Chapter 320

Kong Shi waited for me to finish speaking,

He fell silent again on the phone.

I believe he is undergoing an ideological struggle in his mind.

I am close at hand, yet he dares not seize me.

And still wants to lead me by the nose,

This feeling in my heart is like a cat's scratching.

I believe he lacks the courage to confront me head-on.

He was stunned for a moment,

I said to Kong Shi on the phone: "Kong Shi, if you have any ideas, you can call me."

You can try to catch me anytime. I still have things to do here; let's talk again when we have time.

I was just about to hang up the phone,

Hey, hey Jianqiang, look at you, why so rushed—we're all old friends.

Like this, since it's the New Year, you want to have a good year, and I also want to have a good year.

We want the same thing,

Since we want the same thing, let's not say anything else.

As for Jinling, I won't call the police either.

For now, spend the New Year at Qi He Kuang.

What do you think, does that work?

Kong Shi can. I have no other demands. Rest assured, I will arrange people to protect Lei Lei's safety 24/7.

If you can protect our safety, we can also protect Lei Lei's safety.

Jianqiang, no need to ask about Lei Lei's side; I will send people to protect him. Please withdraw your people. When we're free, let's meet for drinks.

Kong Shi, it seems you don't trust my ability to protect Lei Lei. You tend to overthink; don't assume everyone is bad.

"Okay, let's have a drink when we get the chance." I said and then hung up the phone.

After hanging up the phone, I felt much more relieved.

I seemed to see Kong Shi pacing back and forth in his office, stomping his feet, slapping his own face.

Just that Zhao Xiaohua will still suffer; consider it a lesson for him,

Betraying one's own relatives brings no good.

Kong Shi will only arrest him and throw him into prison,

He won't take his life,

But if he is in my hands, there's no guarantee.

I have to consider more people.

After hanging up the phone, Shangguan Zhuren asked: "How is it, Jianqiang, what did Kong Shi say?"

I smiled and said: "Kong Shi said everyone should have a good year; he won't bother us for now."

Haha, this Kong Shi, I thought he would be ruthless and let us ransom hostages. Well, then let's all have a good year, peaceful and trouble-free." Shangguan Zhuren said laughing.

That's still not enough; I will call Xiao Wu to have them rent a place near where Lei Lei lives, to observe his activities at any time.

Then send me the photos, and I'll forward them to Kong Shi. I want to remind Kong Shi every day that Lei Lei is within our control.

Keep this leverage tightly in Kong Shi's grasp; any stir, and Kong Shi will report to us immediately.

"'Okay, you contact Xiao Wu to arrange it.' Shangguan Zhuren said."

I nodded,

Then I found Xiao Wu's phone number,

I dialed it,

Xiao Wu answered quickly,

"'Jianqiang, what's up?'"

I said: "Xiao Wu, are you still in Jinling?"

"'I was just thinking of leaving tomorrow to go have fun in Hucheng.' Xiao Wu said."

"'For now, don't leave; rent a place near where Lei Lei lives, or if no housing, a guesthouse will do.'"

"'You must observe this child's activities 24/7.'"

"'If possible, capture indoor footage and send me photos of this kid every day.'"

"'Then I'll forward them to Kong Shi; I want to keep Kong Shi's leverage tightly in hand at all times.'"

"'Okay, Jianqiang, I'll count this expense as yours; brothers settle accounts clearly.' Xiao Wu said."

"'Xiao Wu, rest assured doing this; I, Zhao Jianqiang, never quarrel over money with you. I can only give you more, never less, but we must not be exposed,'"

"'We must hide deeply. I believe Kong Shi will also send people to look for you; if they catch you, it'll be trouble.' I deliberately threatened Xiao Wu."

Xiao Wu said on the phone: "Don't worry, Jianqiang; I'm not new to this kind of work. As long as the money is there, we'll do anything."

"'We guarantee to complete the mission safely.'"

"'Alright, tomorrow send Lei Lei's photos over; I need to see them, and I'll give you ten thousand yuan a day.'"

"'Ten thousand a day, good. This money is damn easy to earn.' Xiao Wu said happily."

I then hung up Xiao Wu's phone.

Shangguan Zhuren said: "This will do; with Lei Lei in our hands, Kong Shi will be extra careful protecting us."

"'What I want is his protection. Shangguan Zhuren, you haven't been to Qi He Kuang, have you?' I asked."

"'No. I had wanted to come visit before, but you didn't invite me.' Shangguan Zhuren laughed."

All right, I'll take you to tour the Qi He Kuang mine. Today counts as inviting you.

Come on, let's check out the Qi He Kuang mine.

I then led Shangguan Zhuren out of the banquet hall,

I told Shangguan Zhuren about some of the factory facilities on the mine.

When we reached the mine shaft,

we happened to run into the morning-shift workers coming up from the shaft.

Their faces were all black,

covered head to toe in dirt, full of coal dust.

Mine Director Chen, to ensure safe production underground, goes down the shaft every day.

Mine Director Chen also follows the underground workers up the shaft.

I saw Mine Director Chen, walked straight over, and called out, 'Mine Director Chen, happy new year!'

Mine Director Chen looked at me, startled,

I knew Mine Director Chen hadn't recognized me.

'Mine Director Chen, I'm Zhao Jianqiang. You don't know me anymore, do you?'

'Ah, Chairman Zhao, you've changed so much.' Mine Director Chen hurried over and grabbed my hand, saying.

'Didn't I get into trouble, become a fugitive, and can only see people after this plastic surgery?'

'Oh dear, I've heard about it. I'm sure the higher-ups deliberately framed you; Chairman Zhao, you're definitely not that kind of person.' Mine Director Chen said.

'Whether that's the kind of person you are doesn't matter now; is production normal? Also, today is the second day of the lunar new year—have you given everyone extra meals? We must make sure everyone eats and drinks well.'

'Don't worry, Chairman Zhao, I've arranged everything.'

'Manager Xiao Feng and Chairman Xiao Fang have personally told me this. Chairman Zhao, I know this Qi He Kuang mine is still yours, right?' Mine Director Chen said with a smile.

'Mine Director Chen, it's ours; this mine can resume normal production—you've done an indispensable job.'

Let me introduce you: this is Shangguan Zhuren, the father of our Chairman Xiao Fang.' I introduced Shangguan Zhuren to Mine Director Chen.

Shangguan Zhuren reached out his hand.

'Hello, Shangguan Zhuren, but my hands are dirty—no need to shake.' Mine Director Chen hurriedly avoided Shangguan Zhuren's hand.

'Just shake hands; I heard Jianqiang say that in the past, to protect Jianqiang and the mine, you had explosives strapped all over your body, scaring off the bad guys—you're a hero.'

'I really admire you.' After saying that, Shangguan Zhuren firmly shook Mine Director Chen's hand.

Mine Director Chen held Shangguan Zhuren's hand,

'Shangguan Zhuren, that's all in the past. Ah, Chairman Zhao is a good person, wholeheartedly serving everyone, trying every way to improve everyone's life.'

'If anyone still comes to arrest him now,'

'I will still risk my life to protect him.'

'I'm not educated,'

'as long as we get to eat and live well, I consider him a good person.'

'a good leader,'

'Shangguan Zhuren, let me tell you, my whole family—my daughter and son—work at the mine,'

'our whole family depends on the mine. Now the mine is producing, and wages are high; we're happy from the heart. All this is thanks to Chairman Zhao. You say I shouldn't be grateful to him?'

'If someone comes to harm him, could we not protect him?'