After a brief pause, Jiang Cheng's tone suddenly darkened a few notches: "I'd like to ask Miss Qiu, which group of people is your proposal targeting?"
Qiu Li was taken aback by the question, but then she forced herself to remain calm and replied, "Naturally, it's for everyone involved! As long as they are human, they should have a chance to truly repent. That is the compassion of the rules."
"The compassion of the rules? You give those who cross such red lines a chance to turn over a new leaf, but who will give an explanation to the pursuers who sacrificed themselves?"
As soon as he spoke, Qiu Yihe's eyes immediately turned red.
But that didn't mean others implicated in such matters could survive safely.
Jiang Cheng's words had struck the softest and heaviest part of her heart.
Seeing Qiu Li at a loss for words, Jiang Cheng didn't give her a chance to recover.
He continued in a low voice, "While advancing a proposal must be legal and compliant, shouldn't it also uphold a basic bottom line? Although the proposal you've suggested involves complex interests, the bottom line of protecting the public's rights must never be surrendered! You've sat in your office discussing this for half a year, calculating data on paper and procedural regulations, but have you ever calculated this? Behind a single project proposal, how many people on the front lines are exhausting themselves to avoid risks, and how many families are broken because of the hidden dangers of such projects? Have these things been written into your discussion minutes?"
Qiu Li's face turned pale under Jiang Cheng's questioning.
She also knew this regulation was not good for Huaxia, but since she had taken the money, she had to do her best to make it happen.
"Young Master Jiang, I admit what you're saying makes sense. Our proposal has also been refined step by step. As times change, such adjustments have been attempted in many places." She paused and added, "This also means that this type of punishment is shifting from strict control to a greater focus on guiding reform. Even those who have made mistakes should have the right to be respected. Everyone should have a chance to turn over a new leaf. After our discussion, we felt that the positive aspects of this proposal still outweigh the drawbacks."
Hearing this, Jiang Cheng wanted to shout: 'Take a bite of it yourself first; if you can quit it, then I'll believe your nonsense.'
Previously, it was all 'Ah, it's okay, nothing will happen.'
Similar adjustments had been made for this stuff over a decade ago.
It seemed to give wrongdoers a chance, but in reality, it allowed risks to spread quietly.
In just a few years, many people were implicated.
The number of people of this type went from over a hundred thousand to over a million.
And you call this personality protection?
Jiang Cheng sneered, his eyes full of mockery. "Then I'd like to ask you, have you ever heard this saying: 'I have lived a clean and law-abiding life my whole life, so why should they only need to truly repent?'"
"If a person wants to turn over a new leaf, they must accept supervision so that everyone can see they are truly improving, rather than hiding all their mistakes and letting the people around them be implicated for no reason. This isn't called turning over a new leaf; it's called pulling the wool over everyone's eyes."
His series of rhetorical questions struck directly at the heart.
Even the Old Master sitting in the main seat had a look of admiration for Jiang Cheng in his eyes.
The smile on Qiu Wu's face had long since frozen.
The look he gave Jiang Cheng was filled with a bit more gravity and wariness.
He knew this young man was capable and deeply calculating.
But these words at this moment were calm and deliberate, each word piercing the heart.
He didn't raise his voice, nor did he slam the table in anger.
Yet he forced Qiu Li into a corner where she had no power to fight back.
He had spent no small amount of effort training and advising Qiu Li and Qiu Ya since they were young, but neither of them had even half of Jiang Cheng's breadth of mind or vision.
Looking at Jiang Cheng's figure, Qiu Wu sighed inwardly.
It was a pity he had no children of his own in his life; after all his hard work building the family business, he didn't even have a suitable heir.
Seeing Qiu Wu warn her with a look, Qiu Li was very dissatisfied inwardly.
However, she could only back down: "Times are different now, we have to keep up with the times..."
She gave an awkward smile after speaking.
After finishing, she also gave an awkward smile in an attempt to ease the atmosphere.
Seeing this, Jiang Cheng's gaze grew even colder as he continued to press her, "We all know we need to keep up with the times, but what is the prerequisite for progress? Is it compromise without a bottom line? I'm telling you, it's not! While progressing, we must hold onto our bottom line, hold onto Huaxia's bottom line! If we take even one step back, countless ordinary people could fall into risk. Who can bear that cost?"
He leaned forward slightly, staring at Qiu Li with eyes like torches. "Finally, I'll ask you one more thing: don't forget what the first lesson of Huaxia's modern history is."
Qiu Li naturally knew about General Lin's battles on the front lines.
Qiu Li was left speechless and trembling by the question, her original confidence completely vanished.
She could only repeat dully, "Times must change, we have to learn from abroad..."
"Learning from abroad doesn't mean losing your roots!" Jiang Cheng interrupted her coldly. "Progress while holding the bottom line is called progress; compromise after losing the bottom line is called surrender!"
These words were powerful and resonant, falling into the ears of everyone present, instantly making the noisy scene so quiet that a pin could be heard dropping.
