Chapter 683: A Prodigal Who Returns Is Worth More Than Gold!

Tang Ye flipped through the report on special poverty alleviation funds sent over by the Finance Bureau for a while.

He used a pen to circle and mark many suspicious points on the report.

The door was knocked, Ma Ran walked in, and said softly, "Lu Guiping's wife has arrived."

Tang Ye stood up and instructed, "Please ask her to come in."

Lu Guiping's wife was about forty years old; her figure was well-maintained, but the weariness of life was hard to hide on her face. The moment she saw Tang Ye, tears instantly slid from the corners of her eyes, and she choked out, "County Magistrate Tang, thank you! If it weren't for you, Old Lu would have really committed a grave mistake this time. I want to beg you to help him; he isn't actually a bad person."

Tang Ye pulled a few tissues from a tissue box and handed them to her, soothing her: "Don't get agitated yet, and don't be too pessimistic. We are thoroughly investigating the cause and effect of this matter. Although what Old Lu did had a bad impact, considering he has an attitude of actively admitting his mistakes, we will handle it leniently."

Lu Guiping's wife nodded vigorously: "I understand your difficulties."

Tang Ye glanced at Ma Ran and asked, "Is the car ready?"

"It's already waiting downstairs!" Ma Ran replied hurriedly.

Tang Ye stood up and said softly, "Let's go, we're going to see Old Lu."

Lu Guiping's wife wiped away her tears, and after getting into the car, she even took a makeup kit out of her bag to carefully apply foundation and lipstick, wanting to see her husband looking more spirited.

Lu Guiping was currently still being detained at the Detention Center of the County Public Security Bureau. Over the past two days, he had recalled everything he had experienced over these past few years from beginning to end, like a movie playing.

"Lu Guiping, someone is here to see you!" the detention officer shouted loudly.

Lu Guiping stood up and walked into the visitation room. Seeing his wife sitting opposite him, he was first stunned, then a surge of excitement welled up, and finally, he sat down dejectedly, his voice hoarse: "Why did you come?"

His wife reached out to grab his hand, her eyes reddening: "Don't you want to see me?"

Lu Guiping gave a bitter smile: "I've been reflecting seriously on what I've done over these years these past few days; if you hadn't come to see me, I would have understood."

"Back then, when I contracted the coal mine and made money, I gradually forgot my roots and did too many foolish things."

"I've let you down, let the children down, let Mom and Dad down, and even more so, I've let this family down."

His wife shook her head vigorously, her tone firm: "You are the pillar of this family; I knew you would wake up sooner or later."

Lu Guiping gritted his back teeth and said full of remorse: "The trouble I caused this time is too big; I'll definitely have to go to jail. Don't wait for me, find a good man and marry him."

His wife wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes and said stubbornly: "What kind of nonsense are you talking about? I will wait for you! You have to trust County Magistrate Tang; he will definitely help us."

Lu Guiping gave a bitter smile: "I know County Magistrate Tang promised me he wouldn't pursue heavy charges, but this matter has blown up so big, how can it just be forgotten like that?"

His wife said softly: "County Magistrate Tang specifically brought me here today. Don't lose heart; he wants to have a chat with you."

Tang Ye then walked into the visitation room.

A smile mixed with shame and gratitude appeared on the corner of Lu Guiping's mouth: "County Magistrate Tang, my wife was brought here by you, right? Thank you."

Tang Ye felt deeply moved and said softly: "Regarding your issue, I have already discussed it with the leaders in the county. You indeed won't be able to gain your freedom in the short term, but once the wind blows over, we will arrange for you to get out—we have to give the society and the masses an explanation after all."

Lu Guiping looked at Tang Ye in surprise and instantly understood his meaning:

He might be sentenced quite heavily, but there would be a sentence reduction later.

"County Magistrate Tang, to have such a result is already far beyond my expectations."

