Chapter 304: Changes Like the Sea and Mulberry Fields (Middle)

Chapter 304: Changes Like the Sea and Mulberry Fields (Middle)

By the time Hou Weidong reached the highway entrance, Li Jing had already been waiting for several minutes. Seeing Hou Weidong’s Bluebird sedan in her rearview mirror, she offered a faint smile, raised her hand in a wave, and then led the way onto the highway.

Noticing Li Jing’s gesture, Hou Weidong smiled knowingly. He followed closely behind her car, gliding slowly toward the entrance ramp.

Although there were only two vehicles, Li Jing turned on her hazard lights, transforming the pair into a makeshift convoy. The Lingxi Highway was rarely busy at night, so the formation looked quite imposing. Hou Weidong followed the taillights of Li Jing’s car, the beams of his headlights flashing like a pair of expressive eyes.

Upon arriving in Shazhou, the lead car headed decisively toward the Jinggong Group’s Shazhou branch. Hou Weidong had visited this location several times before and assumed he knew the way well. However, just as they approached the main gate, the car ahead made a sharp, agile turn, bypassing the main entrance and winding along a side road to the back of a small red building.

The red building was an old factory that had been renovated, surrounded by a formal square wall. In Hou Weidong’s memory, there had been no rear exit here. Yet today, a door had mysteriously appeared. Under the glare of the car headlights, a middle-aged woman efficiently unlocked and opened the back door.

Hou Weidong stepped out of the car. Recognizing the woman as the same server from his previous visit, he asked Li Jing, “When was this back door built?”

Li Jing stepped out of the car with graceful ease, placing her keys into her small handbag. She replied, “This is the benefit of being a chairman. One can enjoy some special privileges. The front courtyard is too crowded with vehicles coming and going. It’s much quieter this way.”

In the center of the courtyard, a new high wall had been erected, separating the area from the Jinggong Group branch’s administrative zone. On one side of the rear yard, the ground and walls were clad in marble, looking elegant under the courtyard lights.

Hou Weidong and Li Jing exchanged a glance, both eyes revealing a hint of longing. They walked side by side toward the stairs.

The staircase had also been renovated. Hollow bricks had been used to completely separate the stairs from the corridors of the first, second, and third floors, converting a side wing into a dedicated staircase leading directly to the fourth floor. The steps were repaved with floor tiles, and wall lamps and picture frames had been installed. The transformation had turned the dilapidated factory building into a castle with a touch of European flair.

“With this rear courtyard separated off, no unauthorized personnel will appear. Li Jing has thought of everything. It seems she intends to use this place as her private retreat,” Hou Weidong thought. He recalled the first time he had slept with Li Jing; she had been so excited she had almost trembled. The memory made his heart itch with anticipation.

At the turn of the first-floor landing, Hou Weidong glanced downward and noticed that the middle-aged woman had not followed them up. Then he heard the sound of a lock clicking shut. He remembered that there was a small duty room on the first floor. It seemed this woman was one of Li Jing’s trusted confidantes.

When Li Jing had previously served as vice president of the Shazhou Investment Company, she had overseen the Hanhu project, making it highly prosperous. After she left, the core team of Hanhu gradually dispersed, only to reappear one by one within the Jinggong Group. This move demonstrated Li Jing’s exceptional ability to manage and retain her subordinates.

Hou Weidong drew a conclusion: “Li Jing is a decent person. She treats her subordinates well; otherwise, they wouldn’t have followed her to Jinggong Group.” This realization made him respect Li Jing even more.

Upon reaching the second floor, Li Jing proactively linked her arm through Hou Weidong’s. “You bad guy,” she said. “You came to Lingxi and didn’t even look for me. You made me miss you half the night.”

Hou Weidong placed his hand on her waist. His palm met the delicate warmth of her skin. He replied, “You bad guy, sneaking into my territory. What exactly are you here for?”

Feeling the heat of his hand on her waist, Li Jing’s body softened, and she leaned almost entirely against Hou Weidong. Yet she continued speaking, “Since the Provincial Development Bank dared to place a one-billion-yuan loan in Yiyang, Jinggong Group will certainly get a share. I have confidence in you.”

Once inside the room, Hou Weidong immediately felt a wave of coolness.

The indoor temperature was around twenty-three or twenty-four degrees, about ten degrees cooler than outside. On the marble coffee table in the center of the living room lay several slices of watermelon, looking fresh and inviting. There were also large plums, green with hints of yellow, each one looking vibrant and appetizing.

Li Jing diligently poured tea and handed it to Hou Weidong. “Now that you are the new director of the Management Committee, you can’t just stay cooped up in this place. You should go out and walk around. Otherwise, your mind will become closed off.”

Hou Weidong smelled the tea and knew it was high quality, but the water was too hot to drink immediately. In his good mood, he joked, “On July 1st, I was thinking of going to Hong Kong to witness the handover. I wanted to hear the little girls sing ‘Seven Sons’ Song’ and watch the last British governor tearfully bid farewell to Hong Kong in the rain, fulfilling Deng Xiaoping’s wish. But alas, the Hong Kong government didn’t send me an invitation.”

