Chapter 8, The Funeral of the East Society

Zhang Zhifei's small building, located in the second row of the plateau, was constructed by him after he graduated from a vocational school and joined the Dongshe County Construction Company. His father moved to the city, and he formed his own team. In 1994, he started a Jetta business, becoming a prominent figure in Dongshe County.

Tang Xueqian presided over the restructuring of Xinfeng Group, which will undoubtedly touch upon the deeper issues within the group. It is highly likely that some problems have already been unearthed, yet they have not yet implicated Ding Xiangshan. However, Ding Xiangshan must prevent Tang Xueqian from continuing to dig deeper. I have heard that at the municipal standing committee meeting, Ding Xiangshan repeatedly mentioned that the issues of Xinfeng Group have long been unclear, and it is better not to dwell on them; ensuring the success of the restructuring is key. It is important to understand that once the restructuring is completed, any prior issues within Xinfeng Group may be obscured. Tang Xueqian once told me that restructuring is necessary, but if the residual issues are not clarified, it would be a disservice to the country and to the thousands of employees of Xinfeng Group.

Zhang Zhifei comes from a background in construction and possesses considerable strength. Zhang Ke shook his shoulders a few times but could not break free.

I had not figured this matter out yesterday, but today I have some insights. Zhang Zhixing picked up the photo of Ding Xiangshan bending down to get into the Nissan car and said, "I want to say that there is no problem with Xinfeng Group, do you believe it?" Seeing Zhang Zhifei shake his head, he continued, "Yes, many people do not believe it, but why have several inspection teams sent by the city failed to find any issues?" He placed the photo of Ding Xiangshan bending down to get into the Nissan car back on the table and heavily tapped Ding Xiangshan's body with his middle finger, saying, "If the problems of Xinfeng Group are related to Ding Xiangshan, then everything can be easily explained."

Zhang Ke, along with his father, accompanied his uncle Zhang Zhifei to the guest room on the second floor. Watching his uncle personally take out the clothes from the paper bag and place them into the wardrobe, while sorting through the clothes, his uncle turned to him and said: "Zhang Ke, Xiao Mei is upstairs watching a video; you can go find her to play..."

"It's nothing, Xiao Ke knows his limits..." Father said calmly while standing there, "He is fully aware of what is happening now"

Zhang Ke coldly watched the reenacted scene, as if it were a play. If it were him, when his father returned to their hometown, he would have long been surrounded by outsiders engaged in conversation. His father would stand, and Uncle Zhang Zhiwei would never sit while speaking; even if his father did not mind, he would still say, "Second brother is a leader in the city, how can you stand while I sit?" At that moment, one would wish they had never met. However, Uncle Zhang Zhiwei grew up alongside his father and greatly admired his father's character and knowledge. Even in another timeline, after his father fell from power, Uncle Zhang Zhiwei did not neglect the interactions between the two families. He would still say, "Second brother is a leader in the city, how can you stand while I sit?" At that moment, one would wish they had never met. However, Uncle Zhang Zhiwei grew up alongside his father and greatly admired his father's character and knowledge. Even in another timeline, after his father fell from power, Uncle Zhang Zhiwei did not neglect the interactions between the two families.

"Are you saying that there are rumors outside that Tang Xueqian has a mistress working at Xinfeng Group?" Zhang Zhixing took out a photo he had hidden close to him. The first photo was a picture of Tang Xueqian and Xu Si. "Is this the woman that is being talked about outside?" Zhang Zhixing spread the next three photos on the desk. "Look at these three photos. Just yesterday, this woman met with Ding Xiangshan at the villa in Xiangshan Beishan. The person leaning into the car, with his body still outside, is Ding Xiangshan. This red Crown is the car that Xinfeng Group provided for this woman..." "Look at these three photos. Just yesterday, this woman met with Ding Xiangshan at the villa in Xiangshan Beishan. The person leaning into the car, with his body still outside, is Ding Xiangshan. This red Crown is the car that Xinfeng Group provided for this woman..."

Zhang Ke smiled, sat on the bed, and said with a smile: "Is there something you need to discuss with my dad that requires avoiding me?"

