Dong Zhiqiu showed a trace of doubt in his eyes, and nodded: "Don't worry, I have seen so many storms and waves, there is nothing in the world that can defeat me."
Su Lin's eyes flashed with admiration. Dong Zhiqiu was indeed stronger than the average woman. The death of her husband and son did not make Dong Zhiqiu lose the motivation to live. She still managed the family peacefully and provided logistics for everyone.
Su Lin's expression was complicated. After thinking for a long time, he slowly said, "Sister-in-law, I recently discovered something. My eldest brother has an illegitimate child outside."
Ren Dong Zhiqiu had a strong psychological quality. When he heard the news, he was shocked and his face turned pale.
Su Lin was shocked to see Dong Zhiqiu suddenly lost his voice, and quickly stood up to pour a glass of water for Dong Zhiqiu. Dong Zhiqiu slowly exhaled and said, "Impossible, your elder brother is not that kind of person."
Su Lin showed regret on his face and thought to himself that he should not have told him about this. After all, his elder sister-in-law and elder brother had a deep relationship. For that relationship, Dong Zhiqiu accepted everything and silently contributed a lot to the family.
Su Lin sighed: "Let me show you a photo."
After that, he handed Fang Zhicheng's photo to Dong Zhiqiu, along with a DNA test report, which showed that Su Lin and Fang Zhicheng were uncle and nephew.
Dong Zhiqiu's hands trembled slightly, and he said in a hoarse voice: "Why did he do this to me?"
Su Lin smiled bitterly and said, "This matter has been kept secret for a long time, and I only found out about it recently. Sister-in-law, don't get too excited. I'll listen to you on how to deal with it later."
After waiting for more than ten minutes, Dong Zhiqiu finally calmed down. She sighed deeply and said slowly, "Third Brother, I know you very well. Since you let me make the decision, you already know what I am thinking. The Su family has lost its talent. Although he is an illegitimate child, he is still a descendant of the Su family and has the blood of the Su family. I am willing to accept him."
Su Lin's face showed emotion, and he said, "Sister-in-law, it is not easy for you to make this decision. However, the old man seems to be deliberately hiding everything. He will not let this illegitimate child return to the Su family."
Dong Zhiqiu looked at Su Lin indifferently and said with a wry smile: "Third brother, are you hoping to ask me to be your lobbyist?" Dong Zhiqiu was a smart woman. Su Lin did not say it explicitly, but how could Dong Zhiqiu not know what Su Lin was thinking
Su Lin nodded and said, "You are the only one in our family who can convince the old man."
Dong Zhiqiu sighed and said, "I understand. I'll go talk to the old man later."
Su Lin left the study and did not turn around to look at Dong Zhiqiu, because she did not need her sympathy. She was a very strong woman. Now that her eldest brother was gone, her eldest sister-in-law had become the pillar of the family, and she would not fall down.
Chapter 0530: The truth will never come to light
When Dong Zhiqiu entered the backyard, Old Man Su was staring at the stone table in the yard with a frown in deep thought. She was used to this old man in his nineties. The old man had been worried all his life. When he was young, he schemed against invaders. When he was older, he schemed against old friends. Now that he was old, he was not at all relieved and was planning for the future of the family.
Old Master Su noticed Dong Zhiqiu coming in, looked up at her, and said, "Zhiqiu, sit down."
Dong Zhiqiu sat on the stone bench next to Grandpa Su. A gust of wind blew by, and she sighed softly, "Dad, the weather is going to change. There's a heavy rain forecast. Why don't we go back to the house?"
Mr. Su shook his head and said, "Zhiqiu, do you have anything to say?"
Dong Zhiqiu nodded and said, "Yes, I can't hide anything from you." Old Master Su was an old and shrewd man. When Dong Zhiqiu asked her to go into the house to rest, Old Master Su guessed that she must have some secret to tell her.
Mr. Su slowly put down the chess piece, stood up and took a few steps into the house. He waved his hand and said, "Old Tang arranged for someone to deliver a few cans of good tea yesterday. Please make me a pot."
Dong Zhiqiu responded, turned around and went into the main room to find the teapot. After taking care of the old man for so many years, he was very skilled in handling things. He knew exactly how much tea leaves and what temperature the water should be.
The tea is ready and a fresh fragrance fills the room.
"It's really good tea. Old Tang has spent a lot of money on it." Old Master Su took a sip and said slowly, "Zhi Qiu, tell me, what's going on?"
Dong Zhiqiu had prepared a speech in her mind a long time ago, but when she spoke now, her thoughts were a little confused. She sighed deeply and said, "Dad, how do you think I have done over the years?"
Mr. Su put down his teacup and nodded, "Zhi Qiu, I have always treated you as my daughter. This is also the result of human nature. If you ask me to rate you, it would be a bit strange. We are a family, but we are still connected. Is it necessary to rate us?"
