novelhk Chapter 221 Zhao Lichun's counterattack! Help Cai Chenggong out!
Chapter 221 Zhao Lichun's counterattack! Help Cai Chenggong out!
Lu Yike looked at the pile of anonymous reports on the table with a frown on his face.
The content of these letters was detailed and seemed to hide a huge secret. She knew that they would be important clues to uncover the truth of the Cai Chenggong incident.
At the same time, Chen Yanshi made a shocking decision - he took the initiative to suspend his duties and accept investigation by the Discipline Inspection Commission.
He was fully aware that his role in this matter might have complicated consequences for the entire incident. Given his identity and status, such a decision undoubtedly required great courage.
But he also understood that this was the only way to save the situation and prove his innocence. However, his position was too high, and the matter had attracted the attention of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, and the whole situation became increasingly tense.
On the provincial and ministerial side, the top leaders also felt unprecedented pressure.
He sat in his spacious office, brow furrowed, weighing the pros and cons in his mind.
He could have mediated between Zhao Lichun and Qi Tongwei to ease the tension between them, but he chose to let it go. He did not expect that it would lead to such serious consequences today.
Now he realized he had to intervene.
The top leader called Zhao Lichun to his office and said gloomily, "Zhao Lichun, the situation at Dafeng Factory has gotten out of control. Do you know how much of an impact this has had on Handong?"
Zhao Lichun was shocked, but he pretended to be calm. "Boss, I am also paying attention to this matter, but I don't understand what it has to do with me. Dafeng Factory is Dafeng Factory. I have always been committed to the development of Handong. How can I be involved in this matter?"
The top leader slammed the table, his eyes wide open, "Zhao Lichun, are you still playing dumb here? Do you think you can hide the truth? Cai Chenggong's case is no longer a simple business issue. It involves collusion between officials and businessmen, and violations of laws and disciplines. Do you dare to say that you were not involved at all?"
Zhao Lichun was also a little angry: "Boss, you can't slander me! Just because of Cai Chenggong's accusation, you think it's me? What evidence does he have?"
The top leader was so angry that he was shaking all over. "Evidence? Humph! Do you think that everything in the officialdom is so simple? Cai Chenggong, as the boss of a company as large as Dafeng Factory, can go to the procuratorate to give false testimony. If there is no powerful force behind him, would he dare to do it? Do you think this is something he can control alone? If you want Cai Chenggong to do something, do you need to speak up yourself? Don't treat everyone as fools!"
Zhao Lichun was intimidated by the leader's momentum, but still retorted unwillingly: "Boss, you can't push the responsibility onto me based on speculation alone. I have been in Handong for so many years and I have made so many contributions to Handong. You know it well."
The top leader sneered: "Contribution? Your contribution cannot be a shield for you to break the law. Zhao Lichun, don't think you can do whatever you want just because you have someone above you. I am still the top leader, and you have to obey my orders."
Zhao Lichun was furious. He had been in the officialdom for many years and had never been accused like this. But he also understood that he could not completely fall out with the top leader at this time. He thought to himself: Although Old Wang can support me at a critical moment, it will not do me any good to openly confront the top leader now. Once the conflict between the two gets out, the entire Handong officialdom will be shaken, which will seriously affect my plan to get promoted.
So, he took a deep breath and softened his tone a little: "Boss, that's not what I meant. I just think that Qi Tongwei has made this matter too complicated. He seems to be targeting me on purpose."
The top leader looked at Zhao Lichun with a hint of disdain in his eyes: "Zhao Lichun, don't put all the blame on Qi Tongwei. This matter was originally caused by you. Is it possible for Qi Tongwei to let go now? You must make concessions, cooperate with the investigation, solve the matter properly, and reduce the negative impact on Handong."
Zhao Lichun gritted his teeth and said, "Boss, I can cooperate in dealing with Cai Chenggong's matter, but if Qi Tongwei still holds on to it, it means he is deliberately insulting and accusing me as the governor, which I cannot accept."
The leader's eyes became sharp: "Zhao Lichun, you are not qualified to negotiate terms now. Qi Tongwei is performing his duties. He is working for fairness and justice in Handong. If you have nothing to hide, you won't be afraid of his investigation."
