Chapter 200
Jinhai.
Lishun Hotel.
"Director Wang, I've brought the person back for you." Hong Zhiyou adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and handed the unharmed Zhang Junfei over to Wang Dashun.
"Junfei, are you all right? Let Mom see."
A woman wearing a dark-colored cheongsam on the side hurriedly stepped forward and hugged her son.
"Mom.
"What could happen to me?
"Du Yuesheng is just a piece of trash; would he dare to touch a single hair of mine?"
Zhang Junfei, with a spoiled look on his face, remained as arrogant as ever.
"Junfei, don't talk nonsense.
"If it weren't for Secretary Hong this time, you would be in trouble," Zhang Junfei's father scolded from the side.
"What's the big deal?
"Isn't it just killing a small hoodlum?
"Our family has plenty of money; if I get annoyed, I'll find someone to finish off that guy surnamed Du as well."
Zhang Junfei still said, not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth.
As he spoke, he glanced at Hong Zhiyou with disdain.
Hong Zhiyou smiled and ignored him: "Director Wang, someone will come to collect the debt in a moment; remember to pay."
"I know.
"Secretary Hong, please walk slowly." Wang Dashun said respectfully.
Hong Zhiyou didn't look at him and walked straight out.
"Did you bring the money?" Wang Dashun looked at his sister and brother-in-law.
"We brought it."
Zhang Junfei's father handed over two boxes, each containing fifty gold bars neatly arranged.
"Killing someone for a whore cost a hundred gold bars.
"You guys are truly rich."
Wang Dashun sighed and closed the lids of the boxes.
"Uncle.
"I think you made a mountain out of a molehill. You could have just called Du Yuesheng to release the person; why did you have to find this pretty boy and even throw in a hundred gold bars?
"Isn't this just a waste?"
Zhang Junfei said with dissatisfaction.
"You bastard.
"Do you know how many connections I had to pull to get Secretary Hong to move?
"Without him, you would have been slaughtered and used as a sacrifice long ago."
Wang Dashun scolded angrily.
"Alright, alright.
"Junfei doesn't understand things; don't hold it against a child, brother," Wang Dashun's sister said, hurriedly protecting her son.
"Sigh!
"If you keep spoiling him like this, something will happen sooner or later."
Wang Dashun tapped the table, hating that he couldn't teach him better.
"Mom, don't say anything more.
"Who knows how much of these hundred gold bars our uncle will pocket for himself."
Zhang Junfei also got angry and said sarcastically.
"You!" Wang Dashun was almost angered to death.
Just as they were talking, Long Er, wearing a Tang suit and sunglasses, walked in and reached out directly: "Director Wang, right? Pay up."
"Here."
Wang Dashun hurriedly handed over the boxes.
Long Er pushed up his sunglasses, nodded, took the boxes, and handed them to his subordinates.
"Is your name Zhang Junfei?"
Long Er looked at the unhappy second-generation heir.
"It's me, so what?" Zhang Junfei asked unhappily.
"So what?"
Slap!
Long Er raised his hand and slapped him over.
"Listen well.
"My name is Long Er; don't let me see you in Jinhai again, or I'll beat you every time I see you!
"You ignorant dog!"
Long Er took off his sunglasses, stepped on him, and warned him fiercely.
Long Er!
The head of the Cao Gang!
Zhang Junfei immediately wilted, covering his face and trembling:
"Yes, Master Long."
"Pah!"
Long Er spat a mouthful of phlegm on his face, adjusted his sunglasses, and swaggered away.
Others might not know, but how could he not?
Shanghu is Mao Sen's territory.
Hong Zhiyou went there risking his life.
He didn't expect to save such an ungrateful thing.
Just now in the car outside the window, he saw Zhang Junfei's dead-set attitude and had been holding back a belly full of fire.
Hong Zhiyou might not care.
But he wouldn't tolerate this idiot.
Hong Zhiyou returned to the station.
Wu Jingzhong was on the phone; he looked gloomy after hanging up, but his face immediately beamed with joy when he saw Hong Zhiyou:
"Zhiyou, you're back so soon.
"Is the matter settled?"
"Settled, please verify." Hong Zhiyou handed over the two boxes.
Wu Jingzhong opened them to take a look and smiled with satisfaction:
"Not bad. I heard about what happened last night; how was it, Mao Sen didn't make things difficult for you, did he?"
"No." Hong Zhiyou was used to reporting good news and not the bad.
"That's good.
"Have you heard?" Wu Jingzhong gestured for him to sit down.
"No rush.
"I'll go wash my face and brush my teeth first.
"I just got back and haven't had time to tidy up."
Hong Zhiyou still paid great attention to his image.
After taking a shower in the staff dormitory and freshening up, he returned to the office.
Wu Jingzhong had already cut up fruit and brewed tea, waiting for him.
