Globe Trekker

Chapter 53
On the morning of September [-], a black Buick sedan slowly arrived at the entrance of Fengyuan Inn, attracting everyone’s attention. The young secretary in a neat Chinese tunic got out of the car first, opened the back door respectfully and stood aside, with a smooth forehead and a full face. The red Xu Enzeng got out of the carriage, looked up with his gold-rimmed glasses, and entered the hall with a calm expression, kindly declined the guidance of the innkeeper, and accompanied by his secretary, went straight to the room where Fang Youchun was.

Hearing the footsteps outside the door, Fang Youchun, who was holding his son to read, raised his head, immediately put down his son, quickly straightened his clothes, and walked up to apologize with excitement: "I don't know that Section Chief Xu is here in person. If you are rude, please forgive me." !"

Xu Enzeng said with a casual smile: "I'm taking the liberty to come here, General Fang, you're welcome."

When Fang Youchun heard the word "General Fang", his blood surged instantly, his head became dizzy with excitement, and he fell into a short sluggish state. Fortunately, Mrs. Fang came over in time and respectfully asked Xu Enzeng to move in for a drink Tea, Fang Youchun finally realized.

Xu Enzeng smiled and informed: "There is no need to drink tea. There will be opportunities in the future. I came here to pick up General Fang and go to the party headquarters to go through the follow-up procedures."

"Ah? Go through the formalities?"

Fang Youchun was a little incoherent.

Xu Enzeng was very patient: "Yes, this case has come to an end. Considering the particularity of this case and the current situation, it has been handled internally by the party-government joint investigation team. Many documents and testimonies still need your signature. Congratulations in advance. General, your case has been thoroughly investigated. After nearly half a month of investigation and evidence collection by the joint investigation team and the interrogation of [-] people involved in the case, the results show that you are an excellent party member, and all the charges imposed on you are purely framed Seventeen criminals, including Xie Yuzhang, have pleaded guilty. The joint investigation team has seized a huge amount of embezzled military funds and bribes from the homes of the criminals, involving as many as nine crimes. After completing the formalities, General Fang can release the blackmailed Take all money and belongings back."

Fang Youchun couldn't believe that happiness came so quickly. Sister-in-law Fang and Fang Zhichun were already crying with joy, which made the child cry too.

Fang Youchun stood up straight with tears in his eyes, and solemnly saluted Xu Enzeng. All his words were included in this solemn military salute.

Wu Ming happened to be checking the studies of the two apprentices in the next room. He could hear all the movements after Xu Enzeng arrived, but he didn't join in the fun, and he didn't allow the two apprentices who heard the cries and thought something was wrong to go out. Fang Youchun waited until he left with Lixian Corporal Xu Enzeng, and then he let out a long breath, clenched his fist and waved it violently a few times.

"Little brother, little brother, open the door!"

"coming!"

Wu Ming let go of his fists to adjust his appearance, and silently pointed to the two apprentices to indicate that they are not allowed to mess around. Then he went out and opened the door, and smiled at Mrs. Fang and Fang Zhichun who came to announce the good news with excited faces:
"I heard it all, but I was embarrassed to go out, for fear of delaying the elder brother's time. After all, the aloof section chief Xu came to inform me in person, which is very rare. It has the meaning of visiting and comforting. It's not good for me to be an outsider standing in the way. .”

Sister Fang nodded without thinking, the tears on her smiling face hadn't been wiped off.

Fang Zhichun's face was flushed with excitement, and she stopped arguing with Wu Ming. Seeing Wu Ming hugging Xiao Xin for fun as usual, her face was full of gratitude.

Going back to the empty room next door and sitting down, Fang Zhichun graciously made a cup of tea for Wu Ming. Wu Ming habitually said thank you, put Xiao Xin down and let him play by himself, and said to the joyful Sister Fang: "I guess I'll be there again." I will be able to go home in a day or two, and life will be easier in the future... However, the four elderly people in the family don't know what to expect at this moment."

"It's okay, it's okay! Your eldest brother just made a long-distance call back yesterday afternoon, and asked someone to tell you that things are going well at home, so don't worry too much." Sister-in-law Fang replied.

"That's fine."

Wu Ming thought for a while, and it was time for him to fulfill his promise: "Xiao Xin, the weather is nice today, how about going to the West Lake?"

"Great, great! Let's go!"

Xiao Xin threw away the toy car in her hand, ran a few steps, threw herself on Wu Ming's lap and climbed up.

Fang Zhichun was overjoyed, and quietly left and returned to his room. When he came out, he had already changed into a beautifully crafted lavender dark flower cheongsam, and he looked slim and elegant.

It took Wu Ming a while to realize that he had lost his composure, turned his head in embarrassment, and angrily told the two apprentices to come forward, making Mrs. Fang laugh and Fang Zhichun was secretly delighted, with unconcealable pride and reserve on his face.

It took a whole day to go there. When the lights came on, Wu Ming and his party returned to the inn after having had a good time shopping, drinking, and eating. Lu Kuiyuan and his two put down their bags and went to take a shower.

Wu Ming handed Xiao Xin, who was so tired and drowsy, to Aunt Fang, glanced at Fang Zhichun, who had a satisfied smile on his face, shook his head, and went back to his room, found clean clothes, took a towel and washed them thoroughly. After taking a shower, he returned to the sofa to light a cigarette and lie down lazily.

Half an hour later, Fang Youchun, who smelled of alcohol, came back in good spirits. After chatting with his wife and sister, he hurried to find Wu Ming.

Seeing Fang Youchun coming in, Wu Ming quickly sat up, took a look at the tea leaves handed over by Fang Youchunle Haha, went to pick up the thermos pot and started making tea, and soon praised: "Look at the shape and color of the leaves, smell the aroma, it really is Great tea! I'll drink it first, please feel free, general."

