Chapter 2683

Yin Quan pondered and said: "The negative public opinion about Zhou Andong came too suddenly; I suspect this is a self-directed and self-performed act by Zhou Andong. Hongwen, you must immediately investigate to see if the mastermind behind this is Zhou Andong himself."

Qu Hongwen was stunned: "Dad, do you mean Zhou Andong hired someone to scold himself?"

"Does Zhou Andong have a brain problem?" Yin Meilan looked suspiciously at Yin Quan: "Why would he hire someone to scold himself, dragging himself into negative public opinion? This would deal a significant blow to his reputation."

Yin Quan sighed: "I can't fathom his reason for doing this, so we must investigate thoroughly; otherwise, we'll be too passive."

"Alright!" Qu Hongwen said: "When I return, I'll arrange for people to investigate."

Yin Quan weakly waved his hand: "You all may go back now."

Yin Meilan wanted to say something, but her husband Wang Jiantao pulled her away.

After leaving the study, Yin Meilan shook off Wang Jiantao's hand, dissatisfied, and said: "Why did you pull me?"

Wang Jiantao helplessly said: "Now we are like blind and deaf people; saying more to the old master is useless and only makes him angry. Moreover, the situation hasn't reached an irreparable state; we should wait for the investigation results from your brother-in-law before speaking further."

Yin Mingyu was the last to come out of the study; as he gently closed the door, a hint of a sly smile appeared on his face, but it vanished in an instant.

Yin Mingyu left the old master's residence, drove to the roadside, found a telephone booth, inserted coins, dialed a number, and soon heard a hoarse voice from the receiver.

"Who is it?"

"Old Eight, it's me!" Yin Mingyu said in a low voice: "I entrusted you with a task—how is the investigation going?"

Old Eight said: "The negative public opinion against Zhou Andong was orchestrated by Liu Lijuan, deputy factory manager of the Mao Factory; she paid people to harshly criticize Zhou Andong in major newspapers."

"What?" Yin Mingyu said incredulously: "Liu Lijuan has already defected to Zhou Andong, so how could she…… wait……"

Yin Mingyu suddenly recalled the old master's words: "Could it be that all this is truly Zhou Andong's self-directed and self-performed act?"

"Hah!" Old Eight chuckled lightly: "Mingyu, you've also thought of this?"

Yin Mingyu's eye twitched: "Old Eight, do you mean……"

"Exactly!" The hoarse voice then rose somewhat: "Behind this, it is highly likely that Zhou Andong directed and performed it himself."

Yin Mingyu hadn't expected that Old Eight and the old master shared the same thought: "Old Eight, if this truly is Zhou Andong's self-directed and self-performed act, what is his purpose in doing so?"

Old Eight fell silent, then after a while said: "I also can't figure it out, but I know his target is definitely the Yin family."

Yin Mingyu took a deep breath: "Let's wrap up our loose ends and clean things up neatly."

Old Eight asked, somewhat puzzled: "Although I can't guess Zhou Andong's purpose, we can completely add fuel to the fire, making Zhou Andong's situation burn even more fiercely."

"No!" Yin Mingyu said solemnly: "The old master has already assigned Qu Hongwen to investigate."

"Understood!" Old Eight said: "I'll handle this right away."

"Mm!" Yin Mingyu hummed: "Any news about my younger sister?"

Old Eight fell silent again: "Aside from the old master, Yin Mingsheng should know about this; why don't you go ask him?"

Yin Mingyu snorted coldly: "I asked him, but he said he doesn't know."

Old Eight helplessly said: "After all, this matter has been over thirty years; it's not easy to investigate, but I will do my utmost."

"Good!" Yin Mingyu's face showed a hint of pain: "Old Eight, in this world, besides you, I have no one left to trust."

"I know!" Old Eight's hoarse voice grew somewhat low: "Rest assured, as long as the person is alive, we will surely find them."

"Then it's settled!"

