Reborn as Zhao Ruilong of Handong, I will defy fate.

Chapter 548 Abandoning Darkness for Light? A Wise Man Knows When to Refuse!

"what?"

Duan Guangzhong was shocked.

"What...what do you mean by that?"

"What do you mean you're going to apologize to me? What are you trying to do?"

"Are you going to risk my life to secure your future? Huh?"

Duan Guangzhong could no longer sit still.

He stood up involuntarily.

Looking at his secretary who had been with him for many years, he was both surprised and angry.

Of course, there was also resentment and doubt.

He thought that as long as he treated his secretary well enough, she would be loyal to him.

I wouldn't say I'd go through fire and water, but at least I wouldn't easily betray myself.

But now...

My cousin was detained in the afternoon, and this guy couldn't hold on any longer by night.

His words and actions made it seem as if he were selling himself for a better future.

"Duan Shuji, you have indeed been good to me over the years. You have not only taught me a lot, but you have also helped me to earn a lot. However, disaster is imminent, and I... I have no choice but to protect myself!"

There was a bang.

Duan Guangzhong slammed his fist on the table in fury and roared, "You shouldn't have sold me out, right? How can you do this to me? There were so many people who wanted to be my secretary back then, but I chose you, nurtured you, and trusted you. And now that things are a little off, you pull this stunt on me? Are you even human?"

The secretary lowered her head in shame.

"I know that doing this is not very fair, so I came here specifically to apologize to you in person, and I hope you can understand!"

"I understand your grandpa!"

Duan Guangzhong was furious and pointed towards the door.

"Have you already contacted the supervisory team?"

"Are they already on their way?"

The secretary shook her head slightly.

"I haven't contacted them yet."

"Really?"

"Absolutely true!"

The secretary slowly raised her head and said solemnly:

“I know you’re probably thinking that the last anti-corruption inspection team didn’t manage to find us, and this time the anti-gang inspection team won’t either.”

"But what I want to say is that this time is really different, Duan Shuji. My cousin was able to get away unscathed last time, so why was she suddenly detained this time? Is it really just because someone reported her?"

"What do you mean?"

Duan Guangzhong looked serious.

The secretary glanced at the door to make sure it was closed.

"Many people thought that this crackdown on organized crime was just like the previous anti-corruption campaign, only taking down some small fry and doing a show, without actually getting serious."

"But this time it's really different. The higher-ups are truly determined and really going to take action. Don't think that Governor Jin Anrui can still protect him. This time, it's actually aimed at him!"

"what?"

Duan Guangzhong was dumbfounded.

He knew that his secretary was someone of considerable influence, with a rather complicated background and connections, and that she could obtain some seemingly hearsay but actually factual information.

"Don't be so alarmed. If you don't trust me, you can call right now and ask Governor Jin to arrange for his family to go abroad and see if they can get out of the country."

Upon hearing this, Duan Guangzhong was instantly paralyzed with fear.

This is not a rumor at all!

It was a bolt from the blue!

He was so frightened that he fell back into a chair, his head buzzing.

He was convinced that his secretary's gossip was true, but at the same time, he felt that Jin Anrui, who held the second rank in Haiqing Province, could not possibly fall.

"Where did you get this inside information? Who in the province told you?"

The secretary smiled mysteriously.

"You don't need to know where I got the information from, I've made up my mind to abandon the darkness and embrace the light as soon as possible so I can save my future. Otherwise, once I'm taken away, it will be too late to say anything."

Duan Guangzhong clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, lost in thought.

Just then, the secretary's phone rang.

"Sigh! Song Jianhui is calling again!"

"Is it still because of Song Laosan's matter?"

"Yes, his brother was driving under the influence of drugs and killed someone. The evidence is irrefutable. Even Lao Wang, who helped him arrange for someone to take the blame, has already fled to avoid punishment. Who would dare to help him now?"

After the secretary finished speaking, she hung up on Song Jianhui.

As the saying goes, when a tree falls, its monkeys scatter; when a wall collapses, everyone pushes it down!

The wicked Song Jianhui was bound to get into trouble sooner or later.

During the inspection team's stay in Qinghai Province, Song Laosan, who was excessively pampered, caused a major accident by driving under the influence of drugs.

If anyone were to help Song Jianhui at this point, wouldn't they be asking for trouble?

Duan Guangzhong instinctively took out his phone.

He assumed that if Song Jianhui couldn't reach his secretary, he would definitely try to contact him.

But after staring at the phone for a while, nothing happened.

It seems that my previous advice was effective.

Song Jianhui probably knew that coming to him was useless.

"Duan Shuji, now that things have come to this, you should take care of yourself first!"

"The Jin family's ship is sinking, do you want to go down with it?"

"Their family made so much money and enjoyed themselves for so many years, even if they all go to jail, it's not a loss."

"On the contrary, you kept it a secret from all your relatives and friends, not daring to spend a single penny, and never enjoying a single day of wealth..."

Duan Guangzhong frowned slightly.

He looked at the secretary with a scrutinizing gaze.

After working together for several years, he thought he knew his secretary very well.

But today, at this moment, it feels exceptionally unfamiliar.

"You don't seem to be here to apologize to me; you seem more like a mediator!"

The secretary smiled slightly.

