"Brother, do you know where Zhou Kai's parents moved to?" Li Ying asked, trying hard to remain calm.
"How would I know? I've never heard of them having any distant business relatives. But it might be true. After all, I'm an outsider. How would I know?" The old man shook his head.
Hearing that, Li Ying's eyes flashed with disappointment. This meant that he couldn't find Zhou Kai's family.
"Does Zhou Kai have any sisters?" Li Ying asked again.
"Yes, his parents had four children. Three of them were girls. Zhou Kai was the only boy. He was still hoping to carry on the family line. Now that he was in prison and sentenced to life imprisonment, it was over."
Li Ying wasn't in the mood to listen to the old man's nagging. Hearing that Zhou Kai had three sisters, Li Ying hurriedly asked, "Brother, do you know where his three sisters married?
I know where they married, but I don't know which family they married to. One of them went to the county to work in her early years. She also married there, but I don't know where her home is. The other one … "
The old man spoke with fervor and assurance, but in the end, he couldn't say the actual address. Hearing that, Li Ying was full of disappointment.
By the time they left the old man's house, it was already half an hour later. Li Ying had asked all the questions he could about Zhou Kai's family. In the end, besides knowing where Zhou Kai's parents had moved to, he didn't know where Zhou Kai's three sisters had married. Fortunately, the old man knew their names. Li Ying noted down the names of Zhou Kai's parents and sisters. Through the investigation of the public security bureau, they might be able to find out.
Brother Zhao, after hearing so much, what do you think? After getting in the car, Li Ying sat quietly and turned to ask Zhao Zhengqi.
"Sigh, it's quite bizarre." Zhao Zhengqi sighed. He didn't dare to think further. If there was really something suspicious, then wouldn't Zhou Kai's accident and Li Yanpei's death be a meticulous plot and frame-up? Zhao Zhengqi really didn't dare to think about it anymore. The person behind the scenes dared to do such a thing. Zhao Zhengqi was terrified just thinking about it. Moreover, it was absolutely impossible for someone without a background to do such a flawless thing. Zhao Zhengqi was a little afraid in his heart. If his conjecture was true, then he might accidentally be involved in a big conspiracy. A small character like him would undoubtedly be crushed to pieces.
Zhao Zhengqi suddenly blamed himself for being too talkative the night before yesterday. Why did he tell Li Ying about drinking with his friend? Originally, he had only said it purely for Li Ying to hear. Even if that friend and the other prison guard who had come into contact with Zhou Kai had been transferred out of the North City Prison, Zhao Zhengqi didn't think much of it. He felt that it was just a normal transfer between the same system. Since Li Ying had her suspicions, Zhao Zhengqi also wanted to help Li Ying investigate. It didn't matter. He felt that there couldn't really be any mastermind behind the scenes, so he didn't feel afraid. But now, the things he heard were really abnormal, and Zhao Zhengqi also began to feel afraid.
Li Ying didn't notice Zhao Zhengqi's expression and continued to speak. Brother Zhao, I think we can find the whereabouts of Zhou Kai's family through the public security. What do you think? After all, if we look for them ourselves, it's like looking for a needle in a haystack. It's relatively easy for the public security to find a person.
Don't, Li Ying. Zhao Zhengqi shook his head fiercely.
Brother Zhao, what's wrong? Li Ying asked curiously when she saw Zhao Zhengqi's reaction.
Li Ying, don't you think this isn't good? What if, and I'm saying what if, there really is a conspiracy? Do you think the mastermind behind the scenes will notice that you're swaggering through the public security to find the whereabouts of Zhou Kai's family? Do you think you can fight them all by yourself? That will only put you in danger. Zhao Zhengqi looked at Li Ying. In his words, he only mentioned Li Ying and not himself. This more or less revealed his thoughts. Zhao Zhengqi didn't dare to blindly get involved. He was a man with a family. If there really was a conspiracy, he couldn't afford to get involved.
