143: Chapter 143 The Anxious Crowd

Early the next morning, the door to Township Head Jiang Tiansheng's home was knocked open.

The first to arrive was Animal Husbandry Station Master Liu Ping.

He was holding a box of milk and a bag of fruit in his hands, standing at the doorway with an expression on his face as if someone in his family had died.

When Yu Lili opened the door, she was startled by his appearance and stepped aside to let him in.

After entering, Station Master Liu Ping did not sit down; he stood in the living room, rubbing his hands, not knowing what to say.

The second to arrive was Culture Station Master Zhao Sen.

His hands were full of things—nutritional supplements, health products, fruit, and milk—bags upon bags, as if he were moving house.

He placed the items next to the coffee table, glanced at Station Master Liu Ping, and the two exchanged a tacit look, neither speaking a word.

The third to arrive was Deputy Township Head Liu Desheng; he brought nothing, arriving empty-handed, and his expression was even uglier than Station Master Liu Ping's and Station Master Zhao Sen's.

He walked with heavy steps as he entered, sat down on the sofa, and crossed his legs.

Then came the heads of several small stations; usually unassuming, they had all been hand-picked and promoted by Township Head Jiang Tiansheng.

They stood at the doorway, not daring to enter, and only after Yu Lili called out to them several times did they gingerly come in and squeeze onto the edge of the sofa.

The living room was soon full of people.

The coffee table was piled high with various gifts—milk, fruit, health products, tea—all colorful and varied, looking like a small supermarket.

Yu Lili poured tea for everyone, then retreated to stand at the kitchen doorway, wearing an indescribable expression on her face.

When Township Head Jiang Tiansheng emerged from the bedroom, he was wearing an old jacket, his hair was uncombed, and while his complexion was slightly better than yesterday, the bags under his eyes were still heavy, making him look ten years older.

He sat down on the sofa, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, but he did not speak.

The living room was silent for a moment, then it exploded like a pot of boiling water.

Station Master Liu Ping was the first to speak, his voice sharp and urgent, as if someone had stepped on his tail.

"Township Head Jiang, what is going on? Why did the Discipline Inspection Commission suddenly investigate Station Head Zhu Yan and the others? There wasn't even a whisper of wind beforehand; isn't this a surprise attack?"

Station Master Zhao Sen chimed in, his voice also loud, carrying an irrepressible panic.

"That's right, Township Head Jiang. Station Head Zhu Yan, Station Head Jin Ming, and Liu Hao are all being investigated at the same time; this commotion is too big."

"The people below are panicked now, not knowing if it will be their turn tomorrow. Township Head Jiang, you have to give the brothers the bottom line—what exactly does Xu Weidong want to do?"

Deputy Township Head Liu Desheng didn't speak, but he lit a cigarette, took a drag, and exhaled a thick, choking cloud of smoke, as if using the smoke to cover his own unease.

He had been hand-picked by Township Head Jiang Tiansheng and his interests were tied to him.

If Township Head Jiang Tiansheng fell, he would likely be the first to be implicated.

The heads of the small stations also began to chime in one after another; their voices weren't loud, but the chatter was like a swarm of hornets whose nest had been poked.

"Township Head Jiang, I heard the Discipline Inspection Commission has follow-up actions; it's not just these three people. Do you have any inside information?"

"Township Head Jiang, we are all people you hand-picked and promoted; you can't just ignore us."

"Township Head Jiang, is Xu Weidong trying to drive us to extinction? We didn't make any big mistakes; aren't these just minor work issues? Is it necessary to go this far?"

"Township Head Jiang, can you sit down and talk with Xu Weidong? We all work in the same township; why be so ruthless?"

The voices became increasingly chaotic and messy; some were sighing, some were cursing, some were whispering to each other to gather information, and some were looking down at their phones. The living room was like a pot of boiling porridge.

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng sat on the sofa, saying nothing, his expression unchanging, but his fingers tapping lightly on his knees betrayed his inner agitation.

Luan Ping was the last to arrive. When he entered, he didn't bring anything, wearing a dark jacket, his face calm, showing no expression.

He swept a glance over the chaotic scene in the living room, not rushing to sit down, but standing at the doorway for a while before walking over to sit in the seat next to Township Head Jiang Tiansheng.

"Alright, everyone be quiet."

Luan Ping's voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable weight.

The living room instantly fell silent, and everyone looked at him.

Station Master Liu Ping swallowed his words halfway through, Station Master Zhao Sen forgot to smoke the cigarette clamped between his fingers, and Deputy Township Head Liu Desheng put his crossed legs down.

Luan Ping had spent many years in Hukuang Township and had always been the person Township Head Jiang Tiansheng trusted most.

His words carried weight in this circle.

Luan Ping glanced at Township Head Jiang Tiansheng and said in a slow, steady voice, "One by one, don't all talk at once. Township Head Jiang's health hasn't recovered yet, and he can't handle you all making such a racket."

"If you have something to say, say it one by one, and let Township Head Jiang speak slowly."

Station Master Liu Ping opened his mouth to speak, but was silenced by a look from Luan Ping.

Luan Ping turned his head to look at Township Head Jiang Tiansheng and said in a calm tone, "Township Head Jiang, you should say a few words first."

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng was silent for a few seconds, then raised his head, his gaze sweeping over everyone's face.

His eyes were no longer as sharp as before, carrying a weary gentleness.

