Chapter 307: Niu Ju Arrested

The banquet ended in a joyful, happy atmosphere.

By drinking, everyone spoke their inner thoughts openly,

They also spoke their words of thanks.

Because some people are not good at expressing their inner feelings, only at the banquet, under specific conditions,

do people say what they most want to say from their hearts.

Zhang Zong got very drunk.

He was extremely happy.

Xiao Shitou had already acknowledged him,

When he was drunk, Xiao Shitou supported him as he walked.

His hand held Xiao Shitou and wouldn't let go, just like his most beloved treasure,

He couldn't bear to let go, fearing that if he did, he would lose it.

With this connection through Xiao Shitou, our trust with Zhang Zong grew stronger.

The hardest thing between people is trust. Once there is trust, everything becomes easy to handle.

In two days it will be New Year's, and I sat idly in the room,

I could already hear sporadic firecracker sounds in the residential areas of Xin Cheng.

Now, due to the ban on setting off firecrackers, only occasional firecracker sounds are heard.

I strongly resent this ban on firecrackers.

Without firecracker sounds, can it still be called New Year?

It's all because of some damn people,

During New Year, aside from eating and drinking, what else do we have left?

Setting off firecrackers is the most fun thing in our memory, and also the liveliest.

Whenever New Year comes, I think back to the past,

In Chengnan Town, my uncle-in-law always bought lots of firecrackers, letting me set them off as much as I wanted.

He liked to hold the firecrackers in his hand, then toss them into the sky just before they exploded, scattering paper fragments all over the heavens.

After leaving my uncle-in-law's house, I went to the bachelor dad's house,

The bachelor dad was very poor; even if he couldn't afford food, he would still buy a string of electric firecrackers.

On the first day of the lunar year, to welcome the gods.

Arriving at Beishan, I stayed at Qiao Jie's house, where they set off homemade earthen firecrackers, which were especially loud.

Also, during New Year at Niushiling, while I was watching the construction site, I bought many Da Di Hong firecrackers alone.

Then I set them off to my heart's content,

Amid the crackling of firecrackers, all past misfortunes would drift away with the sound of the explosions.

We would happily welcome our new year.

Now, everything is silent and still, as quiet as if there were no sign of the year.

Nowadays children are afraid of firecrackers and won't set them off.

They also dislike firecrackers, strongly cutting themselves off from past cultural customs.

Nowadays children like to play games and go online,

They no longer go out to play.

If this continues, we will have nothing left; in our culture only eating and drinking will remain.

If eating and drinking could represent New Year, then we would be too vulgar.

I can only vent my complaints in my heart.

Hearing the sporadic firecrackers outside start to sound,

I really want to rush out, buy lots of firecrackers, and then let myself set off enough in one go.

A person immersed in the smoke and gunpowder,

can only feel the scent of fireworks.

can only feel that they are truly alive in the human world.

But we dare not act recklessly.

Now, hiding in the Da Heng Group, looking out the window and listening to the sounds, it's just mere thought.

Just as I was sighing with myriad emotions before my window,

Zhang Zong came in from outside,

"Jianqiang, something serious has happened."

I hurriedly asked Zhang Zong: "Zhang Zong, what's wrong?"

"Ah, where is Director Shangguan? Niu Ju has been arrested." Zhang Zong said anxiously.

"What? Niu Ju arrested? I'll call Director Shangguan right away. Wait a moment." I said and then went out,

and summoned Director Shangguan over.

After the three of us sat down,

Director Shangguan took out a cigarette,

and handed one to each of us,

"When did this happen?"

"It happened last night; Niu Ju was directly taken away for investigation by the higher-ups." Zhang Zong said.

"Why?" I asked.

"Isn't it because you fled from Huaihai City that you are staying in the private room of the Silver City Hotel under the Bank Manager, and the Bank Manager's relationship with Niu Ju is very good."

"You were able to escape quickly from Huaihai; it must be information disclosed by Niu Ju."

"So they have taken action against Niu Ju," Zhang Zong said.

"Damn, I didn't expect this would bring such a disaster to Niu Ju. Did they find out where we went?" I asked.

Zhang Zong shook his head,

"The information I got is that after they tracked you leaving the hotel by car, you went to Huaihai Railway Station, and after that there was no further information."

"Huaihai Railway Station is a nationally famous major station, where the two major north‑south and east‑west railway hubs intersect. Once you enter Huaihai Railway Station, a person becomes hardest to trace."

"There is a saying that one can leave Huaihai and run the world; now the Spring Festival passenger flow is huge, so they won't be able to locate our information for the time being," Shangguan Zhuren said, smoking.

"They wouldn't think for now that we are staying in the Da Heng Group in Zao Cheng Xin Cheng. It's just that Niu Ju was captured, cutting off an information source. Whatever Niu Ju did before, he now supports us," I said.

"This is unavoidable; Niu Ju's capture was a matter of time—he was too arrogant and greedy. What we must do now is to cut ties with Niu Ju. All previous means of contact have been discarded, so they can't follow Niu Ju's trail to find us," Shangguan Zhuren instructed.

"We have thrown away all phone contacts with Niu Ju, including those SIM cards. There's nothing else. Zhou Fu Hai's identity is no longer needed; let them find him if they can."

"The most important thing is Qi He Kuang; Niu Ju knows that," I said worriedly.

"Qi He Kuang, I believe Niu Ju doesn't know much about it; they learned about it when Kong Shi surrounded Qi He Kuang last time. They still haven't found a suitable opportunity. Arrange for Xiao Feng and have her be more vigilant lately," Shangguan Zhuren said.

I nodded,

"Niu Ju once worked with Zhou Renfeng, and Zhou Renfeng will lightly dismiss him. He might be released in a few days."

Zhang Zong shook his head,

"Jianqiang, you don't understand Zhou Renfeng; this person is ruthless and cruel. Anyone who is detrimental to him is dealt with with severe punishment. I believe Niu Ju, holed up inside this time, won't get out because he knows too much."

After I heard Zhang Zong finish speaking,

I suddenly recalled that Kang Yali has always been Niu Ju's mistress; how is she now? Was she also taken away?

I then asked, "What about Kang Yali and the Bank Manager?"

"Kang Yali disappeared; after Zhou Fu Hai beat her, she left Zaocheng. Now we don't know where she went. The Bank Manager was removed,"

"the higher‑ups are investigating him; the problem must be serious. This group is basically finished."

"Kang Yali disappeared; this woman is not ordinary. I believe Zhang Zong knows a lot about her," I said.

"Yes, this woman is extremely scheming and acts without regard to means. When she was with Southern Group, she exploited every person she could use."

"If we find Kang Yali, we will have another person we can use."

"If we assign Kang Yali any task, she will complete it excellently," Zhang Zong sighed.

"It seems Kang Yali is considered a talent in Zhang Zong's mind."

I think of Kang Yali; since she came to Zaocheng, her performance talent could be said to be the best in the world. She cries when she should, laughs when she should.

She also has certain professional abilities; she understands finance, accounting, and human relations.

Most crucially, she can lower herself and do anything.

It seems she doesn't care about those things.

She enjoys that lifestyle, exploiting various men's weaknesses.

She fooled Sun Dajun into chaos.

Such a woman can truly be used. I don't know where she ran off to.

In my heart I can only say, goodbye, Kang Yali.