Li Xiang and Lu Yi Ke formed an investigative team, ready to make a big splash.
But a phone call from Meng De Hai stopped them in their tracks.
Li Xiang realized something must have happened.
Lu Yi Ke, utterly confused, asked, "Director Meng, why are you changing your mind all the time? What do you want?"
Meng De Hai sighed, "Secretary Xu just called me and asked me to unfreeze Gao Qiang's bank accounts."
Lu Yi Ke furrowed her brow, "So Secretary Xu really has ties to Gao Qiang. This makes us even more determined to investigate."
Meng De Hai replied, "Secretary Xu also said that he was the one who asked Gao Qiang to sell his assets, and that the money will be invested entirely in our city's internet industrial park."
Li Xiang and Lu Yi Ke were both astonished.
Although they didn't know the specifics about the internet industrial park, they could guess that once the money went in, it would most likely be laundered.
Gao Qiang would then be laundered clean and become a true entrepreneur.
This was a result they couldn't accept.
"Well, I think we should just drop this case. Any further investigation would be a waste of police resources. There are many criminals in Jinghai City that you need to investigate. We should focus our limited resources on more important cases."
Meng De Hai had already given up hope.
Li Xiang, though reluctant, couldn't think of a solution.
If Gao Qiang continued to commit crimes, they could keep tracking him, and there might be a chance of finding evidence.
But if Gao Qiang didn't commit any crimes, their surveillance would be useless.
Lu Yi Ke was equally unwilling to give up. "I need to report this to my superiors."
She then took out her phone and called Ji Chang Ming.
After hearing the situation, Ji Chang Ming was also surprised, "This is a drastic move. I didn't expect Xu Zhao to make a decision so quickly."
Could it be that after attending a conference at the Provincial Committee, Xu Zhao had a change of heart, reformed himself, and repented?
Lu Yi Ke asked, "Director Ji, what should we do next?"
Ji Chang Ming thought for a moment and replied, "Don't give up. Continue your investigation until I tell you to stop."
Lu Yi Ke said, "Okay, I understand."
She hung up the phone.
She relayed Ji Chang Ming's response.
Meng De Hai just shook his head and smiled, "Do as you please. If you want to investigate, go ahead. You can contact me if you need anything."
Lu Yi Ke felt a bit of disdain for him, a dignified bureau chief with so little fighting spirit.
She secretly made up her mind to catch Xu Zhao red-handed.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Ji Chang Ming wasn't particularly hopeful either.
Considering Xu Zhao's actions at Da Feng Factory and the Provincial Committee, he felt that he needed to consult Sha Rui Jin.
Because Xu Zhao's situation was a case of someone who could be saved, someone who had gained self-awareness and was young and promising.
Whether to investigate him depended entirely on the superior's mood.
As long as the superior gave the word, Xu Zhao's past deeds would be forgotten.
So Ji Chang Ming dialed Sha Rui Jin's number.
The call connected after a while.
"Secretary Sha, there's something I need to report to you."
said Ji Chang Ming.
"What is it?"
asked Sha Rui Jin.
"About Xu Zhao..."
Ji Chang Ming recounted the entire situation, starting with Lu Zheng Pin's report against Xu Zhao, and Lu Yi Ke's investigation in Jinghai City.
After listening, Sha Rui Jin couldn't help but admire, "What a drastic move! This Xu Zhao is making me look at him in a new light."
Could it be that Xu Zhao was moved by Chen Yan Shi's speech at the Provincial Committee?
This swift action was the fastest he had witnessed in his years as an official.
"I thought the same. Secretary Xu must have made a huge decision to take this step. As for his past deeds, they are just rumors. Maybe there's no need to investigate further."
said Ji Chang Ming.
"He acted so quickly and decisively. It would be very difficult for you to find anything."
Sha Rui Jin sighed.
"It's true. Meng De Hai investigated for over seven years and didn't find anything. I don't think we're any smarter or better than the local Public Security Bureau."
said Ji Chang Ming.
"Don't underestimate yourselves. There might be other reasons."
Sha Rui Jin's tone changed.
"Other reasons? You mean, perhaps Meng De Hai is also in cahoots with Gao Qiang."
said Ji Chang Ming.
"Any possibility is valid."
said Sha Rui Jin.
Ji Chang Ming nodded slightly.
Sha Rui Jin continued, "If Xu Zhao truly repents, we can of course welcome him back. But what if he's just pretending? Therefore, you have to continue this investigation. Especially the whereabouts of the money after Gao Qiang sold his assets, you must keep a close eye on it."
Ji Chang Ming nodded, "Understood. I will instruct them to keep a close eye on the money."
Sha Rui Jin said, "Alright, that's all."
He hung up the phone.
Ji Chang Ming immediately sent a message to Lu Yi Ke, instructing her to focus on tracking Gao Qiang's funds.
...
A few days later, Xu Zhao received good news from Zhang Zhen Fei.
Zhang Zhen Fei, through some unknown method, had finally persuaded Lao Ma to personally come to Jinghai City for an inspection.
The inspection would last three days.
"Secretary Xu, Mr. Ma has arrived in Jinghai City and is resting at a hotel."
said Zhang Zhen Fei on the phone.
"Very good. Ask him when he can start the inspection."
said Xu Zhao.
"He already said that he will start the inspection tomorrow morning."
said Zhang Zhen Fei.
"Tomorrow morning, alright. Let's set it for 8:30 AM. As for the meeting place, we'll meet at the park entrance on Yushu Street. Remember, keep this confidential, and don't tell any other officials."
said Xu Zhao.
"Just you?"
said Zhang Zhen Fei.
"Yes, just me and you."
said Xu Zhao.
"I understand."
Zhang Zhen Fei wrote down the time and location in his notebook.
Xu Zhao didn't want to make a big deal out of it.
The main reason was that he didn't want it to be on the news, attracting attention from other provinces and cities, leading to competition.
The secondary reason was that he didn't like crowds.
Knowing Lao Ma, he didn't think Lao Ma liked being surrounded by a lot of people either.