ures, but I wouldn’t shame our ancestors. You think this low of me?” Gouzi yelled angrily.

"Then why did you run when you saw us?"

"I was too ashamed to face anyone!" Gouzi cried loudly, only to be silenced by Secretary Fu's thundering voice.

“Shut up!” Gouzi's sobs stopped abruptly. Trembling, he dared not make a sound.

Secretary Fu lit a cigarette and threw one to Gouzi. Gouzi shakily lit it for the Secretary before taking a puff himself.

“Brother, don’t say anything. Let’s go home.” Secretary Fu’s voice choked slightly, "Go home; just don’t say anything." When Gouzi reappeared before everyone, he was utterly transformed—neatly dressed, from head to toe.

"Looks dashing! Gouzi, anything you want to eat? Any requests? Tell Big Brother; you’ve suffered so long—Big Brother will make it up to you." Secretary Fu patted his shoulder. Gouzi, standing tall but flinching reflexively, took it as pain from the heavy pat.

After a hearty meal, Gouzi’s lost confidence seemed to return. From his conversation, people understood why he encountered such misfortune.

Gouzi’s full name was Fu Yuyun. After graduating from university, he worked at the county’s quality inspection bureau. Later, he responded to economic reform calls and ventured into business, starting with trade and then brick-and-mortar businesses. During operations, he was ensnared by others, facing massive debts and taking full legal responsibility as the business owner.

His partner, though, behaved dishonorably by withdrawing their investments as bank loans then absconding with the funds, leaving Gouzi to face the consequences. Without such betrayal, Gouzi might not have been sentenced. Secretary Fu sighed and told Gouzi to learn a lesson from his experience.

“Bad Shui, do durians smell good? Are they sweet? Delicious, right?” Secretary Fu asked while Fu Yushui nodded eagerly as he stuffed his mouth with durian flesh.

"Sister-in-law, you should try it too! So fragrant and sweet!" Laughing at Fu Yushui's greed, Sister-in-law covered her mouth.

"It smells like sewage. I’m not eating it!"

“Big Brother, it’s a real waste not to eat such good stuff. Why can't Sister-in-law appreciate fine food?”

"Bad Shui, you should know what to do next without me spelling it out." Despite washing his hands vigorously, Secretary Fu couldn’t rid himself of the smell. Fu Yushui nodded, ate the last piece of durian, and picked up the remaining fruits to take out.

Chapter 6: Durian Story

Secretary Liu flew into a rage, yelling at Fu Yushui for looking down on him like a cannon. Before Fu Yushui could explain, Secretary Liu snatched the returned durian and threw it over the wall into the river. On the other side by the river, Secretary Fu stood on his balcony, watching the durian float up and down in the water, 

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