NFBE Chapter 1126 You're acting like a government official, herding private camels!
Chapter 1126 You're acting like a government official, herding private camels!
After Jin Hai said that, everyone except Tan Yuming and Zhou Zihao, those two good-for-nothings, understood who Jin Hai and his group were. Awang and Acai exchanged glances, and Acai quietly slipped out of the room.
Hu and Xia Tianming stood up awkwardly. Although they had never met the members of the central working group, they had been hearing about them for the past two days.
"Comrade, it's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. Captain Zhou just drank too much, that's why he talked nonsense. Don't mind these things on the table. These are just some goods that two ship owners want to send some goods overseas, and they're trying to bribe Director Zhang."
However, Director Zhang had already clearly rejected them. "This is an act that violates the law and policy; we absolutely cannot do it. We were giving them a pep talk before you two came in."
Hu was indeed a very shrewd and resourceful person. His words completely reversed the situation, and Zhang Guangwen's expression immediately improved. He quickly stood up and said with a big smile.
"Is this Deputy Team Leader Jin? Sorry, brother, I had something to do today and forgot you were waiting for me at customs. It's kind of you to come all this way. As you can see, we're criticizing their bribery."
"You two haven't eaten yet, have you? Please take a seat, I'll have them bring out some good dishes."
Zhang Guangwen gave Awang a wink, and Awang quickly went to collect the gold. Jin Hai pulled out a chair, sat down, and reached out to close the lid of the gold box. His hand rested on the box, clearly indicating that Awang was not allowed to move.
Awang could only pretend to go order food and slip out of the room. With the two boat owners gone, Zhang Guangwen and the others visibly relaxed.
Zhou Zihao was a little confused when Wang Enming spoke urgently in his ear.
"Oh dear, Captain Zhou, don't talk nonsense. These two are from the central working group. The tall one is Jin Hai, the deputy leader of the working group. Even if our Director Zhang came, he wouldn't be able to offer him a toast."
Zhou Zihao was instantly terrified, breaking out in a cold sweat. He swallowed hard and sat down dejectedly next to Xia Tianming.
Jin Hai opened the box, took out a gold brick, and weighed it in his hand. He was also surprised. When he was the warden of the capital prison, people often tried to bribe him, but at most they would only give him a few large yellow croakers.
Now, this ship owner is actually using gold bars for smuggling, which gives you an idea of how huge the profits from their smuggling must be.
Zhang Guangwen's eyes were full of laughter, tinged with a hint of mockery. Others had described the work team as an impregnable fortress, refusing gifts and invitations, but it turned out to be merely the price of unrequited love—the sacrifices weren't great enough.
When Deputy Team Leader Jin saw the gold bricks, didn't his eyes also pop out?
He gestured to Wang Enming, who quickly picked up the wine bottle and poured wine for Jin Hai and the other man.
Zhang Guangwen stood up, his face beaming with smiles.
“Deputy Team Leader Jin, it’s fate that we met. Although we missed each other during the day, we did meet at dinner. I won’t say anything more. Brother, I’d like to offer you both a toast. Also, please accept the contents of this box as my apology.”
Jin Hai played with the gold brick; it was quite heavy. He tossed it back into the box and then said calmly.
"Deputy Chief Zhang, these gold bars are no small amount. Can we accept them?"
His tone was a little higher, but it was by no means accusatory.
Zhang Guangwen was secretly delighted. He didn't care about such a small amount of gold bricks. As long as the two people in the work group accepted the gold bricks, he could just ask the two ship owners to prepare another set. He couldn't afford to suffer such a loss.
"Of course we can accept them. Everyone here is one of our own. Look, there are some in front of them too..."
Zhang Guangwen walked over, put his arm around Jin Hai's shoulder, and whispered something.
"As the saying goes, officials travel a thousand miles for nothing but wealth. We'll take this little bit of gold, and when their ships set sail, I'll just turn a blind eye."
"No one will know that we brothers have struck it rich."
Jin Hai said calmly.
"What about the country's losses?"
Zhang Guangwen patted Jin Hai on the shoulder forcefully and laughed heartily.
"Hey Deputy Team Leader Jin, what does this loss of the country have to do with you and me? Our country is so big and powerful, a little loss is nothing. Anyway, the profits won't go into our pockets, right?"
Jin Hai looked up at him, his face showing sudden realization.
"Oh, I see, Deputy Chief Zhang, you're acting like an official, letting smuggled camels run by yourself?"
Zhang Guangwen nodded.
"A wise person can get things done easily. These days, if you don't make a living by taking advantage of others, who can live a good life?"
Jin Hai slowly stood up. His voice was low, but unusually steady.
"Zhang Guangwen, so this is how you customs officers do your job? No wonder people say that customs is the most lucrative job in the world. You've enriched yourself but made the country and the people suffer. Ask yourself honestly, if the country and the people hadn't given you this responsibility, would you be able to eat such good food?"
"I wouldn't have cared if you ate or drank a little, but we absolutely will not allow you to betray the country for personal gain."
Chen Changwu from the National Audit Office also stood up and said dismissively.
"The national 'Four Cleans and Five Antis' campaign is to eliminate cancerous growths like you. You are enriching yourselves at the expense of the public. We will report this to our superiors. Every one of you here should wait to be investigated. Tomorrow someone will tell you where to report."
Tan Yuming was taken aback. He had only come to join the fun and get a meal, how did he get involved in this? Hu Tongxue and Xia Tianming both trembled. Looking at the gold brick in front of them, they felt that it was a death warrant, and their previous greed had vanished.
Zhou Zihao was drenched in cold sweat. He and Wang Enming looked at Zhang Guangwen with mournful faces; Zhang Guangwen was now their only savior.
Zhang Guangwen's face turned pale and then red. He stood there blankly, staring at Jin Hai and Chen Changwu, before finally speaking.
"Are you really going to such extremes? Leaving us no way out at all? Deputy Team Leader Jin, my brother-in-law is Secretary Li Bo, please, for the sake of the Party, spare me this time!"
Jin Hai sneered,
"Let you off this time? You've been working at customs for almost ten years. How many personal pleasures have you sacrificed for the country's interests? This is filled with the sweat and toil of the people. When you're enjoying these delicacies, have you ever thought about the country and the people?"
Now you're begging for mercy, do you think that's possible?
Zhang Guangwen trembled all over. Only now did he realize the fear. The gold on the table felt like bullets that would be shot at him. The central working group had caught him red-handed. Even if it were a senior executive of the central government, let alone his brother-in-law, they wouldn't be able to smooth things over.
Zhang Guangwen gritted his teeth and then suddenly slammed his fist on the table, letting out a heart-wrenching scream.
"Since you won't let me live, then you won't live either! Guards!"