Dong Zhiqiu's nose was a little sour, his eyes were red, and he said, "Dad, if you really treat me as your own, why did you hide it from me?"
Old Master Su frowned and said slowly, "Zhi Qiu, I have a clear conscience and I think I have never hidden anything from you. When the eldest brother passed away, I advised you to find a new husband, but because of your deep feelings for the eldest brother, you refused to remarry. You have been taking care of this family and have made a lot of sacrifices. I have seen it all. So over the years, I am very grateful to you. I don't know why you said this."
Dong Zhiqiu smiled bitterly and said, "Dad, do you know that the eldest brother has a child outside?"
Mr. Su's face changed slightly, and he said in a deep voice: "Zhiqiu, who did you listen to? Don't you know what kind of person the boss is? How could he have an illegitimate child?"
Dong Zhiqiu sighed. She didn't expect that the old man would still not admit it at this time and still wanted to hide everything. She took out the DNA test report and placed it next to Old Man Su's hand. She smiled bitterly and said, "Dad, this is the DNA test report of the third brother and a young man. Scientific data cannot be false. The facts are already like this, and you don't have to hide it. In fact, I asked you to come here to talk today, not to find an explanation, but because I think the eldest brother has been gone for so many years. If there is really his bloodline left outside, I can accept it."
When Mr. Su heard what Dong Zhiqiu said, a complicated expression appeared on his face. He narrowed his eyes and was silent for a long time before he said, "Zhiqiu, first, I admit that there is nothing wrong with the results of this report, but it can only prove that Fang Zhicheng is related to the third brother by blood, but it does not mean that Fang Zhicheng is the eldest brother's flesh and blood; second, it is not time to make this public yet, I hope you can bear with everything for now, and when the time is right, I will give you a reply."
Dong Zhiqiu carefully analyzed what Mr. Su said, with an expression of disbelief on his face, and said, "Could it be the second son's?" This possibility is very low, which means that the second son did something wrong when he was a teenager? If this is true, it will really subvert Dong Zhiqiu's view of the second son.
The second son is the most stable one among the three sons and one daughter of the Su family. He is also very particular about his lifestyle. Unlike the third son, he does not like to play around outside and is very considerate to his wife, Lu Wen.
Old Master Su sighed, waved his hand, and said, "Zhi Qiu, please believe me! I won't lie to you. At the same time, you have to believe the boss. He has never lied to you."
Dong Zhiqiu knew that there was a big secret hidden in it, but since the old man didn't want to talk about it, she didn't dare to ask. Dong Zhiqiu sat in the old man's room for a while before getting up to say goodbye. After Dong Zhiqiu left, Old Man Su sighed and said to himself: "There is no paper that can cover fire in this world. It seems that I can't hide it anymore. I just hope that I can drag it out for this critical period and it won't have any bad impact on the overall situation."
…
At the district government work conference, Fang Zhicheng clearly proposed the idea of abandoning industrial development, which surprised many people. Because industry was the focus of Ma Zhencai's tenure, although it has not been in good shape for so many years, the tax revenue generated by several large industrial enterprises now accounts for half of the country's total. If industrial development is abandoned, it means completely denying the predecessor's economic plan, which is an extremely radical behavior.
But Fang Zhicheng was clearly well prepared. He conducted detailed research and data analysis, and listed many disadvantages of developing industry in Xiaguang District. From the perspective of the social environment, the country now advocates the development of the service industry, industrialized cities have begun to decline, and the transformation of the social and economic structure is imminent; from the perspective of the region's own conditions, because it is located in the middle of Jiangsu, neither the transportation nor the atmosphere are suitable for developing industry.
Mo Jin smiled bitterly and said, "District Chief Fang, isn't it a bit inappropriate for you to make such an unreserved one-size-fits-all approach? After all, the finances of the entire district still rely on those industrial enterprises. I suggest that the direction can be changed, but we must move forward steadily and improve and supplement the previous policies while retaining them. It is important to develop the economy in other areas, but we must also pay attention to industrial enterprises and help them transform and upgrade."
Mo Jin's words hit the point, and his tone and attitude were very pertinent. The other deputy county heads nodded. Only Cheng Hao and Zhang Xiaoliang had no expression on their faces, because they knew what Fang Zhicheng meant.
Fang Zhicheng's one-size-fits-all approach to industry was a desperate one.
Fang Zhicheng coughed lightly and explained, "Lao Mo, your point of view makes sense, but I cannot agree with your idea. Because if Xiaguang District wants to catch up with other regions and achieve different results, it cannot follow the routine and stick to the rules, but needs to have a forward-looking vision. When Xiaguang District promoted industrial development, it was going with the flow. Now, those early companies that relied on industry for development have begun to transform, while Xiaguang District is still taking small steps forward, which will only affect the speed of our economic development."