Tang Yumeng took a deep breath and said, "Okay."

"Okay!" Everyone at the scene stood up and then applauded enthusiastically.

The applause in the meeting room lasted a long time.

Finally, under the farewell of everyone, Song Ming left the City Committee. Song Ming's secretary held a cardboard box containing some of Song Ming's personal belongings. Hundreds of people from the City Committee came out of their offices, and upon hearing that Song Ming was leaving, they all went downstairs to see him off.

"Is Vice Secretary Song really leaving?"

"It seems to be true. I heard a meeting was held in the City Committee this morning, where Vice Secretary Song announced his departure."

"Oh my God, he... he's actually leaving?"

"Alas, his son has died, and his wife is seriously ill. He seems to have nothing left to live for."

In the City Committee, many people gathered quietly to discuss this. They all felt regretful about Vice Secretary Song's departure, thinking that it was incredible for someone with such a high position as Song Ming to give it up so easily.

Nonetheless, Song Ming eventually left.

..............

Lin Chuan slept until past nine in the morning today. After getting up, he lit an incense stick for Mrs. Lin. Then, after a quick wash, he left with his clothes. Lin Chuan planned to meet Zhou Kai and the others today to discuss sending a group of brothers to Japan. Since he intended to expand his influence beyond the borders, he thought it was best to first send a group to pave the way.

He just arrived at the entrance of Changlin Factory.

A black Audi car was parked at the entrance. It did not have government plates but was a private car Song Ming bought himself. It cost over 400,000, not very expensive, but it was a luxury car for ordinary people.

When Song Ming saw Lin Chuan coming out from inside, he immediately opened the driver's door.

Seeing Song Ming appear, Lin Chuan froze. He thought Song Ming had come to take revenge, as he had been humiliated by him yesterday. Naturally, he assumed Song Ming was here to retaliate today. So, Lin Chuan stood still. There were more than twenty meters between him and Song Ming, definitely a safe distance; even if the other side had a gun, he was not afraid.

"Lin Chuan, I want to talk to you," Song Ming said.

"What is there to talk about? Didn't we already discuss everything yesterday?" Lin Chuan smiled at Song Ming and said, "Vice Secretary Song, you aren't here to ask for that handgun, are you? I'm sorry, but that gun has significant collectible value; I'm keeping it safe for you."

"I don't mean anything else by it," Song Ming smiled, "There really are some things I want to discuss with you. Besides, I want to tell you I'm no longer the Deputy Secretary of the City Committee, so you don't have to worry about me or fear me at all."

"What?" Lin Chuan was stunned.

At this moment, a call came in. It was Tang Yumeng on the phone.

"Sis, what's up?" Lin Chuan answered the call.

"Lin Chuan, Song Ming has retired early," Tang Yumeng laughed bitterly and said, "He's left the City Committee."

"Is this true?" Lin Chuan was stunned and said, "I thought he was lying to me."

"He's not lying to you," Tang Yumeng shook her head and said, "But how did you know? Did he tell you?"

"No, he's right in front of me," Lin Chuan replied helplessly, "He says he wants to talk to me, but I don't know what it's about."

"Alright, you go ahead and talk to him. It seems like he's come to his senses," Tang Yumeng nodded.

After hanging up the phone, Lin Chuan walked over to Song Ming. Song Ming quickly opened the back door. Lin Chuan got in. It wasn't just Song Ming in the car but also his wife. Song Ming's wife was now so emaciated she looked like a skeleton, extremely frail, with dry yellow hair and a waxen complexion, clearly in very poor health.

Song Ming drove the car, heading for the city center.

The few people in the car were silent along the way.

Song Ming didn't speak, nor did Mrs. Song say a word. Lin Chuan sat in the back seat, his eyes fixed on the rearview mirror. Song Ming occasionally glanced at Lin Chuan through the mirror, and the two exchanged the occasional glance.

The car entered the city, and Song Ming found a café to stop at.

After parking the car, he quickly opened the passenger door and helped his wife get out. Mrs. Song wasn't in good health and didn't look well. She could barely walk and struggled to take care of herself properly.

Lin Chuan got out of the car and followed the Song Ming couple into the café.

The waiter immediately arranged a private room. The room wasn't large, with a table and a few booth seats. Besides the booth seats, there was also a sofa, and the room was decorated with a few green potted plants.

Once inside the private room, Song Ming settled his wife before turning around to hand a cigarette to Lin Chuan.

