Special Forces Medic-Chapter 724 - 691: Fish in the Fish Tank

Hua Qingyi sat alone in the vast office, watching the fish in the aquarium. The aquatic plants drifted in the tank as he sprinkled a bit of fish food on the water's surface. The fish, resting at the bottom, slowly swam up to grab the food.

He stared thoughtfully at the fish; they seemed very hungry. When food appeared in front of them, all forms of behavior would emerge: snatching and fighting. If animals behave like this, then how can humans, who stand at the top of the food chain, be any different?

With fingers smelling of fish, Hua Qingyi masochistically brought them to his nose. Instantly, he noticed pieces of meat at the bottom—the remains of fish. It seemed like the district chief here had a twisted mind.

Even though there was plenty of fish food beside the tank, he preferred watching the fish fight over food. Was he trying to prove that even small creatures kill each other out of hunger?

"I'm sorry, I didn't know Hua was here. I was in a meeting just now. I apologize for keeping you waiting. Why hasn't this Secretary Li even brewed a cup of tea for you? Please hold on, I'll have someone bring up two cups of coffee."

As Yao Zheng entered the office, he began to chatter incessantly, without giving Hua Qingyi a chance to speak. "Secretary Li, how can you not serve a cup of water when Hua is here? Go get two lattes, oh! Wait a moment!"

Yao Zheng covered the phone with one hand while looking towards Hua Qingyi. "What would you like to drink, Hua? I prefer lattes, but I don't know your taste."

"Thank you, District Chief Yao, but there's no need to trouble yourself." Hua Qingyi lifted his head from the tub; there was nothing more to admire.

"Bring up two lattes, Secretary Li. One with sugar, one without." After saying this, he hung up the phone and placed the documents on the table. "I like sweetened coffee. Please don't be formal with me; the coffee here is quite good."

"I won't be formal with you, District Chief Yao." Hua Qingyi, alone, chose not to sit on the sofa far from Yao Zheng this time but instead walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. "To the left is Hengfei Mansion! It's close to the government building. But wasn't that land originally planned for a medical station? How did it become a commercial building?" Just as Yao Zheng was about to respond, Hua Qingyi continued. "Are the residents from the shantytown here now living in the new buildings? How about we go check this together this afternoon, District Chief Yao?"

Hua Qingyi only stared at the road below, completely unaware of any changes in Yao Zheng's demeanor, until the prolonged silence made Hua Qingyi turn curiously. "What's wrong, District Chief Yao?"

"Oh, nothing, just a bit hot," Yao Zheng replied, wiping sweat with a tissue.

"Today's weather is pleasant. Although it's almost July and getting warmer, your sweating indicates that your body needs exercise!"

"Yes, I should indeed exercise properly. I've been feeling quite weak lately."

"You still haven't answered my question about the medical station becoming a commercial building. I rechecked yesterday, afraid I got it wrong, but the city's archives still show that your right-hand land should be a medical station.

And the North District is densely populated; there's only one hospital, creating a severe medical issue. That's why the city council allocated that land for a medical station.

And at the same time, housing was built to accommodate the displaced people. Did you not receive the related documents, or was there a change unknown to the city council?"

Yao Zheng wiped his sweat since Secretary Luo hid daggers in his words but wouldn't directly confront you. Yet, this was different—everything was to the point, and whether Yao Zheng answered or not, there was a balance between gain and loss. After brief panic, Yao Zheng regained his composure, despite being a dominant figure in one district.

"I will investigate this matter thoroughly."

Hua Qingyi couldn't help but chuckle. "District Chief Yao, were you telling me you will thoroughly investigate? The municipal planning from five or six years ago, are you saying you don't know anything about it?"

"Hua, City Council, I do know a bit about this plan. At that time, it was just when the old and new were transitioning, and I had just taken over as district chief. I was very busy taking over the work, and the city planning also had its department in the North District.

Don't be fooled by the size of this place; we have all the necessary parts. I, too, want to know why the medical station became a commercial building—was there something shady at the time? I can't say."

"Well, please now contact the person in charge at that time, so we can go visit the relocated households and understand the situation on the ground. There was a death during the construction of Hengfei Mansion, right?"

Yao Zheng might have anticipated Secretary Luo would report this matter to Hua Muyun; he tilted his head slightly. "Was there any incident during the construction? I don't really know, though there was an accident of construction workers falling. Is that what you were referring to, Hua?"

Haha! It always costs a life or two to build a building, especially such high-rises. It's often said to be a feng shui issue. I don't believe in that. Just contact that planning department staff; the sooner we resolve this, the better for all, right?"

"Secretary Li, please get the planning department's minister here." Just after Secretary Li brought up the coffee, he rushed out again. Hua Qingyi thought he seemed more like an errand boy rather than someone who could assist Yao Zheng with his work. From the time he came here, Secretary Li hadn't once handled anything beneficial for Yao Zheng's office, only running around or serving tea—more like a partner's nanny.

"District Chief Yao, should the city council assign you a new secretary? It seems Secretary Li is a bit lacking in capabilities."

"That's unnecessary. Secretary Li has been with me for many years. You know, getting used to someone is like nurturing a romantic relationship. Over time, it becomes hard to part. Secretary Li may lack in ability but understands me best. Besides, I like managing my affairs; he just needs to keep my schedule. In places like ours, there's hardly a need for a top-tier secretary, don't you think?"

