Chapter 740: Shadow Rumors

As soon as He Zheng entered the door, he was caught red-handed by He Yuzhu.

"Come here!"

He Yuzhu hauled him into the living room, his face as dark as the bottom of a pot: "You've been engaged to Tianzhen for nearly a year. It was only because your mother's company was having trouble that we didn't hold your wedding on time, yet you brat are actually being dishonest, getting tangled up with a girl named Lin Hong. Tell me, what exactly is going on?"

He Zheng looked innocent and hurriedly explained: "Dad, Lin Hong even asked me to go to the movies tonight, but I didn't agree to her. She's a bit snobbish, but she really is a good worker; she's never dropped the ball on anything I've entrusted to her. She does have a bit of a crush on me, but I told her it's impossible between us. At first, she wouldn't give up, but later I scared her by saying that you... you've killed quite a few people, and she ran off in a fright immediately."

He Yuzhu snorted: "Regardless, we live in the same courtyard as Tianzhen, and Qin Huairu is a true relative of your master. Because of this connection, you cannot do anything that would make people point fingers at your spine."

He Zheng nodded vigorously: "Dad, I'm nearly thirty years old; do you think I don't understand this much?"

"You don't understand a damn thing!" He Yuzhu raised his finger and pointed it at his nose, scolding, "Who doesn't understand the principles? Knowing them is one thing, but whether you can actually do it—that's two different matters!"

He Zheng rubbed his nose and gave a cheeky grin: "Dad, I heard that back in the day... you didn't exactly control yourself either."

"You little brat!" He Yuzhu kicked him in the backside. He Zheng stumbled, clutching his rear and grimacing.

"Are you and I the same?"

"I heard from my mother that she doesn't hold it against you." He Zheng rubbed his backside, grinning shamelessly, not afraid in the slightest.

He Yuzhu glared at him fiercely: "Enough nonsense. On the fifth day of the lunar new year, you two will hold the wedding."

He Zheng opened his mouth as if to say something else, but under He Yuzhu's glare, he immediately shrank back and nodded repeatedly: "Alright, alright! Whatever you say!"

He Yuzhu leaned back against the sofa and tilted his chin toward the coffee table: "Stop standing there like a post, brew a cup of tea for your old man."

He Zheng hurriedly opened the tea canister and served him cautiously, his movements much more nimble than usual.

Before the tea was even brewed, the telephone rang.

He Yuzhu picked it up, and a roar came from the other end: "He Yuzhu, what kind of mess are you making? You're causing trouble for me again!"

Hearing that loud voice, he knew it was Secretary Liu, so He Yuzhu hurriedly apologized with a smile: "Leader, please calm your anger. What is it that has made you this angry?"

"What is it?" Secretary Liu's tone was heavy and stern, "I'm asking you, have you been wandering around our eastern neighbor's place again recently? Because of what you've done, we are in a very passive position diplomatically! Do you know that?"

He Yuzhu held the teacup and played dumb with a grin: "Leader, please be clearer. I really haven't realized which incident you are referring to..."

"Still playing dumb with me?" Secretary Liu lowered his voice, "Some intelligence organizations in the West have already given you a nickname: 'Shadow'. Weigh it yourself—how much of your background have they managed to uncover?"

He Yuzhu paused, his smile fading slightly: "Do they really think this person belongs to our country?"

Secretary Liu laughed: "Of course they can't be entirely sure. Half suspect us, and half suspect it's someone from the Soviet Union. I'll tell you the truth: the hostile forces have never stopped investigating you... Do you really think there is such a thing as a wall that doesn't let the wind through?"

He Yuzhu chuckled: "Leader, aren't my actions also for the sake of our country? Some dirty work and heavy lifting have to be done by someone."

Secretary Liu said solemnly: "The current general direction is peace and development; it's not something you can achieve by fighting alone. We must develop uprightly and rely on our strength; we cannot always let people grab us by the tail."

"The leader is right, I understand, I understand."

Secretary Liu's tone softened: "Alright, come see me next weekend. You've been avoiding me for a long time. We had an agreement—you are still my Consultant."

