Handong: Sha Li wants political achievements? I'll shut down the entire province.

The rain in Jingzhou is pouring down like crazy.

Water droplets the size of soybeans hit the asphalt road, splashing up a layer of white mist.

Li Dakang's Hongqi limousine was parked outside the main entrance of Lingxiao Building.

He didn't even open an umbrella; he simply pushed open the car door and jumped into the rain.

He stepped into a deep puddle by the roadside with his leather shoes.

The muddy water poured into the shoe upper.

My toes were wrapped up, wet and cold, and they made a "splat" sound with the slightest movement.

He had just bent over and dry heaved for a while.

My mouth was filled with the bitter taste of Coptis chinensis.

The bruise on his head from bumping into the provincial party committee compound throbbed with pain from the cold rain, sending jolts through the back of his head.

On his first two visits, he didn't even get to touch the electronic barrier gate outside the main gate.

Today, the deadline for defaulting on 300 billion yuan is looming large.

Even if he had to soak his old bones in mud and water, he would still have to see Yan Qingfeng.

"Click".

Amidst the muffled sound of rain, there was a faint mechanical friction sound.

The titanium alloy barrier that had blocked his way for three days slowly lifted up.

The indicator light changed from red to green, emitting a dim glow.

Li Dakang stood there, stunned.

I wiped the dirty water running down my eyelashes with the back of my hand; my eyes were so sore I could barely open them.

Her two chapped lips trembled slightly.

Two security guards wearing black rubber raincoats, who were under Shen Pojun's command, stepped out of the guardhouse.

He splashed water in his shoes and didn't even glance at the municipal party secretary.

"Master Yan has given the order; you are to go up."

The burly man leading the group spat and pointed his thumb behind him toward the main building entrance.

"Make sure to clean the soles of your feet thoroughly, so you don't get the wool carpet inside dirty."

Li Dakang's cheek muscles twitched twice.

His teeth were grinding together, making a cracking sound.

He didn't dare to make a sound, and sucked his bitten lip back into place.

Dragging his leaden legs, he waded through the mud and followed.

The glass revolving door I just stepped through into the building.

A blast of cool air, mixed with a sophisticated industrial fragrance, hit my face.

The central air conditioning in the building was set to an extremely low temperature.

Li Dakang's wrinkled white shirt was already soaked through.

The damp cloth clung to the skin, and a gust of wind instantly took away the body heat.

He suddenly shivered.

The upper and lower rows of teeth uncontrollably collided, making a soft "clucking" sound.

The elevator car was covered with a thick beige plush carpet.

Li Dakang stepped on it, and muddy water mixed with rainwater dripped down.

Black and red mud spots spread across the light-colored down.

It's glaringly bright.

He rubbed his arms, which were covered in goosebumps, feeling his heart pounding painfully against his ribs.

A crisp "ding" sounded.

The metal car doors slid open to both sides.

The security guard leading the way pushed open the double doors of rosewood at the end of the corridor.

"Go in."

Li Dakang moved his feet and stepped over the threshold.

The office was eerily empty.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, lightning occasionally rips through the clouds, casting a pale white light onto the polished floor.

The air conditioning inside is even colder than downstairs.

The dry, cold air swept through my nasal cavity, making my nasal mucosa dry and painful.

Yan Qingfeng sat in that large, custom-made leather chair.

A pure black trench coat was casually draped over the back of a chair.

He held a pure silver cigar cutter in his hand, his thumb rubbing the edge back and forth.

"Click."

The sharp blade snapped shut, cutting off a section of the cigar butt.

On the single sofa next to me.

Zhou Yuan was using his short, stubby fingers to pinch a piece of greasy fried chicken cutlet and take a bite.

It was so crunchy that crumbs kept falling onto my thighs.

"Wow, Secretary Li's look is quite unique. Did he just come back from fishing in the river?"

Zhou Yuan grinned, chewing on meat, and mumbled out a mouthful of cumin and chili powder flavor.

Li Dakang ignored Zhou Yuan's sarcasm.

He rushed to the large mahogany desk, taking two steps at a time.

The soaked leather shoes left a muddy watermark on the floor.

He slammed his hands on the table.

The cold sweat in my palms mixed with rainwater, leaving a puddle on the precious wood grain.

He was panting heavily.

A sawing sound came from inside my chest.

"President Yan...Master Yan!"

Li Dakang spoke, his voice split in two, with an unpleasant crack.

His Adam's apple moved up and down with difficulty.

"Three hundred billion... as long as you, you're willing to lend a hand, brother!"

His voice trembled, carrying the frenzied energy of a gambler who had lost all his chips.

My fingernails scratched several white marks on the table.

Yan Qingfeng didn't lift his eyelids.

He toyed with the cut Cohiba cigar in his hand and brought it to his nose to smell the rich aroma of tobacco.

"Want me to lend you a hand?"

He raised an eyebrow, his voice flat.

"Why should I throw money into that leaky, broken jar?"

Li Dakang became anxious.

My stomach churned again, and acid reflux rose up my throat.

He forcefully suppressed the nausea and leaned forward.

A string of water droplets dripped from the lapel of Yan Qingfeng's suit and landed on the crystal ashtray in front of him.

"Land! I'll approve the land for you!"

Li Dakang's eyes were bloodshot as he made repeated promises, his speech becoming increasingly rapid.

"You can pick any piece of land you want in the high-tech zone south of Jingzhou City... no, in the entire city!"

He swallowed hard, his saliva tasting of rust, his tongue tied in knots.

"As long as the money arrives by noon today, whichever project you fancy... I'll approve and stamp it for you first thing tomorrow morning!"

"You won't pay a single penny! Everything will be processed through the green channel with special approval!"

The room fell silent.

Raindrops pelted against the bulletproof glass outside the window with a loud pattering sound.

Zhou Yuan smacked his lips as he chewed on the chicken bone.

Yan Qingfeng finally raised his head.

His gaze swept over Li Dakang's pale, dripping old face.

It's like looking at a pile of stinking garbage.

"Clatter".

Yan Qingfeng casually tossed the pure silver cigar cutter aside.

The metallic clang of metal striking wood echoed through the room.

He reached out and pulled open the drawer on his left, the slide making a slight damping friction sound.

Li Dakang's gaze was fixed on that drawer.

My breath hitched, and my chest felt tight and painful.

Yan Qingfeng pulled out a thick black kraft paper bag.

It contained a heavy stack of documents.

He flicked his wrist.

"Bang!"

The paper bag slammed heavily onto the table in front of Li Dakang.

A tiny, almost imperceptible speck of dust was stirred up.

The white cotton string sealing the bag had come loose, revealing the paper inside with bold, black text printed on it.

Yan Qingfeng leaned back in his chair, the leather making a creaking sound as it was being pushed against him.

He picked up the glass of whiskey with ice on the table; a fine layer of condensation formed on the glass.

"I don't want the land; that stuff is too uncomfortable to even use as a table corner now."

He shook the glass, and the ice cubes clinked together with a crisp, tinkling sound.

His voice carried a bone-chilling coldness.

"Take a look at what's inside, sign the papers, and the 300 billion will be in your account within half an hour."