Yao Zheng imdiately frowned upon hearing this, but he did not let his doubts show on his face. "The person coming down from the municipal committee is no ordinary figure, don't underestimate them." Yao Zheng tapped his fingers lightly on the table, producing a rhythmic tapping sound. "Before we move on to the next question, let ask, do any of you know who the person coming down is?"
"I was present at the Beigong corpse case, a Dragon Soul mber, very impressive." Ji Weihua's ntion of this person made him gnash his teeth with hatred.
"Hua, I've dealt with him. He seems like a young kid, but he is deep beyond understanding and speaks harshly." Shen Yixing might have had the most direct interactions with Hua Qingyi, being the only person aside from Yao Zheng to have been alone with him. After coming out from the slums, Yao Zheng did not summon Shen Yixing for inquiry about the subsequent situation, not because he forgot, but because he was waiting for Shen Yixing to report directly. This was his self-assud action, but in fact, such a possibility was almost zero.
Yao Zheng raised his eyes, making contact with Shen Yixing. It was hard to discern each other's emotions from their distance. Among those Yao Zheng had promoted, Shen Yixing was the hardest to control. His personality depended on his future prospects, but his straightforwardness could offend people around him. If he had to pick soone trustworthy among them without any interests involved, Shen Yixing would be one of his choices.
"The others probably haven't t this Hua yet!" Yao Zheng suppressed his mood. "Let inform you, the person coming down is from the Hua family, possibly the future successor. Do not take this lightly."
"District Chief Yao, you wouldn't an the Hua Qingyi who was once pushed out by Dragon Soul, would you!" Ji Weihua couldn't help but ask. This person had stirred a lot of trouble within Dragon Soul.
"Correct, it's him!"
"It's better that he's not part of Dragon Soul."
"He was awarded for thwarting a terrorist attack involving the Murong Clan and returned extraordinarily to Dragon Soul, holding the power over life and death. If you don't want to end up like Han Fei, you should know what to do and what to say."
With a bang, the tightly closed door was pushed open, and Yan Juanjuan appeared in the doorway in a flamboyant outfit, while Secretary Li was still trying to stop her but dared not get too close to her.
"What? Now you don't even inform about etings?" Yan Juanjuan's heels were about ten centiters high, creating a hard stone floor feeling despite walking on the carpet. She swaggered in toward Yao Zheng, and Secretary Li quietly retreated to guard the door upon Yao Zheng's hint, leaving others awkwardly disrupted by Yan Juanjuan's sudden appearance, unsure whether to stay or leave.
"Why are you here?" Yao Zheng sat in his chair, awaiting Yan Juanjuan's approach.
"Am I not allowed to co?" she said as she unceremoniously sat in the first spot on Yao Zheng's right hand side. "Or are you planning to exclude ?"
"Now is not the ti for your antics. We are discussing how to deal with the person coming down from the municipal committee." Yan Juanjuan's petty nature was well-known, and everyone was used to it; situations like interrupting etings had happened more than once or twice.
"Do you think by pushing each other around here you can figure out a solution?" Yan Juanjuan threw her bag on the table, casting a superior glance over at the other five people.
"Yan Juanjuan, watch your language."
With a sudden movent, the chair screeched back crashing into the chair beside it. Yan Juanjuan stood up arrogantly, circled behind Yao Zheng, and headed first to the tax bureau chief Xie Tianfang. "You and others here are being watched, don't think you can just relax. Consider your villas, your children, and all your mistresses—could your pockets have filled without , Yan Juanjuan?"
Yan Juanjuan pointed at Yu Shuang, resting a hand on Xie Tianfang's shoulder. "Beigong was burned down; do you think this could turn all secrets to ashes?" Yan Juanjuan sneered twice, her resentful gaze bore into Yao Zheng as if she could devour him.
"And Qi Sheng, we are old friends, aren't we? What you did during Beigong's establishnt was not less than Han Fei. As for you, Shen Yixing, let think... when the land was allocated, weren't you the backstage manipulator? That innocent one wronged on your behalf died at Ji Weihua's hands, so you sit here, putting on airs, holding etings, what a joke!"
Yan Juanjuan's speech addressed every person present by na. "Let ask District Chief Yao, where is the tax revenue taken from Beigong? My Ah i got arrested thus far, and Director Ji is the one handling such matters. When investigating soone, where do you start, and how do you intend to handle my Ah i?" She aid her last question at Yao Zheng, and Ji Weihua gave him a glance, coughing twice.
