Chapter Fifty-Three: Counterattack

  Old mother Ding Mei took a half-month sick leave at home because of Wei Gang's reason. The farm machinery factory is now in disarray, and you dare to ask for leave, but when discussing the layoff list at the factory, putting down a pile of fake slips, some people want to help you speak up, but can't open their mouths. Ding Mei has a low level of education, and she also learned accounting halfway through her life as an accountant. She cherishes this job very much in her heart, but she wants face, and can't bear a little embarrassment. Wei Gang often finds trouble with her, and in a fit of anger, she took a long leave.

  Wen Qian saw that she was really bored at home, so he came up with the idea of persuading her to go to the tofu shop to help out. Originally, it was just a way to pass the time as a volunteer laborer, but unexpectedly, Ding Mei got hooked and spent all day hiding there without going home. Wen Qian had already heard his father complain several times, and he could only sigh, even Li Shengli quietly asked him what to do about this, should they pay her salary or not?

  Today, Wen Ze first coaxed Mei, then fought a battle, and Mo Ji didn't return home until now. Ding Mei still hasn't seen anyone, and Wen Huai Ming hasn't come back either. Poor Uncle Wen had to boil a bowl of instant noodles to fill his stomach, until 8 o'clock when Ding Mei returned with great enthusiasm, as soon as she entered the door, she highly praised Li Shengli for having skills, one day's sales were equal to her monthly salary. Wen Ze smiled and said: "Why don't we open a store too? I'll invest in it for my mom, and let you be the boss?"

  A loud slap on the back of his head: "All day long, all you know is to dream, I have no skills, no experience, opening a store will only lose money? Living alone, working for the country, earning a steady income."

  He brought it up again and started scolding Wei Gang. Wen Cai had a headache, it seemed that he had to hurry up and settle the Qinghua Factory's affairs, and then get rid of Wei Gang, otherwise this family would not be able to stay here.

  After finishing dinner until almost ten o'clock, Wen Huiming had not returned yet. Ding Mei was already accustomed to the extremely unstable overtime schedule of the municipal party committee and went to sleep after entrusting a few words to Wen Can. Wen Can sat on the sofa, switching channels from time to time. Jiangdong Satellite TV was rebroadcasting local news. Provincial Party Secretary Yu Peidong had ended his Beijing trip and returned to Jiangdong. Many important people from the provincial party committee, provincial government, Guanshan municipal party committee, and municipal government went to Dongjiang Airport to welcome him back. The less-than-two-minute footage flashed by, and Wen Can furrowed her brow, deep in thought. The 14th Five Middle Plenary Session had already concluded successfully on the 28th, and Yu Peidong, as a high-ranking official, must have had many urgent matters to attend to every day. How could he stay in Beijing for over ten days?

  This is not without reason, Wen Jian had vaguely guessed something, but with his current energy, he didn't even have the qualifications to watch from the sidelines, let alone fish in troubled waters and gain some benefits. The struggle at the top can be as gentle as spring rain, but sometimes it's like a thunderbolt that shatters bones, and just watching can blind one's dog eyes!

  A towering high-rise building rises from the ground, step by step, slowly and steadily!

  When Wen Huiming returned, it was already 2 o'clock in the morning. Wen Xiang was not tired at all, his eyes were shining brightly, and he poured a cup of water on the tea table, asking: "What's wrong, what happened?"

  Wen Huamin looked exhausted, rubbing his temples with his fingers and said: "There's been a bit of a mess, everyone's been busy till now... At the beginning of the year, the city introduced a new electric company from another province, mainly engaged in high-tech businesses such as power system automation and electrical equipment, new electronic components, etc., with a registered capital of over 300 million. Yang Yihang offered very favorable conditions, and with the support of Zuo Jing who was still in office at the time, this project finally settled in Huashan District. After more than half a year of planning, land acquisition and demolition, and basic construction have been basically completed, and the new electric company can move in soon. Unexpectedly, since September, there have been frequent visits from demolition households, the city has sent people to coordinate multiple times, and Yang Yihang also stated that he would solve the problem within a month and thoroughly control the situation. Who would have thought that today afternoon something big happened again, a group of people rushed into the temporary office of the new electric company, and a fierce conflict broke out between the two sides, with many employees of the new electric company being beaten, one deputy general manager was slightly injured, and on this side..."

  "What?"

  Seven people were injured, one seriously and died...

  "There's something fishy about this!"

  "Not bad!" Wen Huaiming took a sip of water and collapsed onto the sofa. "Preliminary investigation suggests that someone was stirring up trouble and manufacturing public opinion, but this kind of thing is like grasping at air, it's impossible to catch the source. To put it bluntly, who did it isn't important, what's important is the result: Yang Yihang was dismissed on the spot by Zhou Yuanting, and Hou Chuanhai temporarily took over as acting secretary. Everyone understands that the word 'acting' will be dropped soon..."

