Chapter 2059: Chapter 1962: As If Plunged into an Icy Abyss
Zhang Lihua could hear the hidden undertones in Xue Changdong’s words; it seemed, according to Xue Changdong, something significant was about to happen.
Thinking of this, Zhang Lihua felt a throbbing pain at his temples. Almost without thinking, he picked up his phone and dialed a number.
"Lao Shao, why has the document with the official stamp come down, and plan B is the one selected? Wasn’t this plan rejected by me?"
The person on the other end of the line was evidently surprised by Zhang Lihua’s question:
"You don’t know? No, Lao Zhang, what have you been doing these past few days? It’s such a big matter, I thought you knew."
Zhang Lihua was immediately stunned: "Know what? What’s the big deal, what happened?"
The other side seemed very puzzled by Zhang Lihua’s ignorance: "Just over a week ago, a Han Princess Tomb was discovered over at Sanfang Street. I heard it’s quite large, and people from the Imperial Capital Cultural Relics Bureau have come down. Now the Cultural Relics Bureau is considering safely relocating the residents over there."
"You submitted the major renovation plan; you should remember that our previous plan A went straight through Sanfang Street, but coincidentally, it cut right through that Han Tomb, so the plan was rejected from above."
"Recently, they sent two people down to discuss and negotiate with us. In the end, plan B was submitted again, and the application was approved."
"However, this should have been handled entirely by you. How come you don’t know about this change from plan A to plan B? But that doesn’t seem right. We all know about the people coming down from above!"
Zhang Lihua felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, his whole being chilled to the core. Only now did he understand the meaning of Xue Changdong’s warning words.
In this Fucheng, you cannot control everything with just one hand.
So that was the meaning.
No wonder he had suddenly been notified to go to the provincial capital for a meeting over a week ago; no wonder that meeting felt inexplicable and confusing. It was all a deliberate arrangement; they purposely moved him away to implement plan B.
The more Zhang Lihua thought about it, the more frightened he became. His whole body trembled subconsciously. He knew that the things he had done might have already caught the attention of those above, and he was already being watched.
Thinking of this possibility, Zhang Lihua felt as if he’d fallen into an icy cave.
However, having been in power for a long time, one always harbors a bit of a fluke mentality.
On second thought, Zhang Lihua felt maybe he was overthinking. The things he had his son-in-law do were done with great secrecy, and it would be difficult for anyone to find evidence. Moreover, he hadn’t received any notifications from the disciplinary committee, which meant he should be fine. Perhaps this was Xue Changdong’s way of dealing with him, deliberately calling to frighten him.
Reassuring himself in this way, Zhang Lihua’s emotions indeed stabilized. He felt he shouldn’t lose his calm when nothing had happened yet.
However, before he could settle his mind, Jiang Weide’s call came through. As soon as Zhang Lihua answered it, his good son-in-law’s agitated voice came from the other end:
"Dad, what exactly is going on?! I heard the document with the official stamp came down, the plan changed, and the new plan avoids Anmin Alley, going to Erfang Street. Doesn’t that mean the land I bought has all turned into worthless paper?!"
Zhang Lihua felt somewhat bitter; he didn’t know how to explain. Should he say he was kept in the dark about this, too?
This explanation—whether Jiang Weide would accept it or not—even he wouldn’t want to believe it.
"Xiao Jiang, this is not something I wanted to see either, but the matter is settled, and we are powerless to change it. Although the plan avoids Anmin Alley, I heard that a Han Tomb was discovered around there, and the Cultural Relics Bureau is planning relocation matters, so the land and properties in your hands are not completely worthless, at least they won’t lose value."
Hearing this, Jiang Weide was immediately infuriated:
"Won’t lose value? Do you know how much effort I put into acquiring that land and property, how many people I had to ask for help? Now you say they won’t lose value. If it’s just simple relocation, how much compensation do you think can be received? If you hadn’t told me a subway station would be built at Anmin Alley back then, and urged me to switch to real estate, would I have bet everything on it? Now I’ve thrown my entire fortune into it, and you lightly tell me it won’t lose value—is that the result I wanted?"
Thinking about how his dream of becoming a Fucheng tycoon crumbled in an instant, Jiang Weide became agitated. Regardless of whether the person on the other end was his father-in-law, or Fucheng’s key figure, Jiang Weide directly shouted into the phone at Zhang Lihua:
"I don’t care what you do, Zhang, if you can’t find a way to change the city planning, then find a way to make up for my losses. I want the land in the Erfang Street area to be equivalent in size to what I hold in Sanfang Street, or else I can’t guarantee I won’t do something you’ll regret! Trust me; I always keep my word!"
Zhang Lihua wanted to say more, but Jiang Weide abruptly hung up the phone, leaving Zhang Lihua furious with the final threat from Jiang Weide, feeling it in his very being.
Only then did he realize he might have made a grave mistake.
Initially, he had his daughter marry Jiang Weide because he valued the money Jiang Weide had. He needed Jiang Weide’s support; at that time, he knew city planning would soon be on the agenda, and to create more wealth, he chose Jiang Weide, believing that such a foundationless nouveau riche would be easily controlled.
Yet, he forgot that Jiang Weide is inherently vengeful. If his demands aren’t met, he could very well retaliate and a barefoot man has nothing to fear. If Jiang Weide lost everything, he would definitely be capable of taking everyone down with him.
Only at this moment did Zhang Lihua realize he had always let down his daughter. He never considered what she needed; even her marriage wasn’t her own choice but one he forced upon her.
His daughter, who had always been obedient and well-behaved since childhood—was she truly happy marrying such a morally bankrupt nouveau riche?
Zhang Lihua’s eyes turned red, filled with regret. One wrong step had led to another, and it was he who had ruined his daughter’s chance at a lifetime of happiness.
Jiang Weide, whose appetite had been whetted by the previous grand plans, now found his dreams shattered and was unwilling to let it go. When he didn’t get what he wanted, he might indeed expose their dealings.
Zhang Lihua’s heart tightened. He suddenly felt he should do something for his daughter.
