Chapter 76: This Gift Is Exactly What I Needed

The mountain path was difficult, whether going up or coming down. Fortunately, there was a small trail leading straight down the mountain, making the descent far easier than before.

“What should we do next?” After bidding farewell to Old Chen and persuading him not to leave the mountain for now, Zhang Ye and Liu Wentao descended, their hearts full of satisfaction.

“We need to find a way to pass this on to those above.” Zhang Ye was unfamiliar with the Forestry Bureau, with its intricate and hidden workings.

Yet, deciding whom to hand it to required careful consideration. Ordinary leaders wouldn’t do; they weren’t from the right department and had no authority here. If it was someone within the department, he had to guard against the possibility that they might suppress the evidence.

Thus, Zhang Ye needed a bridge—someone well-versed in the internal details, capable of ensuring these materials would serve their intended purpose.

First, Zhang Ye thought of Yuan Yuqing. The woman he once rescued because of the bus incident was herself part of the system and surely understood all its twists and turns.

But after some reflection, Zhang Ye shook his head and gave up the idea. He never wanted to use her too much.

“Which person in the Forestry Bureau is close to Li Gengsheng?” Zhang Ye didn’t know much about the Forestry Bureau, but when Li Gengsheng fell, he remembered that someone from the Bureau had been implicated, someone of considerable rank.

“Li Locke…” Suddenly, a name flashed through Zhang Ye’s mind, and only then did he realize. This man was none other than Li Yulong’s uncle, the director of the Forestry Bureau.

“Now, I just need to find someone who’s at odds with him, preferably a mortal enemy, and hand the materials over.” Zhang Ye went over the entire matter in his mind, took out his phone, saw there was no signal, and put it away with a sigh. Then he headed straight for Lihua County.

...

“Hello, Aunt Yuan?” Zhang Ye dialed Yuan Yuqing’s number and greeted her.

He didn’t intend to ask Yuan Yuqing for help, but there was no harm in gathering information. Relationships were about give and take; frequent contact fostered familiarity.

Soon, a somewhat languid voice came from the other end, accompanied by the sound of running water. “Is that you, Ye? Wait a bit, I’ll call you back after I finish washing my hair.” With that, she hung up.

Not long after, Zhang Ye’s phone rang again. Yuan Yuqing’s voice came through, teasing yet warm: “It’s a rare occasion for the big boss Zhang to call me. What instructions do you have?”

She was aware that Zhang Ye had bought a phone with his business earnings. She took no special view of it, though her manner of addressing him had changed during their usual exchanges, and she joked with him more often.

“All right, don’t make fun of me. Compared to you, what am I?” Zhang Ye was well aware of her background. Unexpectedly, Yuan Yuqing was a skilled investor; she had at least a million yuan rolling in the stock market, and her portfolio was still growing. Her insight was remarkable.

As someone reborn, Zhang Ye felt ashamed. In his previous life, he knew almost nothing about stocks, barely recalling one or two booming shares, and the timing was still far off.

Knowing how volatile and thrilling the stock market could be, Zhang Ye had nothing but admiration for someone who could multiply a hundred thousand yuan tenfold in three years.

“Heh, don’t underestimate yourself. Your journey has taught me a thing or two. I’m wondering when I’ll get a chance to invest alongside you,” Yuan Yuqing laughed on the other end. It was rare for her, always so dignified, to sound so delighted.

“Of course, next time I’ll definitely invite you, Aunt Yuan. I’ve got my eye on your million,” Zhang Ye replied, laughing.

“All right, out with it. If you’re calling me of your own accord, it’s surely not for anything good.” After a moment, Yuan Yuqing spoke. Her talk of investing was a joke; as a civil servant, she wasn’t permitted to do business.

“Well, I’ll be direct. Here’s the thing… I want to know who in the Forestry Bureau holds a grudge against Li Locke, and who has a high rank.” Zhang Ye considered and decided to be straightforward.

“What, are you planning to harm someone? Looking for dirt?” Yuan Yuqing was still smiling, but her tone became serious.

Zhang Ye gave a bitter smile. Clearly, the last incident with Hong Jiang had left a deep impression on her. At the mere mention, she thought of that episode.

But in this matter, Zhang Ye didn’t want Yuan Yuqing to get involved; he believed he could handle it himself. So he replied, “This time it’s different. An elder I know has evidence of illegal logging of protected trees at a forest farm. The owner of the farm is close to Li Locke. He’s worried that submitting the evidence won’t lead to any action, so he asked me to take care of it.”

Though Zhang Ye was acting on his own initiative, this was not a lie.

“Oh, if that’s the case, I do know someone who fits your requirements,” Yuan Yuqing laughed softly. The materials Zhang Ye provided might not be of much use to her, but for her brother-in-law, they were invaluable.

Guo Haijun had established himself in Lihua County, but lately things hadn’t been easy. The county head and the executive deputy county head had joined forces, making it difficult for him, even as party secretary, to exert his influence. While the exact nature of Zhang Ye’s evidence was unclear, it was certain that it would impact the executive deputy’s faction, and Yuan Yuqing was glad to help.

“Who?”

“Su Hao.”

...

Su Hao, forty years old, was the third-ranking official in the Forestry Bureau. He had worked there for fifteen years, rising from a lowly forest policeman to his current position. His competence and resourcefulness were well recognized.

But since Li Locke, his long-time adversary, became director of the Forestry Bureau, Su Hao’s troubles had begun. The assignments he received were either trivial or dirty and exhausting, and Li Locke often put him on the spot in front of his subordinates. Now, Su Hao had no authority; even the clerks in his office dared to disregard him.

He had been holding back his resentment all this time.

Early that morning, just after dinner and about to head out for work, someone delivered a package. Suspecting it might be a bribe, Su Hao’s upright nature made him frown. If his wife hadn’t stopped him, he would have thrown it away.

Deciding to open it, he was stunned by the photos and documents inside. A rush of clarity and relief washed over him.

He had heard rumors about Yulong Forest Farm. Lacking evidence, he could only turn a blind eye, letting Li Locke and Li Yulong enjoy their impunity.

But now, with these materials, everything would change.

This gift was just what he needed.

He knew Li Locke’s luck had run out.