Chapter 78: Meeting at Nine

After Yang Tao finished speaking, she hung up the phone.

After Yang Tao hung up, I stood there dumbfounded.

Da Heng Group has become a piece of Tang monk meat; everyone wants a bite.

I originally thought Director Qi could help me, but I didn't expect him to demand money, and not a small amount—he asked for four hundred million in one breath. So damn ruthless.

At first we jointly invested in land near Beishan, and after Zaocheng Xin Cheng relocated, the land we held appreciated by dozens of times.

The profit from the land's appreciation, his principal was never liquidated; he only asked me to give him a dividend each year.

I agreed,

I would give him a dividend of over a million each year.

When Da Heng Group was founded, I discussed with him the idea of converting his five million principal directly into shares. That way our ties would be close, and at that time he was still on the stage.

I needed Director Qi's support.

But he made it clear he would not take part in building Da Heng Group; the five million dividend each year would suffice.

Back then I thought Director Qi didn't join Da Heng Group because the five million dividend each year yields over a million, guaranteeing returns in drought or flood; he didn't want to take risk.

Our agreement was verbal only. These matters couldn't be put on paper.

The talk between Yang Tao and Zhou Wei about that five million representing 40% of the shares was pure nonsense.

That woman can do anything; for her own benefit, she can be called a person with no limits.

I know her too well.

I guess they know Zhou Wei is already in a coma; anyway, I can't verify that.

They just slammed a hefty sum on me.

Damn, that's totally worthless.

I cursed inwardly.

Let them be; they aren't returning to the country, and the money can't be redeemed.

Even if they came to demand it, I have no money to give them now.

Thinking that, I felt much more at ease.

In the evening, Xiao Long served me a bowl of shredded pork noodles.

I ate it all clean.

Xiao Long took me home; I shook my head,

I have to stay at Da Heng Group,

24 hours without leaving the office.

After dinner, I slowly walked around the house with a crutch,

trying to discard the crutch soon, so I can walk like a normal person.

Although my leg hurts a bit, this pain is nothing to me.

At nine o'clock, Shi Yong still hadn't returned.

I guess he drank too much again tonight.

Shi Yong likes drinking, and he can hold his liquor,

he can't go a meal without alcohol, which makes Ya Ling angry.

I've told him, but he doesn't listen. Everyone has their own vices; they can't be changed.

Take my smoking, I can't quit; a day without smoking feels flavorless.

Only cigarettes let me calm my mind to think.

From being a foreman at Niushiling to today's Da Heng Group, I feel even more exhausted.

I lie on the bed, thinking of the past,

my solitary New Year on the mountain feels as if everything happened right before my eyes.

Back then at Niushiling, Wu Xiezi assigned me to oversee the construction site,

I lived alone on the ridge, fortunately with Little Fox's company.

It's been almost twenty years; I don't know if Little Fox has been reincarnated.

If it truly reincarnated, it would now be a woman in her twenties.

Surely very beautiful.

Lost in thought, I actually fell asleep.

The next morning, I was jolted awake by a snore,

Shi Yong returned at an unknown time,

and was sleeping on another bed.

I didn't disturb him, just rubbed my face and got up,

leaning on the crutch, watching the sunlight outside,

July's sun is intense; we no longer have to labor under its blaze,

We live daily in air‑conditioned rooms; what the hell is the point of such a life.

I really want to go into the sun and bask my body, which is almost covered in hair, and shout loudly under the rays.

After a quick wash, I woke Shi Yong and told him to buy me breakfast.

We still have a meeting at nine.

Shi Yong quickly bought some buns,

Seeing the buns, I could only smile helplessly: "Shi Yong, can't you get something else—maybe a fried dough or dumplings?"

Shi Yong tossed a bun into his mouth one after another.

Brother, you don't know, the best thing to eat in the world is steamed buns.

"Then why did you have steamed buns with your drink last night?" I asked Shi Yong in return.

Shi Yong thought for a moment, then smiled and said: "Brother, I've never tried drinking with steamed buns; I'll give it a try when I have time."

I said: "Alright, after eating, hurry up and go find Xixi to see if everyone has been notified; we have a meeting at nine today."

"Okay, I'm going now." Shi Yong said, picked up a steamed bun, and hurried out the door.

The time had already reached nine o'clock,

Xiao Long helped me to the meeting room,

This time I didn't sit in a wheelchair; I was using a cane.

In the meeting room, the seats were already full; I could no longer see Director Feng and Manager Qi.

Xiao Hua sat in his seat, playing on his phone, completely ignoring my entrance.

Sun Dajun and Kang Yali sat together, whispering something to each other.

At that moment, Xiao Feng was looking at the report.

Seeing me come in, Xixi hurried over to support me.

At that moment, Shi Yong shouted loudly: "Chairman Zhao has arrived; quickly stand up to welcome the chairman."

These people all hurriedly lifted their heads to look at me,

then they all stood up,

smiling and saying: "Welcome, Chairman."

I waved my hand and said: "Everyone, please sit down."

These people all sat down,

I didn't see Shi Jinhe's figure among the crowd,

so I asked Shi Yong: "Why didn't Jinghe come?"

Shi Yong said: "He was busy all night at the construction site yesterday morning, and the morning's work hasn't been arranged yet."

I nodded,

At that moment, Ya Li stood up and walked to my side,

and asked concernedly: "Chairman Zhao, I heard you were hospitalized again a few days ago; I happened to be not in Zaocheng, so I didn't come to the hospital to see you. How is your health now?"

I smiled at Ya Li and said: "Thank you, Manager Kang, for your concern. I got food poisoning a few days ago because I wasn't careful with my food; it seems misfortunes never come singly. My leg was already lame, and heaven felt that punishing me wasn't harsh enough, so it gave me food poisoning again."

Now everything has recovered.

Manager Kang, are you having fun in Rizhao?

"I didn't expect Rizhao to have such a beautiful beach, comparable to Thailand's. With Manager Sun accompanying me, I've been having a great time there."

"As long as Manager Kang is happy, that's fine; I was worried that when you came to our company, Manager Kang wouldn't eat well or have fun." I said with a smile.

Sun Dajun stood up,

walked to my side,

looked at me and said: "Dad, how did you get food poisoning? Was someone deliberately trying to poison you? Have you reported this to the police? If it's inconvenient for you to step forward, I can handle it on your behalf."

Hearing Sun Dajun's words, I became angry.

This kid is deliberately stirring up trouble,

I looked at him and said: "Your godfather has already investigated this. You don't need to worry."

Sun Dajun's godfather is Chief Niu Ju; after thinking he had Chief Niu Ju as his backer, this kid looks down on everyone.

"What did my godfather say? Is someone deliberately trying to harm you? Dad, don't you find it strange? Getting poisoned by a single meal of pickled green beans—how could there be so many coincidences in the world? Did my godfather have the pickled green beans tested?" Sun Dajun continued to ask.

At that moment, Xiao Long said from the side: "Senior Sun, the meeting is about to start. Can we stop asking about this, Uncle? Let Uncle take a seat."