Li Ying listened to Zhao Zhengqi's words and was stunned for a while. Staring at Zhao Zhengqi, Li Ying suddenly understood. She was indeed a little wishful thinking. Zhao Zhengqi had said that there was nothing suspicious about this matter, so he was willing to help enthusiastically. But now, there really was something strange. Zhao Zhengqi had already started to retreat. Li Ying didn't blame Zhao Zhengqi. Zhao Zhengqi had a family. It wasn't worth it for him to take any risks for an unrelated matter.
"Brother Zhao is right. Let's go back first." Li Ying smiled indifferently and started the car.
On the way back to Mount Wang, Li Ying and Zhao Zhengqi were silent. Zhao Zhengqi didn't take the initiative to speak, and Li Ying didn't say much either. Everything seemed to be tacit. Zhao Zhengqi felt a little guilty, but he had to think for himself and his family. This kind of thing was really not something a small person like him could get involved in.
It was already past lunchtime. Both of them forgot that they hadn't eaten lunch yet. Their stomachs were growling with hunger.
When they returned to the city, it was already two or three o 'clock in the afternoon. When they were near the intersection of the Justice Bureau, Zhao Zhengqi smiled and said, "Li Ying, I'll get off here."
"Okay." Li Ying nodded.
After getting off the car, Zhao Zhengqi finally waved to Li Ying and walked back to the unit.
Li Ying sat in the car in a daze, watching Zhao Zhengqi leave. It was impossible for Li Ying not to be disappointed, but she couldn't blame Zhao Zhengqi. People were animals that sought benefits and avoided harm. Zhao Zhengqi was an outsider. Why would he take risks for her? He had to think for himself and his family.
After an unknown amount of time, Li Ying hesitated. She held her phone and hesitated whether she should call Huang Jianghua. Last night, Huang Jianghua had left her his phone number. Li Ying didn't know how trustworthy Huang Jianghua's words were, but right now, it seemed that she had no one to turn to. Li Ying listened to Zhao Zhengqi's reminder. She couldn't rashly ask the Public Security Bureau to investigate the whereabouts of Zhou Kai's family.
After thinking for two or three minutes, Li Ying still called.
Secretary Huang, can I ask you out? Li Ying said as soon as the phone was connected.
You are? Huang Jianghua on the other end of the phone didn't save Li Ying's number, so he couldn't recognize the other party's voice.
I'm Li Ying, the one who looked for Secretary Chen last night.
Oh, it's Secretary Li's daughter.
Well, is Secretary Huang free now?
I'm afraid not now. I can't leave Secretary Chen's side. I'll only be free in the evening. What's wrong? Can't you tell me over the phone?
I might not be able to explain it clearly on the phone. It's better to talk face to face. Since Secretary Huang is free in the evening, let's make an appointment at night. I'll call Secretary Huang at night. Li Ying raised her hand to check the time. It was getting late. It was almost three o 'clock.
In Chen Xing's office, Huang Jianghua hung up Li Ying's call and walked in. Although Li Ying only asked him out in private, Huang Jianghua felt it necessary to report to Chen Xing.
Secretary, Li Yanpei's daughter asked me out tonight. I'm wondering if she wants to talk about her father again. Huang Jianghua looked at Chen Xing, who was flipping through some documents.
Since she asked you out in private, you should go and listen to what she has to say. Chen Xing said with a smile.
I think so too. Huang Jianghua nodded with a smile.
After saying goodbye to Chen Xing, Huang Jianghua saw that Chen Xing had no other orders, so Huang Jianghua turned and walked out.
In the corridor outside Chen Xing's office, Mayor Li Kaishan came up the stairs. The Wangshan Municipal Party Committee was composed of three office buildings. Chen Xing worked in an independent two-story office building. Chen Xing worked on the second floor, and the Municipal Party Committee's office was downstairs.
Wei Sida's office was by the stairs. When Li Kaishan came up, Wei Sida, who had just walked out of the office and stretched, saw him. Seeing Li Kaishan, Wei Sida was stunned and immediately smiled. Mayor Li, are you here to see Secretary Chen?
