Chapter 203: with translation of chapter title

Shangguan Zhuren said that was absolutely correct.

Who still remembers Yellow City now, no matter what he did to Zaocheng?

I recall reading in a book that people have three deaths,

The first death is physical death, when relatives and friends will weep bitterly for you.

The second death is spiritual death, when relatives and friends keep you in their hearts and occasionally recall your appearance.

The third death is the true death, when everyone forgets you; there will be no trace left in the world of your having lived.

In other words, after twenty years, Yellow City had already reached its second death; in a few more years, will anyone still mention him?

Some people still want to leave their names in history; that's purely a joke.

This includes me as well.

In the past, I thought that having done a few good deeds and donated something would earn me a place in posterity.

How utterly ridiculous.

What I've done pales in comparison to Huangshi.

Thinking about this, I feel much more at ease.

Many things that used to torment me have now been resolved.

While alive, one should savor life's sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy flavors, as well as love, hatred, passion, and enmity.

Hold those you love close to your heart, and ruthlessly trample those you hate underfoot.

That, perhaps, is the joy of life.

Shangguan Zhuren quickly contacted Xiao Fang, asking her to return from Qi He Kuang.

The next day Xiao Fang returned,

Xiao Fang asked, "Dad, why the rush to call me back? What's up? The coal mine has just resumed production; the first batch of coal has already been brought up from underground."

Upon hearing Xiao Fang say that,

Shangguan Zhuren laughed, "Oh, my daughter has become a strong woman, a businesswoman. I never expected Xiao Fang to have such ability."

Xiao Fang said embarrassedly, "Dad, mocking me like that is pointless. I've only reluctantly accepted this task; I've found managing a company really difficult."

It's far harder than being a host.

With many people and many matters, there are meetings every day that must be attended, and one must also speak.

Even workers' quarrels require the company's responsible person to judge; otherwise, they would cause negative effects.

Fortunately, I am merely a stand-in legal representative; whenever such matters arise, I just go through the motions.

I laughed, "Miss Xiao Fang, you have such ability—don't be modest. Managing a business allows no carelessness.

Has Ye Jianming reached an agreement with the Zaocheng Mining Group?"

"It's settled; this month we can start sending coal to the carbon black factory.

"Every negotiation, Ye Jianming has to bring me along, forcing me to deal with those people—it's really annoying. Those men, I see, are all pretty much the same in virtue; as soon as they see a woman, they're like dogs seeing a bone." Xiao Fang said angrily.

Upon hearing Xiao Fang say that, I and Shangguan Zhuren both laughed heartily.

Shangguan Zhuren said, "Xiao Fang, let's talk business: as long as Qi He Kuang operates normally, the cooperation with Zaocheng Mining Group will be handled by Ye Jianming, Xiao Feng and the others.

You don't need to go there for now."

"Dad, what business? You're not going to make me accompany Da Ge Jiangqiang to speak Mandarin again, are you?" Xiao Fang said.

"No need to say more; he now switches between Mandarin, Zaocheng dialect, and Lanling dialect effortlessly. Don't believe me? Have him say a couple of sentences in Mandarin to test."

I then said, "Hello Xiao Fang, welcome to Zaocheng. I welcome you on behalf of the people of Zaocheng."

Shangguan Zhuren said, "Say it in the Lanling accent."

I immediately said, "Lanling County has delicious spicy chicken and tasty mutton soup—I guarantee you'll eat well and drink well."

Hearing my speech switch so naturally, Xiao Fang gave a thumbs-up,

"I didn't expect Da Ge Jiangqiang's progress to be so rapid. Admirable, admirable."

I laughed, "It's still thanks to Xiao Fang's teacher's excellent instruction— a master produces outstanding disciples."

Shangguan Zhuren said, "You two stop praising each other; we have business to attend to. That Lao Wai, since he got out of prison, have you been in contact? Do you have any recent news about him?"

I shook my head and said, "After he completed his sentence and was released, I couldn't contact him; at that time I was the group's chairman—how could I have met him?

I heard Xiao Wu from Shanghu say that Lao Wai had once gone to look for him. But Xiao Wu disliked Lao Wai's disability and didn't take him in; otherwise, there's been no word of him at all.

Shangguan Zhuren asked, "His home is in Qi He; will he return to Qi He? You go to Qi He and look for him."

I then shook my head and said, "He won't return to Qi He, because the Qi He glass factory is gone, the original dormitories have been demolished, and later the Qi He Kuang dormitories were built.

Lao Wai has nothing left in Qi He; he won't go back."

"Then where could he go? A disabled person who's served time—what could he possibly do?" Shangguan Zhuren muttered to himself.

Xiao Fang asked, puzzled, "Who is Lao Wai, and why are we looking for him?"

Shangguan Zhuren said, "We're looking for him to obtain something."

"What thing?" Xiao Feng asked.

"Mimi incense," I said.

"Mimi incense, what is that?" Xiao Fang said, looking at me.

"It's a kind of perfume; one whiff and you become addicted." I explained to Xiao Fang.

"I've never heard of this before; perfume and cosmetics shops have all sorts of scents. What you're talking about is serious business—looking for this thing." Xiao Fang said.

I smiled and said nothing more.

Shangguan Zhuren said, "If that really won't work, you drive around the old city district of Zaocheng, seeing if you can run into Lao Wai."

I said, "That plan isn't very good; they have a clear target, while we're wandering aimlessly—how could we possibly find him?"

I analyzed that Lao Wai has always stayed off the straight and narrow, which is why he ended up in prison,

After he came out, he also had no other income, so he could only still walk the old path.

Go find his former colleagues.

I can find out Lao Wai's whereabouts by asking people on the Martial World road.

"The people on the Martial World road, we don't know these people, how to find them." Shangguan Zhuren said.

"This is simple, I will now contact Xiao Wu of Shanghu; he is a person who mixes in society, his people all do those shady things. Just need to ask him a bit, then we can find Lao Wai's whereabouts." I said.

"Then hurry up and contact, use Xiao Fang's phone, call the one called Xiao Wu."

"Afterwards you tell Xiao Wu, your contact method is through Xiao Fang's phone. This way we can guarantee your safety." Shangguan Zhuren arranged.

I said: "Okay, Xiao Fang, give me your phone to use."

Xiao Fang took out her phone and gave it to me.

I quickly opened the old phone, found Xiao Wu's phone number from inside.

Then quickly turned off the phone.

I quickly dialed Xiao Wu's phone.

From the other end of the phone came Xiao Wu's lazy voice.

"Hello, who are you looking for, wanting to scam money, or wanting to sell insurance."

I spoke Mandarin to Xiao Wu: "Xiao Wu, you guessed wrong, I am from China Mobile Company, we launched the newest family card service item. As long as you join the service, we will give you free data."

Xiao Wu still couldn't recognize my voice.

He shouted into the phone: "Damn, you mobile company just scam people. Let me get scammed badly by you, saying give free data, but as soon as you use it you exceed. Every month they deduct my data fees. Explain to me what's going on."

"Sigh, how do you know my name is Xiao Wu. You mobile company, even know my nickname?"