Chen Feng had originally planned to return to Dashan Lake via the same route he took during the day. However, he soon realized that Vice District Chief Ming and the chemical plant owners were all shrewd individuals. If he took the same route, even at night, he would likely achieve nothing.
Therefore, Chen Feng decided to pay a local old man to go to Dashan Lake for him. His stated reason was that he had lost something by the lakeside during the day.
The local old man was happy to oblige. He would be paid a thousand yuan just to check if the chemical plants by Dashan Lake were genuinely shut down or merely pretending to be. It was a deal he couldn't refuse.
To avoid being detected, the old man took a small, secluded path.
In the latter half of the night, the old man returned from Dashan Lake.
"Old man, are those chemical plants up there shut down or still operating?" Chen Feng asked immediately.
"They're operating, and at full capacity. Half the lake surface has turned yellow." the old man replied truthfully.
"Thank you, old man," Chen Feng said as he handed over the remaining payment.
After the old man left, Chen Feng immediately called Qin Yan.
Qin Yan was sleeping in a hotel room with Cheng Lu. They had enjoyed two days of fun, which had also been exhausting, and she had fallen asleep as soon as she hit the bed.
Chen Feng had set his ringtone to the song "A Love for a Lifetime," so Qin Yan would sense it immediately, whether she was asleep or awake.
"Chen Feng, is there an emergency calling so late?" Qin Yan asked directly.
"Several chemical plants by Dashan Lake are discharging waste tonight. Hurry and call the Wuzhou District Public Security Bureau and tell them to send people over and catch them red-handed," Chen Feng said, speaking word by word.
"Chen Feng, I am the District Chief of Wuzhou District. I can call the Wuzhou District Public Security Bureau to send people. However, it will be completely useless." Qin Yan replied honestly.
"Why would it be completely useless?" Chen Feng asked, feeling a bit bewildered.
"Chen Feng, as far as I know, the owners of those chemical plants by Dashan Lake have a very good relationship with Vice District Chief Ming of Wuzhou District. If I were to ask the Wuzhou District Public Security Bureau to send people over tonight, Vice District Chief Ming would have already called those owners to tip them off. Do you think the people sent by the Wuzhou District Public Security Bureau can catch them in the act, with both the criminals and the evidence?" Qin Yan retorted.
"I understand, District Chief Qin. Thank you for this important reminder. I was just too eager and lost my composure. Don't worry, I have a way to bring these money-grubbing, heartless scumbags to justice tonight!!" Chen Feng exclaimed, suddenly enlightened.
"Chen Feng, do you have a good plan?" Qin Yan asked tentatively.
"District Chief Qin, you should remember that I have a good relationship with the Chinese military. If the high command of the military calls the Wuzhou District military and requests a hundred people, it shouldn't be a big problem," Chen Feng said confidently.
"Since it's foolproof, then Cheng Lu and I will go back to sleep." Qin Yan said with a smile.
"You two sleep well. Tomorrow, after you and Cheng Lu have one last day of fun, the three of us can return to Mingshan City to take up our posts. Tonight, this is the last meaningful thing I'll do for Wuzhou District." With that, Chen Feng hung up the phone.
An hour later, a detachment of 150 armed soldiers from the Wuzhou District military arrived at Dashan Lake under the cover of darkness.
They took down all the sentries, both visible and hidden, along the way.
Therefore, by the time they reached the chemical plants by Dashan Lake, the plants were still operating at full swing.
The events that followed need no further description.
In short, the owners of several chemical plants, along with Vice District Chief Ming, all went to where they belonged.
"Honey, are you leaving tomorrow?" Zhao Hongyan asked reluctantly.
"Miss Hongyan, as I said from the beginning, I won't stay in Wuzhou District forever. Everything in Wuzhou District is now on the right track, and it's time for me to leave," Chen Feng replied truthfully.
"Honey, I want to go back to Mingshan City with you." Zhao Hongyan said sadly.
During this time, she had repeatedly told herself that her relationship with Chen Feng was just for show, not a real marriage.
However, Chen Feng's charm was so powerful that she had unknowingly fallen in love with him.
And looking at her own boyfriend, he was simply like a pile of dung.
"Miss Hongyan, I understand how you feel. However, I cannot take you to Mingshan City, nor can you go with me to Mingshan City," Chen Feng explained seriously.
"Why?" Zhao Hongyan asked, heartbroken.
"Firstly, you have a boyfriend. I have observed your boyfriend carefully during this time, and he truly likes you."
"But I don't like my boyfriend anymore." Zhao Hongyan quickly explained.
"I know you don't like your boyfriend anymore, but you are already carrying his child. In this world, there is not only love but also other emotions."
"Honey, how do you know I have a child with my boyfriend?" Zhao Hongyan was stunned.
"Miss Hongyan, don't you remember? I know Chinese medicine. Through observation, listening, questioning, and palpation, it is quite easy for Chinese medicine practitioners to know if a woman is pregnant," Chen Feng said with a smile.
"Also, if you leave, the development that Wuzhou District has finally achieved might collapse. Therefore, for the sake of Wuzhou District, you cannot go back to Mingshan City with me," Chen Feng continued to explain.
"Then what should I do when I miss you in the future?" Zhao Hongyan asked, her eyes glistening with tears.
"If you miss me in the future, bring the child to Mingshan City to see me," Chen Feng comforted Zhao Hongyan.
"Okay, it seems I'm destined not to be your woman in this life. This is our last meeting, we..." With that, Zhao Hongyan began to undress reluctantly.
Chen Feng stopped her.
"Honey, what's wrong? You didn't refuse before. Why are you refusing now on our last night together?" Zhao Hongyan asked painfully.
"Before, you weren't carrying your boyfriend's child. I could... with you. But now that you're carrying your boyfriend's child, I can't... Miss Hongyan, I hope you can understand me." Chen Feng said sternly.
"I understand, honey. This is the last time I'll call you honey. To be honest, the time we spent together wasn't very long, and we were only married in name. However, you are the most outstanding man I have ever met, bar none. My life is complete." Zhao Hongyan said with a forced smile.
"Miss Hongyan, I feel the same way about you. From the daughter of a local figure to a prominent strong woman in Wuzhou District," Chen Feng said with a look of satisfaction.
"Honey, sleep with me for the last night tonight. Let me have a memory to hold onto..." Zhao Hongyan said word by word.
"Miss Hongyan, I already told you earlier that you are carrying your boyfriend's child, and I cannot..." Chen Feng patiently explained.
"Honey, you misunderstood me. You have principles and won't do anything to hurt my boyfriend, so I naturally want to cooperate. However, I want to vent my longing for you. Therefore, I've decided to hire a college student at a high price. She's still a virgin..." Zhao Hongyan said excitedly.
"Miss Hongyan, please don't do that, it's too much," Chen Feng refused immediately.
"Honey, won't you even give me this last memory? I have my boyfriend's child, so I can't... with you. But I can watch you with another woman... this woman replacing me... I'll be happy. Can you bear to extinguish this last bit of my happy memory?" Zhao Hongyan asked with a look of lingering attachment.