"Yes, yes, yes, I will definitely go." He Yuzhu agreed readily.

"Also," Secretary Liu added, "prepare a report on the issues that need attention regarding economic development in the next few years and draft an outline for me. We'll have a good talk then."

"Yes, yes, I will definitely prepare it carefully." He Yuzhu hung up the phone and let out a long breath.

He Zheng brought the tea over and said with a grin: "Dad, so you have someone you're afraid of too? You were so polite when talking to them."

He Yuzhu took the tea and glared at him: "Bullshit. In this life, the people I respect most are those who get things done. Secretary Liu is someone who truly does great things for the country; he has ability and a sense of responsibility. I respect him, and that is as it should be."

He Zheng chuckled, leaned in closer, and lowered his voice: "Dad, let me tell you something important—Tianzhen and I want to go to the Soviet Union for an inspection."

"No." He Yuzhu refused flatly, "Now is not the time. Wait until next year!"

He Zheng was a bit anxious: "But we feel that just making down jackets and liquor is too narrow a path. We also want to import some things from there, like leather, aviation materials, and some mechanical equipment..."

He Yuzhu was silent for a moment, then said: "Next March, I will go with you."

Upon hearing this, He Zheng's eyes lit up: "Dad, you're going with us? That would be great!"

No. 95 Nanluoguxiang, the Yan family.

Yan Jiecheng sat opposite Yan Bugui, his eyes red and his voice filled with a sob: "Dad, can you borrow some money from Yan Jiekuang? We really can't go on living like this."

Yan Bugui glared: "Eldest, when you were doing business, you weren't willing to share a single cent with Lao San, and you made the relationship so tense. Now you want me to open my mouth to him—how can I do that? Besides, the two of them work from dawn till dusk, and it's not easy for them to run a small business."

Yan Jiecheng wiped away his tears and lowered his voice: "Dad, you don't know, this couple has been lying to you! They are very rich now; they bought a small courtyard near Deshengmen!"

Yan Bugui curled his lips and pushed up his glasses: "Eldest, don't spread rumors. Look at what they and Yan Song are wearing—it's all tattered and torn; it must be stuff they picked up."

Yan Jiecheng was anxious: "Dad, I won't hide it from you. One day I went to the Ghost Market and saw with my own eyes that this couple was selling cassette tapes, and that stall was incredibly popular! They could earn several hundred in one night. Later, I kept an eye on them and followed them several times—they sell during the day too, at Tiananmen, Xidan, running around everywhere to sell. I reckon they can earn a thousand or eight hundred a day; ten thousand a month wouldn't even cover it. They are just pretending to be poor!"

Upon hearing this, Yan Bugui's eyes widened immediately, and the eyeballs behind his lenses almost popped out: "Eldest, is what you're saying true?"

Yan Jiecheng patted his chest: "I've been following them for a long time, there's no mistake!"

Yan Bugui's face darkened as he stared at him: "Eldest, you aren't planning to report Lao San, are you?"

Yan Jiecheng shook his head: "I wouldn't go that far."

In fact, he had already reported them twice.

It's just that now the streets are full of cassette tape vendors, and each person doesn't carry much stock with them.

As soon as the city management comes, people scatter and run; even if they are caught, at most the goods are confiscated, and there's nothing much they can do to them. That's just how the world is these days.

Yan Bugui pondered for a moment: "Since this business is so profitable, why don't you do it yourself?"

Yan Jiecheng said with a bitter face: "I went and asked around; they have an organization behind them and aren't recruiting new people right now. Unless we go to other cities to do it."

Yan Bugui thought for a while and lowered his voice: "Don't spread the word about this yet. I'll talk to him. If he's willing to cough up some money, we won't make a scene. If not—" He pushed up his glasses, a glint of sharpness flashing behind the lenses, "—I'll break with him and kick them out."

Yan Jiecheng nodded repeatedly and began to complain again: "Dad, it's not easy for us to make breakfast now. The streets are full of people making breakfast, and after running around all day, we can't earn much money."