Chapter 437: Chance Encounter with Liu Qingqing

Luo Xue did not agree with Chen Yang's view; she reminded him, "Boss, our company's management has quite a few overseas returnees; if this reaches Anna's ears, it will hurt her."

"Moreover, the company's development to its current scale is not because our management is outstanding, but because Xingcheng's competitiveness is too weak."

"By comparison, the competitive pressure here in Shencheng is much greater than in Xingcheng. If we don't bring in high-level management talent and still build the management team according to the old mindset, the funds needed later will be huge. Are you sure you can withstand the pressure?"

Chen Yang's account has ample funds. But he felt Luo Xue's words also made sense. The Old Hundred Agricultural Products Trading Company could stand out in Xingcheng largely because that side is still undergoing enterprise reform transformation, and its business philosophy is relatively backward.

Here in Shencheng, most are foreign and private enterprises; they lack no funds, but lack high-end management and technical talent. If we don't use outstanding talents returning from abroad, the other side could easily become a weapon for competitors to attack the Old Hundred Agricultural Products Trading Company.

Thinking this through, Chen Yang felt he should temporarily set aside his prejudices. After all, the Old Hundred Agricultural Products Trading Company is still in its growth stage, and the secrets worth probing are all stored in his mind.

"Manager Luo, I withdraw my previous remark; you should still hire talent according to your own ideas!"

Luo Xue saw Chen Yang heed her advice and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Chen Yang turned his gaze to Zhao Xiaoxiao and asked, "Manager Zhao, have the accommodation issues for Manager Luo and Manager Qian been arranged?"

Zhao Xiaoxiao said, "Su Zong bought two three-bedroom units in the Cuiwei residential area near the company. My family and Xiao Dage's family each took one. My unit still has two spare rooms that can house them, and I've prepared the bedding."

Seeing that Zhao Xiaoxiao had already arranged the accommodation for Luo Xue and Qian Duo Duo, Chen Yang nodded in satisfaction.

Zhao Xiaoxiao suddenly thought of something and asked Chen Yang, "Boss, has Xiao Dage arranged accommodation for you? If not, I'll squeeze with Luo Xue to free up a room for you."

"Never mind, I'll just stay at a hotel!" Chen Yang directly shook his head to reject Zhao Xiaoxiao's suggestion. A grown man sharing a room with three single women would be inconvenient, not to mention the negative impact.

"Then I'll book a hotel for you!" Zhao Xiaoxiao immediately picked up her phone and dialed nearby hotels.

Chen Yang waved his hand and said, "Manager Zhao, no trouble needed. I still have to visit Mayor Hu later; perhaps I'll spend the night there."

Upon hearing that, Zhao Xiaoxiao immediately hung up the phone and then continued asking Chen Yang, "Boss, should we prepare a gift for Mayor Hu?"

"No need!" Chen Yang shook his head. Before coming, Hu Qingwan had reminded him not to casually give gifts to Hu Shiyou. After all, the project he co-invested with Zhu Zhu was handled by Hu Shiyou; giving expensive gifts would easily raise suspicions.

After leaving the company, Chen Yang had Xiao Jian drive him straight to Hu Shiyou's residence.

On the way, Xiao Jian suddenly said to Chen Yang, "Boss, Su Zong has some Maotai liquor and Zhonghua cigarettes; should we take some to give to Mayor Hu?"

Chen Yang looked at Xiao Jian, somewhat surprised, and curiously asked, "When did Su Zong learn to smoke?"

Seeing Chen Yang's misunderstanding, Xiao Jian immediately explained, "The cigarettes and liquor are Mayor Hu's hobbies; Su Zong brings some each time she visits him. She herself neither smokes nor drinks."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yang was a bit surprised; he hadn't expected Su Mingyue to understand worldly affairs.

However, since Su Mingyue has spare cigarettes and liquor, taking them to give to Hu Shiyou is not bad; it's certainly better than buying a fruit basket from a roadside stall himself.

Su Mingyue is still in Xingcheng, but Chen Yang was unsure whether Liu Qingqing lived there too. So he indirectly asked Xiao Jian, "Has Su Zong always lived alone?"

Xiao Jian thought for a moment and said, "A few months ago, Liu Zong of Qingnet stayed for a few days; since then, Su Zong has been living alone."

Xiao Jian had once been tasked by Hu Qingwan to monitor Chen Yang; knowing Liu Qingqing is no surprise. However, this guy, as soon as he speaks, hits on Chen Yang's interests—he must have figured something out.

So Chen Yang also stopped pretending and directly asked him, "Do Liu Zong and Su Zong often keep in touch?"

Xiao Jian said, "As far as I know, Liu Zong has already settled in Hong Kong. Due to pandemic lockdowns, their face-to-face meetings seem infrequent. But when I pick up and drop off Su Zong for work, I often hear her on the phone with Liu Zong."

Chen Yang never expected Liu Qingqing to choose to live in Hong Kong; this completely deviates from her past life's trajectory.

However, since Su Mingyue's home is empty, he has no worries about visiting.

After arriving at the residential complex where Su Mingyue lives, Chen Yang had Xiao Jian wait downstairs; he took the spare key and went alone to Su Mingyue's home.

But when he opened the door, he felt a strong blast of cold air rushing out from inside.

The living room's air conditioner was on, clearly indicating someone was home! Chen Yang closed the door while shouting inside, "Su Mingyue, why did you come back early?"

There was no echo in the room.

Chen Yang glanced at the living room and saw a plate of fresh bayberries on the coffee table in front of the sofa, with the trash bin nearby containing leftover bayberry pits.

"Su Mingyue, are you home?"

The house still had no response.

Chen Yang felt a bit puzzled, so he walked to Su Mingyue's closed bedroom door and knocked. "Su Mingyue, are you in? I've come to get something."

The room remained silent.

Chen Yang simply dialed Su Mingyue's phone.

"Chen Yang, have you reached Shencheng?"

"Su Mingyue, where did you go? How come your home's air conditioner is on but nobody's there..."

"I'm in Xingcheng!"

"You're in Xingcheng? Then why is your home's air conditioner on?"

"Qingqing just came from Xingcheng a couple of days ago; I gave her the key. Maybe she forgot to turn off the air conditioner when she left. Wait a moment, I'll call her to ask."

"No need to ask; it must be her. You go ahead and get busy."

Chen Yang quickly hung up the phone.

The bayberries in the living room are fresh, indicating Liu Qingqing just washed them. She must still be in the house; she only hid upon hearing my voice.

"Qingqing, come out! I know you're in there."

At that moment, a voice came from Su Mingyue's room: "Senior, I said I don't want to see you again, so I won't. Just leave!"

Chen Yang replied unhappily, "I'm not a demon. Even if something happened between us, we could sit down and talk calmly."

Liu Qingqing in the room said, "Senior, there's nothing for us to discuss. As a lone man and woman, if you don't leave, I'll call the police."

Upon hearing that, Chen Yang was left speechless.