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墨書 Inktalez
The note contained only a single line: "Nine Years Ago North Mountain Chemical Pollution Case."
I was taken aback. That was my first encounter with an environmental reporting case, one that had caused quite a stir at the time but ultimately fizzled out. But what did that case have to do with the present?
"I’m just doing my job for the money," the woman said softly. "But I think you should know the truth. Professor Li asked me to tell you to find Director Zhao from Beishan Chemical back then."
So she was arranged by Li Wanqing! Just as I was about to ask for more details, I suddenly heard a commotion in the hallway. The woman seized the opportunity to break free from security and quickly vanished into the chaos.
"Let’s go!" Old Ma pulled me out through the fire escape of the hospital. His car was parked at the back door, and we drove away immediately.
"Where to?" Old Ma asked.
"Beishan." I took a deep breath. "It’s time to unravel this mystery."
An hour later, we arrived at the old site of Beishan Chemical. It had long been abandoned, overgrown with weeds. Strangely, there were newly constructed walls around it, and security guards were stationed nearby.
"They're going to build a subway station here," Old Ma pointed at a sign in the distance. "The land price has skyrocketed twenty-fold."
I recalled the details from nine years ago. At that time, Beishan Chemical had been exposed for severely polluting the groundwater, but just as the investigation was about to deepen, the case abruptly closed. The chemical plant was shut down, and the government spent a fortune on pollution remediation, but all specific treatment plans and monitoring data were kept confidential.
"Wait!" I suddenly realized something. "They never actually remediated the pollution, did they?"
Old Ma also caught on: "So they need Oasis Environmental..."
"Yes! They need a seemingly legitimate Environmental Company to provide false remediation plans and monitoring data." I became increasingly agitated as I spoke. "And these polluting enterprises are actually their targets. First, they apply pressure through environmental inspections, then they drag them down with high-interest loans, and finally, they acquire the land at a low price..."
"And once the subway plan is announced, the land value will skyrocket!" Old Ma interjected, picking up where I left off. "They wave the banner of environmental protection while actually engaging in the darkest land deals!"
"Now you all know." A voice came from behind us. We turned abruptly to see Zhao Zhiming blocking our path with several men.
"Your investigation is quite thorough," he said slowly as he approached. "But unfortunately, it’s time for it to end."
At that moment, several police cars screeched to a halt, surrounding us completely.
But strangely, the smug look on Zhao Zhiming's face suddenly turned to panic. "Impossible! This wasn't part of the plan..."
"Director Zhao, you are under arrest," an officer stepped forward. "On charges of environmental pollution, embezzlement, and bribery..."
It turned out that Minister Chen had arranged everything long ago. His appearance in the ICU was just a ruse to keep the other side off guard. The clues provided by Li Wanqing were the final pieces of the puzzle.
Three days later, an article titled "The Billion-Dollar Scam Under the Banner of Environmental Protection" was published. Numerous officials were dismissed from their posts, and dozens of implicated companies were shut down. The massive scam exploiting environmental policies finally came to light.
That evening, I returned to the hospital to visit Minister Chen. He was already able to sit up and was reading that day's newspaper.
"The article was well written," he said as he set the paper down. "But do you know why I had to save you?"
I shook my head.
"Because nine years ago, I was the one who hastily closed the case of Beishan Chemical." Tears shimmered in his eyes. "All these years, I've lived with this guilt. Now, I finally have a chance to make amends."
I held his hand, speechless for a long time. In this tangled web of money and power, we are all responsible for our choices. And the truth will ultimately reveal itself in the light of day.
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