"Don't misunderstand, I'm not here to act as a mediator for anyone."

"I just think that we should always consider ourselves and our families more."

"As the old saying goes, a wise man knows when to yield. Even without the supervisory team to crack down on organized crime, Mr. Jin is getting old and will soon retire."

"Don't think that what you're holding onto is a towering tree. In reality, it's just a rotten log that could collapse at any moment!"

Duan Guangzhong took a deep breath.

It's become obvious.

The authorities intend to target Jin Anrui through a crackdown on organized crime.

After being parachuted into Qinghai Province, Lu Xiaofeng, who had been very well-behaved, is no longer holding back.

His secretary, sensing the unfavorable situation, quickly chose sides and came to him, trying to pull him onto their side as well.

Even if they are accused of disloyalty and injustice for betraying Jin Anrui and joining Lu Xiaofeng, they can still protect their career prospects.

Reaching into his pocket, Duan Guangzhong wanted to take out a cigarette, but found nothing.

Upon seeing this, the secretary immediately took out cigarettes and a lighter.

"Don't hesitate, Duan Shuji!"

"If we keep dawdling, we'll only be facing death!"

Duan Guangzhong took a deep drag on his cigarette and turned to look out the window.

He knew he was now facing a difficult choice.

Is it a matter of believing that Jin Anrui can still protect them, or gambling that they can stay safe by following Lu Xiaofeng?

Looking back on the past years, Jin Anrui and his family have engaged in rampant corruption and abuse of power for personal gain.

Despite possessing abundant mineral resources, tourism, and energy resources, Haiqing's economic indicators consistently rank among the lowest in the country year after year.

How can such rampant corruption within the entire family last?

How can you not get your shoes wet when you often walk by the river!

Since the secretary has put it this way, how can I not take a gamble?

“My interests are so deeply intertwined with theirs, and the local specialties I’ve collected almost fill an entire room. Are you sure Lu Shuji can really keep me safe?”

"Then I'll ask you in return: whether it's fighting corruption and promoting integrity or cracking down on organized crime, is it really just about upholding justice and maintaining the law?"

Duan Guangzhong gave an awkward smile.

He took a drag of his cigarette and exhaled a long puff of smoke.

"Yes, in the end, it's all just using high-sounding reasons to engage in internal strife!"

"Then I have another question. What if we abandon the darkness and change our ways, and Jin Lao and his gang become desperate and act recklessly?"

The secretary smiled faintly.

"Are you afraid they'll get angry and harm our family? Don't worry, even if they had the guts and the ability, they wouldn't have the chance to do it."

"why?"

"Because if you really wanted to, Lu Shuji would organize and lead the heads of the province's main departments, as well as the top leaders of various cities and prefectures, to first go to Handong and then to Linjiang to investigate and research the new energy industry..."

There was no need for the secretary to say anything more; Duan Guangzhong, who had been in officialdom for many years, immediately understood.

Visiting other places for study and exchange is something that happens every year.

As China strives to develop the new energy industry, it is only natural for Qinghai Province, with its unique advantages, to actively respond to the policy and go to developed provinces and cities to learn from and exchange ideas and attract investment.

As the top official of Xiping, the capital city of Haiqing Province, it was only natural that I was called away to conduct thorough research and learning, to learn from Handong Province and Linjiang Province, which have done well in the new energy industry.

Once you're in another city, won't you have the chance to have a heart-to-heart talk with Lu Xiaofeng without any restraint?

Moreover, during this period, Jin Anrui, who stayed behind in Haiqing, got into trouble, causing countless people to suffer as well, but that had nothing to do with him.

"Hmph, you still say you're not here as a lobbyist!"

Duan Guangzhong pointed at his secretary and then said, feigning annoyance:

"Your cousin wasn't detained; she was persuaded to surrender!"

The secretary smiled.

"They're pretty much the same. If you vote, you'll be safe; if you don't, you'll go to jail. Even a fool knows which one to choose."

Duan Guangzhong paused for a moment, then nodded slightly.

He flicked away the ash from his cigarette, stood up, and asked:

"When to set off?"

"No rush. Tomorrow morning, Lu Shuji will propose at the Standing Committee meeting that our Haiqing Province should actively respond to national policies and vigorously develop the new energy industry..."

Duan Guangzhong listened silently, his gaze fixed blankly out the window.

In a daze, he felt that he was not some powerful figure at all.

Even though he is now the top official in Xiping City, he is still just a pawn on the chessboard.

One word from oneself can change the fate of many people.

But a single word from someone in power can decide one's life or death.

This time, when the gods fight, mortals suffer.

Those who are not yet at a high enough level are either destroyed or used as pawns.

There is absolutely no third possibility!

As for people like Song Jianhui...

Even though in the eyes of many ordinary people, they are powerful and influential, and people they cannot afford to offend.

But in reality, they just use gloves and tools when they want to and throw them away when they don't.

Regardless of whether his younger brother, Song Laosan, was driving under the influence of drugs and killed someone last night, the Song family's good days are over.

No matter how much money is spent, or who helps, Song Laosan will definitely be formally arrested tonight and forcibly taken away.

As for Jin Anrui...

Since he's so self-righteous and thinks he can get away with it this time, continuing to indulge in lowbrow pleasures, let him be!

Two days later.