42: Chapter 42 The Affairs of Qili Village

Director Li Zhongmin pointed to the scar on the bridge of his nose and said, "This scar was left three years ago."

"That night, I took my men to Qili Village to catch human traffickers, but we were blocked halfway there."

"There were dozens of them, armed with machetes and iron bars. They beat me unconscious on the side of the road."

"When I woke up, the people were gone, and my car had been smashed."

"I filed a report, investigated for half a year, but got no results."

"Later, someone told me that the people who beat me were under General Manager Wan Baolai because that trafficker had business dealings with him."

Xu Weidong fell silent. He had already conducted some investigations.

This General Manager Wan Baolai was the general manager of Sihai Mining and an honored guest of Secretary Hu Dakui and Township Head Ge Jiefang. He had heard this name many times in the last ten days.

"Director Li, you came to see me today and told me all this—what do you want me to do?"

Director Li Zhongmin looked at him, his gaze complex.

"I don't know what you can do."

Director Li Zhongmin continued, "But I have to take a gamble."

"Betting that you have a big background, betting that you have people behind you, betting that you can accomplish things I couldn't."

"What if I win the bet?"

"What if those women and children could suffer a little less?"

Director Li Zhongmin stood up and said, "Secretary Xu, whether you investigate what I've said today or not, I, Li Zhongmin, have accepted it."

"If you trust me, just give me your orders in the future."

"If you don't trust me, then just pretend you never saw me today. I'll still be that spineless police station director, doing whatever I'm supposed to do."

Having said this, he turned to leave.

"Director Li."

Xu Weidong called out to him, and Director Li Zhongmin turned back.

Xu Weidong stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the gray sky outside.

After a long silence, he finally spoke: "How many times have you been to Qili Village?"

"Over a dozen times."

"Is there any way to get me in to take a look?"

Director Li Zhongmin was stunned for a moment, then shook his head. "No."

"That place is extremely xenophobic. If a stranger goes in, they'll be recognized at a glance."

"You are the new Deputy Secretary in the township; your target is too big."

"Someone would report your arrival before you even entered the village."

Xu Weidong turned around and looked at him. "Then what do you suggest?"

Director Li Zhongmin thought for a moment and said, "To investigate Qili Village, we must first deal with General Manager Wan Baolai."

"If we stabilize things on General Manager Wan Baolai's end, the traffickers will lose their backing."

"Without their backing, the traffickers won't dare to be so rampant."

"It will be much easier to enter the village then."

"Deal with General Manager Wan Baolai?"

Xu Weidong sneered, "He is the general manager of Sihai Mining, a major taxpayer in the county, and an honored guest of Secretary Hu Dakui and Township Head Ge Jiefang."

"I'm just a Deputy Secretary, and I'm not in charge of political and legal affairs. What can I use to move against him?"

Director Li Zhongmin looked at him without speaking.

Xu Weidong walked back to his desk, picked up the coal production statistical report he had read countless times, flipped to the last page, and pointed at the numbers on it. "The production output here doesn't match the tax revenue."

"Do you know how much the difference is?"

Director Li Zhongmin shook his head.

"It's off by nearly one-third."

"That means for every three tons of coal mined, one ton isn't taxed."

"Where did the tax for that one ton of coal go?"

"Whose pocket did the money go into?"

"As long as we can clearly investigate these accounts, General Manager Wan Baolai's trouble won't be small."

Director Li Zhongmin's eyes brightened. "Can you investigate it?"

Xu Weidong was silent for a moment and said, "I can't right now, but I will sooner or later."

Xu Weidong put down the report and looked at Director Li Zhongmin. "Director Li, I have remembered what you said to me today."

"You said you wanted to take a gamble, so I'll tell you."

"I accept this bet."

"But not right now."

"I'm still too weak right now; if I make a move, it's easy for people to find out in advance."

"You have to wait—wait for me to gain a firm foothold, wait for me to figure out the ropes here, and wait for me to find an opening to strike."

Director Li Zhongmin nodded. "I understand."

Xu Weidong suddenly became serious. "Also, today's matter is only known to you and me."

"After you go back, just go about your business. Report to whoever you need to report to, and deal with General Manager Wan Baolai as you should."

"Don't let anyone see any flaws."

Director Li Zhongmin hesitated. "Then how will I report to you in the future?"

Xu Weidong thought for a moment and said, "You don't need to contact me."

"After all, I'm not in charge of political and legal affairs. If you come too frequently, it will only easily arouse suspicion."

Director Li Zhongmin looked at him and suddenly felt that this twenty-four-year-old young man was more composed than he had imagined.

"Alright."

"I look forward to your guidance in the future, Secretary Xu."

Xu Weidong smiled maturely. "Ideological development work cannot be relaxed for a moment. If you encounter any problems in this regard in the future, you can come to me at any time."

Director Li Zhongmin turned and left, gently closing the door behind him.

Xu Weidong stood at the window, watching Director Li Zhongmin's figure disappear at the entrance of The Government Compound.

After a long while, he picked up the phone and dialed a number.

"Uncle Sun, it's me, Weidong."

On the other end of the line, the voice of Minister Sun Ping, the Executive Deputy Minister of the Municipal Party Committee Organization Department, came through: "Weidong? Why are you calling at this hour? Is something wrong?"

Xu Weidong was silent for a moment, then said, "Uncle Sun, I'd like to know a bit about the director of the Hukuang Township Police Station, Li Zhongmin. What kind of person is he?"

Minister Sun Ping was also silent for a few seconds on the other end, then said, "Li Zhongmin?"

"Is he at the deputy section level?"

Xu Weidong shook his head. "He's the director of our local police station; he's been doing it for about six years now."

"He's been at Hukuang for six years? Hold on, let me check."

The sound of flipping papers came through the phone. A moment later, Minister Sun Ping's voice sounded again: "This person... how should I put it? His professional ability is fine, and his reputation is decent."

"Three years ago, he was beaten by someone and almost lost his life. The case still hasn't been solved."

"Do you know who beat him?"

"I don't know about that."

"I heard it had something to do with matters at the mine."

Minister Sun Ping paused and said, "Weidong, why are you asking about this?"

Xu Weidong chuckled lightly. "Nothing much, just wanted to get some information."

"Uncle Sun, sorry to trouble you."

"Why are you being so polite with me?"

"But Weidong, that place, Hukuang, the waters run very deep."

"You just got there, don't be in a rush; take it slow."

"If you need anything, call me at any time."

"Alright, thanks, Uncle Sun."

After hanging up the phone, Xu Weidong stood at the window, watching the sky outside grow darker and darker.

Qili Village!

Human traffickers!

Abducted women!

Sold little girls!

Xu Weidong thought of his mother, thought of that gentle-as-water woman, and thought of the overflowing love in her eyes when she held him.

As for those sold little girls, where were their mothers?

Were they in pain? Did they miss their mothers?

Xu Weidong closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

When he opened his eyes again, his gaze had changed.

Outside the window, the snow finally began to fall.

Large snowflakes silently covered this poor and dark township.

But there was some darkness that the snow could not cover.