Chapter 386: Willing? Of course I am willing!

"I am willing, of course I am willing!"

Cao Lei only felt a wave of dizziness.

He had once thought his official career had fallen into a desperate situation, but he had not expected to welcome a turning point where the dark clouds parted to reveal the light.

At this moment, he finally understood why he had slapped Zhou Liang in the face last night and yet remained unscathed.

Cheng Lin's gaze was gentle: "Comrade Cao Lei, County Magistrate Tang and I have gained an in-depth understanding of your situation; your spirit and courage are admirable. I hope that after you arrive at your new post, you will continue to maintain this enthusiasm. Additionally, regarding the issue of your father's treatment, the organization has already taken it into consideration and will do its best to coordinate and resolve the medical expenses."

Cao Lei's throat choked up, and tears welled up in his eyes: "Secretary Cheng, when I went home last night, my wife told me that you and County Magistrate Tang personally visited to offer your condolences; I still feel like I am dreaming. Thank you for your trust and promotion, and even more, thank you to the organization for extending a helping hand."

Cheng Lin smiled and turned her gaze toward Tang Ye: "You should thank County Magistrate Tang; it was he who strongly recommended you. He is in charge of the Industrial Park, and from now on, you must fully cooperate with his work."

Cao Lei looked toward Tang Ye, his eyes filled with gratitude: "County Magistrate Tang, please rest assured, I will definitely go all out in my new post and will never fail to live up to the kindness of your and Secretary Cheng's appreciation."

Seeing him unable to suppress his emotions, Tang Ye said in a gentle tone: "Later, I will send you the contact information for an Expert in the Oncology Department of the Municipal People's Hospital. Take your father to receive active treatment as soon as possible, and contact me at any time if you need anything."

Cao Lei thanked him repeatedly and walked out of the County Party Committee Compound with his mind a complete blank.

Once, he had thought that government institutions were cold arenas of power, filled with deceit and the exchange of interests, where pure trust between people was hard to come by.

However, the helping hand that Tang Ye and Cheng Lin had extended in his desperate situation had shaken this perception of his.

He understood that as the leader in charge of the Industrial Park, Tang Ye needed a reliable person to be his "eyes and ears" in the Management Committee.

The deeply rooted and complex relationships in the Management Committee were far more complicated than those in Dongwan Township.

But at this moment, Cao Lei's heart was filled more with being moved and with determination: this trust was precious, and he must stand firm in his new post and not fail their expectations.

Returning to the Dongwan Township office, Cao Lei could not wait to dial his wife's phone: "Wife, there is great news! I am being transferred to the Management Committee to be a Deputy Director! Those two people who came to the house yesterday really were Deputy Secretary Cheng Lin and Deputy County Magistrate Tang Ye!"

"They are actually leaders in the county? They are so young!"

"Don't look at how young they are; they are both very capable."

The sound of his wife's choked-up voice came from the other end of the phone: "Sob, sob, sob, Old Cao, I knew it, your persistence would not be in vain..."

Inside the office of the Executive Deputy County Magistrate, Nie Kai's gaze was fixed intently on the personnel appointment notice just issued by the County Party Committee Organization Department.

Relieving Cao Lei of his post as Deputy Township Head of Dongwan Township, and appointing him as Deputy Director of the Suiyuan County Industrial Park Management Committee.

This seemingly lateral job transfer was, in Nie Kai's eyes, like a resounding slap in the face.

That Cao Lei, who had been used as a scapegoat by Liao Guosheng, had actually transformed and was openly and brazenly inserted into the Suiyuan County Industrial Park Management Committee.

Nie Kai's fingertips unconsciously rubbed the edge of the document, and alarm bells rang in his heart. This was clearly Tang Ye laying out a plan without making a sound.

Starting from within the leadership team of the Industrial Park Management Committee to gradually dismantle his power.

In just over a month, from project promotion to personnel adjustments, Tang Ye had actually revealed his edge in silence.

Such thunderous methods forced Nie Kai to re-examine this new Deputy County Magistrate who sported a tuft of white hair.

Inside the office of the Urban Management Bureau's law enforcement team, the hand Zhou Liang was using to hold his teacup suddenly shook, and boiling tea splashed onto the desktop.

He stared at the message he had just received on his phone, his face instantly turning deathly pale.

