Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 114 Reporting to the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection

Xu Youwei looked at Wu Zhiyuan and said earnestly, "Zhiyuan, as we part, I'll give you six words: Conceal your strength, consolidate your foundation, and wait for the right time."

First, conceal your strength. You must learn to be patient, study diligently under Secretary Lin, accumulate strength, and temporarily avoid confrontation.

Never let a moment of anger make you a target for others to establish their authority.

Second, strengthen your foundation. No matter how the environment changes, upholding the righteous path in your heart and the bottom line of being a decent human being are the foundation for your survival and livelihood.

Power may change hands, and powerful backers may crumble, but no one can take away a person's principles of conduct and character that they uphold.

Third, wait for the right time. Believe that the dark clouds will eventually clear. Be patient and accumulate strength.

Real opportunities often arise when opponents are at their most complacent and careless. Protecting yourself is about waiting for that day.

Sunday afternoon, the sky was somewhat overcast.

There were no crowds to see them off, no noisy ceremonies.

After a gentle hug with his wife and daughter, Xu Youwei got into Wu Zhiyuan's private car.

Xu Youwei could have easily arranged for the municipal party committee's car fleet to take him to Jiangzhou, but he didn't want to do so.

The car slowly drove out of the city's armed police detachment camp.

The car was silent, the atmosphere heavy.

Xu Youwei gazed at the familiar scenery outside the window, his eyes deep, lost in thought.

After a long silence, he sighed softly and broke the silence: "Zhiyuan, there's something I need to trouble you with again."

After we leave, Qingqing and Yunxi will stay in Longcheng until the end of the year, which is only two or three months at most, until Yunxi finishes this semester.

The house I currently live in is the dormitory of the city's Armed Police Detachment. Now that I am no longer the Party Secretary of the city, it is no longer appropriate for me to continue occupying it.

Zhao Feng is my classmate and fellow townsman. He's very loyal and wouldn't ask us to leave, but we can't put him in a difficult position. We need to move out as soon as possible. I'll trouble you a little more with finding a place to rent.

Wu Zhiyuan picked up the conversation: "Secretary Xu, don't worry. I do have a preliminary idea about the accommodation issue, which I'd like to share with you."

"Oh? Tell me about it." Xu Youwei turned his head and looked at Wu Zhiyuan.

"Teacher Liu and Yunxi haven't been in Longcheng for long, so renting a house isn't cost-effective, and it's troublesome to travel back and forth."

My rented room is a bit old and not very big, but it's conveniently located.

It's only a ten-minute walk to Teacher Liu's workplace, the Municipal Cultural Center, and even closer to Yunxi's school, Longcheng No. 2 Middle School, just across the street.

If Teacher Liu and Yunxi don't mind, they can move there temporarily.

This solves the housing problem and saves the hassle of finding a place to live and moving.

I'll be very busy at the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection. I'll be traveling frequently or staying at the case-handling site, so I probably won't be going back to my rented room often.

"Teacher Liu and Yunxi are staying at my place. If they need anything done or there are any special circumstances, I can take care of them. It's much more convenient and safer than them living outside."

Xu Youwei hesitated for a moment before saying, "Zhiyuan, it's kind of you to think of everything. It doesn't matter if the house is a bit old and small; the key is that it's safe and convenient. We'll entrust Qingqing and Yunxi to you for now."

Wu Zhiyuan solemnly promised: "Secretary Xu, you flatter me! This is what I should do."

Rest assured, I will make sure that Teacher Liu and Yunxi are safe and sound and can successfully reunite with you in the provincial capital.

In my heart, Teacher Liu will always be a respected teacher's wife, and Yunxi is like my own younger sister.

Xu Youwei naturally understood Wu Zhiyuan's implied meaning and said with a smile, "Zhiyuan, I have complete confidence in entrusting them to you. How about this, I'll ask Qingqing now."

Xu Youwei dialed his wife Liu Qingqing's number and briefly explained Wu Zhiyuan's proposal.

On the other end of the phone, Liu Qingqing replied almost without hesitation: "Youwei, I think Zhiyuan's arrangement is very thoughtful."

We'll only be staying for two or three months, so there's no need to go through the hassle of finding a new place and moving.

Zhiyuan is steady and reliable, and Yunxi enjoys being with him. We both feel at ease staying with him. I'll ask Yunxi about it.

Xu Yunxi eagerly took the phone from Liu Qingqing: "Really? Dad! We can move in with Zhiyuan? That's great! I agree! I agree a hundred times!"

Zhiyuan's house is right across from our school, so I can sleep in a little longer in the mornings!

After Wu Zhiyuan returned to Longcheng, he took Liu Qingqing and Xu Yunxi to his rented house.

The residential area is a staff living area for the city hospital, mainly consisting of five- or six-story buildings without elevators, but Wu Zhiyuan's apartment is on the second floor.

It has two bedrooms and a living room, and is only about 70 or 80 square meters.

After moving Liu Qingqing and Xu Yunxi's luggage into the rented room, Wu Zhiyuan said apologetically, "Teacher Liu, Yunxi, the house is a bit old and small, so please make do for now."

Liu Qingqing smiled and said, "Zhiyuan, don't say that. This house is clean and tidy, it's quite nice. It's us who have caused you trouble."

Wu Zhiyuan quickly waved his hand: "Teacher Liu, you're too kind. How could this be troublesome?"

He pointed to the fairly large old sofa in the living room and said, "Teacher Liu, you and Yunxi will each have one of these two rooms."

After I'm transferred to the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, I expect to be extremely busy. I'll be frequently traveling for work, and even in Longcheng, I might spend long hours at the investigation site and rarely come back. When I do come back, I'll probably just sleep on the sofa.

Upon hearing this, Liu Qingqing immediately objected: "How can that be! You are the owner of this house. Our presence is already an inconvenience. How can we let you sleep on the sofa? That would be too unfair to you!"

You must stay in the master bedroom. Yunxi and I can stay in the second bedroom, or I can sleep on the sofa!

Wu Zhiyuan's attitude was firm: "Teacher Liu, please listen to me. I am young and healthy, so it doesn't matter where I sleep."

And I'm telling the truth, I probably won't be able to go back for ten days or half a month, so the room will just be empty anyway.

You and Yunxi can stay here in peace; this is the best arrangement.

If you don't agree, I'll really feel bad, like I haven't done a good job fulfilling Secretary Xu's request.

What Wu Zhiyuan didn't say was that he could also stay in Lin Keke's studio apartment.

At Wu Zhiyuan's insistence, Liu Qingqing agreed and said gratefully, "Zhiyuan, I'll do as you say, thank you."

Wu Zhiyuan quickly said, "Teacher Liu, please don't thank me. This is what I should do. Secretary Xu and you have been so kind to me. I will remember this kindness for the rest of my life."

Liu Qingqing was a meticulous person; she quickly arranged her luggage and began making some minor adjustments:

I reorganized and arranged the books neatly, laid a simple tablecloth on the coffee table, found a small vase, and put a carnation that I had bought downstairs in it.

The small rented room gained a warm and cozy atmosphere thanks to Liu Qingqing's arrival.

……

On Monday morning, Wu Zhiyuan officially reported to the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection.

The Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection's office is located on the same floor as the Municipal Party Committee building. However, there is also an anti-corruption education center in the suburbs, which is an important facility integrating daily office work, disciplinary review, anti-corruption education, and detention functions. It is the core base for the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection to carry out its frontline work.