Chapter 204: Representing the Country in Gratitude

"Zhou Ming, you wait for me! I won't let you off!"

Niu Jie threw down these words before being taken away by Director Wang. Zhou Ming waved him goodbye, not taking his villainous threats seriously at all. Niu Jie was so infuriated that he almost spat blood on the spot, wishing he could confront Zhou Ming in a final battle.

However, Niu Jie could only harbor these thoughts, as confronting Zhou Ming would only bring him more disgrace.

One must say that the domestic military is very disciplined, especially departments like the Zhongjing (Central Guard). Even though Zhou Ming had just played a trick on Niu Jie, Captain He still maintained a neutral expression, as if he hadn't witnessed anything. After Niu Jie was taken away, he asked Zhou Ming, "Comrade Zhou Ming, can we leave now?"

"Of course, thank you, Captain He," Zhou Ming replied.

Zhou Ming then got into the car with Su Han, who, sitting next to him, closely examined his handcuffs and anxiously asked, "Zhou Ming, are you alright? Did they trouble you just now?"

Zhou Ming smiled and said, "No, this is the capital. They haven't cracked down for years, so they wouldn't dare be too blatant. If you hadn't arrived in time, you'd have had to take Captain He to the district bureau to get me. But Du Peng's actions were quite swift."

However, Su Han gave a different answer. She shook her head and said, "Captain He wasn't called by me. When I paged Du Peng, he said the Zhongjing team had already set out."

This surprised Zhou Ming, but it was also within his expectations. After all, Zhongjing is no ordinary department. Even though Du Peng's grandfather is the vice president, he couldn't easily mobilize them for personal matters. Such actions could easily become targets of criticism. Therefore, even if Du Peng didn't understand, Du Zhongyuan would never indulge his grandson in mischief.

"So it seems that Zhongjing's deployment was indeed ordered from higher up, and they're here to take me to the Central Government for something? It's just a coincidence that we ran into each other?" Zhou Ming asked.

Su Han nodded and said, "Yes, Du Peng said you're truly a hero who has saved the Party and the country. Zhongjing was sent by his grandfather to take you to the Central Government for commendation."

"It seems my luck is quite good. That matter must have reached a conclusion," Zhou Ming said with a sigh of relief. When the Zhongjing vehicle first appeared, Zhou Ming had his suspicions, but there was no time to think too much. For him, the only matter worth deploying the Zhongjing for was one specific event.

Xidan is not far from Zhongnanhai. It wasn't long before the Zhongjing vehicles arrived at Zhongnanhai. Notably, whereas Zhou Ming previously entered through a side door, this time the Zhongjing convoy entered through the main gate on Chang'an Street.

The convoy drove straight to a large house inside Zhongnanhai. Once the vehicle stopped, a soldier from the front passenger seat quickly jumped out and opened the door for Zhou Ming and Su Han. Su Han, who had never experienced such treatment before, was first startled and then thanked the soldier before getting out.

As Zhou Ming and Su Han exited the car, they saw Du Peng, who immediately approached Zhou Ming and said excitedly, "Zhou Ming, you're incredible! Both Old Yang and my grandfather want to personally commend you!"

Zhou Ming smiled in response. Before he could speak, a voice came from the side, "Indeed, very impressive."

Zhou Ming, Su Han, and Du Peng were taken aback and turned to see a young man in his thirties approaching them. With Zhou Ming's puzzled look, the man smiled and said, "Hello, Zhou Ming. You should have heard of me. My surname is Tan."

With the surname Tan and so young yet able to enter Zhongnanhai, it was clear who this person was.

"Hello, Brother Tan. I'm pleased to meet you," Zhou Ming said.

"But I'm not pleased to meet you," Brother Tan replied. He looked Zhou Ming up and down and said, "Zhou Ming, since you're just a worker's child from Linjiang Factory, you should be working diligently in the factory. Why come out and make trouble?"

"Brother Tan, that's not right. As the saying goes, 'a tree moves, a man thrives.' Because my family situation isn't great, I need to work hard to change my fate!" Zhou Ming replied.

Brother Tan nodded seriously and said, "Changing one's fate sounds good, but have you heard a story, Zhou Ming? Once there was a monkey who saw the wonderful human world outside the forest and wanted to live like a human. One day, the monkey found some clothes blown by the wind, put them on, and looked at itself in the lake. Thinking it looked like a human, it went to a human marketplace. Guess what happened?"