Tang Bo Zhang Zhiwei serves as the deputy director of the Economic Bureau outside Dongshe County, and is well aware of the recent developments in the city. Before his father returned to his hometown to attend the funeral of his uncle, relatives in the hometown were already informed about Tang Xueqian being placed under quarantine for investigation

Second brother, Deputy Secretary Lu has dined with me a few times, so he might still remember what I look like. I see that you don't have to wait until my father's seventh day of mourning is over. How about I accompany you to Deputy Secretary Lu's house for a visit

Hehe... Zhang Zhifei smiled and then asked Zhang Zhixing, "There is one thing I don't understand. Why is it Ding Xiangshan? Ding Xiangshan is the local emperor of Haizhou. If he wants to deal with Tang Xueqian, there are many methods he could use. Why does it have to be so extreme..."

Zhang Ke can still remember the situation when he returned home, thinking to himself: if nothing unexpected happens, this situation will soon be replayed, right

Zhang Ke and his father stood outside the terrace, where many people in the cool shed saw them. His cousin Zhang Yi exclaimed in surprise, "Uncle, Xiao Ke, why did you arrive today..." He got up to run over, but was held back by his father Zhang Zhiwei. It was his younger uncle Zhang Zhi Fei who ran out, took the paper bag containing the change of clothes from his father's hand, and led Zhang Zhi Xing and Zhang Ke into the cool shed

You often travel between Haizhou and Dongshe, so you should be quite clear about the matters in Haizhou. The Xinfeng Group has long been plagued by numerous issues. Before Tang Xueqian took charge of the restructuring, the city had dispatched several inspection teams to the Xinfeng Group, but they found nothing. Tang Xueqian is not a fool; he has been the executive vice mayor for quite some time. If he wanted to make money, he wouldn't do so in the murky waters of the Xinfeng Group. Do you understand this principle?" Upon hearing this, Zhang Ke no longer felt worried. It seemed that after Ding Xiangshan and Xu Si's relationship was exposed, his father had already grasped the key point. He saw his father gazing intently at his uncle Zhang Zhiwei. "Isn't it strange that I am so close to Tang Xueqian yet remain unaware, while suddenly rumors arise about him accepting bribes from Jiang Mingcheng?"

"How was this photo taken?" Zhang Zhifei was both surprised and delighted, picking up the photo to examine it closely. "Everyone outside is saying that Jiang Mingcheng sent money to Tang Xueqian through this woman. It seems there is more to this than meets the eye! How was this photo taken?"

Oh... Zhang Ke saw the surprise on his uncle's face without any concealment. Hearing him say, "We have all heard about Mayor Tang's situation. Generally speaking, once someone is placed under isolation for investigation, there should be substantial evidence from above. Second brother, do you think there is still a chance for Mayor Tang's case to turn around?"

This is a conversation that Zhang Ke is unaware of. I did not expect my uncle to be so enthusiastic, but at this moment, my father could indeed make the decision to switch allegiances, and there was no need to return to his hometown. Of course, in another timeline, the main reason for my father's exclusion from the municipal government was not this. Others admitted to having given gifts to Tang Xueqian and were willing to accept organizational criticism and education. However, when my father returned to Haizhou to accept the investigation from the provincial inspection team, he insisted that his interactions with Tang Xueqian were merely personal exchanges. He had given gifts to Tang Xueqian and had also received gifts from him. In this way, who in the municipal government could tolerate him? Of course, in another timeline, the main reason for my father's exclusion from the municipal government was not this. Others admitted to having given gifts to Tang Xueqian and were willing to accept organizational criticism and education. However, when my father returned to Haizhou to accept the investigation from the provincial inspection team, he insisted that his interactions with Tang Xueqian were merely personal exchanges. He had given gifts to Tang Xueqian and had also received gifts from him. In this way, who in the municipal government could tolerate him? My father's character is too rigid; he refuses to compromise, and although he is capable, without a strong backing above, it is difficult for him to navigate the political arena.

"You rascal..." Zhang Ke's shoulder was suddenly grasped by his uncle Zhang Zhi Fei, who almost suspected that he was intentionally pinching himself. "You rascal, what made you think of taking this photo?"

Zhang Ke's shoulder was heavily patted by his uncle Zhang Zhi Fei, causing him to shrink down by half a head. He grinned and said, "Are you really praising me, or just taking the opportunity to hit me?"

However, upon hearing his cousin's analysis, Zhang Zhifei found it somewhat difficult to accept

Zhang Ke silently observed his father's reaction. It was already quite rare for his uncle to say such words without having received any news.