The notice of Cao Lei's transfer to Deputy Director of the Industrial Park Management Committee was clearly visible.

"Didn't they say he would never be able to turn things around in this lifetime?" he muttered to himself, his voice full of shock and confusion.

A knock on the door sounded abruptly, and three men in suits filed in; the leader flashed his credentials: "Comrade Zhou Liang, please come with us. We are from the County Commission for Discipline Inspection. We have received reports that you are suspected of embezzling public funds and abusing your power for personal gain."

"Did you make a mistake?"

"The Discipline Inspection Commission does not come to the door without reason. Please cooperate with our investigation, otherwise, we will have no choice but to enforce the law by force."

Zhou Liang's pupils contracted violently as he stared at the people in front of him in disbelief.

In an instant, the scene from the food stall last night flashed through his mind like a movie sequence.

The way he had wantonly mocked Cao Lei at the time, and the meaningful looks from Cheng Lin and Tang Ye.

At this moment, he only felt a chill on the back of his neck, and a bitter taste rose in his throat.

He had thought Cao Lei was a drowning dog that had been stepped on.

But he had not expected that he was the prey that had accidentally touched the spider web.

After Nie Kai learned the news that Zhou Liang had been taken away by the County Commission for Discipline Inspection for investigation, he fell into silence.

The Liaison Officer looked at Nie Kai with a complex expression and asked with concern: "County Magistrate Nie, are you alright? Do you want to go to the hospital to get checked out?"

Nie Kai silently pulled open a drawer, took out a white medicine bottle, poured out a pill, swallowed it with warm water, and then waved his hand, his voice weary but firm: "I am fine."

The Liaison Officer's gaze remained fixed on Nie Kai, filled with worry and complexity.

In the eyes of the crowd, Nie Kai had always been decisive in his actions, and some even evaluated him as "unscrupulous."

It was precisely this decisiveness and ruthlessness that became his unique personal charm—his subordinates feared his methods, but they also trusted his sense of responsibility.

"Xiao Deng, you have been by my side for two years, right?" After taking the medicine, a trace of color returned to Nie Kai's pale face; he recovered his composure, turned to the Liaison Officer, and instructed softly, "There is a Study Class at the Municipal Party School recently; go and sign up for it."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Deng sighed softly: "County Magistrate Nie, I understand what you mean, but at this critical juncture, you need me..."

Nie Kai waved his hand, his gaze cast toward the overcast sky outside the window, his tone carrying a bit more of the vicissitudes of life: "I have worked in Suiyuan for so many years, and the controversy surrounding me from the outside world has never ceased. Some say I am a man of action, and others curse me as an ambitious careerist. Before Chen Jiadong killed his wife, I specifically sought him out to have a heart-to-heart talk, telling him to settle down and take care of his family. Who would have thought he would turn around and kill his wife, and now everyone outside is spreading rumors that I am the mastermind..."

Xiao Deng said excitedly, "They don't understand you; after the incident, you have been secretly taking care of his daughter and parents."

Xiao Deng's eye sockets turned slightly red.

Having been by Nie Kai's side for these years, he knew that this superior treated his subordinates well.

The world only saw Nie Kai "turning a blind eye" to projects, but they did not know he often said the principle: "If you want the horse to run fast, you have to let the horse eat enough grass."

"County Magistrate Nie, why don't you... concede to Secretary Han?" Xiao Deng asked hesitantly.

Nie Kai raised his eyes to look at this young man who had followed him for two years and slowly shook his head: "If I bow my head, how many brothers will fall with me? Secretary Wang is being investigated, County Magistrate Gao is a mere figurehead, and I am the best target for Secretary Han to establish his authority. As long as I hold on, the others can be safe. The brothers are all watching..."

His voice carried a desperation of staking everything on one throw, "Besides, I have no way out anymore."

He wanted to retreat, but behind him was a bottomless abyss!

Why, even though Xiao Jingyu had already reached the provincial level, did Nie Kai still cling so desperately to his leg?

Why, knowing Tang Ye's identity, did he still not hesitate to oppose him!

It was not because he was blindly loyal!

Or perhaps unable to see the grand trend!

It was because that Xiao Jingyu was the only straw to clutch to bring a dead game back to life!

Some paths are taken wrongly, and even knowing there is an abyss ahead, one has no other choice!