Chapter 112: A Storm Aimed at Himself!

Saturday.

Tang Ye and Du Xi met at the shopping mall.

"I got paid yesterday, so I'm treating today."

"Let me do it instead; otherwise, people will think my teeth are bad."

Du Xi's beautiful eyes rolled, she realized what he meant, and said with a smile, "How about this: you treat me to a meal. But you have to agree to one request of mine."

Tang Ye was caught between laughter and tears, "What request?"

"I'll tell you after we finish eating."

Basement level, food court.

They found a small restaurant and ordered five dishes.

"For two people, ordering this much is too wasteful."

"Aren't I afraid you'll think I'm stingy?"

"How could I? It's not like we just met today. Am I that kind of person?"

"Then don't let it happen again."

The two had a good appetite; the five dishes were almost completely wiped out.

Du Xi contentedly rubbed her slightly protruding belly.

"So full! Next, you have to accompany me to shop at the mall!"

Tang Ye readily agreed, "No problem!"

Du Xi led Tang Ye to the men's clothing section on the second floor.

Only then did Tang Ye realize that Du Xi intended to buy him clothes.

Du Xi pulled Tang Ye around the brand stores.

Tang Ye secretly thought that Du Xi had good taste and was quite thoughtful; the few pieces of clothing she chose all suited his profession, being steady without losing style.

Du Xi picked up a piece of clothing.

She held it up against Tang Ye's body to compare.

"Try it on!"

Tang Ye took off his jacket.

Du Xi took the jacket and held it in her arms.

Although he was wearing a shirt, Tang Ye's long-term fitness made his muscle lines distinct, and Du Xi stared in a daze.

After Tang Ye changed his clothes, he looked in the mirror, "It fits quite well."

Du Xi nodded in satisfaction and said with a smile, "Then we'll take this one."

Tang Ye looked at the price, which was about half a month's salary, and hurriedly took out his wallet.

"It's already great that you're helping me pick out clothes. Let me pay!"

Du Xi hurriedly pressed Tang Ye's hand and said angrily, "That won't do."

Du Xi's face flushed red.

A warm current flowed from Du Xi's palm into Tang Ye's heart.

"Alright, I'll defer to your wishes."

Watching Tang Ye, who had been tidied up from head to toe by her, Du Xi felt a special sense of accomplishment.

"Shall we go to the women's clothing section on the third floor and look around?"

"I have to wear my police uniform most of the time and don't have the chance to wear casual clothes, so I don't need any."

"Then shall I treat you to a movie?"

Du Xi preferred finding a quiet coffee shop, ordering a cup of coffee, and chatting aimlessly.

But seeing Tang Ye insist, she agreed anyway.

There weren't many audience members, and Du Xi and Tang Ye obediently took their seats according to their seat numbers.

A few young couples were not so well-behaved, scattered in the corners, whispering sweet nothings.

The movie began.

*Fearless*, starring Li Lianjie.

Tang Ye watched with great interest, occasionally whispering a few words related to the plot to Du Xi.

As she got into the story, Du Xi would sometimes knit her brows tightly and sometimes gasp softly.

Beneath her pretty appearance, her lively and spirited temperament made her even more charming.

The movie ended.

Tang Ye sent Du Xi back to Yunhu Courtyard.

Hearing that Tang Ye had arrived, Xiao Qin enthusiastically invited him into the house and urged him to stay for dinner that evening.

At this moment, Du Chengfeng walked downstairs with a grave expression and called Tang Ye into the study.

"Little Tang, take a look at this."

Tang Ye picked up the materials on the table and began to read.

His brows gradually became gloomy.

This was a complaint letter.

It was about the issue of the illegal transfer of 193 mu of land in Liuqiao Village, Pinghu Town.

Clearly, it was aimed at him.

Since the complaint had reached Du Chengfeng, it meant that many people in the county had already seen the materials.

Many people were watching from the sidelines to see how Du Chengfeng would handle it.

Problems have appeared in Pinghu, and as Town Mayor, he is duty-bound.

Of course, Tang Ye could also pass the buck to Xu Yiping or Wang Kaicheng.

But that would make him appear to lack responsibility.

"How much do you know about this issue?"

Tang Ye answered truthfully, "This is my first time encountering this material. I had oversights when I was reviewing the urban planning earlier. I did not go to the site to verify things one by one. Please rest assured, I will definitely give the common people a satisfactory answer."

Du Chengfeng nodded at Tang Ye, "You have just taken on the role of Town Mayor, and many people are watching you. I believe you can handle this matter well."

Tang Ye took the materials and left the Du Residence.