Zhang Zhifei opened his mouth in surprise, forgetting to close it.

You little rascal, well done, you can achieve great things

If Lu Yiguang had long regarded me as a traitor and a rebel in his heart, the relationship you painstakingly established with him might be ruined

Did you not say so? There may not be a turning point. https://mhetushucomcom Father did not speak the truth; in such matters, if one cannot find someone who genuinely wants to help, the more people know, the more dangerous it becomes

"I just spoke on the phone yesterday, thinking you wouldn't arrive until tomorrow..." Uncle Zhang Zhiwei sat calmly, feigning surprise upon seeing his father, "Zhi Xing is a leader in the city; when did he become so free?"

What relationship or lack thereof, after all, I am not involved in official circles, sometimes I can also relax a bit... If Second Brother agrees, we can go today, I will help you prepare the things

"What is strange?" Zhang Zhifei asked somewhat perplexed, "I currently have only two projects in hand; it doesn't matter if I neglect them for ten days or half a month."

Emerging from the narrow path that is tightly surrounded by the cornfields, one can see the old house in the water plain. Apart from the three old houses under my father's name, which are reserved for my grandmother, the other relatives have rebuilt small buildings on the original homestead. At the southernmost side of the plain stands the three-story building of my uncle Zhang Zhiwei, with a rainproof canopy set up on the cement ground in front of the building. When a person passes away, the funeral takes place on the third day, and the rituals conducted by Taoist priests and monks begin the day before. A group of monks dressed in robes sits on a high platform under the canopy, beating gongs and drums, surrounded by many people, just as I remember it.

It is rather embarrassing to say that after Tang Xueqian was subjected to isolation and scrutiny, I became flustered and did not have Xiao Ke take these few photos. I also cannot clearly understand the sequence of events. Zhang Zhixing explained for his son, "By chance, Xiao Ke had previously seen Ding Xiangshan with this woman. We were all in a state of confusion, but he wanted to clarify the sequence of events. He waited in front of this villa for a day and took these three photos." Zhang Zhixing picked up the photo of Tang Xueqian and Xu Si, saying, "This photo was stolen by Xiao Ke from this woman. She still has several similar group photos in her possession..."

Zhang Zhiwei merely hummed softly and turned his face away, while his cousin Zhang Yi wore an awkward expression. He wanted to offer some words of comfort but, constrained by the authority of his elder, Zhang Zhiwei, he dared not speak out of turn. Uncle Zhang Zhiwei laughed heartily to ease the tension: "Aunt has gone to Zhao Hanming's house to borrow a round table for tomorrow's dinner. She still doesn't know that you and Xiao Ke have returned today. Seeing you both drenched in sweat, why not come to my house to enjoy the air conditioning? You can stay at my place tonight; I've just finished renovating and prepared a room, thinking about when my brother would come back. He shouldn't have to sleep in the old house..." However, no one responded.

Zhang Zhixing fell silent for a moment, then took a couple of steps forward, pressing his hand heavily on his cousin Zhang Zhifei's shoulder, and said: "Zhifei, the situation is not as simple as the rumors suggest. If you really want to help me, could you temporarily set aside your company's matters and help me run some errands for a few days..."

Zhang Ke secretly resented that his father had thought everything through, leaving him no opportunity to express himself. His father had immersed himself in the officialdom for several years and had thoroughly grasped its intricacies, yet he was unwilling to compromise himself.

The photos were all taken by Xiao Ke, and besides your sister-in-law, no one else knows.

Dongshe is a county under Haizhou, located in the northeast corner of Haizhou, only fifty kilometers away from the urban area of Haizhou. In 1994, the provincial-level passage between Dongshe and Haizhou had not yet been constructed, and it took more than an hour to travel by car to the county seat of Dongshe

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According to the funeral customs of Haizhou, the deceased is buried on the third day after passing, and a white wedding is held. Generally, friends and relatives attend the funeral on the day of burial. In Zhang Ke's memory, when his father heard this sarcastic remark from his paternal uncle, he would appear quite embarrassed; however, at this moment, his father merely smiled faintly: "There is nothing important in the city, and I haven't returned to the old house for a long time. I took leave and will return to the city only after my uncle's seventh day..."

You rascal! Zhang Ke saw his uncle reaching out to pull his ear and quickly dodged, as he must still think of him as an immature youth