Chapter 8: Sighing at past events that cannot be recalled, praying for a new beginning tomorrow.

  Lying in bed, Shen Yangmei tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. In the few hours since his rebirth, what he thought about most was avenging the humiliation of twenty years. Now it could be said that his lifelong wish had been fulfilled, not only resolving the knot in his heart for twenty years but also venting the resentment accumulated in his heart for twenty years. Moreover, the truth of the matter was far from being as unbearable as Shen Yangmei had originally thought, leaving a glimmer of hope for him and Ye Wen's future amidst the relief in his heart.

  The moon outside is exceptionally bright, and the clear moonlight pours into the room through the glass window. The calendar on the wall can be seen faintly, with a young Andy Lau gazing deeply into the distance. Liu Tianwang was really so young at that time! Although Liu Tianwang has a way of maintaining his youth, twenty years later he still cannot avoid having a face full of wrinkles, and when he smiles it's like a chrysanthemum blooming. Twenty years have passed, and people and things are no longer the same; the world is ever-changing! Shen Yang couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy in his heart.

  As the New Year's Day turned into 1991, it was a very special year. The West saw the outbreak of the largest local war in the world since World War II - the Gulf War. This war had a profound impact on the establishment of the new international order after the Cold War. Most importantly, the coalition forces led by the United States conducted 42 days of continuous bombing against Kuwait, and the ground battle lasted only 100 hours. The multi-national force achieved a decisive victory at a relatively small cost, severely damaging the Iraqi army. This led to the victory of this war. It left military experts around the world who thought Kuwait would become the second Vietnam speechless, and also brought about earth-shaking changes in the international trade market. How many people benefited and how many went bankrupt is unknown. At the same time, it showed new situations and characteristics of warfare under modern high-tech conditions, bringing many revelations to China on military strategy, campaign tactics, and army building, and also accelerated China's pace of strengthening its military through science and technology.

  In the east of the world, the superpower Soviet Union, this red regime played a major role on the international stage for half a century. After the "August 19" incident in 1991, it rapidly declined and began to disintegrate at a speed that left people stunned.

  Its disintegration was a mixed blessing for China. On the one hand, it eliminated the long-standing military threat on its northern border and took advantage of Russia's economic difficulties to purchase many advanced weapons and military technologies that would not have been exported during the Soviet era, greatly improving and upgrading the equipment level of the People's Liberation Army. On the other hand, after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the foundation for the "honeymoon" between China and the United States no longer existed, and China became a "scapegoat" in the eyes of Western capitalist countries as the only remaining socialist great power, subject to consistent hostility from Western nations.

  What's more, the collapse of the red socialist camp had a huge impact on the country, and for a time, defeatist sentiments were prevalent. Many people lost confidence in China's reform and opening up, and even its future prospects. The Chinese Communist Party was even plunged into intense conflict between reform and conservative ideologies. The conservatives even used the Soviet Union's collapse as an example, and with the Soviet Union serving as a cautionary tale, the voices of the conservatives were overwhelming, completely drowning out those of the reformers.

  As China's history was about to turn back, the top leader made a high-profile southern tour and delivered a series of lofty speeches on reform and opening up. He pointed out the direction for China's development and announced the arrival of the spring of reform.

  The red neighbor to the north of China has already fallen into turmoil, and it is likely that the conservative forces within the Chinese Communist Party have begun to take action. Therefore, the pace of domestic reform and opening up has clearly slowed down. Perhaps it won't be long before the struggle between the reformists and conservatives will come to the fore. Maybe I can make some moves in this situation, Shen Yang thought to himself.

  ………

  The two were woken up early the next morning by Liang Weihong, who had just returned from a night out. Seeing Shen Yangmei at home, Liang Weihong was overjoyed and personally cooked breakfast for the two of them, allowing Luo Shuai to vent his grievances at her. It wasn't until Liang Weihong hit him twice on the head with chopsticks that he finally shut up. Luo Shuai seemed to have released all his pent-up anger during breakfast, wolfing down his food in big mouthfuls. Meanwhile, Shen Yangmei savored her breakfast while basking in a sense of happiness she hadn't felt in a long time.

  Liang Weihong watched Luo Shuai and Shen Yangmei finish the food on the table, then reminded them not to play too wildly and remember to go home for dinner. Only then did she yawn and go to the bedroom to make up for her sleep. Shen Yangmei frowned as she watched Liang Weihong go upstairs, still occasionally knocking on her waist as she walked. It seemed that after a few years, Liang Weihong's illness was closely related to her poor living habits.

  Now it's not like later generations, with so many "professors" and "experts" passing on health preservation knowledge to people. Although those "experts professors" are a bit sensational, there is still some truth in certain aspects.

  The two of them got out of the door and into the car, which slowly drove out of the garage and turned onto the highway in front of the villa area.

  "Where are you going?" Luo Shuai asked.

  "Municipal Discipline Committee!" Shen Yang's brow was furrowed in thought as he replied absent-mindedly.

  "What!" Luo Shuai exclaimed, immediately slamming on the brakes and bringing the car to a sudden stop. Fortunately, it was early in the morning, and the traffic flow on the road was relatively sparse, otherwise such an abrupt emergency braking would have definitely led to a rear-end collision. Even so, Shen Yang's body, sitting in the front passenger seat, suddenly leaned forward, almost hitting the windshield of the car.

