Chapter 219: It

After finishing his call with Guo Donglun, Hao Jian thought it over and decided not to call Jingcheng.

He hadn't yet understood Guo Donglun's meaning; if he consulted Li Ye over every little thing, it would make him look like a general without the bearing of one.

Since Guo Donglun had called just before quitting time, Hao Jian could only make the trip from Pengcheng to Yangcheng by driving at top speed.

"Hao Factory Chief, slow down, slow down! Maybe I should drive instead!"

"Old Yan, you drive too slowly—we won't make it by six-thirty."

"Factory Chief, I can drive fast too—I guarantee we'll get there before six."

"Before six? Then you drive."

Hao Jian pulled over and let the factory's driver, Old Yan, take the wheel.

Old Yan was also from Guangdong, a half-elderly man who had retired early from the factory; he always drove with calm steadiness, never exceeding seventy or eighty kph even on an empty road ahead, so whenever Hao Jian had an urgent matter, he drove himself.

But today, during rush hour, Hao Jian had been driving dangerously fast, forcing Old Yan to reveal his true skill.

The Lada Niva's top speed was 130 kph, yet he maintained over 120 kph the whole way, rarely slamming the brakes, with barely any side-to-side swaying.

This was completely different from Hao Jian's racing-driver style of sudden "push-backs" and "emergency stops."

Hao Jian couldn't help saying, "Old Yan, so all this time you've been pretending to be slow? You don't just drive fast—you fly!"

Old Yan chuckled, "Factory Chief, I've driven my whole life—I know what fast and slow mean. Unless it's a fire at my eyebrows, calm and steady is always better."

"So now you've noticed I'm in a hurry? All this time you've been playing the fool?"

Hao Jian scolded Old Yan with a laugh, but suddenly something stirred in his mind.

Calm composure is essential for anyone in a position of authority—had he become so visibly anxious?

Hao Jian leaned back in his seat, adjusting into a comfortable posture, and said calmly to Old Yan, "Old Yan, let's slow down. Six-thirty is fine."

Old Yan glanced at Hao Jian's sudden change in demeanor, hesitated, then slowed the car.

He was used to driving for the unit—gaining ten or eight minutes by rushing might earn nothing but a jolt that made the passenger's butt ache, wiping out all goodwill; driving for others was never the same as driving for yourself.

Hao Jian arrived at 6: 5 p. . five minutes ahead of the time he'd given Old Yan, but twenty-five minutes late for Guo Donglun's scheduled time.

After entering the private restaurant, Hao Jian first saw Guo Donglun's maid, Xiao Liang.

Guo Donglun had lost one leg, so Xiao Liang always accompanied him when he went out; Hao Jian knew her well.

Hao Jian smiled and said, "Miss Liang, why are you standing outside? Come in with me!"

But Xiao Liang showed no smile, only glancing coldly at Hao Jian and saying, "No outsiders are allowed inside today. You go in alone."

"What do you mean outsider? Hehe. Fine then, Miss Liang, pick whatever you like to eat—it's on me."

Hao Jian chuckled and walked into the private room himself.

Normally, Xiao Liang stood behind Guo Donglun serving him during meals; clearly, something major was about to happen today.

Inside the room, Hao Jian saw Guo Donglun sitting alone at the table, the dishes untouched, only half a cup of cold tea before him, showing he had waited a long time.

"Sorry, Brother Guo, I left right after your call, but it's three hundred li from Pengcheng—my car tops out at 120–130 kph, so I just couldn't make it sooner. Let me drink one myself as punishment."

Hao Jian poured himself a glass of wine and downed it in one gulp, as if nothing had happened.

Guo Donglun sat across from him, staring straight at Hao Jian, and said coolly, "You could've switched to a Crown. With Pengcheng Factory Seven's profit margins, buying a new car would be effortless."

Hao Jian clicked his tongue. "Where would I get a Crown through proper channels? And the ones that come through backdoors? We've got to follow the law, right?"

"Follow the law… you certainly do."

Finally, Guo Donglun showed an expression—a cold smile. "I've never understood how a speculator and profiteer like you could be more law-abiding than a state-run unit."

"Brother Guo, you're joking too much—you're digging too deep. How could I be a speculator? Hehehe~"

Hao Jian laughed along with Guo Donglun, but inside he was angry.

When he sold candy floss, he'd argue daily with others, waving newspapers to prove he was policy-compliant—yet still called a speculator.

Later, Li Ye strictly ordered them to "keep their bottoms clean," and Hao Jian obeyed absolutely, terrified someone would use his past against him.

Now Guo Donglun was making a joke about it—could he not be angry? If it weren't for Guo Donglun sitting across from him, he'd have flipped the table and left long ago.

But Guo Donglun didn't seem to be joking.

"At first, I thought you were different from those speculators and profit-chasers,"

Guo Donglun said calmly, "After you came to Yangcheng, you never shortchanged the state or the workers—that's why I let you grow without interference."

"But recently I realized your nature is the same as theirs—even more despicable!"

Hao Jian froze for several seconds, then said honestly, "Brother Guo, speak plainly! I swear I've done nothing to betray you—tell me what's wrong."

Guo Donglun glared coldly at Hao Jian and sneered, "You're looking for another path, ready to spread your wings, aren't you?"

"I don't care if you want to make money; if you think our partnership doesn't suit you, let's part ways.

