Chapter 860: The President Is Not Easy to Be

Zhang Ting's voice trembled as she spoke with unease: "President He, Zhang Biao was wronged; he is not a criminal. I am just afraid that if he goes out to work, he will be taken advantage of again. Can you... can you give him a job at the company? Even if it's just cleaning toilets, it's fine. I just want to keep an eye on him."

He Zheng pondered for a moment and waved his hand: "Let him go to the group's driver pool to drive for now. We can transfer him to a suitable position later."

Zhang Ting's eyes reddened, and she nodded vigorously: "Thank you, President He! Thank you!"

The corners of He Zheng's mouth lifted slightly, and he waved his hand: "Don't be so polite. Come, I'll take you home."

At the Beijing Hotel, the banquet hall was brightly lit, as bright as day.

The 1994 Executive Meeting of the Si Jiu Cheng Federation of Industry and Commerce was being held there.

Chairman He Yuzhu sat upright in the main seat, delivering an enthusiastic speech.

The theme this time was poverty alleviation in the suburbs of Beijing, mobilizing non-public enterprises to participate in industrial aid and talent support, practicing the theory of "the first to get rich helping those who follow," and putting the directives from above into practice.

To put it bluntly—it meant those with money contribute money, and those with strength contribute strength.

The meeting concluded, and everyone began to dine.

With glasses clinking and people chatting, the scene was lively.

Just as He Yuzhu sat down at the main table, a large group of people swarmed over, each holding a wine glass with a face full of smiles.

He Yuzhu greeted everyone with a smile and, in a daze, downed over a dozen glasses.

Fortunately, he had his space, and that alcohol never actually entered his stomach; otherwise, he would have been under the table by now.

Sitting at the same table with him were Deputy Director Liu from the Municipal Planning Commission, President Ren from the real estate industry, President Zhang who ran a chain of supermarkets, Liu Chuanzhi from a high-tech company, and Vice Chairwoman Liu Rusi, among others.

Seeing that the people greeting him had mostly left, President Ren hurriedly picked up his wine glass and raised it respectfully: "Chairman He, I would also like to toast you."

He Yuzhu clinked glasses with him and said with a smile: "President Ren, that project of yours on Xidan North Street is coming along quite well."

President Ren shook his head with a bitter smile: "President He, that's just a shiny exterior. In reality, I can barely hold on... Could you think of a way for me? To be honest, I've wanted to go to your house to find you several times. I know your son sold land for over two billion..."

He Yuzhu shook his head and said unhurriedly: "President Ren, my son's company is not under my control. He likes the real estate industry, but he just finds it tiring. However—I can introduce you to Xu Family Capital from Hong Kong. They have been wanting to enter the real estate industry in Si Jiu Cheng; perhaps you two could cooperate."

Upon hearing this, President Ren's eyes lit up instantly, and his voice carried a trembling excitement: "Chairman He! That will all depend on your introduction! As long as you help me get over this hurdle, I, Ren, am willing to follow your lead!"

He Yuzhu waved his hand: "As long as you treat each other with sincerity, the business will naturally go well. I am just a middleman."

President Ren nodded repeatedly, his waist nearly bent at a ninety-degree angle: "Yes, yes! Chairman He is right! I will definitely be sincere!"

At this moment, Deputy Director Liu of the Municipal Planning Commission also raised his wine glass, leaned in, and lowered his voice: "Chairman He, Deputy Mayor Li asked me to bring you a message—he wants to talk to you about the plots of land bought by the Cheng Family."

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu shook his head and said: "Please give Deputy Mayor Li a message for me; those lands were sold by my son, and I cannot manage that."

Deputy Director Liu smiled: "In any case, I have delivered the message; whether you go or not is your business."

He Yuzhu nodded: "Fine, I am not someone who doesn't know how to appreciate a favor. I will call Deputy Mayor Li when I get back to set a time."

Throughout the evening, people seeking to drink with He Yuzhu never stopped. Most had capital issues, with the majority being in real estate—they had taken bank loans to buy land but had no money left to build. Once the strictest real estate policy was issued, many projects were halted.

He Yuzhu's individual power was limited; he was not stingy about helping those he could save, but he naturally wouldn't foolishly jump into what were clearly massive pits.

However, he still gave everyone an opportunity—inviting them to the He Group for a detailed discussion, helping where he could.

Liu Rusi sat to the side, watching He Yuzhu down drink after drink, feeling anxious and constantly signaling him with her eyes.

He Yuzhu caught her worried look, leaned over, and whispered: "Don't worry, none of that alcohol reached my stomach."

Only then did Liu Rusi breathe a sigh of relief and sit back down calmly.

When He Yuzhu returned home, it was already very late.

He had just walked into the Siheyuan when he froze—the makeshift room belonging to Yan Bugui's family had actually been torn down!

He was just wondering about it when he suddenly saw Qin Huairu walk out of that house.

He Yuzhu asked curiously: "Did the sun rise in the west today? Didn't Third Master say his makeshift room wouldn't be torn down for a hundred years? Why was it suddenly torn down?"

Qin Huairu said with a smile: "Third Master accidentally broke his leg while picking up trash, and none of his three sons were willing to pay for it. In a fit of anger, he sold the house to me. I plan to renovate it."

"Then where did Third Master and the others go?" He Yuzhu asked.

"He and Yang Ruihua went to find Second Uncle and moved to that old courtyard of Wang Xia's," Qin Huairu said.

"Why did you buy this house?" He Yuzhu asked, puzzled. "Why not go live in the big courtyard with your sons?"

"I'm used to living here," Qin Huairu laughed. "It's been decades; I'm used to it here, and every day I can hitch a ride with Tianzhen to work."

He Yuzhu was amused: "You're over sixty years old, and you're still not retiring? Do you like working that much?"

"I find working quite satisfying," Qin Huairu said with a look of pride. "They all know I'm He Zheng's mother-in-law, so they treat me with great respect."

He Yuzhu waved his hand: "Don't renovate your house yet. I'll have Yi Xiaotian rebuild the entire courtyard; I'll pay for it."

Qin Huairu's eyes lit up, and she said with a smile: "Then I'll wait for you to rebuild it."

Juxiantang Advertising Company.

Chen Jiadong looked at Ma Rui with a chuckle and tentatively said: "I still want to try for the Performance Department again next year. If you don't agree, I won't try."

Ma Rui smiled: "I support it. You have talent in the performance industry. Spend this half-year reviewing well, and leave the work to Zhao Weiguo."

Zhao Weiguo chimed in from the side: "President He, you have to be fair! I also want to try for the Photography Department!"

Ma Rui scolded: "Try, try, try, you all go try! Don't look at how old you are; your children are already at the age to take college entrance exams!"

Zhao Weiguo retorted indignantly: "Then why did you let Chen Jiadong try, but not me?"

"If you were twenty-three, I'd let you try too," Ma Rui gave him a side-eye.

Zhao Weiguo chuckled, feeling much better inside.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking.

He Yuzhu woke up early, threw on a coat, and walked into the courtyard. He took a deep breath of the cold air, loosened his joints, and assumed a stance to practice his boxing.

Just as he was in the middle of his practice, the phone in the room suddenly rang: "Ring-ring-ring—"

He finished his set, walked back unhurriedly, and picked up the receiver.

From the other end came Li Xiangxiu's clear voice: "Zhuzi, the matter I helped you with is done. The matter you were supposed to help me with hasn't been done yet."

He Yuzhu was stunned and scratched his head: "Xiangxiu, what matter did you ask me to help you with?"