Chapter 821: Zhou Jie's Secret

"Brother, it's not clear over the phone; you'd better come to Qi He Kuang." Ding Li said.

"Okay, Ding Li, I'm going to Qi He Kuang right now." I said and then hung up the phone.

Then I came out of the hotel, called a taxi, and headed straight to Qi He Kuang.

From Xue County to Qi He Kuang, it's less than an hour's journey.

I soon arrived at Qi He Kuang.

After arriving at Qi He Kuang, Xiao Feng came out of the office,

seeing me, she smiled and came out to greet me,

"Jianqiang, you've come."

"Xiao Feng, you're back from Hainan."

"Yeah, I'm back. How did things go with Lao Ye? Have you settled it?" I asked.

"Settled. That Lao Ye is a real piece of shit. Damn, he really demanded five million.

Think about it—when I first married him, he never gave me this much money, and now after divorcing I have to pay him; what kind of thing is this.

I'm basically paying him off; after all these years, haven't I been with him for nothing?" Xiao Feng nagged.

I naturally understood Xiao Feng's feelings.

Following Ye Jianming, I didn't earn a penny, and instead, at divorce I still had to give him money—this kind of thing makes anyone feel uneasy.

I smiled,

"Xiao Feng, anything that can be solved with money isn't really a problem.

It's just five million; we'll have chances to earn it.

But have you considered that throwing away this five million buys back your freedom—and your future happiness.

That's worth far more than five million.

Don't keep obsessing over money.

If a person is always thinking about money, they become vulgar.

In your heart, you're still that proud, high-spirited Xiao Feng.

Disdainful of everything."

"Enough, Jianqiang, only you would say that. At first he kept me, not I him; look how it turned out—I ended up losing money. Really." Xiao Feng still felt uneasy inside.

"Xiao Feng, let me reiterate: this isn't a kept‑woman relationship; you two are a genuine married couple.

Okay, don't bring it up.

If you keep bringing it up, what will Ding Li think.

The money counts as mine,

I'll pay this five million directly. Exchanging it for your freedom and a bright tomorrow is totally worth it.

Between you and Ding Li, now that Lao Ye is no longer an obstacle, you should think about getting married soon." I said while walking with Xiao Feng.

"Eh, why bother? Just staying like this is fine." Xiao Feng said.

"We must marry, and have a grand wedding—I'll personally hand you over to Ding Li. Only then will I be at ease." I stopped, looked at Xiao Feng, and said.

Xiao Feng, hearing me say that,

also stopped, looking at me with deep emotion.

"Xiao Feng, as I always say, you're my dearest sister.

I'll make sure you marry in splendor—come on, Ding Li's been waiting impatiently."

I gave Xiao Feng a smile,

Xiao Feng smiled back at me, though her smile clearly held tears.

I believe these are Xiao Feng's tears of happiness.

We two hurried into the office of Qi He Kuang.

Ding Li was waiting for me in the office.

Upon seeing me arrive,

"Brother, come with me to the monitoring room."

"What did you find?" I asked Ding Li.

"You'll know as soon as you look in the monitoring room." Ding Li said and then took me to the mine's monitoring room.

As soon as we entered the monitoring room, there was a screen displaying many images, continuously transmitting the mine's production status.

Past the monitoring screen, Ding Li led me into a small room.

The small room housed a device with an antenna extended, various red lights glowing.

Sometimes it emitted a buzzing electric sound.

"Brother, sit." Ding Li had me sit down in front of the device.

"Xiao Wang, play the previous recording." Ding Li told the operator.

"Okay, Director Ding." Operator Xiao Wang said.

Then he began to adjust the equipment,

Soon a sound came from the device,

It was Zhou Jie's voice; he was on the phone,

"Jack, we had an agreement.

You must figure out how to get me out of here—I can't spend the rest of my life mining in this damn place. I'm exhausted like a dog every day.

I'm telling you, if you don't get me out, not a cent of my money will you touch."

Then the device emitted a foreigner's voice,

"Mr. Zhou, don't be impatient; I'm also trying to find a way. You have to know the border checks are strict now."

"It's not like before; you could just hop on a speedboat and get out."

"If you don't find a suitable opportunity, I advise you not to act recklessly."

"Wait a few more days; it's best if the big guy forgets about your matter."

"Jack, I've even changed my surname—long ago the fuck it was forgotten. Now I hear that because of the Da Heng Group's affairs, Wen Han and Zhao Jianqiang have fallen out."

"Now he doesn't have the mood to deal with me either."

"Ding Li has also fled to Huaihai,"

"Jack, this is an opportunity."

"You hurry up and organize it; don't worry about the money."

"I just want to get out."

"If it really doesn't work, go through Yunnan," Zhou Jie said urgently.

"Mr. Zhou, listen to my advice: the Da Mian road is temporarily impassable."

"Moreover, I don't have resources in that area,"

"I need to slowly find connections,"

"If the connections are unreliable,"

"they'll capture you, and that would be trouble," Jack explained over the phone.

"Jack, hurry up and find a way; I've endured this long enough. Zhao Jianqiang, Ding Li and the others all trust me now."

"They all think I'm peacefully working down in the mine as a miner. In fact, I fooled them all."

"Who the fuck wants to be a miner,"

"I've had years without sleeping with women, and I haven't been gambling either."

"It's all suffocating."

"Haha, as long as Wen Han and Zhao Jianqiang fall out, I'll have a chance. It would be great if Wen Han kills Zhao Jianqiang."

"Then I'll take the chance to run away; no one will recognize me,"

"I've changed my name now, my surname too, my appearance too—who the fuck knows I'm Zhou Jie."

"You hurry up, find a way, get connections; after I get out,"

"I will definitely have a good time," Zhou Jie said excitedly over the phone.

"It seems this Zhou Jie is constantly monitoring our movements."

"This guy really can act; he almost slipped through the checkpoint."

"Actually, he already pretended; anyone with a dumb brain would think, a rich kid, comfortably staying here down in the mine, and even happy waiting for his wages."

"The equipment kept transmitting their conversation,"

"Alright, Mr. Zhou, I will find connections as soon as possible."

"In a few days, I'll go to Xianggang."

"I heard there are people there who can figure out how to smuggle someone out."

"As long as you can leave Zaocheng and reach Xianggang, I'll have a way," Jack said.

"If I can leave Zaocheng, I'll still get in touch with you."

"I've discovered two guys have been following me all day."

"How about this: after you get to Xianggang, first find connections, then come back inland, and figure out a way to get me out," Zhou Jie arranged.

"Alright, Mr. Zhou, I'll first look for a smuggling snakehead."

"Then I'll go inland to meet you, and we'll discuss how to bring you out together," Jack said.

After a short while, a buzzing sound came, and the call was cut off.

Ding Li had operator Xiao Wang continue to find other recordings and play them for me,

I signaled Ding Li to stop the recording.

No need to listen further; it's already clear.

That's Zhou Jie, wanting to get out.

And it's to smuggle out, having that foreigner Jack figure it out for him.

"Where is Zhou Jie now?" I asked Ding Li.

"Today he's on the early shift, leading people down the mine," Ding Li said.

"He's on the early shift today, he's taking people down the shaft." Ding Li said.

"This guy really can disguise himself."

"Brother, should we arrest him?" Ding Li asked.

"Brother, did we catch him?" Ding Li asked.

"No need to arrest him; we need to cast a long line to catch a big fish."

Don't grab it; we want to cast a long line to catch a big fish.