Chapter 182: Seeing Shangguan Zhuren

I hastily reached out my hand,

He said, "Shangguan Zhuren, it's you after all."

Shangguan Zhuren laughed heartily and said, "Zhao Jianqiang, you still know me? Come on, quickly go inside."

After Shangguan Zhuren finished speaking, he held my hand and led me into the courtyard.

Looking at the outside, it seemed shabby, but once I entered the courtyard, I found it had been cleaned up very neatly and orderly.

In the courtyard there was a pavilion, inside the pavilion were stone tables and benches,

Beside the stone tables and benches there was also a small fish pond, in which a few goldfish were kept, happily swimming.

Shangguan Zhuren pointed at the pavilion and said, "Let's sit here; this place used to be my ancestral home, and no one has lived here for a long time. It has been deserted for many years; I, being idle, simply tidied it up a bit, turning it into my retirement spot. Xiao Fang, go boil some water and bring up the dishes; I want to have two drinks with Jianqiang."

Xiao Fang happily answered and went to the kitchen to busy herself.

Shangguan Zhuren looked at me and said, "Jianqiang, we haven't seen each other in years; you've become so gaunt, even more wrinkled than my face."

At that moment Xiao Fang answered from the kitchen, "Dad, I gave Chairman Zhao a makeover because there were people checking on the road."

Shangguan Zhuren laughed heartily and said, "I was wondering, Jianqiang, go wash up quickly; it's safe here."

I laughed as I went to the bathroom to wash off the makeup on my face.

After washing, I came out from inside the bathroom.

Xiao Fang had already prepared the cucumber and peanuts in the kitchen and brought them to the stone table in the pavilion.

Shangguan Zhuren took out a bottle of wine from the house,

"Jianqiang, today we drink this wine; or is it the one you gave me? It's been so many years, I haven't been willing to drink it."

I smiled helplessly and said, "Shangguan Zhuren, you don't need to drink such good wine; I won't be able to afford to send you wine in the future either."

Shangguan Zhuren said, "Alright, Jianqiang, stop saying such disheartening things. We haven't reached that point yet."

"Sit down quickly; it's been several years since we last saw each other."

I thought for a moment and said, "About nine years."

"Pretty much; after that time you came to see me for the last time during Spring Festival, I moved away from where I used to live."

"I didn't want to see anyone anymore, just a retired old man,"

"Seeing too many people makes it easy for others to gossip."

"Now it's fine; our statuses are about the same,"

"You, this chairman, are just a title now; I've also retired, so we can sit together and drink."

Upon hearing Shangguan Zhuren say that, I felt a bit embarrassed,

"Shangguan Zhuren, I have done some things poorly in the past; please forgive me. Later I specifically went to find you, but I never managed to contact you."

"Jianqiang, it's not your fault; it's mine. This old man doesn't want to see people. Alright, sit down." Shangguan Zhuren laughed.

Then I sat down.

Shangguan Zhuren opened the wine; I hastily stood up and took the wine bottle from his hand,

"I'll pour it; I'll pour it for the old leader."

"What old leader? After retirement there's no leader. Jianqiang, don't call me director anymore; I'm just a common old man now—call me Old Master Shangguan."

"Shangguan Zhuren, that won't do; I've always called you director, whether you're in office or not, you'll always be director in my heart." I said while holding the wine bottle.

"Jianqiang, I love hearing those words. It seems I'm destined to be a director. Xiao Fang, just heat up the dishes; they're all what I ordered from the restaurant." Shangguan Zhuren said.

Xiao Fang answered from the kitchen, "Okay, Dad, I know."

Xiao Fang soon brought out a few more dishes from the kitchen.

Shangguan Zhuren pointed to another stool and said, "Xiao Fang, have a seat; you look hungry too."

Xiao Fang nodded,

"Dad, why did you bother to get dishes from the restaurant? I've never had dishes brought from a restaurant when eating at home."

Shangguan Zhuren laughed and said, "Isn't it because there's a distinguished guest? And you're not a guest."

"Shangguan Zhuren, the way you put it makes me feel like an outsider." I said.

"None of you are outsiders; Xiao Fang is my daughter, and you are my longtime friend. Look at how beautiful the moon is tonight; in a few days it will be Mid-Autumn Festival, so let's celebrate early. Come, Jianqiang, drink a reunion toast. Wishing us a happy Mid-Autumn." Shangguan Zhuren happily said.

I hastily raised my cup, clinked it with Shangguan Zhuren's, and then drank it all in one go.

After finishing the wine, Shangguan Zhuren looked at me and said, "Jianqiang, you've aged a lot; these days must have been rough."

Upon hearing Shangguan Zhuren's words, my eyes became moist,

Shangguan Zhuren counts as my elder; he previously always worked under Mayor Huang.

He has shown me extra care.

I fell silent for a moment, then said, "Shangguan Zhuren, have you seen the news? My Da Heng Group is finished; I've become a fugitive. These days I've been worrying about the Da Heng Group's affairs, and this is how it turned out."

After saying that, I held the wine cup and said nothing, letting tears fall.

Shangguan Zhuren had Xiao Fang pass me a tissue,

Then he said, "Jianqiang, I've learned part of your situation through Xiao Fang. How is your wife doing?"

I wiped my tears,

"Zhou Wei has remained unconscious and hasn't woken up."

"They were too ruthless; they wanted your life." Shangguan Zhuren took out a cigarette and handed me one.

I took it.

"Jianqiang, today I had Xiao Fang bring you over just to talk about these things. Sigh, society is changing, people are changing; we used to be friends, but maybe now we've become enemies." Shangguan Zhuren sighed.

Is Shangguan Zhuren talking about Kong Shi?

I nodded and said, "Shangguan Zhuren, I never expected Kong Shi to become such a person. Why would he do this? Why would he attack my Da Heng Group?"

"Why? Because you have billions in wealth; if you were an ordinary citizen, no one would notice you. Jianqiang, have you considered that Kong Shi is now over fifty, with no room for advancement, and he'll retire in a few years?"

Once this person retires, it's completely over; they will have to hand over power. What those in leadership fear most is handing over power.

Kong Shi is also worried.

When he sees you have hundreds of millions in wealth, what will he think? He has toiled half his life, yet he's not as well off as you; he must feel unbalanced inside.

"At retirement, one should strive for the sake of one's descendants, so they may forever enjoy wealth and honor generation after generation." Shangguan Zhuren said while pouring wine.

"Kong Shi should give what's due, and I have given it. His actions are conscience‑clear, aren't they? This wealth too came from my years of hard work; I've known him so long, I've never had selfish motives toward him. If he treats me this way, isn't he afraid of karmic retribution?" I raised another cup and drank.

Hearing me say that, Shangguan Zhuren laughed,

"What is karmic retribution? No reward, no retribution; don't rely on feudal superstition to curse others—it's useless. How much can you give Kong Shi? What is the worth of your Da Heng Group? Can they be proportional?"

Kong Shi has sons and grandsons; he will first consider himself, for people are selfish.

He believes the Da Heng Group's success today is entirely due to him; he deserves even more. Thus, in this matter, Jianqiang, human greed is just like that.

"Kong Shi is like that, and Niu Ju is the same. The hardest thing is to control desire. I have long seen through these people. Let's drink." Shangguan Zhuren said.