Qi Tongwei: Can I be young again?

Chapter Sixty-One: Li Dakang's Frugal Search

When money was mentioned, Li Dakang once again pretended to be stupid, picked up his briefcase, and said he was going out to inspect.

But Qi Tongwei stopped him.

"Secretary Dakang, what do you mean by this? Buying land for Secretary Zhao is your private matter, and the money should be paid by you personally. Now that I've covered the cost, why are you running away? Pay me back!"

"Keep your voice down, keep your voice down." Li Dakang seemed very guilty. After hesitating for a moment, he took out his purse from his pocket and took out all the money inside. "Here you go, here you go, all of it is for you."

Qi Tongwei counted, then frowned again. "Secretary Dakang, can't you count? This only adds up to 965 yuan, you're still short 2034 yuan."

"I owe it."

"Get out!" Qi Tongwei was furious. "Li Dakang, are you trying to play the rogue with me? I don't want the money anymore. I'm going to find the old Party Secretary right now, and you can forget about that piece of land."

"No, no, no." Li Dakang strategically backed down. "Tongwei, we're all on the same side. I'm a little short on cash right now. Can you lend me the rest of the money first? I'll pay you back when I get my salary! Besides, as a high-ranking official, how could I possibly shortchange you two thousand yuan? It would be so embarrassing if word got out."

"You think it's shameful? Then pay me back!"

"Tongwei, look at you, you're getting anxious again. I told you, it's not that I don't want to pay you back, it's just that I really don't have any money on me right now, my pockets are emptier than my face."

"Secretary Dakang, you're a county party secretary, and your salary isn't low, so where's your money?"

"Sigh." Li Dakang sighed, "Don't even mention it, it's all gone to your sister-in-law's investment."

"Ouyang Qing?"

"Call me sister-in-law, don't be disrespectful." Li Dakang promised, "Tongwei, don't worry, I'll pay you back as soon as my salary comes in."

"Write an IOU."

"It's only two thousand yuan, and you want me, a county party secretary, to write an IOU? That's going too far!"

"Are you going to fight or not?"

"Look at you, getting impatient again. I didn't say I wouldn't hit you." With that, Li Dakang wrote down the IOU, pressed his fingerprint, and that was the end of it.

After carefully putting away the IOU, Qi Tongwei's impression of Li Dakang worsened even further.

As the top official in Jinshan County, he can't even get 3000 yuan, yet he's always thinking about currying favor with his superiors and trying to get something for nothing... Ugh, that's just unbelievable.

On the other hand, this also reflects that Li Dakang is relatively honest and at least cherishes his reputation.

First, when doing things for Zhao Lichun, he paid for it himself and dared not try to take advantage of public funds. Otherwise, given his status, it wouldn't have been difficult for him to get that piece of land.

Secondly, the fact that he buys on credit shows that he hasn't become corrupt; otherwise, he wouldn't have written an IOU for 2000 yuan.

Thinking about it that way, Li Dakang isn't so bad.

At least much better than some people.

Just as Qi Tongwei came out of Li Dakang's office, he spotted Wang Hua smoking by the flower bed.

I went up and kicked him.

"Young man, your habit of sneaking around smoking is not good. Give me one, quick."

Qi Tongwei felt something was off as he lit a cigarette.

"Wang Hua, why does your cigarette smell better than mine, even though it's the same brand?"

Wang Hua snorted coldly, "I find your cigarettes smell better than my own!"

"From now on, we'll take turns smoking. You smoke mine, and I'll smoke yours. We'll spend the same amount of money and enjoy double the happiness."

"What's there to be happy about!" Wang Hua jumped up. "Forget about smoking, I'll be starving in two days."

"What's the matter?"

"I'm broke." Wang Hua exhaled a smoke ring. "I bought the house, but I don't have a penny left. I still owe you 10,000 yuan. With my current salary of 450 yuan, it would take me two years to pay it back even if I didn't eat or drink. I still have to get married and have children... County Chief Qi, I estimate it will take at least five years to pay back that 10,000 yuan."

"I thought it was something serious!" Qi Tongwei patted him on the shoulder. "Young man, it's okay to be under a little pressure now. You'll thank me when the property appreciates in value later."

"Let me lend you some good words."

Suddenly, he remembered something. "Oh, right, County Chief Qi, County Chief Fang Jue just called and said he wants to talk to you privately."

"Fang Jue?" Qi Tongwei was taken aback. "Wasn't he in the hospital because of food poisoning?"

"I've been discharged from the hospital and am recuperating at home. I said I wanted to see you."

