79: Chapter 79 Zhang Xin's Relief

Changyuan County, the headquarters building of Sihai Group.

In the top-floor conference room, smoke swirled, and over a dozen people sat around the conference table in a heavy atmosphere.

President Cheng Xin sat at the head of the table, his expression shifting uncertainly.

He was wearing a dark gray cashmere sweater, and the Patek Philippe on his wrist shimmered under the lights, but his eyes betrayed a hint of malice.

"You've all heard the news, right?"

"Secretary Chen Tianci and County Magistrate Lan Tianxing have been transferred."

The conference room fell silent for a few seconds, followed by a burst of hushed whispers.

"Transferred? Transferred where?"

"The Party History Office and the Local Chronicles Office—both are places to go to retire."

"Then... then what about our affairs?"

President Cheng Xin waved his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet.

"I asked you all here to discuss exactly that."

President Cheng Xin stood up, walked to the window, and turned his back to the others.

"What does it mean that Secretary Chen Tianci and County Magistrate Lan Tianxing have been transferred?"

"It means that those above aren't coming for us."

"They are targeting those two old foxes, and the issues of their inaction and reckless behavior in Changyuan County over all these years."

"It has nothing to do with us."

President Cheng Xin turned around and swept his gaze across those present.

"Therefore, we don't need to run."

Some breathed a sigh of relief, some showed joy, and others seemed lost in thought.

Lv Shun sat on President Cheng Xin's right, wearing a sincere smile on his face as he nodded repeatedly, saying, "President Cheng Xin is right, President Cheng Xin is right. Now we can rest easy."

In his heart, however, he sneered. Rest easy? Rest easy about what?

The fact that Secretary Chen Tianci and County Magistrate Lan Tianxing were transferred only goes to show that those above are taking real action.

Those two old foxes were the protective umbrella for Sihai Group; now that the umbrella is gone, how could it not rain?

President Cheng Xin was rejoicing too early, but Lv Shun said nothing.

He just smiled and nodded, like the most loyal deputy.

President Cheng Xin walked back to his seat but didn't sit down.

He pressed his hands against the tabletop, his gaze turning fierce.

"However!"

President Cheng Xin paused, his tone filled with intense hatred.

"We need to settle some scores."

The atmosphere in the conference room suddenly tightened. President Cheng Xin's gaze swept over everyone present as he said, word by word, "That Secretary Hu Dakui in Hukuang Township, and that Township Head Ge Jiefang—those two need to be taught a lesson."

Someone asked cautiously, "President Cheng Xin, what kind of... lesson?"

President Cheng Xin sneered, "What kind of lesson? Do you know where General Manager Wan Baolai is right now?"

Everyone looked at each other, none daring to speak.

"He's locked up in the detention center!"

President Cheng Xin slapped the table, causing the teacups to jump.

"That animal Secretary Hu Dakui, having received a signal from the county, acted early and wiped out the entire management team of Sihai Mining in one fell swoop!"

"General Manager Wan Baolai is inside, and everyone at the mine has been replaced! The industry that our group has worked so hard to operate for so many years has been ruined by him just like that!"

President Cheng Xin's chest heaved violently, and the muscles on his face twitched.

"And there's more!"

"He even dared to touch Zhang Ya!"

The conference room was so quiet that one could hear breathing. Zhang Ya, the proprietress of Cuiyun Villa, was President Cheng Xin's mistress.

This was no secret within Sihai Group; that beautiful woman had been the apple of President Cheng Xin's eye for all these years.

President Cheng Xin gritted his teeth and said, word by word, "That animal Secretary Hu Dakui has now even... he has even put her under his control."

When these words were spoken, the expressions of those present varied.

Some said indignantly, "That is too bullying!"

Some bowed their heads in silence, pretending to look at their notebooks.

Some had flickering eyes, their minds on other things.

A middle-aged man sitting in the corner was a manager of one of the group's hotels.

He kept his head down, appearing to be in deep thought, but images couldn't help but surface in his mind.

A few years ago, when Zhang Ya first arrived, he had also had designs on her.

That woman was too alluring, with a hot figure and a cold, elegant temperament; who wouldn't be tempted?

Once, he had taken the opportunity while offering a toast to drop a few hints and take some liberties, but Zhang Ya had bluntly replied, "I am President Cheng Xin's woman," choking him half to death.

Later, he behaved himself and dared not have any improper thoughts again.

But the image of that woman had remained etched in his mind.

And now?

Now she had fallen into the hands of Secretary Hu Dakui.

He had seen Secretary Hu Dakui a few times; a balding old man in his fifties who couldn't walk away when he saw a beautiful woman.

With Zhang Ya in his hands, what good end could she possibly have?

He recalled Zhang Ya's cold, elegant eyes and her distant demeanor, and a strange sense of pleasure suddenly welled up in his heart.