Xiao Qin found Du Chengfeng, "Wasn't it agreed that little Tang would stay for dinner?"

Du Chengfeng said expressionlessly, "Compared to eating, he has more important things to do."

Xiao Qin frowned and complained, "How long could a meal possibly delay things?"

Du Chengfeng sat in the study, knitting his brows in deep thought.

Previously, Tang Ye was hidden in the shadows, so no one paid him any attention.

But now, as a tall tree catches the wind, everyone knows he is the young cadre he appreciates and trusts the most.

Naturally, he has become a target for others to attack.

The issues mentioned in the materials belong to historical leftovers.

If they are not handled, they could easily turn into hidden dangers.

Tang Ye chose to face them head-on, which shows great sense of responsibility!

……

Even though it was Saturday, Tang Ye still rushed to Pinghu.

According to the address mentioned in the materials, he found that plot of land.

A high wall was built on the outside, and looking inside from the rusted iron gate, one could see it was overgrown with weeds.

Tang Ye paused for a moment.

Two wolfhounds rushed over and barked incessantly.

Fearing to alert the enemy, Tang Ye left for the time being.

Nearby, there was a mobile stall selling cooked food.

The stall owner was a woman in her thirties.

Tang Ye went up to strike up a conversation.

"Madam, weigh me half a catty of pig head meat and a portion of salted peanuts."

The woman deftly cut the pig head meat.

"My pig ears sell especially well; I guarantee that after you eat them once, you'll want them again. Would you like some?"

"Give me half a catty; I can't eat any more than that."

The woman cut the pig ears and tallied the bill.

"Fifteen yuan in total, the salted peanuts are on the house. Come back if they're good."

"Thank you."

Tang Ye did not rush to leave and tried to get on good terms with the woman.

"Big sister, you are a very kind person. May I ask your surname?"

"My surname is Liu."

"How long has that plot of land been fenced off? Are they planning to build a factory?"

"Don't even mention it; this land was sold long ago. At first, they said they were going to build an auto parts factory, then later they said they were going to build a residential complex. It has changed hands several times and gone through several bosses.

Pinghu is about to build a Resort Project, so this current boss has made a fortune; it's said he can make tens of millions. It's a pity for us villagers. The land has been rented out for several years, and we've never seen a cent!"

Tang Ye's heart sank.

"Why didn't they give you the money?"

"When we signed the papers back then, they promised everything would be fine and that we'd get the money in three months at most. But we haven't even seen a shadow of it, and the village and the Town Government have been passing the buck."

Tang Ye's thoughts were churning!

This land was transferred by treating fertile fields as commercial land, with a rent of fifty or sixty thousand per year. The Town Government transferred this money to the village, but not a single cent entered the villagers' pockets; there must be a parasite hiding somewhere!

"For a woman like you to guard a stall all by yourself, it must be quite difficult!"

Big Sister Liu sighed helplessly, "I used to be a farmer. Without land to till, the children need to go to school, and my husband has lung disease; money is needed everywhere. I have no choice but to find another way out and do some small business. I hope that by the end of the year, I can save enough for the surgery fees, otherwise I'm afraid my man won't be able to hold on.

That three-story building with glazed tiles was built by the Village Chief Liu Guang last year.

Heh, this world! The poor are poor to death, and the rich are rich to death."

"That's outrageous! Is there no one to manage this?"

"Who would manage it? Whoever takes the lead gets targeted.

They come to your door in the middle of the night to intimidate and harass you. Children aren't allowed to go to school, and adults aren't allowed to work. Even more extreme, they send you to a Study Class for 'reformation'.

The Town Mayor and the Village Chief are all scoundrels. The hearts of those in office are all black!"

He was being cursed along with them!

Tang Ye was so angry his face turned red!

A raging fire ignited in his heart!

Tang Ye managed to suppress his anger and calm his emotions.

An idea appeared in his mind.

"Sister Liu, may I ask when you close your stall?"

"In two hours."

"I have a presumptuous request: could you take me to your home for dinner tonight? I live alone, so there's no need for me to cook."

This young man was truly quick to get familiar!

Big Sister Liu was stunned for a moment, then said with a smile, "Sure, but the food at my place isn't very good."

Tang Ye laughed easily, "It's fine, as long as there's something hot to eat!"

Two hours later, Tang Ye was chatting and laughing as he helped Big Sister Liu pack up her stall, carrying the cooked food and heading home with her.

Of course, Tang Ye wasn't doing this just to sponge a meal!

Since he had to uncover the truth, he needed to go deep among the villagers to get firsthand information!