53: Chapter 53 Persuasion

At 5:00 PM, Minister Ma Fuqiang's motorcade departed from Hukuang Township.

The "inspection" lasted less than an hour. Minister Ma Fuqiang walked around, asked the cadres a few questions, visited a few impoverished households, and then left amidst cheers welcoming him to return.

Nothing happened, but Secretary Hu Dakui knew this was just the calm before the storm.

After sending off the provincial leaders, Secretary Wan Xiaohan did not rush to get into his car.

He stood at the entrance of the Township Government, watching the sun gradually sinking in the west. Suddenly, he turned around and said to Xu Weidong beside him, "Comrade Weidong, walk with me."

Xu Weidong was slightly taken aback, then nodded, "Alright, Secretary Wan."

The two walked east along the dirt road in front of the Township Government, followed by a few attendants who kept a respectful distance.

Secretary Wan Xiaohan walked very slowly, as if taking a stroll, or perhaps contemplating something.

After walking about two hundred meters, he suddenly spoke, "Weidong, I want to talk to you about the matter of Qili Village."

Xu Weidong did not speak, simply slowing his pace to show he was listening.

"This criminal den must be taken down."

Secretary Wan Xiaohan said firmly, "No matter who is involved, no matter how great the resistance, this time it must be completely eradicated."

Xu Weidong nodded and replied respectfully, "Secretary Wan is wise."

"The grassroots masses have suffered deeply and have long awaited this day."

He wore a polite smile, and his tone revealed nothing unusual.

But in his heart, he silently kept a tally.

Three months ago, he had led Director Li Zhongmin into Qili Village, only to be stopped by a phone call from Secretary Xu Qing.

What was Secretary Wan Xiaohan doing then?

Secretary Wan Xiaohan had patted his chest, promising that the Municipal Party Committee supported him, yet turned around and tacitly allowed Secretary Xu Qing to apply pressure.

Secretary Wan Xiaohan had communicated with Secretary Lin Juncai, but did not say a word for him at the Standing Committee meeting.

Secretary Wan Xiaohan knew he was being suppressed but chose silence.

And being petty was a hereditary trait of the Xu Family... Xu Weidong recalled what his father had said.

"In officialdom, you can choose not to hold a grudge, but you must not forget. Remembering isn't for the sake of revenge, but to ensure you aren't used as a pawn in the future."

Of course, the Xu Family also had a hereditary knack for saying what people wanted to hear.

At this moment, Secretary Wan Xiaohan was still the Secretary of the Lüjiang City Municipal Party Committee.

The respect due to him could not be spared one bit.

The diplomatic pleasantries could not be missed.

Secretary Wan Xiaohan sighed and said with a hint of emotion, "Weidong, I know you have a knot in your heart regarding the matter of Qili Village last time."

Xu Weidong quickly said, "Secretary Wan, you are overstating it."

"Grassroots work is complex, and some matters require comprehensive consideration. I understand."

"Your understanding is because you don't hold a grudge."

Secretary Wan Xiaohan shook his head, "But I cannot play dumb."

"Since we've brought it up today, I will lay my cards on the table with you."

He stopped walking, looking at the rolling mountains in the distance, his voice lowering.

"At the beginning, I really didn't know how deep the waters of Qili Village ran."

Xu Weidong looked at him, saying nothing.

"I thought it was just a den for human trafficking. Poor mountains and treacherous rivers breed unruly people—this kind of thing is common in rural areas across the country."

Secretary Wan Xiaohan continued, "My plan was to have the City Public Security Bureau cooperate with you all, rescue the people, arrest the traffickers, and consider the matter finished."

"But I didn't expect..."

Secretary Wan Xiaohan paused, turned to look at Xu Weidong, his gaze complex. "It wasn't until the son of the Deputy Secretary came to me that I realized the matter of Qili Village wasn't that simple."

Xu Weidong's heart stirred. The Deputy Secretary was the former Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary.

"He came to see you?"

"Not me, it was Secretary Xu Qing."

Secretary Wan Xiaohan continued, "But Secretary Xu Qing reported it to me."

"Zhang Di sent a message saying that regarding Qili Village, he hoped we wouldn't investigate too deeply."

"The reason, as you know, was that his father was still the Secretary of the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission at the time."

Xu Weidong was silent for a few seconds, then asked, "Secretary Wan, what exactly is hidden in Qili Village? Enough to make the son of the Deputy Secretary come forward personally?"

Secretary Wan Xiaohan looked at him, a trace of complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

"Weidong, Qili Village is not just a den for human trafficking."

"There is an industrial chain there, an industrial chain that cannot see the light of day."

Xu Weidong's heart rate accelerated, "What kind of industrial chain?"

