156: Buddha

Village Committee Office.

Chen Hai looked at the woman in front of him, feeling both amazed and a bit of a headache.

Old Kong's daughter really was quite beautiful.

No wonder people were so convinced by the rumors of her having had a romance with Town Head Qi.

What gave him a headache was that the Kong Ying before him seemed to have come looking for Chen Qiu.

Old Kong was about to end up in a cell, and his daughter was coming to find Chen Qiu now. In Chen Hai's view, wasn't she just here to cause a scene and look for trouble?

It was only because he had been secretly keeping an eye on Chen Qiu's house lately; otherwise, Kong Ying really would have made it inside.

"Niece Kong, this matter has nothing to do with Chen Qiu. Why put yourself through this?"

Kong Ying also felt somewhat helpless.

"Uncle Chen, I'm not here to cause trouble."

"I know, but Chen Qiu isn't at home."

Kong Ying could tell that Chen Hai didn't believe a word she said.

"I've already contacted Mr. Chen. He said he'd be over right away."

A look of suspicion appeared in Chen Hai's eyes.

A few minutes later.

Chen Qiu hadn't arrived yet, but several familiar official cars pulled up first.

Then, a few familiar figures stepped out.

Former Town Head Qi Wang, Police Station Director Sun Yi, and Town Discipline Inspection Secretary Ren Ping.

Seeing this lineup, Chen Hai's heart skipped a beat, and he hurried to greet them.

"Director Qi!"

"Director Sun!"

"Secretary Ren!"

"Did you comrades come for something specific?"

Chen Hai asked, a bit startled.

These were all core figures of the town!

Moreover, with Qi Wang present, and considering the rumors he'd heard yesterday, Chen Hai's gaze immediately shifted to Kong Ying, and he subconsciously moved two steps away.

However, to Chen Hai's relief, Qi Wang looked at Kong Ying with a calm expression.

"Miss Kong, why are you here?"

"I'm here to handle some private business."

Hearing this, a thoughtful glint flashed in Qi Wang's eyes.

In fact, they had already questioned Kong Ying early this morning.

Kong Ying was very busy with work and hadn't been involved at all in her father and brother's 'riding on coattails' scheme.

In fact, spending all day at the hospital, she didn't even know her father and brother were swindling people using the claim that she was his ex-girlfriend.

After fully understanding Kong Ying's current situation, Qi Wang actually felt quite sympathetic toward her.

With her hard work and education, she should have had a better future, yet she was being dragged back into the mud by her family.

"Comrade Chen Hai, we're here today to find out what Kong Zhengde did in the village yesterday."

"And exactly what grievance he has with your village's Chen Qiu!"

Director Sun of the police station inquired.

Initially, not just Qi Wang, but everyone else was quite puzzled.

How could a small character like Kong Zhengde, using Qi Wang's name to swindle people, manage to cause such a stir that it reached the Municipal Committee?

Thus, after an all-night investigation, Qi Wang's group had finally figured out the sequence of events.

They hadn't known before, but the investigation gave them a shock!

This Nankeng Village had a young man named Chen Qiu who was actually the President of the Cultural Industry Group?!

And he had been parachuted in just half a month ago!

He was on close terms with Director Wang of the Culture and Tourism Bureau and Minister An of the Propaganda Department!

Yesterday was Chen Qiu's housewarming celebration, and this Kong Zhengde, claiming Chen Qiu owed him several thousand yuan, went there to cause trouble.

As a result, he bumped into the secretary from the Municipal Committee Office, which led to this ordeal for Qi Wang.

This had thoroughly shocked the town's leadership team!

This was the President of the Cultural Industry Group!

They had such a big Buddha right in their jurisdiction, and they hadn't known a thing about it until now?

So, the three of them had rushed over to find Chen Hai and clear up the details!

Hearing this, Chen Hai immediately recounted everything that happened after he encountered Kong Zhengde yesterday, down to the smallest detail.

"Is that all?"

Director Sun raised an eyebrow.

What Chen Hai said was no different from what Kong Zhengde had confessed.

He and Secretary Ren turned to look at Qi Wang.

Thinking of the scene where Kong Zhengde was shouting Qi Wang's name in front of the Municipal Committee secretary, the two looked at Qi Wang with eyes full of sympathy.

Qi Wang's mouth also twitched.

For him, this was a complete disaster out of nowhere.

At this moment, Kong Ying, standing to the side, was a bit dumbfounded.

"My dad said Chen Qiu owed him several thousand yuan?"

The others suddenly snapped their heads toward her.

"Kong Zhengde didn't tell the truth?"

Kong Ying shook her head with a stiff expression.

Then, she told them about the blind date with Chen Qiu.

Qi Wang and the others looked at each other in bewilderment.

They were completely stunned!

This Kong Zhengde was too bizarre!

