23: Chapter 23 My Own Portrait

"This is good. We should summarize, refine, and report more on this, giving full play to the exemplary leading role of Party members. Ultimately, our Party-building work cannot remain just on paper or in slogans; it must take root on the front lines, go deep into the fields, reach all the way to the bottom, and truly seek welfare for the common people and contribute to economic and social development."

Zhang Huaijing spoke a few concluding words, then turned to look at Lu Waner with admiration. "You're quite impressive, young lady. At such a young age, you have broad ideas, courage, and capability. Not bad. Secretary Ji Xuewen, the whole country is currently carrying out activities for the education of the advanced nature of Party members. This is a typical example. We should establish more and better models like this, while strengthening publicity and guidance to let everyone see that as long as one is willing and knows how to work, female comrades can also carve out their own piece of the sky!"

Lu Waner had never received such praise before. Her face flushed with embarrassment, and she repeatedly said thank you.

Minister Xia Nanfeng saw this, and her heart felt even more unpleasant.

Ever since Lu Waner rejected her son's courtship, and especially after she got engaged to Cui Liming, she had been suppressing and gaslighting her.

After visiting the Party Member Service Center, Zhang Huaijing seemed unsatisfied and in high spirits, so he proposed visiting the Huanglong Disease Prevention and Control Demonstration Base.

Actually, it was just under the slope about 400 meters away. Since the weather wasn't too hot at the moment, everyone walked to the site.

The Village Party Secretary gave a brief introduction and praised Lu Waner again. When she returned to the County Party Committee last year, the villagers were very reluctant to see her go.

When the activity ended, Zhang Huaijing looked at his watch. It was 5:20, and there was still time. He said to Secretary Ji Xuewen, "Secretary Ji, are there any elderly Party members nearby who are in difficulty or living alone? I'd like to pay them a visit."

When communicating with Minister Wang Ximeng earlier, there was no mention of arranging a visit to elderly Party members. It was a bit sudden. Secretary Ji Xuewen glanced at Minister Meng Zhaodi and Minister Wang Ximeng and said, "Secretary Zhang, we haven't prepared any condolence gifts for this."

"No need to prepare anything, it's just a visit." Zhang Huaijing's expression was calm.

Secretary Ji Xuewen's gaze fell on Lu Waner: "Lu Waner, are there any such elderly Party members in Baikan Village?"

Lu Waner shook her head: "Baikan Village has developed quite well in recent years. Everyone has been lifted out of poverty. There are currently no Party members in difficulty."

There were standards for Party members in difficulty, and they received several thousand yuan in condolence money every year. In fact, there weren't many such Party members in a single village.

Minister Wang Ximeng thought Secretary Ji Xuewen and Lu Waner were working together because they didn't want to take the leader there, so she said, "Nearby villages are fine too. Ask if there's anyone suitable. The key is that they must be home right now."

"There's an elderly Party member in Zhugou Village. The situation is a bit special. I don't know if it's appropriate, but they'll definitely be home right now," Lu Waner said somewhat uncertainly.

Secretary Ji Xuewen frowned. "You mean Cui Liming's family?"

Lu Waner nodded, her eyes looking at Zhang Huaijing with eagerness.

She hoped the leader would go and look into Cui Liming's death. She felt her fiancé's death was somewhat suspicious.

Secretary Ji Xuewen was a bit hesitant and hadn't expressed his stance yet when Zhang Huaijing showed interest: "Oh? What's the situation with his family?"

Minister Xia Nanfeng's expression was a bit strange as she quickly interjected, "His family isn't typical enough. Let's pick another one."

The problem was that her work was neither deep nor meticulous. She had conducted so many visits, but they were all superficial and formalistic. She couldn't remember the names of any Party members in difficulty or solitary elderly people, nor even their townships.

"Which one then?" Secretary Ji Xuewen's single question stumped her.

Minister Xia Nanfeng stammered for a long while, unable to speak.

Meanwhile, Lu Waner hesitated to speak.

Zhang Huaijing asked, "Comrade Lu Waner, you seem to have something to say?"

Lu Waner gave him a grateful look and tried her best to speak in a calm tone: "Cui Liming was a county official. He died in a car accident half a month ago. He was only twenty-five. His father is a veteran, sixty-one years old this year, with thirty-six years of Party membership. His sister married far away to Hushan Province over ten years ago and only returns once every few years. The family is in difficulty, so he can be considered a solitary elderly Party member."

