54: Chapter 54 I'm looking for Sha Ruijin, the Provincial Party Secretary!

Shen Wang went out and enjoyed a comfortable breakfast at the shop downstairs.

Then, he hailed a taxi and headed straight for the political heart of Handong Province—the Provincial Party Committee Compound.

The car stopped at an intersection a short distance from the compound.

Shen Wang walked the rest of the way. The closer he got, the more he could feel an intangible, solemn atmosphere.

High walls, tightly closed electric gates, sentries of the Armed Police standing at attention, and plainclothes personnel nearby who appeared to be standing casually but were scanning their surroundings with sharp eyes.

Sure enough, as soon as Shen Wang approached the entrance of the compound, a young man with a lean build, dressed in an ordinary jacket, quietly blocked his path.

"comrade, may I ask what you need? You cannot loiter here."

Shen Wang was prepared. He took the apprenticeship scroll, which was still filled with traces of time, from his pocket. He didn't fully unfold it, just gestured with it.

"Hello, I am looking for Secretary Sha Ruijin. My Great-Grandfather was the master of Secretary Sha's uncle, Sha Zhenjiang. I have a token here."

As soon as these words were spoken, the well-trained plainclothes officer was clearly stunned.

He had been on duty at the entrance of the Provincial Party Committee Compound for many years and had seen countless people of all kinds.

There were those coming to petition, those coming to report on work, and those coming to pull strings...

But to see someone coming to meet the Provincial Party Secretary with such a nearly "fantasy-like" reason as today was absolutely a first!

Great-Grandfather? Secretary Sha's uncle? Master?

What is all this? It sounds like a novel!

The plainclothes officer's expression quickly turned serious, and his tone grew heavier: "comrade! Please be serious! What kind of place do you think this is? This is not a place for you to mess around!"

"Please leave immediately! Otherwise, I will take coercive measures against you on the grounds of disturbing public order!"

Shen Wang had been mentally prepared for this. If any Tom, Dick, or Harry could just walk into the Provincial Party Committee Compound based on a few words, that would be strange.

"I know this sounds unbelievable," Shen Wang said, and right in front of him, he slowly unfolded the yellowed apprenticeship scroll, which even had some frayed edges.

"But look at this."

The plainclothes officer had already prepared to call for backup to forcibly remove this "rambling" young man. But when his gaze swept over the unfolded letter and he saw that highly recognizable name, he was instantly dumbfounded!

Brigade Commander???

The plainclothes officer's mind was in a mess; his brain was almost overheating.

The young man in front of him didn't look like a lunatic! He wouldn't be bored enough to forge something like this, would he?

And this piece of paper in front of him... it actually seemed to be something significant.

Shen Wang struck while the iron was hot and continued: "comrade, I suggest you report this to your superiors."

"Even taking a step back, even if this thing of mine is fake, at worst you can just arrest me and investigate until the truth comes out; it won't take much effort."

"But what if... what if it's real?"

"Think about it, if you block the descendant of the master of the Provincial Party Secretary's uncle outside today without rhyme or reason, and don't even report it..."

"If Secretary Sha asks about it in the future and finds out you drove his 'own family' away as a fraud, that... that probably wouldn't be very good, would it?"

Shen Wang's words were reasonable and well-grounded, and even carried a hint of "thinking for you." The plainclothes guard was a bit dizzy from his logic, but upon careful consideration, it seemed... that made sense?

For this kind of thing, it's better to believe it exists than to believe it doesn't! If he kicked an iron plate, the consequences were simply not something a small internal security officer like him could bear! Report it! He must report it! Let the leaders deal with the headache!

"You... you wait here! You are absolutely not allowed to come closer! I will report this to our leader!"

The plainclothes officer's tone was no longer as harsh as before. He walked to the side, picked up his walkie-talkie, and reported the situation at a rapid pace.

Not long after, a slightly older middle-aged man in a dress shirt with a more imposing aura walked out quickly.

He first scrutinized Shen Wang vigilantly, then took the apprenticeship scroll and examined it carefully.

Upon seeing it, his reaction was even more intense than the young plainclothes officer's! His hand holding the letter even trembled slightly! Especially when he saw the Brigade Commander's personal signature, he gasped!

This head of the security department had once seen the Brigade Commander's signature on an internal study document. It looked almost exactly like the one in front of him!

"This... this thing..." The middle-aged leader's throat felt dry.

He looked at the apprenticeship scroll, then at the calm-faced Shen Wang, and his brain was almost overheating too! He couldn't handle this! This matter was already beyond his scope of authority!

"Watch him here; I... I'm going to ask the leadership for instructions!" He picked up his mobile phone, took several photos of the apprenticeship scroll, and then walked back quickly.

Just like that, it was reported layer by layer. The section chief was dumbfounded and asked the division chief for instructions. The division chief was shocked and dared not delay. In the end, it alarmed the Provincial Party Committee's chief secretary, Secretary Bai!

When Secretary Bai saw the photos of the apprenticeship scroll, especially the signatures at the bottom, even though he was usually unfazed by anything, he couldn't help but stand up from his seat at that moment.

He immediately picked up the internal phone, his voice extremely serious: "The young man at the entrance, please invite him to Reception Room No. 1. Remember, your attitude must be courteous!"

After hanging up the phone, Secretary Bai gathered his thoughts and gently knocked on the door of the inner office.

"Come in." A steady, powerful voice came from inside.

Secretary Bai pushed the door open and entered, respectfully saying to Sha Ruijin, who was reviewing documents: "Secretary, a young man has arrived at the compound entrance. He brought a... what is said to be an apprenticeship scroll from his Great-Grandfather, Shen Mingyuan, taking your uncle, comrade Sha Zhenjiang, as a disciple."

Even though Sha Ruijin's temperament was as steady as a mountain, hearing the combination of the words "uncle Sha Zhenjiang" and "apprenticeship scroll," his hand holding the pen couldn't help but pause slightly.

"Apprenticeship scroll? My uncle's?" Sha Ruijin's voice betrayed no emotion, but Secretary Bai, who knew him well, knew that the Secretary's heart was definitely not as calm as his surface appeared.

"Yes, Secretary! Here are the photos, and the witness on it... is the Brigade Commander." Secretary Bai gently placed the tablet on the desk, highlighting the Brigade Commander's signature.

Sha Ruijin picked up the tablet, his body leaning forward imperceptibly. The office fell into a brief silence. No one knew what this high-ranking official was thinking at that moment.

A moment later, Sha Ruijin slowly leaned back into his chair. Then he instructed Secretary Bai: "Go, invite him to the small conference room, and I will be there shortly."

"Yes, Secretary Sha!" Secretary Bai was shocked inside and immediately accepted the order and left.

At the entrance of the Provincial Party Committee. Shen Wang was about to lose patience, having waited until the flowers were almost withered, when Secretary Bai appeared just in time.

"You must be Mr. Shen, right? I am Secretary Sha Ruijin's secretary. My surname is Bai." Secretary Bai's attitude was courteous, leaving nothing to be desired.

"Hello, Director Bai!" Shen Wang had worked at Shanshui Group after all, and he was well-versed in official titles; this "Director Bai" was addressed just right.

A professional smile appeared on Secretary Bai's face as he stepped aside to lead the way: "Mr. Shen, please come with me. Secretary Sha is already waiting for you..."