  Yes, Dad was right. Investigating the cause is useless. Under the current situation in Qingzhou, such a confusing case can't be figured out clearly. On one hand, it's a big enterprise that can't be offended, and on the other hand, there are dead ordinary people. The city government doesn't have time to cover up everything, how could they investigate further? As long as someone is found to take the blame, and both parties are given an explanation, then overnight, Yang Yihang, a big shot in Qingzhou, became the scapegoat.

  "Zhou Yuanting has started to attack, he can't wait any longer!" Wen Qian quickly turned her brain, according to the principle of benefiting from the situation, who benefited the most, who was the most likely black hand, it was obvious that Zhou Yuanting was the first to be suspected.

  "It's still hard to say," Wen Huamin shook his head, "the person who died on the spot was purely accidental, and when he was pushed down, his head happened to hit a pile of triangular irons. It shouldn't be intentional. The most likely thing is that someone in the Huashan District wants to deal with Yang Yihang, and Yang's big head offended too many people during the Li Jing era. I don't know how many people are waiting for an opportunity to settle accounts after autumn. In my estimation, Zhou Yuanting should be taking advantage of the situation, seizing the opportunity to make trouble. I understand what you mean, but he is still the mayor of a city. Such things that obviously affect Qingzhou's investment environment and image, hurting one thousand enemies while damaging eight hundred of his own, smart people won't do."

  Wen Jian did not think so, the reason why Wen Huai Ming thought this way was that he had not yet realized the severity of the Qinghua Factory problem. Yuan Dazhu's transfer and embezzlement of state-owned assets were enormous, and Fang Ming Tang and Zhou Yuanting might both be implicated, which is why Zhou Yuanting would go all out to fight with Xu Fuyan and push for the bankruptcy of Qinghua Factory. By doing so, on the one hand, it could let Fan Heng'an grasp the last straw, and on the other hand, it was to wipe clean everyone's backsides together.

  Therefore, the struggle for Qinghua Factory is just an important chip for Xu Fuyan to control Qingzhou, but for Zhou Yuanting, it may be a matter of life and death.

  As long as he understands this, let alone self-inflicted wounds of eight hundred, even if it's a bone-deep injury, he won't mind. Especially since Wen Huiming wrote that article, what seemed like a farce has become a series of momentum-building and borrowing power, and Secretary Xu Fuyan has miraculously begun to gain traction. In the officialdom, if you don't advance, you'll retreat; now that he's stabilized, Zhou Yuanting will naturally waver, and with one wobble, he might just fall.

  So he counterattacked, extremely fierce and sharp, directly taking the hardest bone in Qingzhou officialdom - Yang Dabaitou from Huashan District, and then swallowed him cleanly with one bite.

  This is both a demonstration of his absolute control over Qingzhou and an attack, aiming to besiege Xu Fuyuan to death from the outside.

  "Wen Ze suddenly asked: "Dad, what did Xu Fuyan say about Ji Zheng's matter?" Last night when Wen Ze came back, he roughly told Wen Huaiming about Ji Zheng's matter and let him test the waters with Xu first."

  Xu Fuyan hesitated a bit, he didn't quite trust Zuo Yuxi. Ah, you little scamp was so vague last night, I forgot to ask, how do you know this Qingzhou flower?

  Wen Qian smiled and said, "Dad, I didn't know you knew about Qingzhou's flower too. Be careful or I'll tell mom." Wen Huai Ming rarely joked with Wen Qian, so when he said this, they both froze for a moment. "Mmm, as a father, sometimes using fists to communicate with my son is more effective."

  They stared at each other for a moment, then burst out laughing. The deep affection between father and son, thicker than water, filled their hearts in silence. On the journey of life, with such mutual support, there is nothing to fear!

  Wen Ze stood up and said in a low voice: "Dad, you arrange it. Tomorrow I must go see Xu Fuyan."

  Wen Huaiming was taken aback: "You?"

  "And there's Yuexi!"

  Wen Huiming furrowed his brow, raised his head and looked at his son, saying: "Is Ji Zheng really that important?" He understood that his son wanted to play matchmaker between Zuo Yuxi and Xu Fuyan, but could a single Ji Zheng create trust between the two?

  "Dad, there are some things I didn't make clear to you, but it's okay. After meeting Xu Fuyan tomorrow, you'll understand the importance of this person. Everyone's future is at stake in this one move!"

  (Kneeling down and begging for collection and recommendation, I'm so touched that tears are streaming down my face!)