"Lu Qiaoshan was taken away by Zheng Jiemin and transferred directly to the Second Department. It is said that he is the Director of the Second Inspection Division of the Second Department.
"Second Inspection Division?
"Who is this meant to inspect?
"We must guard against this person in the future; he knows quite a few of our inside stories.
"He must have leaked them to Zheng Jiemin.
"Zheng Jiemin wants to use him as a knife to strike at us."
"No way, would Director Zheng dare to promote someone who just violated discipline so heavily?" Hong Zhiyou said in shock.
"Do you know what Lu Qiaoshan said about me?
"He said the money I've skimmed privately is enough to buy a Greenland Island, and he also said I've hidden more things than the Puyi family. Don't mention Zheng Jiemin; even the Chairman would drool if he heard that."
Wu Jingzhong pointed at the floor and said angrily.
That is indeed the case... Hong Zhiyou muttered to himself and replied:
"Then we must be careful."
"In these chaotic times, whoever has money is a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.
"Once Zheng Jiemin's eyes turn red, how could he still care about classmate friendship?
"He is preparing to bleed me dry.
"Just wait, Lu Qiaoshan will definitely come back."
Wu Jingzhong said uneasily.
"Teacher, the residence in Hexi is not a long-term solution after all; how about transferring a batch to Xiangdao first?
"Isn't Ruirui coming back in a while?
"I have a premonition that they will soon probe your assets; the earlier we disperse them, the better."
Hong Zhiyou suggested.
"With so many treasures, I'm not at ease transporting them out.
"Let's make it clear first: the things left behind by our ancestors cannot be transported abroad by even a single cent.
"This is the bottom line."
Wu Jingzhong said with some heartache.
"Let's go to Xiangdao.
"The influence of the National Government there is limited. I previously had the Rong family buy a small private island there, and it should be almost finished being built now.
"Transport the things over and store them.
"To the outside world, the island belongs to the Rong family.
"The Rong family has a very strong relationship with the Viceroy, and there is private armed protection from the Cao Gang, so they can't touch it.
"It just so happens that when Ruirui comes back and finishes her postpartum recovery, she can take the child over first."
Hong Zhiyou said.
Wu Jingzhong's brow sank, his gaze staring at him sharply and vigilantly.
Hong Zhiyou is very promiscuous.
Ruirui has a child.
But there's no guarantee that Miss Wanqiu, or even Mrs. Ma, won't have children in the future.
If he spends half his life working hard to transfer everything to a place he can't fully grasp, he might really end up working for this kid. That place is one even Xie Ruolin can't play accurately, and by then, he wouldn't even have a place to cry.
"By the way, for the property rights of the island, I put it in Ruirui's name."
"Oh, Ruirui is aware of this."
Hong Zhiyou hurriedly added.
Wu Jingzhong's expression softened slightly: "But the Rong family is very close to the Red Tickets; their 'striking landlords and dividing fields' is no joke. Don't end up having them strike you first."
"Teacher, the Rong family are businessmen.
"And the protection of personal property in Xiangdao is definitely better than you think.
"There are many wealthy people there.
"If they strike, they'll strike the higher-ups first."
Hong Zhiyou smiled and persuaded him.
"It is acceptable to transfer a batch in the early stages.
"I would rather have the Red Tickets strike me.
"Than let the likes of Lu Qiaoshan and Zheng Jiemin benefit!"
Wu Jingzhong said with a determined gaze.
"Alright, then I will start having the Cao Gang transport them tomorrow."
He knew Old Wu's thinking was relatively conservative, so he didn't say anything more.
Just as they were talking, Xiao Guohua walked in:
"Station Chief, Secretary Hong, Station Chief Mao from Hangcheng requests an audience."
"Mao Sen?
"What is this dog thing here for?"
Wu Jingzhong instantly became like a fighting cock, his momentum becoming fierce.
"Teacher, Station Chief Mao didn't call in advance; it must be a private matter. We should see him," Hong Zhiyou said.
"You didn't offend him when you went to Shanghu this time, did you?" Wu Jingzhong asked.
"I guarantee, absolutely not," Hong Zhiyou nodded and said.
"Then let's meet him; you prepare the tea first." Wu Jingzhong tidied his attire and walked out the door with his hands behind his back.
At the station entrance, Mao Sen, dressed in a black Zhongshan suit, stood straight.
"Brother Jingzhong, long time no see.
"It must have been a year since we parted at headquarters."
Upon meeting, Mao Sen took a step forward and reached out his hand with a smile.
"Hongyou, you've lost weight.
"I heard you've been eating vegetarian lately; eating vegetarian all the time won't do. In our line of work, there's no need to fast and chant Buddha; if you should eat meat, you must eat it. Without a strong physique, how can we defend the leader and build a career?"
