Chapter 149

Ya Li heard my shout, and she cried again.

Women are really troublesome.

It seems only crying can conceal their inner panic.

I did not comfort Ya Li,

If she still doesn't speak, I will have Shi Yong come back and drag her back to the South.

I don't care about all that, and I won't bother with pleasantries with you.

All I want to hear is the truth,

Ya Li cried for a while, seeing that I did not comfort her, she was very disappointed,

then she stopped crying.

I said directly: "Ya Li, after I finish this cigarette, if you still don't tell the truth, I will call Shi Yong over, and I will go with you to the South to see that Zhang Zong. Only by laying it all out like this can we clear the air."

After hearing my words,

Ya Li let out a long sigh,

she said: "It seems Chairman, you won't give any face."

"Ya Li, I've already made my point clear just now; I don't want to repeat it. We're not children playing house. In the face of wealth, there is no room for feelings.

I hope you take my words to heart and don't make a fool of yourself." I said, taking a hard drag on my cigarette.

Seeing me so unsparing of pleasantries,

Ya Li had no choice but to say: "Chairman, could you give me a cigarette? I want to take a puff."

I handed her a cigarette,

Ya Li took it and lit it skillfully,

then she started smoking,

after two puffs,

Ya Li then said: "Chairman, I'll tell you the truth: that Zhang Zong of the Southern Group is the same Zhang Zong from the former Da Cheng Company.

After I graduated from graduate school, I went to apply at the Southern company; I never expected to run into Zhang Zong.

At that time, Zhang Zong's real estate company wasn't that big,

so I followed Zhang Zong and developed together in the South.

I don't know how he found out that your Da Heng Group had run into trouble, so he sent me to your company as a representative to sign a contract.

Before coming, Zhang Zong explained your situation to me.

Only then did I learn that Da Heng Group was founded by you. I was thrilled to see you again.

Chairman, it's been so many years since I last saw you; I actually missed you.

Zhang Zong sent me here mainly so that you could trust me."

After hearing Ya Li finish, I nodded,

"Ya Li, does Zhang Zong know that I married Zhou Wei?"

"He knows, and he even arranged for me to inquire about a child named Xiao Shitou. He said that child is his and Zhou Wei's, his only son.

As for your marrying Zhou Wei, he didn't say much about it; the main thing is Xiao Shitou—you placed him at the construction site, and he got angry. Chairman, I'm telling the truth." Ya Li said.

"I believe you; I deliberately assigned Xiao Shitou to work at the site. I ask you, what is Zhang Zong's purpose in helping our Group? Is it merely for future cooperation?" I asked Ya Li.

Ya Li shook her head,

"Chairman, do you think this is possible? When signing the contract, I reminded you to look at the betting agreement.

Why? Because I hope you don't sign this contract.

Don't fall for their trap. But since you've already signed it, I can't do anything. In the Group Company I've done my best to help you, hoping you can quickly settle the company's accounts so you won't be taken in by them."

"You've helped me, and I've seen it all. I ask you, is Zhang Zong familiar with Kong Shi here?" I continued asking Ya Li.

"They should know each other. Anyway, whenever Kong Shi goes on a business trip to the South, Zhang Zong receives him. After our Group ran into trouble, Kong Shi immediately came to our Southern Group and discussed things at length with our Zhang Zong. Because of their secret talks, I wasn't involved, so I don't know." Ya Li said.

"Ya Li, with that I understand much better: after our company ran into trouble, Kong Shi met with your Zhang Zong, then recommended your Zhang Zong to our Group. Our Group Company then step by step got hooked.

Kong Shi, Zhang Zong, Zhao Xiaohua, and Xiao Feng are all in cahoots. Right?" I asked.

Ya Li nodded,

"Pretty much, but I don't know how much Zhao Zong and the others were involved before, since I don't keep in touch with them."

"But there's one thing I can't figure out: whether Niu Ju should be with them, and Sun Dajun certainly is, yet later Niu Ju fired Zhao Xiaohua and specially supported Sun Dajun." I said, looking at Ya Li.

"Niu Ju is probably not with them; I've never seen Niu Ju involved in this from the start. That Sun Dajun used to follow Zhao Zong's orders, and Niu Ju got angry about it, wanting to drive a wedge between Sun Dajun and Zhao Zong.

Chairman, Niu Ju promoting Sun Dajun likely considers that Sun Dajun is his adopted son. As for any conflict between him and Zhao Zong, I'm not clear." Ya Li said.

"Ya Li, that night, how did you discuss with Niu Ju about promoting Sun Dajun?" I took a drag of my cigarette.

Ya Li looked, her eyes flickering,

"I just said that Sun Dajun is Niu Ju's adopted son, and I took the opportunity to let Chairman Zhao hand over the general manager position to Sun Dajun. That would be good for Sun Dajun and also good for the Group Company." Ya Li said.

I looked at Ya Li, thinking in my heart that she certainly wasn't telling the truth about this.

Ya Li is more complicated than I imagined.

People really can change.

I then asked: "Ya Li, since you know so many of Zhang Zong's secrets, why did he let you come back?"

Ya Li said: "You didn't capture Ruan Wei? This Ruan Wei carries weight in the Group; when Zhang Zong was just starting out in the South, he relied on Ruan Wei's father. Ruan Wei's father is influential locally; after Niu Ju seized Ruan Wei, he directly called Zhang Zong on the phone,

demanding the release of Dajun and me.

Having no choice, Zhang Zong had to release me and Dajun.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to get by in the South; the Ruan family's influence there is strong."

"Ya Li, Zhang Zong and I spoke on the phone; from his voice I could tell. He is indeed that same Zhang Zong from before."

I asked Ya Li, "I want to ask you, what will they do next? How will they swallow our Da Heng Group."

Ya Li said, "This is simple, as long as your company has no funds, what will you use to repay Southern Group's debt? In two more months, they will come and acquire the company according to the contract. That's it."

I said, "I was saying, they don't let us sell houses, originally they were afraid we would have money to repay the company's debt. Then they would be in a difficult position. Also, there is one thing I don't understand: since they want us to die, why would Kong Shi save us and give our group twenty million? Without this twenty million, we would have been done for already."

Do you still not understand? First, they fear your group company will get into trouble and cause chaos; because of the incident of Li Xingzhang's disappearance, that alone is enough to put Kong Shi in a difficult spot. Adding your group company's matters, Kong Shi's position may not be secure.

Moreover, they hope you can continue building houses, all the way until November, so that after they take over, they can sell the houses.

Furthermore, this twenty million for our group is just a drop in the bucket for them. Chairman, the total market value of all our group company's projects combined is absolutely over ten billion.

With 520 million in funds, to earn this much in such a short time—what a huge temptation for them.