Chapter 69

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The sky was bright, and by eight o'clock, the sun had risen from the east.

Zhao Zhiqiang, who was sitting outside, and Zhao Guangming, who was inside, had been talking for about ten minutes. Finally, Zhao Guangming decided to come out.

"Will turning myself in really reduce my punishment?" Zhao Guangming poked his head out.

He looked like a little demon emerging from hell.

"Uncle Guangming, aren't you cold in there?" Zhu Zhijun couldn't understand how Zhao Guangming had survived the freezing winter in the diamond cave.

"There's geothermal heat inside, so it's not freezing. Zhiqiang, are you just trying to trick me? And can I keep some of the money?"

Zhao Zhiqiang took the box he handed out and shook his head, "Uncle, do you want the money or your life?"

After a long time, Zhao Guangming, covered in black coal dust, crawled out of the cave, "Zhiqiang, I want my life."

On the cliff, Wu Bing took a deep breath and, seeing the blackened Zhao Guangming, widened his eyes in disbelief!

"Damn, isn't that Director Zhao Guangming?"

"Amazing, he was hiding here all along! No wonder they couldn't find him at the airport, train station, or any other checkpoints! Now the village's problems will be solved!" Tang Gun shouted.

"Zhiqiang is really a lucky guy. Meeting Mr. Gu, it seems the sponsorship is on track. This trip not only caught the corrupt village chief but also did a great deed!"

"Heh, I'm determined to follow Zhiqiang!" Tang Gun's rough voice had to be shouted.

The wind was too strong, but fortunately, the wind at the bottom of the cliff was not. Soon, the four of them worked together to lift Zhao Guangming, who had been hiding for ten days, up.

"Zhiqiang, thank you!" Zhao Guangming relaxed as soon as he was back on the ground.

He couldn't hold on any longer and his head drooped.

He fell asleep...

No matter how much Zhu Zhijun slapped him, he wouldn't wake up.

Wu Bing and Tang Gun, holding two large suitcases, were both extremely nervous and excited.

They also found it hard to believe that this guy, instead of running far away, had hidden in a cave where even birds wouldn't defecate. It was truly baffling.

They took turns carrying him down the hill and to the Pu Sang car parked at the resort.

"What should we do?" Wu Bing, excited and nervous, was happy to have caught the suspect but didn't know how to handle him, so he had to listen to Zhao Zhiqiang.

"Turn him over to the authorities." Zhao Zhiqiang thought it was the safest way.

"Zhiqiang, you're really something!"

"Yes, this is too lucky."

Wu Bing was puzzled, "It's really strange. Why didn't Zhao Guangming run far away and hide in this cave, preparing to live like a primitive man for the rest of his life?"

When Zhao Zhiqiang came out, he had already figured it out. There was a beach here that could be used to go out to sea. "He probably thought someone would come to pick him up and he could leave by sea, but he didn't expect the weather to be so cold that the Bohai Sea froze over!"

"Really, this guy is so cunning. These two large suitcases of money, how much of the people's wealth has he embezzled!"

Tang Gun slapped the corrupt village chief's face a couple of times.

"It's clear he hasn't slept for five or six days. If he stays there any longer, he'll go insane. Let's take him directly to the district party secretary. No one else is reliable."

Zhao Zhiqiang thought for a moment. He could only trust Gu Meiyun, as Li Yuan was at a meeting.

...

The fourth day of the lunar New Year.

Gu Meiyun had already started work. She had just visited a few poor areas in the district and returned to her office to study the development of the southern new district when Zhao Zhiqiang's call came.

It was him?

Gu Meiyun, of course, knew it was Zhao Zhiqiang, as she had bought this number for her father and given it to him in front of Old Li.

Pressing the answer button, "Hello?" She didn't call him "Teacher Zhao" or "Comrade Zhao," unsure of how to address him. Subconsciously, he was still a village chief, a subordinate, so calling him "Little Zhao" was also fine.

"Secretary Gu, I have a situation to report. Where are you? I'll come to you."

Zhao Zhiqiang didn't think much about it. The bond with the elder was a joyful friendship, and he didn't want to pretend in front of this beautiful secretary.

"What's so urgent? I'm a bit busy here." Gu Meiyun felt that Zhao Zhiqiang was too forceful, giving her no room to maneuver. "Find me? What am I, a regular civil servant? Even regular staff are on holiday. Even if there's nothing, say there is, and don't come."

"Oh—It's like this, I and a few fellow villagers caught Zhao Guangming."

Zhao Zhiqiang spoke straightforwardly without beating around the bush.

"Ah! Really—That's great! Where are you? I'll send someone to pick you up right away!"

Gu Meiyun's eyes lit up with joy.

"No need, he's in my car. Just tell me where you are, and I'll bring him to you!"

"Come to the south gate of the district party and government offices. I'll have someone meet you at the gate."

