62: Chapter 62: Xu Qianli’s Counterattack!

62: Chapter 62: Xu Qianli’s Counterattack!

Zhang Cheng looked at Xu Qianli with a menacing glare, which Xu Qianli saw all too clearly and chuckled to himself.

“Just you wait and see if you think I’m going to be afraid of you, a mere dog.”

Soon after, Xu Qianli’s gaze fell upon Lan Jiao.

“Xiao Lan, I have a task for you, come with me for a moment.”

Whether Zhang Kuisan was threatening or tempting Lan Jiao, Xu Qianli still wanted to find out.

If it was just temptation, that would be the end of it, but if it was a threat, then he would have to help out where necessary.

Zhang Cheng immediately cast a fierce look at Lan Jiao.

Frightened, Lan Jiao shuddered and quickly lowered her head, “Director, I’m not feeling well, I’d like to ask for a few days off.”

“You can take the time off, but there are some things I must understand.

You’ll still need to stop by my office,” said Xu Qianli, leaving the discussion there.

As for Lan Jiao, it was her choice whether to come or not.

If she didn’t show up, then Xu Qianli would wash his hands of the matter and leave Lan Jiao to her own fate.

As Lan Jiao watched Xu Qianli walk away, she hesitated, uncertain of what to do.

Zhang Cheng gave her a meaningful look and gestured with his lips towards a bag on the table, signaling her to behave herself.

Biting her lip, Lan Jiao grabbed the bag and followed Xu Qianli to his office.

Once inside, Xu Qianli turned on the air conditioner and sat in his chair, loosening his collar and looking at Lan Jiao.

Two days had passed, and there were still bruises on her face and arms, adding to her nervous appearance.

Seeing Xu Qianli’s gaze, Lan Jiao said, “Director, I know what you want to ask.

I really am dating Zhang Cheng, for real.”

“Alright, I’ve got it.

You can go now.

I’ll give you three days off.

Take the time to get your mind right before you return to work,” replied Xu Qianli, gesturing for Lan Jiao to leave.

Good intentions have to be directed towards the right people.

If someone like this didn’t appreciate them, Xu Qianli was not in the mood to be kind to her.

Lan Jiao thought Xu Qianli would interrogate her thoroughly, not expecting him to simply let her go like this.

Remembering what had happened two days ago in this same office, how she had almost been violated by Zhang Cheng, that beast, and how Xu Qianli had arrived just in time to rescue her, Lan Jiao burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably.

“Enough!”

Xu Qianli suddenly roared, slamming his desk fiercely.

“I have no interest in your feigned tears here.

The one who should be crying is me, Xu Qianli, not you!”

“I saved you out of kindness, and this is how you repay me, by helping the likes of Zhang Cheng lie to my face.

Don’t you find your crying laughable?”

“If you want to cry, get out and do it, because your crying makes me feel sick and irritated!”

Xu Qianli scolded and promptly ordered Lan Jiao to get out.

Thud, Lan Jiao knelt down.

“Director Xu, I’m wrong.

I’m sorry to you,” she pleaded.

“But I truly had no choice, I’m burdened with a difficult situation.”

“My father has always had kidney issues, and now he’s in the late stages of uremia.

The only treatment option is a kidney transplant.”

“But we don’t have much money, and we can’t afford the surgery that costs hundreds of thousands.”

“Someone came to me yesterday,” she said, “offering a large sum of money to pay for my father’s kidney transplant.

All I had to do was admit I’m Zhang Cheng’s girlfriend and rescue him.”

“I know it’s heartless to do such a thing—I shouldn’t save that animal.

But I can’t just ignore my father’s life.”

“Also, Zhang Cheng asked me to bring this recording pen to secretly record our conversation, thinking he might be able to use it against you.”

Lan Jiao opened her bag, took out the recording pen, and handed it to Xu Qianli.

Xu Qianli was amused.

Zhang Cheng, that damned guy, got caught by the police for harassing a colleague during work hours, saved by his uncle Zhang Kuisan.

Just out of trouble, he’s not only unrepentant but also plotting against me; he’s really audacious.

Fine, you want trouble with me, seeking revenge, right?

I’ll deal with you first and let you taste what it’s like when someone of higher rank crushes you!

After dialing an extension, Xu Qianli asked Zhang Cheng to come over immediately.

Soon, the person arrived.

As soon as Zhang Cheng entered the room and saw Lan Jiao kneeling on the ground, his heart tightened instantly.

And when he saw the recording pen on the table, he was even more terrified.

He had thought his plan was very clever, but Xu Qianli had seen right through it.

Now Xu Qianli had called him over, obviously to make trouble, right?

Remembering how he had been beaten by Xu Qianli the day before yesterday, Zhang Cheng’s legs began to shiver, and he forced a smile, “Director, what do you need me for?”

Xu Qianli, looking amiable and showing no sign of anger, started to speak with a chuckle.

“Oh, Zhang Cheng, why so nervous?

I’m your leader, not a tiger.

I can’t eat you, can I?”

“You see, you’ve been working at the Government Office for a while now, and I must say, I’m quite satisfied with your work.”

“However, you seem to lack grassroots experience, which isn’t good.

In the future, the organization’s evaluation of you will suffer because of it.”

“So, the County Government Office is currently conducting poverty relief statistics and needs to visit some places to get in touch with the people, to see whether poverty relief efforts have been successful.”

“I was planning to go myself, but with the County Magistrate about to take up a new post, as the Government Office Director, I need to be ready to handle the welcoming duties and can’t get away.”

“You are the deputy director, and it is your undeniable responsibility.

I’m entrusting this task to you.”

“Here are the details of the poor households to visit.

You must finish visiting all of them within three days, and it must be done in person.

Bring back photos and video evidence.”

Xu Qianli slapped a thick stack of files onto the desk.

Zhang Cheng’s heart sank as he looked at them, and his face turned pale as soon as he saw the details.

My god, the first one is a poor household in the mountain area of Qingshan Town.

He had been there before; the scenery might be nice, but it’s completely inaccessible by car, requiring over two hours of walking on mountain roads, four to five hours for a round trip.

If the first one is this tough, let alone finishing all in three days, it would be a miracle not to have broken legs from exhaustion.

And with the heat these days, three days outside would absolutely peel off a layer of skin!

No more pretending.

Zhang Cheng showed his true colors, saying viciously, “Xu Qianli, I call you Director Xu, and you really think you’re somebody?

The task you’re giving me is clearly meant as retaliation against me.

I’d be a fool to agree to it!”

“What, Zhang Cheng, are you refusing the reasonable work assignment given to you by your leader?”

Xu Qianli looked at Zhang Cheng with a mocking smile that made Zhang Cheng feel terribly uneasy.

But thinking about that thick stack of households to visit, he steeled his heart and tore off the mask.

“Xu Qianli, what kind of leader are you supposed to be?

In my eyes, you’re nothing, and now you want to command me?

Dream on!”

“Let me tell you, your days as the Government Office Director are numbered; you’ll soon pack up and get lost.

That position will be mine!”

Hearing this, Xu Qianli’s smile became even broader as he picked up the phone and dialed.

“Hello, is that Secretary Lin?

This is Xu Qianli from the County Government Office.

Could you please put Secretary Ge of the County Committee on the line?”