Chapter Five: Disposition

  At this time, more than a hundred cadres sitting in the conference room were shocked by Ye Ming's actions, standing up in unison, with excited and gloating expressions on their faces, staring intently at Li Li who was trampled under Ye Ming's feet on the stage, many people in their hearts were shouting "it serves him right".

  Originally, Li was proud of his good relationship with Director Qiu and Director Lin of the Municipal Bureau. He had always been arrogant in the bureau, usually with a stern expression on his shiny face, which looked like an unleavened old mantou (steamed bun). He would ignore whoever he saw, but as soon as he met a beautiful female cadre or taxpayer, his oily face would light up like a blooming flower, and his small eyes would narrow into a slit as he smiled. His tone would also become exceptionally gentle and soft.

  Moreover, this Li Li also likes to bully people, likes to play with power and likes to dominate the conversation. Whatever he decides, the other four party group members can only obey.

  It was precisely because Li Li was so arrogant that when Ye Ming dragged him out from behind the podium and slapped him, the leaders sitting next to Li Li, including Director Zou, did not stand up to stop it at the first time.

  It wasn't until Ye Ming flipped Li Li over onto the ground and stepped on his chest, gritting his teeth as he said he would "carry out heaven's will", that Director Zou and the other two deputy directors rushed out from behind the podium, one hugging his waist and the other two holding back his arms, using all their might to drag him away from Li Li.

  At this time, Chen Yi, who was holding a thermos and standing at the edge of the podium to pour tea for the leaders on stage, was also shocked by Ye Ming's violent behavior. When she saw Ye Ming knock Li Li to the ground, she knew he had made a big mistake, her face suddenly turned pale, and the thermos in her hand fell to the ground with a "crash", shattering into pieces...

  At this time, Chen Weiping also rushed onto the stage, pointing at Ye Ming with his hand and shouting loudly: "Ye, what's wrong with you today? Did you take the wrong medicine or did you suddenly go crazy? Do you want to lose your job?"

  Ye Ming saw him run up to the stage, right into his trap. Without saying a word, he suddenly took two steps forward, grabbed his short neck with one hand, and with a burst of strength, lifted him off the ground, spinning his body several times like a top, then let out a loud roar and threw him onto the concrete floor below the stage.

  At this time, Li Li had already climbed up, red-eyed and hoarse, shouting loudly: "Quickly call the police, catch this madman! Lock him in prison!"

  Director Li Zhihua hastily pulled out his mobile phone, just wanting to dial 110, but was suddenly deprived of his phone by Director Zou: "Li Zhihua, have you also gone mad? This is an internal matter among bureau cadres, what are you reporting to the police for? Don't you want to preserve the image of the New Cold City Tax Bureau? Don't you even understand the principle that family shame should not be made public?"

  Li Zhihua suddenly came to his senses: the new land tax bureau was competing for a provincial civilized unit, if one alarm was triggered, it would be considered that the social security comprehensive management work did not meet the standards, and this civilized unit would be vetoed by one vote...

  Li Li heard Director Zou scolding Li Zhihua and came to his senses, changing his tone to say: "Quickly call the security guard over and drag this mad dog Ye Ming away!"

  Chen Weiping was thrown to the ground by Ye Ming, dazed and confused, with a big lump on his forehead. He struggled to get up from the ground and quickly called the security guard, instructing them to send several people over.

  Ye Ming stood in front of the podium with his hands on his hips, coldly staring at Li Li and Chen Weiping. When Chen Weiping's eyes met his, he couldn't help but shiver and hastily retreated a few steps back, fearing that Ye Ming would charge forward and hit him again...

  That afternoon, Peng Hui, the head of the Discipline Inspection Group of K City Local Taxation Bureau, came to Xinleng County Bureau with the director of the Supervision and Audit Office and a staff member to investigate the beating of Li Li and Chen Weiping by Ye Ming.

  When Peng Hui asked Ye Ming why he wanted to beat someone up, Ye Ming didn't want to mention that Li Li had bullied Chen Yi. Because without evidence, it's hard to make things clear. Moreover, he didn't want to affect Chen Yi's reputation - once such a thing gets out, even if Li Li hadn't taken advantage of Chen Yi in any way, it would inevitably be distorted and exaggerated by gossips, and might eventually become a scandalous rumor. Li Li wouldn't suffer much, after all, his name was already notorious, but Chen Yi would be irreparably ruined...

  So, Ye Ming simply replied stiffly: "I beat Li Li and Chen Weiping for no reason, just because I don't like the look of them. Director Peng, you can handle it however you want! At worst, I'll just be expelled!"

  Next, Peng Hui and others found a few members of the bureau party group to discuss and solicit their opinions. Li Li insisted that the municipal bureau expel Ye Ming. However, Zhou Wenming, the head of the county bureau's discipline inspection team, argued reasonably that Ye Ming had always performed well and this time was just a momentary impulse, and he should be given an opportunity to reform himself.

  While other county bureau party group members, some echoed Li Li's opinion, and others expressed agreement with Zou Wenming's views. Peng Hui instructed the people below to record their opinions one by one, saying that after returning, they would report to the municipal bureau party group for study and decision-making.

  Ye Ming knew that Li Li was a trusted aide promoted by Director Qiu, the head of the Municipal Bureau, so the Municipal Bureau's handling of him would not be light. He simply didn't think about it anymore. After Director Peng and others finished talking to him, he returned to his dormitory and started watching an espionage drama.

