Chapter 850

On the way back to the county, Hong Xinmin's brain hadn't been idle; he had been pondering Zhou Andong's intentions the whole time.

Once he reached his office and drank two cups of tea, he finally managed to get a sense of what was going on.

Although it was only vague and he couldn't grasp the main point, that didn't prevent him from confirming one thing.

And that was that Zhou Andong was planning to stir up trouble, and he had to get to the bottom of it, otherwise he, as a bystander, might suffer.

That was why he had come back; because if he didn't come back and figure out Zhou Andong's purpose, he wouldn't be able to sleep soundly.

Hong Xinmin sighed: "Our county doesn't just have limestone mines in Nagu Town; why do you insist on investing in Yuan Hongbiao's mine?"

Zhou Andong raised an eyebrow: "Why can't I cooperate with Yuan Hongbiao? No matter what, we are real relatives; I call him Uncle."

Uncle my foot, Hong Xinmin cursed inwardly, you little fox, what exactly are you trying to do?

"Chairman Zhou, the limestone mine in Hushanqi Town is on the same vein as the one in Nagu Town; the quality is the same, and they are both open-pit mines with very low mining costs. I think you should consider going to Hushanqi Town to take a look."

Zhou Andong picked up his teacup: "Nagu Town is a mature mine; as long as funds are invested, it can generate benefits. But going to Hushanqi Town means starting from scratch, finding workers, buying equipment, and handling procedures; it's too much trouble."

"..."

Hong Xinmin had a blank expression; as a county mayor, his intelligence and eloquence were unquestionable, but facing Zhou Andong at this moment, he didn't know what to say.

"Slurp!"

Zhou Andong took a sip of tea: "However, it's not impossible for me to go to Hushanqi Town."

Hong Xinmin's spirits lifted, and then he heard Zhou Andong's next words: "Then you have to give me a reason to go."

Zhou Andong's words left Hong Xinmin stunned; a bit of light appeared in the fog before his eyes, and things that were unclear before suddenly became clear.

Hong Xinmin's complexion changed repeatedly, and he remained silent for a long while before he began to speak.

"Chairman Zhou, may I know what this is for?"

He really couldn't understand Zhou Andong anymore; he kept saying he was a pure businessman, yet he had just made a very irrational decision.

Zhou Andong smiled slightly: "If I say I'm doing this to uphold the justice and faith in my heart, would you believe me?"

Hong Xinmin stared blankly at Zhou Andong. Justice and faith in his heart? This made him feel a bit dazed; he had long since forgotten the vows he made when he first joined the Party.

The ideals and ambitions of his youth had also been worn away by time and the deceit of officialdom; all that remained was a hypocritical mask and the greed for power in his heart.

Zhou Andong stood up, stretched, looked at the sunset in the west, and said softly.

"I am also a Party member, and I have never dared to forget the vows I once made. No matter what difficulties I encountered, even if it was a life-and-death situation, that belief in my heart has never wavered.

Therefore, once I know about certain things, I cannot act blind and deaf, pretending not to see or hear. I must live up to the vows I once made and uphold the belief in my heart. Otherwise, I would really become blind and deaf in the future."

Hong Xinmin's lips moved; he was saying something, but his voice was very low, and only he could hear it clearly.

Haven't I already become blind and deaf now? Some things are happening right before my eyes, yet I see nothing and hear nothing.

Zhou Andong's words brought a great impact to Hong Xinmin and also gave him a new understanding of Zhou Andong.

No wonder Zhou Andong could reach such heights at a young age, heights that even he had to look up to.

It was because he had a sense of persistence, a sense of responsibility, and a great love in his heart—things that he had once possessed but had now lost.

Zhou Andong looked at Hong Xinmin and said with a serious face: "If you lose some things, you can just find them back. But if you clearly know you can find them back and don't go looking, that proves that this person is already terminally ill and beyond saving."

Hong Xinmin muttered: "Is it still in time to find them back now?"

A subtle smile curled the corners of Zhou Andong's mouth: "It's in time!"

Hong Xinmin fell into deep thought. Zhou Andong didn't disturb him; feeling he had eaten a bit too much that evening, he walked to a more spacious area and practiced a set of boxing.

After breaking into a sweat, he turned around and saw Hong Xinmin watching him without blinking.

"I didn't expect Chairman Zhou to know how to box."

Zhou Andong smiled, walked over, picked up his teacup, and gulped down the water in the cup in one go.

"Just practicing blindly, just exercising my body in my spare time."

Hong Xinmin didn't understand these things, but Zhou Andong was very steady when he boxed, and it was fluid and natural, looking very dashing; how could it be practicing blindly?

"Can you let me think about it properly?"

Zhou Andong nodded: "You can, but there isn't much time left."

"I understand!" Hong Xinmin stood up, "Then that's it, I'm going back."

Zhou Andong saw Hong Xinmin out of the main gate, watched him get in the car and leave, and a hint of a smile appeared on his face.

Jian Qiu came to his side carrying Su Su: "How was it?"

Zhou Andong said lightly: "Is the nickname 'Big Deceiver Zhou' for nothing?"

Jian Qiu rolled her eyes: "With the evidence in your hands, you could completely send Yuan Hongbiao in; why must you drag Hong Xinmin into the water?"

Zhou Andong took out a cigarette to smoke, but seeing Su Su in Jian Qiu's arms, he put the cigarette back in his pocket.

"A new emperor brings new courtiers; now that Zuo Xingqing is here, our investment here is guaranteed. Once Zuo Xingqing is transferred, if we move against Yuan Hongbiao now, it will bury hidden dangers for the future.

So, since I've chosen to make a move, I'll deal with everything that needs to be dealt with, so we won't have trouble later."

Jian Qiu said: "If Hong Xinmin really agrees, then it will be hard for him to get along in officialdom in the future; everyone will have to guard against him, and he might even be completely isolated."

Zhou Andong reached out and took Su Su: "Without breaking, there is no building; breaking and then building, great breaking and great building, leads to a new life."

Jian Qiu pondered for a moment: "This depends on how Zuo Xingqing views this matter; if he supports it, Hong Xinmin will gain a new life after great breaking and great building. If Zuo Xingqing doesn't support it, you can just pat your butt and leave, and Hong Xinmin will be in danger."

Zhou Andong kissed Su Su's little face: "The greater the risk, the higher the return. So, it depends on what Hong Xinmin thinks."

A Santana was speeding on the highway; Hong Xinmin closed his eyes, leaned against the back of the seat, and his furrowed brows never relaxed.

After arriving home, he sat in his study alone smoking, and didn't return to the bedroom until after twelve, but he kept tossing and turning and couldn't sleep.

The next morning, he didn't even eat breakfast; he went to his office, stood by the window with his hands behind his back, and stood there for over an hour.

He was indeed very conflicted, because he understood the danger inside, and of course, he also saw the opportunity.

"Clap, clap, clap..."

The office door was suddenly knocked. Hong Xinmin came back to his senses, turned around slowly, and sat in his chair.

"Come in!"

The secretary pushed the door open and came in, holding a stack of newspapers in his hand.

"Leader, these are today's newspapers."

Hong Xinmin nodded: "Put them on the table."

The secretary put the newspapers on the desk, brewed another cup of tea for Hong Xinmin, and then walked out.

Hong Xinmin first opened the City Daily, didn't see any news, then opened the Autonomous Region Daily, and saw at a glance that Zhao Xiang of Longjiang was being investigated.

Seeing this news gave Hong Xinmin a great shock, and then he gritted his teeth, grabbed the phone, and quickly dialed a string of numbers.

"Come to my office immediately."