Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 168 Su Taohong is not dead

"Going abroad?" Wu Zhiyuan's heart skipped a beat; this was the first time in his professional career.

Moreover, Lin Keke was the first person he thought of.

He only knew that Lin Keke was still on a mission abroad, but he had no idea which country she was in or what mission she was on.

Although he was already Lin Keke's colleague, he couldn't ask questions he shouldn't; that was a matter of discipline.

"Yes." Director Han nodded. "What are the mission details? What is the method of contact? Which country are we going to?"

For absolute safety reasons, I cannot tell you right now.

To be honest, I don't know the answers to these questions either, because this time the ministry has seconded you to go abroad.

Once you're abroad, someone will naturally contact you and assign you tasks.

Director Han paused for a moment, then continued, "Zhiyuan, I must tell you clearly that going abroad to carry out missions is very risky, and may even be life-threatening."

The organization requires you to be fully prepared psychologically.

Wu Zhiyuan said firmly, "I will resolutely obey the organization's arrangements! From the moment I joined the National Security Bureau and raised my right hand to take the oath, I have handed everything over to the country."

For the sake of the nation, I am personally willing to sacrifice everything, including my life!

"Good! Well done!" Director Han said approvingly. "I knew you, Wu Zhiyuan, were a valuable asset, and you should be used where it matters most!"

Chu Jianguo also said earnestly, "Zhiyuan, this mission is no small matter. Be careful and be flexible in your approach."

Remember, no matter what happens, your motherland will always be your strongest support. We await your safe return.

Director Han concluded by saying, "The organization will give you three days off."

Hand over your work, then go home and spend some quality time with your parents and family.

"Yes! I guarantee I will complete the mission!" Wu Zhiyuan solemnly promised the two leaders.

He knew that his superiors had made a very humane decision to give him leave to go home, taking into account the dangers of carrying out missions abroad, where he might be laid to rest forever in a foreign land.

This trip home to visit relatives will be the last time I reunite with my family.

After handing over his work, Wu Zhiyuan's first thought was not to go home immediately, but to see Hu Ruoxi.

He approached Hu Ruoxi with ulterior motives, and deep down, he felt guilty.

Because Hu Ruoxi is not a bad woman, but a woman with feelings, loyalty, and flesh and blood.

He dialed Hu Ruoxi's number: "Ruoxi, it's me. How have you been these past few days?"

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone before Hu Ruoxi sighed, "Alas, time is the best healer. Perhaps the healing effect isn't enough yet, but it will all pass eventually."

"Ruoxi, I have a temporary mission that requires me to leave Jiangzhou for a while, which may be quite long."

Before I leave, I'd like to say goodbye. Would it be convenient for us to meet?

"Zhiyuan, where are you going? How long will you be gone?"

"Ruoxi, to be honest, I don't know either. I really don't know. I'm not deliberately hiding it from you."

"Zhiyuan, I haven't been to work these past few days, I've been staying home. Why don't you come to my house?"

Half an hour later, Wu Zhiyuan saw Hu Ruoxi again.

Hu Ruoxi was wearing a low-cut silk nightgown, and her hair was a little messy.

After taking their seats in the living room, Hu Ruoxi brewed a cup of tea and handed it to Wu Zhiyuan.

"Ruoxi, you look better than I expected."

"What else can you do? Cry your eyes out, or contemplate suicide? Life has to go on. It just takes time to accept all of this."

She paused, looked at Wu Zhiyuan, and said, "Zhiyuan, you don't need to feel guilty."

After thinking about it carefully, I realized that without you, what kind of abyss would my most trusted best friend, the man I once deeply loved, have dragged me into?

"At that point, it would have ruined not only me, but also Dadi Company. You prevented an even worse outcome. I should thank you."

"Ruoxi, I'm so glad you think that way."

"Yes, it hurt a lot at the time. But after the pain subsided, I became more alert."

Thinking about it, it's not worth the pain I feel for Yang Baocai. He not only deceived my feelings, but also caused my father's death.

Sigh, let's not talk about that. Zhiyuan, where are we going?

"foreign."