“Alright.” Qi Tongwei glanced at his watch. “You drive, and we’ll buy some fruit later. We’ll go to County Chief Fang’s house tonight.”

"okay."

December.

The days are short and the nights are long.

After getting off work, Qi Tongwei bought fruit and a carton of milk, and then, with Wang Hua, headed straight to County Magistrate Fang Jue's house.

Both are county heads, but Fang Jue is one rank higher than Qi Tongwei, belonging to the level of a full-fledged division chief.

A low rank does not necessarily mean low real power.

Fang Jue is about to retire and has always had a "live and let live" attitude. Especially after Li Dakang took office as the county party secretary, he has been completely marginalized.

Qi Tongwei is different.

He is young, resilient, has faith, and is driven. Most importantly... Li Dakang dares not sideline him.

In terms of influence, they far surpass Fang Jue.

"You must be Qi Tongwei? It's a pleasure to meet you!" Upon their first meeting, Fang Jue grasped Qi Tongwei's hand, his weathered eyes unusually brightening.

"County Chief Fang, you're not feeling well, so you shouldn't get out of bed so early."

"Hey, I'm not that weak." Fang Jue brewed two cups of tea, handing one to Qi Tongwei first, and then to Wang Hua.

"Thank you." Qi Tongwei took a small sip. "It's good tea, and it's from Chunxi Village!"

"You can tell the difference by drinking it?"

“County Chief Fang, to be honest, my hometown is Chunxi Village, so I am very familiar with this tea.”

"No wonder." Fang Jue smiled, then lowered his voice and said, "County Chief Qi, I have a question, but I don't know if I should ask it?"

After saying that, he glanced at Wang Hua beside him.

Qi Tongwei understood immediately, handed Wang Hua a cigarette, and told him to go outside to smoke so as not to choke the patient.

After Wang Hua left, Qi Tongwei said, "County Chief Fang, now that there are no outsiders here, you can speak frankly."

"Alright." Fang Jue took a deep breath and asked, "County Chief Qi, did you come here on a mission?"

task?

Qi Tongwei was stunned for a moment.

If there is a mission, it is to develop Jinshan County and make it prosperous.

Another task is to supervise Li Dakang.

That wasn't really a task; it was just Secretary Chen's suggestion. If Li Dakang was conscientious and dedicated to serving the people, there was nothing to supervise him about.

Seeing Qi Tongwei deep in thought, Fang Jue spoke again.

“You’re also from Jinshan County, so you should know the situation here. To put it bluntly, it’s poor, and it’s been poor for many years! It’s only since Secretary Dakang came that things have improved.” But then he changed the subject, “However, every advantage has its disadvantages. Secretary Dakang is undoubtedly capable! However, he is also stubborn and self-willed, doesn’t listen to others’ opinions, is obstinate, and values ​​achievements too much. This is precisely what will harm Jinshan County.”

Qi Tongwei understood now.

So, Fang Jue thinks he's a member of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and is about to file a complaint against Li Dakang.

"Tell me, how was he so stubborn and self-willed? And how did he harm Jinshan County?"

"Sigh." Fang Jue closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "To be honest, my food poisoning this time was no accident. I was being targeted."

Chapter Sixty-Two: Runtaihua Paper Mill

Fang Jue's words surprised Qi Tongwei.

Food poisoning is not accidental; would someone dare to poison the county magistrate?

That's ridiculous!

Seeing that Qi Tongwei did not believe her, Fang Jue spoke again: "I know my own body. Even though I am almost sixty, I have always exercised and paid attention to health. Even the food I eat is grown at home. Food poisoning is impossible."

"So, what does County Magistrate Fang mean? Who poisoned him?"

"Zhao Ruihu!"

Qi Tongwei was taken aback. "Who is Zhao Ruihu? I've never heard of him. Is he from our government?"

"Of course you haven't heard of him. He's the owner of Runtaihua Paper Mill, the nephew of Zhao Lichun, the Standing Committee Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Executive Vice Governor, and the richest man in Jinshan County today."

Upon hearing this, Qi Tongwei understood.

Zhao Ruilong and Zhao Ruihu are family!

“County Chief Fang, you can’t say such things without evidence. If it gets back to Secretary Zhao, things will get complicated.”

“Ah, I’m old, I’ll be retiring soon, I’m not afraid of them!” Fang Jue straightened his back. “But if I don’t stand up now and move Runtaihua Paper Mill away, then I’ll be the real sinner.”

Could you be more specific?

"it is good."