Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Xiaozheng arrived at the township compound and found Secretary Zhang Zhifeng to explain their purpose. Zhang Zhifeng had a premonition that they would also be there.
Zhang Zhifeng looked at Zhou Xiaozheng and quickly stepped forward to shake his hand. "Hey, Comrade Zhou Xiaozheng, it's great to meet you. You're the pride of our village. Congratulations on your return. Xiaowu, your father-in-law is here. You must entertain him well."
Zhang Guoqing smiled when he heard this and said, "Uncle, you don't have to be polite. We are all family. When you have time, ask your son why he left after delivering the gifts on the third day of the wedding without even eating a bowl of noodles. I haven't seen him come to my house to play these days."
Zhang Zhifeng shook his head. "Let's not talk about him anymore. That kid is half as promising as you, so I'm not worried. I'm going back to the city to be with his grandmother for a few days and will be back in a few days. Comrade Zhou, how do we handle that matter? The impact is quite serious right now, so it's difficult to get a lenient punishment."
Zhou Xiaozheng nodded. "I came here just to say hello. You've taken good care of the children, so I have to thank you in person. From now on, when we meet, just call me Old Zhou. It sounds better. As for that case, we'll handle it as usual. If it's convenient, my brother is quite old, so I'll arrange for him to be rehabilitated on a nearby farm."
Zhang Zhifeng nodded and said to him, "Then you can call me Lao Zhang, or Zhang Laodi. Haha, Brother Zhou, you finally gave me your word. The higher-ups are pressing us, so it's better to close the case sooner rather than later. I'll talk to someone and see which farm is closer."
"Okay, Brother Zhang, you just go ahead and do your work. When you have time, come to Xiaowu's house for a few drinks. It won't delay you from doing your work. I still have to go to the county to say hello to the county officials." After saying that, Zhou Xiaozheng stood up without even having time to drink a cup of tea.
Zhang Zhifeng saw them off and said, "Okay, let's get together when we have time. You must spend some time with your daughter when you come back. Brother Zhou, I won't ask you to sit with me. See you later."
Zhou Zhengxiao and Zhang Guoqing arrived at the county seat together and met with Li Aiguo, a high-ranking official. They exchanged a few pleasantries. Zhou Xiaozheng also explained his purpose and said he would just proceed normally. He had just met with Zhang Zhifeng.
Li Aiguo nodded. There was no need to hesitate about this matter. Someone from above was already keeping an eye on it. No one dared to bend the law for personal gain. The impact would be so great that even the provincial capital would get the news.
"Okay, the higher-ups are urging us to close the case. News has spread to the provincial capital, and it's become a huge commotion. It's going to be difficult to wrap up. Luckily, you're reasonable. If you'd asked for his release, there'd be nothing we could do. The production team leader inside should probably be made an example. Recently, a document came down from above, severely punishing officials for corruption and bribery. It would be helpful for your eldest son to find a nearby farm for rehabilitation. It'll take at least two or three years for him to get out, until the storm has died down."
Zhou Xiaozheng nodded in understanding. "This is as it should be. If everyone abuses their power for personal gain and bends the law, how can society be stable? Just follow the procedures. I have something to do, so I can go ahead and not delay your work."
The two said goodbye and left, refusing Li Aiguo's personal invitation to see them off.
After leaving the county government, Zhou Xiaozheng whispered to Zhang Guoqing, "We can't look for other people today. This county is too crowded. If someone sees us visiting government offices everywhere, they'll gossip about us meddling when the sentences are handed down.
We're visiting you two like this today so it won't be noticeable. Once things are settled, find a chance to go to Zhao Dashan and talk to him about it. And when you have time, take a bottle of wine to Zuo Lin's place. No need to say anything. Just bring the wine with you, and everyone will know what's going on."
Zhang Guoqing nodded. He knew it was his father-in-law who taught him how to behave. He looked around and asked, "Dad, where are you going?"
Zhou Xiaozheng looked around. It had been so long that he could no longer accurately know the situation in the county town. He only knew that there was a small courtyard and a bungalow in the east of the county town.
