219: Chapter 219 Secretary Dakang is going to take the wife route.

Secretary Li Dakang sat back in his chair, looked at Ouyang Jing, and smiled. "Don't get too happy about that 800 million deposit. What if he withdraws it one day?"

Ouyang Jing rolled her eyes at him. "Let me tell you, for this deposit, they bought 600 million in our bank's new large-denomination certificates of deposit, with a five-year term. With this deposit, I don't need to worry about early retirement as a vice president, and I might even be able to advance further!"

"Oh?" Secretary Li Dakang's small eyes narrowed, and he began to ponder.

The confusion on Tian Xingzhi's face deepened as she looked at Secretary Li Dakang. "Cousin, why aren't you surprised by such a large amount of money? Zhao Yang is the Chief Prosecutor; where would he get so much money?"

Secretary Li Dakang waved his hand. "If it were anyone else, I'd be surprised, but not with Zhao Yang. I don't know much else, but a classmate of mine at the Patent Office once revealed privately that Zhao Yang holds hundreds of core patents. He earns over ten million annually just in patent licensing fees, a large portion of which comes from European and American companies. It's not strange for him to deposit 800 million."

Tian Xingzhi didn't understand; instead, she became even more confused. "Isn't Zhao Yang a prosecutor? How is he involved in technology?"

"He graduated from the Department of Computer Science at Shuimu University and is also a lifetime honorary professor. His level of scientific research is good enough to be an academician," Secretary Li Dakang said casually.

"Then why isn't he an academician?" Tian Xingzhi blurted out.

Secretary Li Dakang laughed. "He admitted it himself; he's obsessed with being an official. He earns so much money to prevent others from using money to corrupt him."

Tian Xingzhi opened her mouth, not knowing what to say. The logic was sound, yet something felt off no matter how she thought about it.

Ouyang Jing looked at him with newfound respect. "Secretary Li Dakang, I never would have guessed. You actually did your homework. I thought you didn't know about Zhao Yang's situation."

"Do you think my position as a member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee is just for show?" Secretary Li Dakang frowned and said, "In a few days, after Zhao Yang officially takes office, help me arrange a private meeting with him."

"Oh my—" Ouyang Jing laughed sarcastically. "Secretary Li Dakang, didn't you say you wouldn't let me get in touch with Zhao Yang? Why do you want me to introduce him now? You change your tune way too quickly."

Secretary Li Dakang said with dissatisfaction, "Don't you think about it? Why would he deposit 800 million with you all at once?"

Ouyang Jing shrugged. "Zhao Yang said that he has to spend money anyway, so it doesn't matter where he deposits it. Besides, our bank has higher interest rates. Secretary Li Dakang, don't think everyone is that utilitarian. Zhao Yang is someone special; Dalu told me as much—think about it, does he need to use me to curry favor with you?"

Secretary Li Dakang was stunned and couldn't speak for a long while.

Having won the argument, Ouyang Jing suddenly found that Secretary Li Dakang didn't look so annoying anymore, so she hummed a little tune and went to wash up.

Tian Xingzhi couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Cousin, compared to you, who has a higher rank, the Chief Prosecutor or you?"

"If I weren't a member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, our ranks would be the same," Secretary Li Dakang said.

Tian Xingzhi thought for a moment. "So, he doesn't have a higher rank than you?"

Secretary Li Dakang laughed. "That's not how things are calculated. Do you think Ouyang Jing is wrong? That Zhao Yang is currying favor with me?"

Tian Xingzhi nodded. "Yeah, otherwise why would he insist on depositing the money in your wife's bank?"

"Ouyang Jing is right. He's not currying favor with me," Secretary Li Dakang said.

Tian Xingzhi frowned. "Cousin, I don't understand."

"Guess how old Zhao Yang is?" Secretary Li Dakang asked with a smile.

"He must be about your age," Tian Xingzhi said.

Secretary Li Dakang shook his head. "Zhao Yang is seven years younger than you."

"Thirty-seven?" Tian Xingzhi stepped back in surprise. "He's so young, how did he get such a high-ranking position? Did he buy it with money?"

Secretary Li Dakang was amused. "Do you think it's a village chief position? You can't buy it with money. Ever since he started working, he has earned merits almost every year. His record of service over the last dozen years is thicker than what others achieve in three lifetimes. A person like that doesn't need to curry favor with me. He has a reason for depositing so much money in the City Bank, that's for sure!"

Tian Xingzhi looked confused. "Cousin, what purpose could there be?"

Secretary Li Dakang rubbed his forehead. "I can't figure it out, that's why I asked Ouyang Jing to invite him!"

