219: Chapter 219 I feel there's a big misunderstanding here

At that moment, Zheng Ze's mind raced, replaying everything that had happened recently from start to finish.

Cuican Fireworks was being investigated, General Manager Hu Dakuan had gone on the run, his calls to Deputy Secretary You Chuan had been rejected, Deputy Director Gao Qiang and Deputy Director Li Wenfu had distanced themselves in front of Xu Weidong, the old man had been so angry he ended up in the emergency room, a tough character named Secretary Chen Liang had arrived from the province, and his older brothers were taking turns forcing him to go abroad.

Everything was linked together, and the starting point of that line was Cuican Fireworks!

Yet he had only held a small share in General Manager Hu Dakuan's factory and made a phone call for him; how had he become the target?

He looked up at Zheng Xin. The defiance in his voice had faded slightly, replaced by a sense of injustice at being wrongly accused.

"Big Brother, how did I offend Xu Weidong? I was just as unaware of the situation with the fireworks factory as everyone else."

"General Manager Hu Dakuan told me the County Work Safety Administration wanted to investigate him and asked me to help put in a word with the city."

"I didn't know Xu Weidong was the one pushing for it behind the scenes. If I had known, I wouldn't have made that call even if you killed me."

"Isn't this just a misunderstanding? You can't just pin the blame on me because of this, can you?"

Zheng Xin looked at Zheng Ze as if he were an idiot. He had served as an official in Baishui City for many years and had encountered all sorts of people, but this was the first time he had seen someone as completely devoid of political acumen as Zheng Ze.

The old man had kicked him out of the family back then not just because of the disgraceful things he had done, but more importantly, because this person was simply mud that couldn't be plastered onto a wall; keeping him in Lüjiang City would only bring disaster to the Zheng family.

Sending him abroad was to protect him, and also to protect the Zheng family. It was a pity that this piece of mud remained mud no matter where it was thrown; after spending two years abroad, he hadn't improved at all upon his return.

"You didn't know? Across the entire Lüjiang City, who doesn't know that you, Young Master Zheng, are the one behind Cuican Fireworks?"

"How many years has General Manager Hu Dakuan been using your name to swindle people? Which of the organized crime forces in the whole county hasn't paid you tribute? Now that they've investigated you, you say you didn't know? You say you were deceived?"

"Zheng Ze, if you say that out loud, does anyone actually believe you?"

Zheng Ze's face went pale, but he was still struggling.

"Big Brother, I'm telling the truth! Regarding Cuican Fireworks, I really was deceived!"

"That bastard, General Manager Hu Dakuan, never told me the specific situation at the factory."

"I only knew he was doing fireworks business in Changyuan County and giving me dividends every year. I never asked how he made the money."

"If I had known there were so many problems at the factory, I would have made him rectify them long ago. How could I have let Xu Weidong investigate me?"

"Wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?"

"You make him rectify?"

Zheng Xin sneered, "You, a person without even a proper job—what would you have him rectify? Do you even understand how to fix it?"

Zheng Ze was left speechless, choked by his words. Zheng Xin did not give him a chance to breathe.

"In this world, you often don't need much evidence."

"Sometimes, you just need a villain to appear that everyone can accept, and that's enough."

"Xu Weidong's stature is meant to be on par with our father's."

"Given his background and current status, the people he should be dealing with are at least at the provincial or ministerial level, not small fry like you."

"But considering that our father has made contributions to Fengtian Province, the connections and reputation he has built up over the years cannot be easily dismissed by one person."

"Plus, considering the bigger picture, the higher-ups want stability and balance, not to wipe out all the old guard."

"So he cannot move against the old man, and there is no need to."

"The old man is already so sick, what is the point of targeting him?"

"Therefore, he can only aim his target at you."

"Targeting a good-for-nothing like you won't cause too much of a stir, yet it can serve as a warning to others."

"Who told you to be so useless? Who told you to go around swindling people using the Zheng family's name?"

"Who told you to walk right into the line of fire?"

Zheng Ze opened his mouth but couldn't speak. His brain was buzzing as if ten thousand bees were flying inside.

He understood his big brother's words, but it was precisely because he understood that he was even more afraid.

