Chapter 310: The Path (Middle)

Chapter 310: The Path (Middle)

Hou Weiguo pulled Jiang Meng into the dormitory, and the two continued their fruitless argument. Over a year of preliminary interrogations, he had encountered countless cunning criminal suspects and knew plenty of tricks to pry their mouths open. But Jiang Meng was like a green bean that refused to absorb oil or salt—completely impervious to persuasion. Hou Weiguo tried approaching her from every possible angle, yet Jiang Meng’s logic was systematic and self-consistent, leaving Hou Weiguo thoroughly stumped.

Several times, watching Jiang Meng’s lips move rapidly as she spoke, Hou Weiguo felt the urge to slap her, but he held back.

Meanwhile, their mother, Liu Guangfen, suddenly looked seven or eight years older. She was in the kitchen cooking for her son and daughter-in-law, with Hou Weidong helping her out.

“I tell you, how could such a gentle and refined girl suddenly go mad? Why does she insist on doing pyramid selling? Does it matter more than her job and family? I really don’t know what’s going on in her head,” Liu Guangfen said, chopping vegetables swiftly. “You young people these days are always talking about divorce. Second marriages are never as good as the first.”

She held up her cleaver, speaking with a determined tone. “I think we need to let the Jiang family know about this. Otherwise, how did a good girl end up like this after being entrusted to the Hou family?”

Hearing her speak so seriously, Hou Weidong replied, “Mom, it’s not as bad as you say. Sister-in-law just wants to earn money for the family; she has no bad intentions.”

“I’ve heard that pyramid selling in Guangdong is quite sinister. They trick people in and don’t let them leave. There have even been deaths. If we don’t tell her parents, and something happens, they’ll come to our door demanding answers. That would be terrible.”

Seeing Hou Weidong’s dismissive attitude, Liu Guangfen insisted, “Listen to your mother. I’ve eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice. I’m not wrong.”

Liu Guangfen moved with practiced efficiency. Soon, the kitchen was filled with the familiar aroma of her cooking. Just as some animals retain their dietary habits from childhood, humans too develop a taste for what they grew up with. No matter how much their language or思维方式 (way of thinking) might change after studying abroad, many overseas Chinese still possess a "Chinese stomach." Although Hou Weidong had grown accustomed to gourmet food over the years, the scent of his mother’s cooking immediately whetted his appetite and lifted his spirits.

When he carried the dishes out, he could still faintly hear his brother and sister-in-law arguing inside. He called out from the doorway, “Brother, Sister-in-law, dinner is ready. Eat first, then continue your debate.”

Jiang Chu emerged, forcing a faint smile. She turned back and said, “I have the right to choose my own lifestyle. Do I need your approval for everything? I’m earning money for this family.” Hou Weiguo followed behind her, his face grim. “You are my wife. Of course, I have the right to manage this.”

Liu Guangfen held up a pair of chopsticks. “You two, say less. Eat first. We can talk about everything after the meal.”

During dinner, everyone tactfully avoided the topic of pyramid selling. Liu Guangfen casually chatted with Jiang Chu. “Is your father’s stomach condition any better? Dragging it on like this won’t do.” She then turned to Hou Weiguo. “Weiguo, don’t just focus on work. Take some time to bring Jiang Chu’s father to Shazhou. Find a good doctor for a thorough check-up. Isn’t one of your colleague’s wives a attending physician at Shazhou First Hospital? Use your connections to get him properly examined.”

As long as the "Qinghe Career" wasn’t attacked, Jiang Chu immediately reverted to her gentle demeanor. She proactively served Liu Guangfen a bowl of chicken soup and said, “My father has had chronic stomach issues for a long time. There’s not much that can be done.”

At this point, she almost blurted out, “If we use the health products from Qinghe Career to regulate his body, his condition will be under control in no time.” But she swallowed the last part of the sentence.

Despite Liu Guangfen’s efforts to mediate, the dinner remained extremely沉闷 (dull). After finishing, Jiang Chu cleared the table and went to the kitchen to wash up alone. Liu Guangfen said, “Weiguo, go help Jiang Chu wash the dishes.”

Hou Weiguo and Jiang Chu entered the kitchen together. Hou Weidong advised, “Mom, Sister-in-law has already resigned. The rice is cooked into porridge; arguing won’t change anything. But marriage issues shouldn’t be handled impulsively. You persuade Brother, and I’ll persuade Jiang Chu.” Liu Guangfen sighed, “Life is getting better and better, yet these young people stir up such trouble.”

When Hou Weidong sat down with Jiang Chu again, he advised, “Sister-in-law, when it comes to making money, both my second sister and I have our channels and paths. Qinghe Career is essentially just sales. You have to work hard to please customers, and the earnings are meager.”

Jiang Chu immediately replied, “Qinghe Career is about building pipelines. As long as you persist, even if you do nothing later, having the pipeline ensures a steady income. You and my second sister are in traditional industries. Moreover, we aren’t just pleasing customers; we are sharing happiness with them.”

“Let’s put it this way: How much money can you make a month doing Qinghe Career? Just for this month, how much have you actually earned?”

“I am laying the foundation now. After working hard for two years and reaching a higher level, I can earn over 100,000 yuan a month. Qinghe Career’s distribution system is the most advanced in the world. It has been tested for fifty years and is a world-renowned enterprise. Joining it means becoming part of a global famous company—a shortcut to success.”

