Chapter 2709: Live Up to This Life (Finale)

After getting married, the first thing Liu Fusheng and Bai Ruchu did was not to go on a honeymoon, but to pay tribute to Bai Rufei.

At the turn of summer and autumn, the sky is high and the clouds are light.

Liu Fusheng, Bai Ruchu, Li Fanghua, Zhou Zhi and others bowed in unison in front of Bai Rufei's tombstone.

Liu Fusheng and Zhou Zhi looked solemn, while Bai Ruochu and Li Fanghua were all crying silently.

After a long time, Liu Fusheng hugged Bai Ruochu and whispered a few words of comfort. Then he looked at Li Fanghua and said, "I believe Comrade Bai Ruofei, the last thing he wants to see is your tears, unless you are truly repentant."

Li Fanghua's haggard face turned extremely pale in an instant.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on him, and time seemed to have stopped.

Li Fanghua's face was covered with tears, and she frowned and asked, "Fusheng, what are you talking about?"

Liu Fusheng said sternly, "Miss Y, do you still want to quibble?"

Miss Y...

Bai Rufei paid the price of his life, and Liu Fusheng and Bai Ruchu have been searching for the leader of the spy organization codenamed "Y" for many years. Could it be that he is Li Fanghua?

Li Fanghua shuddered slightly and said, "What do you mean? Do you think I'm a spy?"

Bai Ruochu's eyes were red as she asked, "How dare you say in front of my brother that you are not a spy?"

Li Fanghua took a deep breath and hesitated to speak several times.

Liu Fusheng sighed, "Back at Liaogang, after Ren Zhiyuan committed suicide, I started investigating you. The recording you produced before Ren Zhiyuan's death is simply impossible to reconstruct the situation at the crime scene."

"Ren Zhiyuan's poison needle launcher is shaped like a lipstick. Ren Zhiyuan is an older man, and carrying lipstick around is incredibly odd. Normally, a spy organization would have given him a pen or something more discreet and appropriate. Therefore, I hypothesize that the lipstick launcher doesn't belong to him."

"Ren Zhiyuan's death could be understood as a result of him feeling guilty and not wanting to burden his family. It could also be understood as a result of him knowing many secrets and having to be silenced. So, what secrets did he possess that necessitated his death? I think you know better than I do, right?"

"You said Ren Zhiyuan coerced you and defiled you, but in fact, you were the one who coerced and gave orders to Ren Zhiyuan."

Li Fanghua took two steps back, his face completely pale.

Liu Fusheng continued, "It wasn't Ren Zhiyuan who defiled you, but you used your beauty to drag him into the abyss. Comrade Bai Ruofei, too, loved and trusted you, so he let you know the progress of his investigation and, as your assistant, led him step by step into the trap you had designed."

"Including the snipers from the spy organization in Jiangtou City, who were attacked and killed during their escort. Also, Wang Jianan's prison van was intercepted and killed along the way. And our investigative intelligence was frequently leaked. You were involved in all of this... And those plans you weren't involved in, without exception, will not be leaked."

Li Fanghua's voice was hoarse: "Maybe these are all coincidences..."

Liu Fusheng shook his head and said, "There's no need to quibble. O, D, and F, your three trusted subordinates, have all confessed. Every one of them has accusations against you. I've compared your contact information and intelligence with your whereabouts."

"I'm presenting this evidence to preserve your last bit of dignity. I hope you won't trample on your dignity at this final moment. Miss Youth."

The Youth that Liu Fusheng mentioned is Li Fanghua’s English name.

Li Fanghua was silent for a long time before slowly speaking, "Okay, I'm Y. I thought you'd defeated the Tang family and destroyed my organization, and that you'd celebrate first, giving me a chance to regroup. I didn't expect you to choose to expose me here."

She turned to look at Bai Ruofei's tombstone and said calmly, "I love him. I didn't lie, but love is only a part of my life. There are many things that are more important than love."

Liu Fusheng waved his hand and said, "Catch him and take him away."

Zhou Zhi and others rushed over and controlled Li Fanghua to prevent him from having an extreme reaction.

Bai Ruochu walked up to her, shook her head slightly, and said nothing, but everyone could see the disappointment in her eyes.

……

Two years later, the spring was still chilly.

