86: Chapter 86 What you treasure, others scorn.

In Lüjiang City, there was an old residential compound.

The complex was built in the nineties, with mottled outer walls and cramped corridors.

Yet in the political circles of Lvjiang City, this place held a special significance; it was the residence of many retired veteran leaders of the Public Security Bureau.

Liu Xiang's home was on the third floor, a two-bedroom apartment kept spotlessly clean.

An old-fashioned sofa sat in the living room, and a calligraphy scroll hung on the wall.

"Tranquility yields transcendence!"

A set of kung fu tea utensils rested on the coffee table, with the fragrance of tea curling in the air.

Political Commissar Hu Ke sat on the sofa, head bowed, like a child who had done something wrong.

Liu Xiang sat opposite him, slowly brewing tea.

He was over sixty, his hair completely white, but his back was straight and his gaze remained sharp.

Before retiring, he was the Executive Deputy Director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, and later served as the Director of the Municipal Renmin University of China Legal Construction Committee, having worked in the Lvjiang City political and legal system for forty years.

"Drink some tea."

Liu Xiang pushed a cup of tea in front of Political Commissar Hu Ke, who picked it up, took a sip, and set it back down.

Liu Xiang looked at him and sighed.

"Little Hu, how many years have you been with me?"

Political Commissar Hu Ke looked up and said, "Master, twenty years."

"From the moment I graduated from the police academy and was assigned to the City Public Security Bureau, you were the one who mentored me."

Liu Xiang nodded and said, "Twenty years, that is not a short time."

"I watched you go from a small police officer to where you are today, step by step."

"A backbone of the Economic Investigation Detachment, the Deputy Political Commissar of the Changyuan County Public Security Bureau, and then to Political Commissar."

"Every step, you walked steadily."

Liu Xiang paused, his tone becoming heavy.

"But I didn't expect you to stumble on this matter."

Political Commissar Hu Ke's expression changed, and he lowered his head without speaking.

Liu Xiang picked up his tea cup, took a slow sip, and set it down.

"In this matter, you were too anxious."

Political Commissar Hu Ke looked up and said urgently, "Master, I am forty this year."

"If I don't make a push now, I won't have another chance later."

"If Director Liu moves up, why can't I vie for the position of Bureau Chief?"

"I have worked in Changyuan County for five years; if I haven't achieved merit, I have at least put in hard work..."

"Vie?"

Liu Xiang interrupted him, his gaze becoming sharp.

"What are you using to vie for it?"

Political Commissar Hu Ke was stunned, and Liu Xiang looked at him with a hint of disappointment in his tone.

"Little Hu, do you know what your biggest problem is? You are too honest."

"Do you think you can rise to the top based on seniority and ability?"

"You have worked in this line of work for twenty years; don't you know that some things are not the way you think?"

Political Commissar Hu Ke's Adam's apple moved; he wanted to say something but couldn't.

Liu Xiang sighed and said, "This time, you were used as a pawn, and you didn't even know it."

Political Commissar Hu Ke was stunned.

"Master, what do you mean by that?"

Liu Xiang picked up his tea cup, took a sip, and said unhurriedly, "Let me ask you, do you know that Deputy Director Chen Ling has been jumping around in the Bureau?"

Political Commissar Hu Ke nodded and said, "I know."

"Do you know why he dares to do that?"

Political Commissar Hu Ke thought for a moment and then said, "He... he has a grudge against Xu Weidong and has already burned his bridges, so he has no qualms."

Liu Xiang nodded and said, "Correct, Deputy Director Chen Ling is just letting things go to ruin; he has already offended him to the end, so it doesn't matter if he offends him again."

"But what about you?"

Liu Xiang looked at Political Commissar Hu Ke, his gaze becoming profound.

"You are different from him."

"You have never had a direct confrontation with Xu Weidong."

"The relationship between you two is at most indifferent, not antagonistic."

"You could have stayed put safely and waited for the organization's arrangements. But you insisted on going around and maneuvering with him."

Liu Xiang paused, his tone becoming more severe.

"You think you are fighting for an opportunity? In reality, you are being used as a pawn for others!"

Political Commissar Hu Ke's expression changed completely.

"Master, I..."

Liu Xiang waved his hand, interrupting him, and said, "Listen to me finish."

He stood up, walked to the window, and with his back to Political Commissar Hu Ke, said, "Relevant leaders from the City Public Security Bureau have already spoken to me."

Political Commissar Hu Ke's heart tightened suddenly.

Liu Xiang turned around, looked at him, and said, "They say that you, Political Commissar Hu Ke, have been restless and agitated lately, running around everywhere, and are not suitable for your current position."

"They suggest transferring you to the Publicity Division of the City Public Security Bureau."

Political Commissar Hu Ke's head buzzed, and his mind went blank.

"The Publicity Division?"

"If I went there, my life would be over."

He stood up abruptly, his voice trembling.

"Master, I... I haven't done anything! I just ran around a bit, maneuvered a bit, I haven't offended anyone! How could this..."

Liu Xiang looked at him, his gaze filled with a touch of pity.

"Little Hu, do you know what it means to borrow a knife to kill someone?"

Political Commissar Hu Ke was stunned; he had never been stunned so many times in his life.