Fang Youchun laughed heartily, and asked after laughing, "You are so young, why do you have such a bad appetite?"

Wu Ming picked up the exquisite bamboo tube on the coffee table. The label was indeed super-grade Longjing. It seemed that the price was not cheap. He explained: "I spent more than half a year recuperating in the Taijin Mountain Taoist Temple in the north of Shangrao. I drank good tea every day. I also learned how to use it. The skin of the tea ceremony can distinguish the quality of tea and tea leaves. Although this tea is not the best, it is rare! Your tea is very expensive, where did you get it?"

"Zhichun knows that you like good tea, so she bought it for you." Fang Youchun replied indifferently.

Wu Ming fell silent. He vaguely remembered that he was tired from visiting the West Lake during the day. During the meal together at Deyuelou by the West Lake, he boasted about the good tea in his hometown, Shangrao, and even mentioned the allusion that the tea fairy Lu Yu made tea in the north of Shangrao City. I didn't expect Fang Zhichun to be so intentional .

"Is everything going well?" Wu Ming asked.

Fang Youchun sighed and said gratefully: "It went smoother than expected. In the morning, I followed Section Chief Xu to the Provincial Party Headquarters. Director Zhang and the Director of the Provincial Security Department were waiting, and a meeting was held to report the entire case and Due to the consideration of the stability of the political situation in Zhejiang Province, the results of the processing cannot be made public for the time being.”

"Finally, the head of the security department asked me what I wanted, and I replied that I wanted to return to my original post and continue to work. They agreed. However, the military and political affairs in western Zhejiang are currently facing major adjustments, especially the security guards who are scattered and do their own thing. The army needs to be fully reorganized, let me not worry, and wait for the appointment to arrive after I go back."

"After that, I will sign a lot of testimonies and investigation reports to confirm that the money and items belong to me, and I will go to get them back tomorrow morning, and the matter will be over."

"How will your duties be arranged?" Wu Ming was most concerned about this.

"Don't worry, just listen to me."

Fang Youchun said with a smile: "In the afternoon, Section Chief Xu took me to his office and talked to me a lot, expressing the ardent expectations he and the Central Party Department have for me, and conveying the greetings of the old instructor, General Lin Wei. He They said they would restore my military rank and administrative rank within a week, and then asked for my opinion, asking if I would like to work in Nanjing, or if I would like to stay? I said stay, and get up wherever I fall.”

After taking a sip of tea, Fang Youchun continued: "I can see that he is very happy, so I proposed to have a banquet for him in the evening, and he asked who else? I said it was just me, and he agreed. We will be in the restaurant next door at night. He only brought a secretary and asked me about my military career over the past ten years, and then introduced me to many things in Zhejiang's military and political circles, as well as the backgrounds of several real power factions. All in all, the atmosphere was good. , it’s simple and comfortable to eat.”

"At the end of the dinner, he encouraged me to go back and work hard, to rectify the security forces in western Zhejiang, and asked me to take the lead in establishing a grassroots party organization in the security forces, and to pay close attention to the changes in the Communist Party's armed forces in the border areas of Zhejiang and Jiangxi. He also said that senior officials Zhang had resigned. It is a foregone conclusion that the province's military and political structure will be readjusted. At that time, he will report to the relevant central departments and the new provincial chairman, and recommend me to take over the post of commander of the West Zhejiang Security Command. If you have any difficulties in the future, you can contact him at any time .”

After hearing this, Wu Ming was relieved: "It's a blessing in disguise... I believe that my elder brother will be able to make a great achievement!"

"What a big deal, don't talk nonsense! I have seen through a lot of things this time, and the price I paid is not insignificant. I'm afraid I have already been regarded as a CC department... I really don't know how to go in the future, it can be said Trembling, like walking on thin ice!" Fang Youchun was very emotional.

Wu Ming explained: "In the officialdom these days, it's hard to do anything alone. Whether you like it or not, you will be involved in factional struggles. From now on, the brand of CC department on you can't be washed off, but I don't think it's necessary. But you can’t let go, you think, if you weren’t upright, honest, unyielding, and with the help of General Lin Wei behind you, Xu Enzeng would have taken a fancy to you?”

"However, through this incident, I found that Xu Enzeng is not bad. Although I don't know how deep his city is, he is an enlightened person. He has not been contaminated with the evil habits of high-ranking, treacherous and slippery officials. He can handle things fairly and fairly. It's not easy..."

"As for the future, as long as you maintain your own nature, big brother, you will be able to be your commander safely, and maybe you can continue to be promoted."

Fang Youchun felt a lot better, and looked at Wu Ming sincerely: "Little brother, don't think about anything, stay and help me, I can't do without you! Don't worry, whether you want to set up a firearms shop or a quilt factory, big brother will do his best. Support you, and the boat you bought for those brothers in Maoliangwu. Brother, I will pay you back when I get back the money tomorrow, and you will return it to me when you go back. I will get you a license as soon as the boat returns, but you have to learn military affairs. How about staying by Big Brother's side for a year and a half, and then going down to lead troops after getting familiar with military affairs?"

Wu Ming solemnly agreed to come down, stood up and proposed to go for a walk, Fang Youchun readily agreed.

The two left the inn and walked westward along the street. When they came to the bridge, they saw a row of small stalls selling wontons and special stewed vegetables. Wu Ming was so excited that he wanted to drink.

Fang Youchun was always in a state of excitement. He invited Xu Enzeng to drink at night and didn't dare to drink too much. At this time, Wu Ming's suggestion hit his heart, and the two of them sat down and ordered a few duck feet and pig's trotters before clinking glasses. The two of them enjoyed the turbid wine so much that they didn't know how they got back when they woke up the next day.

(End of this chapter)