Wu Jingzhong shook his hand and laughed as they walked.
"Sigh, I can't compare to you, brother. My stomach isn't good; if I eat something good, it protests.
"On the contrary, you, brother, are full of spirit, which is enviable."
Mao Sen said.
"Where.
"I'm not doing well either; my prostate rebels every day, otherwise I would have already helped Jianfeng go to Shanghu to act as a vanguard and be your neighbor, brother," Wu Jingzhong laughed.
Walking to the entrance of the new Gothic-style station building, Wu Jingzhong raised his hand, intentionally showing off:
"Look, does this look like a station?
"It's like a foreigner's club. You say, in our line of work, being so flashy, doesn't that attract attention?"
He pointed at Mao Sen intentionally or unintentionally.
"Yes, they all say there is heaven above and Suzhou and Hangzhou below.
"Coming to your station entrance, brother, I finally know that this mountain is a true mountain; it's hard to live here without divine means."
Mao Sen didn't argue and took a step back.
Wu Jingzhong was very satisfied with this answer and beamed with joy, whispering: "Brother, I don't have any gods here, but I have a pile of little ghosts. The matter of the Deputy Station Chief a while ago still gives me a headache now.
"I can't compare to your peace, brother."
"Where is there a temple without ghosts? You, brother, have boundless Buddhist power," Mao Sen laughed.
The two held hands and, amidst the astonishment of the crowd, came to the office, where they finally looked for seats and let go.
"Student Hong Zhiyou, greets the teacher." Hong Zhiyou performed a respectful military salute.
"I almost forgot, you taught Zhiyou; he is your proper student," Wu Jingzhong laughed.
"I don't deserve the title of teacher; it's just a nominal title.
"However, this child doesn't forget his roots; it's all thanks to Station Chief Wu's personal instruction."
Mao Sen looked at Hong Zhiyou with approval.
The two exchanged a few polite words and sat down on their respective sofas.
Hong Zhiyou, very observant, handed the warmed towels to the two.
Both wiped the hot sweat from their hands and sat facing each other.
"Two teachers, you chat."
Hong Zhiyou bowed and retreated.
An hour later, Wu Jingzhong and Mao Sen walked out, laughing and talking.
"Brother, I prepared a small gift when I came. I handed it directly to your wife when I passed by your house; it's a small token, please don't refuse." At the station entrance, Mao Sen said in a deep voice.
"Brother, I am honored enough that you came; why bring gifts?" Wu Jingzhong winked and said.
"Must bring, must bring.
"In the current situation... I hope brother will not hold grudges in the future and that we can help each other sincerely."
Mao Sen laughed.
"We are all comrades and brothers; that is certain," Wu Jingzhong patted his hand and said.
"I still have things to do, so I won't see you off.
"Secretary Hong, see Station Chief Mao off."
Wu Jingzhong knew he had something to say to Hong Zhiyou, so he avoided them first.
"Zhiyou, everything is fine on Du Yuesheng's side, right?" Mao Sen said straight to the point.
"No problem.
"Teacher, with you sitting in command in Huhang, everything is naturally peaceful," Hong Zhiyou said.
"Good!
"Young man, work hard; the future of the Party and State will sooner or later be handed over to you.
"I have high hopes for you!"
Mao Sen received a satisfactory answer, patted his shoulder, and climbed into the car with a smile.
Hong Zhiyou watched the car drive away before returning to the Station Chief's office.
"Your teacher's wife just called; Mao Sen not only returned what we sent but also added several valuable antiques.
"To make this iron rooster bleed.
"Zhiyou, did you take him for a ride in Shanghu?"
Wu Jingzhong asked with a smile.
Hong Zhiyou told him about the Yu Xuan matter, and Wu Jingzhong frowned:
"That was dangerous. I was wondering why Mao Sen ran over here; it turns out he had a guilty conscience.
"But after this time, I assume he won't dare to have designs on the Jinhai Station in the future.
"Raising money, do you have a way?"
"One hundred thousand US dollars is not a small amount. The wealthy people nowadays hold onto their banknotes very tightly, and even if you raise the money, the Americans might not be willing to exchange it.
"The Chairman is reluctant to use the 'private treasury' of the Jiangzhe financial clique and is embarrassed to ask Kong and Song for money. In the end, he doesn't want to move his own base in Jianghu, but wants to cut meat from our Jinhai to feed the eagle."
Wu Jingzhong saw through everything at a glance.
"Yes.
"This money is for Fu Zuoyi, and the purpose is to purge Li Zongren's Gui clique forces in Beiping.
"Giving money and supplies cannot be put on the official books.
"Isn't it just cutting from the honest people?"
Hong Zhiyou said.
"Where to find it? Catching corruption definitely won't work; officials and businessmen are one family, and those people have deep roots. Cutting them will definitely alarm the higher-ups.
