72: Chapter 72 Who's Darker?

Cuiyun Villa, third-floor private room.

Snow drifted outside the window, while the room was heated to a cozy warmth.

Six dishes and a soup were laid out on the table, all of which General Manager Wan Baolai loved to eat.

A bottle of Wuliangye had already been opened, and the aroma of the liquor mixed with the scent of the dishes, which should have been appetizing.

But General Manager Wan Baolai felt something was off today; Secretary Hu Dakui was being too enthusiastic.

From the moment he entered, he had been holding his hand, calling him "General Manager Wan" at every turn, his face crinkling into a smile.

Township Head Ge Jiefang was also more talkative than usual, adjusting his glasses and smiling as he urged him to drink.

Something was wrong!

General Manager Wan Baolai had been in the underworld for so many years; what kind of situation hadn't he seen?

But today's situation was too abnormal.

He picked up his wine glass, took a sip, but didn't swallow it, keeping it in his mouth.

Secretary Hu Dakui said happily, "General Manager Wan, come on, let's have another! I'm happy today, let's not stop until we're drunk!"

General Manager Wan Baolai smiled and agreed, and when no one was looking, he spat the wine in his mouth onto the carpet at his feet.

After three rounds of drinks and tasting the dishes.

General Manager Wan Baolai started to feel dizzy. This wasn't right.

He had only had a few cups; it shouldn't be like this, should it?

General Manager Wan Baolai looked at Zhang Ya, who was sitting to the side. Her expression didn't look right either, and her eyes were starting to lose focus.

Something was wrong!

General Manager Wan Baolai stood up abruptly, his chair clattering to the floor.

He grabbed a porcelain bowl from the table, smashed it, picked up a shard, and fiercely slashed his own arm.

Fresh blood surged out, and the pain cleared his mind for a moment.

"General Manager Wan, what are you doing?"

Secretary Hu Dakui watched him with a smile, not moving an inch.

"Why break the bowl? Is the food not to your liking?"

General Manager Wan Baolai stared at him, his eyes bloodshot.

"Secretary Hu, what is the meaning of this?"

Secretary Hu Dakui laughed, heartily and recklessly.

"General Manager Wan, oh General Manager Wan, you're an old hand, how could you have so little vigilance?"

Secretary Hu Dakui pointed to the wine on the table and said, "We added something to the wine; it's originally meant for drugging livestock."

"If livestock ate it, they'd sleep for days. What's the use of cutting yourself?"

"Once the drug takes effect, you'll collapse anyway."

General Manager Wan Baolai's heart sank to the bottom. He looked at Zhang Ya, who was already slumped on the table, her consciousness fading.

He wanted to rush over, but his legs started to go weak, and the scene before him began to sway.

General Manager Wan Baolai held onto the table, barely standing, and let out a bitter laugh.

"Two leaders, I, General Manager Wan Baolai, have followed you for so many years, working tirelessly at your beck and call."

"Whatever happened, I was at the forefront."

"Whatever blame there was, I took it on my back."

"In the end, this is what I get?"

Secretary Hu Dakui stood up, walked over to him, and patted his face.

"General Manager Wan, you're a sensible man; you should know that for some things, someone must take the blame."

"Otherwise, many leaders won't be able to sleep at night."

General Manager Wan Baolai glared at him, his eyes looking as if they were about to bleed.

"Who? Who wants to take me down?"

Secretary Hu Dakui smiled without answering.

He turned around, walked over to Zhang Ya, and looked down at her delicate face.

"This little lady, I've been eyeing her for more than a day or two."

Secretary Hu Dakui reached out and stroked Zhang Ya's face.

"Acting all high and mighty, acting all serious; today, you've finally fallen into my hands."

Zhang Ya was losing consciousness, but she could still feel someone touching her.

She struggled to dodge, but she was completely powerless.

"Secretary Hu..."

Zhang Ya's voice was weak as she said, "Are... are you not afraid of President Cheng Xin finding out?"

Secretary Hu Dakui laughed heartily, laughing until tears almost came out.

"President Cheng Xin? Cheng Xin? Hahaha..."

After Secretary Hu Dakui had laughed enough, he leaned down, moved close to Zhang Ya's ear, and said word by word, "Cheng Xin can barely save himself, let alone worry about you?"

"Secretary Chen and County Head Lan have made up their minds to completely eradicate the underworld forces in Changyuan County."

"Cheng Xin is the first, and you are the second."

"Do you understand?"

Zhang Ya's eyes were wide open, filled with fear and despair.

"Underworld forces..."

"We... are underworld forces..."

Secretary Hu Dakui straightened up and looked down at her.

"What did you think you were? A major taxpayer? A pillar enterprise? Bullshit!"

"When you were useful, you were a sweet treat. When you're not needed, you're just stinking dog shit."

"You don't just understand this principle now, do you?"

Zhang Ya closed her eyes, and tears slid down from the corners of her eyes.

"Secretary Hu, I finally understand. The darkest people in this world are you bunch of officials. From top to bottom, none of you are any good."

Secretary Hu Dakui's expression changed, but then he smiled again.

"Go ahead and curse. In a while, you won't be able to curse anymore."

Secretary Hu Dakui's hands wandered over Zhang Ya's body, his movements becoming increasingly reckless.

General Manager Wan Baolai stood to the side, trembling all over.

He wanted to rush over and tear Secretary Hu Dakui apart, but his legs wouldn't obey him, and everything before his eyes was turning black.

"Secretary Hu, are you even human?!"

Secretary Hu Dakui turned his head to look at him, his face crinkling into a smile.

"General Manager Wan, rest assured, your business isn't over yet. After I'm done with this little lady, I'll have a slow chat with you."

Secretary Hu Dakui turned back and continued to grope Zhang Ya.

Zhang Ya's body was stiff, letting his hands wander over her.

She had no strength to resist, nor the strength to cry out.

She just kept her eyes open, staring at the ceiling, her gaze as empty as a corpse.

Secretary Hu Dakui's hands became increasingly improper, and the words coming out of his mouth became more and more unbearable.

"Why act so high and mighty? Who doesn't know that you've already been played with by President Cheng Xin? Why put on an act of being a virgin in front of me?"

Zhang Ya closed her eyes, her teeth chattering together.

Township Head Ge Jiefang gave a light cough and said, "Secretary Hu, let's focus on the business at hand."

Secretary Hu Dakui was stunned for a moment, then sheepishly withdrew his hand.

"Fine, fine, let's handle the business first."

Secretary Hu Dakui stood up, straightened his clothes, and resumed his pretentious, official demeanor.

"General Manager Wan, rest assured, the ending for both of you will be arranged properly."

"Sihai Mining has done enough over these years to sentence you to several life terms."

"When the time comes, you'll be sentenced and imprisoned as appropriate."

"As for you two..."

Secretary Hu Dakui looked at Zhang Ya, then at General Manager Wan Baolai, and smiled meaningfully.

"It all depends on whether you cooperate."

General Manager Wan Baolai could no longer speak. He leaned against the wall, his vision blurry, only seeing Secretary Hu Dakui's smiling face like a ghost.

Zhang Ya lay on the table, tears flowing silently down.