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Solve the following problem using Python, implementing the functions described below, one line at a time
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Description:

def get_saved_rules(conf_file=None):
    '''
    Return a data structure of the rules in the conf file

    CLI Example:

    .. code-block:: bash

        salt '*' nftables.get_saved_rules

    '''
    if _conf() and not conf_file:
        conf_file = _conf()

    with salt.utils.files.fopen(conf_file) as fp_:
        lines = salt.utils.data.decode(fp_.readlines())
    rules = []
    for line in lines:
        tmpline = line.strip()
        if not tmpline:
            continue
        if tmpline.startswith('#'):
            continue
        rules.append(line)
    return rules