"And this errand of yours cannot see the light of day.
"If you mess it up, no one will protect you.
"If you do it well, there might not be any credit.
"If you don't do it well, the Jiang father and son will turn their faces and deny anyone, and by then, if Li Zongren or Fu Zuoyi make a scene, they will directly take you out as a scapegoat.
"They are most skilled at playing this game; you must be cautious."
Wu Jingzhong said worriedly.
"Now I can't refuse.
"If I succeed, I will be half a glove in the future, which will have some convenience.
"Teacher, I do have an idea."
Hong Zhiyou said.
"Let's hear it." Wu Jingzhong said.
"I want to speculate on a stock, melt the money of the big players into it, and after cashing out at a high point, let it crash, directly washing away the money of those rich big players."
Hong Zhiyou said.
"Who would buy stocks now?
"People are all eyeing US bonds."
Wu Jingzhong felt it wasn't reliable.
"What if it's a stock that the Americans, the French, and even the Xiangdao capital like the Rong family are all optimistic about?
"Once they enter the market, I'll find people to blow some wind.
"Those people will definitely all drill into it.
"By then, after I've cashed out enough money, I'll exchange it for silk and porcelain to swap for US dollars.
"Nowadays, these are the only things we have that can be exchanged for foreign currency."
Hong Zhiyou said.
"Of course, there is also opium.
"The Americans take it back to North America; they are guaranteed to make a profit."
Hong Zhiyou said.
"Opium won't do.
"If someone wants to make an issue of this in the future, you won't be able to wash it off, and a conviction will be unavoidable.
"You are a person with a family now.
"Things that are not clean and cannot be brought to the table must not be touched at all, understand?"
Wu Jingzhong hurriedly waved his hand and said.
Hong Zhiyou certainly knew.
He said it on purpose, not wanting to appear all-knowing, so as not to leave Old Wu without room to exert himself or lecture.
"Yes, thank you for the reminder, teacher," Hong Zhiyou said respectfully.
"Your teacher's wife's birthday is tonight.
"Call your parents and little sister to come together.
"Forgot to say, Mei Shao's daughter is back; she's the one we originally planned to introduce to you, Yingxue.
"Stay away from her when the time comes.
"Don't forget, her younger brother died at your hands; it's best to be cautious in everything."
Wu Jingzhong warned him first.
Mainly because Yingxue is too beautiful, her figure is too hot, and she has had a Western education; this type of woman is most liked by young people.
Wu Jingzhong knew Hong Zhiyou loved beauties.
He was afraid he wouldn't be able to hold back.
"Teacher, rest assured, the student has a sense of proportion," Hong Zhiyou hurriedly replied.
"Hmm.
"Go."
Wu Jingzhong waved his hand and said.
Hong Zhiyou walked out of the Station Chief's office.
Just as he returned to the General Affairs Section office and wanted to take a nap, Yu Zecheng walked in:
"Zhiyou, the funds from Assistant Manager Xie have arrived.
"Ten thousand US dollars in the initial phase.
"I have already asked Long Er to purchase supplies and store them in the warehouse; do you want to move them tonight?"
"Yes, move a batch first.
"The transport line is newly built, and safety may not be controllable, so keep it small."
Hong Zhiyou thought for a moment and said.
"Good!"
Yu Zecheng nodded and said.
7:00 PM, 69 Changde Road.
Mei Shao was adjusting his tie, and Mei Yingxue stood on the side in an evening gown.
"Xue'er, when you see Hong Zhiyou later, try to remain calm; it's best to pretend you don't know about your brother's matter.
"That guy is very cunning; it will be very troublesome if he becomes suspicious."
Mei Shao said.
"Dad, I know," Mei Yingxue said indifferently.
"Your main target is Li Ya.
"I have investigated this person.
"He recently suffered a double blow in his career and love life, having been dumped by a woman from an opera house.
"He must be very fragile and empty right now.
"This is your opportunity.
"If you can take him down, dealing with Hong Zhiyou will be a sure thing."
Mei Shao exhorted tirelessly.
Mei Yingxue nodded.
"Dad, rest assured.
"As long as it's a man, he will never escape from the palm of my hand."
Mei Yingxue puffed out her chest and said with a proud, cold laugh.
She had absolute confidence in her figure and appearance.
Men, after all, are lions; how could they not eat meat?
Not just that bumpkin Li Ya who returned from Yancheng.
Including Hong Zhiyou.
Mei Yingxue also wanted to try.
Her cousin has always been arrogant and has always wanted to suppress her since childhood; if she slept with her man, she would definitely be angered to death, right?
By the way, she could also fish for some intelligence she wanted; wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone?
As for her brother's revenge.
No rush.
Once she's had enough fun, there will be a time to take his life.
(End of chapter)
End of Chapter