Li Jing rarely saw Hou Weidong being cheeky. Finding it refreshing today, she said, “The Monkey King is in a good mood.”

The tone of her voice changed slightly when she said “Monkey King.” After repeating it a few times, she顺势 sat on Hou Weidong’s lap. She bit into a large plum, removed the hard pit, and then offered the juicy, saliva-coated flesh to Hou Weidong’s mouth.

Hou Weidong took a big bite of the plum. Simultaneously, both his hands slipped into Li Jing’s clothes, firmly pinching her nipples. He asked, “Thailand is currently facing a financial crisis, and the domestic market has been sluggish for a long time. Gao Wang from Xiuyun Pharmaceutical has his nose wrinkled up to his eyes. Most enterprises under the new Management Committee are operating below capacity. Under these circumstances, Jinggong Group’s strength is not overwhelming. Is it risky to invest in the new Management Committee?”

Under Hou Weidong’s caresses, Li Jing’s face turned red. She said, “I am aware of the situation. For the past year or two, newspapers have been talking about macro-control every day. My ears are calloused from hearing it. I see that prices aren’t rising anymore, but goods just aren’t selling. Many enterprises in Lingxi have severe inventory backlogs. Products go straight from the production line to the warehouse. This is not inflation; it is market depression.”

As she spoke, she writhed on Hou Weidong’s body.

Hou Weidong’s hand slid down her skirt, touching the full curve of her crotch through her underwear. He said, “In this situation, you still want to buy land? Aren’t you afraid it will become a burden in your hands?”

Li Jing became restless too. She unzipped Hou Weidong’s trousers, her hand slipping inside smoothly. Yet she continued discussing business matters: “Besides trusting you, I also trust Premier Zhu. A few years ago, the triangular debt between enterprises was like a tangled mess. Premier Zhu cut through it with a swift sword. This time, I heard from well-informed sources in the provincial government that Premier Zhu plans to increase infrastructure investment to stimulate the economy and boost domestic demand. Therefore, I believe buying land will ultimately not be a loss.”

“You are at a critical stage in your career. If I don’t approach you and go directly to Zhang Xiangyu, you can avoid contact with this matter and keep your hands clean.”

Hou Weidong thought to himself, “Li Jing is truly good to me, considering everything for my sake.” At this thought, an inexplicable tightness gripped his heart. Previously, Li Jing had always said she would never marry and that having a lover was enough, so he hadn’t felt much psychological burden. Now, seeing that she had turned the Shazhou branch into a private retreat and was constantly planning for his benefit, he felt a slight increase in psychological pressure.

“Zhang Xiangyu is somewhat greedy. You need to be wary of him. I gave him a red envelope with one thousand yuan, and he accepted it.”

Li Jing’s intuition was always sharp, a trait Hou Weidong admired. He said, “If the water is too clear, there will be no fish. If he takes small bribes, I will pretend not to notice. But if he tries to do something big, I will intervene. Do not engage in private transactions with Zhang Xiangyu. He cannot make decisions on major land deals.”

“I understand. Since the land price in Yiyang is so low, I will buy it at market rate. I’ll build a small project on it, hold it for a few years, and then sell it for a profit. Zhang Xiangyu has big ambitions. You need to be careful and not let him ruin things.”

Having said this, Li Jing turned around and kissed Hou Weidong’s ear. “Let’s not talk about this anymore.”

Her top had been removed. The skin on her chest was flushed red, and her nipples stood erect, like proud princesses.

“Is my chest beautiful?”

Li Jing said, “You should touch it more. Youth only lasts for a few years. In a few years, even a fairy will wither.”

These words carried a poignant, melancholy feel. Hou Weidong stroked her gently for a while. Li Jing spoke again, tinged with sadness: “I will never marry in this life. I will contentedly be your lover. When you miss me, come to Lingxi. When I miss you, I will come to Shazhou. When I grow old and lose my beauty, I will raise a child in peace. That will be enough for this life.”

Hearing Li Jing’s confession, the slight burden in Hou Weidong’s heart grew like a bean sprout soaking in water, becoming heavier.

However, the sprout only grew a few centimeters before disappearing again. Li Jing was wearing a short skirt. Her short-sleeved top and bra had been cast aside. This state of partial undress was more intoxicating than complete nudity. She half-squatted and half-kneeled, teasing Hou Weidong.

The two rolled around on the bed and sofa for a long time.

Li Jing’s chest became redder and redder, like burning clouds. She suddenly hugged Hou Weidong tightly. “Monkey, Monkey,” she called out. Her body began to tremble, and her eyes grew even more hazy. Seeing this expression, Hou Weidong could no longer control himself. Like a flood breaking through a dam, he surged forth.

“Ah…” This was Li Jing’s cry.

“Ah…” This was Hou Weidong’s cry. He had been bitten by Li Jing, and it hurt.

Hou Weidong lit a cigarette. “When should we go to Shangqinglin to take a look? There are coal mines for sale there, very cheap. You keep an eye on land resources. I have always favored mines. The prices are low now, but they will surely rise eventually.”

Li Jing threw a pillow at him. “Don’t talk about serious business. Come here, kiss me.”