Chapter Thirty-Four: Kill a Snake Without Dying, Three Points of Guilt

  Ye Ming saw Li Li call himself "brother" as soon as he opened his mouth, completely losing the domineering and arrogant attitude of the past. Seeing him begging for help with every word, Ye Ming felt both pleased and a little contemptuous: people like this were typical soft-boned sycophants who would fawn on those above them while bullying those below. When they were in power, they would swagger about, acting as if they owned the place; but once they lost their position or faced disaster, they became softer than anyone else, even willing to abandon their basic dignity and self-respect...

  Li Li had been staring at him with pleading eyes, so Ye Ming said coldly: "Director Li, are you mistaken? You're the Party Secretary and Director of Xinleng County Bureau, and I'm just a small soldier under your command, not to mention a problematic cadre who's been disciplined. What ability do I have to save you? Moreover, I don't even know what kind of trouble you need me to save you from! If you're being chased by someone or fell into a pond and need my help to get back on shore, then I might consider saving you. But now, I really don't know what's going on with you! You want me to save you out of the blue like this, how can I possibly agree?"

  Li Li knew he was pretending to be stupid, so he had no choice but to say with a sad face: "Brother, things have come to this point, and I won't hide it anymore. Since I'm here asking for your help today, I'll just speak plainly: according to my friends, the people from the K City Discipline Inspection Commission and Anti-Corruption Bureau are now investigating me everywhere. You've been in the tax system for several years, so you should also be clear about this: who doesn't have a few good business friends? Who hasn't received red envelopes and gifts during holidays? If the Discipline Inspection Commission and Anti-Corruption Bureau really want to investigate, I estimate that among our bureau's over 100 people, as long as they've collected taxes at the branch office or worked at the inspection bureau, there won't be many who can pass the test!"

  Ye Ming interrupted him and said: "Director Li, this statement of yours doesn't sound like something the head of a local tax bureau should say! You're saying that among our bureau's over 100 employees, anyone who has done fieldwork can't withstand investigation by the Discipline Inspection Commission and the Anti-Corruption Bureau. How did you come to this conclusion? As the Party Secretary and Director of Xinleng County Bureau, is this how you evaluate your subordinates? If it's really like that, then you should have resigned as director long ago."

  He paused for a moment, emphasizing: "I don't know about others, but at least I can guarantee that in the year and more I've been at this bureau, I have never accepted any gifts or bribes from taxpayers. So, you can't shift the blame of your own misdeeds onto other colleagues."

  Li Li's face turned red, and he stuttered: "Right, right, I just spoke too absolutely, too one-sidedly... But no matter what, I'm now facing a huge difficulty, please help me out, pull me up! I, Li Li, don't have any special skills, the only thing is that I'm very loyal and grateful. As long as you help me this time, I'll remember your great kindness for my whole life!"

  Ye Ming shook his head and said, "Director Li, I'm really sorry. Firstly, I truly didn't know what evidence you had in your hands to control the Discipline Inspection Commission and the Anti-Corruption Bureau, nor did I know how big of a problem you actually had; secondly, I also really didn't have such great abilities, to influence the people from the Discipline Inspection Commission and the Anti-Corruption Bureau, to make them stop investigating you. If I had such great face and ability, I wouldn't still be carrying a major demerit on my back until now."

  Li Li saw him reject him outright, and a desperate expression flowed out of his eyes. He suddenly stretched out his palm, aimed at his own cheek, and slapped himself several times. Then, while panting heavily, he turned red-eyed to Ye Ming and said: "Brother, I was wrong to you in the past, I did some things that hurt you, I'll slap myself a few more times to apologize! If you still don't feel relieved, you can hit me now, as many times as you want, I'll take it. I know you have a good relationship with Li Runji, the deputy secretary of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission. Just make a call to Secretary Li and ask him to call the K City Discipline Inspection Commission, they will definitely stop investigating me... Brother, big brother is begging you!"

  Ye Ming saw himself slapping his own face, and was startled. He had always been a person who yielded to softness but not to hardness. At this moment, seeing Li Li getting more and more pitiful, with tears welling up in his red eyes, he also felt a little softened: after all, he was his leader and colleague. Moreover, he had once beaten him severely. If it were really as he said, that he had only received some red envelopes during the holidays, then he would just mention it to Secretary Li and let it go...

  He then said to Li Li: "Director Li, you are my superior and also my colleague. I am not a ruthless person. If it's really just a matter of a small red envelope gift as you said, if the amount is not too large, I can speak to Secretary Li on your behalf, but I don't dare guarantee that my words will be effective. Also, if the Discipline Inspection Commission finds that your problems are serious, then I must tell you: Secretary Li is an impartial and unyielding person. Not to mention me, even if it were the King of Heaven who came to plead for leniency, there would be no effect."

  Li Li heard him agree to go to Secretary Li's place to plead for himself, and he couldn't help but feel overjoyed. He quickly wiped away the tears from the corner of his eyes and said with gratitude: "Brother, thank you, thank you... With your words, I can sleep well tonight. Don't worry, as long as I, Li Li, am still in charge at Xinleng County Bureau, your promotion is guaranteed. By the way, if Secretary Li's place needs any expenses, just let me know and don't hesitate!"

  Li Lichun thanked him and walked out of the office. Just as Ye Ming was about to call Secretary Li, his mobile phone in his pocket suddenly rang.

  "Xiaoye, I'm Zou Wenming. Is there anyone else in your office? If not, I'll come over and sit down for a chat!"

  Ye Ming had always been very respectful of Zou Wenming, and hastily said: "Director Zou, you are the leader, how can I have the nerve to ask you to come to my office? I'll go to your office right away."

  "En, also can. You come, we wait for you."

  Ye Ming walked into Director Zou's office and found that Director Zou had already made a cup of tea and was waiting for him.

  After Ye Ming drank a mouthful of tea, Zou Wenming sat down beside him and asked slowly: "Xiao Ye, did Li Li just find you?"

  Ye Ming nodded slightly, looking at him with a hint of curiosity, wondering why he suddenly asked this question.

  Zou Wenming thought for a moment, turned his head and stared at him, saying: "If I'm not mistaken, he should be going to ask you for help, letting the Discipline Inspection Commission and the Procuratorate let him off, right?"

  Ye Meng looked at the leader with a calm face in surprise and nodded again.

  "How did you respond to him?"

  "I didn't give him a clear answer either, I just told him to go find Secretary Li of the Provincial Discipline Commission and try talking to him."

  Zou Zuozhang slightly furrowed his brow, let out a light sigh, and spoke to Ye Ming with a serious tone: "Little Ye, you must think thrice about this matter! I don't want to say anything else, I'll just tell you one sentence: When beating a snake, it's not dead yet but three-tenths of the crime is already committed! You're an intelligent person, understand the meaning of these words yourself!"