Gu Meiyun hung up the phone and then called Deputy District Chief He Dacheng, Discipline Secretary He Caiyun, and Public Security Bureau Chief Ren Tianhe.

"Great, catching Zhao Guangming means the previous conflicts in Chang'an Village have a specific person to address. Some difficult issues can now be resolved, and most importantly, the conflicts caused by embezzlement can be calmed."

Not long after, about twenty minutes later.

Zhao Zhiqiang and the other three, carrying Zhao Guangming and two large suitcases, walked into the newly built district party and government office building.

Secretary Wang, who was leading the way, asked curiously, "Why are you carrying this person?"

"He's been sleep-deprived for days, with deep dark circles. He's asleep and can't wake up!"

Tang Gun explained while struggling with the suitcases.

Entering Gu Meiyun's office, He Dacheng, Ren Tianhe, Ping Suyun, and two police officers were already there.

After confirming Zhao Guangming's identity, they handcuffed him. No matter how they called him, he remained unconscious.

Opening the two large suitcases, Zhao Zhiqiang was also shocked.

The presence of RMB was not surprising, but the guy had also prepared Korean won, North Korean won, and US dollars.

"Wow, does this guy plan to travel the world?"

He Dacheng shook his head.

"I've never seen such a corrupt village official. I'm impressed."

"Yes, even North Korean won, this guy is really cunning." Discipline Secretary Ping Suyun marveled.

"Comrade Zhiqiang, where did you catch him?"

Zhao Zhiqiang briefly described the location and process, and everyone present was amazed.

However, they realized that if the ice hadn't frozen, this guy could have easily boarded a boat and escaped, making the capture much more difficult.

"You've done a great deed. The district will certainly give you a special commendation!"

Gu Meiyun smiled and said a few words to Wu Bing and the others, who were overjoyed to be received by so many high-ranking officials and were somewhat at a loss.

Zhao Guangming was taken away by the people from the Discipline Commission.

Gu Meiyun kept Zhao Zhiqiang and He Dacheng.

"Yesterday, Mayor Chen called me and District Chief Pang. He emphasized that the pilot project in Chang'an Village must be carried out according to national law and the current land management methods. After we design the plan, we need to report it to the city for approval. Regarding the land issue, there is one point that cannot be changed: the land of two streets has been approved by the State Council and has been converted from collective to state-owned. The remaining 8 square kilometers are still collective land of Chang'an Village. Now, with the new situation in the new rural construction pilot project, District Chief He, what do you think?"

Glancing at Zhao Zhiqiang, Gu Meiyun pushed a newly returned document and said.

"This land has been approved?" He Dacheng was surprised. "Wasn't it said that it couldn't be approved?"

"This document is genuine. It just arrived at the Development and Reform Office and was sent to me."

Gu Meiyun's beautiful forehead looked very appealing.

Zhao Zhiqiang couldn't help but take a second look.

Little wolf. Gu Meiyun noticed he was sneaking a peek and felt a bit smug.

He Dacheng thought for a moment, his brows furrowed. "Then what's the point of the pilot project? Now that the land is state-owned, we should follow the state bidding procedures. What priority or self-construction rights do they have?"

"Not exactly. The 8 square kilometers on Longbei Slope haven't been approved. The socialist new rural construction of Chang'an Village still takes the lead."

"How did it end up like this? It's really complicated." He was confused.

"Teacher Zhao, what do you think?" Gu Meiyun's beautiful eyes turned to Zhao Zhiqiang, who was standing and listening. This arrangement made her feel superior and comfortable.

"Me? What can I think? We'll follow whatever the government decides." Zhao Zhiqiang smiled, a very formal smile.

Zhao Zhiqiang was also surprised.

The document didn't mention that the land had been converted to state-owned. It seemed that someone had been working hard these past few days.

However, this didn't significantly impact his plan to control the Spirit Spring.

"Ha, that's fine, Teacher Zhao. Please inform the streets and the village about this new land use policy, especially regarding the election of the village chief and the new rural pilot project. Make the necessary adjustments in advance to avoid affecting the progress of the new district development and the new rural construction pilot project. Thank you for your efforts." Gu Meiyun smiled politely.

Leaving her office, Zhao Zhiqiang pondered as he walked.

"It seems that the city and district governments have already seen the two streets as a cash cow. Since the land is now state-owned, the new rural construction plan will not include this area, and all residents of the two streets will be compensated and resettled by the government. In other words, the most valuable part has been taken by the government first!"

However, Zhao Zhiqiang wasn't concerned about this.

This new change seemed to have some benefits for him.

Although he lost 2 square kilometers of flat land, the two streets accounted for half of the village's population. If they were excluded, it would actually reduce the burden on his new rural construction plan. He just needed to adjust the residential construction area. The Spirit Spring, I must have it. The prerequisite is that I must become the village chief.

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