Chapter 98

And before long, several waiters in red vests and white shirts seemed to appear out of nowhere, suddenly surrounding Lu Zheng. Lu Zheng could only let go of the mop he was holding and slowly step back.

A female waiter entered the restroom, and next to Lu Zheng stood a tall and sturdy young man who asked him rather unfriendly, "Brother, what's going on?"

Another waiter shouted, "Should we call the police?"

Lu Zheng took out his work ID and handed it to the sturdy young man, saying, "It's a misunderstanding, right? You can see, this is the men's restroom."

The sturdy male waiter looked at Lu Zheng's work ID, his face breaking into a smile. He quickly returned it to Lu Zheng and said, "Yes, I understand, it must be a misunderstanding."

Lu Zheng was quite helpless. Was this guy too smart? He clearly didn't think well of him.

The male waiter, who seemed to be a small leader, then scolded the young man who was shouting about calling the police, "Shut up, you. If you disturb the guests, your bonus will be deducted. It's just a misunderstanding, why call the police? Everyone, calm down and go back to your work."

At this moment, the Japanese beauty, accompanied by a female waiter, slowly walked out, her beautiful eyes staring at Lu Zheng rather unfriendly.

The male waiter, seeing the Japanese beauty, was taken aback for a moment, then walked over with a full smile, "Miss Kagawa, I'm sorry to have frightened you. As you can see, it's just a misunderstanding. Calm down, shall I escort you back to your room to rest?"

The Japanese beauty hesitated for a moment but then nodded lightly. Although she didn't believe it was a misunderstanding, in a foreign country where she was unfamiliar, she didn't want to cause trouble and risk being at a disadvantage.

She was a top graduate from the University of Tokyo, and although she had studied Chinese, her understanding of China was quite limited. In her impression, China was a poor, backward, and ignorant country with low civic qualities, and its people were very fanatical and terrifying. Coming to work in China was as dangerous as entering a primitive jungle, but for her future, she had resolutely embarked on this dangerous journey.

While Lu Zheng was squatting on the ground and vomiting, the Japanese beauty noticed a long, red scar on his exposed waist, which looked very frightening, likely a knife scar.

In her view, this Chinese man must be a dangerous and terrifying member of a violent group, perhaps even a Red Guard?

Although she had studied Chinese, her knowledge of China was very limited. In her mind, the Red Guards were like the Japanese Yakuza, or even more terrifying. Ten years ago, the Maoist Red Guards (Red Army) formed by Japanese youth who believed in communism and admired Chinese leaders had caused a series of violent incidents that terrified the entire country. These terrifying acts left an indelible impression on her young mind.

For some reason, Lu Zheng's appearance seemed more menacing to her.

Then, she noticed that this menacing-looking man was following her. In a foreign country, her panic was understandable.

When they reached the 11th floor, she saw the restroom as soon as she got off the elevator. Instinctively, she ran into it and found a mop to block the door handle. If this man followed her, he would be a pervert, and she could call for help from the waiters.

She also stayed on the 11th floor and knew that not far from the restroom was the service staff's duty room.

Regardless of whether it was a misunderstanding, she didn't want to run to Room 2 in a panic and be seen in a disheveled state by Yamamoto Tarou and the others. She knew her colleagues looked down on her as a female supervisor, so every encounter with them was a battle, and she had to be at her best. She wanted her colleagues to see her as excellent, strong, serious, and hardworking.

A timid, failing, and weak girl? That would quickly destroy the image she had built at Mitsubishi headquarters.

Moreover, Room 2 was far from the elevator. If she were subdued and dragged into a room in the corridor by this Chinese man, what would happen?

So, almost instinctively, she ran into the restroom.

Although she didn't want to cause trouble, she hoped this Chinese man wouldn't harass her again. The Japanese beauty then asked the sturdy waiter, "Excuse me, is he a guest here?"

The waiter scratched his head and pointed to the restroom sign, saying, "Miss Kagawa, you really misunderstood." He wouldn't reveal Lu Zheng's identity, although he secretly suspected that this official from the Planning and Economy Commission had ulterior motives, but he had to cover for him. Fortunately, Miss Kagawa had entered the men's restroom, so they were in the right.

Kagawa Juniko turned her head and was slightly taken aback. She then looked at the sign for the women's restroom. Only by comparison did she realize that the black figure on the sign for the restroom she had entered was wearing shorts, while the slightly wider lower body on the women's restroom sign was a skirt. If not compared with the women's restroom, the figure on the men's restroom sign looked like it was wearing a mini skirt.

The restroom here was of a higher standard, with a washroom outside and a door leading to the toilet area inside. Kagawa Juniko, who had been in the washroom facing off with Lu Zheng, hadn't noticed that she had entered the men's restroom.

Kagawa Juniko looked at Lu Zheng again. Lu Zheng was shaking his head helplessly, actually because he realized that although the waiters were speaking up for him, they seemed to think he was a pervert with ulterior motives. They were helping him because of his identity and the shared nationality.

Kagawa Juniko then bowed slightly to Lu Zheng, "Sir, I'm sorry, I misunderstood you. But you have a scar and look quite fierce, so this misunderstanding happened. I'm very sorry!" Finally, she said in Japanese, "Mou shi wake arimasen," which is a very formal way of saying "I'm sorry" in Japanese. Her voice was soft, and speaking her native language made her sound especially pleasant, making the male waiter feel a bit relaxed.

