Chapter 202: Night (Part 1)
Zhang Mushan was usually a steady and composed man, but tonight, the authentic wild chicken soup, slow-cooked in a large iron pot, stirred deep memories of his days as an educated youth.
The hardships of youth are the most deeply etched into one’s memory. Even as time passes and the scars fade, they can still surface like tender grass shoots when the moment is right.
When Zhang Mushan was an educated youth, he was quite young. He worked in the production brigade, following behind the older brothers and sisters. At eighteen, under rather accidental circumstances, he joined the army. Dozens of educated youths at his station envied him greatly. Those three years of rural life, followed by over a decade in the military, taught him knowledge that no classroom could provide and gave him a profound understanding of society. In a sense, this was a crucial factor in his ability to build the Qingda Group from scratch.
He Hongfu, He Hequan, and others took turns toasting him, gradually lifting Zhang Mushan’s spirits. He began to recount stories of his life as an educated youth.
As the drinking reached its peak, Hou Weidong felt the urgent need to urinate. Stepping out of the courtyard, he saw Zeng Xianggang squatting alone outside the gate, looking gloomy. Hou Weidong walked over and asked, "Old Zeng, what’s on your mind? Why aren’t you inside with us?"
Zeng Xianggang turned around, saw it was Hou Weidong, and stood up. "I don’t drink. What’s the point of joining the fun?"
"Do you have something on your mind?"
Zeng Xianggang said, "I have a friend named Ye Mingyue, a small-time thug in Yiyang City. He claims that Heiwa has two genuine Type 54 pistols. There are rumors that Xiaogang was beaten to death. I’m worried that Heiwa might make a comeback and try to target Shangqinlin again."
"What can a one-armed man possibly do?"
Zeng Xianggang remained silent, calculating in his mind whether he should acquire real firearms. After all, no matter how hard a fist is or how fast a knife, it cannot match the lethality of a bullet.
Hou Weidong said, "The Shazhou Criminal Investigation Detachment has been tracking the whereabouts of those two guns. How much does this Ye Mingyue really know? I’ll mention this to my brother-in-law and have him send more people down to investigate."
Zeng Xianggang had committed crimes twice, and the police had come close to catching him. Therefore, he did not fully trust their capabilities. "We cannot take Heiwa lightly. I will never forget the lesson Secretary Qin taught. You are an official, so naturally, you think in terms of official channels. I am just an ordinary citizen. I must protect myself."
Hou Weidong knew that Li Jianyong was keeping a close eye on Shangqinlin, and Zeng Xianggang was the prime suspect. He advised him earnestly, "You are a wealthy man now. It is best not to engage in illegal activities. Shangqinlin is already under police surveillance. Life and freedom are the most precious things a person has. This wisdom has been passed down by many elders for a reason. You should think it over carefully."
"My wife is dead, my son is autistic, and I have lost an eye. When I think of these things, I wish I could kill all those bastards. I have seen clearly: the bold ride dragons and tigers, while the timid ride hens."
Seeing Zeng Xianggang’s thoughts becoming increasingly extreme, Hou Weidong felt helpless. After chatting for a few more moments, Hou Weidong returned to the room.
Zhang Mushan’s face was flushed red. He was actively challenging Li Jing to a drinking contest. Li Jing rarely drank baijiu. Seeing that Zhang Mushan had already consumed quite a bit, she advised, "President Zhang, this Yiyang sorghum liquor goes down smoothly, but the alcohol content is actually very high. You should drink less."
As she spoke, she signaled to Zhang Mushan’s secretary. Zhang Mushan waved his hand in the air and said firmly, "It is rare to get truly drunk in life. No one should try to stop me today. I will drink three cups with Li Jing."
Li Jing acted coquettishly and said softly, "I’m not feeling well. Can I skip it?"
Zhang Mushan said, "No, you must drink."
Li Jing picked up a napkin with her chopsticks and said, "I surrender, okay? Brother Zhang usually protects me the most. Why are you bullying me today?" Her eyes were watery and pitiful. "Hou Weidong is my brother. Can he drink for me?"
"Hou Xiong can drink for you. I drink three cups, and he drinks six."
Hou Weidong had just finished his conversation with Zeng Xianggang and felt somewhat depressed. Hearing this, he said heroically, "A gentleman’s word is final. I will drink six cups, and President Zhang will drink three." With that, he raised the six cups poured by He Hongfu and drank them down cleanly.
After drinking those three cups, Zhang Mushan’s intoxication deepened.
Seeing that Zhang Mushan was drunk, He Hongfu and the others shifted their attention. They turned to Director Da Jin and said, "Director Da Jin, you are a high-ranking official in charge of the economy. It is rare for you to visit Shangqinlin. Let me toast you."
Director Da Jin was a seasoned veteran. He smoothly deflected, "Why are you toasting me? Go toast President Zhu."
Zhang Mushan’s secretary’s surname was Zhu. He was also a senior secretary who had once served as the general manager of a subsidiary under the Qingda Company. He had been called "President Zhu" for many years, though his "presidency" carried far less weight than Zhang Qingda’s. "I dare not call myself President. Just call me Secretary Zhu." Secretary Zhu was very cautious. When the boss was drunk, he absolutely could not get drunk himself, or he would face severe consequences.