Zhou Ming naturally didn't answer. Brother Tan continued, "The monkey was beaten to death in the market."

"You're a college student, so you should understand the meaning of this story," Brother Tan said. "The monkey remains a monkey, even if it dresses in human clothes. Dressing up as a human only leads to being beaten to death."

Du Peng immediately took offense. He stepped forward and said, "Brother Tan, I respect you as the big brother of our city, but saying such things is a bit excessive."

Brother Tan merely sneered, "Xiao Peng, since you say I'm the big brother of the city, let me give you a piece of advice: stay away from such pretentious people. Otherwise, you'll end up with nothing good. Such people will do anything to climb up and will eventually harm you, knowing your background."

Zhou Ming calmly said, "Brother Tan, I heard you're a big shot in Yanjing. I thought you might have some skill, but it seems you're just like this. Your method of sowing discord is a bit pathetic."

"You're overestimating yourself."

Brother Tan said, just as Captain He approached and said, "Young Master Tan, Old Yang and Chairman Du are still waiting inside. Please say what you need to say quickly."

Brother Tan nodded and then said to Zhou Ming, "Monkey, did you hear that? This is Captain He of Zhongjing Second Team. Even he gives me some face. For someone like you, I could handle you in minutes without needing any discord. You don't think your idea is a bit redundant, do you? Although Old Yang and Chairman Du don't know why you're here, you're only here for this. Make the most of your time here. Opportunities like this are rare in a lifetime."

"Brother Tan, you still don't know why I'm here? Perhaps when you find out, you'll think differently," Zhou Ming said.

Brother Tan laughed as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world. "You're really deluded. I don't understand why you have such high self-esteem. Do you think I need to know why you're here? It's just your luck."

"Thank you, Brother Tan. Actually, I also think it's luck. But my luck might be the kind you can't even imagine in your lifetime," Zhou Ming said.

Although Zhou Ming said this calmly, it sounded sharp to Brother Tan, almost like an insult. This made Brother Tan regret not finding out why Zhou Ming was invited to Zhongnanhai. With his connections, it would have been easy to find out.

But this regret was fleeting, and Brother Tan soon reassured himself: whatever the matter, it probably isn't a big deal.

As everyone knew that two national leaders were waiting for Zhou Ming inside, even the top dog of Beijing, Brother Tan, didn't dare delay too long. He quickly went in with Zhou Ming.

Guided by a secretary from the Central Office, Zhou Ming and his group walked through a long corridor into a large conference room. As they opened the door, a few elderly faces with white hair immediately came into view, especially the elderly man sitting in the center, who made Zhou Ming hold his breath.

Old Yang, the second-generation leader of the country, Yang Dingguo. He had single-handedly promoted the reform and opening up policies and had boldly carried out reforms and innovations, leading the country step by step away from poverty and onto the path of prosperity.

He looked much like his photos from later years, with a kind smile on his face, appearing like an ordinary old man. However, there was an inherent authority and majesty in his presence that made one feel compelled to sit up straight and face him with utmost respect and attentiveness.

Brother Tan had intentionally walked in front of Zhou Ming. As a prominent figure among the younger generation of Beijing, even Zhongjing officers had to show him respect. He could even direct ordinary departments within the city, such as the previous Director Wang.

But upon entering the conference room and seeing the elderly man, Zhou Ming could clearly feel his body tense up involuntarily. His previously relaxed smile was gone, and his posture became straighter, as if he were a standard.

Not only Old Yang but also the other elderly leaders, due to their long tenure and Yang's absolute authority in the Central Government, were not as famous. Apart from Du Peng's grandfather, Du Zhongyuan, Zhou Ming couldn't recall the other leaders, but their seating arrangements and the fact that they could sit with Old Yang indicated they were certainly

 high-ranking leaders.

"Old Yang and other Central leaders, Zhou Ming has arrived," the Central Office secretary introduced Zhou Ming respectfully.

Upon hearing the introduction, Yang Dingguo and the other elders looked Zhou Ming up and down. Then, Yang Dingguo and the other elders, with the help of the secretary or by themselves, stood up. Yang Dingguo, leading the group, bowed and said to Zhou Ming, "Comrade Zhou Ming, on behalf of the Party and the country, and on behalf of the entire Party and all ethnic groups in the nation, I thank you for your tremendous contributions to the Party and the country!"