"Is the Armed Forces Department still in the old place? That's east of the county town. I remember there was a row of bungalows there, all with courtyards of varying sizes. The surrounding government offices are all over there, not far from here. Let's go take a look. You don't have to buy a big one, just look for a small courtyard that's clean, quiet, safe, and convenient."
Zhang Guoqing followed him east of the county town. "Dad, my eldest sister just sold a large courtyard a few days ago. I heard that courtyards there are in short supply and are taken up as soon as they come on the market. I guess there aren't many good houses left."
"First check the terrain. Is it safe? Look at Dad."
After walking for half an hour, they arrived at the east of the county town. Zhou Xiaozheng didn't look for anyone, but looked around. In those areas, he looked at the pedestrians passing by, and then took Zhang Guoqing directly to the street neighborhood committee.
In the neighborhood committee, several middle-aged and elderly women were knitting, chatting and joking. Seeing the soldiers coming in, an elderly woman in her fifties came forward and asked with a smile, "Comrade, are you looking for someone or what do you want?"
Zhou Xiaozheng stepped forward quickly. "Auntie, I see you're in great shape, with long strides, just like us soldiers. You look like you came from the militia. I just want to ask you something today. This is my son-in-law. We're looking to buy a small yard. We want it to be safe and quiet. It doesn't have to be too big. Currently, my daughter, son-in-law, and our newborn grandson live there. I think this piece of land is pretty good. Can you tell me if anyone wants to sell it?"
The old lady happily gave a thumbs up and said, "You have a good eye. I really am from the militia. Wait a minute, I'll go ask who knows the news."
Zhang Guoqing also gave him a thumbs up, saying that he had found the right person for this matter.
After a while, the old lady came back and said to Zhou Xiaozheng, "It's true. The big courtyard is gone. It was sold right after it was put up. Now there are actually two small courtyards for sale. I'll tell you where they are and take you to see them."
Zhou Xiaozheng said to the old lady happily, "Auntie, you are amazing. You have such a wide network of contacts. Please tell us about it. I would also like to trouble you to take us to have a look."
"There's a house for sale right in front of this lot. It's two smaller courtyards carved out of the original large courtyard. The family living in the smaller courtyard is tired of the size of their growing family and is looking to upgrade to a larger one. I've seen that one; it's just the usual three rooms, and the courtyard is also quite small. But the price is cheap."
There's another small courtyard belonging to an elderly couple. They're intellectuals, and they grow flowers, not vegetables. The courtyard looks ordinary from the outside, but is more elaborate inside. It's not large, but it has quite a few rooms. Besides the five main rooms, there are two side rooms. They moved the kitchen to the east wing, and the former outbuildings have been converted into a living room. The courtyard is not far from the Armed Forces Headquarters, so it's safe for the young couple there, surrounded by wealthy families. The county public security bureau is also nearby, making it the safest option. The problem is that the owner of the house is very selective, so the price is high.
Zhou Xiaozheng and Zhang Guoqing exchanged glances, both pleasantly surprised. Having the kitchen outside was a welcome sight. It was truly a case of searching high and low for a place, yet finding it without any effort. Price wasn't the issue; there were simply too few courtyards they liked. As for the three rooms in the front, there was no need to look; the father-in-law and son-in-law weren't interested either.
Think of the kitchen in the outer room, the two earthen kangs in the east and west rooms—the structure is even shabbier than the larger courtyards in the village. Grandpa Zhang had invested so much effort in improving the living conditions of the Zhang family's three-bedroom apartment. If his grandson, Zhang Guoqing, wanted to buy a third room, he'd probably hear his grandfather smoking him with his long pipe in his dreams.
Zhang Guoqing quickly said, "Then take a look at this elderly couple's yard first. I'll be attracted by what I hear."
"I'll take you there now. The old couple are nice people. Their son is filial, but they're old and worried about an accident without their children around, so they sold the yard. It's not far if we take the small path. They're all at home after retirement. We'll be able to find them there if we go there."
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