Chapter 1295: Rural Absurd Past Events Chapter 1295: Only by Offsetting Each Other Can One Stand Undefeated

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

Huo Guoqiang and Huo Zhihui arrived at Shanggou Village, heading straight for Wang Erhai's farm.

"Woof woof woof!"

They had just neared the farm when the Chinese rural dogs raised there started barking.

Wang Erhai, who was fertilizing the fruit trees, heard the barking, set down the fertilizer in his hands, and walked toward the farm entrance.

"Erhai, you sure are hard to find!"

Seeing Wang Erhai, Huo Guoqiang immediately broke into a smile and hurried inside.

Even with dogs barking right in front of him, he showed not the slightest fear.

He didn't address Wang Erhai as President Wang, but called him Erhai directly — clearly trying to use this form of address to pull their relationship closer.

Wang Erhai hastily called the dogs back, then walked over:

"General Manager Huo, what brings you here?"

Wang Erhai's face was full of surprise.

He had completely not expected that, after not answering Huo Guoqiang's calls, Huo Guoqiang would actually personally run all the way to Shanggou Village to find him!

"My Second Uncle called you, dialed several times and you didn't pick up any of them, so my Second Uncle got frantic and personally made a trip to find you."

Huo Zhihui's tone carried complaint, and he even said:

"Wang Erhai, your airs are really something — even Zhang Tianhe never treated my Second Uncle like this!"

"Zhi Hui, say a few words less!"

Huo Guoqiang hastily rebuked him.

Hadn't it already been agreed before coming?

Huo Zhihui only needed to watch from the side; Wang Erhai was left to Huo Guoqiang to handle.

Who would have thought that not long after those words were spoken, Huo Zhihui would throw them to the back of his mind.

Huo Guoqiang was angry not only because of the attitude Huo Zhihui displayed toward Wang Erhai, but also because Huo Zhihui's words just now had directly exposed the purpose of their trip!

This was equivalent to showing their hand in advance — in business negotiations, that is a taboo among taboos!

After scolding Huo Zhihui with a black face, Huo Guoqiang hurriedly put on a friendly smile for Wang Erhai:

"Erhai, haven't seen you in many days — you've gotten darker and thinner a lot; running this farm is pretty hard work, isn't it?"

Huo Guoqiang asked with concern, clearly wanting to play the emotional card and then work things out slowly.

Too bad Wang Erhai had long ago promised to help Zhang Sheng; Huo Guoqiang had come too late.

"General Manager Huo, if you've come as a guest I'm very welcome, but if it's because of Liguo Mountain you've come to find me, then you'd better go back."

Wang Erhai directly stated his position.

There was no way he would help Huo Guoqiang.

Huo Guoqiang naturally couldn't just leave easily.

After all, this concerned his very survival at Liguo Mountain!

So he said:

"Erhai, I actually don't want you to help me."

Huo Guoqiang spoke this line wanting to make Wang Erhai lower his guard.

Wang Erhai's brows furrowed slightly, still maintaining vigilance:

"Then what did you come find me for?"

Huo Guoqiang said with a face full of sincerity:

"I just want to ask you one thing, and I hope you'll tell me honestly."

"What thing?"

"Recently, has Zhang Sheng come looking for you?"

Huo Guoqiang stared into Wang Erhai's eyes.

Wang Erhai hesitated a moment, then chose to be frank:

"Zhang Sheng did come looking for me. He told me to go to Liguo Mountain at nine o'clock tomorrow morning for a shareholders' meeting, and said there would be a major decision announced then, but as for what specific decision, I'm not clear, and I didn't ask in detail."

"Then tomorrow morning, are you going or not going?" Huo Guoqiang continued asking.

Wang Erhai said:

"Of course I'm going. Not hiding it from you — recently Zhang Sheng helped me a big favor, so if he wants me to vote, as long as it's not illegal and won't harm my interests, I should just vote according to his wishes."

Hearing this, Huo Guoqiang's heart sank to the bottom.

He sighed:

"Erhai, if you do it like this, then my position at Liguo Mountain will probably be in dire straits."

Wang Erhai's face showed a trace of sympathy, but that was also a helpless matter.

"General Manager Huo, this really can't be blamed on me."

Huo Guoqiang gave a bitter smile:

"I know — it's all my decision-making mistakes. We were originally in the same camp; I should have kept in step with you from the start, shouldn't have let the three of us — me, you, and Wu Moli — end up in a tripartite split, so that we could have firmly held the company's decision-making authority."