Zhao Lichun was panicking, but he pretended to be calm on the surface: "Of course I have nothing to be afraid of, but Qi Tongwei's behavior has seriously affected my reputation. I hope you can restrain him."
The top leader stood up, walked to the window, and said with his back to Zhao Lichun, "Reputation? If you really cared about your reputation, you wouldn't have come to this point today. I will handle this matter based on the results of the investigation. You'd better cooperate well and don't make any small moves. Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude."
Zhao Lichun's face turned pale. He knew he was at a disadvantage, but he would not give up easily.
He was thinking about how to solve Cai Chenggong's problem without affecting his own interests, while also dealing with Qi Tongwei's investigation.
He was filled with resentment towards the top leader, but he could only endure it temporarily.
In the complex situation where power and interests are intertwined, Zhao Lichun quickly made arrangements to save the crisis that might be brought about by the Cai Chenggong incident.
He found Li Dakang, his eyes revealing an unquestionable majesty: "Dakang, ask Ding Yizhen to do something. Now we must cut off the improper connection between Cai Chenggong and those bosses, and then reshape a legal appearance. Let those bosses come out to guarantee Cai Chenggong and legalize his source of loans. This is the top priority."
Li Dakang knew the difficulty of this matter, but he also understood the interests involved. He nodded and said, "Governor Zhao, I understand. I will arrange for Ding Yizhen to handle it right away."
After receiving the order, Ding Yizhen took action immediately.
He booked a huge banquet hall in the most luxurious hotel in Jingzhou, where a party involving interests and conspiracies is about to take place.
As night falls, the hotel is brightly lit and luxury cars drive in one after another. They are all the bosses with huge capital in Handong.
The banquet hall was brightly lit and extremely luxurious.
Ding Yizheng stood in the middle of the banquet hall, smiling widely but with a calculating gleam in his eyes.
He looked at the bosses who came in one after another, and an inexplicable sense of pride surged in his heart.
These people are what he considers “old money” and are important pawns in his game of power.
When all the bosses arrived, Ding Yizhen raised his glass, a confident smile on his face, and said loudly: "Bosses, I have called you all here tonight. I believe everyone knows why. Everyone has heard about Cai Chenggong's story. Now we need everyone to work together to help him, and also to help ourselves."
The bosses looked at each other in bewilderment. They all knew the ins and outs of this, but driven by profit, no one raised any objections.
Ding Yizheng became even more proud when he saw this. He raised his voice: "Come on, let's toast to our common goal! Cheers!" The wine glasses collided with each other, making crisp sounds. The champagne foamed in the glasses, just like the greedy and lucky desire in their hearts.
Ding Yizhen drank one cup after another. He shuttled between the bosses, patted their shoulders, and said some seemingly intimate words: "We are all well-known figures in Handong. If this thing succeeds, everyone will benefit in the future. Qi Tongwei? Humph, he is still a little naive. Does he think he can fight us? He can't compete with the power of us old money."
The bosses all echoed the sentiment, and the banquet hall was filled with hypocritical laughter.
In their view, as long as they act according to the plans of Ding Yizhen and Zhao Lichun, they can continue to call the shots in Handong's economic field and continue to enjoy the pleasure brought by power and money.
Ding Yizheng was intoxicated in this atmosphere, and his pride continued to swell like a balloon.
He felt that he had the situation under control, and in his eyes, Qi Tongwei was just a clown who attempted to challenge his authority.
He imagined Qi Tongwei's helplessness and frustration in the face of all this, and felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction in his heart.
……
During the investigation, Lu Yike's sharp intuition like a cheetah allowed her to quickly perceive changes in the situation.
The clues that had become clearer through her painstaking investigation seemed to be ruthlessly disrupted by an invisible hand from the depths of darkness, just like a carefully painted painting that was roughly smeared, becoming blurred and complicated.
She was extremely anxious, with flames of anxiety burning in her eyes, knowing that the seriousness of the matter had far exceeded her initial expectations.
She hurried back home, her hurried footsteps seemed to be racing against time, she wanted to discuss a countermeasure with her mother.
