CH 233

He placed the verdict on the table for Han Qingsong to sign as Huang Weizhong made some tea and served it.

Han Qingsong looked at it and it was not written in a succinct manner. As the documents used quite a lot of difficult vocabulary, he knew at a glance that it was a scholar’s trick.

He frowned slightly and said lightly, “It’s too complicated; just keep it simple and direct.”

Sun Zhuowen’s eyes became more and more contemptuous. He felt that Han Qingsong had never been to school, had no education and was not very literate.

Han Qingsong glanced at the tea again, “Is this the welfare of the Public Security Bureau?”

At this time, tea was a high-end product and ordinary members could not drink it, so normal cadres would buy some tea foam if they wanted to drink it.

Upon looking at this cup of tea, he could tell that the quality was not bad.

Sun Zhuowen made no secret of his arrogance, “Director Han, this is the welfare offered to the Director— it’s a custom.”

What a douchebag, I guess he has never tasted tea in his life.

Han Qingsong frowned, “No need for that.”

He knew that they were a department that was considered rather irrelevant and might be removed at any time; yet, they were still making so many messes. No wonder people said that some of the cadres were very corrupt, which was why the rural areas should launch a cleansing campaign to check the accounts. There, they should let the Commune members report the cases to the Commune and Brigade under the crime of corruption. 

Huang Weizhong felt that this somewhat uneducated and muddy-legged(2) Director was not easy to fool as he signalled for Sun Zhuowen to be more restrained.

(T/N: It refers to someone who perhaps knows a bit about a particular topic, but would use that small knowledge to overrule someone who is a professional. For example, some patients claim that the internet is more reliable than consulting an actual doctor)

Sun Zhuowen wasn’t afraid. There were people he knew that ranked above him, not to mention the subordinates of Liushui’s director Tie Da, the Public Security Bureau and the Militia company— they were the ones who had the final say.

Director? Haha, it’s just a decoration. My words are the ones that count.

Han Qingsong asked about the customary punishment for such thieves.

Sun Zhuowen recited, “Criticism, paraded in the streets, sentenced to a few years of prison and/or sent to a labour camp.”

Han Qingsong saw that Zhao Jianshe’s name was not on it as there were only three. He pointed, “What’s going on?”

Sun Zhuowen immediately put on the look of a wolf being caught trying to be a sheep. If there weren’t the names Zhao Jianshe and Han Qinghua on it, the meaning would be as clear as day, “Director Han, the county…you understand, right?”

Han Qingsong glanced at him and raised his eyebrows, “What is it? I don’t understand.”

Sun Zhuowen was caught in a bit of an awkward situation as he resented the man in his heart. He silently cursed him as being an idiot that didn’t know how to read the room as he couldn’t believe that he was trying to flaunt his authority.

Huang Weizhong immediately said, “Director Han, the county gave us their greetings.”

Han Qingsong, “Is Zhao Jianshe perhaps acquitted?”

Huang Weizhong said with a smile, “That’s not true. Since Director Han was the one who personally caught him in the act, he would definitely not be crime-free.”

However, Sun Zhuowen couldn’t get used to Han Qingsong’s muddy legs. It was true for him that Han Qingsong didn’t look like a Crown Prince even if he was dressed in the Emperor’s robe(3). What were the benefits of continuously pushing Zhao Jianshe into a corner like that?

(T/N: Meaning that some people, even after being given a title or a certain authority, still do not stand out. It can also mean that a role does not suit a certain individual.)