Chapter 2714

Yu Xiangjun followed along with a laugh: "I know Director Zhou, you're in a meeting, but something important came up and you had to come. I originally thought I'd wait by the meeting room door so you wouldn't be left without someone to find after the meeting ended. I didn't expect to run into Hotel Manager Zhou as soon as I stepped out of the elevator—she told me you were in the restroom, so I came straight here."

Zhou Andong knew why Yu Xiangjun had come looking for him, so he turned and walked toward the end of the hallway: "Come this way to talk."

At the end of the hallway there was a small window. Zhou Andong opened it, then took out a cigarette and tossed one to Yu Xiangjun: "Did you find the person?"

"Found her!" Yu Xiangjun said, his voice somewhat low: "Worse than we imagined. The victim is Liu Yujuan, a worker at the match factory. Her father died over ten years ago, and two years later her mother was accidentally injured and paralyzed in a fall.

She also has an older brother who, due to a childhood fever, suffered brain damage and his intelligence has remained at the level of a five-year-old ever since. So the Liu family's life has been very difficult—Liu Yujuan goes to the vegetable market every day to pick up rotten vegetables vendors throw away. Of course, there are also kind-hearted neighbors who often help them out; otherwise, I really couldn't imagine whether her family could have survived until now."

Zhou Andong asked: "Have you had any contact with Liu Yujuan?"

"No!" Yu Xiangjun voiced his concern: "If we rashly approach Liu Yujuan, and the news leaks to Yin Mingxing, it could bring danger to her family.

Besides, back then she didn't choose to report it to the police, which shows she doesn't trust us. So even if we go find her, she'll likely become wary and reject us—not only will we get no useful information, but we risk leaking the news."

"Your concern is valid." Zhou Andong nodded, thought for a moment, then asked: "So what do you plan to do next?"

Liu Xiangjun didn't beat around the bush: "Please step forward and contact Liu Yujuan. With your reputation, she will definitely trust you."

Zhou Andong shook his head: "Every move I make is being watched by the Yin family. If I go see Liu Yujuan in person, it will only scare the snake in the grass."

Liu Xiangjun's expression stiffened—he really hadn't considered this angle: "Then what do we do? Liu Yujuan is the key. If we can't contact her, the case can't move forward."

Zhou Andong took a puff of his cigarette, then gave a slight smile: "Since we can't contact Liu Yujuan ourselves, let the Jiangzhou police take her away."

Liu Xiangjun froze for a moment, then realized: "Right, Liu Yujuan's legs were broken by Yin Mo, and he's currently in custody of the Jiangzhou police. This six-year-old case has been reopened, so it's perfectly legal and proper for the Jiangzhou police to come take the victim—just..."

Liu Xiangjun looked at Zhou Andong, worried: "Yin Mingsheng is the brigade commander of Liaoning Province. If he..."

Liu Xiangjun's words trailed off as he fell silent. Jiangzhou is indeed Zhou Andong's territory, but Yin Mingsheng is the Liaoning Province brigade commander. If he intervenes without regard for consequences, it would be hard to guarantee Liu Yujuan's safety.

Zhou Andong let out a cold laugh: "Yin Mingsheng has already ruined his reputation because of his son Yin Mo. If he dares to interfere in this Liu Yujuan case, I guarantee Liaoning Province will be the end of his career."

Seeing Zhou Andong's icy face and hearing his words devoid of any warmth, Liu Xiangjun involuntarily shivered. If anyone else had said that, he would have unhesitatingly cursed them as arrogant.

But coming from Zhou Andong's mouth, he had no doubt. Because, in the struggle over the woolen mill's discourse power between the Yin family and Zhou Andong, the Yin family has always been pressed and ground down by Zhou Andong—it's an undisputed fact.

"However!" Zhou Andong continued: "Yin Mo is after all Yin Mingsheng's biological son—blood ties cannot be erased. So to prevent Yin Mingsheng from taking a risky gamble, we also have to guard against it."

Liu Xiangjun asked: "What should we do?"

"Easy!" Zhou Andong extended the hand holding his cigarette out the window, flicked off the ash: "Let the Jiangzhou police hold a press conference, announce Liu Yujuan's case to the public, then ask your bureau to assist in protecting her—they'll come pick her up."

Saying that, Zhou Andong paused: "By then, whether it's Yin Mingsheng or that old thing from the Yin family, they absolutely won't dare act rashly. Because if Liu Yujuan or her family comes to harm, the public will surely direct their anger at them."

"This is one force breaking myriad methods."

Yu Xiangjun's tone carried a hint of awe—Zhou Andong being able to stand toe-to-toe with the Yin family, even pressing them down, wasn't without reason. It's this mind, this calculation—he could never reach that level in his lifetime.

It's no wonder Zhou Andong, at a young age, built the Tribute Group into the nation's largest, and the central authority appointed him director of the woolen mill, fully in charge of its reform mission.

"Then I'll go back and wait for the Jiangzhou police to contact me."

Zhou Andong stubbed out his cigarette, then let out a cold snort: "You say, if that old thing from the Yin family knew his son and grandson went together to harm a woman, even causing one death and one injury, wouldn't he vomit blood from rage?"

Yu Xiangjun just smiled and said nothing. Zhou Andong can curse Yin Zongquan, that old thing, without restraint, but he cannot—or dare not. Investigating Yin Mingxing is his duty, but cursing a leader, especially one living in Xishan—he doesn't have the guts for that.

Zhou Andong didn't expect Yu Xiangjun to join him in cursing Yin Zongquan, so he laughed and said: "Just to be safe, when you go back, send someone to secretly protect Liu Yujuan. But remember: unless Liu Yujuan faces a life-threatening situation, do not make contact with her."

"I understand!" Yu Xiangjun nodded: "Then I'll head back first."

"Let's go!" As Zhou Andong's words fell, he saw Ye Zhen appear around the corner, then walk toward the restroom this way.

"What are you guys doing here?" Ye Zhen walked over, first curiously glancing at Liu Xiangchun and the others, then turning her gaze to Zhou Andong.

"Just discussing where to eat tonight." Zhou Andong asked with a smile: "Do you know any good places?"

Ye Zhen blinked, looked up at the three large characters for 'restroom', then laughed: "You're in the toilet chatting about what to eat tonight?"

"Is that not allowed?" Zhou Andong put on a serious face: "I'm just talking here—I'm not eating here."

"Sure, sure, sure!" Ye Zhen couldn't help laughing, stepped into the restroom, and after she came out, seeing Zhou Andong and the others still hadn't left, she said: "I know an old shop—small storefront, but the Sichuan food is very authentic. If you can handle spice, give it a try."

"Sichuan food works!" Zhou Andong looked at Liu Xiangchun: "As for whether it's authentic or not, with Manager Liu here, he has the most say."

"I object!" Liu Xiangchun said dissatisfied: "It's easy for me to come to Jingcheng once—you don't treat me to Jingcheng cuisine, but you want to go eat Sichuan food?"

"Objection overruled!" Zhou Andong patted Liu Xiangchun on the shoulder: "Just suffer through it."

"No problem." Ye Zhen took over: "That old shop—Sichuan food done authentically, and the local Jingcheng dishes aren't bad either."

"Let's go—we've been out this long; if we don't head back soon, it'll look weird." Zhou Andong started walking back.

Ye Zhen walked beside him, a faint fragrance drifting into his nose, which stirred something in his heart. Going to Jinmen to fish—Ye Zhen is indeed a good choice. Because she goes, the other party's vigilance will be much lower. If she doesn't go, well, finding someone to go over would still work, right.