Chapter 273: Personnel Management (Part 2)

After meeting Zhu Yan, Hou Weidong adjusted his initial negotiation strategy. He let Zhang Xiangyu handle the纠缠 (entanglements) with the inspection team from Xiuyun Pharmaceutical Factory, while he focused solely on setting the overall direction of the negotiations. He no longer participated in the specific details, preferring instead to enjoy drinks with Jiang Dali and Gao Wang, chatting freely about life, friendship, and women, savoring the fruits of the reform and opening-up policy.

After touring the scenic spots in Yiyang, Jiang Dali turned his attention to Lingxi. As the provincial capital, Lingxi was naturally a tier above Shazhou. Having experienced the local entertainment in Yiyang, there was no need to linger in Shazhou.

Jiang Dali, with his large, bald head, said to Hou Weidong, "Don't laugh. This is truly the result of reform and opening-up. Without it, would there be such high-end private clubs? Would there be such beautiful women scrubbing your back? Ten years ago, you could only dream of this."

Gao Wang, thin to the point of showing his ribs, had become deeply invested in the New Management Committee during this period of inspection. He was also somewhat anxious about the matter. To ensure the new drug could be produced as soon as possible, the Yiyang branch of Xiuyun Pharmaceutical Factory had to complete its construction by the end of this year or early next year, guaranteeing rapid development and market entry. Therefore, while he appeared harsh and demanding in formal negotiations with the New Management Committee, he was gentle and humble in private interactions.

Speaking with a Cantonese-accented Mandarin, he said, "I can read faces. Director Hou, taking charge of the development zone at such a young age is truly remarkable. I’m an old hand in Guangdong, familiar with development zones big and small. If Director Hou has time to visit, I’ll invite the heads of several development zones for a drink."

Hou Weidong was quite interested in this proposal. He said, "Reading ten thousand books and traveling ten thousand miles—Yiyang, as a central region, still lags far behind the developed coastal areas. I definitely plan to visit Guangdong soon. I’ll certainly bother you, Mr. Gao, then."

"We are brothers. Don’t speak so formally."

The three men soaked in the high-end hot spring club in Lingxi, drinking what was claimed to be aged French wine. Listening to soft music and discussing current domestic and international economic conditions, Gao Wang also shared some political gossip. The atmosphere was quite pleasant.

Jiang Dali was Xiuyun Pharmaceutical Factory’s largest agent in Lingxi, doing well in business, and was a regular at this hot spring club. However, he was deeply troubled. He had been in a cold war with Yang Qian for three or four days. He had taken time off to visit home today, but Yang Qian remained cold and sarcastic, her face as gloomy as a pond in January.

Eventually, their conversation reached a deadlock.

After being sharply rebuked by Yang Qian, Jiang Dali was too angry to speak. He said, "I’m not talking to you anymore. Hou Weidong and Gao Wang are still at the Jinxing Hotel. I’m leaving." Seeing that Jiang Dali had not returned home for several days, and now came back only to throw a tantrum and leave, Yang Qian began to tear up. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and said, "Jiang Dali, if you dare to leave today…"

Before she could finish, Jiang Dali, with his shiny bald head, slammed the door and left.

Yang Qian stood by the window, watching Jiang Dali drive away in a flash. Angry, she cursed, "That heartless thing. He really just left."

She hastily packed her belongings into two large bags and casually put a bank card into her leather purse. However, she soon remembered that this card had ten thousand yuan in it. She took it out and replaced it with another card that had only eight thousand yuan.

After packing the two large bags, Yang Qian hesitated. "Although Jiang Dali often doesn’t come home, he does it to earn money for this family. He hasn’t kept a mistress outside, so he still has some conscience."

But then she thought again, "Are my expectations too low? Just because he doesn’t keep a mistress, does that make him a good man? He often comes home drunk in the middle of the night. He deserves a lesson." She called Duan Ying and took a taxi straight to the staff quarters of the Lingxi Daily.

Soaking in hot springs, drinking fine wine, listening to music, and watching beautiful women, Hou Weidong and the other two enjoyed themselves fully. Gao Wang, being older, had less stamina. By 1 a.m., when they sat in the tea room, he was already sleepy and was the first to leave.

After Gao Wang left, Jiang Dali also restrained his earlier wildness. He stopped drinking wine and ordered a tall glass of chrysanthemum tea with some sugar cubes.

Hou Weidong noticed he had something on his mind and asked, "Baldy, what are you thinking about? Is something bothering you?"

"In this line of work, although money comes quickly, the hardships are unimaginable to outsiders. Every day, I accompany clients for drinking, clubbing, bathing, and women. It’s really exhausting."

Jiang Dali patted his belly and said, "Crazy nights, sleeping days, living upside down. My lifestyle is almost like that of a prostitute. My belly is full of fat, and even I feel disgusted. Yang Qian has a lot of complaints. I just went home and argued with her again. Damn, what kind of life is this?"

Hou Weidong had always regarded Jiang Dali as a business genius. He said, "If you’re unhappy, change careers. With your ability, you’ll succeed in any field."

Jiang Dali said, "I visited Xinyue Tower. Sales are booming. Real estate is a high-profit industry with many hidden dealings. It’s perfect for someone like me."

Hearing that Jiang Dali wanted to switch careers, Hou Weidong said, "If you want to enter real estate, the New Management Committee has large plots of vacant land. You’re welcome to invest. However, I’ve set rules in the New Management Committee: shell companies are strictly prohibited."

