Chapter 188

Xiao Feng said on the phone: "I will buy a plane ticket today, we will return as soon as possible. After we return, could we let Zhao Jianqiang meet us? I am very worried about his safety."

Xiao Fang laughed and said: "Manager Xiao Feng, you really don't need to worry, Chairman Zhao is safe, just relax. When you arrive in Zaocheng, contact me again,"

"Let's go to Lanling together and settle the matter of Qi He Kuang."

Xiao Feng said: "If I can't see Zhao Jianqiang, I won't go to Zaocheng; tell Zhao Jianqiang. I must meet him."

Xiao Fang, hearing Xiao Feng say that, didn't know how to respond.

Shangguan Zhuren gestured for Xiao Fang to hang up the phone first,

Xiao Fang said into the phone: "Manager Xiao Feng, I have something to do here, goodbye."

Xiao Fang hung up the phone,

then said to Shangguan Zhuren: "Dad, what should we do? Manager Xiao Feng must see Chairman Zhao."

Shangguan Zhuren asked me: "Is this person Xiao Feng tight-lipped? Is she reliable?"

I said: "She should be, reliable; she previously worked with Huang Shi."

Shangguan Zhuren nodded,

"That's fine; as long as she has worked with Huang Shi, this person is reliable. Jianqiang, when you meet Xiao Feng, don't say too much, and don't bring her to our place."

"Some things, if people know too much, it's not good."

I hurriedly said: "Don't worry, Shangguan Zhuren. I know what to do."

Shangguan Zhuren then said to Xiao Fang: "Xiao Fang, in a moment tell Manager Xiao Feng that she may meet Zhao Jianqiang. Have her come to Zaocheng quickly."

Xiao Fang said: "Okay, Dad, I'll contact Manager Xiao Feng in the car shortly; I'm leaving, I'll be there soon."

After saying that, Xiao Fang walked away carrying a bag.

At this moment, Shangguan Zhuren took out a cigarette and threw it to me,

and said to me: "Jianqiang, as long as we get Qi He Kuang, we will have operating funds. Nowadays, without money it's impossible. First, take Qi He."

I said: "We must, take it. However, we still lack operating funds."

Shangguan Zhuren laughed,

"Don't worry about this, I know Ye Jianming; this old guy has quite a bit of money. At the Zaocheng Mining Group he hasn't made little money."

"He rushed back like this; he surely also has Qi He Kuang on his mind."

"Think about it, next step we still need him to contact the Zaocheng Mining Group."

"Just giving him a little benefit, he won't do it."

"Having him help you for nothing is also impossible."

"Manager Xiao Feng wants to meet you: one, she is genuinely worried about your safety; two, she should discuss cooperation matters."

After hearing Shangguan Zhuren's words,

I then said: "Shangguan, Zhuren, I don't understand: Ye Jianming's money, if placed in the bank, isn't it unsafe? Why invest?"

"You don't understand this; he won't put it in the bank, putting that much money in the bank is like putting it in someone else's pocket."

"The reason he invests is to find a way to make the illegal legal; that's money laundering."

"He invests his money into Qi He Kuang,"

"then he can legitimately make money from Qi He Kuang."

"I have dealt with many such matters and such people." Shangguan Zhuren said with a smile.

"Damn, now I understand."

"Everyone is using each other."

"As soon as Xiao Feng mentioned Qi He Kuang to Ye Jianming, without asking, Ye Jianming was extremely happy."

"He just wants to find an opportunity to launder the money in his own hands."

Shangguan Zhuren said: "When you meet Ye Jianming, you must insist that your share holds the majority, you cannot let him have absolute control, just let him be a minority shareholder. This is our bottom line; otherwise we will directly reject him."

I nodded,

"I know, Shangguan Zhuren."

Shangguan Zhuren said: "Jianqiang, you read books at home by yourself; just now Xiao Fang said you must read aloud, so read aloud."

"I will go out for a while; I might not come back at noon."

"You prepare something to eat at home by yourself."

I said: "Okay, Shangguan Zhuren, go, be busy."

Shangguan Zhuren stubbed out the cigarette, then went out,

pushed out an electric scooter from the courtyard,

and rode away.

"At home, only I remained."

"I picked up the book Xiao Fang gave me,"

"and began to read aloud in the room,"

"These books have pinyin, they are easy to read. However, to pronounce accurately, practice is still needed."

"Because I held a Yuhua stone in my mouth,"

"wanting to read aloud was very strenuous."

"Afraid that opening my mouth wide would cause me to swallow the stone."

"I had to use my tongue to block it back and forth."

"Thus the pronunciation became incorrect again."

"I could only read slowly, slowly using my tongue to block the small stone."

"moving it back and forth in my mouth."

One morning, I didn't finish reading a book,

My throat was already completely burning.

I got up and poured myself a cup of medicinal tea, then slowly drank it down.

I don't know what medicine is in this tea, but after each time I drink it, my throat always has a spicy taste.

Why does Shangguan Zhuren give me this tea? Does he want to completely change my voice?

Not the voice I used to have when speaking.

This way, people won't recognize me by my way of speaking.

It seems my path of revenge is long.

It cannot be achieved in a short time.

I must make an effort myself.

So, I went back into the room, took out the Thousand Character Classic, and began to read it aloud.

「Heaven, earth, dark, yellow. Universe, space, vast, wild. Sun, moon, full, waning. Stars, lodgings, arranged, extended.... 」

While reading loudly, I discovered a trick.

Only by quickly flipping the rain-flower stone to the underside of the tongue does the sound come out well.

Then change breath, and flip the stone back up.

Really exercises the tongue's flexibility, because the tongue has to keep moving in the mouth.

At the same time, to ensure correct pronunciation.

Also must constantly correct the tongue's curling.

I kept reading diligently.

At noon I simply ate two steamed buns.

Then continued reading.

I sped up my practice. Only this way can I leave here earlier.

By evening, I discovered I could fully control the rain-flower stone.

I was saying, Xiao Fang had me read these books aloud, originally just to let me control these rain-flower stones in my mouth.

It seems these methods are all her experience.

Because I've been drinking the medicinal tea all along, my speaking voice has also changed somewhat.

The speaking voice has become somewhat hoarse, like a smoker's voice.

Anyway, the throat feels very uncomfortable.

Feels like the throat is swollen.

Even swallowing saliva hurts.

This bit of pain is nothing to me.

For a man driven to desperation, wanting to fight back, nothing is easy.

In the evening, Shangguan Zhuren came back.

He entered the house carrying a big bundle of things.

Then he threw the bundle onto the table.

He said to me: "Jianqiang, look at the treasure I've found."

I said: "Shangguan Zhuren, what treasure?"

"Oh dear, Jianqiang, you're speaking without pauses now—did you spit out the stone?" Shangguan Zhuren asked in surprise.

I opened my mouth to show Shangguan Zhuren.

The rain-flower stones are still there.

I said: "Shangguan Zhuren, I've practiced all day; these little stones, I've already mastered controlling them."

Shangguan Zhuren gave me a thumbs-up and said: "Jianqiang, your talent is really high; you've mastered the skill so quickly. Come see what books I bought."