Chapter 336

Lin Lin Guosheng laughed: "I just got back from inspecting Xiangjiang a few days ago, and I was about to call you."

Qin Qin Changzhi said: "I've been getting familiar with the environment and learning about Jiangzhou Distillery these past few days, and I've uncovered serious problems."

Lin Lin Guosheng perked up: "What problems?"

Qin Qin Changzhi said: "Zhou Andong's equity stake—he was allocated shares, but he got twelve percent, which is completely unreasonable."

Lin Lin Guosheng frowned: "The provincial government knows about this. At first, some leaders were very unhappy, but it's Jiangzhou's internal matter—they couldn't interfere."

"Especially in just over half a year, Zhou Andong brought the distillery back from the dead, and Jiang Jiang Xiaobai's sales have climbed steadily, now accounting for thirty percent of the national baijiu market—so that leader stopped complaining."

Qin Qin Changzhi said: "I don't deny Zhou Andong's ability, but at the distillery's valuation during restructuring, twelve percent equals over three million yuan. No matter how capable he is, is it appropriate for him to hold over three million yuan in shares?"

"And now those shares are worth over ten million. This is serious state asset loss. Both Cheng Zhanjun and Deng Deng Zhangli have committed grave dereliction of duty."

Lin Lin Guosheng said: "What do you plan to do?"

Qin Qin Changzhi didn't answer, but asked: "Do you know Jiangzhou's development plan?"

"Of course!" Lin Lin Guosheng said: "Jiangzhou has already submitted it to the province. I expect approval soon—and strong support."

Qin Qin Changzhi asked again: "You must know about that super urban complex project too."

Lin Lin Guosheng said: "I've heard of it, but I don't know the details."

Qin Qin Changzhi said: "Once built, this project will launch Jiangzhou into the stratosphere. Cheng Zhanjun and Deng Deng Zhangli will ride the wave, and everyone else in Jiangzhou will get rich beyond measure."

Lin Lin Guosheng suddenly stood up: "Tell me everything!"

Qin Qin Changzhi outlined the urban complex project—he'd been studying it these past few days, and it had genuinely stunned him; his envy of Zhou Andong had reached its peak.

Since childhood, he'd been the one everyone looked up to—even the arrogant Tong Tong Huaiyu had to address him respectfully as "Third Brother." He'd always seen himself as the leader of his generation.

Now, encountering someone even more outstanding—Zhou Andong—he found it unbearable. He resolved to crush Zhou Andong: if he couldn't kill him, he'd force him back to the countryside to farm—no way would he let Zhou rise and overshadow his own light.

Lin Lin Guosheng listened, his mind stirring: "You want to take this project away from Zhou Andong?"

"Exactly!" Qin Qin Changzhi said: "Jiangzhou Distillery acquired a real estate development company, and Zhou Andong's super urban complex project relies on a plot of land owned by that company."

Lin Lin Guosheng asked: "How do you plan to do it?"

Qin Qin Changzhi said coldly: "Have the province form an investigation team to probe Zhou Andong's twelve percent equity. Suspend him first, then find an excuse to auction off the real estate company the distillery bought. We'll bring in several powerful developers to jointly develop the super urban complex."

Lin Lin Guosheng burst out laughing: "A Qin Qin Laosan is a Qin Qin Laosan—you've barely arrived in Jiangzhou and already found a way to break the deadlock."

Qin Qin Changzhi snorted: "They think I came here to pick the fruit. They vastly underestimate me. If I take something, I'll uproot the whole tree."

Lin Lin Guosheng felt elated: "I'll go see my old superior—setting up the investigation team won't be hard. And the leader who's unhappy about Zhou Andong's shares will definitely back us."

Qin Qin Changzhi said: "Hurry. Jiangzhou City holds twenty percent of the distillery's shares, and Cheng Zhanjun and Deng Deng Zhangli are supposed to return their shares to the company. Once they do, the company's status changes—we won't be able to interfere anymore."

Lin Lin Guosheng said: "I'll see my old superior tonight. You'll have news in two days."

"Then it's settled!" Qin Qin Changzhi hung up the phone.

September 18, 1992, lunar August 22, Star

At three in the afternoon, a flight departing from Xiangjiang landed at Shanghai International Airport.

Zhou Andong and the others stepped off the plane, accompanied by a middle-aged man in a suit, carrying a briefcase.

His name was Li Li Yuhua, a professional brought in by Reporter Guan Gu Tingya to assist with patent applications—a well-known lawyer from Xiangjiang.

"Here! Here!" At the exit, Yang Ming was jumping up and down, waving.

As they emerged, Yang Ming snatched Zheng Zheng Xiyuan's suitcase: "I'll carry it!"

Zheng Zheng Xiyuan nodded approvingly: "Good at reading the room."

Reporter Guan Gu Tingya curled her lip in disdain—just as Zheng Zheng Xiyuan caught sight of it.

"What?" Zheng Zheng Xiyuan said: "Disagree? Then go find someone yourself."

"I won't!" Reporter Guan Gu Tingya tossed her head, her high heels clicking sharply, "A constant shadow every day? Annoying."

"Xiao Ya!" Song Mao pleaded: "Let me carry it for you."

"No!" Reporter Guan Gu Tingya stepped away from Song Mao's outstretched hand, "I can carry it myself."

"Sigh!" Xiao Liu sighed, slinging an arm around Song Mao's shoulder, whispering: "Brother, you've got no shot. Listen to me—give up."

Song Mao stiffened his neck: "Sixth Brother, I'll follow you on anything—but not this. I'll marry Xiao Ya or die single."

Xiao Liu shook his head slightly: "I'm offering good advice and getting kicked in the liver. Then go ahead—spend your whole life alone."

At the parking lot, Yang Ming pointed to a distant stretch limousine: "That's the hotel's guest vehicle—I begged and pleaded to borrow it."

At that moment, a driver in hotel uniform, white gloves on both hands, stepped out, opened the rear door, and stood respectfully.

Everyone got in. The driver closed the door, returned to the front, started the car, and slowly drove out of the parking lot.

Zhou Andong said to Li Li Yuhua: "Mr. Li, I'm returning to Jiangzhou tomorrow. You'll need to stay in Shanghai for a few more days. Once my people arrive to meet you, we'll head to Hefei together."

Li Li Yuhua nodded: "Fine."

"Blue-and-white outline, brushstroke thick then faint, peony painted on the vase like your first makeup, sandalwood incense drifts through the window, my heart's secrets clear, brush halts halfway across the rice paper..."

The car's speakers suddenly played music. Zhou Andong froze, then a faint smile appeared on his face.

Reporter Guan Gu Tingya blinked, tilting her head to listen: "This song is so beautiful—especially the lyrics. So poetic."

"This song aired last Sunday on the Rotating Grand Stage—and overnight, it became a sensation across Shanghai's streets and alleys," Yang Ming slapped his thigh, pointing at Zhou Andong. "This song was produced by Dongge's distillery to promote Qinghua porcelain liquor."