Chapter 70: Drinking and Chatting

Qian Niang, after hearing what I said, was a bit confused.

"They all count on you for a meal; how can they still think you're a nuisance?"

I smiled and said nothing more.

Li Ming said, "Mom, go upstairs and see how Ru Meng's needlework turned out. I have a few words to say to my brother."

Qian Niang replied, "Alright, you two brothers can chat. Xiao Long, help me upstairs."

Xiao Long then helped Qian Niang up the stairs.

At that moment Li Ming said to me, "Brother, let's go to the restaurant for a drink."

I said, "Sure."

Li Ming said to He Qing, "Fry some peanuts, slice some cucumber, prepare some pork ears, and my brother and I will have a drink."

He Qing sighed in the kitchen and replied.

Li Ming pushed me into the restaurant,

and after a short while He Qing prepared four dishes and brought them over.

Li Ming took out a bottle of wine in the restaurant,

I said, "No need to drink such fine wine; there's Lanling Chenxiang, just have some of that."

Li Ming said, "Brother, this is the wine you gave me; I never had the heart to drink it. It's been stored for over ten years. Let's drink it today."

After speaking, Li Ming opened the wine,

and the room instantly filled with the aroma of alcohol.

Li Ming poured me a glass of wine and placed it before me,

"Brother, why do you have time today to come here for a drink?"

I said, "Li Ming, the worries have returned."

"What worries?" Li Ming asked.

"Kong Shi just called me; he has prepared the documents again, asking me to continue reporting Zhu Sheng to the Provincial Capital. What should I do?" I said helplessly.

"Ah, never ending. What's up with Kong Shi? He wants to ruin Zhu Sheng. Is there a deep hatred between them?" Li Ming said.

I shook my head,

"Kong Shi's promotion relies entirely on Zhu Sheng. I haven't heard of any dispute between them.

This matter I can't inquire about; Zhu Sheng is under investigation, so asking Kong Shi how he could tell the truth is impossible."

Li Ming said, "Even if there is a conflict between Kong Shi and Zhu Sheng, and he wants to bring Zhu Sheng to ruin, why does he only involve you? Last time you sent Qi; who should go this time?"

"This time he wants me to go; Kong Shi's intention is clear— I must go to the Provincial Capital. I told him my leg is injured, yet he still had Dean Yang give me a painkiller injection and says I must go," I said, taking a sip of wine.

After I finished speaking, Li Ming frowned,

"Brother, the person who goes for the report matters. Why does Kong Shi always send you? There's definitely a conspiracy here."

I said, "You're right; his documents were fake from the start. His purpose is to make the Investigation Team believe the relationship between me and Zhu Sheng, so whatever I report, they'll accept it."

"That's just one aspect. I feel he's trying to sever you completely from Zhu Sheng. After you report Zhu Sheng, you become the one kicking someone when they're down; your relationship with Zhu Sheng is completely cut, and those around Zhu Sheng will despise you. You've knocked down your own patron; who would dare become your patron now," Li Ming explained.

I nodded,

"Brother, reporting Zhu Sheng in the first place goes against my conscience; I would never do it. But now I can't refuse. Last time we brushed it off with Qi, but this time it can't be brushed aside. If I don't go to the Provincial Capital to report,

our Da Heng Group in Zaocheng will be in a tight spot. Kong Shi will keep handing me one petty trap after another."

"This is truly a difficult matter. Kong Shi is using you to bring down Zhu Sheng; besides that, what other motives does he have?" Li Ming asked.

【7】 I shook my head again,

I shook my head again,

"I don't know; I have a feeling that Kong Shi and his side are targeting our Da Heng Group. I had a car accident, then the company went bust, then he introduced Southern Group to lend us money, and now he wants me to report Zhu Sheng. It feels like I've fallen into his trap."

"Brother, your thinking is correct. Could it be that Kong Shi, Niu Ju, Xiao Hua, and Da Jun have formed a clique to go after you together?" Li Ming said.

"It's possible; they intend to swallow my Da Heng Group, I have that premonition," I took another sip of wine.

"Because that day you suddenly had a car accident, I got an ominous feeling. Such a fine day, such a fine car, yet such a huge crash. After a brief investigation, Niu Ju concluded it was a traffic accident, and didn't even let anyone inspect the wrecked car.

There are too many suspicious points here," Li Ming said, taking a sip of wine.

"Brother, let's set the car accident aside for now. I don't have the energy to investigate it further. The key is whether we can keep Da Heng Group afloat, and how to deal with Kong Shi's assignment again; that's what we must handle now. Once this is settled, in July the Zaocheng 420 million yuan loan will be in my hands. Otherwise, don't even think about it," I said, eating a peanut.

"Brother, you have become a lamb in others' hands; the butchers are looking for the right moment to kill you and seize your billions of assets. Brother, I don't know how to help you. Our power is limited, and those who backed us are gone; Zhu Sheng is under investigation, and Director Qi has gone abroad.

Now, regarding Da Heng Group and you, it's truly wavering in the storm, causing great worry," Li Ming said, looking at me with deep emotion.

"Alas, life and death are fate's decree, wealth is in heaven. I, Zhaoerhai, in this lifetime, the first half was filled with countless hardships; now in middle age, seeking a bit of ease only makes me more exhausted than before. Before the car accident, Zhou Wei told me, you are no longer an ordinary person, you are a billionaire. That's a fortune that makes many eyes water.

I never imagined they would act so despicably and shamelessly," I finished, swallowing the entire glass of wine.

Li Ming said, "Brother, human desire is terrifying. The world we live in is a money-driven society, and people's desires are amplified infinitely.

We no longer live as before, guarding a mere acre and a few mu of land.

We haven't kept pace with the times."

"Forget it, brother, let's not talk about this. Let's quickly devise a plan and handle the matter at hand, see how we can once again fool Kong Shi. As for Da Heng Group's future, I'll do my best. If we truly can't protect it, there's nothing we can do," I said helplessly.

"A plan? What kind of plan?" Li Ming said, lighting a cigarette.

After a moment, He Qing pushed open the kitchen door,

and brought in a plate of lightly stir-fried plum green beans from outside.

Li Ming said to He Qing, "He Qing, are the beans cooked through? Otherwise they could cause poisoning."

He Qing said, "As you say, brother, come to our home for a meal; I wouldn't dare give you undercooked beans."

"If they make you sick, I couldn't bear that responsibility. Brother, eat without worry; I've fried them in oil."

Hearing He Qing say that,

I smiled,

"Younger sister-in-law, don't mind it. Li Ming just likes to joke. If the beans were undercooked, I'd rather get poisoned, lie in bed, and not have to answer any questions."

I'm too tired now, I just want to rest a bit.

After hearing my words, Li Ming suddenly clapped his hands happily and shouted: "Brother, I have a solution."