“That evening we even ate together. How did something happen afterward? It’s impossible! How could Ye Jian suddenly die!” Behind the office desk, Zhou Rong lit a cigarette, his face full of grief and gravity.
He and Ye Jian were classmates, also thirty-nine years old this year. However, he looked much younger than his peers. He had a handsome appearance with distinct, angular features. Because he exercised regularly, his figure without a belly was especially rare among men of this age. He had never married and remained single. Generally, men like him wouldn’t lack women around them.
The man in his thirties sitting across from Zhou Rong was Hu Jianren, the company’s board secretary and also a trusted confidant who had followed him for many years. Hu Jianren was short in stature, thin in build, wore metal-framed glasses, and looked very shrewd and capable—which he actually was. Zhou Rong entrusted most matters to him to handle.
“This time the Public Security Bureau’s lips are very tight. I’ve had people ask around, but couldn’t find out anything. Supposedly the newly arrived Bureau Chief Zhang is personally handling this case.”
“Zhang Yi’ang? He’s Director Gao’s man. Uncle Dong said Director Gao used his connections to forcibly transfer him down to replace Lu Zheng’s position. It’s possible he came specifically for us. I heard that as soon as he arrived in San Jiang Kou, he solved a major national case. Such a formidable figure—if he discovers Lu Zheng’s matter…” A shadow of gloom rose on Zhou Rong’s face as he touched his chest. “Every time I think of Lu Zheng, my damn heart pounds fiercely.”
Manager Hu smiled foolishly to console him: “Brother Rong, it’s been so long since that incident. There’s no evidence left. Don’t worry anymore. As for Ye Jian, I always felt he suspected Lu Zheng’s matter was related to us. His death is actually one less hidden danger for us.”
“Bullshit! You don’t understand at all!” Zhou Rong rebuked, shaking his head with emotion. “Many people outside think Ye Jian and I engaged in power-money transactions, but actually we were purely friends who played together since childhood. When I was little, I was small in stature and always got bullied—yes, bullied by the Lang Bowen and Lang Botu brothers. Ye Jian protected me, helped me fight. I helped him copy homework. Later he became a police officer and I started a business. Over these years, besides eating and gathering together, there was nothing else. Sigh, at this age, how many true friends are left? If I find out who harmed Ye Jian, I’ll definitely kill him!”
Hu Jianren smiled awkwardly and changed the topic: “Brother Rong, there’s news about the largest industrial park supporting facilities bid in the Eastern New City. The government will issue the tender within three months. It’s approximately two hundred acres of land—half is office and commercial-residential, half is supporting residential housing. The tender floor price is six hundred million, with capital subsidies. The finance department calculated that just selling those residential units would cover costs. The remaining office and commercial-residential properties bring in over a hundred million in annual rent for free. If we can get this project in hand, the group will have tens of millions in net cash flow every year going forward.”
“That much!” Zhou Rong drew a breath, pondered for several seconds, and frowned slightly. “With such high expected returns, other companies can calculate these numbers clearly too. Many people will definitely compete, especially those outside listed real estate developers. If we bid openly and compete on price, how could we compete with them? Hmm… Like this—have Mayor Luo think of a solution. The bidding qualifications for this project should be tailor-made for us. In the end, the project must be given to us!”
Manager Hu’s face showed difficulty: “Mayor Luo said this time we need to find our own solution. The Eastern New City is provincial-level planning. Although he and the Management Committee director work in the same building, the other party’s personnel relations are in the superior city. His administrative rank is elevated—half a grade higher than him. He hasn’t had much interaction with the Management Committee director and can’t intervene.”
“That director seems to be surnamed Fang, right?”
“Right, called Fang Yong. Five years ago when the Eastern New City was just being planned, he was transferred to become Management Committee director. At that time, everyone generally wasn’t optimistic about the new urban area, so he wasn’t very prominent either. Now everyone is scrambling to enter the new urban area. The Management Committee’s status is completely different from what it used to be. Mayor Luo also said that if we want to get the project this time, we can only bid openly and honestly. Going through Director Fang won’t work because this person is extremely upright—he’s a famous model of clean governance. Let me give you an example—it’s normal for government investment recruitment personnel to eat with enterprises, right? Director Fang is different. He doesn’t allow anyone in the Management Committee to participate in enterprise banquets without approval. If discovered, they’re reported. Accepting gifts results in direct disciplinary action. He also found superior audit departments to conduct annual financial audits of everyone in the Management Committee, including himself. If problems are found, they’re directly reported to the Disciplinary Commission.”
“What’s so special about that!” Zhou Rong snorted disdainfully and laughed. “Doesn’t Mayor Luo also shout anti-corruption slogans every day? In all of San Jiang Kou, Luo Ziyue is the most active in anti-corruption.”
“But Director Fang is different from Mayor Luo! Mayor Luo fights corruption with his mouth. Director Fang’s own life is also very frugal. I heard that to this day he still uses a button-key phone from many years ago. The unit allocated him a car and driver, but he refused, saying he wanted to save on official expenses. He insists on riding a bicycle to and from work every day. When it’s windy or rainy, he squeezes onto public buses with ordinary people. On ordinary days, no one can tell he’s the helmsman of the Eastern New City. The salary and allowances he saves are donated to welfare institutions every month without fail. Provincial television stations and newspapers have reported on him many times.”
After hearing Hu Jianren’s advertisement-like introduction, Zhou Rong couldn’t help clicking his tongue: “In this San Jiang Kou… they can actually produce a Hai Rui!”
What kind of person was this San Jiang Kou Hai Rui that even the local power broker didn’t believe in?