"How did Little Lin and the others interrogate him? They missed all the key information!"

Director Sun snorted, his face showing his embarrassment.

Chen Hai slapped his thigh.

"I knew it! How could a big boss like Chen Qiu possibly owe him several thousand yuan!"

Qi Wang frowned as he looked at Kong Ying.

"Why didn't you say this at the station just now?"

"You didn't ask."

Qi Wang was suddenly speechless.

The questions they asked Kong Ying this morning were mostly to confirm if she was involved in the misuse of Qi Wang's name.

Even Chen Qiu's specific identity and connections had only just been sorted out.

"Comrade Chen Hai, I wonder where Comrade Chen Qiu lives? Is he home?"

At this point, Secretary Ren spoke up.

Even putting the Kong Zhengde matter aside, now that they knew Nankeng Village had a President of the Cultural Industry Group, they absolutely had to pay him a visit!

Not just them—later on, the Town Head and the Town Party Secretary would have to come as well!

This was a big figure who was friends with Director Wang and Minister An, and who held such a massive cake as the Cultural Industry Park in his hands!

They didn't dare dream of having the Cultural Industry Park in their town.

But such a person must have many projects and resources in his hands!

If they could cooperate with the town, it would be a brilliant political achievement!

"Chen Qiu's house is just up ahead, but he doesn't seem to be home right now..."

Before Chen Hai could finish, his eyes suddenly narrowed.

An elegant Audi slowly pulled up at the entrance to the village committee road.

He recognized this car; it was Chen Qiu's million-yuan Audi!

In the whole village—maybe even the whole town—there was only this one!

"Chen Qiu, Chen Qiu is back..."

Chen Hai exclaimed.

Qi Wang and the others turned around, their eyes landing on the Audi.

When they saw the tall, handsome young man step out of the car, a glint flashed in all their eyes.

What a fine young talent!

Chen Qiu glanced at the crowd, his gaze lingering on Kong Ying for a moment, and then he greeted Chen Hai, who was coming forward.

"Uncle Hai."

Chen Hai was somewhat overwhelmed by the favor and incredibly excited.

He even felt that after that 'Uncle Hai,' the way Qi Wang and the others looked at him had changed.

Chen Hai immediately straightened his back.

Was this what it felt like for a sect to produce a Saint?

It felt absolutely amazing!

"Come, Chen Qiu, let me introduce you."

"This is Director Sun of the town police station."

"This is our town's former Town Head, now Director Qi of the Xin County Bureau of Finance."

Chen Qiu's gaze lingered on Qi Wang for an extra second.

So this was the Town Head Qi that Kong Zhengde was so obsessed with!

Chen Qiu shook hands with them.

The three of them didn't dare be the least bit negligent!

Setting aside Chen Qiu's close ties with Director Wang and Minister An...

Just his status as the President of the Cultural Industry Group and the Chief Planner of the Cultural Industry Park was not something they, as mere section-level officials, could look down upon.

After the pleasantries, Chen Qiu looked at Kong Ying.

In the message Kong Ying had sent him earlier, she had told him the whole story.

"Kong Ying, are you alright?"

"How could I not be alright?"

Kong Ying looked at Chen Qiu and chuckled with a sense of relief.

Seeing this, the others were startled.

Didn't Kong Zhengde go to harass Chen Qiu over just a few thousand yuan?

Why did the tone of their conversation make it seem like they were on quite good terms?!

If Kong Ying asked Chen Qiu for help to get Kong Zhengde out... wouldn't they have worked for nothing?

And for Qi Wang, wouldn't that further confirm the rumors?

Qi Wang's eyes narrowed, and his expression became somewhat heavy.

However, Kong Ying's next words left them all stunned.

"You have no idea. After I heard the news today, I specifically set off a string of firecrackers!"

Seeing Kong Ying beaming as if she had encountered some great stroke of luck, the others' expressions stiffened.

The relationships in this family were truly peculiar!

Chen Qiu chuckled and shook his head.

He could sense the lightness in Kong Ying, as if she had broken free from a cage.

Compared to their last blind date, she was more like the lively persona she had when chatting with him on WeChat.

"It is indeed worth being happy about. You've essentially gotten your life back."

Hearing this, a tremor of emotion rose in Kong Ying's heart.

She immediately knew what Chen Qiu was referring to: her previous question to him about whether killing someone could be settled... It seemed like a joke known only to the two of them.

But in Kong Ying's mind, that was a reality she had almost acted upon in that suffocating cage!

Kong Ying looked at the man before her, feeling somewhat moved.

"Still, I have to apologize to you."

"I'm sorry for causing you trouble!"

Kong Ying bowed deeply and formally to Chen Qiu.

"You probably came for more than just an apology, right?"

Chen Qiu raised an eyebrow and asked.

Kong Ying straightened up and slowly nodded.