Yes. Li Kaishan glanced at him and nodded calmly.
Then I'll inform you. Wei Sida said with a smile.
Li Kaishan responded softly. Looking at Wei Sida, who was running errands enthusiastically, Li Kaishan's eyes flashed with sharpness.
Hearing that Li Kaishan had come, Chen Xing immediately put down his work, got up with a smile, and went out to greet him. Mayor Li is here. Please come in.
Secretary Chen was too polite. Li Kaishan walked in quickly with a smile.
Chen Xing invited Li Kaishan to sit down enthusiastically and glanced at Wei Sida. Wei Sida seemed to understand and turned to pour water for Li Kaishan.
Mayor Li, please have some water. Wei Sida brought the water to Li Kaishan and then stood aside. He had no intention of leaving.
Li Kaishan turned to look at Wei Sida calmly, smiled, and said nothing.
Chief Wei, you go ahead with your work. There's nothing else here. Chen Xing looked up at Wei Sida.
Okay, Secretary Chen, if you have any instructions, just call me. Wei Sida nodded and walked out calmly.
Li Kaishan looked at Chen Xing in surprise. He didn't say anything or show anything. He didn't expect Chen Xing to be so observant.
Wei Sida went out. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, he didn't close the office door. Li Kaishan glanced at it and didn't intend to close the door.
There were only two people left in the office. Li Kaishan stood up, walked to the window, and looked out. The location of Chen Xing's office was very good. Although it was only on the second floor, the view was very wide. There were no obstacles in front of him. There were buildings of different heights as far as the eye could see.
With his hand on the window, Li Kaishan looked a little disappointed. Secretary Chen came to Wangshan. What does he think of Wangshan?
Today is my third day here, so I don't have much of an opinion. Chen Xing smiled, stood up, and walked to the window. Looking at the clear blue sky of Wangshan City, Chen Xing couldn't help but smile. What impressed him the most when he first arrived was that the air in Wangshan City was much better than that in Nanzhou. It made people feel refreshed.
I heard that Secretary Chen has made great efforts to rectify the polluting industry in Nanzhou. He has also made a lot of efforts to promote the industrial structure and upgrade. Li Kaishan was still looking into the distance. In the past two days, he had done enough homework on Chen Xing. He had spent a lot of effort to understand what Chen Xing had said and done in Nanzhou.
It could not be said that he had put in a lot of effort. Many things had just started and had not been carried out yet. Now that he had been transferred to the Mountain Gaze, what he had done before was likely to become useless. Chen Xing smiled and glanced at Li Kaishan. He thought to himself that Li Kaishan had put in a lot of effort into him.
Li Kaishan listened to Chen Xing's words and nodded in agreement. A new mayor was a new policy. After Chen Xing was transferred, the new mayor might not necessarily agree with what Chen Xing had done before. It was not impossible to stop Chen Xing's previous policies. However, the new mayor of Nanzhou City had not been elected yet. It was still unknown who would take over Chen Xing's position.
What does Secretary Chen think of Wangshan? Li Kaishan asked with a smile.
Good mountains and good water. Chen Xing smiled slightly.
Wangshan City was worthy of this evaluation. Wangshan City's economic ranking was last in the province, but its air and environmental indicators were well-deserved to be ranked first in the province. Li Kaishan shook his head with a smile, but this was also ironic. Good air and good environment, on the other hand, meant no development, which could be interpreted as backwardness.
Mayor Li, I don't agree with what you just said. Chen Xing smiled and refuted Li Kaishan's words. Look at the developed countries in the West. Can their air and environment be said to be bad? Their air and environment are better than most of our places, and their economy is also more developed than ours. This shows that Mayor Li's view is not tenable.
