Chapter 346: 342. The Shock in Lin'an (Please subscribe, monthly tickets!)

Zhang Ran did not bring anyone else this time; he only called Meng Mingxuan along, considering it a chance for him to show his face.

After receiving Zhang Ran's call, Meng Mingxuan rushed to Zhang Ran's home without stopping, and they set off after a few brief words.

This time they were again taking Huo Zhiyuan's recreational vehicle; there was no help for it, as the two little ones insisted on following, and Zhang Ran couldn't bear to let them suffer, so he could only drive the RV.

"Uncle Zhang, what are we going to Lin'an for this time?" Meng Mingxuan asked curiously.

Zhang Ran said, "Cooperation. Didn't I tell you last time? We are going to cooperate with Fengli Group, but their efficiency is too slow, so I'm going to help them out."

Immediately after, Zhang Ran instructed, "This time, just watch quietly from the sidelines. Which people can be befriended and which people need to be kept at a distance—see it all clearly this time."

Meng Mingxuan was a bit confused, but he still nodded and said, "Understood, Uncle Zhang."

By the time Zhang Ran and the others arrived in Lin'an, the two little ones were tired from playing and fell asleep as soon as they reached the hotel.

But when Zhang Ran woke up the next day, preparing to head to Fengli Group, he discovered that someone had already arrived ahead of time.

"Hello, Mr. Zhang. I am Jian Zhenghua, Deputy Director of the Lin'an Investment Promotion Bureau. Welcome to Lin'an." A middle-aged man smiled and reached out his hand.

After a brief moment of surprise, Zhang Ran shook his hand and then asked curiously, "No, Director Jian, your speed is too fast. I only just arrived in Lin'an."

Zhang Ran truly did not expect the speed here in Lin'an to be so fast; it almost made him suspect whether these people had been keeping an eye on him the whole time.

Jian Zhenghua smiled and said, "I had a dinner party here last night and happened to see Mr. Zhang, so please forgive my presumptuous visit this time."

Others might not know Zhang Ran's specific situation and might not have even seen a photo of him, but people like them, who work in investment promotion, had all seen him.

That was why Jian Zhenghua recognized Zhang Ran immediately; after making a few calls last night, he had confirmed today's itinerary.

Zhang Ran smiled and said, "It's nothing. Is there something you need, Director Jian, for you to come here in person?"

"Mr. Zhang hasn't had breakfast yet, right? We have prepared some here; shall we eat first?" Jian Zhenghua smiled.

Zhang Ran nodded and said, "Sorry to trouble you, Director Jian."

Zhang Ran was the type with a stubborn, donkey-like temperament—he wouldn't budge if pulled, but would retreat if beaten—yet if others were polite to him, Zhang Ran would be even more polite.

This was the so-called "if someone respects me by a foot, I will respect them by ten feet."

"Grandpa, eat this, it's delicious." Susu held a small steamed bun in her little hand and offered it to her grandfather, her little face full of anticipation.

Zhang Ran smiled, lowered his head, took the bun into his mouth, and then exaggeratedly said, "Mm, truly delicious."

"Giggle." Seeing her grandfather eating happily, Susu giggled.

Zhang Xiaotao didn't want to be outdone either, so he took something he thought was delicious and stuffed it into his grandfather's mouth.

Seeing this scene, Jian Zhenghua smiled and said, "Mr. Zhang is truly enviable. I feel that my coming here this time was really a bit presumptuous."

Zhang Ran smiled and said, "Director Jian, please don't say that. It just so happens that I have some matters to discuss with Lin'an this time, and I wanted to hear the leadership's opinions."

Jian Zhenghua's eyes lit up, and he immediately said, "Mr. Zhang is interested in investing here?"

They knew more information; before the Zhang Ran System was exposed, they might not have cared, but once the Zhang Ran System was exposed, with their resources, it was quite simple to dig up some things.

But they also knew that since the parties involved didn't want certain things exposed, they would limit that knowledge to themselves.

"Not investment, but cooperation," Zhang Ran said.

He had originally planned to wait until he had settled the matters at Fengli Group before making further plans, but since Jian Zhenghua had already come, Zhang Ran was prepared to make contact with them first.

If he could obtain their full support, that would also be a good thing for Zhang Ran.

Zhang Ran then called Zhao Lifeng in front of Jian Zhenghua, "Chairman Zhao, you will probably have to wait for me a bit; I am going to talk with the Lin'an government in a moment."

Zhao Lifeng was stunned for a moment, then said softly, "What does Mr. Zhang mean?"

"Things must be done step by step. We must minimize the impact of this incident; only then will it align with everyone's interests," Zhang Ran said with a smile.

Zhao Lifeng didn't speak, only saying, "Although our Fengli Group is here in Lin'an, because of the previous online payment incident, Lin'an chose to stand on the sidelines and watch the show."

Zhao Lifeng didn't say much else, simply recounting the previous events briefly.

Zhang Ran also understood what Zhao Lifeng meant: the relationship between Fengli Group and Lin'an was not very good.

The main reason he hadn't left all these years was that the places that could offer him a satisfactory price already had targets they supported, and he didn't look favorably upon the places that didn't have targets to support.

So it had just been left hanging like that.

Zhang Ran said, "This is also an opportunity. If we have the support of Lin'an, I believe things will be much easier for Fengli Group moving forward."

Actually, this was not Zhang Ran's biggest goal; that didn't have much to do with him right now. He just didn't want this incident to blow up too big, or rather, he didn't want the interior of Fengli Group to truly fall into chaos.

His own affairs were urgent; he needed combat power in a short period of time, otherwise he wouldn't have played this move.

Zhao Lifeng nodded. Just as Zhang Ran said, if he could obtain the support of Lin'an, it would be a good thing for him and for Fengli Group.

It was just that the previous online payment incident had blown up too big, and he, Zhao Lifeng, had overstepped by using public opinion as a breakthrough point, which was why it had turned into the current situation.

After Zhang Ran hung up the phone, Jian Zhenghua smiled and said, "Mr. Zhang came for Fengli Group this time?"

When they learned that Fengli Group also belonged to the Zhang Ran System, people like Jian Zhenghua actually found it hard to believe.

But up until now, Zhao Lifeng hadn't come forward to explain anything, which counted as a tacit admission, so Jian Zhenghua assumed Zhang Ran had come to Fengli Group to handle business.

Yet, to his surprise, Zhang Ran's answer caused Jian Zhenghua's heart to shake violently, "Director Jian, what do you think about merging Fengli Group with Dahe Express?"

At just this one sentence, Jian Zhenghua's eyes widened like copper bells; first came shock, then disbelief, and then ecstasy!

"Mr. Zhang, are you serious?" Jian Zhenghua clenched his hands, staring fixedly at Zhang Ran, wanting to see something on his face.

It wasn't that he lacked experience; on the contrary, Jian Zhenghua had plenty of experience, but this sentence from Zhang Ran had stirred up monstrous waves in his heart. It wasn't just about the merger of two groups; he had thought of much more.