Chapter 412: Gao Qiqiang

Zhang Ping'an did not alert the enemy; those recorded above were likely just small fry, and he probably couldn't reach the big tiger behind them, Guo Zhipeng.

This was a bit troublesome; Zhou Jianshe lived in a family building, and there were people everywhere, so it was truly difficult for him to sneak in.

After returning home, Zhang Ping'an had no clear thoughts; these guys were certainly meticulous in their work and wouldn't easily reveal flaws, even if the cellar at Guo Zhipeng's old home was hidden beneath a vegetable cellar, which would be hard for an average person to discover.

It was just that the moisture-proofing measures weren't done well, and the stacks of bills at the bottom had all turned damp and moldy.

The next morning, security brought good news: Zhou Jianshe had another property on the edge of Yantai City, a quiet courtyard, and in the past half-month, only his wife had been seen visiting it once.

After memorizing the address, Zhang Ping'an snuck in that same night; no one lived there, and Zhang Ping'an easily picked the lock with two pieces of wire.

Scanning for profit, Zhang Ping'an quickly discovered the trick; it was similar to Guo Zhipeng's, except that most of Zhou Jianshe's money was hidden inside the walls, and it hadn't been touched for a long time either.

There was also a safe here, hidden very discreetly behind a wall clock, but there wasn't much money inside; most of it consisted of gift-giving records—which day he gave how much to whom, and which day who gave how much to him—every single transaction was recorded clearly.

Zhang Ping'an felt a jolt of shock looking at the records; Yantai City would likely face a major purge this time, and perhaps his relative by marriage would have to stay behind to take charge of the overall situation.

There were also quite a few fine wines and cigarettes in the room, which were likely tributes from subordinate units.

Now that he had caught them red-handed, Zhang Ping'an didn't hesitate; at daybreak, he called Zhong Zhenbei, which should count as a political achievement for him.

"What? Ping'an, you can't joke about this; that is a prefecture-level city."

"Big Brother, I have absolute certainty; I saw the illicit money and the notebooks, but I didn't touch them."

"Good, you were right not to touch them; you must not alert the enemy, wait for my call."

Zhong Zhenbei did not doubt Zhang Ping'an's intelligence channels; after all, his security detail was no weaker than his own father's guards, and he likely only took action this time because of his relative by marriage.

This matter was no small thing; according to what Zhang Ping'an just said, one Department-level Official, three deputy department-level officials, and a pile of other Division-level Cadres—this had almost poked a hornet's nest.

Zhong Zhenbei quickly organized a fifteen-person investigation team, parachuted directly into Yantai, and drew personnel from Jingzhou and other cities, arriving in Yantai in complete secrecy.

One week later, at a certain Reception House in Yantai, nearly two hundred people had gathered; the two account books had already appeared in the hands of the person in charge, with Zhong Zhenguo as the deputy team leader.

"Public Security comrades are responsible for secretly monitoring the people on the list to prevent anyone from jumping the wall in desperation and fleeing; Discipline Inspection Commission comrades are to prepare for interrogations; everyone else, stand by."

"Yes."

Guo Zhipeng and Zhou Jianshe were secretly detained at the first opportunity, and Guo Zhipeng couldn't hold out and was the first to confess.

"Team Leader Zhong, I didn't spend a single cent; I didn't dare. Our family has been farmers for generations; we were scared of being poor."

"I didn't dare touch a single cent; it was all in the cellar."

"When you were raking in piles of black money, why didn't you think about being a farmer's son?"

"Team Leader Zhong, I was wrong..." Guo Zhipeng was tearful, his face full of remorse.

Once there was a first, there was a second; Zhou Jianshe didn't hold out for many days either. Following Zhou Jianshe's confession, the Discipline Inspection Commission also took action, and soon everyone on the confession list was placed under 'custody for investigation'.

Guo Zhipeng's home cellar was dug up, and the walls of Zhou Jianshe's home were smashed open; those stacks of banknotes shocked everyone.