Hu Ruoxi didn't ask any more questions, because she knew that even if she did, she wouldn't get an answer.

After a moment of silence, Hu Ruoxi said softly, "Zhiyuan, wherever you go, be sure to be careful and protect yourself."

"Thank you for your concern."

"Zhiyuan, I'm thinking of resigning."

"Are you planning to resign?"

"Because of me, some of the company's internal information was obtained by Yang Baocai and Su Manli, and Ding Zhiyuan also obtained some technical secrets because of my protection."

Although I wasn't held accountable by the authorities, I feel guilty.

"What are your plans after resigning? To start your own company?"

"I'll take a break first, and then settle down abroad."

"Going abroad? Which country?"

"Australia. My mother traveled to Australia a few years ago and was very impressed by the sunshine, vineyards and peaceful rural life there."

She had always dreamed of buying a vineyard there, building a country villa with views of the mountains and sunsets, and living a simple, peaceful life.

I think it's time to accompany her to realize this dream, and also to give myself a change of scenery.

Wu Zhiyuan nodded silently; he understood Hu Ruoxi's choice.

Leaving this place filled with sad memories and starting a new life in a completely new environment might be a way for her to heal.

However, upon hearing the words "Australia" and "settling down," Wu Zhiyuan felt very reluctant to leave.

His overseas mission is uncertain, and Hu Ruoxi will also be heading to a distant ocean.

This parting may be forever, with no hope of ever seeing each other again.

"Ruoxi, if you go to Australia, are you planning to sell the villa?"

Hu Ruoxi shook her head: "I won't sell. When I go back to China in the future, I'll have a place to stay."

She paused, looked at Wu Zhiyuan, and said sincerely, "How about I give you a key? That way you'll have a convenient place to stay when you come back."

Wu Zhiyuan was touched, but politely declined, saying, "Thank you for your kindness. But I don't know when I'll be able to come back, or even..."

He paused for a moment, not mentioning the worst-case scenario, but simply smiled and said, "Never mind, let's not talk about that. We all need to be okay."

Hu Ruoxi understood his unspoken meaning, and a trace of pain flashed in her eyes: "Zhiyuan, don't say that. Hearing you say that makes me feel bad."

Wu Zhiyuan forced a smile and said, "Perhaps one day, we will meet again in Australia."

Hu Ruoxi nodded gently: "Yes, perhaps at that time, I can invite you to have a glass of wine that I made myself at my vineyard."

The two chatted for quite a while.

A thousand words seem pale in comparison.

When they parted, Hu Ruoxi took the initiative to hug Wu Zhiyuan; it was a brief farewell hug.

"Take care, Ruoxi." Wu Zhiyuan gently patted Hu Ruoxi's back.

"You too, Zhiyuan, you must stay safe."

Wu Zhiyuan nodded, took one last deep look at Hu Ruoxi, then resolutely turned around and strode away.

Hu Ruoxi stood at the door, watching his figure disappear into the night, feeling lost and forlorn.

……

Is Su Taohong dead or alive?

If he died and was buried on the mountain, why wasn't his body found during the search?

Zhou Dashan?

Suddenly, the image of that aloof and ugly man appeared in Wu Zhiyuan's mind.

Zhou Dashan grows camellia in Longshan. When Wu Zhiyuan was searching for Su Taohong last time, he felt that this person was suspicious, but he had no evidence.

Later, after the police confirmed that Zhao Dahu and Qian Xiaojun were the main suspects, he stopped thinking about that man.

Now, he had a premonition that Zhou Dashan might know Su Taohong's whereabouts, or even that he might have hidden Su Taohong away.

Before going abroad to carry out the mission, Wu Zhiyuan told Sun Runcai about this idea.

Sun Runcai said he would go to Zhou Dashan's place again.

The two drove to Longshan Town again.

They parked their car at the foot of the mountain and walked to Zhou Dashan's residence.

Zhou Dashan's residence is located alone deep in a tea garden halfway up the mountain. It used to be a tea factory, but it was later abandoned and he rented it.

The walls were high and the iron gates were locked.

The yard was quiet; the dog I saw last time was gone, perhaps it had gone up the mountain with its owner to work.