Tian Xingzhi thought for a moment and burst out laughing. "Then you really have to beg your wife; Zhao Yang is her client. Cousin, is this the first time you've had to rely on your wife?"

Secretary Li Dakang waved his hand impatiently. "Go, go, go, go wash the dishes."

The next morning, people from the Supreme Organization Department arrived in Handong Province and solemnly announced the appointment of Comrade Zhao Yang in the auditorium of the Provincial Procuratorate, officially naming him as the Chief Prosecutor of the Handong Province Procuratorate. The person who came to announce the appointment was an acquaintance of Zhao Yang—every time Zhao Yang was promoted, from division chief to deputy bureau chief, and from deputy bureau chief to bureau chief, it was this person who announced it. As Zhao Yang climbed the career ladder, this person's position also rose along with him.

Zhao Yang gave a brief inaugural speech, mostly consisting of standard formalities. He affirmed the work of the former Chief Prosecutor, Chief Prosecutor Ji Changming, looked forward to the future, and then expressed his hope for everyone's support. It was proper and conventional; while not impassioned, it was certainly not dull. This was because the cadres of the Procuratorate present were all a bit dazzled by Zhao Yang's good looks.

They had all done their homework in advance and knew that Zhao Yang was very handsome and only thirty-seven years old. But after seeing him in person, they all felt that this Zhao Yang looked like he was twenty-seven—sunny, handsome, and with a gentle, pleasant voice.

The expressions of all the female cadres were similar to when Lin Huahua first saw Zhao Yang, and even the male cadres felt that reporting work to such a superior every day would be a pleasing experience.

After the meeting, the people from the Central Organization Department left Handong Province, as they had to rush to the next province to announce other personnel appointments. Zhao Yang returned to his office and immediately called for Division Chief Liu—who was Chief Prosecutor Ji Changming's secretary.

During this time, Division Chief Liu had been feeling uneasy, worried that the new leader would replace him as soon as he took office. He stood before Zhao Yang and said respectfully, "Prosecutor Zhao, you summoned me."

Zhao Yang nodded. "Division Chief Liu, whatever you did when Chief Prosecutor Ji was here, you will continue to do now. Don't overthink it."

Division Chief Liu's heart finally settled, and he said gratefully, "Thank you, Prosecutor Zhao. I will definitely work hard in the future."

"Go and call Prosecutor Lin Jianguo, then coordinate with the hospital. Prosecutor Lin Jianguo and I are going to visit Chief Prosecutor Ji Changming," Zhao Yang said.

"Understood. And regarding the Provincial Party Committee leaders, when would you like to visit them?" Division Chief Liu asked cautiously.

"You go and communicate with them to see the leaders' schedules. Later today or tomorrow is fine," Zhao Yang said.

Division Chief Liu left the office, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. The new leader wasn't playing the game of "new emperor, new court," so he could finally sleep soundly tonight.

When he reached the door of Prosecutor Lin Jianguo's office, before Division Chief Liu could speak, Prosecutor Lin Jianguo stood up, holding a thick stack of documents. "Little Liu, did Prosecutor Zhao ask me to come over to report on work?"

"No, no," Division Chief Liu smiled. "Prosecutor Zhao is asking if you have time now to go with him to visit Chief Prosecutor Ji Changming."

"Ah?" Prosecutor Lin Jianguo was stunned. He thought Zhao Yang was a ruthless workaholic, but he didn't expect him to be quite humane.

Prosecutor Lin Jianguo nodded happily. Afterward, Division Chief Liu coordinated with the hospital, bought some nutritional supplements, and the group went to the hospital to visit Chief Prosecutor Ji Changming.

After performing a standard "condolence" scene in the ward, the two left the hospital. Division Chief Liu hurriedly reported to Zhao Yang, "Prosecutor Zhao, I communicated with the comrades from the Provincial Party Committee. Secretary Sha Ruijin is away on an inspection tour and is not available recently. Governor Liu has meetings all afternoon, so he has scheduled you for 11:00 AM tomorrow. Secretary Gao Yuliang said that any time in the half-hour before getting off work this afternoon is fine. The other members of the Standing Committee are scheduled for tomorrow."

"Hmm... then let's go visit Secretary Gao Yuliang today first," Zhao Yang said, the corners of his mouth curling slightly.

Today, he wanted to take a close look at just how much his biggest fan in Handong Province, Secretary Gao Yuliang, looked like Meng Dehai from Jinghai.

As for Secretary Sha Ruijin, it was likely because he didn't pay much attention to him as the head of the Procuratorate; after all, Zhao Yang was not yet a member of the Standing Committee.

… Thank you for the gifts, godfathers.