Nominal: The pinnacle of power began in the sixth province of Handong.

Chapter 246 The End of the Ni Family

After the meeting.

Sha Ruijin returned to his office and turned on his phone.

Looking at the fifty missed calls from Ni Hua and the 99+ WeChat messages.

Sha Ruijin felt a wave of fatigue and irritability.

He didn't really have deep feelings for this woman.

The tender feelings of youth are washed away by time, turning into mutual weariness.

Sha Ruijin knew why Ni Hua had called.

It's nothing more than demanding an explanation and punishment.

But if I don't do that, is there a better way out?

Following the Ni family down this dark path will surely lead to utter destruction.

It would be better to quickly cut ties, be proactive and honest, and fully cooperate with the establishment of emerging industries and the construction of industrial parks.

In this way, he might still be able to keep his position as provincial party secretary.

Thinking of this, Sha Ruijin couldn't help but sigh.

Old Master Ni has truly gone mad.

Also.

In all these years, when has Mr. Ni ever suffered such a loss, being completely fooled?

But to put up such resistance against the Xia family would be utterly foolish.

There is no other reason.

If the Ni family still needs to rely on higher-ups to have a place in the capital.

So the Xia family is the superior.

How can they be compared?

Just as I was lost in thought, Ni Hua called again.

Sha Ruijin chose to answer the call this time.

The expected outburst of insults did not materialize.

On the contrary, Ni Hua on the other end of the phone was frighteningly calm:

"Sha Ruijin... was it you who submitted the materials to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection...?"

"It's me," Sha Ruijin said calmly.

"How have we, the Ni family, wronged you... Without us, how could you have accomplished this..."

Before Ni Hua could speak, Sha Ruijin interrupted, saying:

"What makes you think you can become the provincial party secretary? Ni Hua, I've heard that question a hundred times, and today I'll tell you. It's true that your Ni family has been kind to me, but haven't you taken enough personal advantage through me over the years?"

Sha Ruijin paused, then said with increasing excitement:

"Ever since I became the secretary of the discipline inspection commission of the prefecture and city, your Ni family has been sending you nephews and nieces every day, and your uncles and elders coming to greet you the day after. You've opened factories of all sizes everywhere and done business all over the place. Do you really not know how many messes I've cleaned up for you and how much I've compromised my conscience for you?"

"Take that accident eight years ago, for example. The local officials took bribes from you. They were utterly depraved and deserved to be arrested and sentenced! But what about you? As the instigators of bribing officials and embezzling construction funds, are you really so clean? Not at all! It's just that the knife hasn't fallen on your heads yet! But what about you? You still do as you please, without any restraint! I've worked my way up from deputy director-level discipline inspection secretary to deputy ministerial-level discipline inspection secretary. Have you ever stopped asking me for favors? Your business has grown bigger and bigger, and more and more members of the Ni family have become involved! Aren't you members of the Ni family afraid of getting burned?"

"Yes, I, Sha Ruijin, am lacking in ability and my skills need improvement, but I genuinely want to do something practical for the people and be an upright and honest official! Now that I'm the top leader and the local official of Handong, tens of millions of people depend on me for food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and education! But what about your Ni family? Have you given me any support? Besides intensifying your abuse of power in Handong by leveraging my influence, what else have you done? To put it bluntly, your Ni family is no different from the Zhao family!"

Hearing Sha Ruijin's heartfelt words, which he had kept bottled up for so many years, Ni Hua's face turned pale and his body trembled. He wanted to say something but couldn't utter a word.

Then came sobbing, which escalated into wailing.

Sha Ruijin felt a pang of reluctance, but he knew that when it came to saying goodbye, one should not be soft-hearted.

half an hour.

On the other end of the phone, Ni Hua seemed to put down his phone.

Then another person answered the phone.

"Ruijin..."

Sha Ruijin recognized the voice.

It's Grandpa Ni.

Sha Ruijin was momentarily at a loss for words. Since reporting the Ni family, he hadn't contacted Old Master Ni at all, so he could only bite the bullet and say:

"…dad."

Unexpectedly, Mr. Ni on the other end of the phone changed his usual serious demeanor and spoke in a gentle tone:

"Ruijin, I'm sorry you've suffered all these years."

Sha Ruijin was momentarily dazed. He didn't understand why Old Master Ni would suddenly say that.

Old Master Ni sighed and continued:

"After hearing what you had to say, I apologize. It is our Ni family that has wronged you. Don't worry, all the debts, whether we could repay them or not, have been paid off. It's just that our Ni family is probably going to be reduced to a third-rate family."

Sha Ruijin finally said with some remorse:

"I'm sorry, Dad..."

"Why are you apologizing to me? To be honest, I should be thanking you," Old Master Ni said slowly.

"To be honest, it's not easy to manage such a large family. I know that the Ni family's business is getting further and further out of control, but I can only struggle to keep it going. Now it's all good. I can finally settle down and live out my old age like an ordinary old man."

Old Master Ni paused, then said with even greater earnestness:

"But even if things are difficult for me, they're not as difficult as yours. Being the head of a province isn't easy! Ruijin, you must remember to always put the people's interests first. Be patient and avoid being hasty in your actions. Communicate more, listen to others' opinions, and avoid making decisions unilaterally. Also, the economic indicators for Handong have dropped. The most urgent task is to revive the economy. As for personnel matters, let Xia Qing handle them for now. He's a man of high moral character and wouldn't stoop to such petty tricks. You can rest assured..."

Over the phone, Grandpa Ni poured out his analysis of the situation and his instructions and expectations for Sha Ruijin, talking for a full twenty minutes.

During this time, Sha Ruijin listened attentively, occasionally replying with a few words, and then took notes.

After saying that, Old Master Ni let out a long sigh of relief and smiled:

"That was great! How long has it been since my son and I had a conversation like this?"

Sha Ruijin smiled with relief:

"It's been many years."

"You've worked hard, Ruijin. Keep up the good work, I'm proud of you," said Grandpa Ni solemnly.

At this moment, Sha Ruijin's eyes were already red.

I thought that after so many years of ups and downs in officialdom, I had long forgotten what it felt like to shed tears.

Only now does he finally recall that family love can melt the hardest ice.

Finally, Old Master Ni added a few more words of advice:

"Take some time to go back to Beijing and visit that high-ranking official you want to get close to. I've already spoken with him. As long as the Ni family gives up a small part of their territory in Beijing, he can continue to support you and become your new backer."

Upon hearing this, Sha Ruijin suddenly snapped out of his daze. An unbelievable guess surfaced in his mind. His fingers, gripping the phone, trembled and turned white as he asked:

"Dad...you mean, you had already spoken to that person before I submitted the report?"

"Hahaha, otherwise why would he accept a report from the Ni family against the Ni family? He'd be worried it was a trap!" Old Master Ni laughed heartily, and finally said:

"The Ni family is beyond saving. The only thing I can protect is you. That's fine. From now on, I'll enjoy my retirement in peace, and you can continue to make progress under that person's leadership. Don't worry, this time there won't be any more intractable family problems to bother you. You can go all out and realize your grand ambitions."

Sha Ruijin, holding the phone, stood up, bowed solemnly towards the window, and said:

"Thank you, Dad."

"Remember to come visit me when you have time. The waters of Handong are deep, but I believe that with the rudder in your hands, the boat won't go astray. Hahahaha!" After saying that, Grandpa Ni hung up the phone.