Chapter 84: Information Provided by Chen Lao

Early morning.

Lu Chen was still sitting in the reception hall; the trio of newspaper, coffee, and Cigar remained his standard setup.

It was just that the newspaper still contained yesterday's news.

The report was only a tiny bit more detailed than yesterday's, but there was still no substantive evidence or information.

Shen Wanyu came out from the dining room, and after seeing Lu Chen, she reported the company's resumption plan and the recruitment plan for personnel.

Lu Chen nodded silently, not offering an opinion.

After Shen Wanyu left the Zhuangyuan, Lu Chen finally stood up and took Chen Mo with him to head to the Chen Lao Zhuangyuan.

The streets were still bustling, only with a bit more impatience and a bit more sweltering heat than usual.

It made Lu Chen, who had the car windows open, feel just a little bit uncomfortable.

Closing the car windows, Lu Chen silently closed his eyes, his fingers tapping lightly on his leg.

"Boss, is it appropriate for me to come out with you?"

Chen Mo's honest voice came from the passenger seat; although his tone was relaxed, it still carried a trace of hesitation.

It even seemed like there was a tiny bit of fear.

"We're going to pay respects to the brothers later, how could that be inappropriate?"

Lu Chen still had his eyes closed, his fingers tapping lightly on the seat, his tone steady, without the slightest fluctuation.

Chen Mo nodded, the worry on his face not diminishing.

The car slowly pulled up to the entrance of the Chen Lao Zhuangyuan.

He calmly followed the butler into the Zhuangyuan and the reception hall.

"Little Lu, what made you think of coming to see me today?"

Chen Lao stood up to shake hands with Lu Chen and pointed to the sofa beside him.

"Chen Lao, with the whole city in an uproar recently, do you have any reliable information on your end?"

Lu Chen sat up slightly, took a look at Chen Lao, pulled one from the Cigar box on the coffee table, and began to preheat it.

"You're talking about that hospital incident?"

Chen Lao glanced at Lu Chen, took a puff of his Cigar, and exhaled smoke.

"Isn't it all written in the newspapers? Someone didn't follow the rules; how could there be so much to it?"

"Just because of this matter, the progress of the work in Nitan has been delayed for a long time; you aren't the least bit anxious, Chen Lao."

Lu Chen's hand preheating the Cigar paused slightly, then he continued to preheat it.

Not until he took a puff of the Cigar did he lean back into the sofa, cross his legs, and exhale smoke.

"I'm running around trying to ask what exactly is going on, aren't I?"

"Isn't Old Wang in charge of this matter? Haven't you run over to that side?"

Chen Lao glanced at Lu Chen, a flash of sharp light passing through his eyes.

"Besides, I can't reach that far into Nitan."

"It's because Old Wang isn't handling it in a timely manner that I came over to sit with you."

Lu Chen narrowed his eyes, took a puff of the Cigar, and exhaled smoke.

He crossed his legs and put a smile on his face.

"Has your business been affected recently, Chen Lao?"

"You say that, but my business has been shrinking all along; otherwise, I wouldn't be asking you to raise loans."

Chen Lao sighed, a trace of desolation flashing in his eyes.

"Little Lu, it's not that this old man won't help you, it's that I'm truly powerless."

"What happened to your business, Chen Lao?"

A trace of confusion appeared on Lu Chen's face, a flash of sharp light passing through his eyes.

"Although this junior doesn't have much ability, perhaps I could still help you provide some reference."

"Nothing, nothing, Little Lu, my business..."

Chen Lao waved his hand, a trace of vigilance flashing in his eyes.

He took a puff of the Cigar and exhaled smoke.

"It's completely different from what you do; your suggestions have absolutely no reference value."

After a few seconds, Chen Lao spoke again, giving Lu Chen no chance to interject.

"Little Lu, I am very grateful for your funding; as for the hospital incident, I have heard a little bit of news, though I don't know if it's what you need."

"Oh? This matter isn't the news reported in the papers?"

A trace of seriousness hung on Lu Chen's face, and he looked at Chen Lao with burning eyes.

"There were two groups of people who attacked the hospital; one group had no information at all, and the other group had their tails caught."

Chen Lao looked at Lu Chen, and after a good while, he nodded and spoke softly.

"The strange thing is that the group that created the chaos had no information, as if they were specifically creating chaos for the latter group, but the latter group insisted on not acknowledging the former; wouldn't you say that's interesting?"

Lu Chen paused slightly, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest, and it was several minutes before he spoke.

"It seems Xianggang really is lawless; you tell me, Chen Lao, should I just stop Nitan altogether? Even the hospital attack had two groups of people; it's truly too terrifying."

"You are overthinking it; this is something that only happens occasionally. It's only because Lord Wodehua has a bounty on him; otherwise, this kind of thing would be impossible to happen."

Chen Lao looked at Lu Chen deeply and spoke softly.

"So, although this matter has stopped, it hasn't really stopped."

"You say that, Chen Lao, but what does it have to do with a small businessman like me? I'm just hoping to start work as soon as possible."

Lu Chen narrowed his eyes, a trace of a smile hanging on his face.

His fingers tapping on the sofa armrest paused slightly.

He gripped the Cigar a little tighter as well.

"Old Wang should be finishing up over there soon, right? Don't be anxious; work will be able to start in just these few days."

Old Chen glanced at Lu Chen, took a puff of his Cigar, and exhaled a cloud of smoke.

"What is there to keep an eye on in that little patch of yours? Why not come to your Uncle Chen's place and let me show you a different world?"

"I would like to follow you, it's just that Old Sun and the others might not necessarily agree."

Lu Chen shrugged, took a puff of his Cigar, and glanced at Old Chen.

His tone carried a hint of ease, or even playfulness.

"That joke of yours, sir, isn't funny at all. If Uncle Li found out, he would definitely beat me up when I got back."

"Old Li is just an old stubborn mule; if you follow him, it will be difficult for you in the future."

Old Chen narrowed his eyes, his tone carrying a hint of ease, or even teasing.

"Alright, I have an appointment later, so I won't keep you for dinner."

Not until he was out of Old Chen's Zhuangyuan did Lu Chen lean back against the rear seat, feeling somewhat exhausted.

"Steward Wang, check what other factions were active on the night Chen Mo went out."

After a brief pause, Lu Chen continued.

"Chen Mo, you start making arrangements. Have the brothers head out in batches, and send a telegram to Xuan Hua tonight; Xianggang is indeed a bit dangerous for them right now."

After simply paying his respects in a desolate area, Lu Chen finally returned to the Zhuangyuan.

Lu Chen did not linger in the reception hall, but instead returned to the study.

He took out the newspaper again and began to flip through it.

He recorded everything that had happened in a notebook.

He frowned as he looked at the notebook.

He lightly dripped a drop of ink onto another faction.

He slowly closed the notebook and tossed it into his portable space.

Only then did Lu Chen sit on the sofa and begin to preheat a Cigar.

Not until he finished the Cigar did Lu Chen stand up, walk over to the telephone, and dial a number.