"I know why you are all here today."

His voice was a bit hoarse, but every word was spoken clearly.

"The matter regarding Station Head Zhu Yan, Station Head Jin Ming, and Liu Hao is being investigated by the Discipline Inspection Commission, and I am also waiting for the results. It is too early to say anything; we will wait until the results come out."

"Each of you should do your own work well and don't make any mistakes at this time."

"As for Xu Weidong, report the work that needs to be reported, and ask for instructions on matters that need to be asked. Don't let people think you are engaging in confrontation."

Station Master Liu Ping couldn't help but speak up again, his voice very low, but the anxiety in his tone could not be hidden.

"Township Head Jiang, we are not engaging in confrontation; we are afraid."

"Station Head Zhu Yan and the others followed you the most closely. Now that they are being investigated, will it be our turn next? Township Head Jiang, you have to show us a path."

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng looked at him, was silent for two seconds, and then said something meaningful.

"The path is walked by oneself. You have been with me for so many years; have I ever mistreated you?"

No one spoke; Station Master Liu Ping lowered his head, Station Master Zhao Sen stubbed out his cigarette, and Deputy Township Head Liu Desheng stared blankly at the fruit plate on the coffee table.

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng's words were both a comfort and a reminder.

You have been with me for so many years, none of your hands are clean, so don't think you can stay out of this.

Luan Ping took over the conversation, his tone more direct than Township Head Jiang Tiansheng's. "Township Head Jiang said it: do your own work well, and don't make any mistakes at this time. Who the Discipline Inspection Commission investigates is not something you can worry about."

"The most important thing for you right now is to straighten out the work in your stations, complete the ledgers, and ensure that the problems that need to be rectified are addressed."

"Don't let it get to the point where, even if the Discipline Inspection Commission doesn't investigate you, you reveal your own flaws first."

This was spoken bluntly, so bluntly that everyone present understood the implication.

Luan Ping was telling them to go back and clean up their own messes so no one could catch them by the handle.

Station Master Liu Ping was the first to stand up, saying he had things to do at the station and left first.

Station Master Zhao Sen also stood up, saying he had an activity at the Culture Station to attend to.

The heads of the small stations also stood up one after another, saying they were going back to arrange work.

In less than five minutes, more than half of the people in the living room had left.

Deputy Township Head Liu Desheng did not leave; he sat on the sofa, lit a cigarette, took a drag, and slowly exhaled.

"Township Head Jiang, tell me the truth, how serious is it this time?"

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng didn't speak, and Luan Ping answered for him, his voice also very low.

"Whether it is serious or not depends on what they find. Regarding Station Head Zhu Yan, the matter of project funds could be big or small."

"Regarding Station Head Jin Ming, the delayed distribution of family planning funds is not big, but not small either."

"Regarding Liu Hao, the statistical data errors are not supposed to be a big deal, but if they dig deep and uncover previous problems, then it is hard to say."

The ash from Deputy Township Head Liu Desheng's cigarette fell onto his pants, but he didn't even notice.

He was silent for a long time, finally stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray, and then left.

Only Township Head Jiang Tiansheng, Luan Ping, and Yu Lili remained in the living room.

Yu Lili walked over, took away the teacups from the coffee table, and carried those gifts to the kitchen one by one.

Her movements were light, as if she were doing something that had to be done but that she didn't want to do.

Luan Ping looked at Township Head Jiang Tiansheng, his voice very low. "Township Head Jiang, you saw all these people who came today."

"But have you noticed that quite a few people didn't come?"

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng had, of course, noticed; several station heads who usually associated with him frequently had not come.

These people had received his favors, and some had even gained their positions through his maneuvering.

But today, they did not come.

"Those who came are the ones who haven't figured it out yet. Those who didn't come are the ones who have."

Luan Ping nodded and didn't respond.

He knew Township Head Jiang Tiansheng was right; those who didn't come had already started to cut ties.

They saw the wind direction clearly, knew that Township Head Jiang Tiansheng couldn't beat Xu Weidong, and knew that continuing to follow Township Head Jiang Tiansheng down this dark path would not end well.

They chose to quietly exit at this time, without making a sound, without taking a stand, acting as if nothing had happened.

This is the reality of officialdom.

When you are useful, you are the big brother, you are the benefactor, you are the second parent.

When you are no longer useful, you are nothing.

"Luan Ping, what do you think Xu Weidong will do next?"

Luan Ping thought for a while, shook his head, and said, "It's hard to say."

"But one thing is certain: he will not be satisfied with just investigating Station Head Zhu Yan and the other two."

"These three people are just the beginning, not the end."

"As for the extent of the investigation and who gets investigated, it depends on what goal he wants to achieve."

Township Head Jiang Tiansheng looked at the pot of bamboo on the coffee table for a long time. That pot of bamboo had already withered more than halfway, the yellow leaves drooping, with no one to care for it.

He suddenly felt that the pot of bamboo was exactly like himself; having stayed in Hukuang Township for more than a decade, he had once been lush and leafy, but now he was withering day by day, not knowing when he would be uprooted.

"Luan Ping, do you think I did something wrong?"

Luan Ping did not answer; he didn't know how to answer.

Whether some things were done right or wrong does not lie in the matter itself, but in the result.

If you win, it's right.

If you lose, it's wrong.

Now that Township Head Jiang Tiansheng had lost, everything he had done before had become wrong.