Chapter Seven, Limited Truth

What is the point of arguing over such trivial matters at this time? Liang Gezhen felt somewhat perplexed

The provincial authorities received a report and dispatched an inspection team to investigate without obtaining substantial evidence, directly targeting Tang Xueqian. They implemented isolation and review measures, and at the same time, Haizhou unearthed numerous unfavorable matters concerning Tang Xueqian. There must be powerful figures at play in this situation, and my father is aware of this, though he does not know exactly who it is or why this is happening

"Just back and I could almost eat someone," Liang Gezhen said as she pushed the noodles from her bowl into her husband's bowl. "At this moment, it's like fighting over food with a chick. You two eat first, and I'll go cook some more noodles..."

Zhang Ke would certainly not be foolish enough to claim that he knew what would happen five years later. If he were to reveal the truth, he would need to concoct a reason that would convince his father. This reason, Zhang Ke had already thought of on his way home: "This woman," Zhang Ke pointed at the photo of Xu Si, "I once saw her on the back mountain of Xiangshan, just not long ago, outside a villa on the back mountain, where I saw her with a man, but it wasn't Uncle Tang; it was someone completely unexpected..."

After taking the photos, I went to the developing shop in the southern part of the mountain to print the film. To my surprise, I encountered this woman who was also there to pick up her photos. Among the pictures she collected from the shop, there was a photo of her with Uncle Tang. Taking advantage of her inattention, I casually took one. "Zhang Ke picked up the group photo of Tang Xueqian and Xu Sina, 'This is the one..."

You go call him

Zhang Ke did not have the time to slowly unveil the truth like a riddle game, nor could he care whether this was something a sixteen-year-old should say: "Uncle Tang has been placed under isolation for investigation, hasn't he? Father is worried that the provincial inspection team will soon ask you to undergo an investigation. Everyone says Uncle Tang has issues, yet you insist that he does not; others will not tolerate you. However, if you are to slander Uncle Tang against your conscience, you will be plagued by guilt for a lifetime. What should be done? It would be great to leave this place of strife; even without Secretary Ye conveying messages, Father would still go to the East Society to take refuge..."

What is the relationship between Tang Bohe and the woman in this photo? This group picture looks quite ambiguous

Zhang Ke was unaware of how deeply Xu Si was trapped, and he feared that he would have to find another way. He could not disclose everything about the matters between himself and Xu Si, so he only recounted what had happened in the morning.

Zhang Ke was afraid of the heat. Having consumed less than one-third of a bowl of noodles, he saw his father reaching over with chopsticks to take noodles from his bowl and quickly jumped up to avoid it: "I haven't eaten anything all day, this bowl of noodles is not enough for me..."

Zhang Ke knew that his words and actions would cause great shock to his father. At this moment, if he did not speak clearly, it would delay the opportunity: "Dad has known Uncle Tang for so many years, why does Uncle Tang still not trust Dad? Why does he still want Secretary Ye to convey the message for Dad to leave Haizhou and take a break?"

Zhang Ke heard his father talking to himself and mentioned Ding Xiangshan's name, realizing that he had already guessed part of the truth

"No one told me how to say it," Zhang Ke stood behind the door and, upon hearing this, walked out of the room, handing the photo of Tang Xueqian and Xu Si to his father. "Isn't everyone outside saying that Uncle Tang is having an affair with this woman?"

No," Zhang Zhixing stopped his wife, "You go out to buy something to eat, make sure to choose the good ones. When you come back, it would be best if the people in the courtyard see you. These days, everyone in the courtyard sees me as a stray dog, waiting to watch my good show. Regardless of whether there is any turning point in Tang Xueqian's matter, I cannot go along with these people's wishes right now

Why Ding Xiangshan?

The first photo shows a black Nissan car driving into a red brick villa; the second photo captures Ding Xiangshan bending down to enter the Nissan car. Although it is not Ding Xiangshan's primary vehicle, it bears the municipal license plate. A red Crown car is parked nearby. Although Ding Xiangshan's head is not visible, Zhang Ke believes that his father would recognize him at a glance; the third photo depicts the red Crown car exiting the red brick villa. This red Crown appears in the background of a group photo of Tang Xueqian and Xu Si. Although the lighting in the forest is dim and the flash was not used, the photographic effect is still quite good, with the time of the shot displayed in the lower right corner and the bookshelf. Ding Xiangshan's head is not captured, but Zhang Ke is confident that his father would recognize him at a glance; the third photo shows the red Crown car leaving the red brick villa, which appears in the background of the group photo of Tang Xueqian and Xu Si. Although the lighting in the forest is dim and the flash was not used, the photographic effect is still quite good, with the time of the shot displayed in the lower right corner and the bookshelf.

