Chapter Twelve: Mourning

  Tao Ruxuan suddenly realized that these things had been arranged by Liang Hongyan long ago, and he was just here to go through the motions. However, according to his level, he didn't have the authority to sign for money in the office, so he handed the document over to Zhang Zexin and said: "Director Zhang, I'll take this document to Director Liang to sign."

  Zhang Zexin looked at Tao Ruxuan with a warm and ambiguous smile, saying: "You'd better sign it, I'm afraid it won't take long before you have to sign all these documents."

  Tao Ruxuan was taken aback for a moment. In the department, except for Minister Sun Dianmin and Zhang Zexin, no one else needed to sign every single document. The implication of Zhang Zexin's words was that he might soon replace him as the director of the departmental office.

  Thinking of this, Tao Ruxuan couldn't help but feel a little excited, yet still cautiously said: "Director Zhang is joking." He didn't delay any further and signed his name on the form.

  When going to his own office to inform everyone to prepare to go to Director Sun's house, Qu Jia Sheng was reading the newspaper, but suddenly sighed: "The ancients said: one person gets the Tao and chickens and dogs ascend to heaven, now this world is probably one person ascends to heaven and chickens and dogs dance with joy."

  The air in the office suddenly solidified. Qu Jia Sheng's words made it clear that Sun Dianmin's death had created opportunities for many people, and everyone on the surface looked like they were in a state of sorrow, but in reality, they were celebrating and dancing in their hearts. Whether or not what was said was true, comparing everyone to chickens and dogs was a bit too harsh.

  Tao Ruxuan didn't want to take the bait, but he thought that Qu's family had helped him after all, so he smiled and said: "Director Qu is always able to hit the nail on the head." But immediately changed his tone and continued: "Later everyone will go to mourn Minister Sun, you should also go."

  Qu Jian said in a neutral tone: "The matter of Cat crying and wasting away, I won't get involved. You all go instead. I'll stay behind to keep watch."

  Tao Ruxuan felt that Qu Jia Sheng's words were becoming more and more unreasonable. After all, the dead are to be respected, and Sun Dianmin had already become a corpse. Why bother to speak ill of him? So he didn't pay attention to Qu Jia Sheng anymore. Unexpectedly, when it was time to go out, Yu Minhua also said that she wasn't feeling well and couldn't bear to see such a scene, so she didn't want to go either.

  Whether everyone goes or not has nothing to do with Tao Ruxuan, but after all, it's Liang Hongyan who let herself do this. If two people in her own office don't go, it would be a loss of face for Liang Hongyan. Although they are going to mourn the dead, they are actually giving face to the living. If no one goes, where will Liang Hongyan put her face? It's inevitable that some people will say that Liang Hongyan has no prestige in the department, and she herself will also be criticized for being inefficient. With a burning heart, she had to use words to defeat Yu Minhua.

  "Hua sister, Director Liang asked me to inform everyone that if none of you go, I'm afraid I won't be able to explain it to Director Liang either."

  After finishing, I was afraid of really hurting Yu Minhua, so I softly persuaded her: "Even if you give me face, go anyway. If you don't want to see that scene, just stand outside, it's also considered going." Yu Minhua couldn't say anything else and had no choice but to agree.

  When going out, Tao Ruxuan heard Qu Jia Sheng say with a sour tone behind his back to Yu Minhua: "We'll probably have to call him Director Tao from now on."

  Sun Dianmin's home was not in Fencheng, but in Hebian County adjacent to Fencheng, still 40 or 50 kilometers away from Fencheng. It was already past four o'clock in the afternoon, and Zhao Yongkui suggested going again tomorrow morning. However, Liang Hongyan said that Director Sun unfortunately encountered difficulties, how could the department delay until tomorrow to go? She insisted on going that day. Zhao Yongkui did not persist anymore.

  Two buses, plus a small car, were needed to transport all the people, and they set off in a long procession towards the riverbank. Fortunately, it was summer, so the days were long and the nights were short, and after hurrying along, they arrived at the riverbank when the sun was still half way up. The county committee office and the people from Wang Xiang Town had already placed Sun Dianmin's coffin in the living room. Sun Dianmin's wife, a woman in her fifties, was sitting beside the coffin, sobbing and crying, but there was no sign of Sun Dianmin's children. Later, after asking around, it was discovered that after Sun Dianmin's coffin had been brought back, his three children had accompanied the coffin and cried for a while, but then seemed to have had a dispute over the condolence money, and now nobody knew where they had gone.

  The courtyard was also quiet and deserted. After the county committee office and Wang Xian Town people had placed the coffin, Ma Zhaoqing, the deputy director of the county committee office who came to escort the coffin, told Sun Dianmin's wife about the consolation money. He said that Director Sun had fallen on his post in Fen City, and Secretary Gu had said that the county would definitely take care of it to the greatest extent possible, and asked Mrs. Sun not to worry. In fact, everyone knew that this was just a polite phrase, and there were always rules for condolence payments for officials who died on the job, and there had never been any exceptions.

  Li Hongyan handed over the 5,000 yuan to Sun Dianmin's wife and consoled her with a few words of condolence. As it was already late, they didn't dare linger too long, so everyone bowed outside, presented flower baskets, and then set off on their return journey.