That's true. Since Secretary Chen said so, I can't refute it. Li Kaishan nodded seriously and then said, "Secretary Chen, to tell you the truth, when I first heard that the province was going to transfer Secretary Chen here, I was a little disappointed. I was wondering why the province didn't let me, the mayor who was more familiar with the situation in Wangshan, succeed as the secretary. But after thinking about it carefully, the province's consideration was not wrong. My ability is limited, and I am old. If the province let me be the secretary, Wangshan will be the same as it was before. I can't bring many new changes to Wangshan City."
Li Kaishan paused for a moment. "On the other hand, Secretary Chen, you are in the prime of your life. You are hot-blooded and energetic. If you come to Wangshan, you will not only bring a new atmosphere to Wangshan, but you may also develop Wangshan and bring more benefits to the people of Wangshan City. I can't compare with you."
Li Kaishan said very calmly. Although what he said now was hidden, it came from the bottom of his heart. If Chen Xing came to Wangshan, he could rely on his rich high-level connections to help Wangshan fight for more funds and policies as much as possible. Moreover, Chen Xing's work experience in Nanzhou, the provincial capital, and Haicheng, which could be regarded as a coastal developed city, made it possible for Chen Xing to bring a group of enterprises from Nanzhou or Jianghai Province to invest in Wangshan. This was something that even a local cadre like him could not do. Step by step, he grew up in a government unit and reached the position of mayor today. His work scope had never left Wangshan. Compared with Chen Xing, he did not have a high-level background or enterprise resources.
There was a huge gap between them. Moreover, after a short period of disappointment, Li Kaishan was vaguely glad that he had not become the Secretary. Thinking of people like Zhang Lixing, Li Kaishan sighed. If he had really become the Secretary, perhaps it would have been even worse for Wangshan.
The atmosphere was a little silent. Chen Xing obviously hadn't expected Li Kaishan to suddenly say such words from the bottom of his heart. Although he didn't know how much of what Li Kaishan said was true, Chen Xing was really surprised that Li Kaishan would say this.
After hearing Mayor Li's words, I almost didn't know what to say. After a while, Chen Xing said with a smile.
Secretary Chen, I'm telling the truth. Li Kaishan looked at Chen Xing and smiled. He had been secretly scrutinizing Chen Xing.
Chen Xing smiled but didn't deny it. Whether Li Kaishan's words were true or not, only he himself knew. Looking at Li Kaishan, Chen Xing still didn't know why he had come to see him.
Secretary Chen, I'm here to talk to you about financial matters. Li Kaishan sighed. It was already October, and the end of the year would be in two months. The city's financial gap was very big, and the salaries paid to the public institutions at the end of the year were almost unable to be paid. If they didn't start to think of a way now, they would really be at a loss during the Spring Festival.
So serious? Chen Xing's face also became serious. They couldn't even pay their salaries. Even when he had worked in Ximen County, which was considered a poor county in Hai City, it hadn't been so serious.
Alas, didn't the city give priority to the construction of several large projects, and the financial funds were all inclined to these projects? Li Kaishan shook his head helplessly. Therefore, the city's financial situation, which was already strapped for cash, was even worse.
In the end, the economic development was too backward. Our own economy couldn't develop, and it was not a solution to keep relying on the higher-ups. Chen Xing looked serious.
I agree with this point, but our results in attracting investment this year aren't very good. To put it bluntly, most big companies look down on Wangshan. As for small companies, if you ask them to come over to build a factory, they make a lot of requests. They want this and that, and they want us to spend money to invite them over. You don't know how difficult it is to serve them. Li Kaishan smiled bitterly. As the mayor, he had a deep understanding of this.
Chen Xing listened to Li Kaishan's words and also fell into deep thought. Now the top priority of Wangshan City was to seek development, and attracting investment was the top priority.
I think we can organize a promotion meeting in Nanzhou to attract more enterprises from Nanzhou to invest in Wangshan. Chen Xing pondered for a moment and said.
