Chapter 18

"Zhou Ming, it's not good. That bastard Huang Zheng has teamed up with the factory security department to target Xiao Han. They've already shut down her restaurant."

Zhang Lei rushed into the reception room of the Agricultural Bank, where Zhou Ming and Su Han were waiting. Without waiting for Zhou Ming and Su Han to ask, he blurted out.

"Huang Zheng?" Su Han stood up and said, "Zhou Ming, you were right. It's indeed him."

Zhou Ming nodded. He and Su Han had already speculated about what might happen, and Huang Zheng was the most likely culprit. This man had a small heart and a grudge for even the slightest offense. When he failed to bully Su Han, she reported him to the factory security department, and he has harbored a grudge ever since. Later, he had his wife and family spread rumors about Su Han to tarnish her reputation. Whenever Su Han opened a small restaurant, he would find trouble with the factory security department.

Now that Su Han was making a lot of money with Zhou Ming in the government bond business, he feared that she would seek revenge if she became even wealthier. So, he decided to act first to prevent Su Han from having the chance to retaliate.

Zhou Ming thought for a moment and asked Zhang Lei, "What's the situation at the factory now?"

Zhang Lei shook his head and said, "It's not good. The factory security department is looking for Xiao Han everywhere. What should we do, Zhou Ming? Should we go to Dog Grandpa and ask for his help?"

"Probably not. After the incident with Ma Jianjun, Huang Zheng still dared to do this, which shows he's not afraid of Dog Grandpa. Even if we go to him, it won't help," Zhou Ming added, "Moreover, although Ma Jianjun was disciplined by Dog Grandpa, he now hates me even more. It's hard to say he's not behind this."

"What should we do then?" Su Han asked, now in a state of panic, with Zhou Ming as her only support.

Zhou Ming said, "How about this: since we've already made so much money, why don't you go hide in another place, Xiao Han? As long as Huang Zheng can't find you, that's fine. I'll go to Sister Mu Qing and ask her to take me to Nanjiang. Once we make a lot of money outside, we can come back and find ways to build connections in the county and city. Then we won't have to fear him anymore, and I can help you take revenge."

"That's the only way," Su Han said, "But I don't want to go to another place. The expenses are too high, and staying for a month would cost a thousand yuan. Besides, I'm not used to it. Zhou Ming, your business needs money. I can go back to my hometown in the countryside. Huang Zheng is only powerful in Nanhui County and the factory. If I go back to the countryside, he won't be able to find me, and it won't cost much there."

Zhou Ming was surprised that even at this critical moment, Su Han was still thinking about his business and saving money for him. Where could he find such a good girl?

Zhou Ming wanted to persuade Su Han that he wasn't short of a few thousand yuan, but Su Han insisted. In the end, Zhou Ming had no choice but to send Su Han to the Nanhui station, gave her a thousand yuan, and let her return to her hometown in the countryside.

Before getting on the bus, Zhou Ming held Su Han's hand and said with a pledge, "Xiao Han, at most, you'll be in the countryside for half a year. I will definitely come back to take you out and help you take revenge on Huang Zheng!"

Su Han smiled, "Zhou Ming, I trust you. Besides, I'm originally from the countryside, so it's not a hardship for me to go back."

...

After sending Su Han away, Zhou Ming and Zhang Lei returned to the factory. Zhang Lei led Zhou Ming directly to the factory TV station to find Lin Muqing. When they reached the door of Lin Muqing's office, Zhou Ming was about to knock but heard a voice inside.

"Muqing, you've been here for quite some time, working hard on news production and editing. There's a deputy director position open. How about I recommend you? The procedure is a bit complicated, but we can have dinner tonight and discuss it in detail. What do you think?" It was the voice of a middle-aged man.

"Director Zhu, I'm here on a temporary assignment from the city station. Please show some respect!" It was Lin Muqing's cold voice.

"Temporary assignment? Muqing, you just offended someone at the city station. Don't worry, if they don't want you, I do!" Director Zhu said.

Hearing this, Zhou Ming understood why Lin Muqing suddenly came to him to propose a partnership in the government bond business. Ultimately, it was her beauty that caused the trouble. Even though she was a widow who had outlived several men and was called a seductress by the factory people, her charm still made men want to pursue her.

Lin Muqing must have been annoyed by Director Zhu's harassment and, knowing that Zhou Ming's government bond business was profitable, decided to come to him to start a business and make money on her own.

"Lin Muqing, do you really think you're a virtuous woman? You're just a used woman. I'm doing you a favor by wanting you. Don't be ungrateful!" Director Zhu's words made Zhou Ming's heart sink. It seemed that Lin Muqing's rejection had made Director Zhu furious. Zhou Ming, who had lived two lives, knew that while higher-ups might still care about their status and face, these grassroots officials were notoriously shameless.