Jiang Dali laughed and said, "After doing pharmaceuticals in Guangdong for a few years, I can still come up with a few million. Plus other financing channels, I’m not a shell company. I’ve been squatting in your territory these past few days, and I’ve actually become quite interested in the New Management Committee."

Changing the subject improved Jiang Dali’s mood. As a newcomer to real estate, his capital was not substantial in this industry. Therefore, he adopted a steady approach, first testing the waters in the Yiyang New Management Committee to gauge the depth and shallows of the real estate market.

When they discussed serious business, they became energetic again. At 2 a.m., Jiang Dali finally returned home with his large head. Finding the house quiet and the living room TV off, he felt something was wrong. When he entered the bedroom, he saw the quilt folded neatly. Turning on the light, he found a small note on the quilt.

"You can spend your life in bars."

"Damn it." Jiang Dali realized Yang Qian had finally run away from home. He paced anxiously in the room, then remembered to look for Duan Ying’s phone number in the drawers, but he couldn’t find the small notebook where Yang Qian usually kept phone numbers.

Hou Weidong had returned to the Jinxing Hotel and was in the bathroom when the phone on the table rang frantically.

"Yang Qian ran away from home? Baldy, what are you two doing?"

Jiang Dali shouted into the phone, "Yang Qian turned off her mobile phone. She has no acquaintances in Lingxi, so she must have gone to Duan Ying’s house. Hurry up and find Duan Ying’s number for me."

Hou Weidong said, "You don’t have Duan Ying’s number? Neither do I."

"Call Zhang Xiaojia. She has it."

Hou Weidong had already taken out his mobile phone but deliberately said, "It’s already 2 a.m."

Due to Yang Qian’s departure, Jiang Dali became particularly unreasonable, especially when dealing with Hou Weidong. He rudely said, "Cut the crap. Find Duan Ying’s number for me immediately."

Hou Weidong shook his head with a smile. Although he actually had Duan Ying’s mobile number, he still called Xiaojia.

"Hmm, husband, what are you doing so late?"

When Hou Weidong explained the situation, Xiaojia’s sleepiness vanished. She jumped out of bed and said, "You men always use busyness as an excuse, leaving women alone at home. I think you’re just using work as a pretext to mingle outside. I have Duan Ying’s number, but I won’t give it to you."

"Jiang Baldy and his wife are having a conflict. Why are you joining in? Give me the number quickly."

Xiaojia giggled for a while before giving Hou Weidong Duan Ying’s landline and mobile numbers. Hou Weidong was very familiar with Duan Ying’s mobile number. Seeing it, he thought to himself, "She’s still using this number."

Jiang Dali got the number and, regardless of the late hour, dialed Duan Ying.

At Duan Ying’s house, Yang Qian and Duan Ying were staring at the phone by the bed, watching it ring. Duan Ying looked up at the number and read it out loud, "Is this Jiang Dali’s number?" Yang Qian had vented to Duan Ying for several hours, and her anger had subsided considerably. She said, "It’s him. I’m not answering."

A few minutes later, Duan Ying’s mobile phone received a text message: "I’m at the door. Jiang Dali."

Hou Weidong sat in Jiang Dali’s car and said, "Why are you dragging me into your marital issues?"

Jiang Dali skillfully turned the steering wheel and said, "Friends should stick together through thick and thin. When we get to Duan Ying’s house, you deal with Duan Ying to prevent her from nagging, and I’ll deal with my wife."

"You usually seem so carefree. Why are you so anxious over such a small matter?"

Jiang Dali’s expression became serious. He said, "Don’t let our bickering fool you. Our relationship is actually very good. Back in Guangdong, although making money was easier, for a young man trying to make a name for himself in such a noisy big city, it was not easy. There were times when I felt discouraged. If Xiaojian had been with me during that period, I could have endured it, but it would have been ten times more painful."

Hou Weidong, having experienced the hardships of starting a business in Shangqinglin, said, "I understand."

Just then, Jiang Dali received a call from Duan Ying. Her voice was gentle. She said, "Don’t worry. Xiaojian’s anger has subsided. I’m coming down immediately."

Duan Ying put on her coat and went upstairs to knock on the duty master’s door. After explaining the situation and handing him a pack of Yunyan cigarettes, the duty master readily opened the iron gate. "Xiao Duan, don’t be polite."

The duty master of the Lingxi Daily staff quarters was a formal staff member assigned to guard the gate. He had a temper, but Duan Ying always greeted him proactively when she went to work, so he had a good impression of her. When the car entered, he asked, "If you’re going out, just knock on my window."

Duan Ying came to the car. By the interior light, she saw Hou Weidong sitting in the car. Her heart skipped a beat. When the two men got out, she nodded to Hou Weidong and then said to Jiang Dali, "Hurry up and go up. Xiaojian has been waiting for you all along. She said, 'Say less.'"

It was a two-bedroom apartment, not very large, and simply furnished. After entering, Jiang Dali went to the inner room to greet his wife, leaving Hou Weidong and Duan Ying outside.

Facing each other, they felt somewhat awkward. Duan Ying walked to the window and opened it slightly to let in some cool air. She casually introduced, "I was lucky. When I first arrived at the Lingxi Daily, I encountered a fundraising housing project. Otherwise, I would have had to rent again."