Chronicles from the Grassroots: Thirty Years in the Civil Service

On my first day reporting for duty, I ran into a land requisition dispute. On the second day, I received a mysterious text: “Watch out for Liu Jianguo. He has powerful backing.” On the third day, the accountant died in an “accident.” An account book from thirty years ago led to a bloody case at the forest farm and three deaths. They advised me, “Stop investigating. His brother-in-law is a deputy county magistrate.” I smiled. “The deputy county magistrate’s brother-in-law? He’s exactly who I’m investigating.” That investigation lasted thirty years. From a township to a municipality directly under the central government, I brought down seventeen “tigers.” On the day I retired, I returned to Shiao Township. The sand quarry from back then had become a wetland, and the egrets had returned. Standing before Old Zhao’s grave, I lit a cigarette. “The river is clean, and the fish are back. I haven’t let you down.” This story is entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real people or events is coincidental.