Chapter 404: Kicking Someone When They're Down

Zhou Zhixin immediately called Zhou Zhixiang after returning home.

"Big brother, Lin Jianguo led people to seal Zhang Daguo's Xingyue Bar. Do you know about this?"

"I only found out about the Xingyue Bar incident afterward; the Public Security Bureau said it was cooperating with the Provincial Department's anti-drug task force. How come, is this bar Zhang Daguo's property?"

"He told me that. Can this be settled?"

"Settled? The amount of drugs the Provincial Department's officials uncovered is enough to execute him several times over. If you weren't involved, you'd better cut ties with him immediately!"

"Big brother, this is clearly Lin Jianguo using the Provincial Department's banner to take revenge on Zhang Daguo. We can't just stand by, can we?"

"We'll talk about Lin Jianguo later; first cut off your ties with Zhang Daguo. If the Provincial Department's officials find out you're connected to this incident, I won't be able to protect you!"

"Big brother, now that we've cut ties with Zhang Daguo, what about those few plots of land in Qingshui City? I've already invested over a hundred million yuan in them!"

"That's simple—just go to the court and apply to freeze his assets, letting him use land to offset debt!"

"... Really, not help him at all?"

"His own rear isn't clean, yet he went to provoke the political and legal system behind Lin Jianguo—how could I save him? If the province finds out I'm connected to him, our Zhou family will also suffer terrible luck."

"Alright, then I'll handle this right away."

After hanging up, Zhou Zhixin immediately summoned his company's legal department and had them apply to the Qingshui City Court to freeze Zhang Group's assets in the company's name.

After the legal staff left, he made another call: "How's it going—have you looked into Chen Yang's background yet?"

"What? He's just an ordinary farmer's son with no background? Where did his initial funds come from?"

"Did he win the lottery? Are you joking with me?"

After hanging up, Zhou Zhixin fell silent. An ordinary farmer's son with no background suddenly winning a ten‑million‑yuan lottery was already outrageous, and then he went on to marry the daughter of the Qingshui City Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary. Even more outrageous, after that he shot straight up in the business world.

He had the Qingshui City Municipal Party Committee Secretary as his backer, and after decades of hard work he had managed to save some wealth. Meanwhile, Chen Yang had only the Qingshui City Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary behind him, yet in just half a year he pushed the market value of his own company past what he had accumulated over several decades.

This is utterly unbelievable!

Of course, Zhou Zhixin doesn't envy Chen Yang's achievements, because the building materials sold by his company fetch high prices from Qingshui City contractors, guaranteeing at least double the profit.

Chen Yang's company produces only low‑margin products, essentially losing money to make noise. Once funding falls short, saying it will go bankrupt makes it so.

Zhou Zhixin also investigated Chen Yang's source of funds—it's all profits earned in the stock market.

Thinking this over, he suddenly felt a bit regretful. If he had simply crushed Chen Yang in the Xingcheng Heavy Industry stock last time, there wouldn't be all these troubles now.

Now, he can only bear the pain and sacrifice Zhang Daguo.

Zhou Zhixin directly pulled the SIM card from his phone, so that when Zhang Daguo called to plead, he wouldn't give in to sympathy.

Zhang Daguo didn't realize he had become a discarded pawn; he was still at home waiting for good news from Zhou Zhixin.

At night, as he slept, he still dreamed of Zhou Zhixiang removing Lin Jianguo's official hat, and of Chen Yang weeping bitterly as he knelt on the ground begging for mercy.

But his beautiful dream didn't last long.

The next morning, Zhang Daguo was in the company headquarters discussing with the management team the follow‑up plan after the Xingyue Bar was sealed, when officials from the Qingshui City Court burst in, saying they were acting on Zhixin Group's commission to seal Zhang Group's assets in Qingshui City.

Zhang Daguo could hardly believe his ears; he called Zhou Zhixin in front of the court officials, but the call wouldn't go through.

After repeatedly dialing with no answer, Zhang Daguo weakly collapsed into his own boss's chair.

He couldn't understand how he had given his all to Zhou Zhixin, supporting him like an ancestor, yet at the critical moment when Zhang Group's survival was at stake, the other side not only refused to lend a hand but was the first to jump in and kick him while he was down.

"Boss, Zhou Chief's phone won't connect—can we go look for Zhou Secretary?" At the moment Zhang Daguo felt hopeless, his secretary suddenly had an idea.

Zhang Daguo instantly sprang up as if grasping a lifeline, ignoring the court officials and rushing straight out of the company meeting room.

He sped to the Qingshui City Municipal Party Committee Office Building, only to be stopped at the door by Zhou Zhixiang's secretary.

"The secretary is busy today and has no time to receive visitors, Director Zhang—please come another day!"

"Director Lu, I really have something important to discuss with Zhou Secretary—just give me a few minutes!"

"Sorry, Zhou Secretary is really busy and has no time to receive visitors. Director Zhang, please go back!"

Seeing Zhou Zhixiang's secretary acting all business‑like, Zhang Daguo felt even more desperate. He shouted loudly into Zhou Zhixiang's office: "Zhou Secretary, I've devoted myself wholeheartedly to serving the Zhou family—you can't just stand by and let me die!"

His voice drew a large crowd of onlookers, and his behavior annoyed Zhou Zhixiang's secretary, who immediately had security escort Zhang Daguo out.

"Zhou Secretary, you can't just watch me die and do nothing!" Even after being restrained by security, Zhang Daguo refused to give up, continuing to shout loudly for Zhou Zhixiang.

This time, the Municipal Party Secretary's office finally responded.

"Who's shouting out there?"

As the words fell, Zhou Zhixiang stepped out, his face stern and angry.

He looked at Zhang Daguo and said in an icy tone: "Zhang Daguo, I've never had any dealings with you. What did you mean by saying you were handling affairs for the Zhou family?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Daguo immediately corrected himself: "Zhou Secretary, I misspoke. Actually, I've been developing real estate together with your younger brother. Everything was going smoothly, but today for some unknown reason he suddenly had the court seize our company's assets. I can't get through to him on the phone, so I had no choice but to come beg you."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhixiang's expression eased a little. He said calmly: "Since this is a business matter between you and Zhou Zhixin, you should go talk to him. Running to the Municipal Party Committee Office to cause a scene—do you think this place is your family's backyard?"

"Zhou Secretary, I was wrong—I shouldn't have interfered with your work." Zhang Daguo apologized while pleading: "But I can't reach Zhou Chief right now, so I can only come ask you for help!"

To prevent the impact from spreading further, Zhou Zhixiang could only first placate Zhang Daguo: "Zhang Daguo, go back for now. I'll have Zhou Zhixin contact you. Since this is a business issue, let's settle it in a businesslike way. I hope you can resolve the problem as fairly as possible."

Zhang Daguo saw Zhou Zhixiang issue the eviction order, so he could only agree. If Zhou Zhixin continues to play at disappearing, he will still come back!