Heh, so you acted high and mighty, and used President Cheng Xin to suppress others.

And now?

Even President Cheng Xin can't protect you now...

He quickly lowered his head, suppressed these thoughts, and put on an indignant expression.

Another manager was thinking the same thing; he had joined the group later and hadn't seen Zhang Ya many times, but he had heard many rumors.

It was said that the beauty looked like a movie star, and her figure was impeccable—curvaceous, with everything in the right places.

President Cheng Xin doted on her greatly, having specially built Cuiyun Villa for her, and he would run over there every few days.

And now?

That balding old man is probably thrilled, isn't he?

Falling into the hands of someone like Secretary Hu Dakui, any woman would suffer.

A complex emotion suddenly welled up in his heart—pity, mixed with an indescribable schadenfreude.

But on the surface, like the others, he was filled with indignation.

"President Cheng Xin, what do you say we do? We'll listen to you!"

"Right, let's teach that man surnamed Hu a lesson!"

"It's too much bullying!"

President Cheng Xin looked at his subordinates' indignant appearance and nodded with satisfaction.

"Good, since everyone has this intention, I will share my thoughts."

President Cheng Xin cleared his throat and began to assign tasks.

"First, concentrate the group's resources and investigate the dirt on Secretary Hu Dakui and Township Head Ge Jiefang for me. How many bribes they've taken over the years, how many shady things they've done—investigate it all clearly, item by item."

"Second, find people to go to Hukuang Township and keep an eye on those two's movements for me. When they are where, who they meet, what they do—I want to know it all."

"Third, contact our people, whether they are in official circles or on the streets; as long as they can be useful, use them all."

President Cheng Xin paused, his gaze becoming even more fierce.

"I want those two animals to know that moving against my, President Cheng Xin's, people comes with a price."

Everyone responded in unison, "Yes!"

"Don't worry, President Cheng Xin!"

"It will be done!"

Lv Shun also nodded along, wearing a sincere smile on his face, saying that President Cheng Xin was wise.

But what he was thinking in his heart was completely different.

He was too familiar with this routine of President Cheng Xin's.

Concentrate resources to investigate dirt? Find people to track movements? Contact people on all sides?

It sounded like they were going to do something big, but in reality?

In reality, this was nothing more than a smokescreen from President Cheng Xin.

Diverting everyone's attention to retaliating against Secretary Hu Dakui and Township Head Ge Jiefang, but what about him?

He must be quietly transferring assets, preparing to run.

Over these years, how much money President Cheng Xin had stored overseas—others might not know, but Lv Shun knew a little.

Swiss banks, the Cayman Islands, Singapore... he had accounts everywhere; he had long since prepared an escape route for himself.

Now that trouble had arisen, his first reaction would definitely be to run.

As for the survival of these subordinates?

When had President Cheng Xin ever cared?

Lv Shun sneered in his heart, President Cheng Xin, oh President Cheng Xin, do you think you are clever and everyone else is a fool?

You want everyone to fight Secretary Hu Dakui and Township Head Ge Jiefang so you can slip away cleanly.

By the time everyone is fighting until they are bloody and broken, you will already be abroad, drinking red wine and cuddling with beauties, enjoying life—you've calculated this very well.

Unfortunately, someone sees more clearly than you do.

Lv Shun remained calm on the surface, but in his heart, he was calculating his own affairs.

If President Cheng Xin wanted to run, he couldn't stop him, nor did he want to, but he couldn't let President Cheng Xin run too easily.

Over the years, he had worked tirelessly for Sihai Group, doing the dirtiest and most tiring work, yet he hadn't received many benefits.

President Cheng Xin ate the meat, and he drank the soup.

When President Cheng Xin drank the soup, he couldn't even get a sip.

Now that President Cheng Xin was running, he had to leave something behind, right?

Those assets, those connections, those shady account books...

Whatever President Cheng Xin couldn't take with him, someone had to take over.

Why couldn't that person be him, Lv Shun?

Lv Shun looked up at President Cheng Xin, who was passionately assigning tasks, his face still wearing that same sincere and honest smile.

The meeting lasted nearly two hours. When it ended, President Cheng Xin stood up and patted Lv Shun on the shoulder.

"Lv Shun, put more effort into this matter. Once it's done, I won't treat you unfairly."

Lv Shun nodded repeatedly, saying, "Don't worry, President Cheng Xin, I will definitely give it my all."

President Cheng Xin smiled with satisfaction and turned to walk out of the conference room.

Others left one after another, and Lv Shun was the last to leave.

He stood at the door of the conference room, looked back at the empty seat at the head of the table, and a meaningful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

President Cheng Xin, oh President Cheng Xin, now not only is your wife at home cheating on you, but even your mistress has been poached by someone else; it really is...