Chapter 1217: Friends, Not Foes

"Old Liu!" Liu Jing held his teacup and took a sip. "As a native of Ganzhou, do you really think Huang Qiming is the type of person who can be easily swayed by you, or by the old leader behind you?"

Liu Zhengming forcibly suppressed his wildly fluctuating emotions, his brain spinning rapidly. How did Liu Jing know about such a secretive matter?

And right now, the most critical issue wasn't investigating how the information leaked, but whether Liu Jing was a friend or a foe.

Looking at Liu Zhengming's solemn expression, Liu Jing smiled. "Don't be nervous. If I were a foe, I wouldn't be in your office right now."

Liu Zhengming frowned slightly. Liu Jing continued, "If you look at the resumes of Huang Qiming and myself, you'll find that we once served in the same city, and then were successively transferred back to Ganzhou."

Liu Zhengming suddenly looked up, staring at Liu Jing in disbelief.

"Correct!" Liu Jing said. "The day Zhou Andong arrived in Ganzhou, I contacted Huang Qiming to cooperate with your actions."

Liu Zhengming said in a dry voice, "In other words, Zhou Andong met with you before he met with me?"

"He doesn't know of my existence." Liu Jing shook his head slightly. "In short, you just need to know that I am a friend, not a foe."

Liu Jing left. Liu Zhengming stood there for quite a while before he came back to his senses.

Zhou Andong didn't know of Liu Jing's existence either, yet Liu Jing was so well-informed about the inside story. Where did the problem lie?

Liu Zhengming's brow furrowed tighter and tighter. The more he thought, the more confused he became, until finally, he could only sigh.

The only thing that gave him peace of mind was that Liu Jing was a friend, not a foe; otherwise, not only would his efforts be in vain, but he would truly be in danger.

………………

At the municipal guesthouse, Guo Zidan, Fan Yu, Fan Jie, Li Jun, Yang Hai, and several other young people were gathered together, laughing and chatting.

"Brother Guo, it's our first time meeting. I'll toast you, brother."

A young man raised the red wine glass in his hand, gesturing toward Guo Zidan.

He was Xie Chong, the son of Xie Minsheng, the guy who was going to date Liu Zhengming's eldest daughter, Liu Yan.

Guo Zidan raised his glass, nodded with a smile, and tilted his head back to take a sip.

"Younger Brother Xie, how is that import-export trade of yours going? Why don't we do rare earths together?"

"Forget it." Xie Chong said with a smile. "I'm not interested in the mining industry; I'll stick to my import-export business. Besides, the domestic grain market is about to open up, and this is exactly the time for me to show what I can do."

"That's true." Guo Zidan nodded, then sighed with regret. "It's just that it's the secondary grain market opening up; the staple grain market still isn't."

Xie Chong said, "We've insisted on not opening the grain market all along, but hasn't the secondary grain market opened up now? The road must be walked one step at a time; there will eventually be a day when the staple grain market opens."

"That's right!" Guo Zidan nodded and looked down at the time. "Huaiyu is coming back tonight; he should be here soon."

Fan Yu said, "There's only one flight from Jingcheng to Nanhong, and the Qiu Dongfang inspection delegation is also arriving today. They must be on the same plane; I estimate they will arrive together."

"Oh my!" Just then, a very untimely voice came. "Old friends are all here."

Guo Zidan and the others looked up, their expressions instantly turning gloomy.

"Is this a place you should be?" Fan Jie glared with angry eyes, shouting in a suppressed voice.

The ones who arrived were none other than Zhang You, Xiao Liuzi, and their group.

"Strange." Xiao Liuzi looked astonished. "If you can come, why can't we?"

"This is a reception banquet held by the city to welcome the Hong Kong business inspection delegation." Yang Hai said coldly. "We have invitations, so of course we can come. Do you have any?"

Zhang You chuckled and shook a red card in his hand. "Is this the invitation you're talking about?"

"How could you have invitations?" Fan Jie roared angrily. "Did you steal them?"

"Look at what you're saying." Xiao Liuzi sneered, looking at Fan Jie as if he were an idiot. "In this day and age, do you need to steal if you have money?"

Fan Jie wanted to say something more, but Guo Zidan waved his hand. "Since they have invitations, they can attend the banquet. What is there for you to say?"

To Guo Zidan, it wasn't important whether Zhang You and the others attended this banquet; what was important was that these guys had suddenly disappeared and now suddenly reappeared, which was worth paying attention to and guarding against.

"Look, look." Zhang You said with a tsk-tsk sound. "People who have studied abroad and drank foreign ink really speak with a higher level of sophistication. Don't worry about how I got the invitation; since I have one, I can attend this banquet. What's the matter? Not convinced? If you're not convinced, bite me!"

Li Jun said with a smile, "Zhang You, that guy named Song Mao is still in the detention center. The public prosecution procedure is about to start, and it won't be long before he's sent to the execution ground. Instead of wasting your breath with us here, you'd better prepare a few wreaths for him."

"By the way." Yang Hai slapped his forehead and said with schadenfreude, "To prevent Song Mao's family from interfering with the investigation, the police didn't notify the Song family. You didn't notify them either, did you?"

"It's almost time for public prosecution. If Song Mao's parents suddenly find out that their son has become a murderer and that it's related to you, I wonder what they'll think."

"Is that so?" Xiao Liuzi looked surprised. "Song Mao hasn't been publicly prosecuted yet? You guys are too slow; you really should learn a lesson about what 'a long night brings many dreams' means."

Guo Zidan frowned. He always felt that Xiao Liuzi had something hidden in his words, but Song Mao's murder had already been confirmed, and there was simply no chance for him to turn things around.

If there were any, it would be the Fan family being knocked off their pedestal and Ganzhou Province changing hands, but how could that be possible? Thinking this, he felt it was ridiculous himself.

Finally, he concluded that Xiao Liuzi was bluffing, nothing more than trying to make them suspicious.

Just like them coming to the banquet now, besides adding to their annoyance, they couldn't gain any benefits at all.

Messy footsteps came from outside, and then the door to the banquet hall was pushed open.

Yuan Wanqi and Fan Liangjun walked in, surrounded by Li Xingquan and others.

Fan Yu, Fan Jie, and the others all stood up and walked over quickly to greet them.

"Second Uncle!" Fan Yu greeted.

Fan Liangjun said with a smile, "General Manager Yuan, this is my nephew, Fan Yu. He is a director of Wufeng Mining Holding Company. Knowing you were coming to Ganzhou for investment inspection, he has been telling me he wanted to get to know you."

Yuan Wanqi smiled slightly and shook hands with Fan Yu. "Young Master Fan, nice to meet you."

"Just call me Fan Yu."

Fan Yu shook hands with Yuan Wanqi very gentlemanly and then stepped aside.

Just as Li Xingquan was about to introduce his son, Li Jun, a voice suddenly rang out, interrupting what he was about to say.

"General Manager Yuan, I am Zhang You, Chairman of United Mining. Very happy to meet you." ===== CHAPTER 1218 =====