"Count them quickly; try to get them recorded by tonight."

"Yes."

The Yantai City Government was holding its weekly regular meeting when a group of people burst in.

"You can't go in! Secretary Tian, they..."

"Who are you people? Don't you know we are holding a regular meeting?"

"Secretary Tian, we are from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection."

Zhong Zhenguo directly displayed his credentials; Tian Dadong, who had just stood up, collapsed limply into his chair and was subsequently carried away.

Tian Dadong knew that without solid evidence, they wouldn't dare move against a Department-level Official easily, but he never would have imagined that he was brought down by a winery.

There were three others whose legs also went soft; without exception, they were also carried out.

"Mayor Liu, I must ask you to take charge of the overall situation here."

"Good."

Liu Haiyang hadn't expected Zhang Ping'an to act so quickly, completing the data collection in less than a month; he hadn't heard a whisper of wind during this time—he was truly worthy of being the man of the Zhong Family's Mingzhu.

After another half-month of isolation and investigation, many retired Old Cadres were also implicated; now, not only did they lose their pensions, but they even faced the prospect of prison.

Nearly one million in cash was found in Tian Dadong's home, and his luxury watches and antiques were also worth over one hundred thousand.

As for Tian Dadong, he truthfully confessed to all his corruption and did not implicate others higher up; the investigation team knew that they had already overturned Yantai this time, and any deeper investigation would involve levels they couldn't reach.

Zhong Zhenguo had a successful start and could stand firm in the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection; Zhang Ping'an's trouble was resolved, and he could successfully obtain the winery; Liu Haiyang had vented his anger and might even stay in Yantai as the top leader—a triple win.

With Liu Haiyang there, Zhang Ping'an didn't pay attention to the aftermath; the winery was still under case investigation, and everything would have to wait until the dust settled.

Zhang Ping'an had already arrived in Jinghai at Guan Daye's home; the old man spent his days here happily with his great-grandson.

"Uncle Guan, are you used to it here?"

"Used to it, yes. It's not cold here all year round; it's better than Sijiucheng."

Guan Tai's subordinates here were very respectful to him; his grandson's business was booming, and other than some language barriers, everything else was fine.

The people from the Oriental Group had already withdrawn, and Guan Tai's company was now managed by Han Chunyan; you have to say, a top student is just different—she had the company running in perfect order as soon as she took over.

Guan Tai's subordinates were all convinced and respectful, calling her 'Sister-in-law' one by one.

"Ping'an, thank you."

"Uncle Guan, saying that makes us strangers, doesn't it? The friendship between us two has been over thirty years, not to mention that Xiaoguan is my daughter-in-law."

"Hahaha," Guan Daye laughed and pointed at Zhang Ping'an.

"Eat at home at noon."

"Sure."

At noon, Guan Tai and Han Chunyan also returned and were very happy to see Zhang Ping'an.

"Brother Zhang, those few people who gave money to help our company—they absolutely refuse to take it. Please talk to them; our construction company wouldn't have gotten off the ground without their big help."

"Fine, I'll talk to them; just give them a token of appreciation, they are already getting paid."

"Good."

In the afternoon, Zhang Ping'an went to the breeding farm, and only then did he learn that Gao Qiqiang's family had moved back to Jiu Chang Street.

"Their second son has reached school age, and there are no schools nearby, so they..." Yang Jianye said.

"Mm, good."

"It's a pity that the kid named Gao Qiqiang is cut out for business."

"Oh?"

"He likes reading military strategy books, and quite a few of the suggestions in our suggestion box regarding the shortcomings of the breeding farm were put forward by him."

"Oh? Really? How long has he been working here, that he can already offer suggestions?"

"It's true, General Manager Zhang. The Gao Qiqiang family has been working at our breeding farm for four years already."

Zhang Ping'an was taken aback upon hearing this; he really hadn't paid attention, as four years had already passed since his last visit to Jinghai.

"Do you know what he is doing now?"

"He set up a fish stall in the vegetable market on Jiu Chang Street."

"..."