Chapter 53: Report Zhu Sheng

After I finished speaking,

"Haha." Kong Shi laughed loudly.

Kong Shi continued: "You believe Zhu Sheng's innocence, and I also believe Zhu Sheng's innocence. Is this useful? Do they believe us, Jianqiang? I advise you, it's better to cut ties quickly."

Otherwise, it's disadvantageous for both of us, and even for Zhu Sheng.

What I want to say to you is, we've gotten too close, and some things can't be explained clearly.

I still say that: in these times, nobody's clean. I ask you: is the person in charge of the Tenggong Cement Factory under Da Heng Group Zhu Sheng's brother-in-law?

Also, Zhu Sheng funded road repairs in his hometown; who paid for that?

His son studying abroad, Zhu Sheng building an ancestral hall in his hometown—are these expenses related to you?

Is this a transfer of benefits?

"How do you explain it?"

Hearing Kong Shi ask me this, I was speechless.

Yeah, why let Zhu Sheng's brother-in-law be in charge of the cement plant, if not to curry favor with Zhu Sheng?

Over these years, whenever Zhu Sheng had any idea,

as long as he mentioned it in front of me, I would fully support him, making Zhu Sheng's idea become reality.

Whether these constitute benefit transfer is hard to say; I fully support Zhu Sheng not because of anything else but because I see the power behind him bringing various benefits to our Da Heng Group.

This has put our development on the fast track.

Seeing my silent appearance,

Kong Shi let out an "ai" sigh and took a breath,

"Jianqiang, I know in your heart, emotionally and rationally, you don't want to cut ties with Zhu Sheng. But reality is this cruel."

"If you don't cut ties to protect yourself, then all we will get is endless disaster."

After listening to Kong Shi's words, I softly asked: "Kong Shi, how do we cut ties with Zhu Sheng?"

At this moment, Kong Shi pulled out a few sheets of paper from his pocket,

"Take these materials and proactively file a complaint, telling the superiors that Zhu Sheng uses his authority to suppress your company, extracting high fees from your company,"

"These are the receipts for the fees collected."

After hearing Kong Shi's words, my heart suddenly felt a chill.

Kong Shi's relationship with Zhu Sheng is anything but ordinary; Kong Shi's every advancement has Zhu Sheng's contribution. Now he holds the materials and has me report Zhu Sheng,

then add insult to injury, delivering a fatal blow to Zhu Sheng.

My report can be considered the strongest evidence, because our company has long-standing dealings with Zhu Sheng.

Any material I report will be accepted by the superiors.

I hold the materials, looking at the numbers on them,

These numbers are enough for Zhu Sheng to spend the rest of his life inside.

"Jianqiang, this is our last chance; if we don't seize it, we'll be completely finished."

"Zhu Sheng has already fallen; no one can protect us now. We can only save ourselves."

"Zhu Sheng has many problems; your report is just one small item. We're merely proving our innocence to others."

"This way, even if Zhu Sheng falls, we can quickly find another backer."

"If we don't do this, your Da Heng Group will also be finished."

"I'm telling the truth."

"Jianqiang, not only can you not bear to act against Zhu Sheng, I also can't bear to."

"Actually, this is also Zhu Sheng's intention; he hopes we report him once, which also counts as our final help. He doesn't want the Da Heng Group to be finished, nor does he want us all to follow him to the grave."

After Kong Shi finished speaking, his eyes became moist.

Then he kept wiping his eyes with a tissue.

I could see clearly that Kong Shi was also moved emotionally.

Could it be that this is truly Zhu Sheng's wish, letting us turn against him and report him again?

I'm a bit confused.

Right now, I really want to pull out my phone and call Zhu Sheng directly to ask about the situation.

"After Kong Shi wiped his tears, as if he could see through my thoughts, he then said: 'Jianqiang, you must absolutely not contact Zhu Sheng; his phone is with the Investigation Team. If you call, you'll bring trouble upon yourself.'"

"I advise you to go to the Provincial Capital as soon as possible and explain the situation directly."

"Jianqiang, my future path will also rely on you."

"We have no other way left."

"Kong Shi, between me and Zhu Sheng there are some interests entangled, but it's definitely not such naked benefit transfer."

"Zhu Sheng is not that kind of person, and he wouldn't want such money."

"Reporting Zhu Sheng like this, am I acting against my conscience?"

"I really can't bring myself to do it." I said, and tears also flowed out.

After a while, once my emotions calmed down,

Kong Shi then patted my shoulder,

"Jianqiang, we have no way left. We've reached the critical moment. Before Zhu Sheng was investigated, he gave me a phone call,"

"he indicated that we should do this."

"I also feel uneasy inside."

"My heart feels even more painful than yours; I've followed Zhu Sheng step by step to get here."

"The feelings between me and Zhu Sheng are even closer than yours."

At this moment, we can't talk about feelings.

It's about how we protect ourselves and safeguard the Da Heng Group.

I've already said a lot about this.

How to do it depends on your own choice.

Jianqiang, I'm leaving. Whether the Da Heng Group can get out of this current difficulty depends entirely on your own decision.

Kong Shi finished speaking, then pushed open the meeting room door and left.

Only I remained, holding those materials, sitting dazedly on the sofa.

The situation is laid out there.

Zhu Sheng is finished.

When he was about to finish, he hinted to Kong Shi to have us report him, counting this as another help to us.

My gratitude toward Zhu Sheng in my heart cannot be expressed in words.

I took out a cigarette.

I wanted to smoke a cigarette, but after trying for a while, the lighter just wouldn't light.

Angry, I threw the lighter away.

I took the cigarette from my mouth and tore it up.

I was in too much pain.

Reporting Zhu Sheng would make my conscience uneasy; not reporting him, just as Kong Shi said,

We would all be finished.

After a moment, Xiao Long entered the meeting room, saw my dazed look, and hurriedly asked, "Boss, what's wrong?"

I glanced at Xiao Long.

Then I said, "Xiao Long, push me to the office on the ninth floor."

Xiao Long then pushed me to the ninth floor.

Nurse Lin was cleaning the office.

I said to Xiao Long, "Buy me a pack of White General cigarettes and a lighter."

Nurse Lin said, "Xiao Long, secretary, you can't just buy one pack; buy one pack, your boss could smoke it all."

Xiao Long said, "Boss, I'll buy you two boxes."

Xiao Long quickly bought me two boxes of cigarettes.

I held the cigarettes and said to Nurse Lin and Xiao Long, "Go out, close the office door; don't come in unless I call you; no one is allowed to disturb me."

Xiao Long asked, bewildered, "Boss, what exactly is going on? Should I let my father come?"

I shook my head.

"For now, don't tell your father. Go out; I want to calm down for a moment."

Xiao Long and Nurse Lin both went out.

Only I remained in the room.

I alone took out a cigarette and lit it with a lighter.

I took a strong drag of the cigarette.

At that moment, my mood suddenly calmed considerably.

I looked at the photos placed behind the desk; several of them were award photos given to me by Zhu Sheng, which were for my title of Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Province.

I happily shook hands with Zhu Sheng.

Time really flew; in the blink of an eye, ten years have passed.

I am now disabled, while Zhu Sheng is imprisoned.

Everything now feels like a distant dream.