Liu Xiang walked back to the sofa, sat down, and his tone became a bit more peaceful.

"Who do you think spread those rumors about Xu Weidong? Was it you? Was it Deputy Director Chen Ling?"

Political Commissar Hu Ke shook his head and said, "It wasn't us."

"We have never said those things."

Liu Xiang nodded and said, "I know."

"But, people outside don't know."

"Everyone only knows that you two have been maneuvering and running around."

"And then, bad things about Xu Weidong started spreading."

"Tell me, what would everyone think?"

Political Commissar Hu Ke's brain spun rapidly, and the more he thought, the more terrified he became.

"Master, do you mean... someone is using us to spread information unfavorable to Xu Weidong?"

Liu Xiang sighed and said, "You finally figured it out."

He picked up his tea cup, took a sip, and continued, "Some people in the city have opinions about Xu Weidong, but due to his background, they dare not come out in the open."

"They happened to run into you two greenhorns maneuvering in the Bureau, so they used you as an excuse to spread the word."

"If something goes wrong, you two will take the fall."

"If they succeed, they will sit back and reap the rewards."

"What a clever plan."

Political Commissar Hu Ke slumped onto the sofa, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

He thought of all his actions over these past few days... running to the City Public Security Bureau, looking for connections, discussing strategies with Deputy Director Chen Ling.

He thought he was fighting for an opportunity, never knowing that he had long become a pawn on someone else's chessboard.

"Master, then what... what should I do now?"

Liu Xiang looked at him, his gaze filled with complex emotions.

"What should you do?"

"I put aside my old face and went to plead with them."

"After much persuasion, they finally agreed to let you keep your original position."

Political Commissar Hu Ke was stunned for a second, then stood up abruptly and bowed deeply.

"Master, thank you! You saved my life!"

Liu Xiang waved his hand, signaling him to sit down.

"Little Hu, do you think this is the end of it?"

Political Commissar Hu Ke looked up at him.

Liu Xiang sighed, looking somewhat dejected.

"Your life, in this regard, is pretty much over."

Political Commissar Hu Ke's face turned pale again, and Liu Xiang looked at him with a mix of disappointment and regret in his gaze.

"Little Hu, you have been with me for so many years; I taught you how to solve cases, how to catch criminals, and how to be a good police officer."

"But I forgot to teach you how to be a politician."

Liu Xiang paused, his tone becoming heavier.

"Do you know what you are in the eyes of others right now?"

"Just a clown, a fool used by others."

"Having offended Xu Weidong to the end, who would dare to use you in the future?"

Political Commissar Hu Ke bowed his head, unable to say a word.

Liu Xiang continued, "Also, you don't think he doesn't know you were maneuvering behind his back, do you?"

"You think he doesn't know who spread those rumors?"

"He just doesn't say anything."

Liu Xiang looked at Political Commissar Hu Ke, his gaze filled with pity.

"Little Hu, have you ever thought about whether he would care about this position of Bureau Chief, given his background?"

"The position you treasure and would break your heads to fight for, in his eyes, may not even be worth mentioning."

Political Commissar Hu Ke felt a bit sad. Yes, he had never thought of this.

"Who is Xu Weidong?"

"He is the son of Commander-in-Chief Xu; what position could he not get? Why would he fight you for this small position of County Public Security Bureau Chief?"

"Master, then why... why did he..."

"Why is he still staying in Changyuan County?"

"Because that was his father's arrangement, because he needs to be tempered, because he needs to walk up step by step from the grassroots level."

"You think he came to fight you for food? He is walking his own path."

"You stood in his way and got trampled; who can you blame?"

Political Commissar Hu Ke fell silent; he suddenly felt that he was ridiculous.

All these days, he and Deputy Director Chen Ling had planned together, maneuvered together, and schemed together.

They thought they were fighting for a heaven-sent opportunity, not knowing that in his eyes, it was not even a matter worth considering.

"Master, I was wrong."

Liu Xiang looked at him, his gaze filled with complexity.

"Little Hu, do you know what I fear most? Not that you lose, but that even now, you don't know where you lost."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the night scene outside.

"You lost because you treated what you shouldn't have fought for as a treasure, and you treated someone you shouldn't have provoked as an enemy."

"You are different from Deputy Director Chen Ling; he has no way out, but you did, yet you blocked your own way out."

Political Commissar Hu Ke stood up and walked behind him.

"Master, then what... what should I do in the future?"

Liu Xiang turned around, looked at him, and said, "What should you do? Stay put honestly."

"Don't run around, don't move, don't think about those pointless things anymore."

"What should be yours will not run away. What shouldn't be yours, you cannot fight for."

"From now on, just consider yourself a transparent person; if you can retire safely, that is the greatest blessing."

Political Commissar Hu Ke bowed his head and did not speak for a long time.

After a long while, he said, "Master, I will remember."

Liu Xiang nodded, patted his shoulder, and said, "Go now, and remember today's words."

Political Commissar Hu Ke bowed deeply, turned, and left.

The moment the door closed, Liu Xiang stood by the window, watching the figure gradually walking away downstairs, and sighed deeply.

This disciple's life, I fear, has reached its end.