The investigator ca directly to the door without any prior notice, and it was unclear how they determined Lin Nianhe was at ho.
The two people opposite her looked serious and earnest, showing no discomfort despite being in the ho of a direct superior. Their questions were even more incisive.
Lin Nianhe tried to cooperate, occasionally having to recall the details of the things being asked.
She was originally confident in her mory, but many details of the things they asked, she herself didn’t rember, whereas they were crystal clear.
Moreover, their questioning was quite unstructured, seemingly haphazard, but Lin Nianhe, in this atmosphere, knew exactly—they wanted her to react instinctively, without thinking or anticipating.
After a long two hours that felt almost like criminal interrogation, Lin Nianhe saw a relaxed smile in their eyes.
"Comrade Lin, thank you for your cooperation."
The female comrade opposite reached out her right hand to Lin Nianhe.
Lin Nianhe smiled slightly and shook her hand: "It’s my duty."
"However, we..."
She had just started speaking when the phone next to the sofa rang.
Lin Nianhe glanced at the phone and requested, "I must answer my family phone, otherwise would you like to listen in with ?"
The two on the other side exchanged a glance, then nodded.
Technically, one should not contact the outside world during a review, but Minister Lin’s house phone must be answered—now that all questions were asked, listening to the call together was a compromise.
"Hello, this is Lin Nianhe."
Lin Nianhe answered the phone, unconsciously glancing at her watch.
It’s already ten o’clock; who could be calling?
"Cough cough..."
A weak cough ca from the other end of the phone.
Lin Nianhe was slightly startled, her voice unintentionally raised eight degrees: "Uncle Team Leader? What’s the matter? Are you sick?"
"Cough cough..."
Only Li Dahe’s coughing answered Lin Nianhe.
Now truly anxious, Lin Nianhe frowned tightly, cold sweat appearing.
Who is Li Dahe? He’s soone who would use his injured leg to kick people even with a twisted ankle.
If he shows a hint of vulnerability, the actual situation must be ten thousand tis dire than he’s letting on.
Before Lin Nianhe could ask in detail, a rustling sound ca from the phone, followed by Wang Hong’s voice: "Girl, you need to co back, your Uncle Team Leader... Only you can handle the factory matters, otherwise we’ll have big trouble at the autumn trade fair."
Lin Nianhe’s fingers went numb, instinctively looking at the female comrade beside her.
Of course, she wanted to return, wishing she could sprout wings and fly back imdiately.
But can she return?
The female comrade pursed her lips, hesitated for a mont, then softly said to her: "I’ll file a report imdiately when I return."
She knew Lin Nianhe well and who "Uncle Team Leader" referred to, and understood the significance of Ten Miles Team’s lighter factory at the autumn trade fair.
"Thank you."
Lin Nianhe responded lightly, then said into the phone: "Aunt Wang, I have a small matter here. I’ll return as soon as possible."
"No! Tomorrow! By tomorrow at the latest! You must co back!"
Li Dahe’s shout suddenly ca from the other side.
Listening to it, a hint of confusion flashed in Lin Nianhe’s eyes.
The sound didn’t quite seem...
"Cough cough..."
A burst of intense coughing followed, as if the earlier shout exhausted all of Li Dahe’s energy.
"Alright, alright, I’ll try my best, Uncle Team Leader please wait for !"
Wang Hong sighed deeply, softly urging: "Nianhe, hurry... and bring Xiao Sie back as well."
"Okay!"
Lin Nianhe hung up the phone, frowned as she looked at the people around her.
She said: "Not discussing personal feelings, I ask you to consider the lighter factory’s ability to generate foreign exchange, please help apply, I must return."
"Rest assured, your conversation is over. Even though you might need to cooperate later, special exceptions are made. We are not rigid people."
"However, Sie Yufei’s side requires at least completing the conversation first before applying for departure." The female comrade looked at Lin Nianhe, her gaze slightly regretful.
They were indeed not rigid, and could apply for Lin Nianhe, mainly because there were no major issues in the earlier review and today’s interview.
But Sie Yufei, who hadn’t been interviewed, wanting to leave was nearly impossible.
Actually, Lin Nianhe didn’t know what Uncle Team Leader was calling Sie Yufei back for, but knowing the process here, she could only say: "Thank you. If possible, please conduct the conversation with him quickly."
"Alright, we’ll go communicate."
This female comrade wasn’t joking with Lin Nianhe.
That night, while Lin Nianhe was tossing and turning, she received the call.
"Comrade Lin, you can go to Lan County now, but don’t leave there; we may contact you anyti. Hmm... Comrade Sie is scheduled for an interview tomorrow, if all goes well, he can return soon."
"Great, thank you!"
Lin Nianhe didn’t linger in conversation, thanked them, grabbed her car keys, and went out without packing.
She hit the gas, picking up Wang Shui and Niuwa, heading northeast under the stars.
"Nianhe, slow down!"
Wang Shui clutched her seatbelt tightly, her face a bit pale, "Watch out for safety!"
"No big deal."
Lin Nianhe held the steering wheel, breathing deeply, "When I was on the phone earlier, Uncle Team Leader suddenly shouted, seed energetic... should be fine, should be fine."
As she said it was fine, her brows remained furrowed.
At tis like this, everyone hopes the other is lying to them.
But everyone can’t help but think of the worst.
Lin Nianhe almost thought of Li Dahe lying weakly on the bed, hanging onto life waiting for her.
Her eyes ward, unconsciously recalling the year he casually hoisted her and her luggage off the ground.
That Uncle Team Leader could not have changed so drastically in just a few years...
Lin Nianhe tried persuading herself to think positively.
Niuwa silently reached from the back seat, stuffing a white rabbit candy into her mouth.
Lin Nianhe chewed hard but couldn’t taste any sweetness.
Driving all through the night, even though Lin Nianhe rushed desperately, it was thirty hours later when they arrived at Ten Miles Team.
As dawn broke, roosters dutifully crowed, smoke curled from chimneys, everything seed peaceful.
No cries, no mourning banners or wreaths.
The three in the car all breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Lin Nianhe parked directly at Li Dahe’s house, jumped out and called: "Uncle Team Leader!"
In the yard, Aunt Li was preparing breakfast dough, stunned seeing them: "Why did you all co back suddenly?"
Lin Nianhe: "...?"
Wang Shui: "...?"
Niuwa: "...?"
This didn’t seem like sothing is wrong.
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