I agree with this, but it's not that we haven't held a promotion meeting in Nanzhou before, and the effect was not very good. Li Kaishan shook his head and smiled. When he saw Chen Xing, he suddenly patted his forehead. What a bad memory I have! In the blink of an eye, I forgot that Secretary Chen came from Nanzhou. If this promotion meeting was led by Secretary Chen, the effect would definitely be different.
Mayor Li didn't need to flatter him. Whether the effect was good or not depended on the result. He couldn't say anything now. Chen Xing smiled faintly. Before things were done, Chen Xing didn't like to boast. Talk less and do more. This was also his mantra as an official.
In the Municipal Government, while Chen Xing and Li Kaishan were still chatting, in the office of Executive Deputy Mayor Zhang Lixing, the director of the office, Liang Jing, looked at Zhang Lixing, who was still in the mood to talk and laugh. Liang Jing was a little puzzled. "Mayor Zhang, aren't you afraid that Mayor Li will go to Secretary Chen and say something that shouldn't be said?"
What could he say? Zhang Lixing glanced at Liang Jing and smiled. "Can I say that you, the director of the office, have a messy relationship with me?"
"No way." Liang Jing spat and blushed slightly. How could Li Kaishan be so bored as to gossip? As far as she knew about Li Kaishan, Li Kaishan was not interested in this kind of nonsense at all.
"Director Liang, tell me, what do you think of my calligraphy?" Zhang Lixing put down the brush in his hand with a smile. When he had nothing to do in the office, he took the brush and drew a few strokes, which was one of his joys.
"Mayor Zhang, don't ask me to praise you. Everyone knows that your calligraphy is beautiful. But you haven't written a calligraphy work for me that you promised me." Liang Jing looked coquettish. Zhang Lixing's calligraphy was indeed very good, and he was also the president of the Municipal Calligraphy Association. Liang Jing didn't know how to compare and appreciate with those so-called masters, but at least she would appreciate whether it was beautiful or not. God knew how many people in the city lined up to ask for Zhang Lixing's calligraphy. Of course, many of them were flattering him, but it was true that Zhang Lixing's calligraphy was beautiful.
"Isn't it ready-made in front of you? Take it back, frame it, and then hang it." Zhang Lixing laughed and said.
"I don't want it. You just wrote two lines of poetry casually. I want you to write a serious one for me." Liang Jing curled her lips and looked at the two lines of poetry written by Zhang Lixing. "Looking from the side, it becomes a ridge, and looking from the side, it becomes a peak. Far and near, high and low are different." Just now, Zhang Lixing used these two lines of poetry to make fun of her.
"I wrote these two lines of poetry seriously, and I wrote it especially for you." Zhang Lixing said with a smirk.
"Mayor Zhang, can't you be serious?" Liang Jing glanced at Zhang Lixing with her small eyes. "Aren't you afraid that Mayor Zhang will say something to Chen Xing?"
"If he really wants to say something, do you think he will swagger to Chen Xing's office and let everyone know?" "Therefore, he will go to Chen Xing at most to talk about some business." Zhang Lixing smiled.
Hearing this, Liang Jing also thought about it. Zhang Lixing's words were not unreasonable, but Zhang Lixing didn't seem worried at all. Liang Jing had to admire Zhang Lixing. Even if he had something on Li Kaishan, did Zhang Lixing really think that he could control Li Kaishan firmly? She had been the office director for more than a year. The closer she was to Li Kaishan, the more she felt that he was too shrewd.
…
Not long after Zhao Zhengqi returned to the Bureau of Justice, he suddenly remembered that he hadn't had lunch yet. He ate a big bowl of beef noodles in a snack bar next to the bureau, and then went back to the unit with his round belly. He thought to himself that Zhang Lixing was indeed an iron rice bowl. Just now, he was so hungry that his legs were weak. He didn't know why he didn't have lunch with Li Ying at noon. Maybe he was scared by Li Ying's father and even forgot about his hunger.