"Like Director Zeng, I do not drink alcohol at all. I will use tea instead of wine. Please accept my humble respects." Secretary Zhu was also tested by alcohol and knew how to refuse drinks. He simply brought up Zeng Xianggang as a precedent. Since Zeng Xianggang did not drink, he reasoned that he did not need to either.
He Hongfu and the others knew Zeng Xianggang’s stubborn nature. Since he had sworn off alcohol, he truly touched no drops. Seeing Secretary Zhu’s stance, they did not press further.
As dusk fell, a large patch of fire clouds suddenly appeared in the sky, glowing bright red.
Zhang Mushan came out into the courtyard. The alcohol surged in his blood, inspiring a poetic mood. Looking up at the fire clouds, he recited: "Facing the Jie Stone to the east, I gaze at the vast sea. How turbulent the waters! How towering the mountain islands! Trees grow thickly, and grasses flourish. The autumn wind howls, and great waves surge. The sun and moon seem to rise from within; the Milky Way shines brightly, as if emerging from its depths. How fortunate! I sing to express my ambition."
Reciting "Viewing the Ocean" while looking at fire clouds seemed somewhat mismatched, but Hou Weidong sensed the underlying meaning. He thought, "Zhang Mushan uses poetry to express his ambition. He has the solemnity of an old general from Youyan. He is no ordinary nouveau riche."
When the banquet ended and the guests dispersed, Zhang Mushan was still unsatisfied. He said to Hou Weidong, "I just heard from Secretary He that the Goubewan Quarry is the largest in Shangqinlin. Let’s go take a look."
Hou Weidong smiled inwardly. "This old fox has finally shown his tail. Since he wants to see the quarry, it means he is interested in investing in a factory. Alcohol is indeed a good thing; it exposes people’s true intentions."
Li Jing walked over to Hou Weidong and asked, "You’ve had quite a bit to drink. Can you drive?"
Hou Weidong had experienced the incident of "two trees sandwiching a car" and dared not drive after drinking again. He handed the keys to Li Jing and said with a mouthful of alcohol breath, "You drive. I trust you."
The Goubewan Quarry had been operating on a large scale for over two years. Due to the strict implementation of gradient mining regulations, although the excavation was deep, the structure looked as stable as Mount Tai. Zhang Mushan pointed to the massive excavation face and asked, "Hou Xiong, how many more years can this quarry be mined?"
Hou Weidong replied, "It’s hard to say. The entire mountain is stone. No one knows how long it will take to exhaust it."
Leaving Goubewan, it had completely darkened. Zhang Mushan went to inspect the Dawan Quarry as well. Blown by the mountain wind, he lost his composure as a CEO and vomited profusely on the small path. The group then returned to Yiyang County.
By the time the car reached the suburbs of the city, it was past nine o’clock. Li Jing said to Hou Weidong, "Let’s work a bit harder today. Let’s go to Shazhou and meet Li Dazui from the Engineering Section of the Shazhou Transportation Bureau. We will have many matters to handle with him in the future for our Jinggong Group."
"Li Dazui is the Section Chief of Engineering. He has a big mouth and eats everywhere, hence the nickname. He is a bit lecherous. You accompany me, and say you are my boyfriend."
Hou Weidong looked at Li Jing’s white neck and said, "Li Jing, it is truly not easy for a girl like you to lead an enterprise."
Li Jing held the steering wheel with both hands and said, "I have cigarettes in my bag. Light one for me."
"It’s not good for women to smoke."
"I rarely smoke. It’s fine."
She added self-deprecatingly, "I was born to a life of toil. I must work like an ox. If I rely on men, I never feel secure."
"After the Xinhe Road project starts, we must find the next project. Jinggong Group’s strength is too weak. For now, we can only rely on large companies to get a small share from their big pots. I am confident that within ten years, Jinggong Group will become a first-class large enterprise in Lingxi."
Hou Weidong said sincerely, "Li Jing, actually, with your current strength, you could enjoy life."
"Talking about enjoyment is still too early."
They arrived at the Yiyang Hotel. Li Jing went upstairs to change clothes.
Hou Weidong left the pickup truck in the Yiyang Hotel parking lot and got into Li Jing’s newly bought Santana 2000. The Santana 2000 was a model introduced by Shanghai Volkswagen from Brazil in 1995. It became popular immediately as an official and business vehicle. For a company in its preparatory stage like Jinggong Group, using this model for the boss was quite decent.
The car had a professional driver, Old Liu, who had jumped ship from the Shadao Company. He was a female driver in her mid-thirties, known for her delicate skills and famously smooth driving.
Half an hour later, Li Jing came down gracefully, wearing a low-cut, tight-fitting outfit and carrying a handbag. Seeing Hou Weidong sitting in the front passenger seat, she waved and said, "Why are you sitting in the front? Come to the back. We can chat."
When Hou Weidong bent down to enter the car, despite being prepared, his heart still raced. Unlike her daytime casual wear, Li Jing was dressed in the style of an evening gown, exposing a large portion of her chest. Her fragrance was intoxicating. For Hou Weidong, full of youthful vigor, this was an environment that could easily cause a nosebleed.
"Tomorrow, I will follow Zhang Mushan to Lingxi, and then we will tour Dalian and Weihai together. I will return in early August, just as the Xinhe Road project is about to start."
As the car traveled on the Yisha Road, the road quality was excellent. Inside the car, the song "River" by Black Duck played. Hou Weidong had heard it at Shazhou College.
Li Jing whispered, "I’m sleepy. Let me lean on you and rest a bit."