Worried that Lin Muqing would be bullied, Zhou Ming tried to push the door open, but it was locked. In a panic, he kicked the door open. Inside, Lin Muqing was cornered against the wall by the fat Director Zhu, who was reaching out to grab her hand.

Being interrupted while in the middle of something made Director Zhu very angry. He glared at Zhou Ming and said, "Who are you? How did you get in? Why are you disrupting the factory's business? Zhang Lei, grab this guy and take him to the security department!"

Zhou Ming wasn't intimidated. He quickly went up to Director Zhu, grabbed his collar, and pulled him away. Then he winked at Lin Muqing, "Sister, is this guy bullying you? Should we send him to the police?"

Zhou Ming said this deliberately to give himself a legitimate reason, not to be seen as an uninvolved person.

Director Zhu, not knowing Zhou Ming's intentions, panicked when he heard about the police. He was only the director of the factory TV station and had no connections with the police. He quickly put on a smile and said, "Brother, don't be so impulsive. Let's talk things out. I was just discussing work with your sister. I wasn't bullying her."

"You're lying! I clearly heard you say you were going to bully her!" Zhou Ming said angrily.

At this moment, Lin Muqing spoke, "Make him leave. I don't want to see him anymore."

Hearing this, Director Zhu fled in a panic. After he left, Lin Muqing couldn't hold back her tears of委屈 (grievance).

Zhou Ming took a tissue from the desk and gave it to Lin Muqing, signaling Zhang Lei to leave. After a while, Lin Muqing regained her composure and sniffled, "I'm sorry, I made a fool of myself in front of you."

Zhou Ming shook his head gently, "Sister Muqing, quit your job and go into business with me in Nanjiang. We'll make a lot of money and be our own bosses. You won't have to put up with people like him anymore."

"I don't need your charity!" Lin Muqing said stubbornly.

"This isn't charity, it's a partnership!" Zhou Ming emphasized, "Sister Muqing, you have relatives working in the Nanjiang City Entry-Exit Administration, and I need your connections. Besides, I have some personal reasons for needing to make more money faster. So, Sister Muqing, I didn't decide this just because of what happened today. I had already planned this before I came. No matter what, I want you to go with me!"

Lin Muqing looked at Zhou Ming in surprise, then lowered her head, "Thank you, whether this is to comfort me or if it's true, I really appreciate it. But... can I think about quitting and going to Nanjiang with you to make money?"

"Sister Muqing, do you not trust me?" Zhou Ming asked.

"Of course not," Lin Muqing blurted out.

"Then there's no problem," Zhou Ming said, "I can promise you, Sister Muqing, that if you go with me, I'll make you enough money to buy the entire factory TV station!"

Lin Muqing stared at Zhou Ming for a long time before finally nodding, "Okay, I trust you!"

...

Leaving Lin Muqing's office, Zhou Ming met Zhang Lei in the corridor. Zhang Lei asked, "Is Sister Lin okay?"

Zhou Ming shook his head, "She's fine, and she's agreed to go to Nanjiang with me to make money. She won't have to worry about being harassed by Director Zhu anymore."

Zhou Ming was about to say more to Zhang Lei when a hateful voice suddenly interrupted, "Oh? Isn't this the brat from the Zhou family? Who left the door open for you to sneak in?"

It was Huang Zheng's voice. Hearing it, Zhou Ming's face darkened. This man had ruined Su Han's reputation and made it impossible for her to return to the factory. Despite doing nothing wrong, she had to hide in her hometown in the countryside.

"Brat, don't look at me like that," Huang Zheng said, "I'm asking you, did you hide that little slut Su Han? Where is she now? I'm telling you, her restaurant is operating illegally and has violated several factory rules. The factory security department is going to take her to the police. You'd better tell the truth, or the security department will take you with her."

"Go to hell!" Zhou Ming pointed at Huang Zheng angrily, "I'll tell you, Huang, one day I'll buy the entire 760 Factory and have the security department arrest you!"

Huang Zheng laughed, "That's the funniest joke I've ever heard. Zhou Ming, who do you think you are? A city leader, a provincial leader, or a central leader? Buying the entire 760 Factory? You should first solve your father's problem."

Zhou Ming's expression turned serious, "What's wrong with my father?"

"Nothing much, just that Old Zhou treated his job like a joke and was absent without leave for half a month, seriously violating the factory's rules. The factory is going to fire him," Huang Zheng said arrogantly.

"Absent without leave? My father was hospitalized for appendicitis at that time. How did it become absent without leave?" Zhou Ming said.

"Is that so? Then why didn't the factory know? According to the hospital records, Old Zhou only had a common stomachache. He could have taken some medicine and returned to work, but he chose to deceive the factory, ignoring the warnings of the factory leaders, and was absent without leave for half a month. The factory has every reason to fire such a rule-breaking worker!" Huang Zheng said, digging his ear arrogantly.

"Son of a bitch!"

Zhou Ming clenched his fists. He never thought Huang Zheng would be so despicable, even targeting his father by using his illness to get him fired from the factory.