During their conversation, Secretary Li had already brought in a middle-aged man in his forties. "District Chief Yao, Hua, City Council! Minister Shen is here."

"You can go back to work." Yao Zheng moved out from behind his desk to the side of the sofa. "Minister Shen, this is Hua from the city council, here to inquire about the land where Hengfei Mansion is built."

"Is there a problem with that land?" Minister Shen gracefully sat on Yao Zheng's left, while Hua Qingyi remained where he stood without moving to the sofa.

"How was the land for Hengfei Mansion acquired?"

"Bidding! The Xia Family also participated in the bidding, but the land ended up with the Hengfei Group." Minister Shen's straightforwardness seemed to trivialize the query; instead, he thought this Hua from the city council might have an issue, as land bidding was as ordinary as it could be.

"Did Minister Shen find anything problematic there?" Yao Zheng knew Hua Qingyi was probing, so he closed his eyes, deliberately avoiding the two.

"Please be straightforward, Hua. I personally don't see any issues here."

"The nature of the Hengfei Mansion is privatized, and this land was meant for public municipal construction. How can this be explained?"

"The city initially allocated this land for a medical station, and we were actively mobilizing the relocation of original residents. But the funds for the medical station never arrived, and with the land empty, we had to sell it."

"The funds didn't arrive, so you sold the land. Is that what you mean?" Hua Qingyi structured his words carefully, asking aloud.

"That's correct!"

"District Chief Yao, where did the city's construction funds go?"

"Hmm? Ah!" District Chief Yao, startled awake, sat up. "Sorry, a bit tired. What did you just say, Hua from the city council?"

"Nothing important, so Minister Shen, please take us to visit the residents relocated from the shantytown."

"Certainly."

"So, let's go together, District Chief Yao."

Minister Shen directly instructed the driver to head towards the slum area in the North District. After parking on higher ground, apart from Minister Shen, the other two were surprised.

"Minister Shen, are you joking?" As soon as he got off, Yao Zheng reprimanded him. "Hua wants to visit the buildings for relocated residents. Why did you bring us here?"

"The residents you're looking for still live here. It's been years, and some remain. I'm only acting per your request, where did I err?" Suddenly, Hua Qingyi found this amusing; Minister Shen's icy demeanor didn't seem directed at him—perhaps he's like this with everyone.

"Minister Shen, what's with the attitude?"

"You're joking, District Chief Yao." As soon as they got out of the car, Yao Zheng rebuked Minister Shen. Nevertheless, the three were surprised, except Minister Shen.

"The residents you seek live here. Over the years, some still remain. I'm just doing as you asked; where did I go wrong?"

"What kind of attitude is that, Minister Shen?"

"Constructing the building did result in deaths. People say it's a Feng Shui issue, but I don't believe that. Please connect with the planning department's officer so we can resolve this early and set everyone's mind at ease, don't you agree?"

"Secretary Li, call the planning department's minister." As soon as Secretary Li, who had just brought up the coffee, put it on the table, he dashed out again. To Hua Qingyi, he looked more like an errand boy, hardly an assistant capable of supporting Yao Zheng's office, always seen running around or serving drinks, just a tag-along.

"District Chief Yao, shouldn't the city send you a secretary? It seems Secretary Li's work efficiency is somewhat lacking!"

"No need. Secretary Li has been with me for quite some time. You know, it's like being in love; after a while, you can't bear to part. While Secretary Li might be a bit inefficient in work, he does understand my mind the best. Moreover, I prefer to handle my affairs personally; as long as he manages my schedule, it's enough for us in this small place, wouldn't you agree?"

During their discussion, Secretary Li had already brought in a man in his forties. "District Chief Yao, Hua from the city council! Minister Shen is here."

"You may leave now." Yao Zheng walked out from behind his desk and sat on the nearby sofa. "Minister Shen, this is Hua from the city council. He wants to ask you about the land where Hengfei Mansion was built."

"Is there a problem with that land?" Minister Shen sat confidently to Yao Zheng's left, while Hua Qingyi maintained his standing position, not shifting to the couch.

"How was the land for Hengfei Mansion acquired?"

"By bidding! The Xia Family also participated in the bid at the time, but the Hengfei Group won it. It was straightforward, making inquiries seem unnecessary. Instead, I think there might be an issue with this Hua."

"Would Minister Shen mind stating exactly what he thinks, as I see no issues here myself."

"The nature of Hengfei Mansion's construction is private. The city designated the land for public municipal development. How do you explain this?"

"Indeed, the city initially designated that land for a medical station, and we worked on relocating the original residents. However, the funds for the medical station construction were not received, so the land was sold instead."

"No funds were received? So you sold the land, correct?" Hua Qingyi asked, trying to be clear in his question.

"Yes, that's what I mean."

"District Chief Yao, would you mind sharing where the funds allocated by the city council went?"

"Hmm? Ah!" District Chief Yao woke up, sitting upright. "Sorry, a bit tired. What did you just ask, Hua from the city council?"

"Never mind then, I just meant that those documents were specifically issued, but the funds for the North District weren't allocated, right? Therefore, Minister Shen decided to auction the land, and the original residents were relocated here, isn't that correct, Minister Shen?"

"That's correct, that's what I meant." (To be continued)