Chapter 775

Wang Qigang grew angrier as he spoke, his fingers tapping the tabletop: "Besides, his three directives today—every word is a barb! Re‑investigate Liu Jianjun's death? Conduct a full review of Integrity Company? Halt construction at Cloud Peak Mountain Villa? What is he trying to do? Is he trying to pierce the sky of Wuzhou? Zhao Group is Wuzhou's biggest taxpayer, and Cloud Peak Mountain Villa is a key project of the city! By doing this, he's affecting Wuzhou's overall economic development."

"Well… should we let the General Manager know?"

Li Bin understood Wang Qigang's temper; hearing it, he immediately grasped that the boss wanted to revive this losing game.

Wang Qigang fell silent for a moment.

He suddenly waved his hand and replied, "For now, no need. Zhao Tianyu is too reckless and prone to cause trouble; first let's see how much Lin Dongfan is worth."

Tomorrow, in the name of the Municipal Party Committee Office, issue a meeting memo that accurately conveys the spirit of today's on‑site office meeting.

The wording must be rigorous!

"It must both reflect the Municipal Party Committee's emphasis on public concerns and stress the importance of safeguarding key projects and optimizing the business environment."

"Understood."

Li Bin nodded, understanding implicitly.

These are typical officialdom balancing tactics—saying something while actually saying nothing, all about having an advance and retreat with justification.

"Moreover…"

Wang Qigang rubbed his forehead.

He further instructed: "Isn't Lin Dongfan supposed to have each department write a situation report? Keep an eye on it and see what they write. Especially… you need to know what should be said and what shouldn't be said!"

His final words were spoken in a grim tone.

Li Bin quickly agreed in his heart.

He knew that the rift between the Party Secretary and Mayor Lin, from today onward, was no longer a thorn buried in the soil but a prickly weed breaking through the ground!

That evening.

The shantytown in the western suburbs looked even more dilapidated, with only a few scattered lights.

In Liu Guizhi's mourning shed, the eternal lamp was still lit, swaying in the night wind.

Her daughter had curled up asleep on the makeshift bunk, but Liu Guizzi felt no sleepiness.

She clutched her husband's portrait, her tears dried, leaving only numbness and a faint hope kindled by Mayor Lin.

Suddenly, a car engine sounded from afar, grew nearer, and finally stopped outside her door.

Liu Guizhi's heart tightened, and she instinctively held her daughter tighter.

Footsteps sounded, unhurried, followed by a polite knock—three times, very restrained.

"Aunt Liu, aren't you resting yet? I'm Zhao Tianyu of the Zhao Group; I'd like to chat with you." A gentle male voice came from outside the door, starkly different from the arrogance of the thugs earlier that day.

Liu Guizhi hesitated a moment, then rose and opened the door a crack.

Two people stood outside.

In front was a man in his thirties wearing casual business attire, handsome with a proper smile—none other than Zhao Tianyu, the Zhao Group's princeling.

Behind him stood a silent, burly man in black, like a wall.

"Sorry to disturb you so late."

Zhao Tianyu was unusually polite today.

He bowed slightly, lowering his posture: "Today during the day, my subordinates were inconsiderate and offended your family; I apologize on their behalf."

An apology?

Liu Guizhi peered at this unexpected visitor through the door crack, her face tense with disbelief. It felt like a dream—what she saw was utterly unreal, too unreal!

Zhao Tianyu didn't care about Liu Guizhi's reaction.

He pulled a thick envelope from his briefcase and slipped it through the crack: "Here is 200,000 yuan in cash, a token of my goodwill, to help you and your child get through this emergency."

Liu Guizzi jerked her hand back as if scalded: "I… I don't want it…"

"Aunt Liu, don't misunderstand—I have no other agenda today." Zhao Tianyu kept his smile, unfailingly courteous: "This money is pure humanitarian aid, a small gesture. I've also heard about your husband's passing; it's most regrettable. The dead cannot return to life, but the living must look ahead, don't you agree?"

He placed the envelope on the threshold.

He continued: "I know Mayor Lin came today and spoke up for you. Mayor Lin is a good leader who cares for the people. However, the government has its procedures; investigations take time and effort, and the final outcome is uncertain. In contrast, you and your child need to get on with normal life—you can't afford to delay."

Having said that, Zhao Tianyu paused to gauge Liu Guizhi's reaction.

Seeing Liu Guizhi's eyes well up.

Zhao Tianyu then pressed further: "I have a proposal that could quickly lay your husband to rest while also securing you and your child ample compensation, so you can live without worry—would you be interested in hearing it?"

"What proposal?"

Liu Guizhi widened the door crack a little, looking at Zhao Tianyu in surprise.

"It's simple."

"Tomorrow, go to the police station and clarify—just say your husband Liu Jianjun unfortunately died from an asthma attack that wasn't treated in time."

Although he had a conflict with the demolition crew.

It was merely a verbal spat, never rising to physical violence, and the demolition crew did not seize your husband's medicine—he dropped it himself by accident.

"You were so distraught at the time that you misremembered."

Hearing this, Liu Guizhi's face turned pale, and in her tear‑glimmering eyes a flash of resentment appeared.

All of this was clearly anticipated by Zhao Tianyu.

"If you say that, the compensation I promised will be paid immediately—not fifty thousand, not the amount Mayor Lin mentioned, but this amount."

Saying this, Zhao Tianyu extended three fingers.

"Three million yuan in cash, paid in one lump sum—enough for you to buy a decent home in the city, put your daughter through school, and still have some left over for a small business. Your husband in heaven would surely wish you and your daughter a good life. Please consider this carefully; it would benefit everyone."

It combined threats, inducements, and appeals to reason.

Liu Guizhi trembled with rage—not moved, but terrified!

Three million yuan was an astronomical sum to her! Yet to have her betray her conscience, claim her husband died of illness, and deny what those beasts had done…

"I… I can't…" she struggled to shake her head: "My husband was killed by them…"

"Older Sister Liu!" Zhao Tianyu interrupted her, the smile on his face fading: "Speak only after you've thought it through clearly. Mayor Lin can protect you for a while, but can he protect you for a lifetime? He just came to Wuzhou—how many things does he have on his plate? Wuzhou is so big—how many things happen each day? Can he keep up? Don't be so naive."

He bent slightly, lowering his voice even more, yet it carried a bone-chilling cold.

"Your daughter, her name is Niu Niu, right? She's six, in first grade at the West Suburb Elementary School. The little girl is really cute—I saw her photo, her eyes are like yours, clear and lively."

Liu Guizhi felt as if struck by lightning, she jerked her head up, her eyes filled with terror.

Zhao Tianyu straightened up, patted the non-existent dust off his suit, and returned to that gentle tone: "Money, I've left it here. As for the matter, think it over again. Give me an answer by tomorrow noon. After all, everyone needs to consider their own and their family's future, right?"

He smiled, turned, and walked toward the black Mercedes sedan.

The burly man in black gave Liu Guizhi a deep look.

He also followed after.

The car slid silently into the darkness.

On the threshold, that bulging envelope, in the dim light, resembled a red-hot branding iron, searing into Liu Guizhi's heart.

The night wind blew past the memorial shrine, the everlasting lamp swayed violently a few times, almost extinguishing.

Liu Guizhi crossed her arms, slowly squatted down, and buried her face in her knees. In the night, the helpless sobs—no one knew if they disturbed the deceased in the coffin.