To support Tan Yandong, Ding Yuan, who was in Dongshan City, gave up the chance for promotion and accepted a demotion to Jinde County.

It was from that time on.

Tan Yandong's plan was set into motion.

He first located a private mine in Changming County and then, through various connections, got in touch with Tian Shaoguang, inviting him to develop in Changming County.

Unfortunately, at that time, Jiang Chuo's influence only extended to Rongjiang City. The narrow-minded Jiang Chuo didn't want Tian Shaoguang to leave, as he believed that if Tian Shaoguang gained profits elsewhere, he would surely betray him.

He thought this move would be completely ineffective.

But unexpectedly, just a year later, Jiang Chuo was transferred to the Provincial Department of Land and Resources, taking over the management of state-owned assets for the entire province.

With power added to his name.

Jiang Chuo no longer had any concerns.

He assigned Tian Shaoguang to develop in Changming County.

Tan Yandong also completed the first step toward becoming a close confidant of Jiang Chuo.

Over those years, to earn Jiang Chuo's trust, Tan Yandong did many things that went against his conscience, but the thought of avenging Chen Zhiguo made him disregard everything else.

Of course, there were unexpected occurrences as well.

After the 419 mine disaster, Jiang Chuo had grown very confident in Tan Yandong, and began bringing him into the core circle of interest. Next, he was to start gathering evidence of Jiang Chuo's crimes.

He thought the moment for avenging Mr. and Mrs. Chen Zhiguo was no longer far away.

Who could have predicted that, despite all calculations, there was still a "fish that slipped through the net" during the 419 mine disaster?

It was because of this overlooked detail that Sun Shenru seized the opportunity to trap Tan Yandong.

"So, was my godfather truly driven to his death by Sun Shenru?"

Chen Fang asked.

Ding Yuan shook his head and said, "No, if it were just the mine accident, Tan Yandong's actions wouldn't warrant death, and with his vengeful heart, he wouldn't consider suicide. It was because after this incident, he anticipated that Jiang Chuo would forever silence him, then pin all the blame for the 419 mine disaster on him. How exactly he died, I don't know, but I guess it was like your parents; they were probably all killed by people Jiang Chuo sent."

Ding Yuan's explanation was reasonable.

When Sun Shenru revealed the truth.

Chen Fang had been thinking that just the occurrence of the 419 mine disaster wouldn't lead Tan Yandong to seek death voluntarily. Before he died, he even handed over that notebook to him, clearly having sensed his impending death.

It was in that instant.

Chen Fang's eyes moistened.

Having lived alongside Tan Yandong for nearly a decade, throughout those ten years, he was always busy with work, neglecting his family and himself, as if his life contained nothing but his job.

He never mentioned his own wife and daughter because he knew the path he chose was irreversible, and family ties would only hold him back, so he abandoned his family.

There were several times he was up for promotion.

But he refused each time.

It wasn't that he didn't want to climb the ranks, nor that he had an undisclosed network of interests in Changming County he couldn't bear to leave behind, but because at that time, his sole focus was on avenging Chen Zhiguo, and he wanted nothing else.

In Chen Fang's career.

He did not help as much as he could have.

He had long anticipated his own end; the more he helped Chen Fang, the more severe the consequences he would create. Otherwise, Chen Fang wouldn't have been able to withstand scrutiny after Tan Yandong's death.

This man, cold towards the whole world.

Had given all his emotions to Mr. and Mrs. Chen.

He lived solely for them during those nearly ten years.

"After Tan Yandong's death, the connections in Changming County had completely severed. Naturally, the task of avenging them fell to me; I, too, fashioned myself as a corrupt official in an attempt to get close to Xiao Xiao. Sadly, Xiao Xiao always kept me at arm's length, so I took a risky move by transferring you from Changming County to the Jinde County Education Bureau, hoping to use your influence to get Xiao Xiao to accept me."

Ding Yuan said.

Chen Fang was taken aback and asked, "Why me and not someone else?"