  Lu Shuai quickly made an apologetic smile towards Shen Yangmei, then steered the car to the side of the road.

  "Yangzi, you're not going to turn yourself in, are you? Did the Beijing case really drag you in? Or did you voluntarily follow Xiangbei and take money from Zhou Yu? How much did you take? Hurry up and tell me, quickly call Lao Touzi and return the money. I said, how can you be so muddled? Is this kind of money that easy to take? Ah......" Luo Shuai said with a heavy heart, "You usually seem so clever, how could you do something so foolish?"

  After hearing Luo Shuai's words, Shen Yang had a feeling of being both amused and annoyed, but more deeply moved in his heart. This is what it means to be true good brothers.

  "I'm so unworthy in your heart, you're so certain I took someone else's money! Luo Baozi, Luo Baozi, what kind of person do you think I am!" Shen Yang scolded with a smile as he fastened his seatbelt with a lingering fear.

  "Ah! Really, nothing to do with you?" Luo Shuai asked again, still worried. Shen Yang nodded solemnly and Luo Shuai finally let out a sigh of relief, saying: "You scared me to death. What were you doing at the Discipline Inspection Committee? That's not a good place, easy to get in but hard to get out. However, Yangzi, have you thought it through? Are you sure you haven't left any handles for them to grasp?"

  "Start your car!" Shen Yang frowned and punched Luo Shuai, saying: "Don't worry, the people from the Discipline Inspection Commission are just looking for me to understand some things about Secretary Xiang. After all, I've been following Secretary Xiang all along. Many of his arrangements were executed by me personally, so it's normal for them to ask me about the situation."

  Luo Shuai restarted the car and warned anxiously: "Yangzi, although you were promoted by Item Beijing with one hand, at this critical moment, you must not be foolish. All problems must be answered truthfully. You can't hide anything for Item Beijing just because he has a deep understanding of you. Remember, don't let emotions get in the way. The old man also said that this time Item Beijing might really be in trouble. Secretary Lin of the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission is a new official who just came from the Provincial Party Committee. Before he even started his work, Item Beijing sent himself to him. Isn't this like handing a knife over to him? I heard that this time he is determined to investigate the matter thoroughly and get to the bottom of it. You must not be foolish and implicate yourself for Item Beijing."

  He nodded silently, as if to say that Lin Zhitian, the newly appointed Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission of Quyang City, had just been transferred from the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission. As the saying goes, "new officials take office with three fires", let alone a municipal party committee member, deputy secretary, and discipline inspection commission secretary? It's likely that before Lin Zhitian took office in Quyang City, he was already thinking about how to open up the work situation and emphasize the existence of the Discipline Inspection Commission. Coincidentally, Xiang Beijing was reported by someone and the evidence seemed solid, wasn't this like having someone deliver a pillow while sleeping? In the past, the reason why Xiang Beijing's case could be concluded quickly was probably also related to Lin Zhitian's eagerness to establish his authority.

  It was only later that Lin Zhitian seemed to have stayed in Quyang for less than a year before being reassigned back to the province, and whether it had anything to do with Xiang Beijing's case, Shen Yangmei didn't know. However, something must have happened during this time, otherwise, the transfer of a department-level cadre wouldn't be so hasty. After Lin Zhitian returned to the provincial party committee, Shen Yangmei rarely heard from him again.

  It wasn't until the truth about Xi Beijing's case was revealed that people remembered Lin Zhitian, who had handled the case at the time. However, by then, Lin Zhitian had already become a marginal figure in the provincial party committee, and no one thought to hold him accountable anymore. Later, the Quyang City Discipline Inspection Commission turned Xi Beijing's case into a video teaching material with negative significance, which was broadcast on various radio stations in Quyang City. Shen Yangmei once watched this program on TV by chance. There was an interview with Lin Zhitian in the program, and at that time, Lin Zhitian, who was less than fifty years old, looked haggard and worn out, like an old man who had been through a lot of hardships. At that time, Shen Yangmei even thought that evil people would get their due punishment. But now she didn't know if she would have the chance to see him again.

  Just as Shen Yang was considering what he should pay attention to when meeting Zhuang Lin today,

  Luo Shuai had already stopped the car in a small alley. Feeling that the car had come to a stop, Shen Yang raised an eyebrow and turned his head to look out the window, "Are we there?"

  "Go out of this alley, turn a corner and you can see the gate of the Discipline Inspection Commission. You can't let me drive the car directly into the yard of the Discipline Inspection Commission, can you? Even if I have the heart to do so, but our broken-down car is not qualified enough!"

  "Alright, alright, where did all this nonsense come from. When I become successful in the future, I'll get you a special pass, not just for this small Quyang City Discipline Inspection Commission, but even Zhongnanhai will be accessible without any obstacles."

  "If that day really comes, I'll buy a donkey, stick the pass on its forehead and drive it into Zhongnanhai..."

  "Alright, stop nagging!" Shen Yangmei interrupted Luo Shuai's nonsense. "You don't have to wait for me, go ahead with your business. If nothing unexpected happens, I'll be back tonight. Remember to help Ye Wen buy a train ticket back home, preferably a soft sleeper. I know you have connections. The sooner the better. If you can't find one, take her there yourself and see her off." With that, Shen Yangmei opened the car door and got out, waving at Luo Shuai through the window before walking straight to the end of the alley.