge. Knowing her father used the money allocated to the township to repair the roads for the various villages, he was framing him. What was wrong with her father repairing roads for the villages? There’s a saying: "To get rich, first build a road." Only when the roads were good and transportation was convenient could people earn money and live well.
"You... Who do you think you are, yelling at ? Wait, it’s you! Aren’t you Lin Shan’s daughter?"
Director You was still angry from Gu’er’s outburst, but upon taking a closer look, he recognized her.
At his exclamation, everyone present turned to look at Gu’er. The townspeople in the courtyard never imagined she was actually Lin Shan’s daughter.
"That’s right. I’m Lin Shan’s daughter. My na is Lin Gu’er. And I want to ask you—what gives you the right to say that about my father? What evidence do you have?"
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