Seeing Lu Guiping clearly heave a sigh of relief, Tang Ye sighed inwardly and continued: "It is estimated that in six months at most, you will be able to regain your freedom. In addition, the Government will arrange a stable job for your wife later on;"

"As for the coal mine you previously operated, the county will acquire it, and afterwards, you can participate in dividends in the form of shareholding."

"Currently, Gao Feng has already been arrested, and Hu Dake, Chen Mazi, and the village cadres of Runfeng Village who participated in the shareholding will also be held accountable according to the law."

Hearing such a resolution, Lu Guiping could no longer control his inner excitement, his voice trembling: "County Magistrate Tang, thank you so much! If it weren't for you, I might have really committed a monstrous mistake this time and never had the chance to turn back."

A prodigal who returns is worth more than gold.

Lu Guiping knew clearly in his heart that he was lucky this time—if Tang Ye hadn't intervened in time, he would have likely been silenced by the snipers arranged by the other party.

Surviving this great disaster and still having the chance to start over as a person, although the process was bumpy, it wasn't a bad thing after all.

Seeing his emotions gradually stabilize, Tang Ye advised him earnestly: "Old Lu, you've been wronged during this period. What's done is done; don't dwell on it repeatedly. Think more about how to live your life and how to make it up to your family after you get out."

Lu Guiping clenched his fists tightly, his eyes firm: "When I get out, I will definitely take good care of my family and never do foolish things again!"

……

Office of the Director of the Coal Bureau

Liang Yuan was restless in his office.

Hu Dake and Chen Mazi being arrested, the personnel adjustments at the Coal Transportation and Marketing Company—these matters were all implemented after the County Government directly issued personnel arrangements, and the relevant documents weren't even passed to him.

The only explanation was that he had already been given the cold shoulder.

Liang Yuan tried to go to the County Party Committee Compound to report his work to Jiang Anbang, but he was stopped by Jiang Anbang's Secretary just as he reached the entrance.

The office landline suddenly rang. After Liang Yuan picked it up and heard it was his third daughter's voice, he immediately frowned and said: "It's work hours now. Haven't I told you many times? Don't call me if there's nothing important!"

His daughter replied coquettishly: "Who made my dear daddy angry? I didn't mean to disturb you—I bought the Samsung phone I've been wanting, and I wanted to share it with you first!"

Liang Yuan's tone became increasingly impatient, and he interrupted her: "Got it! I have other things to handle."

As soon as he finished speaking, he hung up the phone in a hurry.

At this moment, the office door was pushed open heavily, and several people walked straight in.

Liang Yuan was instantly dumbfounded. He tried hard to put on a calm posture, but seeing this formation, it was like the King of Hell knocking at his door, and his mentality collapsed instantly.

He tried to stand steady, but after trying several times, his legs still wouldn't listen to him.

Finally, with the joint support of the comrades from the Discipline Inspection Commission, he managed to stand up from his office chair.

Liang Yuan followed the comrades from the Discipline Inspection Commission out of the office, and just as he reached downstairs, he suddenly squatted down.

Seeing this, a comrade from the Discipline Inspection Commission asked in confusion: "What's wrong with you?"

Liang Yuan forced something into the flower bed and looked up with a squeezed smile: "Nothing, just a bit of an upset stomach."

Liang Yuan hadn't walked far when a comrade from the Discipline Inspection Commission behind him suddenly spoke up: "Director Liang, you dropped something!"

When Liang Yuan saw the golden watch dangling in that comrade's hand, his heart skipped a beat.

It was exactly the one he had deliberately dropped into the flower bed when he bent over just now.

At this moment, he could only bite the bullet and play dumb: "Comrade, you're mistaken, that's not mine."

A cold sneer curled the corner of the Discipline Inspection Commission comrade's mouth: "Is that so? In broad daylight, a golden watch can grow out of the Coal Bureau's flower bed out of thin air; that's quite a rarity."

Liang Yuan, we have gathered enough evidence, which is why we are taking action against you!

You had better be honest; don't think you can muddle through this."