  Everyone was silent along the way, as if they were really sad about Sun Dianmin's death. Gradually, someone started discussing and said that when Director Sun's father passed away two years ago, the department collected 20,000 yuan. Someone else said that at that time, the department even left a few people to help with the funeral. The scene back then was not like this now. As they spoke, someone sighed, not daring to speak too clearly, but also revealing the coldness and warmth of human relationships.

  Outside of He Yuan County, there was an intersection, one side going to Fen Cheng and the other to Fengyuan City. Liang Hongyan had Tao Ruxuan get off the van and asked him to go with her to Fengyuan.

  Tao Ruxuan didn't know what was going on, but he couldn't refuse either. With a nervous heart, he got into Liang Hongyan's car under everyone's strange gaze.

  As soon as the car went onto the highway, Liang Hongyan asked Tao Ruxuan what everyone in the car was discussing. Tao Ruxuan didn't want to hide it and told her everything that had been discussed, of course avoiding mentioning the names of those who were discussing it.

  Li Hongyan smiled and said, "It's normal for them to gossip like that. But they don't know that the money for Director Sun's father's funeral was signed by Director Sun himself, and how much he took has nothing to do with us. But when it comes to taking money for Director Sun's funeral, I'm the one who has to sign for it. This responsibility will fall on my head."

  Although Liang Hongyan didn't say it explicitly, Tao Ruxuan could also hear that Liang Hongyan might replace Sun Dianmin as the head of the Propaganda Department. Firstly, County Party Secretary Gu Ping's trust in her; secondly, Liang Hongyan's own abilities were already there, and promoting someone else would be difficult to convince everyone; thirdly, if Sun Dianmin encountered difficulties midway, suddenly promoting someone from below would inevitably require a large-scale personnel adjustment, which would not be conducive to stability among cadres. Promoting Liang Hongyan would be much simpler, only requiring some adjustments within the Propaganda Department, which could also serve as one of Gu Ping's reasons for promoting Liang Hongyan.

  Huang Shifu, the driver of Liang Hongyan, is an old comrade who has been driving for over 20 years in the government agency. He drives steadily and has a gentle personality, always speaking kindly. Over the years, no matter who he drove for, he would never gossip about leaders behind their backs. When asked sensitive questions, he would just smile and pass it off. During his free time, he wouldn't wander around the office building, but instead play chess with retired cadres at the county committee entrance to relieve boredom. Such a driver is naturally sought after by leaders, but Wang Jian still gave him to Liang Hongyan with just one sentence.

  All the way, Huang didn't say a word and just focused on driving. It wasn't until they were approaching Fengyuan City that he asked Liang Hongyan where she was going.

  "Let's go to Huan Ya Mountain Villa." She said again, "In a while, I have something to do with Little Tao, you can arrange it yourself." After a moment of contemplation, she continued, "When we're going back, I'll give you a call."

  Huang Shifu responded with a sound, and then turned the car into the road of Huan Ya Mountain Villa. After walking for more than ten minutes, a group of buildings that were bright with lights but quiet on all sides appeared in Tao Ruxuan's eyes.

  Tao Ruxuan's heart couldn't help but feel anxious again, and he didn't know why Liang Hongyan had brought him to this place so late at night. If she really made some improper demands, how should he respond? Should he play along or refuse sternly? Maybe it was just like the time in the provincial capital, not that serious, just unnecessary worries.

  As I approached, I found that there were some vehicles parked sporadically outside the mountain villa. A security guard was on duty there and when he saw the car coming, he immediately came forward, stretching out his arms to direct us to park.

  After getting off the bus, Liang Hongyan walked directly inside with familiarity. When the waiter came to greet and ask questions, she said "B building 208" quickly and followed the waiter through a building in front, into the corridor behind, turned right again, and entered another building. However, Huang Shifu did not follow up and stopped in the lobby of the front building.

  Go up to the second floor, walk down the corridor for over 10 meters, and room 208 is right in front of you. Open the door, two familiar faces immediately appear in front of Tao Ruxuan. The people sitting inside are none other than Yuan Shigui, the director of the textile mill, and Zhu Lian, the head of the factory's police station.

  When Liang Hongyan came in, the two people almost simultaneously squeezed out a smile and stood up. Yuan Shigui said while letting Liang Hongyan take the main seat: "Director Liang, you've worked hard, tonight must relax well. I have already booked a full set of services for you, after dinner, let the service staff take you over."

  Li Hongyan said: "Don't bother too much either, the key is to find a proper massage therapist, my neck has been uncomfortable lately."

  Yuan Shigui said, "People like us who sit in the office all day love to get this kind of disease. I have the same problem as you. When my cervical vertebrae act up, it's hard to describe what it feels like - it's just extremely uncomfortable. Luckily, there's a good masseur here, and I'll have him give you a good massage in a bit."

  "Alright, alright, thank you first." Liang Hongyan seemed very excited and continued: "Then let's hurry up with the dishes. I'm really a bit hungry now." She emphasized again: "Today is simple, don't be like last time, like Liu Lao Lao entering the Grand View Garden, seven meat and eight vegetarian dishes, too wasteful. I'm actually not particular about food, as long as it can fill my stomach, that's enough. Oh, and it's best to change the wine to red, white is too damaging."