Chapter 747: He Zuming Has Arrived

After I finished speaking, Xiao Shitou also seemed to understand something.

He didn't speak, just continued driving.

At that moment, my phone rang,

I saw it was Ding Li calling,

Ding Li's voice came through the phone quickly,

"Zhao Ge, have you arrived at Qi He Kuang?"

"Ding Li, I'll be there right away," I said.

"Let me tell you good news, I ran into an old acquaintance and already brought him to Qi He Kuang. Zhao Ge, when you come you'll be pleasantly surprised." Ding Li said happily.

"Ding Li, old acquaintance, who is it?" I asked.

"Zhao Ge, keep it secret for now, you'll know when you arrive." Ding Li laughed over the phone.

"Alright, I'll be there in half an hour. I hope your good news is true." I said and hung up.

Ding Li said he ran into an old acquaintance; I wondered who it could be.

I thought about it, but still couldn't recall.

Our car soon arrived at Qi He Kuang.

Ding Li and Xiao Long were waiting for us.

After I and Xiao Shitou got out of the car,

Ding Li said: "Zhao Ge, let's go, to the office to meet the old acquaintance first."

I followed behind Ding Li,

"Ding Li, who is this old acquaintance? Can you give a hint?"

"Zhao Ge, you'll know when you see him." Ding Li deliberately kept it a mystery.

After Ding Li finished speaking, he opened the office door.

He Zuming was sitting alone in the office smoking.

I never expected the old acquaintance Ding Li mentioned to be Mr. He.

"Oh, Mr. He." I said, then hurried into the room.

He Zuming also saw me,

He Zuming then stood up,

"Jianqiang, it's been a while—how have you been?"

I embraced He Zuming's arms with both hands,

"Mr. He, I thought I'd never see you again."

"What nonsense. We've just met again—sit down quickly." He Zuming laughed.

I quickly sat down beside He Zuming,

"Mr. He, how did you meet Ding Li? I never imagined you'd come to Qi He Kuang.

Ding Li, why didn't you tell me sooner?"

He Zuming laughed: "This isn't Ding Li's fault; I didn't let him say anything.

I wanted to give you a surprise.

My meeting with Ding Li was coincidental.

I've returned to Sijiucheng now, making a living by divination.

Yesterday I was telling fortunes on the street when Ding Li suddenly recognized me.

Ding Li then urged me to return to Zaocheng.

I thought about it and agreed—I've been drifting outside.

Also without a fixed residence,

Ding Li is right—one should eventually return to one's roots.

So I followed them back.

At that time Ding Li wanted to tell you, but I was afraid that if he spoke it would affect your work.

"Jianqiang, how has this year been for you?"

"Mr. He, it's hard to put into words." I said, looking at He Zuming.

"Yeah, I heard Ding Li tell me.

I didn't expect you to still be having such a hard time." He Zuming said.

"There's no way around it. Mr. He, some things can't be explained in a sentence or two. You've come at just the right time—please give me good counsel.

"I've been feeling quite chaotic lately; I can't sort out the clues." I said earnestly to He Zuming.

"Zhao Ge, let's eat and talk while we eat." Ding Li said.

"Why haven't I seen Xiao Feng?" I asked Ding Li.

"Xiao Feng sister went to Hainan; she needs to hand over some matters with Lao Ye." Ding Li said softly.

I chuckled,

"Let's go, Mr. He, let's go to the restaurant to eat; we haven't drunk with Mr. He in a long time—today we must drink heartily."

"Let's go, today we'll drink until we're drunk." He Zuming said.

Our group walked toward the restaurant.

Ding Li had already arranged for a table of dishes to be prepared.

We took our seats as host and guest.

At that moment Xiao Long produced a document from his pocket,

Sir, look, this is a genuine contract.

I took it over and glanced at it.

Indeed, it is a genuine contract.

Good, this contract, after you finish your meal later, hand it over to Tian Shi for him to keep safe.

I'll find him when I have time." I said to Xiao Long.

Xiao Long nodded.

At that moment, Xiao Shitou opened the wine,

and filled my, Ding Li's, and He Zuming's cups.

I raised my cup and said, "Mr. He, I never expected to meet you again. I'm truly excited. Really, everything is in the wine; I'll drink first as a toast."

"Jianqiang, you're being too polite." He Zuming said, also raising his cup and drinking it.

Xiao Long and Xiao Shitou, both driving, didn't drink any alcohol.

Only I, Ding Li, and He Zuming drank.

At this moment I said to Ding Li,

"Xiao Feng is temporarily not at the mine; you're alone handling the mine's production matters, so drink a little less."

Ding Li said,

"All right, Zhao Ge. I'll just have one drink, to keep Mr. He company."

"Ding Li, you have work on hand; we consider drinking tea as drinking alcohol. I see you're managing the mine excellently."

"Ding Li is not bad." He Zuming praised Ding Li.

"Thank you for the praise, Mr. He. I'll raise a cup to you; after drinking this cup, I won't drink any more." Ding Li said.

"Good, cheers." He Zuming said, then clinked cups with Ding Li.

Ding Li said he wouldn't drink, so he had Xiao Long fetch a bottle of beverage.

To keep us company.

That's right; a qualified manager must never be drunk all the time.

Otherwise nothing gets done. I really appreciate Ding Li for that.

Now only I and He Zuming remain at the table,

"Mr. He, I'll offer you another cup."

He Zuming laughed and said,

"All right, Jianqiang, I'm getting older and can't hold my liquor.

Moreover, after all these years, our feelings can't be measured by wine."

"Yes, Mr. He, you're absolutely right; seeing you gets me overly excited.

I can't control my emotions; all I want is to share a drink with you.

Okay, we won't drink too much,

"You've come at just the right time; I wanted to discuss something important with you. Let's eat, try this mine's spicy chicken." I said to He Zuming.

He Zuming picked up a piece of chicken and ate it,

"Our chicken here is stir-fried authentically.

Those outside stir-fry chicken places are just clueless.

They haven't grasped the essentials of stir-frying chicken."

"Yes, Mr. He, eating authentic spicy chicken is like hometown fare.

If it's tasty, eat more.

"Having come this time, you can't leave again." I laughed.

"Where would I go? Drifting aimlessly,

the old man returns to his native land.

"Don't worry, Jianqiang, I'm not leaving." He Zuming said.

Hearing He Zuming say that, I felt very happy,

"Mr. He, you shouldn't have left back then."

"Back then the situation was unclear; I didn't want to become a burden to you.

"Those matters are in the past; we still defeated them. The Zhou Family and Kong Shi are finished." He Zuming sighed.

"Mr. He, what good does defeating them do?

"Alas, the Da Heng Group still let them take it away." I said, raising my cup and drinking it.

"Jianqiang, you shouldn't say that.

"Actually, the Da Heng Group is nothing; I still say we must look far ahead.

"What's yours is yours; what isn't, you can't seize even if you try.

The ancients said, the wise change with the times, the knowledgeable adapt to circumstances.

Some things are not for us to decide.

Actually, throughout history, it's always been this way.

Dynasties rise and fall,

time flows on,

every dynasty has seen such things happen. Let's not discuss it further.

Today I want to tell you that,

you have experienced life's great ups and downs, which in fact is a microcosm of this society.

You can have today precisely because our society is in an upward phase. We are undergoing massive social changes.

Only then can you achieve success.

Having great wealth and social status.

Jianqiang, you lose these, then what?

You have not become depressed,

You also have not complained about anything.

This shows your nature.

A person's nature determines how far and how long they can go.