64: Chapter 64 The Uncomfortable Wanbaolai

Cuiyun Villa, third-floor private room.

General Manager Wan Baolai sat in the seat of honor, a habitual smile on his face, and personally poured a glass of wine for Director Li Zhongmin.

"Director Li, come, try this. It's an aged brew from Maotai Town; you can't buy it on the market."

Director Li Zhongmin looked at the glass of wine in front of him but didn't move.

He hadn't wanted to come today, but General Manager Wan Baolai had sent word through someone, claiming there was some misunderstanding and that he wanted to explain it in person.

Director Li Zhongmin knew this meal wasn't that simple, but he came anyway; he wanted to hear exactly what this man had to say.

General Manager Wan Baolai wasn't annoyed; he picked up his own glass, took a sip, smacked his lips, and set it down.

"Director Li, we've known each other for so many years. You should know what kind of person I, General Manager Wan Baolai, am."

"I am a man who values loyalty and sentiment above all else. Hundreds of brothers under my command rely on me for their livelihood; I can't let them go hungry."

Director Li Zhongmin didn't respond. General Manager Wan Baolai smiled and continued, "I know you're angry about the Guo Changlin incident. You think I went too far, don't you?"

Director Li Zhongmin looked at him and finally spoke, "General Manager Wan, you call breaking someone's legs 'going too far'?"

General Manager Wan Baolai's smile faded for a split second before spreading again.

"Director Li, you are a police officer; you should know better than me that some things in this world aren't just black and white."

"Guo Changlin led the disturbance. If I hadn't suppressed it, the hundreds of miners would have followed suit. How would I manage them in the future?"

General Manager Wan Baolai paused, picked up some food with his chopsticks, and chewed as he said, "Besides, I didn't treat him unfairly. Ten thousand yuan for medical expenses is enough for him to recover for half a year."

"In this day and age, breaking two legs in exchange for ten thousand yuan isn't a bad deal."

Director Li Zhongmin's hands clenched under the table. "General Manager Wan, I cannot agree with your logic."

General Manager Wan Baolai looked at him and suddenly laughed.

"Director Li, you are just too stubborn."

General Manager Wan Baolai put down his chopsticks, leaned back in his chair, and his gaze became meaningful.

"Director Li, I heard you have a son studying at County No. 1 High School? His grades are good; he's taking the college entrance exam next year, right?"

Director Li Zhongmin's expression changed. General Manager Wan Baolai continued, "And you have an elderly mother back in the countryside. Is her health alright? I heard her legs aren't very good; it's inconvenient for her to go out in winter, isn't it?"

Director Li Zhongmin stood up abruptly, knocking his chair backward.

"General Manager Wan Baolai, what do you mean by that?"

General Manager Wan Baolai waved his hand, signaling him to sit down, his smile unchanging. "Director Li, don't get excited; I'm just showing concern. We are both veterans of Hukuang Township; it's only normal for us to get to know each other."

Director Li Zhongmin stood there, his chest heaving violently.

Zhang Ya stood to the side, refilling their tea with gentle movements, though her gaze lingered on Director Li Zhongmin's face for a moment.

General Manager Wan Baolai pointed to a dish on the table—a braised rabbit dish, exquisitely plated, the meat stewed until tender, giving off an enticing aroma.

"Director Li, do you know why I had this dish prepared?"

Director Li Zhongmin looked at him without speaking.

General Manager Wan Baolai picked up his chopsticks, lifted a piece of rabbit meat, and examined it.

"This rabbit was caught from the back mountain this morning. There were seven or eight in the litter, but this one just wouldn't fit in. It always kept running off, always wanting to be different from the other rabbits."

General Manager Wan Baolai put the rabbit meat back on the plate and tapped it with his chopsticks.

"So, I had people catch it, kill it, and stew it for everyone to eat."

"First, to enjoy a fresh meal; second…"

General Manager Wan Baolai looked up at Director Li Zhongmin, his eyes smiling, yet it sent a chill down one's spine.

"It's also to remind the other rabbits: this is the fate of those who don't fit in."

The private room was so quiet one could hear the wind outside. Director Li Zhongmin's face flushed red and then turned pale.

Director Li Zhongmin knew this was a threat—a naked, blatant threat.

But what could he do?

General Manager Wan Baolai spoke lightly, but the meaning behind those words was crystal clear to him.

Your son is studying at County No. 1 High School, your elderly mother is back in the countryside; the lives of your entire family are in my hands.

Do you want to be that rabbit that doesn't fit in?

Director Li Zhongmin slowly sat down, picked up the wine glass in front of him, and downed it in one gulp.

General Manager Wan Baolai smiled, picked up his glass, and drank one as well.

"Director Li, that's more like it. We are all people of Hukuang Township; we see each other all the time, why make things so tense?"

General Manager Wan Baolai put down his wine glass, his tone becoming confidential.

"Director Li, what is your monthly salary? Three thousand? Three thousand five hundred? I heard the police station is short on funds and sometimes can't even cover gas money."

"How much can you save after working hard for a year?"

General Manager Wan Baolai paused and leaned in a little closer. "What's the point of working like this? Are you hoping for a promotion?"

"You've worked in Hukuang Township for so many years; have you been promoted? Are you looking to get rich? What can that little salary of yours do?"

Director Li Zhongmin kept his head down, silent.

"Director Li, I'm not trying to scare you. You should know better than me just how deep the water is in Hukuang Township."