Lu Yike's mother was also shocked when she heard about this.
In her original vision, after Chen Yanshi voluntarily accepted the investigation, Tsai Chenggong should be like an orphan who has lost his shelter and would soon be exposed under the strong pressure of justice and law.
The whole incident should have developed smoothly in a direction that was beneficial to Qi Tongwei and justice, like a ship sailing on the right course, heading towards the bright shore.
But she never expected that Ding Yizhen and Li Dakang would choose to make a desperate attempt to rescue Cai Chenggong. This was undoubtedly the most fierce attack on Qi Tongwei in this war without gunpowder.
For a moment, the mother and daughter fell into deep confusion.
Lu Yike frowned, her eyebrows like tangled vines, her eyes full of anxiety, she said anxiously: "Mom, what should we do now? Their move is too cruel, it seems that all our previous efforts will be in vain. We can't just watch them succeed!"
Her voice trembled with a hint of unwillingness, and her fists clenched unconsciously.
The mother paced back and forth in the room, her hurried footsteps echoing in the silent room, and every step seemed to be questioning this complicated situation. After thinking for a long time, the mother slowly said: "Daughter, this matter is much more complicated than we thought. If we continue to force the investigation, in this intricate situation, if we don't handle it well, once Qi Tongwei is suppressed by them, we will have a hard time to gain a foothold in the Handong officialdom. At that time, at most, we will be like Chen Yanshi, and can only spend our old age in helplessness and loneliness."
Lu Yike bit her lip, a trace of determination flashed in her eyes: "Are we just going to give up like this? I won't accept that! Qi Tongwei is fighting for justice, we can't back down at this time. I can't let these corrupt elements get away with it. What they did is a blasphemy against the law and the people."
Her eyes were filled with hatred for evil, which was as bright and hot as a torch in the darkness.
The mother sighed helplessly. She looked at her daughter's determined eyes, feeling both relieved and worried. "Daughter, I understand how you feel, but the situation is too unfavorable for us now. We can't act impulsively. I think you can suspend the investigation and hand in what you have found so far. We have to wait for a better opportunity and can't act blindly, lest we get burned."
On the other side, Ding Yizhen reported this "good news" to Li Dakang with a proud look on his face. His face was filled with excitement, and the light almost enveloped him, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.
He said excitedly: "Mayor Li, everything is going according to plan, and the bosses are very cooperative. Qi Tongwei definitely didn't expect us to do this this time, and he is still blindly investigating. It's ridiculous."
Li Dakang raised his lips slightly, revealing a satisfied smile with a hint of contempt in it: "Not bad, Ding Yizhen, you did a great job this time. Qi Tongwei is just a rookie, how can he make waves in Handong? Humph! He doesn't understand the depth of the officialdom at all, and he just rushes around with brute force, really overestimating his own abilities."
Li Dakang immediately reported to Zhao Lichun. His tone was full of confidence, and that confidence was like a solid fortress, making him feel that he had won. "Governor Zhao, we have successfully made those bosses reach an agreement, and Cai Chenggong's case has taken a turn for the better. Qi Tongwei is doomed this time. His little tricks are not worth mentioning in front of us. This time, we must let him know that there is no good end to going against us."
Zhao Lichun sat behind the luxurious throne-like desk, nodded slightly, and showed a gratified smile on his face, but the smile was a little cold: "Very good, you did a good job. Qi Tongwei, he is too young and hot-tempered. He thinks he can challenge us with his little tricks? His fighting and killing skills are just like a child's play in front of the power struggles in the officialdom. This time, we must suppress him and make sure he has no chance to turn over, so as to prevent future troubles."
Li Dakang quickly agreed, "Yes, Governor Zhao. He doesn't understand the rules of the game in officialdom at all, and he's trying to break the order we've established. He's like a fly that doesn't know the limits of the world, flying around in our tight net. This time we must let him know that he's still a little naive in Handong, and this isn't a place where he can run wild."
A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Zhao Lichun's eyes, and that gaze was like a cold blade: "Keep watching, and don't make any mistakes. We must suppress Qi Tongwei in one fell swoop and make him disappear from our sight completely. We can't let him have the opportunity to stir up trouble again."