Zhang Zhixing almost jumped up, trembling as he took the photo, staring at his son with an expression of disbelief: "Where did you get this photo from?"

"Why is it not like that? Xiao Ke's temperament is just like yours, precocious and mature. Although he has always been a reserved person, others do not know what he is thinking in his heart"

Liang Gezhen could not help but ask: "What’s wrong? Are you going back to the East Society?"

I am not sure either," Zhang Zhixing sighed, "You are still young and may not fully understand matters between men and women. Some things, I fear, even Tang Xueqian himself cannot articulate clearly...

Xiao Ke... Zhang Ke had just gone to the kitchen with his mother when his father called him from the living room, "Tell me in detail about what you saw today."

"Who taught you to say these words?" Zhang Zhixing was completely taken aback, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, not expecting that these words would come from his sixteen-year-old son

"Who taught me how to speak? Over the years at home, with all these events that have occurred and the people who have come and gone, I have naturally come to understand. Do I need someone else to teach me?" Zhang Ke could not care less about the shocking nature of his words; he needed to pierce through his father's heart and awaken him. "Uncle passed away; isn't the funeral on the third day? If we rush back like this, what will the cousins think?"

What will you do then? What effect can these few photos have?

Uncle passed away today, and our family is returning to Dongshe to arrange the funeral for your uncle. Where have you been all day, not at home? Liang Gezhen stood behind her husband, waiting for most of the day. She hadn't seen him come home for lunch, and she had called all her classmates' homes; she was almost about to report to the police.

Xiao Ke is also right; your hesitation these days is precisely due to these concerns

What is this about Uncle Tang?" Zhang Zhixing was somewhat puzzled by Zhang Ke's words, "Why do you come back and say such nonsensical things?"

Zhang Ke chuckled softly, noticing that his father's face had lost the gloom it had when he first returned. He understood that his father would not express the doubts in his heart or consult him about the matter. It would be better to wait for events to unfold step by step, and then gradually remind his father. Perhaps his father had already grasped the key issues in his mind.

If you can't even trust your own son, who can you trust? Although he may seem withdrawn, he is quite perceptive. At sixteen, who could possibly lead him astray? If you're worried, why not just call your son out and ask him directly

What else do you know? Zhang Zhixing did not understand why his son suddenly uttered these words out of the blue, but it indeed highlighted the doubts in his heart. However, he could never see through or guess the truth. Within the city government, everyone knew that he had entered the city alongside Tang Xueqian, and they all took pleasure in avoiding him, leaving him unable to obtain any information

Zhang Zhixing was drenched in cold sweat, realizing that in recent days he had only been thinking about evasion, without considering deeper issues. It was his sixteen-year-old son who pointed it out to him. Having been in the circle for seven or eight years, he was well aware of the rules within it. Even if he had no problems himself, he could not prevent others from casting aspersions on him. Although the position of deputy secretary-general was not prominent, there were still some who were watching closely. He had been in the circle for seven or eight years, and he was well aware of the rules within it. Even if he had no problems himself, he could not prevent others from casting aspersions on him. Although the position of deputy secretary-general was not prominent, there were still some who were watching closely.

I know that if Uncle Tang truly understood, there wouldn't be these photos...

Zhang Ke took out the photos he took in front of the red brick villa at the northern foot of the mountain today: "The camera rented at the entrance of the forest park has a decent effect. Who do you think this looks like?"

Liang Gezhen saw her husband with a completely relaxed demeanor, and she asked with reassurance: "Have you figured everything out?"

Zhang Zhixing sat on the sofa, his face darkened: "Where have you been all day?"

But are these words spoken by a sixteen-year-old? On the contrary, Liang Gezhen wishes her son to be the most outstanding and intelligent young man in the world, and she does not find it particularly unusual, even thinking that her husband is overreacting. However, she also feels it is quite strange for this photo to be in her son's possession, so she asks him: "Where did this photo come from?"