"There are two reasons. First, I've observed you for a long time. From what you've done in Changming County, you're bold and courageous, doing what others dare not do and achieving what others cannot. If it were someone else, they might either overlook everything or become corrupt themselves. But you wouldn't. I was certain you would cause trouble for Xiao Xiao; second, your identity is special—you are Chen Zhiguo's son. If Jiang Chuo knew this, he would surely act against you without hesitation. Once he made a move, we could find some connection between him and Xiao Xiao. Thus, by bringing down Xiao Xiao, he wouldn't escape the disaster either."

Chen Fang nodded slightly.

He said, "So, you have always been pushing the waves from behind, on one hand trying to gain Xiao Xiao's trust, and on the other hand, you were also helping me, right?"

"Yes, but the results were not as expected. Xiao Xiao's profiteering within Jinde County's education system had nothing to do with Jiang Chuo at all. Everything she did was for her daughter, which I hadn't anticipated at the start,"

Ding Yuan said.

After the plan failed.

Ding Yuan was depressed for quite a while.

He thought that Jiang Chuo had given up.

Unexpectedly, an opportunity appeared in the blink of an eye.

This opportunity was Jiang Chuo's promotion.

To ensure that his and Xiao Xiao's secret wouldn't be discovered, Jiang Chuo planned to thoroughly shake up Jinde County, transferring all the insiders away so that even if someone dug into Xiao Xiao's affairs, they wouldn't connect it to him.

To achieve this.

He personally visited Wen'an City and had a face-to-face discussion with his trusted aide, Lv Yifeng.

Lv Yifeng was someone Jiang Chuo had supported from the start.

Having received an order from his superior, he naturally carried it out immediately.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Ding Mengxiang was inserted into the mix.

Ding Yuan quickly approached Ding Mengxiang to gain trust as well.

He knew that Chen Fang staying in Jinde County was very dangerous, and after the first plan failed, he found Yu Zhengchuan to come forward to protect Chen Fang.

The plan involving Pi Shuang was also arranged by Ding Yuan.

He never truly intended to frame Chen Fang, he just wanted to demonstrate his loyalty to Lv Yifeng.

This was also why Yu Zhengchuan gave a warning in advance.

The entire process of this affair has now been completely explained.

Ding Yuan took a deep breath and said, "These secrets, I've held them in my heart for so very many years, now that I've spoken out about them, I really feel much more relieved."

Following this.

He looked at Chen Fang and said, "Since I have told you all my secrets, no matter what happens next, you should not get involved anymore, I can handle the remaining matters."

Chen Fang shook his head and said, "It's useless."

Ding Yuan was startled and asked, "What's useless?"

"Even if you got close to Lv Yifeng and became his trusted aide, you still can't possibly obtain any evidence of Jiang Chuo's crimes, so all the things you and godfather did were futile, they have no impact on the overall situation."

"Water can wear away a stone, how will we know the outcome if we don't try?"

Ding Yuan said excitedly.

Chen Fang took a deep breath, pointed to a blade of grass on the ground, and said, "To Jiang Chuo, we are just grass, and Jiang Chuo has already become a big tree. Do you think a blade of grass can shake a big tree?"

"Are we just going to leave it at that?"

Ding Yuan asked.

Chen Fang patted Ding Yuan on the shoulder and said, "Uncle Ding, I am truly grateful for all you and godfather have done for my parents. Godfather is already gone, and I don't want you to follow in his footsteps. Let me handle the remaining issues."

"You?"

Ding Yuan asked incredulously.

Chen Fang stood up from the ground and looked at a big tree in front of him.

He said, "Yes, me. I always used to think that it was better to stay away from the bureaucratic world, but I've changed my mind. From now on, I want to rise up the ranks and make a fortune, then confront Jiang Chuo head on, making him kneel at my parents' graves and repent…"

"But it's a long road ahead."

Ding Yuan said, somewhat moved.

Chen Fang smiled slightly and said, "The road ahead may be tough, but I'll vanquish devils and slay buddhas as I encounter them…"

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