"Zhiyuan, it doesn't look like anyone's home," Sun Runcai said in a low voice after observing the situation.

"Hmm, this is perfect for our reconnaissance." Wu Zhiyuan's gaze fell on a lush old tree near the backyard wall. "Runcai, you keep watch outside and see if Zhou Dashan comes back. I'll climb over this tree and take a look."

"Okay, be careful," Sun Runcai instructed, while cautiously observing his surroundings.

Wu Zhiyuan, with his agile movements, used the branches of an old tree to silently climb over the high wall and land safely in the courtyard.

The yard was a bit messy, with several vegetable gardens planted in it. The main house consisted of several old-looking brick and tile bungalows, next to which were an even more dilapidated woodshed and storage shed.

The entire courtyard was permeated with a sense of desolation, as if it were isolated from the world.

The door was locked.

Wu Zhiyuan took out a multi-tool card from his pocket and inserted it into the lock cylinder.

A few minutes later, the lock opened.

No obvious abnormalities were found in the rooms.

But in the kitchen, Wu Zhiyuan found two unwashed bowls and chopsticks.

Zhou Dashan has an eccentric personality and lives alone, so why does he have two sets of bowls and chopsticks?

The rice grains on the bowls and chopsticks had hardened into clumps, indicating that Zhou Dashan hadn't returned today.

Where did he go? Why did he leave in such a hurry?

In Zhou Dashan's bedroom, Wu Zhiyuan was shocked to find women's underwear hanging on a rope.

Could it be that Zhou Dashan has a lover or something?

Suddenly, he faintly heard a woman crying.

Listen closely; the sound is coming from underground.

Could there be a cellar underground?

Under the bed, Wu Zhiyuan saw a sieve.

Upon removing the sieve, an oval-shaped hole was discovered.

It seems there really is a cellar in the house!

There are very few people in the mountains and forests to begin with, and Zhou Dashan lives alone, so he has the advantage of being able to dig a cellar in his house.

Wu Zhiyuan crawled under the bed and found a step leading downwards.

After descending a few meters, they found an iron gate.

The woman's crying inside grew clearer and clearer.

"Is that Su Taohong?" Wu Zhiyuan called out.

The woman's crying stopped abruptly, replaced by a joyful voice: "Zhiyuan, is that you? It's me, Su Taohong. Did you come to save me?"

"Yes, where is Zhou Dashan?"

"Zhou Dashan's mother died. She went back yesterday and won't be back for a few days."

Wu Zhiyuan immediately called Sun Runcai and said that Su Taohong was not dead and was in the cellar.

Sun Runcai climbed over the wall and entered the courtyard to meet up with Wu Zhiyuan.

The two worked together, using the portable breaching tools they had brought, to violently ram the door lock.

The heavy knocking echoed in the narrow space of the cellar.

Clang!

With a sharp crack, the lock was successfully broken. Wu Zhiyuan yanked open the iron gate.

There was no nauseating smell in the cellar, so it seemed that Zhou Dashan had taken good care of it.

Su Taohong was pale and in poor spirits, but she did not appear to have lost weight.

Upon seeing Wu Zhiyuan, Su Taohong was so moved that she cried.

"Zhiyuan, I never thought I'd make it out alive!"

It turned out that Zhao Dahu and Qian Xiaojun had choked Su Taohong unconscious that night, but she hadn't died.

They buried Su Taohong in the pit again.

Zhou Dashan witnessed all of this unintentionally.

After the two thugs left, Zhou Dashan dug Su Taohong out and saved her life.

In a sense, Zhou Dashan saved Su Taohong.

If it weren't for Zhou Dashan's rescue, Su Taohong would have surely died.

Zhou Dashan's inspiration for digging the cellar came from a real news event. He originally planned to kidnap a woman who went into the mountains, but unexpectedly, Su Taohong came to him.

Zhou Dashan has an eccentric personality and an ugly appearance. He has failed to find a partner several times, and his mentality is distorted.

Sang Chenglong was overjoyed that Su Taohong had survived by accident.

He was the mastermind behind the murder-for-hire scheme; the murder was originally completed, but now it has been attempted.

……