Hehe... Zhang Zhixing laughed, raising his chopsticks to tap his son's head, "Who is the drowning dog?" He urged his wife, "You didn't understand what Xiao Ke said, hurry up, hurry up..."

"It may not have any effect, or it may have a significant impact..." Zhang Zhixing said ambiguously, "Aren't they hoping for me to leave Haizhou? Once I arrive in Dongshe tomorrow, I will know whether these few photos can make a difference."

Zhang Ke stood at the door, thinking to himself: No wonder Dad is angry. After receiving the message from Ye Xinming that Tang Xueqian wanted him to go out and take a break, the thoughts of staying or leaving had been struggling in Dad's mind. The news of Uncle's passing should have reached from the hometown this afternoon, which provided Dad with an excuse to leave Haizhou, while I was playing missing at this time; it is no wonder he was filled with rage.

Mother, this is not about pride; a drowning dog is something everyone is willing to beat... Zhang Ke said from the side, "The more one is down on their luck, the less they can allow others to look down on them, especially in this courtyard, where everyone is waiting for an opportunity to step on someone else or strike them down."

Oh... where did you learn all this?" Zhang Zhixing reached out and touched Zhang Ke's nape, "Today's children are truly hard to understand.

"How did you know to take these photos?" Liang Gezhen wrapped her arm around her son's shoulder, guiding him into the kitchen. "Don't disturb your dad... If you don't come back, we have no appetite to eat. Come with me to make some noodles, and let's crack a couple of eggs to make do..."

"Do not concern yourself with who it is," Zhang Ke still thought about how to cover up the lie. "Yesterday, I heard my mother say that Uncle Tang has that kind of relationship with this woman, which puzzled me. Early in the morning, I went to the back mountain of Xiangshan for a stroll, and sure enough, I saw this man again in that villa..."

"You don't need to worry about where I got this photo. The provincial inspection team will soon see similar photos," Zhang Ke said calmly. "If the charges of bribery against Uncle Tang are substantiated, Dad, won't your timing in leaving Haizhou make people think you are deliberately avoiding the investigation by the provincial inspection team..."

Zhang Ke stood at the door, pursed his lips, and looked at his father, whose expression was gloomy. He said, "Why do we have to leave Haizhou? Don't you care about Uncle Tang's situation anymore?"

Zhang Ke believed that at this moment, if he were to stuff two eggs into his father's mouth, he would not even be aware of it

Zhang Ke took a taxi back to Xiangshan Forest Park to retrieve the developed photos and film from the printing shop, then took a car back to the city, arriving home when it was already completely dark.

Zhang Ke saw his father sitting upright and serious, realizing that he was beginning to take his words seriously

***

Zhang Ke noticed his father's face gradually turning pale with anger. To prevent him from losing control and using him as a human punching bag to vent his emotions, he quickly retreated to his own room at the first sign of an outburst. He speculated about the impact of his earlier words on his father, pressing his ear against the door to eavesdrop on the conversation outside.

Liang Gezhen brought out the cooked noodles, and Zhang Zhixing picked up the bowl, devouring it in two or three swift bites as if a gust of wind had swept through the clouds.

Father is not foolish; I believe he will soon understand the cause and effect. Zhang Ke rubbed his hands and asked his mother: "Is dinner not ready yet? I'm almost starving..."

Is this something a child of his age would say

Of course, we must return to Dongshe. I have already requested leave from Zhou Fuming. It would not be appropriate to say that I won't go. Besides, everyone is avoiding me as if I were a plague. Even if I stay in the city, it would be of no use. Zhang Zhixing, having had a drink, felt his cheeks flush. "But it's not just our family returning to Dongshe. I will go back with Xiao Ke, and you stay here to see how things develop. Even if it's just hearsay, you can still gather some information. We agreed to make more phone calls every day, and it will be convenient for you to return if something happens."

You know that I have been with Tang Xueqian from the teacher's college to the city. If I were to tarnish Tang Xueqian's reputation, he would never be able to wash it off, and I am afraid that someone might learn about my relationship with Tang Xueqian and incite Xiao Ke to speak recklessly

Who is it

Xiao Ke's words reminded me that if Tang Xueqian can trust Ye Xinming, then why can't he trust me? If Tang Xueqian truly has something to hide, it is his personal secretary Ye Xinming who knows the details better. Ye Xinming conveying messages for Tang Xueqian could be a trap; I cannot jump in blindly without knowing the risks