Yin Mingyu hung up the phone, then leaned against the telephone booth and lit a cigarette; he took a hard drag, then lifted his head, gazing at the azure sky, and a hospital ward appeared in his mind.

A woman with a pale complexion and frail body tightly gripped his hand, her voice weak as she said: "Mingyu, promise me, you must find your sister."

"Mom!" A tear slid down the corner of Yin Mingyu's eye; he slightly trembled as he raised the cigarette to his lips: "In heaven, please bless me to find my sister."

……………………

At the same time, the symposium venue!

Zhou Andong entered the venue; since the meeting would start in about ten minutes, besides the leaders, everyone who should come had arrived. The venue for several hundred people was filled.

As soon as Zhou Andong entered, he drew everyone's attention; the first to approach him was Kong Liming: "Director Zhou, your seat is in the front."

Immediately after, Wang Maoqun of Haier walked over from the front, stretching out his hand from afar and politely said: "Chairman Zhou, I've long wanted to meet you, but never had the opportunity.

Meeting you here today fulfills one of my wishes. Do you have time tonight? Let's find a place, sit down, have a drink, and chat."

Zhou Andong couldn't help but complain inwardly: This is China's drinking-table culture—no matter what you do, most of the time you can't escape the drinking table, and Zhou Andong naturally cannot be an exception.

"Mr. Wang, I have an appointment tonight with Liu Zong of Hope and Cao Zong of the Township Enterprise Bureau; if you don't mind, we can all find a place to have a drink together."

"No problem!" Wang Maoqun was very pleased; the symposium's standards were high, setting aside leaders and expert professors, all attendees were famous enterprise bosses or CEOs, and his main goal was Zhou Andong.

The meeting was about to start; many wanted to meet Zhou Andong, but due to time constraints, they could only think about talking afterward.

Zhou Andong's seat was at the very front, and moreover, in the exact middle. To his left was Liu Xiangchun of Hope, to his right was a foreigner, whose age was hard to tell, but his temples had white hair, suggesting he was not young.

Upon seeing Zhou Andong arrive, this foreigner suddenly stood up, looked down at Zhou Andong with a condescending posture, then gave an arrogant smile and spoke in broken Chinese.

"Hello, I am Albert Hibre, President of Coca-Cola's Indo-Pacific region."

Zhou Andong looked at the foreigner's condescending posture and arrogant expression, feeling a twinge of annoyance, but since the guest was a guest, and moreover at such an important occasion, he had to display the proper quality.

After all, our vast China is a land of rites and propriety; there's no need to argue with these uncultured, unqualified white-skinned pirate descendants. Moreover, this fellow is the Indo-Pacific president; seeing him behave this way is not surprising.

"Hello, I am Zhou Andong, Chairman of the Yugong Group."

Albert smiled slightly: "Mr. Zhou, I noticed in the news that Kele is currently inspecting India; what a coincidence, we at Coca-Cola have also decided to return to the Indian market."

Saying this, Albert paused, then emphasized his tone: "Because of the incompetence of the Greater China region president, Coca-Cola lost to Kele; next, we will compete in the Indo-Pacific region."

Zhou Andong's eyes lit up; his annoyance instantly vanished like smoke, his face broke into a brilliant smile, and he said arrogantly: "Mr. Albert, since I can step on Coca-Cola here, in India I can also make Coca-Cola beg for mercy."

Albert's face flushed with anger: "Mr. Zhou, you are too arrogant; Coca-Cola will surely drive Kele out of the Indo-Pacific region."

Zhou Andong smiled slightly: "Kele's inspection in India has already entered the second phase; as long as Kele enters the market faster than Coca-Cola, it can quickly seize the market and remain invincible."

Speaking, Zhou Andong patted his head, gave a sneering laugh, that expression, without hiding his contempt and disdain for Albert: "I forgot, Chinese culture is vast and profound; you, this foreigner, simply don't understand what 'remaining invincible' means."