He was no match for Xu Weidong; he wasn't even fit to carry Xu Weidong's shoes.

That young man who could summon wind and rain in Changyuan County, that young man whom no one dared to provoke in Lüjiang City, that young man who could chat and laugh in front of the big shots in the province—to crush him would be easier than crushing an ant.

"Big Brother, everything you've said is just your own speculation and deduction."

His voice trembled, but he was trying hard to maintain his last shred of dignity.

"According to you, we don't even have a chance to explain?"

"I don't believe it. I think this is completely a misunderstanding. Once we talk it out, it will be fine; it's not like there's no room for maneuver."

"I'll find someone to build a bridge, sit down for a meal with Xu Weidong, and clear things up."

"The fireworks factory business has nothing to do with me. I'll apologize, I'll return the shares I should return, and I'll pay the money I should pay."

"He surely can't..."

Zheng Xin interrupted him, looking at him as if he were a hopeless patient.

He had seen stupid people, but he had never seen anyone this stupid.

Having spent so many years in official circles, he had summarized an ironclad rule.

Some people can be persuaded, while others can only be eliminated.

Zheng Ze belonged to the latter. He wouldn't turn back until he hit the southern wall, and even after hitting it, he wouldn't turn back; he would knock the wall down and keep walking, until he fell off a cliff and was smashed to pieces, without even knowing how he died.

"Zheng Ze, you really haven't improved at all after all these years. When the old man kicked you out of the house back then, I even thought he was too heartless."

"Now I know, he understood you too well."

"He knew that your blockhead wasn't suitable for staying in the country; staying would sooner or later bring a catastrophic disaster upon the Zheng family."

"Do you think you still have a chance to sit down and eat with Xu Weidong? Do you think you still have a chance to explain to him?"

"Do you think that by apologizing, paying some money, and returning some shares, this matter will just be over?"

"You are too naive."

"Zheng Ze, besides women, can you put anything else in that brain of yours?"

Zheng Ze's face flushed red, but he could only rage impotently.

Zheng Xin picked up a document from the table and threw it in front of him.

It was an internal circular from the Provincial Public Security Department regarding the phased results of the recent Crackdown on Organized Crime special campaign.

A section inside mentioned Cuican Fireworks, mentioned General Manager Hu Dakuan, and mentioned the issue of "collusion and benefit transfer between individual public officials and business owners."

Zheng Ze flipped it open and read two pages; his face instantly turned pale.

The circular didn't mention his name, but he knew it was only a matter of time.

The Provincial Public Security Department was already eyeing this case. It was no longer the County Work Safety Administration, nor the city's Safety Supervision Bureau, but the Provincial Public Security Department.

Secretary Chen Liang had already made his move; not aiming at General Manager Hu Dakuan, but coming for him!

Zheng Xin stood up, walked to the window, and pulled the curtain open a crack.

The night wind blew in, carrying the chill of late autumn. The curtain fluttered gently beside him, like a white flag of surrender.

"Zheng Ze, there's a flight early tomorrow morning. The ticket is already booked. Go back and pack; the driver is waiting for you downstairs."

"Once you get there, behave yourself and don't contact anyone in the country again."

"Whatever you need, tell him, and he will arrange it for you."

"You don't need to worry about matters in the country."

"We will handle what needs to be handled, and we will take care of what needs to be taken care of. But there is one condition: you cannot come back."

"Never again."

Zheng Ze sat on the sofa, head lowered, looking at the circular, flipping through it page by page.

"Big Brother, I'm your own brother!"

Zheng Xin looked at him, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

"I know you are my own brother, which is why I'm letting you go."

"It's not because I hate you, but because I don't want to watch you die."

Chairman Zheng Yan stood up, walked over to Zheng Ze, reached out to rest his hand on his shoulder, and pressed down firmly. The movement was light, but this embrace signified farewell.

He looked at Zheng Ze once; his gaze held reluctance, heartache, and frustration at his failure to live up to expectations, but no attempt to make him stay.

Then he let go, turned around, and followed Zheng Xin, walking out of the living room one after the other.

Zheng Wan had already left at some point. Her cup of tea on the coffee table had long since gone cold, and Zheng Ze was the only one left in the living room.