164: Chapter 163: You Bear a Big Grudge 164: Chapter 163: You Bear a Big Grudge This was an elegant name Dong Linze had chosen for himself, used on some private quality notebooks and letters.
Although this was extremely confidential, it wasn’t completely unknown.
For example, the secretary currently working for him knew about this alias.
And some friends within the circle would teasingly call him by this nickname during private gatherings.
When Dong Linze saw these four characters, he fell completely silent.
He knew what was recorded on the next page and what was written in this notebook.
As Dong Linze flipped through the notebook, he wondered what the purpose was behind all this and what kind of whirlpool lay in its wake.
A myriad of thoughts circled in his mind; even Dong Linze, who was usually calm and known as the “Silent One” by his opponents, started to feel uneasy.
He realized he was standing on the edge of a precipice.
A single misstep could shatter him to pieces.
While Dong Linze was examining the diary, Feng Jian Country kept a close eye on his facial expressions.
Only after Dong Linze finished the last page and closed the notebook did Feng Jian Country finally speak up, “Director Dong, what do you think of this notebook?”
Upon hearing this, Dong Linze really wanted to curse.
How the hell should I view it?
I think it’s completely fabricated, entirely a frame-up—do you believe that?
The Supervision Department is always out to catch people’s missteps, and anything I say would be twisted.
Dong Linze was incredibly vexed and had never imagined a single misstep would lead to eternal regret, with his notebook laid out on the Supervision Director’s desk.
“I believe everything in this notebook is a setup,” Dong Linze vehemently declared.
“I do have a habit of writing notes, but I usually document my daily work and some societal insights, nothing like the fabricated content here.
Of course, I admit that the name Idle Man of Leisure on the title page is my alias, but I can assure you that I’m not connected to this notebook at all.
I don’t know how it ended up on Director Feng’s desk, but let me be clear—this has nothing to do with me.”
Just as Feng Jian Country was about to reply after taking the notebook from Dong Linze, the desk phone rang.
Feng Jian Country’s expression changed and he answered the call right in front of Dong Linze, “What would you like me to do?
Yes, I understand, I’m on it.”
Dong Linze thought to himself, that call must have been made by someone from the provincial level.
Humph, Feng Jian Country, you may be the Supervision Director, but I have connections above you.
If you know what’s good for you, you’ll let me off the hook.
But things didn’t go as he hoped.
After Feng Jian Country hung up, he crossed his arms and said seriously, “So then, Director Dong, please bring the notebook from your home so we can verify its authenticity.
I believe the truth will gradually come to light.
We will neither wrong a good person nor spare a bad one.”
Dong Linze frowned.
Was that telephone call not from his own people?
Who would make such a call at this critical moment?
And after answering, Feng Jian Country seemed determined to deal with him thoroughly.
Could he actually be in serious trouble today?
There were still notebooks at home.
To prevent situations like today’s, Dong Linze had made preparations well in advance, filling the other notebooks with praises of the socialist state.
He didn’t believe Feng Jian Country could keep badgering him after seeing those.
After obtaining Feng Jian Country’s consent, Dong Linze called Xiao Li, who was still at home.
Once the call connected, Dong Linze gave the woman known as Xiao Li a few instructions before hanging up.
After the call, Feng Jian Country looked at Dong Linze with a half-smile and said, “Director Dong, such notebooks should be delivered by trusted aides, right?
Otherwise, if they get switched by someone en route, that would be troubling.”
Dong Linze understood that Feng Jian Country was trying to trap him.
If he admitted that the person delivering the notebooks was a close aide, the other party would certainly reply with something like, “A director forming cliques and nurturing his own confidants—surely not planning a rebellion?”
Now was the time for Dong Linze to apply the golden virtue of silence—keeping quiet without a word.
You want to breach my defenses through interrogation and attack me?
What can you do if I don’t speak?
Before long, a staff member from the Disciplinary Committee brought in a notebook.
Feng Jian Country took it and put it on the table with a smile, “Director Dong, please check if this is your notebook?”
Dong Linze glanced at it and immediately knew this was the notebook in which he extolled socialism.
The book, a limited edition purchased abroad by his subordinates who knew he liked to write poetry and essays, couldn’t be faked.
“This notebook is truly the one I always use.
The contents of the other one are complete fabrications,” Dong Linze stated firmly.
Feng Jian Country nodded and began to flip through the notebook.
After a few pages, he looked up, still smiling, “Is this notebook really yours, Director Dong?”
Could it be fake?
Dong Linze didn’t think that Feng Jian Country, after reading his lyrics and essays, would worship him and then safely escort him out of the Disciplinary Committee building.
“Yes, this one is indeed my notebook,” Dong Linze replied, nodding.
“Dong Linze, what a grievance you have,” Feng Jian Country exclaimed, rising to tower over him and slamming the notebook onto the table.
“I never expected you, as an honorable worker, would do such a thing.”
What the fuck is this?
Why would Feng Jian Country have such a strong reaction after looking at this notebook?
Could he be trying to trick me?
Thinking this, Dong Linze put on an innocent look and said, “Director Feng, I truly don’t know what you are talking about.
My love for the country and society is boundless, and I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“You don’t know what you’ve done?” Feng Jian Country angrily pushed the notebook towards Dong Linze, “Just look at what you’ve written in here.”
Dong Linze opened the notebook with skepticism.
The first page still held his Idle Man of Leisure signature, but the second page was different.
It wasn’t at all like his usual poetry.
He turned a few more pages and realized the handwriting inside was identical to his own.
What was going on?
He couldn’t remember ever having written these things.