Chapter 236: Leave (Part 2)
Upon hearing that Xiaojia and Hou Weidong were coming over for dinner, Jiang Chu immediately perked up. She had gone to the market early in the morning to buy groceries. After returning, she dumped a large pile of brochures and products into the living room and began bustling about, making preparations.
Hou Weiguo stood by, sneering coldly, "This time, Hou Weidong and Zhang Xiaojia have walked right into the trap."
Jiang Chu retorted, "You are so stubborn. Qinglian products are the most advanced high-tech items on the market. They strictly adhere to European standards and boast a ninety-year history. They are exclusive items for the nobility. I am introducing these products to Third Brother and Xiaojia so they can enjoy a life of quality, free from chemical pollution."
For the past while, Hou Weiguo had been tormented by Jiang Chu’s righteous-sounding rhetoric. He was furious and snapped, "I can’t win an argument with you. Third Brother rarely comes over. Just let us brothers have some quiet time together. Don’t bother us. I’m begging you."
Jiang Chu blinked her eyes. She didn’t get angry, nor did she agree.
When Hou Weidong and Xiaojia arrived, Jiang Chu affectionately linked arms with Xiaojia, chatting like family. Hou Weidong casually asked, "Sister-in-law, how are your stocks doing?"
Jiang Chu sighed, "I’m stuck at the peak. I don’t know when I’ll be able to sell. Let’s not talk about it. I’ve stopped trading stocks; I’m just waiting for the market to develop on its own. Now, I’m focused on Qinglian products." She brought a plate of fruit and said to Xiaojia, "We usually peel our fruit, which is the most unscientific practice. The skin contains the richest nutrients, including various vitamins. Peeling it off is a huge waste."
Xiaojia, being familiar with gardening, replied, "There are more pesticide residues on the skin. If you don’t peel it, the pesticides will enter your body."
The answers to such questions were all in the Qinglian product training manuals, which Jiang Chu had memorized perfectly. She immediately responded, "Qinglian products are high-tech. They can rapidly decompose various pesticides. If you use Qinglian products, you don’t need to peel the fruit. Just wash it directly, and it’s ready to eat."
She picked up an apple, took a big bite, and said, "Eating it this way is the most nutritious."
Qinglian products were a multi-level marketing scheme popular in Shazhou. Several people had already tried to sell them to Xiaojia. She felt neither strong dislike nor strong affection for the products, but the price was absurdly high. A few hundred milliliters cost over four hundred yuan. Although she had money, she couldn’t bear to buy Qinglian products.
Jiang Chu had become obsessed with multi-level marketing. Out of seven days a week, she spent two days attending lectures, two days at gatherings, and the remaining three days door-to-door selling. This drove Hou Weiguo to despair. No matter how he pleaded or reasoned, Jiang Chu wouldn’t listen. Every time they argued, Jiang Chu would spout theory after theory, refusing to hear any opposing views, leaving Hou Weiguo deeply frustrated.
Seeing Jiang Chu start promoting her Qinglian products again, Hou Weiguo said, "Third Brother, let’s play a game of Go."
Hou Weiguo and Hou Weidong set up the Go board in the corner of the living room. Hou Weiguo glanced at Jiang Chu, who was talking animatedly, and said, "Your sister-in-law loves to chase trends. She was obsessed with stock trading a while ago, and now she’s obsessed with multi-level marketing. I’ve had countless arguments with her over this."
Hou Weidong said, "If Sister-in-law wants to sell Qinglian products, let her sell them. What’s the harm in that?"
Hou Weiguo sighed. "You don’t understand the harm of multi-level marketing. Once she got hooked, she started thinking only about resigning. She claims she can earn hundreds of thousands in one or two years selling Qinglian products. I think she’s chasing an illusion. The worst part is that she won’t listen to advice. If you try to persuade her, she’ll lecture you for an hour, hoping to turn all her relatives and friends into customers."
"She had been eager to find Second Sister and Xiaojia, but I scolded her severely, so she didn’t go. Today, you’ve walked right into her trap."
"Big Brother, are you short on money? I haven’t been urging you to pay me back. That money was a gift from me."
Hou Weiguo said, "We bought a house, and our salaries have increased. We’re not in financial difficulty."
In the kitchen, Jiang Chu pulled Xiaojia aside, poured several glasses of water, and began demonstrating the product. Xiaojia, out of respect for her sister-in-law, patiently watched the experiment.
After chatting briefly about Jiang Chu, Hou Weidong changed the subject. "Yiyang hasn’t been peaceful this year. Several major incidents have occurred. Public Security Bureau Director You Hong was subjected to 'double detention.' I heard the Shazhou Procuratorate has officially filed a case. Additionally, to investigate the Yiyang Native Produce Company, the Procuratorate was first set on fire, burning the archives room. Later, Yang Weige, the deputy factory director of the Native Produce Company, was poisoned and killed at the Procuratorate."
Hou Weiguo said, "I’ve heard about these incidents."
"Big Brother, from a criminal investigation perspective, how do you view this?"
"Regarding the arson and poisoning cases at the Yiyang Procuratorate, I believe the focus should still be on the Yiyang Native Produce Company. It is most likely that people from the Native Produce Company colluded with Procuratorate personnel to commit the crimes. This is common-sense reasoning. Everyone in the Yiyang Public Security Bureau should have thought of this. The key issue is finding evidence."