"Normally, investigation starts with the company's finances." Ji Weihua's answer coincidentally targeted the two people opposite him. "If Yan Fengying is smart, her old financial manager should ensure everything is seamless, so it would be quite difficult to uncover anything."
"Oh! Director Ji really has the nerve to speak." Yan Juanjuan suddenly turned to Ji Weihua. "Where did the bodies in Beigong's ditch co from? You finished the deed and left, tossing the tail to soone else. Aren't you embarrassed to speak cynically here?"
"President Yan, your words seem a bit unreasonable!" Ji Weihua raised his eyebrows. This woman really knows how to take advantage of a situation; he's usually courteous because of Yao Zheng, but now she's nothing more than a lamb to the slaughter. Yao Zheng's decision to sacrifice Yan Fengying was just the beginning.
Yao Zheng observed the situation silently. His silence didn't an he was condoning the behavior; it was just that words could easily lead to mistakes. He was watching, not just one person, but the overall scenario.
"Did the deaths arise because of us?" Ji Weihua grew bolder seeing Yao Zheng remain silent. "You went over every one of us here, which I find quite amusing actually."
Ji Weihua stood up, scrutinizing Yan Juanjuan from the sa perspective. "Your land was originally intended for municipal construction. Who demanded it be redeveloped into a comrcial building? Who manipulated the land auction? Who feared being implicated in the recent investigation from the higher-ups? Moreover, was it us who requested the funding for the forced demolitions? Was it our company that seized the operational rights from suppliers? Let tell you this much: the officials that just arrived from above are already focusing on your Hengfei Mansion; Lao Shen should know this best. As for your North Palace, why bla your sister for being so arrogant? Originally, the problem could have been solved, but her collusion with the enemy hardened their stance. It wasn't your sister forcing them to reveal themselves, yet we still can't find a trace of evidence. President Yan, instead of pointing fingers here, it might be better to teach your sister the lesson of keeping her mouth shut for survival."
"Ha!" Yan Juanjuan's fury rose upon hearing this, realizing that the bla was now on her shoulders. "My sister has been taken away. Tell what you're going to do!"
"What kind of answer do you want?"
"Save or not save."
"How would we save her?"
"Of course, by getting her out." Yan Juanjuan glared at Ji Weihua. Yan Fengying was her own sister. Initially handing the North Palace to her, she thought it would be a way for her sister to make money. Although she wasn't aware of their actual dealings, she still wanted to get her out, just in case. She didn't know much, but it didn't an she knew nothing.
"President Yan, you say get her out just like that? We're out of options. The local police in the north district aren't under our control now; they belong to other people."
"So you an we'll just leave her be?"
"That decision isn't up to ," Ji Weihua turned to Yao Zheng, seeking direction.
"Enough, what do you guys think you're doing?" Yao Zheng casually interjected. "The person won't be saved. When you see your sister, tell her to keep her mouth shut, and then she might still have a chance to survive. When the verdict is delivered, I'll think of a way for her to spend a year inside and then get out, so the North Palace remains hers."
"You're asking my sister to take the fall?" Yan Juanjuan heard Yao Zheng's implication, asking her to take all the responsibility onto herself.
"What's wrong with that? It's better than us going in," Yao Zheng stared at Yan Juanjuan. This was a win-win solution. Bringing in one or two others to bear the responsibility for the remaining cases could give Hua Qingyi a satisfactory explanation.
"No, impossible!" Yan Juanjuan refused without hesitation. "Yao Zheng, don't expect to sacrifice my sister to protect you and your people." With that, Yan Juanjuan grabbed her bag and stord out of the eting room without looking back.
"You all heard that. Since she's unwilling to cooperate, then we have to treat everyone equally," Yao Zheng chuckled lightly. "Director Ji, see if we have any effective materials to assist Hua's office in handling their cases. If there are, deliver them personally. You'll be dealing with them a lot in the future, and it's beneficial to build a rapport."
"Understood, I'll prepare the materials and send them over,"
"Minister Shen, did Hua's office request to find those forcibly relocated residents? If there's information, fax it or deliver it personally."
"Yes, but it's not confird yet."
"Then confirm it and send it over. Since the municipal officials are handling the case, our northern district naturally has to cooperate. Yu Shuang, you'll be working hard these days to prepare the financial status, taxes, and other relevant materials for the past few years. Be ready for their visit anyti. Arrange this task with Xie Tianfang, and report any developnts to promptly." (To be continued. If you enjoyed this work, you're welco to visit Qi Dian (qidian) to vote for recomndation tickets, monthly tickets—your support is my greatest motivation.)
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