But you've grown strong on my shoulders, then quietly climbed to higher branches, leaving all the lawful work to you and forcing me to shoulder the rest—do you really think I'm an easy target because I'm crippled?"

Hao Jian stared blankly for several seconds before understanding what Guo Donglun meant by "climbing higher branches."

It was what Lü Bu did!

That was a total misunderstanding.

Li Ye had indeed connected with Wen Leyu, but that was pure love born in crisis—not like Lü Bu's betrayal, and certainly not related to Hao Jian.

"Brother Guo, I must make this clear: we have no intention of seeking another path or climbing higher branches."

Hao Jian said seriously, "From the day we first met in the machine repair shop dormitory, our stance was cooperation—we provide labor and effort, you provide connections and resources. We're not your herdsmen or pig farmers."

"As for your claim about seeking another path—I have no idea what you're referring to."

"No idea?" Guo Donglun smiled. "The Xiushuijie renovation project I can understand—but how did you get access to the Guangjiao Society? And how did you get that first TV commercial?"

"And your 'Fenghua Apparel' branding—you really think I don't understand branding? I checked the Trademark Bureau's registration records—the registered owner of Fenghua Apparel isn't Pengcheng Factory Seven."

Hao Jian frowned and shook his head. "I really can't explain that—it's all handled by the Beijing liaison office. But isn't this good for you too? The bigger our business grows, the more you profit."

"You really think I got involved with you just for money?" Guo Donglun smiled. "I was just bored and playing around. Now I've suddenly found it unenjoyable.

I don't want to be used as a fool anymore—so let's break up. Good luck to you."

"."

Hao Jian hadn't expected Guo Donglun to be so decisive—over vague suspicions and a mere feeling of losing control over Pengcheng Factory Seven, he was ready to kill the goose that laid golden eggs.

And this goose laid golden eggs.

Even if Li Ye and Hao Jian could raise another goose now, this one still carried feelings, didn't it?

"Comrade Guo, was it just for fun?" Hao Jian's smile vanished; he spoke seriously. "Before we part, why not take some time to visit the factory?"

Guo Donglun's face remained expressionless. "Is that necessary?"

"Yes," Hao Jian said sternly. "After you see it, you might not spend your days just sitting in the sun with no ambition left."

When Hao Jian mentioned Guo Donglun spending his days in the sun, Guo Donglun's eyes narrowed. When he mentioned his lack of ambition, Guo Donglun's lips curled into a cold smile.

"Hmph~"

Guo Donglun glanced at Hao Jian and finally said, "Fine. I'll come to the factory tomorrow at ten—see what ambition this speculator has."

"I look forward to your visit. But I must correct one thing."

Hao Jian looked earnestly at Guo Donglun. "I'm not a speculator. I'm a businessman with conscience."

Guo Donglun arrived at Pengcheng Factory Seven at ten the next morning, still with his maid Xiao Liang, but now accompanied by a 212 Jeep, already uncommon in Guangdong.

After registration, he entered the factory gate and saw Hao Jian coming out to greet him from the office building.

Hao Jian came alone to greet him; everyone else in the factory was busy, barely glancing at Guo Donglun.

Hao Jian smiled warmly. "Brother Guo, you're punctual—exactly at ten, even more precise than an alarm clock!"

Guo Donglun narrowed his eyes and murmured, "I thought you'd throw me a grand welcome ceremony. That's unexpected."

Hao Jian blinked, surprised. "You like that kind of spectacle? I can arrange it right now—the factory has thousands of workers. We'll make it grand."

Guo Donglun twisted his mouth in disgust. "I hate that kind of fake show."

Hao Jian smiled. "I hate it too. That's why this factory values practicality—no empty formalities."

"Practicality isn't spoken with words," Guo Donglun waved his hand. "Today, what do you want me to see?"

"Come this way—I'll push your wheelchair."

Hao Jian reached out to push Guo Donglun's wheelchair, but Xiao Liang's face hardened. "No need. Just lead the way."

Hao Jian didn't flinch; he turned and led Guo Donglun through a row of brand-new workshops, explaining as they walked.

"This is Workshop Nine, built last year. Construction speed here in Pengcheng is high—completed in one or two months. Elsewhere, it'd take half a year."

"All the workers here are veterans—they've been here over a year. When they first arrived, they cried, missing home. Now? They don't even want to go home for the New Year—they beg me to assign them production tasks."

Guo Donglun looked through the workshop window at workers bent over their tasks, oblivious to everything around, and asked coolly, "Did you agree?"

"Agree? I agreed to what?" Hao Jian laughed. "I don't mind paying overtime for holiday work,

but if I let these workers' parents cry because their children won't come home for the New Year, wouldn't that be a sin?"

"People in our country value family ties. I booked group tickets for them—all paid from their year-end bonuses. I told them to get the hell home. Not going home for the New Year? What kind of nonsense is that?"

As Hao Jian spoke, emotion welled up in his voice.

He hadn't been home in over ten years—he was the prodigal son.

"Come on, let me take you to Workshop One. That's where the new workers are—you'll understand my intentions after you see them."

Hao Jian quickened his pace, leading Guo Donglun forward.

Behind them, Guo Donglun let out a quiet, faint chuckle.

Xiao Liang said, "He's a strange man."

Guo Donglun replied, "It's not him who's strange—it's the man behind him."

(End of Chapter)