The Beautiful County Magistrate
Chapter 215: Sister Wen, don’t drink that alcohol!

Chapter 215: Chapter 215: Sister Wen, don’t drink that alcohol!

"Join forces?"

"How do we join forces, through colluding between officials and businessmen?"

As Xu Qianli spoke, he couldn’t help but reassess Sister Wen.

The top figure of the Underworld in Zhongzhou City, he had heard of her more than once, an absolute powerhouse, ruthless, and fierce.

Such a character offering an olive branch, proposing to join forces, what was she up to?

Her gaze shifted, Sister Wen exhaled a ring of smoke and spoke lightly.

"Whether you call it joining forces or collusion, I’m thinking of collaborating with you."

"I’ve been keeping an eye on the developments in Jiang City and am fully aware you’ll soon be heading to Qingshan Town."

"The projects involving the contracting of forests and lakes in Qingshan Town are an enormous piece of fat, it would be such a waste to let people like Feng Jiang devour it."

"How about we join forces?"

Sister Wen revealed her thoughts; she had long set her eyes on the resources of the forests and lakes in Qingshan Town. If she could get her hands on them, she would definitely make a fortune.

Of course, to get things done, the support of Qingshan Town’s leading official was indispensable.

Li Zhu had already been put under double regulation, and currently, there were two main candidates for the new Party Secretary of Qingshan Town—one being the town mayor, Fan Wenbin, and the other was Xu Qianli.

Xu Qianli had Ge Changhong backing him, while Fan Wenbin had Lan Qianrong.

Judging from the previous clashes between Ge Changhong and Lan Qianrong, although Lan Qianrong was full of vim and had tough methods, Ge Changhong, seasoned and vicious, with an extremely deep background, held the upper hand over Lan Qianrong.

Between Xu Qianli and Fan Wenbin, it was highly probable, over ninety percent likely, that Xu Qianli would have the last laugh.

If she could secure a cooperation with Xu Qianli at this critical juncture, it wouldn’t be hard for Sister Wen to monopolize the resources of the forests and lakes in Qingshan Town.

But what exactly did Xu Qianli mean?

Xu Qianli said, "So after all this, Sister Wen, you also have your eye on that fat piece of Qingshan Town. But I advise you, that piece of fat is poisonous, whoever touches it will surely die!"

"What do you mean by that?" Sister Wen asked.

"What do I mean?"

"Don’t you know that trading state-owned forest and lake resources illegally, as Li Zhu and Fan Wenbin did, blinded by greed to make money and even involving a group of bosses, is illegal?"

"In the short term, both parties might profit nicely, but as soon as time goes by, problems will definitely crop up, and being imprisoned would be getting off lightly, not to mention possibly getting shot."

"I’m not exaggerating; ever since I learned about the situation in Qingshan Town, I researched domestic cases of large-scale illegal trade of natural resources. Just within the last five years, there’ve been seven or eight people executed."

"That’s why I say the juicy bit of Qingshan Town is poisonous, even if eaten, it would be fatal!"

"Of course, you can also make a quick fortune and disappear, but do you really want to spend your life hiding?"

Xu Qianli said.

Joking, this woman wanted to drag him onto a ship of thieves, moreover, a ship that was bound to sink, he, Xu Qianli, had no interest.

Sister Wen said, "Aren’t you being too dramatic? Selling some wood, contracting lakes for fish and ducks, could that really have such severe consequences?"

"Playing on a small scale isn’t an issue, but what you want to do is cut down all the trees on the mountains of Qingshan Town to sell for money, and then replant with fast-growing economic trees like eucalyptus."

"Let’s not even mention the timber trade; what would be the consequences after the mountains are cleared?"

"Qingshan Town’s terrain is complex, with many mountains and river channels. The annual rain season brings huge pressure for flood control. You mustn’t be unaware that Qinglong River almost burst its banks a few days ago."

"Once the trees in the forests of Qingshan Town are cut down and vegetation is lost, the stability of the mountains is bound to loosen. Rainwater, carrying a massive amount of rocks and mud, will inevitably slide down and block the river channels, leading to a high probability of flash floods and even more severe natural disasters like mudslides."

"Are these consequences something you can handle?"

"Besides, it will destroy the livelihood of over two hundred thousand residents of Qingshan Town, their homes. Will they let you off the hook then?"

Xu Qianli had been breaking it down for Wen Jie, stressing the severity of the situation.

No matter how powerful she was, even as the leading figure in Zhongzhou City’s Underworld, she was nothing in front of the state apparatus. Once she messed things up badly, getting shot was almost certain.

Wen Jie’s face grew cold, her eyebrows furrowed, and she subconsciously grabbed a bottle of alcohol and took several big gulps.

"Ah, you shouldn’t drink that!"

Xu Qianli noticed something wrong and quickly intervened. The wine Wen Jie was drinking was the one laced with drugs by that bastard Feng Jiang.

Earlier, he himself had only sipped a little and couldn’t resist, completely losing control and knocking out one of the twins, who had passed out.

Wen Jie, though, had guzzled a few big mouthfuls just now!

Realizing something was amiss, Wen Jie rushed into the bathroom, frantically trying to induce vomiting.

But for some reason, she couldn’t vomit at all.

Having no other choice, Wen Jie acted as if nothing happened and walked out of the bathroom, staring fixedly at Xu Qianli.

Xu Qianli felt uneasy from being stared at and, clearing his throat, stood up, "Uh, Wen Jie, I have something else to attend to, so I’m going to take off."

Xu Qianli tried to take off, but Wen Jie wouldn’t have it. She quickly stepped forward and forcefully pushed him back down by his chest.

"I’m in this mess because I was trying to help you."

"And look at you, having no loyalty at all, trying to abandon me and run away. Are you even a man?"

"I’m telling you, you started this mess, and you’re going to help me solve it!"

Wen Jie’s eyes grew hotter, her heart pounding like a drum, her breathing becoming rapid. She stared intensely at Xu Qianli, ready to pounce at any moment.

Xu Qianli said, "I’ll take responsibility, I’ll help solve it. I’ll take you to the hospital right now. Just hang on for a few minutes."

"What few minutes? I can’t last even one minute!"

"The stuff Feng Jiang brought is top-grade; it’d knock out an elephant, let alone me, who accidentally drank so much. Without a man, I’m as good as dead!"

"You’re a man, stop dawdling. It’s up to you now!"

Wen Jie leaped forward, thrusting herself into Xu Qianli’s embrace, trying to forcefully kiss him.

Xu Qianli pushed her away forcefully, "Calm down. It’s not like I’m the only man in the world. You have a bunch of subordinates, all burly men; you could just turn to them."

"No way, I don’t feel anything towards them!"

"And besides, they are not as handsome as you!"

"You were so fierce just now with that delicate beauty in the bathroom; why get cold feet now?"

"Or do you look down on me, think I’m too wild, dislike me?"

"Hmph, I don’t care whether you fancy me or not, I’ve chosen you today. Whether you agree or not, you have no choice!"

Wen Jie persisted relentlessly and suddenly, with a sly smile, she grabbed the drug-laced bottle of wine, took a big gulp, and kissed Xu Qianli.

Xu Qianli wanted to refuse but couldn’t. Though she was a woman, she was incredibly strong. The alcohol hit his system, and his body, barely calm before, now surged with uncontrollable desire as he tightly embraced Wen Jie’s serpentine waist.