Chapter 711: Zhuang Shi's Affairs

Huaihai Ancient City has been revitalized. I thought there were no more issues, but I was thinking too simply.

Actually, they say the Huaihai Ancient City matter is just a beginning.

I previously had you and Li Jia revitalize Huaihai Ancient City,

thinking it would ease my burden.

Yes, Huaihai Ancient City has been revitalized.

The developed houses have all been rented out.

But, those households displaced for building the ancient city are still causing trouble.

Because the place where they were displaced was used to build the ancient city,

Huaihai City's urban area had no suitable place to build relocation housing, so I had no choice but to build relocation housing for these residents in the suburbs.

They feel they have suffered a loss, because suburban and urban property prices differ.

I had no choice but to compensate them for the price difference.

But after receiving the compensation, they still did not move into the relocation housing.

They continue to cause trouble.

They demand that the city must build houses for them within the urban area.

The demolition contracts at that time were written very clearly, but I didn't expect these people to go back on their word.

This is one of the causes of the incident; moreover, after we developed Huaihai Ancient City, the benefits have been poor—not only did we not make money, the city has to subsidize it.

These two matters combined have become the main focus of attacks against me by certain people.

After you and Li Jia arrived in Huaihai, you revitalized Huaihai Ancient City for me,

This indeed eased my burden; they no longer use the ancient city matter as an excuse.

Now, they are again stirring up those displaced households to cause trouble.

This is what worries me.

Zhuang Shi said to me,

After speaking, he took a puff of a cigarette and looked at me.

After I heard Zhuang Shi finish speaking,

I thought to myself, if a city leader can't even handle this matter, it shows his ability is truly limited. But Zhuang Shi can lead such a large city, and he has done so for quite a while.

He certainly has ability.

Regarding the ancient city demolition, he certainly won't act recklessly; he only acts after seeing everyone sign.

If everything went according to the script, there would be nothing to worry about.

But things often do not follow the script.

Although Zhuang Shi did not explain,

I believe that merely relying on a few dozen displaced households causing trouble would not become a problem for Zhuang Shi at all.

I believe there must be someone behind the scenes directing this.

Someone is inciting others behind the scenes to cause trouble.

Moreover, the person behind this is surely someone Zhuang Shi dares not provoke; otherwise, it would not become a problem for Zhuang Shi.

I took a puff of a cigarette,

then looked at Zhuang Shi and said,

"Zhuang Shi, could this matter be resolved by having Secretary Wu step in? Those displaced people are just asking for more money."

Actually, they are easy to settle; just find the ringleaders and defeat them one by one.

The city will definitely have to spend some money. Taking this amount from Huaihai City's finances is merely a drop in the bucket.

Zhuang Shi wouldn't lose the big picture over small matters, would he?

Upon hearing me say this,

Zhuang Shi laughed heartily,

"Brother Jianqiang, your perspective on problems is not ordinary. If it were just these people causing trouble, that would be fine. The problem is the people behind them."

That is more troublesome.

"Please clarify who the people behind them are, Zhuang Shi," I continued.

"Jianqiang, let me be frank with you."

"Although Huaihai is very close to Zaocheng, we do not belong to the same province, nor the same circle."

"Do you understand what I mean?" Zhuang Shi said, finishing and taking a puff of a cigarette.

"I understand." I nodded.

"Tian Shi belongs to whom—I don't need to spell it out. I have gotten to where I am today because there is also support behind me."

"In today's society, it's very hard for an individual to get ahead."

"One must have support to go higher and farther."

"Otherwise, one would have died early in a pit."

"Jianqiang, are you familiar with Brother Wang of the 49?" Zhuang Shi asked directly.

I did not expect Zhuang Shi to bring up Brother Wang.

I was stunned,

then I slowly said,

"Brother Wang, I've heard of him. What's up with Zhuang Shi—could Brother Wang also be involved with Huaihai?"

"Jianqiang, Tian Shi has told me all about it.

"Brother Wang, you are familiar with him; it is very likely he will soon come to Zaocheng."

You were a notable figure in Zaocheng before; I know that, but we just never had any contact.

I've also heard about the Da Heng Group's affairs.

It was only after the Wen and Wang families joined forces that they managed to take down the Zhou family.

You, in order to repay this favor, voluntarily withdrew from the Da Heng Group.

I'm not lying about this, am I?

I chuckled,

and nodded.

What Zhuang Shi said is right; this is true, but it involves too many people, so I usually don't bring it up. Since Tian Shi and you have said it,

I can't keep hiding anything either.

I know Wang Ge.

I am Wen Han's person.

I am where I am today thanks to the support of Wen Han and Wang Ge; otherwise I would have died long ago.

You just said Wang Ge is coming to Zaocheng; that's absolutely true.

He's mainly coming to collect the four hundred million that the Da Heng Group owed Director Qi before.

The woman who accompanied you on that mountain climb was Yang Tao; she is Director Qi's wife. They returned together from overseas, and their purpose was to ask me about that four hundred million.

Director Qi had an accident due to medication and could become a vegetative state; he has already been taken back to Sijiucheng by Wang Ge.

Now Wang Ge wants me to find a way to get the genuine contract from Yang Tao's hands.

Then he will come over and together we will demand that the Da Heng Group repay those four hundred million." I explained to Zhuang Shi.

"Demanding the four hundred million is a pretense; the real aim is to seize the Da Heng Group. Wang Ge still holds the Da Heng Group's four hundred million worth of shares, right, Jianqiang?

Actually, regarding that woman Yang Tao, I had her investigated as soon as we met that day. I also know about Director Qi.

I pretty much understand the situation between you and Wang Ge.

This matter belongs to you, Wang Ge, and the Da Heng Group,

and I cannot overstep my involvement.

But currently, you face a difficult problem.

Namely, the issue of whom to help and whom not to help.

This is a matter of stance, and it's very troublesome.

Put it this way: you can't afford to offend Wang Ge, nor can you afford to offend the Wen family.

You're caught in a tight spot.

The consequence could be that you become a sacrifice for both families.

Moreover, you can't talk about these matters outwardly; they remain buried in your heart.

"Jianqiang, you really have it hard." Zhuang Shi sighed.

Hearing Zhuang Shi's sigh, I laughed,

"Zhuang Shi, have we gone off topic? We were just discussing your affairs,

but now the conversation has turned entirely to me.

I do have difficulties, but these difficulties are nothing; I will find a way to overcome them.

"Zhuang Shi, your matters are the important ones. Tell me, what should I, Zhao Jianqiang, do?" I said to Zhuang Shi.

Actually, I don't currently want to discuss too many past events with Zhuang Shi; we are in a tentative phase of contact.

Zhuang Shi laughed at this moment,

"Jianqiang, we haven't gone off topic.

what we're talking about will all become one matter.

because it involves a key person.

that person is Wang Ge.

"Wang Ge, this also involves your Huaihai affairs." I asked urgently.

Zhuang Shi nodded,

"You understand these; the thorny matter I mentioned. Just relying on those demolition people isn't enough to pose any threat to me.

They are just as you said earlier—nothing more than wanting a bit more money,

their troublemaking is merely a demand for more benefits.

In this society, anything that money can solve isn't considered a problem.

But now that money can't solve it, that's when it becomes a problem.

Someone wants to bring me down and also ruin my reputation.

If I fall, I know what I will face,

it will be a long prison life.

Jianqiang, in our position, whose hands can stay clean?

Everyone is merely protecting their own interests.