Hou Weiguo recalled several cases he had handled. "In recent years, Shazhou has seen rapid development, and local gang groups have also grown quickly. They usually start with minor illegal activities and then begin to intervene in the construction and mining industries. If we don’t take strong measures to rectify this now, it will be difficult to handle once they gain momentum. The situation in Yiyang is also complex. Last time I came to investigate gun-related crimes, I returned empty-handed. Since you are the Secretary to the County Party Secretary, you should contribute to improving public security in Yiyang."
Hou Weiguo’s words stirred something in Hou Weidong’s heart. He thought to himself, With great power comes great responsibility. Although I don’t have statutory authority, as the Secretary to the County Party Secretary, I have a unique advantage. I should report the serious issues regarding public security to Zhu Yan.
Hou Weidong asked, "Big Brother, you investigated gun cases in Yiyang. Objectively speaking, are the gang groups in Yiyang very serious?"
"Because Yiyang’s economy has developed faster and its mineral resources are abundant, compared to the other three counties, there are relatively more gang groups, and they are the most rampant. I remember Qin Dajiang in Shangqinlin was shot dead. Several other murders also occurred in the urban area. I feel Yiyang has reached a point where rectification is necessary. Previously, when You Hong was the Public Security Bureau Director, he only reported good news and hid bad news. Many problems were related to him."
The two Hou brothers chatted while playing Go, discussing public security issues, while Jiang Chu kept Xiaojia engaged, talking endlessly about Qinglian products.
After lunch, as Hou Weidong and Xiaojia prepared to leave, Xiaojia was carrying a large bag filled entirely with Qinglian products, including detergents, cosmetics, and other household items.
"How much did these cost?"
"Over two thousand yuan."
Hou Weidong pursed his lips. "That’s so expensive. Why did you buy them?"
Xiaojia said, "These are products Sister-in-law is selling. No matter how expensive, we have to buy them. We don’t lack this kind of money."
"Sister-in-law has also been transferred to the suburbs of Shazhou City. It’s only a ten-minute drive into the city. After working for a few years, she can naturally find a way to transfer into the city. But she was obsessed with stocks recently, and now she’s obsessed with multi-level marketing. She spends less and less time at home. I really don’t know what she’s thinking."
Xiaojia had more contact with multi-level marketing personnel. "Sales work is actually very hard. Big Brother’s family is in a good financial position. There’s no need for her to do this line of work."
Back home, Xiaojia placed the Qinglian products in a corner of the living room, leaving the packaging unopened.
After leaving his brother Hou Weiguo’s house, Hou Weidong began to ponder the public security issues in Yiyang. As a member of the Crushed Stone Association, he felt the rampant gang activity deeply. The murder of his friend Qin Dajiang had made no progress to date.
How can I make Zhu Yan determined to crack down on gang groups?
On Saturday and Sunday, this question lingered in Hou Weidong’s mind.
At 6:05 PM on Sunday, Old Liu drove up to the front of the Xinyue Building on time. Once in the car, Hou Weidong said to Zhu Yan, "Secretary Zhu, should we rest for a while before leaving?"
Zhu Yan looked gloomy. "Let’s go directly back to Yiyang."
Hou Weidong observed his expression and thought, Secretary Zhu’s mood is off. Has he encountered some troubling matters?
Zhu Yan didn’t speak, so Hou Weidong didn’t dare to ask. The atmosphere in the car was unusually heavy. Fortunately, the road from Shazhou to Yiyang was newly built, with good conditions, allowing for a faster speed. In less than an hour, they arrived at the Yiyang County Party Committee compound.
After going upstairs, Zhu Yan gave an order: "Ask Shang Guanghua and Li Du to come to my office."
Hou Weidong quickly returned to his office, took out the confidential phone book, and first dialed Shang Guanghua’s mobile phone.
"Director Shang, this is Hou Weidong from the County Party Committee Office. Secretary Zhu requests your immediate presence in his office. I’m not sure of the specific matter. He has also notified Prosecutor Li from the Procuratorate."
Since the arson and poisoning cases at the Procuratorate had seen no breakthrough, Shang Guanghua was very nervous about meeting Zhu Yan. However, as the saying goes, an ugly daughter-in-law must eventually meet her mother-in-law. He called a car and hurried toward the County Party Committee. As his car just pulled into the yard, Prosecutor Li Du’s car also arrived.
Shang Guanghua and Li Du got out of their cars almost simultaneously. Li Du asked, "Director Shang, has there been any progress in the case?"
"The direction of the criminal investigation is clear, but we can’t find the evidence at the moment. The Criminal Investigation Brigade is doing its utmost."
Li Du said, "Secretary Zhu is under a lot of pressure too. I heard there are many complaint letters from the Provincial and Municipal Committees. Some have very alarming titles, like 'County Party Secretary Kills Innocent Entrepreneurs.' I have a comrade-in-arms at the Provincial Petition Bureau. He called me today specifically to ask about this matter."
As the two men went upstairs, Hou Weidong was already waiting at the stairwell. He whispered, "Secretary Zhu just returned from the provincial capital. He seems to be in a bad mood."
Li and Shang exchanged a glance and silently followed Hou Weidong into Zhu Yan’s office. Zhu Yan didn’t bother with pleasantries and got straight to the point. "How is the case at the Procuratorate progressing?"