"If you insist on being that rabbit that doesn't fit in, then when the time comes, not only will you be in trouble, but your wife, children, and elderly mother will all suffer with you."

"Of course, if you see reason and come around, we can still be friends."

"As for the Guo Changlin incident, you can close the case however you want, define it however you want—it's all up to you."

"In the future, if there's anything at the mine, I will cooperate and support you as needed."

"Since the police station is short on funds, I can also make a proper contribution."

General Manager Wan Baolai raised his wine glass and gestured toward Director Li Zhongmin.

"Director Li, what do you say?"

Director Li Zhongmin looked up at him.

He thought of the desperate look in Guo Changlin's eyes when he lay on the ground, the trembling voice of Guo Changlin's wife as she knelt before him, and the evasive gazes of the workers when they faced him.

Director Li Zhongmin also thought of his son, who would be taking the college entrance exam next year.

He thought of his elderly mother, whose legs were not good, living alone in the countryside.

Director Li Zhongmin picked up his wine glass and drank another one.

General Manager Wan Baolai smiled, a very satisfied smile.

During the rest of the meal, Director Li Zhongmin didn't speak again.

He just drank, glass after glass.

General Manager Wan Baolai didn't urge him anymore, just drank with him, occasionally picking up some food and making small talk.

Zhang Ya stood to the side, watching all of this in silence.

She looked at Director Li Zhongmin, at this director who had once dared to lead men into Qili Village, now sitting with his head lowered, drinking his sorrows away glass after glass.

She looked at the suppressed anger on his face and the inescapable despair in his eyes.

She also looked at General Manager Wan Baolai, watching this man speak the cruelest words in the most casual tone.

Using the kindest smile to corner someone.

After the meal, General Manager Wan Baolai saw Director Li Zhongmin out.

Director Li Zhongmin stepped through the snow, his gait somewhat unsteady; he got into his car without looking back and disappeared into the wind and snow.

General Manager Wan Baolai stood at the door, watching the receding headlights, a smile playing on the corners of his lips.

Zhang Ya walked over, stood beside him, and suddenly asked, "General Manager Wan, I have a question, though I don't know if I should ask."

General Manager Wan Baolai turned his head to look at her and said, "Speak."

"With the meal you had today, you've offended everyone you possibly could. Director Li Zhongmin has Xu Weidong behind him. By threatening him like that, aren't you afraid of that person…"

General Manager Wan Baolai's smile froze for a moment. He was silent for a few seconds, then sighed.

"Do you think I want to be the villain?"

Zhang Ya didn't speak. General Manager Wan Baolai looked at the snow-filled sky, his tone becoming low.

"This meal today should have been hosted by Secretary Hu and Township Head Ge Jiefang. With Director Li Zhongmin causing such a scene, they are the ones who should have stepped up."

"But what about them? One feigned illness, the other went on a business trip; neither was willing to come."

Zhang Ya realized, "So they let you…"

"Let me be the villain."

General Manager Wan Baolai smiled bitterly, "The two township leaders don't want to offend anyone."

"They don't want to offend the Xu man behind Director Li Zhongmin, but they also can't bear to give up the profits from the coal mine."

"What to do? Let me do it."

General Manager Wan Baolai turned around, looking at Zhang Ya helplessly, "Do you know what they said to me?"

"They said, 'General Manager Wan, we trust you to handle things. As for Director Li Zhongmin, go have a chat with him. Give him what you need to give, suppress him where you need to suppress, just don't let the matter blow up.'"

General Manager Wan Baolai mimicked Secretary Hu Dakui's tone, doing a perfect impression.

Zhang Ya was silent. She looked at the man in front of her and suddenly felt a sense of sorrow.

"General Manager Wan, isn't our company a pillar enterprise of the county? We pay so much in taxes every year and support hundreds of workers. How come, in the end, we still have to kowtow to these people?"

General Manager Wan Baolai looked at her and suddenly laughed, a bitter laugh.

"Zhang Ya, oh Zhang Ya, you've stayed in the provincial capital for too long; you don't understand how things work down here."

General Manager Wan Baolai turned and walked back inside, saying as he walked, "What 'pillar enterprise,' what 'major taxpayer'—those are just for show to outsiders."

"In the eyes of these people, we are just a cash cow."

"If you can shake money off, you're a good tree. If you can't, you're just firewood waiting to be chopped."

Zhang Ya followed behind him and asked, "Then what about Director Li Zhongmin? If he still…"

General Manager Wan Baolai stopped and looked back at her, "What normal person is as stubborn as him? Take some money, turn a blind eye, and everything would be fine."

"But he has to be earnest, has to investigate, has to manage."

"If it weren't for Xu Weidong standing behind him, Secretary Hu Dakui and Township Head Ge Jiefang could manipulate him like a toy."

"But he just happens to have Xu Weidong behind him."

"So Secretary Hu Dakui and the others don't dare touch him, they can only let me do it. I can only scare him, let him know pain, but I don't dare to actually do anything to him."

"If that Xu man really loses his temper, I'll be the first one to suffer."

Zhang Ya looked at him and suddenly asked, "Then are you afraid?"

General Manager Wan Baolai was silent for a long time.

"Afraid… how could I not be? That Xu man, his father is… he just has to lift a finger, and we'd be wiped out."

"But what's the use of me being afraid?"

"My life has long been tied to this mine."

"What can I do?"

"Just have to bite the bullet and keep going."