Zhao Li Chun was very cautious. He never personally dealt with such matters, keeping his hands clean.
His subordinates handled everything for him.
If Zhao Li Chun had any weakness, it would be his son, Zhao Rui Long.
As long as Zhao Rui Long stayed out of trouble, Zhao Li Chun was actually quite stable.
"Please come in. I've prepared your favorite steamed osmanthus fish, bamboo shoot stir-fried beef, and cumin lamb."
Gao Qi Qiang said from the side.
"Good. You still remember."
Xu Zhao replied with a smile.
Then the two of them entered the garden.
After passing through the front courtyard, they arrived at an ancient-style building and entered one of the private rooms.
A familiar figure sat inside.
"Secretary Xu, good to see you."
Gao Qi Lan stood up and greeted him.
"Isn't this Xiao Lan? You're getting prettier."
Xu Zhao remarked.
"No, not at all."
Gao Qi Lan smiled slightly, somewhat reserved.
"Xiao Lan heard you were coming, so she insisted on coming with me. She said she wanted to meet you."
Gao Qi Qiang explained.
"If only that were true."
Xu Zhao said with a smile.
Before he knew Gao Qi Lan, she had already met An Xin.
Who knows what Gao Qi Lan was thinking, but An Xin once sent a plate of dumplings to her brother, and the girl fell for him.
She hadn't dated anyone in the eight years since.
Remember, Gao Qi Lan was only eighteen when she met An Xin. This meant that at twenty-six, she was still a virgin.
But her appearance and demeanor were very "mature and alluring."
She wore a beige suit skirt, with silver-rimmed glasses, very seductive.
"Xiao Lan, pour some tea for Secretary Xu."
Gao Qi Qiang instructed.
"Okay."
Gao Qi Lan poured him tea, somewhat clumsily.
Xu Zhao picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said, "Xiao Lan, you still have feelings for that policeman."
Gao Qi Lan was somewhat embarrassed, not knowing how to respond.
Gao Qi Qiang said with a hint of frustration, "This child is just too naive. If someone does her a favor, she remembers it for a lifetime."
Xu Zhao replied, "Remembering kindness is a virtue. There aren't many girls as kind as Xiao Lan."
Gao Qi Qiang smiled and said, "Yes, that's what's so good about her."
Actually, he felt helpless inside.
Although he was also grateful to An Xin, compared to Xu Zhao, he definitely wanted Gao Qi Lan to be with Xu Zhao.
But Gao Qi Lan seemed enchanted. She wouldn't love a man like Xu Zhao, who was tall, handsome, and successful; instead, she was waiting for An Xin.
Gao Qi Qiang couldn't force her, so he could only bring her to meet Xu Zhao more often.
As they spoke, a few waitresses wearing cheongsams quickly brought out all the dishes.
They closed the door of the private room.
Gao Qi Qiang poured a glass of wine for each of them, then raised his glass and said, "Secretary Xu, I'll toast to you first. I wish you smooth sailing and fortune."
Gao Qi Lan was also very obedient. She raised her glass and said, "Secretary Xu, I wish you success and prosperity."
Then both siblings drank it down in one gulp.
After they finished, Xu Zhao said, "Getting promoted is fine, but forget about fortune."
If it were before, Xu Zhao might have wanted to grab a bit of wealth.
But after awakening the Achievement System, he only wanted to achieve success and earn rewards.
He really wasn't interested in money now.
"Look at my mouth."
Gao Qi Qiang gently tapped his own mouth, then said with a smile, "Then I wish you smooth sailing and great success, Secretary Xu."
Then he finished another glass.
Seeing him like this, Xu Zhao felt moved: "The feeling of being flattered is really quite comfortable. No wonder so many people scramble for power."
"Alright, sit down and eat. The food will get cold."
Xu Zhao said.
Then the three of them began to eat, drink, and chat.
After dinner.
Xu Zhao pondered for a moment.
Gao Qi Qiang could tell from his expression that he was going to talk about business, so he immediately sat up straight and looked at him.
He had an attitude of humbly accepting instruction.
"The new provincial party secretary of Han Dong Province, Sha Rui Jin, has taken office. New officials set fire in three ways. We haven't even seen the person yet, but the procuratorate has already taken action."
Xu Zhao said.
Gao Qi Qiang's face changed upon hearing this, knowing that hard times were coming.
Xu Zhao continued, "Sha Rui Jin wants to clean up the Han Dong officialdom. The first to be targeted are the former subordinates of the former party secretary, Zhao Li Chun. This includes you, the people under the umbrella who are engaged in shady business."
Gao Qi Qiang showed an expression of decisiveness and said, "Don't worry, I will immediately discipline my people. I promise they won't dare to act for half a year."
He thought that if they could get through this, things would be fine.
But Xu Zhao just chuckled and said, "This trick might work for others, but this time, besides Sha Rui Jin, there's also a commissioner from the capital."
Gao Qi Qiang's face turned grim, and he said, "A commissioner has been sent. So, what do you mean?"
Gao Qi Lan showed a look of worry.
Xu Zhao said, "You've done so many shady things for so many years, haven't you had enough? Do you want to live in the shadows forever?"
Gao Qi Qiang raised an eyebrow, understanding his meaning.
He didn't want to keep doing dirty work, but it was easy to get into this line of work, yet hard to quit.
There were so many brothers below him. If he quit, some wouldn't be happy and might even replace him.
"Xiao Lan, don't you want your brother to stop doing dirty work?"
Xu Zhao looked at Gao Qi Lan.
"Yes."
Gao Qi Lan nodded.
"Even if not for yourself, for Xiao Lan, for your younger brother, you should wash your hands of this."
Xu Zhao said.
Gao Qi Qiang nodded quickly and said, "You're right, I should retire from the world."
Thinking of his incompetent younger brother, Gao Qi Qiang quickly made up his mind and showed a determined expression. "Secretary Xu, since you said so, I will immediately stop all my illegal businesses."
Xu Zhao said, "Sell them all, including those businesses you got through illegal means but later legalized. Don't give anyone the chance to dig up the past."
Gao Qi Qiang said, "If I do that, I won't have any businesses left."
Most of his businesses were illegal in the beginning.
He got them through illegal means, but later legalized them.