59: Chapter 59 Decent

Zhu Zihao took the carton of cigarettes in a daze and walked out of the Township Government compound, still dazed.

He numbly took out his phone and dialed his wife's number: "Hey, honey, come home!"

He said this mechanically and without any emotion, hanging up directly without giving her a chance to speak.

Zhu Zihao was like an empty shell without a soul; he didn't even know how he got home.

Upon arriving home, Zhu Zihao sat straight down on the sofa, not saying a word!

On the other end, Zhu Linlin was terrified as she listened to the busy signal.

She quickly excused herself to her colleagues and hurried home.

When she walked into the living room and saw the dazed Zhu Zihao, she pulled his head into her embrace.

While gently stroking Zhu Zihao's head, Zhu Linlin comforted him: "Zihao, don't scare me. If something happened, tell me, and we'll face it together!"

Only after being comforted by his wife did Zhu Zihao come back to his senses.

Seeing Zhu Linlin's anxious appearance, he quickly said: "Honey, don't worry. It's just that Township Head Sun just told me I'm going to be promoted to Station Chief!"

"Huh?"

"It's true, this is the cigarette Township Head Sun gave me!"

Zhu Zihao handed the cigarettes Sun Ning had given him to Zhu Linlin to see.

This action left Zhu Linlin stunned on the spot.

How could she have such an incredible husband? Not only did he fail to give the gift, but he also ended up taking a carton of cigarettes from the other person.

No matter how meticulous Zhu Linlin was, she couldn't understand the current situation.

She had always been in the ivory tower of academia, and because she kept to herself, she only had a superficial understanding of these things.

She only knew that if you wanted to curry favor with a leader, you had to give gifts.

Since when do leaders give gifts to their subordinates?

Therefore, she asked, both gossipy and worried: "Why did he give you a gift? Did you get something on him?"

Zhu Zihao playfully tapped Zhu Linlin's forehead, affectionately saying: "Watch your tongue! This is a leader showing closeness to a subordinate. Have you forgotten about those two bottles of wine?"

The story of the two bottles of wine was, to date, Zhu Zihao's proudest achievement.

He didn't know how many times he had told his wife about his great achievements.

Therefore, having regained his composure, Zhu Zihao could understand the meaning behind Sun Ning handing him the cigarettes.

This also expressed the sentiment of accepting him.

Zhu Linlin also understood the implication of this matter and excitedly hugged and kissed Zhu Zihao.

She felt proud of her husband and gratified that he had received recognition.

In his excitement, Zhu Zihao carried Zhu Linlin towards the bedroom.

"Hate you, it's broad daylight."

Unfortunately, the only response to Zhu Linlin was the sound of a heavy door closing.

Within the system, a promotion is the best aphrodisiac.

It wasn't until an old colleague from the County Bureau called to tell him that people from the Political Department had already set off for Mishui Township that the daytime battle in the room ended.

In the afternoon, an unexpected person arrived at Sun Ning's office.

"Township Head, I have come to admit my mistakes."

The first thing Deputy Township Head Dong Zhensheng said upon entering was an apology, and his attitude seemed very sincere.

"Turn left out the door; Party Secretary Cui Xiaotian's office is that way."

Come to think of it, Sun Ning's words didn't leave Deputy Township Head Dong Zhensheng any face at all.

He wasn't afraid of alerting the enemy, and Deputy Township Head Dong Zhensheng wasn't that snake anyway; at best, he was a maggot—he wouldn't hurt anyone, he would just disgust people.

Sun Ning felt he had nothing to say to Deputy Township Head Dong Zhensheng.

He wasn't the Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary; he couldn't manage other people's mistakes.

Hearing Sun Ning's cold tone, a chill rose from the soles of Deputy Township Head Dong Zhensheng's feet.

The most important reason he came to Sun Ning to admit his mistakes was that the boss of Dayang had found him to seal his lips.

Yes, seal his lips!

Vice-County Mayor Pi Yingshi couldn't just sit by and do nothing, watching his nephew and son get punished.