Lin Chuan took the cigarette from Song Ming, feeling a bit curious. Tang Yumeng had just called him to say that Song Ming had retired early, meaning he had now left the City Committee. Left the department of power. This surprised Lin Chuan a lot, given Song Ming's character, he actually voluntarily gave up his power.

"Secretary Song, what do you want with me?" Lin Chuan asked in confusion.

"I..." Song Ming smiled and said, "Have a seat first. Don't worry, this time I have no hostility towards you. On the contrary, there is indeed something I need to entrust to you."

Curious, Lin Chuan asked, "Oh, what kind of thing makes you actively seek me out?"

"Here's the situation." Song Ming glanced at Lin Chuan and then said, "As you know, I have some funds. While holding office, I did collect quite a bit of money. I have over a hundred million in savings. I plan to give half of it to you."

"Ah?!" Lin Chuan was completely stunned and said awkwardly, "Secretary Song, did I... did I hear you wrong?"

"Lin Chuan, from now on just call me Song Ming, or Old Song." Song Ming smiled and said, "I am no longer the deputy secretary of the City Committee."

"Alright then." Lin Chuan nodded and said, "Old Song, you... you hated me so much, why would you give such a large sum of money to me?"

"Yes, I hate you, hate you for killing my son." Song Ming nodded and said, "But, this doesn't affect your nature. I know you are not a bad person by nature, I also know you have donated to several Hope Schools, and I also know you established the Sichuan University Fund. I intend to donate this sum to your Sichuan University Public Welfare Fund for you to use for charity, to atone for the mistakes and sins I committed over the years."

"Have you really decided?" Lin Chuan asked seriously.

"Decided." Song Ming nodded and seriously said, "Let's treat it as redemption for the errors I've made in this lifetime."

"Alright then." Lin Chuan nodded and said, "Since you have decided, I will accept this money."

Subsequently, Lin Chuan gave the foundation's account number to Song Ming.

Song Ming immediately sent out the account number using his phone. Not long after, fifty million was credited. Lin Chuan's phone notified him via SMS; not only Lin Chuan's phone but Mu Bai's phone also received a notification.

After receiving the message, Mu Bai was stunned for a moment, then quickly called Lin Chuan.

"Lin Chuan, what's going on? The foundation's account received fifty million," Mu Bai anxiously said.

"I'll explain this to you later, right now I have things to do," Lin Chuan replied.

Mu Bai was taken aback and quickly nodded, saying, "Okay."

After hanging up, Lin Chuan looked earnestly at Song Ming and said, "Old Song, on behalf of the impoverished children in the mountainous areas and those in need, I want to express our gratitude to you."

"There's nothing to be grateful for," Song Ming shook his head and said, "This money is all ill-gotten gains. I feel ashamed accepting it, so it's better to donate it all. Besides, I've kept half for myself and my wife, to use for traveling the world."

"Hmm," Lin Chuan nodded.

"Also, regarding my son's issue, I've come to terms with it," Song Ming sighed and said, "Song Hao killed your mother, and you killed Song Hao, so it's somewhat even. He was an adult, and should bear the consequences of his actions."

"It's best if you can think this way," Lin Chuan smiled and said, "Let the past be the past, I hope you will live well from now on."

"I don't plan to stay in the country anymore," Song Ming smiled at Lin Chuan and said, "I won't get involved in domestic issues anymore. I've handed over the City Committee matters to Secretary Tang. She has matured now, and I'm sure she will become Jiangbei City's highly respected secretary."

"I think so too," Lin Chuan said with a smile.

At this moment, Mrs. Song, who had been looking sickly, spoke up: "Lin Chuan, I've always hated you, detested you, wished you'd die sooner. But Song Ming always persuaded me to let go of hatred, to give up grudges. Honestly, at the beginning, I couldn't do it, because Song Hao was my son, my only son. I only had that one son, and he was buried at the hands of someone else. Can you imagine how angry I was? Can you imagine how heartbroken I was?"

"Indeed," Lin Chuan nodded and said, "From a mother's standpoint, it's indeed heartbreaking and enraging. But what about me? Can you think from a son's perspective? My mother lost her spouse when I was ten, she raised me with painstaking efforts, and when I was sixteen, her only son she could rely on suddenly disappeared. She kept the household alone, waiting for eight years until her son returned. She could finally fulfill her duty to her, but then, just as her son was achieving success, she was killed by someone. Can you understand that feeling?"

Mrs. Song fell into silence.

Song Ming smiled and said, "Indeed, Song Hao's actions destroyed the happiness of two families and plunged both into trouble. Lin Chuan, we can understand your thoughts and actions. So, now we have forgiven you."

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