A black car was parked outside the Jade Buddha Temple in Xiushan County, Liaonan City.

The temple gate opened and a fat monk walked out. He clasped his hands together and chanted Buddhist mantras to the man who got out of the car.

"Amitabha, benefactor Liu has come to visit us. I am sorry for not coming to greet you."

Liu Fusheng smiled and returned the greeting, saying, "I heard that Master Yimeng had passed away and that the Jade Buddha Temple had a new abbot. I've wanted to come and see it for a long time, but due to my busy official duties, I only had time today. I'd like to apologize to Master Lechen."

Liaochen said with a smile: "After I became a monk, I thought that my worldly ties were over and that the four elements were empty. I didn't expect that when you called me Monk Liaochen, it reminded me of the days when you called me Uncle Wang."

Liu Fusheng laughed heartily and followed the monk into the temple.

The temple is magnificent and looks like it was built at a high cost.

Liu Fusheng said, "The cost of renovating this temple is definitely not a small amount. Could it be that Monk Liaochen has spent all his wealth?"

Liaochen waved his hand and said, "Don't be ridiculous, Mr. Liu. I have always been honest and upright during my career, so how could I have any wealth to give away? The money used to build this temple was donated by kind donors. The three leading female donors have some connection with you."

As he spoke, he led Liu Fusheng to the monument of merit.

The temple's merit tablets are engraved with the names of believers who have donated more than a certain amount.

There are three separate monuments of merit, and the three names on them are: Zheng Xiaoyun, Luo Junzhu, and Sun Jing.

Liaochen said, "After the Jade Buddha Temple was expanded, donor Zheng came to donate first. She asked me, 'Why is our relationship so short?'"

Liu Fusheng asked, "How do you answer?"

Lechen said, "I told her that your bond is deep, but she needs to understand what it means to be content... She then asked me how to be content if you can't get what you want. I said that if you want something, you will be attached to it, and with attachment comes pain. Not getting what you want is the norm in life. Only by breaking your attachment can you stay away from pain. A state of inner peace is called contentment."

Liu Fusheng sighed softly, "Master, that's a good idea."

Liaochen smiled and said, "Donor Luo was the second one to come. She didn't ask any questions. After donating, she knelt in front of the Jade Buddha for a long time and then left in tears."

Liu Fusheng remained silent, his expression somewhat complicated.

Liaochen said, "I can see that she is content."

Liu Fusheng asked, "What did Donor Sun ask again?"

Liaochen said, "Donor Sun asked me if there really is reincarnation and an afterlife in this world. I said yes, the six realms of reincarnation, the cycle of life and death, is the true meaning of Buddhism. She said she understood it, and she doesn't seek this life, only the afterlife."

Liu Fusheng felt helpless. He could say that he had done all the right things along the way and made up for the regrets of his previous life. However, no matter what choices he made, regrets were inevitable in life.

……

A few years later, Yang Shan drove a Hongqi car and took Liu Fusheng to the gate of the Party School.

Yang Shan said with a smile, "Brother Sheng, today is your first day in office and also your first public lecture. Can you tell me what you plan to talk about? I heard that many people are looking forward to your talk on the art of governing, mainly on the topic of strategy, because you have never been defeated throughout your career, which is simply a miracle."

Liu Fusheng said, "How many times have I told you that when you're working, you have to refer to your job title."

Yang Shan quickly said, "Okay, Mr. Liu... Oh no, Principal Liu, are you going to tell me or not?"

Liu Fusheng said: "There is nothing much to talk about in terms of strategy. The most important thing for an official is to have a pure heart and always remember that you share weal and woe with the country and the people, and that life and death are interdependent with them. So-called strategies are all just small tricks."

(End of the book)

[The finale has arrived, and I feel a sense of loss. Liu Fusheng's story ends here for now. The ending was a bit rushed, and many foreshadowings couldn't be elaborated on in detail. Thank you all for your tolerance and understanding, and thank you to the Tomato platform and editor Pumpkin for their support... I've been serializing this for several years without interruption, and during this time, I've experienced joy, distress, challenges, and confusion. Looking back, I've sailed through countless mountains and rivers... Finally, I wish you all the best in overcoming all obstacles, shining brightly, forging ahead courageously, and making the most of your lives!]