After Deputy Township Head Dong Zhensheng received the call from the Dayang boss, he immediately found Li Jincai.

And Li Jincai had also received a gag order personally from Vice-County Mayor Pi Yingshi.

The two talked in the office for a long time, but Li Jincai didn't have any good ideas.

Their only idea was to refuse to say a word.

But Deputy Township Head Dong Zhensheng knew what the gag order really meant.

It didn't mean letting them refuse to talk; it meant they couldn't implicate his son.

He was afraid!

He was like duckweed without roots or water without a source; he didn't even have the status of Li Jincai.

In this power game, he couldn't even touch the edge of the circle.

Perhaps, in the end, all the blame would fall on him.

Deputy Township Head Dong Zhensheng sat in his office for a long time, thinking, and finally decided to come to Sun Ning to admit his mistake.

Obviously, Deputy Township Head Dong Zhensheng thought a bit too highly of himself.

He hadn't expected that Sun Ning wouldn't say a word and would directly tell him to find Party Secretary Cui Xiaotian to confess.

Could Deputy Township Head Dong Zhensheng confess?

Obviously, he didn't want to eat government-provided meals in prison.

"Township Head, it was my negligence. I failed in my supervision, I..."

Hearing that Deputy Township Head Dong Zhensheng still only wanted to escape his own responsibility at this point, Sun Ning said indifferently: "Does Deputy Township Head Dong have other matters?"

Deputy Township Head Dong Zhensheng had worked with Sun Ning for a few months, and he knew Sun Ning's temper.

Since Sun Ning had already seen him out, saying more at this time would be of no use.

Therefore, Deputy Township Head Dong Zhensheng wanted to leave himself some final dignity. After saying "excuse me," he prepared to leave the Township Head's office.

Sun Ning watched Deputy Township Head Dong Zhensheng's retreating figure and sighed.

"Comrade Zhensheng, while it is still early, you can actively find Party Secretary Cui to report the situation."

Since Deputy Township Head Dong Zhensheng wasn't crying or making a scene and wanted to leave himself with some dignity, Sun Ning would grant him that dignity.

If Deputy Township Head Dong Zhensheng could actively return the illicit funds and actively cooperate with the Discipline Inspection Commission's investigation,

then Sun Ning could try to secure him some credit for meritorious service, which might exempt Deputy Township Head Dong Zhensheng from imprisonment.

Upon hearing Sun Ning's words, Deputy Township Head Dong Zhensheng paused.

However, he did not stop and still walked out of Sun Ning's office.

Sun Ning naturally hoped that Deputy Township Head Dong Zhensheng would voluntarily confess, as this could open a gap in Mishui Township.

As soon as Deputy Township Head Dong Zhensheng left, Sun Ning dialed Secretary Xue Hongtao.

At such an advanced age, Deputy Township Head Dong Zhensheng still hadn't entered the Standing Committee, which was enough to prove that he was an idle person without any backing.

Having caused such a big incident, voluntarily confessing was his only way out.

The path Sun Ning left for him was the only way out he could choose.

It was just that he hadn't turned the corner yet.

Sun Ning called Secretary Xue Hongtao to tell him that there was a possibility that Deputy Township Head Dong Zhensheng would voluntarily surrender.

The Discipline Inspection Commission ultimately belonged to the Party Committee sequence, so it was better to let Secretary Xue Hongtao handle this matter.

Moreover, Sun Ning also implicitly told Secretary Xue Hongtao that if Deputy Township Head Dong Zhensheng could voluntarily confess, not only would it count as a surrender, but they could also credit him with some meritorious service.

"I thought you kid only knew how to work."

After saying this meaningful sentence, Secretary Xue Hongtao hung up the phone.

Holding the phone, Sun Ning also laughed softly; his momentary softness of heart was not without its benefits.

Wouldn't that stubborn old man be indebted to him?

After all, people's hearts are made of flesh.

Deputy Township Head Dong Zhensheng had worked with the stubborn old man for so many years; perhaps the stubborn old man also wanted to grant him some dignity.