Wang Erhai smiled helplessly:

"What use is saying these things now? I only wanted to do my job well back then, but you guys insisted on some power struggle. General Manager Huo, why don't you just start a renovation company again? This time, remember to learn from the Liguo Mountain experience and lessons."

Huo Guoqiang did not answer Wang Erhai's question, but instead asked:

"Erhai, can you not attend the shareholders' meeting tomorrow?"

Wang Erhai said:

"I'm afraid not, I've already promised Zhang Sheng."

Huo Guoqiang's expression turned ugly.

Wang Erhai said again:

"Even if I don't go this time, there's still next time, and the time after that. I have to fulfill my promise to Zhang Sheng, so, General Manager Huo, I'm truly sorry."

Huo Guoqiang sighed, then pleaded again:

"Really can't talk it over some more? However much money it takes, I can give it to you. Liguo Mountain is a child I raised with my own hands, to have him snatched away by Zhang Sheng just like that — to tell the truth, I'm unwilling to accept it."

Wang Erhai curled his lip: "I can only say I'm very sorry."

"Alright then."

Huo Guoqiang let out a long sigh, seemingly ready to compromise.

Huo Zhihui, however, was very unreconciled:

"Second Uncle, what do you mean by this? You came all this way just to bow and scrape to that guy Wang Erhai?"

Huo Guoqiang said coldly:

"Zhihui, I didn't tell you to speak, you'd best shut your mouth!"

"But..." Huo Zhihui was indignant.

Huo Guoqiang cut off his words:

"No buts, I have my own sense of proportion!"

Huo Zhihui could only shut his mouth.

No matter how unreconciled, he had to swallow that breath.

Huo Guoqiang then said to Wang Erhai:

"Erhai, since you've already made your decision, I won't disturb you further. Although we're no longer partners, I hope, for the sake of General Manager Niu's face, we can still continue to be friends!"

The reason Wang Erhai was able to get to know Huo Guoqiang in the first place was entirely because Niu Chunsheng helped make the introduction. To this day Wang Erhai still remembers that time Niu Chunsheng went to the New Era Restaurant in town to eat, and specially brought along Huo Guoqiang and Zhang Yueran.

And later, Huo Guoqiang invited Wang Erhai to co-found the Li Guoshan Decoration Company, and Zhang Yueran even became Wang Erhai's current wife.

Indeed, no matter what, for the sake of Niu Chunsheng's face, he should not become enemies with Huo Guoqiang.

"General Manager Huo, I've always harbored gratitude toward you. You are one of the most important matchmakers in my life." Wang Erhai's face was full of gratitude, and also a trace of guilt: "Not being able to help you this time, I'm truly sorry."

Huo Guoqiang said:

"Then fine, as long as you have this bit of sincerity, I'm satisfied. I won't say more, I'm going back, goodbye!"

Wang Erhai politely urged him to stay:

"Why not stay, let's eat a meal together tonight?"

Huo Guoqiang declined:

"No need, there's still a lot of matters to handle at the company!"

On the road back to the county town, Huo Guoqiang sat in the passenger seat, expressionless.

Huo Zhihui drove the car, his face full of displeasure.

"Second Uncle, not that I'm saying anything, but you giving Wang Erhai this much face — has Wang Erhai ever given you face? If you ask me, you shouldn't have stopped me just now. I'd have just gone and knocked Wang Erhai unconscious, tied him up and locked him away for three days and three nights. Let's see what tricks that calf Zhang Sheng can still play at tomorrow morning's shareholders' meeting!"

At this moment Huo Guoqiang spoke calmly:

"Indeed, Wang Erhai should be tied up, but not just now."

Hearing this, Huo Zhihui couldn't help but be stunned:

"Second Uncle, your meaning is..."

Huo Guoqiang said:

"Tomorrow morning, on the must-pass road Wang Erhai takes to the county town, bring men to intercept Wang Erhai. Remember, don't say I instructed you. You must unintentionally reveal to Wang Erhai that you acted on your own initiative behind my back."

Huo Zhihui was puzzled:

"Why specially emphasize this point?"

Huo Zhihui thought Huo Guoqiang wanted him, as the nephew, to take the blame.

However, Huo Guoqiang said:

"This is the last trump card I'm leaving you. If things ever blow up, I can also pretend ignorance, then step in to help you plead for mercy with Wang Erhai."

Hearing this, Huo Zhihui was immediately surprised, then admiring:

"Second Uncle, you really think things through thoroughly!"

The corner of Huo Guoqiang's mouth curled up slightly:

"Zhihui, remember this: when doing this kind of high-risk thing, you must have a hedging strategy. Only with one playing the good cop and one playing the bad cop, mutually hedging, can you stand on undefeated ground."