Qiu Ya's hand clutching Qiu Li's sleeve unconsciously loosened, her eyes fixed straight on Jiang Cheng, forgetting to look away.
Clearly, she should have been on the same side as her sister, but at this moment, her face inexplicably turned red.
Jiang Cheng was just too handsome.
The Old Master sitting in the main seat held his teacup, and without even raising his eyelids, he let out a soft "Mhm."
That soft hum carried a hint of subtle approval.
It was also meant to show support for Jiang Cheng.
Qiu Wu hurriedly agreed, "Young Master Jiang is right! That's the truth! I will definitely have Lili redo the proposal when we get back and consult more with the comrades on the front lines!"
Half an hour later, the group walked out of the Jiang Family's main gate.
Seeing Qiu Wu and the others walking to the car and about to get in,
Qiu Yihe quickly stepped forward and said in a casual tone, "Great-uncle, I still have some things I want to talk to Jiang Cheng about. I'll head back later..."
Qiu Wu's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and the gloom on his face instantly vanished.
He nodded repeatedly, his face beaming with smiles.
"Good, good, good! It's fine if you come back a bit later, no rush! We'll head back first, you two have a good chat!"
Seeing that Qiu Yihe was staying behind, strange expressions appeared on the faces of the two sisters.
Of course, for Qiu Ya, it was jealousy and envy, while for Qiu Li, it was hatred.
She had been sitting close to Qiu Yihe, and although she didn't hear exactly what they were saying,
Jiang Cheng's sudden outburst to embarrass her was clearly Qiu Yihe's doing.
Qiu Li snorted and glared at Qiu Yihe.
"Putting on an act, clinging to the powerful and wealthy..."
Qiu Ya wanted to agree after these words were spoken.
But seeing Qiu Wu snort and glare at Qiu Li, she tactfully shut her mouth.
As soon as the car started,
Qiu Li's stomach full of anger finally couldn't be held back anymore...
"Uncle! Why are you glaring at me like that? What kind of thing is Qiu Yihe? And Jiang Cheng, what right does he have to mock me so sarcastically? Isn't he just relying on his family's support!"
Qiu Wu's temples throbbed from her noise, and he lowered his voice to scold her: "Shut up! Are you a pig? Couldn't you see Jiang Cheng's feelings for Qiu Yihe? In that situation just now, if you had kept being stubborn, you would have offended the entire Jiang Family!"
Seeing that Qiu Li was about to speak again, a more ruthless warning flashed in his eyes.
"I'm telling you, you'd better behave yourself!"
After speaking, Qiu Wu stopped looking at Qiu Li and turned his head to look out the window.
He used to think Qiu Li and Qiu Ya were alright, but looking at them now, they weren't even as good as Qiu Yihe.
At least she could please Jiang Cheng.
These two of his were average-looking and arrogant, always treating the connections and prestige he had built up over the years as their own capital.
If the Qiu Family were handed over to these two, they might cause some trouble they shouldn't.
Qiu Li's face turned pale from the scolding, and she remained silent the whole way.
As soon as the car stopped, she slammed the door and got out, locked herself in her bedroom, and pulled out an overseas encrypted SIM card hidden in the interlayer of her phone case.
She quickly swapped the card and opened that dark web communication software that never saw the light of day.
In the pinned conversation box, the other party's avatar was a blank gray without any identifying marks.
With an angry face, she tapped out a line of text with her fingertips.
"I suffered a setback at the Jiang Family today. I have already submitted the project, but special attention is needed."
Less than half a minute after the message was sent, a reply came back.
It was accompanied by a transfer link to an anonymous encrypted wallet.
[A little compensation. For the subsequent proposal modifications, I'll have to trouble Miss Qiu to put in more effort. Remember, ask less and do more.]
Qiu Li stared at the string of characters, a flash of greed and panic in her eyes.
She clicked the link and entered her overseas account information.
Seeing the six-digit figure jump into her account balance, the corners of her tense mouth finally curled into a calculating smile.
Her proposal was indeed commissioned by someone for a fee.
In her view, it was a very good deal to get such a large sum of money for just one legislative proposal.
These proposals weren't her decision alone anyway.
She was just a submitter; no one could trace it back to her.
Although what Jiang Cheng said today made some sense,
At this moment, her rationality had long been dispersed by the humiliation she just faced.
The more they criticized her, the more she wanted to do it.
Qiu Li quickly replied.
[Received. Don't worry, I can handle it.]
After sending it, she deleted the chat history inside.
She took out the SIM card, used a lighter to burn it to ashes, and then quickly flushed it down the drain.
Clearly, she was already very familiar with this process...
PS: Another year has passed, I wish everyone a Happy New Year! Thank you all for accompanying this book through another year.
Having gone through an animated adaptation and two versions of short dramas, I am deeply grateful.
I hope this story can, at some moment, add a bit of warmth to the hearts of you who accompany Jiang Cheng and dispel a bit of confusion.
Thanks to every reader for your likes, comments, and waiting. It is your support that has given this story a longer vitality.
Happy New Year, and may the new year go smoothly!