Secretary Wan Xiaohan was silent for a long time, so long that Xu Weidong thought he wouldn't answer.

Then, he heard Secretary Wan Xiaohan's voice, as calm as if he were discussing an ordinary matter.

"Surrogacy."

Xu Weidong was stunned.

He had imagined many possibilities: drug trafficking, smuggling, money laundering, even organ trafficking.

But he hadn't expected this...

"Surrogacy?"

He repeated it, his voice somewhat dry.

Secretary Wan Xiaohan nodded, "Those abducted women—some are sold to local bachelors as wives, while others... the young and beautiful ones—are sent to a secret location specifically for surrogacy."

"Qili Village is just a transit point; the real bulk of the operation is behind it."

In Xu Weidong's mind flashed the face of that crazy woman, the three tied-up girls in the pigsty, and the village head's parting words about there being many pretty girls.

He suddenly understood why the village head said there were many pretty girls, why those women were too scared to speak up even after being beaten, and why the son of the Deputy Secretary had to come forward personally...

Because this wasn't ordinary trafficking; this was a complete industrial chain, involving huge profits and those capable of enjoying such services.

Those people were either wealthy or powerful.

Those people were unwilling to be exposed to the light of day.

Perhaps, this was even their business...

"Who are those people?"

Secretary Wan Xiaohan shook his head, "I don't know."

"But to be able to make the son of the Deputy Secretary come forward, to make Secretary Xu Qing stop it personally, to make so many people exert influence behind the scenes... those people cannot be small characters."

Secretary Wan Xiaohan looked at Xu Weidong, his gaze carrying a hint of guilt and a hint of warning.

"Weidong, I chose silence before, not because I didn't want to help you, but because I dared not act."

"This line is too deep, and it involves too many people."

"Although I am the Municipal Party Committee Secretary, there are some things that I cannot investigate just because I want to."

Xu Weidong was silent. He was digesting this information and re-evaluating the person in front of him.

Was what Secretary Wan Xiaohan said the truth, or an excuse?

Was it sincere guilt, or just trimming his sails?

"Secretary Wan, since you are telling me this now, what do you want me to do?"

Secretary Wan Xiaohan looked at him and suddenly said in a serious tone, "I want you to investigate the Qili Village matter thoroughly and root out that industrial chain."

"This time, I will fully support you."

"If you need any resources, just say so."

"If you encounter any resistance, I will shoulder it."

"Consider it... making amends."

Xu Weidong looked at him, silent for a few seconds, then nodded, "Secretary Wan, you are overstating it."

Secretary Wan Xiaohan heard the measure in his response, but could only smile bitterly.

Who could he blame?

The choice had been his own; he could only swallow the bitter fruit today.

"Let's go."

Secretary Wan Xiaohan patted Xu Weidong on the shoulder; he didn't know when he would see this young man again.

"It's getting dark. Let's talk more when we get back."

The two turned back. Xu Weidong walked by Secretary Wan Xiaohan's side, his mind racing.

Surrogacy...

This line was deeper and filthier than he had imagined.

Those abducted women were not only sold to bachelors as wives, but also used as reproductive tools to "serve" those wealthy and powerful people.

What about the children they gave birth to?

Who were they sold to?

Did the parents of those children know where their children came from?

He recalled the crazy woman saying that the pigsty had new pigs again; at the time, he thought "new pigs" referred to the newly abducted women.

Now... Xu Weidong's fists tightened involuntarily.

Secretary Wan Xiaohan noticed his change, glanced at him, and said nothing.

He knew what this young man was thinking; after all, Secretary Wan Xiaohan had also been young, had also been passionate, and had also wanted to uphold justice and eradicate injustice.

It was just that later, that passion had been worn away bit by bit by reality.

What about this young man?

How far could he go?

With this background and this temperament, this young man would not stop at Hukuang Township.

In the distance, the lights of the Township Government lit up.

Xu Weidong suddenly asked, "Secretary Wan, where is that Zhang Di now?"

Secretary Wan Xiaohan glanced at him and said, "Why do you ask about him?"

Xu Weidong said calmly, "Since he came forward to suppress this matter, it shows he is not an outsider."

Secretary Wan Xiaohan was silent for a few seconds, then said, "I heard he is still in the provincial capital."

"Although his father has gone to the CPPCC, his connections are still there, and he won't have any trouble for the time being."

"He has a very good relationship with Shenghong Pharmaceutical..."

Xu Weidong's expression suddenly turned extremely ugly. Shenghong Pharmaceutical?

How could it be Shenghong Pharmaceutical?!

His father's words from a while ago immediately surfaced in his mind...

No wonder he was told to keep his distance from Bai Bing; so it turned out her family was actually involved in such a thing!

It all connected; everything connected!