He suddenly realized and said, "It seems that you have been kept in the dark. To put it bluntly, I am just an errand boy. The real boss behind Taixiang Coal Mine is actually General Lin."
I was surprised: "I heard that Lin Jincheng invested in this mine for you out of respect for our old friendship."
He looked aggrieved and replied, "That was true when Mr. Lin was alive. Since he passed away, Ms. Lin has used Taixiang as her cash machine. Many things that she couldn't pay from Daxun or couldn't handle in person, I had to pay for and do. To put it bluntly, I was just a pawn and a gun in her hand."
His words instantly overturned all my good impressions of forest mushrooms.
He went on to say, "Boss Lin invested 50 million this time, and she wants 10 million from me. She didn't compromise with Tian and Zheng because they asked for too high a price, 40% of the shares, and there was no room for negotiation. Boss Lin thought it was not worth it and refused. Because the coal seams in my mining area are high and the coal quality is good, she started to rob Shunming and sealed Taixiang for a year. It was only because of your mediation that the seal was lifted. In order to compete with them, Boss Lin gave up 15% of the shares to Zhang Weiguo. Of course, Boss Lin didn't take him seriously. She was interested in Deputy Mayor Xu behind him."
Everything sounded so reasonable that I had to believe it.
This Lin Mushroom is really good at scheming. It reminds me of the time when she gave me shares and asked me to be her lobbyist to get her a loan. Thinking about it now, I can't help but feel a chill down my spine.
I still have a question. Although I am afraid of getting a positive answer, I have to ask it because it is my last hope for justice: "Has Zhang Xiaodong ever benefited from her?"
He hesitated for a moment and replied, "Ms. Lin would let me handle some matters, but she would handle some matters herself. Years ago, I offered you 100,000 yuan as she instructed, but you refused. She took 500,000 yuan from me to make connections, but I don't know whether she gave it to County Governor Zhang. After the mine disaster, she took another 500,000 yuan to smooth over relationships, but I have no idea who she gave it to."
This ambiguous answer was the most tormenting. Recalling that Zhang Xiaodong had hinted to Wang Fusheng to delay the acceptance of Tongshun Coal Mine, I gradually became convinced that Zhang Xiaodong was being dragged into the water.
I had originally planned to have a long, heart-to-heart talk with Zhang Xiaodong, but now it seems that there is no need.
I felt like a moth caught unwittingly in a spider's web, about to become a hunter's meal.
A strong sense of failure enveloped me, so I took a taxi directly to "Yuncai Jixian". I happened to run into Lin Xun at the door, who was seeing off a guest. She had just finished a banquet and was obviously drunk. Seeing me suddenly appear, she smiled ambiguously and said jokingly, "You are a distinguished guest. Are you here to see me or our daughter?"
She has completed the adoption procedures and now officially calls Tang Xiaomei her mother and daughter.
My face turned pale, I grabbed her wrist and dragged her into the restaurant.
She was startled by my ferocious expression and sudden action, and said, "Hey! Guan Hongjun, if you want to find a woman, go home and find your wife. Don't embarrass yourself in public here."
It would have been fine if Qingwan wasn't mentioned. As soon as I mentioned her, I became even more furious and increased the strength in my hands.
Seeing that I was serious, Liu Yun hurried forward to stop me. I shouted, "Get out of here! I'm going to kill anyone who stands in my way today!"
Everyone at the scene looked at each other, frightened by my rage, and no one dared to come forward.
I dragged the struggling Lin Fungus into an empty private room, let go of her hand, and looked her in the eyes, both of us blazing with anger.
I repeated exactly what Zhang Weitang had said to me, and finally asked, "Is what I said true?"
She bit her lower lip hard, like a defeated rooster, and retorted, "So what if it's true?"
I grabbed her collar frantically and asked, "Why did you drag me into this?"
She looked at me with contempt: "Guan Hongjun, have you found your conscience? Do you think you are a saint? You are nothing, you are just a clown seeking fame!"
Every word pierced my chest like a sharp knife, and my persistence and belief fell apart in an instant.
I shouted fiercely, "Lin Xun, from now on, we are no longer friends. If you provoke me again, I will regard you as my enemy and we will be together forever."
After saying that, I slammed the door and walked out.
She was behind me and yelled hysterically: "Guan Hongjun, you are a fool, the biggest fool!"
I sat quietly on a bench on the green belt by the county river. On that late autumn night, the cold wind blew across my cheeks wantonly, bringing a chill that cut my skin and wrapped me tightly.
Looking back on the past ten years, the heavy sense of frustration and loss is like a heavy burden, which makes me almost breathless.
In this world, except Qingwan and my family, it seems that everyone has left me, and I am powerless to struggle and unable to escape from this predicament.
I am like a tiny speck of dust, drifting helplessly in this vast world.
Two days later, I was enjoying breakfast with Qingwan and my mother-in-law. Suddenly, a quick knock on the door broke the silence. Two people in formal attire and serious faces stood at the door. They showed me their work IDs. One was a staff member of the county discipline inspection commission, and the other was a prosecutor from the county procuratorate's anti-corruption bureau.
My heart suddenly sank, and an ominous premonition hung over my heart like a dark cloud. "I am Guan Hongjun, may I ask what can I do for you two?" I forced a smile, trying to hide my inner panic.
The staff of the County Discipline Inspection Commission nodded politely and said, "Hello, comrade. I am from the County Discipline Inspection Commission. We need your cooperation in investigating some matters. Please come with us."
Qingwan's face turned pale when she heard this. She dragged her increasingly heavy body and walked to my side nervously. She asked in a trembling voice, "Excuse me, what is the reason for investigating him?"
The prosecutor from the Anti-Corruption Bureau said in a cold tone: "We have work discipline and cannot disclose it. Please understand."
I turned to look at Qingwan, my eyes full of determination and reluctance. I hugged her tightly and comforted her softly: "Don't worry, I'm fine. It's my duty to cooperate with the organization's investigation." After saying that, I took a deep breath and embarked on the road to the unknown.
In the inquiry room of the County Discipline Inspection Commission, I started a conversation with the investigators.
Q: Do you know Zhang Weitang?
Answer: Acquaintance.
Q: How did you get to know each other?
A: I am the deputy mayor of Tongxiang Town in charge of industry, and he runs the Taixiang Coal Mine in Tongxiang Town. We met through work.
Q: How is your relationship?
Answer: Normal government-business relations.