Name: My father is Zhao Dehan, and I hope he will become a dragon!

Qi Tongwei took a deep breath, knowing that they were getting down to business.

Then, he said with a smile, "But we can't break the rules, can we?"

"Director Qi!"

Zhao Chongming said softly, "My father checked, and last year, there was a sum of 16.3 billion yuan—the contract was for a 'trustee loan,' but the funds ended up in 'Haitian Capital' in the Cayman Islands. The money was laundered and then returned to Shanshui Group. It was all legal and compliant!"

At this point, Zhao Chongming smiled and said, "But, Director Qi, do you think that if we continue the investigation, we might uncover some shady dealings?"

Qi Tongwei's movements as he poured the tea were somewhat stiff.

"That despicable Ding Yizhen! If he were here, I think we'd know exactly how things were done!" Zhao Chongming said with a smile. "Director Qi, if you caught Ding Yizhen, I think your position as vice governor would be secure!"

Qi Tongwei's pupils contracted, then he chuckled dryly, "What vice governor or what vice governor? I know nothing about it!"

"You don't know? My dad is still studying the 'Political Risk Assessment of Vice Governor Candidates' recently."

Zhao Chongming smiled and said, "Secretary Sha hasn't approved it yet. He's still conducting research in Yantai City and I don't know when he'll be back. I estimate that once he returns, the selection process will begin!"

The tea room was silent for three seconds.

Qi Tongwei finally spoke: "Young Master Zhao, what do you want?"

Zhao Chongming didn't answer, but simply reached into his inner pocket and pulled out a sheet of A4 paper.

It wasn't a document, but a printed table with a prominent title:

"The Funding Gap for Employee Resettlement at Dafeng Factory and Solutions (Internal Reference)"

He pushed it forward, his fingertip tapping on the third line: "Shortage of 3.9 million yuan, intended for: employee resettlement, social security arrears, and medical assistance."

Qi Tongwei's face darkened: "You want a donation from the Shanshui Group?"

Zhao Chongming slowly said, "I didn't say that!"

Qi Tongwei stared at the paper for a full ten seconds, then suddenly laughed, his shoulders trembling slightly.

"Mr. Zhao, you're not here to discuss business, you're here to hand me coffin nails."

Zhao Chongming smiled, picked up his teacup, and drank it all in one gulp: "Director Qi, please don't say that. Actually, my father has had a very difficult time too!"

Qi Tongwei sneered: "Difficult?"

Zhao Chongming shrugged: "He came with a mission from Beijing; he's a rescue-type cadre. First, the workers at Dafeng Factory need to be safe and sound. Second, the teachers' salaries need to be paid. Third, Ding Yizhen has completely ruined 'land credit,' so the land market in Guangming District is completely 'dead.' It's not that no one wants to buy, but that no one dares to buy, no one can buy, and no one trusts these rules."

Qi Tongwei was stunned for a moment. Zhao Chongming continued, "My father's term as vice governor is only one year. If these problems are resolved, he can sit in his position peacefully. If he can't, there's nothing he can do. Director Qi, if he can't sit in his position, then whoever made him unable to sit in his position will not let others have an easy time either. Don't you think so?"

The subtext couldn't be clearer.

I, Zhao Dehan, may not be able to guarantee that you, Qi Tongwei, will remain as vice governor, but I can guarantee that you will not be able to hold onto this position.

If you do a good job, it'll be a year.

If I don't do a good job, I'm finished.

If you try to stop me from doing a good job, you are my enemy.

Zhao Chongming continued, "Actually, the Guangming Peak project is still very valuable. The land has great potential for future appreciation. Roughly estimated, once this plot of land is acquired and the CBD is successfully established, the surrounding land value will see a huge increase!"

Qi Tongwei fell silent.

Zhao Chongming continued, "It's definitely not just 400 million in profit; 1 billion or even 2 billion is possible. To be honest, do you think it's worth it for just 400 million?"

Qi Tongwei looked at Zhao Chongming: "Young Master Zhao, this isn't four hundred yuan, it's four hundred million!"

"Don't push people to the brink!" Zhao Chongming said with a smile. "The Shanshui Group is worth tens of billions. You'll make over a billion or even two billion from this project. Why drive the workers to their deaths?"

"Alright, I think it's about time!" Zhao Chongming was too lazy to argue with Qi Tongwei any longer.

Reasoning with him is useless.

He needs to know that if you don't take the money, becoming the vice governor is out of the question!

At that moment, Zhao Chongming continued, "I should go!"

He turned and walked towards the door.

He paused for a moment as he placed his hand on the doorknob: "Director Qi, you don't need to rush to answer. However, Secretary Sha will be arriving in Jingzhou City soon. Before that, I believe that anything that needs to be settled should be settled. Delay could lead to unforeseen changes!"

The door closed gently.

The only sound in the tea room was the crackling of the charcoal fire.

Gao Xiaoqin picked up Qi Tongwei's cup of cold tea, poured it out, and brewed a fresh pot of tea.

The water was bubbling and gurgling, like a countdown.

She pushed the cup towards him, her voice very soft: "Director Qi, Secretary Sha will be back soon!"

Qi Tongwei didn't accept the tea; he just felt a pang of regret.

"Four hundred million...that's too much. Does Shanshui Group have that much cash flow on its books?" Qi Tongwei asked, his voice hoarse.

"Drawing some funds from Hong Kong is more than enough!"

Gao Xiaoqin looked him straight in the eye: "Director Qi, I think we should contribute the money. Think about it, if Zhao Dehan really investigates further and finds out about the 16.3 billion yuan from Haitian Capital—Ding Yizhen has run away, and Sha Ruijin is looking for a scapegoat—who do you think would be the most suitable?"

Qi Tongwei tightened his grip, and the lid of the kettle clicked softly.

Zhao Dehan has already traced the problem back to Qi Tongwei. If the investigation continues, the entire Han University gang will be eradicated.

Thinking of this, Qi Tongwei broke out in a cold sweat.

"We haven't reached the point of desperation yet. I think Zhao Dehan is still willing to cooperate with us!" Gao Xiaoqin continued, "I believe we can earn this money back in the future!"

Qi Tongwei squinted.

"Vice Governor!" Gao Xiaoqin simply said three words.

A light shone in Qi Tongwei's eyes.

Gao Xiaoqin spoke very slowly, "You've toiled for ten years, from a township police station chief to the director of the Public Security Bureau, even kneeling before Liang Lu, all for this position. Now, someone is handing a ladder to your feet; all you have to do is lift your foot—"

She paused, then continued, "You can go up now!"

"Can we really make it back?" Qi Tongwei couldn't help but ask.

"I've done a rough estimate, and Zhao Chongming is right. After the CBD is completed, the surrounding residential land prices are expected to at least triple. Residential buildings will make a lot of money then, at least a billion yuan—that's a conservative estimate!"

Gao Xiaoqin continued, "If you also take into account industrial introduction, tax rebates, and supporting development... it's not just a pie in the sky, it's three to five billion yuan."

Qi Tongwei suddenly asked, "How old is Zhao Chongming this year?"

"24, just graduated from university!" Gao Xiaoqin replied, "I think she was an overseas student. I heard she started a company overseas, sold all her shares when she came back, and made over 200 million!"

"This kid's got talent!" Qi Tongwei took a deep breath, then slowly said, "Alright, call Zhao Chongming and tell him I agree. I don't want 3.9 million, four hundred million to round it up!"

Gao Xiaoqin nodded: "Understood!"