“Deputy Secretary Yan, what happened to Li Da Kang being beaten up?”
Xu Zhao asked with suspicion.
“I don’t know, I heard it was a fight between construction workers, and they accidentally involved Secretary Li.”
Yan Yang Xue said with an innocent look.
“Are you sure?”
Xu Zhao said.
“If you don’t believe me, you can go to the police station to interrogate them. The workers have all been detained.”
Yan Yang Xue said.
“Forget it, let Meng De Hai interrogate them. If it was an accident, just fine them some money.”
Xu Zhao said.
“Alright.”
Yan Yang Xue nodded.
Xu Zhao thought: Li Da Kang is a member of the Provincial Committee after all. It’s best to go and comfort him after something like this happened on his turf.
He just happened to have a dinner appointment with Gao Yu Liang, and he could use this as an excuse to go to Jingzhou City.
Two days later.
Xu Zhao drove to Jingzhou City.
He bought a fruit basket on the way and went to Li Da Kang’s office first.
“Secretary Da Kang, how’s your face? Are you feeling better?”
Xu Zhao said with a smile.
“Thanks to you, I haven’t slept well for two days. My face hurts whether I sit or lie down.”
Li Da Kang said with a stern face.
“I apologize. I neglected my duty. I’m offering you my sincerest apologies.”
Xu Zhao placed the fruit basket on his desk.
“You think this is an apology?”
Li Da Kang casually picked up an orange, clearly not satisfied.
“Then what do you want?”
Xu Zhao said.
“Jinghai City is not suitable for such a large project. Trouble started right after construction began. Move the project to my Jingzhou City, and I’ll forgive you.”
Li Da Kang said.
“You’re delusional. Come up with a more realistic request.”
Xu Zhao said.
“Then lend me some money.”
Li Da Kang said.
“Lend money?”
Xu Zhao was a little surprised and confused.
“Strictly speaking, it’s Jinghai City lending money to Jingzhou City to help me overcome this difficulty.”
Li Da Kang said.
“How much do you need?”
Xu Zhao asked.
“One billion.”
Li Da Kang said.
“Are you serious? Jingzhou City is the richest. Now you’re asking me to lend you money?”
Xu Zhao certainly didn’t want to lend.
“It’s all because of the trouble you caused me! Back then with the Da Feng Factory, if you had let me demolish it, the Guangming Peak project would have landed long ago.”
“I wouldn’t be in this mess now, having to give Da Feng Factory twelve billion for them to sell the land. You, on the other hand, enjoyed praise from Secretary Sha and became a model for the whole province, while I bear all the bad consequences.”
Li Da Kang said with dissatisfaction.
“Cut it out with this act. Those workers were not afraid even when they were burned. If you had dared to forcefully demolish, they would have fought back. If a few people had died, see who would suffer more.”
Xu Zhao said with a snicker.
“Let’s not talk about the Da Feng Factory. Just because of me being beaten up, will you lend me the money?”
Li Da Kang pointed at the bruises on his face.
“One billion is too much. I can only lend you five hundred million. The rest you can figure out yourself.”
Xu Zhao said.
“Five hundred million, alright. When can you transfer it?”
Li Da Kang felt a little better.
“First write an IOU, and you’ll return it to me within half a year.”
Xu Zhao said.
“Half a year is too short, two years. I’ll return it to you within two years.”
Li Da Kang made a “peace” sign.
“Two years, right? Ok, but you need to use the official seal.”
Xu Zhao said.
“Sure.”
Li Da Kang didn’t hesitate.
He couldn’t possibly bear this debt himself, and using the official seal was a good thing.
Then he wrote an IOU.
He signed and stamped it.
Xu Zhao took the IOU and carefully examined it. There were no problems, and he put it in his pocket.
Li Da Kang thought: Being beaten up and getting a five hundred million loan, it’s worth it.
His mood immediately improved.
“This matter ends here. Don’t mention it again, pretend it never happened.”
Xu Zhao said.
“Alright.”
Li Da Kang nodded with annoyance.
Then he added: “Jinghai City really is incompetent, with infrastructure, security, and industrial chain management all being sloppy. Tesla is such a large project, and you’re still making mistakes. I advise you to transfer it as soon as possible.”
Xu Zhao said: “Don’t worry, I’ll straighten Jinghai City out.”
Li Da Kang said: “It’s not that easy to straighten things out. You won’t be able to do it in seven or eight years.”
Xu Zhao chuckled: “Don’t worry about that, I’ll be on my way now.”
He turned around and left.
Li Da Kang said: “Don’t you want to stay a while?”
Xu Zhao waved his hand and didn’t turn back.
…
Soon after, Xu Zhao arrived at Gao Yu Liang’s home.
Gao Yu Liang had been waiting for him. When he saw him arrive, he went to the door to greet him: “Secretary Xu, welcome to my humble abode.”
Xu Zhao smiled and said: “Secretary Yu Liang, you always have good taste. Your courtyard is quite elegant.”
Gao Yu Liang said: “This is just my hobby.”
After exchanging a few pleasantries.
The two of them sat down in a small pavilion in the courtyard.
Gao Yu Liang poured him a cup of tea.
Xu Zhao picked up his teacup and took a sip. He said: “Did Zhao Rui Long go to the Mountain Water Villa?”
Gao Yu Liang said: “I asked Qi Tong Wei, and he said they met. Now Qi Tong Wei is also afraid and asked me to help him, but I really can’t help him in this situation.”
He couldn’t help but shake his head as he said the last part.
He had always thought that Qi Tong Wei was just greedy and had some connection with the Mountain Water Group.
Later, Liang Lu went to Teacher Wu to complain, and he learned that Qi Tong Wei had done so many illegal and disciplinary things behind his back.
For example, arranging for his relatives to enter the system and giving his dog a police dog designation.
He even released a rapist!
When he found out about these things, Gao Yu Liang almost choked on his own blood.
But Qi Tong Wei knew about his affair with Gao Xiao Feng. They were in the same boat, so he had to swallow his anger no matter how upset he was.
After listening to Gao Yu Liang’s complaints, Xu Zhao couldn’t help but laugh: “Qi Tong Wei is a typical example of someone who doesn’t return to his hometown after becoming rich and powerful, like wearing beautiful clothes at night. It’s a pity that he was once a great hero.”
Gao Yu Liang sighed: “Yes, if he keeps going like this, he will be the next Xiang Yu.”