Chapter 887: The Purpose of Ding Li's Return

After I heard Ding Li finish speaking, I finally understood the difficulties Tian Shi and Zhu Sheng face in Xianggang.

This so‑called Geng Ge has already become interested in the money.

That makes things very troublesome,

He makes a lion‑like demand, asking for half in an instant.

Tian Shi would definitely not agree,

Tian Shi treats him as a brother, a brother of life and death,

but when it comes to profit, he won't give even a single cent, leaving Tian Shi with no face to save.

So Tian Shi never told me about this matter.

Had I known, I wouldn't have asked the so‑called Geng Ge for help.

I guess Tian Shi's guts are now full of regret.

What do we do now? Tian Shi and Zhu Sheng are both stranded in Xianggang because of this.

They can't stay there for long, and they don't want to alarm too many people.

I look at Ding Li,

"Ding Li, why have you returned? Did Tian Shi send you back?"

"Yes, Zhao Ge, Tian Shi asked me to come back quietly, mainly to brief you on the current situation.

Also, we must find a way to resolve this matter."

"Tian Shi and Zhu Sheng are in Xianggang, they can't stay long, and it's still someone else's territory," Ding Li said,

"Indeed, you're right. Zhu Sheng hasn't used his provincial connections. What does Zhu Sheng think?" I asked.

"Zhu Sheng went with a person from the province, but that was all through private contacts, and it didn't help much.

Zhu Sheng also doesn't want to make the matter too big.

You have to know that the money Zhou Jie has is, after all, dirty; if too many people are alarmed,

whether the money can be retrieved is another story." Ding Li said.

Ding Li is right; this money truly cannot attract too many people's attention. If too many people are stirred, the impact is huge, and more people will start having ideas.

Whether we can get our hands on this money is another matter,

and on top of that, my covering up Zhou Jie makes it impossible to explain.

I smoke in silence, my mind constantly pondering how to solve this.

This is truly a hassle; Zhou Jie is in Geng Ge's hands, and on someone else's turf, the other party calls the shots.

So far he and Tian Shi haven't completely fallen out,

I'm really worried this guy will break ties; that would be even more troublesome.

In Xianggang we know no one, and we can't bring people over.

Even if I take people there, it won't solve anything.

"Ding Li, have you discussed this matter with Ruan Wei?" I asked Ding Li.

Ding Li nodded,

"I once intended to talk to Ruan Wei about this, to see if he could help.

Ruan Wei said that Xianggang isn't his territory either.

Small matters he can meddle in, but a big issue like this is beyond his capacity, since Geng Ge still has considerable influence in Xianggang.

Moreover, if more people learn about the money, the situation could become even more complicated."

"Ruan Wei is right; his ability is limited. If we enlist some Xianggang community groups, they know there's so much money here and might have ideas."

"This matter is truly troublesome; it can't be left unresolved."

"The project development in Xue County here urgently needs funds; everything depends on this money. Without it, all our efforts are like a moon reflected in water."

I stand up at this moment, anxiously pacing the room.

"Zhao Ge, we really shouldn't have let Zhou Jie go; we should have kept him at Qi He Kuang," Ding Li said.

"Alas, had I known I'd wet the bed, I wouldn't have gone to sleep. Actually, if Zhou Jie hadn't gone to Xianggang, he'd never have spat out that money," I sighed.

"Zhao Ge, I heard Yong Ge left. I plan to pay respects to him tomorrow," Ding Li said mournfully.

"Sure, I'll go with you then. Alas. Shi Yong left too hastily," I sighed again.

"Indeed, I never expected Yong Ge to leave so abruptly. Yong Ge was truly a good person," Ding Li said, his eyes reddening.

"Now is not the time to reminisce; we must resolve the Xianggang issue. Ding Li, Tian Shi sent you here only to brief me, nothing else," I told Ding Li.

Ding Li wiped his eyes,

"Zhao Ge, besides having me brief you,

there's nothing else. By the way, Tian Shi arranged for me to go see his old home."

"Did Tian Shi arrange for you to visit his old home?" I asked again.

"Yes, after I finish mourning Yong Ge tomorrow, I'll go to Tian Shi's old home to take a look. Tian Shi's old home is in Jiaodong Region," Ding Li said.

"Why does Tian Shi want you to check out his old home?" I asked, smoking.

"Perhaps he hasn't been home for a long time, and he wants me to see how his parents are doing," Ding Li said.

I shook my head,

"You mean there are surveillance cameras everywhere in your Xianggang residence, and even the phones are being tapped?"

"That Geng Ge has used every trick. It's truly shameless," Ding Li said angrily.

"When profit is at stake, people can do anything; sometimes overemphasizing sentiment leads to being duped."

"Tian Shi would never let you simply replace him to visit his old home."

"There's a hidden meaning; he just can't say it outright."

"What does Tian Shi mean?" Ding Li asked.

As far as I know, this Geng Ge and Tian Shi are both from Jiaodong,

Tian Shi's hometown and Geng Ge's hometown are not far apart.

The meaning of Tian Shi should be to have us go back to Geng Ge's hometown to take a look.

"Let's go back to Geng Ge's hometown to take a look." Ding Li muttered.

After a while, Ding Li slapped his thigh and said: "When we first met Geng Ge,

the conversation between Tian Shi and Geng Ge, I was still present.

I heard Geng Ge say that his parents are still living in their hometown."

"That's right, the meaning of Tian Shi is to have us go visit Geng Ge's parents." I said.

"Is Tian Shi meant to have Geng Ge's parents persuade him not to bring up such conditions and to shake hands and make peace?" Ding Li said.

I smiled,

"Ding Li, do you still listen to your parents now?"

"It depends on the matter, Zhao Ge; I'm this old, I can't obey my parents in everything." Ding Li said.

"That's right, Geng Ge's parents are probably in their seventies or eighties; what they say, Geng Ge might not even listen." I then took out a cigarette.

"Then let's see what his parents mean." Ding Li asked, not understanding.

"Going back to the hometown to take a look has multiple meanings. I heard He Zuming say that the wealthy people in Xianggang especially value feng shui."

"Once they have money, they renovate their ancestral tombs to resemble imperial mausoleums."

"They believe their wealth and smooth sailing are mainly due to good ancestral feng shui."

"I believe this Geng Ge can in Xianggang get off to a good start,"

"He will also, like other Xianggang people, renovate his family's ancestral tomb to be very noble."

"I think the meaning of Tian Shi is to have us do something at that Geng Ge's ancestral tomb." I said, smoking.

"How are we supposed to do that, Zhao Ge? We can't just level their ancestral tomb, can we?" Ding Li asked.

"Now, in the talks between Tian Shi and that Geng Ge, we have no leverage. It's very troublesome."

"What we need to do is give Tian Shi some more leverage."

"Ideally, we would lure that Geng Ge back."

"Then we would have Geng Ge in our grasp,"

"Ding Li, do you understand what I mean?" I said, blowing smoke while looking outside.

"Zhao Ge, I understand. We want to do everything possible to lure that Geng Ge from Xianggang over, and then we will invite him to Zaocheng for drinks and a chat."

"That way, Tian Shi will have leverage in negotiations on the Xianggang side." Ding Li said.

"Yes, Tian Shi should indeed mean that, because given his current situation, he just can't say it outright." I nodded.