  It was almost time to get off work when someone suddenly knocked on the door outside the dormitory.

  Ye Ming opened the door and saw Chen Yi standing at the entrance with tears streaming down her face, staring at him without blinking. After a long while, she sobbed and said: "Ye Zi, why are you so stupid? Why didn't you listen to me? I just heard someone say that Li Li insisted on the Municipal Bureau expelling you... It's all my fault, I shouldn't have told you the truth at that time..."

  She could no longer bear it and covered her face in shame, bursting into tears.

  Ye Ming's heart was also surging, wanting to hold the kind, gentle and beautiful sister in front of him into his arms, comforting her and being intimate with her.

  But then I thought that since I had already sneaked a peek at her diary, doing so now would have a bit of an exploitative flavor to it, so I dispelled the notion of going over to hug her and instead smiled and said: "Sister Chen, don't blame yourself. This time when I beat up Li Li and Chen Wei Ping, it wasn't entirely because of you. I had already taken a dislike to those two for some time now, and on top of that Li Li was being so arrogant on stage, at the time I really couldn't help myself, which is why I ended up hitting him."

  Tears streamed down Chen Yi's face as she lifted her head and said, "Don't comfort me anymore. You were going to go find Li Li yesterday afternoon, if I hadn't stopped you then, you would have beaten him up already... Yezi, I'm planning to go see Director Peng at the municipal bureau tonight and tell him about how Li Li bullied me, and explain that you were standing up for me when you taught him a lesson. That way, your punishment might be lighter!"

  Ye Ming was shocked and hastily said: "Sister Chen, you mustn't do this! If you say this out loud, it's like putting a chamber pot on your own head. Although Li Li didn't take advantage of you, if you go around talking about it, the news will inevitably spread. You know that in an official unit, this kind of romantic affair is easiest to spread and often becomes more distorted as it goes along. Even if nothing happened, it'll be talked about as if it did. By then, even jumping into the Yellow River won't wash you clean."

  Chen Yi saw that he was still considering his own reputation at this time, without regard for the punishment he was about to face. She felt both grateful and heartbroken, and very much wanted to rush into his arms and have a good cry. However, she was also worried that Ye Ming would think she was a frivolous woman, so in the end she restrained herself and only said firmly: "Yezi, no matter what, I must go find Peng Zu and the others tonight. If you get expelled this time, I will be uneasy for the rest of my life..."

  That night, Chen Yi went into the hotel where Peng and others were resting, telling them what Li Li had done to her in the office, and emphasizing that Ye Ming was only hitting Li Li and Chen Weiping because of this matter...

  A few days later, K City Tax Bureau made a disciplinary decision on Ye Ming: administrative demerit once, waiting for half a year to observe the effect!

  When County Director Zou called Ye Ming to his office and told him the conclusion of the Municipal Bureau's Party Group, Ye Ming said to Director Zou: "Director Zou, I know you've done your best for my case, and I especially thank you for your concern. In this bureau, the only person I truly respect from the bottom of my heart is you. Now that I think about it, I was indeed too impulsive at the time, and also brought a lot of unnecessary trouble to you, I'm really sorry."

  Zou looked at him with a serious expression, sighed and said: "Xiao Ye, to be honest, I have great admiration for you, and I know that you must have had a good reason to hit someone. Young people's liver fire is prosperous, and it's up to you to control your temper. You must remember my words. Also, I hope you won't become depressed because of this, and don't go to the higher-ups to appeal and complain. After all, if this matter spreads, it won't be very glorious, especially for Xiao Chen's reputation. Even if you bring Li Li down, it will still be a lose-lose result. What do you think?"

  Ye Ming nodded and said, "Director Zou, don't worry, I won't mention this matter again. To be honest with you: now that things have come to this point, I don't want to stay in the land tax system either. I plan to take advantage of this layoff period to go to the provincial city or Beijing to look for my classmates. If there's a more suitable platform for me, I'll resign voluntarily."

  Zou looked at her with some surprise, seeing that his face was calm, and knew he wasn't joking around, so it was better not to say anything more.

  In the afternoon, Ye Ming carried a travel bag and took a bus to his hometown - Xinleng County Wantou Town Middle School.

  Ye Ming's mother, Ye He, had been teaching at this rural middle school until her death.

  In front of a somewhat dilapidated red-brick building outside the middle school wall, Ye Ming stopped, took out the key, opened the door of the middle room, and walked in.

  This room was his mother's bedroom, with only a few pieces of crude furniture, all covered in a thick layer of dust.

  On the wall facing the door, a photo of my mother was hanging. In the photo, my mother, probably only in her forties, wore glasses, with delicate features and elegant temperament, a kind smile on her face, as if warmly watching her son walking in from the doorway...

  His mother had died of cancer three years ago, at the age of 42. What left Ye Ming regretful and puzzled was that until her last moments, his mother had not told him who his father was, whether he had passed away or was living somewhere.

  He had asked his mother this question many times before. But every time, his mother would reply: Don't ask now and don't try to find your father either. If fate permits, you will meet each other someday. If not, it's likely that you won't be able to see each other in this lifetime...

  This is an enigma that has always puzzled Ye Ming.

  Later, his mother gave him an ancient-looking jade pendant with a "he" character on one side and a "yuan" character on the other.

  Mother said: This jade pendant was given to her by his father. The word "far" is his father's name...

  As for whether her father was still in this world, and if so, where he was, she never told him until her death...