Hou Weidong was speechless. “Sister-in-law, among the people you know, who has earned a million yuan a year through Qinghe Career? If you can point to someone, I’ll persuade my brother. Don’t mention Hong Kong or Shanghai; just…”

Jiang Chu said, “Sister Zhou is my upline. She does very well. Last year, she traveled to the United States, and the company paid for it.”

After talking for a long time, they still couldn’t see eye to eye. Hou Weidong played his trump card. “Sister-in-law, since you’ve already resigned, I’ve opened a building decoration materials store for you. All goods can be credited to you temporarily. You pay as you sell. Your monthly income will definitely be higher than doing pyramid selling, and it won’t be as mentally draining. Sister-in-law, what do you think?”

Jiang Chu was somewhat tempted. But then she remembered the encouraging looks of her friends in the Qinghe Career group and the meticulous care from her upline, Sister Zhou, and hesitated again.

At 9:30, Hou Weidong left his brother’s house. He had returned empty-handed and felt extremely depressed. When he drove to Xinyue Building, he turned the steering wheel, and the Bluebird car nimbly changed direction. A few minutes later, he was on the Lingxi Expressway.

Driving at full speed, he reached Yiyang in about twenty minutes. Hou Weidong drove directly to the territory of the New Management Committee.

The loan from the Development Bank acted like a strong catalyst. Despite the sluggish domestic market and tight bank funding, the New Management Committee was not significantly affected. Under the power of capital, it was rapidly transforming, much like the female protagonist in Species with alien blood, growing larger every few days, quickly changing from a little girl into a man-eating beauty.

The six buildings where Bugao Company was located had already been topped out. The moonlight was enchanting, clearly outlining the contours of the houses. Meanwhile, more than ten large trucks carrying soil were still working, and the rumbling machine noise made the New Management Committee area quite lively.

Seeing this scene, Hou Weidong’s heart opened up, and the depression in his mind was naturally blown away by the wind.

“Li Jing is only two years older than Jiang Chu, yet their thinking is worlds apart. One built the Jinggong Group in just a few years, thinking about how to benefit from national policies. The other, after working for a few years, fell into the trap of pyramid selling, naively and persistently believing that Qinghe Career could make her rich.”

Hou Weidong thought further, “According to my brother, Jiang Chu attends lectures twice a week and holds study sessions three times a week to do well in Qinghe Career. She takes notes and watches CDs when she returns. She is very hardworking.”

He shook his head vigorously. “If the basic path of a thing is wrong, even ten times the effort will yield no good results. In fact, the harder you work, the further you drift from the path of success. Jiang Meng is a typical example.”

“But on what grounds can I look down on Jiang Chu from a high position? On what grounds is her path wrong? The world is so complex. Many things can only be judged right or wrong after the coffin is closed. Who can definitively say that Qinghe Career is wrong?”

Hou Weidong defended Jiang Chu in his mind for a moment. However, the Qinghe Career she had chosen was too detached from reality and too irrational. Without waiting for historical verification, its fallacies and absurdities were easily visible.

“No wonder people say pyramid selling is an economic cult. It really is somewhat sinister.” Thinking of Jiang Chu’s persistence and obsession, Hou Weidong, like his mother Liu Guangfen, shook his head again.

Hou Weidong parked his car on a small mound only a few meters high. He had visited this dirt pile countless times, but always during the day. Tonight, being alone on the slope, he could gaze at the lights of the county town and the increasingly expansive land of the New Management Committee. As the head of the New Management Committee, these changes were, in a sense, driven by him. He felt a deep sense of pride.

Achieving great deeds is a dream hidden deep in the hearts of many men. However, for most, it remains just a dream; only a few can turn it into reality.

Just as he was lost in thought, his phone rang. “Hou Weidong, this is Duan Ying. Wang Hui will visit the New Management Committee tomorrow for a follow-up. Is there any problem?”

Hou Weidong proudly replied, “No problem. The New Management Committee can withstand scrutiny. Thank you. When will you come to inspect the New Management Committee? There have been significant changes.”

Duan Ying said, “We just finished a meeting. The boss assigned tasks, sending all reporters out for major follow-ups. All key reports from last year need to be revisited. We are dedicating space for three issues of the ’98 follow-up series. Wang Hui and I are in a group, arriving tomorrow morning.”

“Are you conducting an open investigation or a covert one? Will you meet with me?”

“Mostly covert. Wang Hui has confidence in you. He will call you early tomorrow.” When the meeting ended, Wang Hui had chatted with Duan Ying for a bit. According to Wang Hui, simply counting the number of factories and buildings constructed would reveal the progress of the New Management Committee. There was no need for a covert investigation.

Hou Weidong said, “That’s best. I have many ideas to share with the newspaper.”

Duan Ying added, “The newspaper is organizing a special edition this time, triggered by Premier Zhu’s press conference. The newspaper plans to find typical examples from both positive and negative perspectives.”

After hanging up, Hou Weidong pondered, “This time, I must strive to get a major article in the Lingxi Daily, prominently promoting the New Management Committee. Once we gain social influence and attract the attention of Shazhou city leaders, my days after Zhu Yan leaves will be much easier.”