Lu Zheng was a bit helpless. "Why do I look fierce?" He waved his hand and said, "Forget it, it's nothing, as long as you know it was a misunderstanding." No matter how annoyed he was, he couldn't argue with a girl.

Kagawa Juniko then noticed the wound on Lu Zheng's forehead caused by her handbag and apologized, "Should I take you to the medical room?" Then she remembered and said apologetically, "Sumimasen, sumimasen, I have an important appointment, I..."

Lu Zheng waved his hand, "Forget it, it's fine." He thought, who doesn't have an important appointment?

"Then, then I'll give you some money, and you can see a doctor yourself. If it's not enough, please call me, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." Kagawa Juniko said, reaching into her handbag for money and a business card.

Lu Zheng waved his hand and turned to walk towards the elevator. Kagawa Juniko was taken aback, ran a few steps, but Lu Zheng had already entered the elevator and pressed the button to close the door.

In the elevator, facing the bright metal side wall, Lu Zheng looked at the wound on his forehead and the stains on his clothes. He really looked quite disheveled. Well, it seemed he couldn't go to the banquet. He would call from the lobby to let them know.

Then he realized that he had just gone up to the 11th floor and immediately taken the elevator down, which would only confirm his identity as a pervert. Even if it was a misunderstanding, they would now suspect him.

Oh, maybe they would think he was going to the medical room?

Anyway, today was really unlucky.

Lu Zheng shook his head, feeling helpless.

...

Lu Zheng's bad luck was just beginning. The next morning, as soon as he entered the office, he received a call from Deputy Secretary and Director of the Planning and Economy Commission, Ma Hua, asking him to come over.

Ma Hua had offices in both the municipal government building and the Planning and Economy Commission compound, but usually, his office in the Planning and Economy Commission was just for show and rarely used.

Today was no exception. When Secretary Ma called, Lu Zheng drove straight to the municipal government compound.

In Secretary Ma's office, Lu Zheng reported on recent work in attracting investment and aiding the poverty-stricken county. Ma Hua listened attentively, his thick eyebrows sometimes moving slightly, but these subtle expressions did not escape Lu Zheng's notice. Lu Zheng keenly observed that when he mentioned the construction of the Lingdong County market, Secretary Ma's thick eyebrows furrowed and then relaxed.

Lu Zheng took a sip of water and said, "Ah, Secretary Ma, I have another matter to report. The officials from the Lingdong County office once gave me a box of apples, but I returned it."

Ma Hua nodded, "Yes, a box of apples." Then he leaned back on the sofa and slowly lit a cigarette.

"Secretary Ma, is there something going on?"

Ma Hua smoked, staring at Lu Zheng.

Lu Zheng looked puzzled, then gradually realized and asked tentatively, "Secretary Ma, could it be that you know about the apples?"

Ma Hua nodded slightly, "I heard about it."

Lu Zheng then smiled bitterly, "Secretary Ma, you seem so serious. It seems you also know that there was 500 yuan under the apples?"

Ma Hua was slightly taken aback, not expecting Lu Zheng to admit it.

Lu Zheng then said, "Sigh, I didn't want to report it. After all, the officials from Lingdong were just trying to do something good for their hometown, but they used the wrong method. I've already criticized them, a small punishment to serve as a warning. But if I report it to the organization, I'm afraid they will be in trouble. These comrades live a very hard life in Wushan. Sometimes at noon, they just eat cold steamed buns, and I feel sorry for them, so..."

Ma Hua's frown gradually relaxed, and he said, "So, the money...?"

"Was returned with the apples. I asked Zhang Qingtian to handle it. When they gave me the apples, I wasn't home, and a neighbor received them. I found the money the next day and immediately asked Zhang Qingtian to return the apples and the money."

"Ah, Zhang Qingtian handled it." Ma Hua's expression became more relaxed. Regardless of how unpopular Zhang Qingtian was, the leaders trusted him and felt he wouldn't cause any trouble.

"Secretary Ma, I was worried about the future of the Lingdong officials, so I didn't tell anyone. Who told you? Zhang Qingtian?" Lu Zheng said, clenching his teeth, then shook his head, "No, if you didn't know I returned the money, it wasn't Zhang Qingtian..."

Ma Hua laughed, "You stubborn one, what are you thinking? Who told me doesn't matter. It's for your own good. I'll pretend I didn't hear about it." He looked at Lu Zheng and nodded, "I heard you're quite loyal to your friends. It seems that's true. But Zheng, as a member of the Party, the first thing is to be loyal to the Party and have a strong party spirit. If your party spirit is weak, your future will be difficult. Take today's incident, for example. If I didn't care about you and didn't have an open and honest talk with you, it could have caused a lot of trouble in the future."

Lu Zheng knew that Ma Hua's willingness to talk to him this way meant he still had a good impression of him. He nodded sincerely, "Thank you, Secretary Ma, for your guidance. I will remember it."

Ma Hua smiled and patted him, saying, "It's good that you speak from the heart."

But in Lu Zheng's mind, he was pondering who had reported this to Ma Hua to harm him. It seemed he needed to look into the Lingdong officials for clues.