After she finished, Lu Waner's voice choked up, and her eyes turned red.

Zhang Huaijing had been trying hard to restrain his emotions. In his consciousness, that was his biological father, who, like Cui Liming, was upright, loyal, and hated evil.

Now, Cui Liming was alive, but he had to use another identity. This identity was merged with Zhang Huaijing's consciousness, giving the reborn him complex emotions and a sense of being torn apart.

He steadied his mind and said with a solemn expression, "Then let's pay a visit to Cui Liming's home."

Secretary Ji Xuewen hurriedly said, "Minister Xia, quickly notify the Village Party Secretary..."

"No need for notification, and don't prepare any gifts. We don't need many people either." Zhang Huaijing looked at everyone and said, "Secretary Ji, Secretary Lang, Minister Di, and Lu Waner can lead the way. Everyone else from the county can get off work."

Minister Xia Nanfeng's face almost turned green, but she was helpless and could only leave resentfully.

Ten minutes later, several small cars parked in front of Cui Yuejin's house in Zhugou Village.

It was a four-room bungalow facing north. There were two rooms on the east side, one of which was the kitchen.

At this moment, curls of smoke were already rising from the chimney.

The barking of Huang Er could already be heard from inside the courtyard.

That was a local dog raised by the Cui family. After the eldest dog died, only the second one remained, so Cui Liming had named it 'Huang Er'.

Today felt like a strange twist of fate. Seeing Lu Waner and coming back to the home where he had lived for twenty-five years felt like a dream. Zhang Huaijing was very emotional inside.

Lu Waner pushed open the unlatched door and ran inside. In a moment, Huang Er ran out first, barking fiercely, followed by Cui Yuejin and Lu Waner coming out to greet them.

With a reprimand from Cui Yuejin, Huang Er stopped its wild barking, whimpered softly, and crouched on the ground.

On the day Cui Liming was killed in the crash, Cui Yuejin's hair had turned white overnight, and his previously straight back was now noticeably hunched.

The moment Zhang Huaijing saw his father, his eyes moistened. Minister Wang Ximeng, who was beside him, noticed this and felt it was strange. She quietly handed him a tissue. Zhang Huaijing then said with a smile, "The smoke from the stove is quite pungent."

In the blink of an eye, he returned to normal.

After Secretary Ji Xuewen finished the introductions, Zhang Huaijing took the initiative to shake hands with Cui Yuejin. He didn't let go for a long time, his expression somewhat complex. "Uncle Cui, is your health holding up?"

"It's alright, it's alright. Thank you, leader, for coming to see me." Cui Yuejin was a man of few smiles and responded loudly.

He had been like this his whole life, rarely smiling and being very strict with himself and his family.

Entering the courtyard, the osmanthus tree was still there. It was currently the season for osmanthus to bloom, and the courtyard was filled with its fragrance.

In the kitchen, Huang Shujuan was cooking. She came out wearing an apron. She was clearly thinner; she used to be quite fair and plump.

Zhang Huaijing didn't dare look at her too much. He just nodded slightly to her and followed Cui Yuejin through the courtyard into the main hall.

Upon entering, a funeral portrait was placed on the long table in the center of the hall: Cui Liming. It was that tall, thin, and fair young man.

Zhang Huaijing saw himself and felt a mix of emotions. Fortunately, the body his soul had inhabited had over a decade of experience in officialdom. He was naturally strong-willed, mature, and steady, having mastered the skill of remaining calm.

He tried hard to control his emotions.

After chatting for a while, Lu Waner, who had been busy, served everyone Dancong tea one by one.

The main hall was not large, and it felt a bit crowded with seven or eight people sitting there.

Zhang Huaijing hesitated for a moment but still spoke: "Uncle Cui, you might not want to touch upon this topic, but I still want to ask—what happened with your son's situation?"

Cui Yuejin looked up at Cui Liming's portrait. His dry lips moved as he said, "A traffic accident. It was around 3:30 AM on the 25th of last month. He was coming home after working overtime. It was raining, and he was riding an electric bike when he was hit and killed by a BMW."

Zhang Huaijing actually knew the details best. He had also been pondering the situation that night. Why hadn't that car turned on its lights? Why hadn't it slowed down? Why hadn't it honked?

"Was the perpetrator caught?" Zhang Huaijing asked in a heavy tone.