Thinking of Li Ying, Zhao Zhengqi shook his head helplessly. It was not that he was not loyal enough and flinched at the critical moment, but that he really couldn't afford to get involved in that kind of thing. He still had a wife and a child. If the other party really dared to do something to the Secretary of the Commission for Discipline Inspection, he was just a small staff member of the Bureau of Justice. They could kill him at any time. It was not that Zhao Zhengqi was not loyal, but he couldn't.
Back at the bureau, Zhao Zhengqi was about to walk back to his office, but was stopped by the office director, Jia Yunwu. "Xiao Zhao, I was looking for you.
Director Jia, what can I do for you? " When Zhao Zhengqi saw it was Jia Yunwu, he quickly bowed and went up to him.
"I have something to tell you. The bureau wants to transfer you to the Ditch County Branch. Go back and prepare. Go to Ditch County tomorrow. This is the transfer order." As Jia Yunwu spoke, he stuffed a piece of paper into Zhao Zhengqi's hands.
"No … no, Director Jia, why would the bureau suddenly want to transfer me to Ditch County?" Zhao Zhengqi was dumbfounded and quickly caught up with Jia Yunwu.
"I'm not sure about this. You should be the only one who knows." Jia Yunwu glanced at Zhao Zhengqi. Looking at this pitiful young man, Jia Yunwu shook his head and reached out to pat Zhao Zhengqi's shoulder. "Young man, take care."
"Director Jia, I didn't do anything wrong." Zhao Zhengqi said anxiously.
"I didn't say that you did anything wrong. Xiao Zhao, don't talk nonsense." Jia Yunwu glared at him.
"Then why did the bureau want to transfer me to Ditch County?" Zhao Zhengqi was about to cry. His home was in the city. Ditch County was nearly a three-hour drive from the city. It was the furthest county in Wangshan City. That was not a place he could go. If he went to work there, it would be inconvenient for him to go home. Moreover, the place was so poor that the treatment and welfare could not be compared to that of the Municipal Bureau.
"The bureau wants to transfer you to the Ditch County Bureau of Justice to train you. This shows that the bureau values you. In the future, they might train you as a key cadre. You should work hard and have a bright future." Jia Yunwu smiled and turned to leave.
"Director Jia, can I ask the bureau not to train me? I don't ask to be trained as a key cadre." Zhao Zhengqi looked like he was about to cry.
"Xiao Zhao, how could you say that? Why is your awareness so low?" Jia Yunwu's face darkened. "You have to report to the Ditch County Branch tomorrow. This is the instruction of the bureau leader. If you don't report on time …"
Before Jia Yunwu finished speaking, he laughed softly. In Zhao Zhengqi's eyes, that smile made his hair stand.
"Xiao Zhao, remember to report to Ditch County on time tomorrow." Jia Yunwu took one last look at Zhao Zhengqi, turned around, and left while humming a tune.
Zhao Zhengqi stood dumbly on the spot, looking at the transfer order in his hand. His face was full of bitterness. He was trained. He was now a deputy chief section member. Even if he was transferred to the Ditch County Branch, he would still be a deputy chief section member. He was not given any leadership position. Was this training for a three-year-old?
What should he do in the future? With the transfer order in hand, Zhao Zhengqi walked to the department in a daze. He did not know when he could be transferred back. His wife was still in the city. Ditch County was so far away from the city. He could only come back once a week. Compared to his comfortable life now, the sudden change obviously caught him unprepared and he could not adapt to it.
"Who did I offend? Why am I in such a bad situation for no reason?" Zhao Zhengqi cursed in his heart. He was full of unwillingness, but he knew that he could not fight back. Jia Yunwu's smile just now made Zhao Zhengqi feel afraid. If he did not report on time tomorrow, it would probably be even worse. It was equivalent to telling him that he had to leave this afternoon and that he should get lost immediately.
"I've always been a good person in the unit. I've never offended anyone. I'm also the most popular. Why did such a bad thing happen to me? Who did I offend?" Zhao Zhengqi thought angrily.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
