Chapter 389: Chaos (Part 1)

The professor’s lecture was acceptable, though for Hou Weidong, the coursework felt slightly too basic. After all, he was a law graduate by training. While listening, his gaze drifted repeatedly to Guo Lan’s ear-length hair.

By the end of the morning session, Hou Weidong had memorized her hairstyle completely. The faint glimpse of pale skin at the ends of her hair strands offered him infinite room for imagination. He was certain that he knew the details of her hair and that small patch of skin better than Guo Lan herself did.

When class ended, the kind-faced homeroom teacher announced the list of class officers. The class monitor was Li Lebing, the Vice Mayor of Maoyun City. The vice monitor was a section chief from the Propaganda Department of the Provincial Party Committee. The rest of the committee members were all leaders at the divisional level or above. This configuration of class officers was the result of years of experience at the Party School. Having leaders serve as class officers made organizing activities and securing sponsorship much easier. Moreover, these leaders commanded respect, making it easier to mobilize the class for events. If someone without rank were appointed as monitor, they would find it impossible to command the group.

Once you enter the officialdom, position and rank become invisible hierarchies. They are omnipresent in the bureaucratic world, shrouding the sky above the grassroots civil servants.

Hou Weidong studied the class roster. He had little interest in the department-level officials like the Vice Mayor of Maoyun. Instead, he paid special attention to several powerful section chiefs from provincial departments. These men were young, well-educated, and held modest titles but wielded significant influence. Their potential for future growth was substantial. Building connections with them while they were still section chiefs would undoubtedly be extremely useful for his future career.

This was one of the primary reasons Hou Weidong had come to the Party School for study. Indeed, it was also one of the main objectives for many others pursuing graduate degrees at the Provincial Party School.

However, good things do not come from rushing. Since this was his first meeting with his classmates, Hou Weidong did not wish to be overly proactive or enthusiastic. Restraint was often a characteristic of people from Lingxi Province, and it also signaled stability and maturity.

After class, he exchanged greetings with Guo Lan and then left the classroom.

Upon arriving at the gate of Jinggong Group, two tall women in qipaos stood gracefully outside. Seeing Hou Weidong, one asked, "Sir, are you here for the annual meeting?" Hou Weidong felt that one of the women looked familiar, perhaps a beauty from the model team. "I remember you are from the model team," he said.

The woman glanced at his license plate, paused for thought, and then said, "You are Brother Hou from Shazhou. We sang together once. Why are you so late? The annual meeting has ended, and the cocktail party is about to begin on the third floor. The chairman should still be speaking."

As he approached the third-floor entrance, he heard Li Jing’s sweet and spirited voice: "Despite the Southeast Asian financial crisis, Jinggong Group has still achieved excellent results. Our success is inseparable from the care and support of the gentlemen and ladies present. Today, we have prepared a modest banquet to express Jinggong Group’s most sincere gratitude."

Since becoming Zhou Changquan’s full-time secretary, Hou Weidong’s daily work consisted of following Zhou everywhere, providing comprehensive and meticulous service. Compared to his previous roles as Director of the New Management Committee and Director of the Science and Technology Commission, his power had increased significantly, but his freedom had diminished considerably. Coupled with Li Jing’s inexplicable marriage, he had hardly contacted her over the past six months, let alone visited the Jinggong Group headquarters.

It had been three days since he last saw her, and the changes were striking. The Jinggong Group headquarters now featured glass curtain walls. The tall, imposing perimeter wall had been replaced by an iron fence, with large trees planted and lawns laid out. These changes transformed the once-dilapidated old factory into a group headquarters with a modern aesthetic.

The predecessor of the Jinggong Group headquarters was the Lingxi Province Water Pump Factory. Despite its grand name, it was merely a collective enterprise. Li Jing had spotted the factory’s prime location and invested in buying out the half-dead original plant. After renovating the water pump factory’s office building, it became the headquarters of Jinggong Group. Last year, when Hou Weidong had visited, the interior decoration was just completed, but the exterior environment had not yet changed. Today, the inside and outside were entirely new, and Jinggong Group appeared thriving and prosperous.

"This woman is truly remarkable," Hou Weidong praised sincerely upon hearing Li Jing’s familiar voice.

There were about a dozen people on the third floor. Like a Western gathering, most were standing, chatting while listening to Li Jing speak.

Li Jing was dressed in traditional Chinese attire and was noticeably heavier than before. She stood in front of the microphone, delivering an enthusiastic speech, her lower abdomen unmistakably protruding.

Although Hou Weidong had been mentally prepared, seeing her pregnant belly still stirred complex emotions. He found a corner to stand in, surrounded by strangers. Using these unfamiliar faces as cover, he watched Li Jing, who looked radiant on stage.

"Who is the chairman’s husband? She seems reluctant to bring that happy man out. There must be something going on," a wealthy woman in a fur coat asked gossipyly. While most men were concerned with Jinggong Group’s profits and dividends, this woman was clearly more interested in the gossip that women preferred. She had heard rumors about Li Jing and maintained extreme vigilance regarding her own husband’s interactions with Li Jing, often warning her husband.

Hou Weidong happened to be standing next to this woman. He had never met Li Jing’s husband, so he pricked up his ears to listen to her conversation.

"Jinggong Group was able to pay all accounts in full at the beginning of the year. Li Jing is our provider. Why do you care where her husband is?" the man said impatiently. "You women like to ask about such trivial family matters. If you have that energy, go keep an eye on your son so he doesn’t cause trouble outside all day."

The woman, having been rebuffed, muttered angrily in a low voice, "I was just asking casually. I didn’t offend you. Why are you so agitated? Are you hiding something?" The man glared at her. "Is your skin itching again? Who do you think the chairman is? What secret could I possibly have? She is our provider. Watch your mouth."

Seeing her husband’s displeased expression, the woman dared not speak further, though her expression showed she was unconvinced. In her heart, she thought, "What chairman? She only got rich by sleeping with men. What’s so great about that?"

Although this couple was well-dressed, their demeanor and expressions suggested they were township entrepreneurs who had lifted themselves out of poverty in recent years. Having served as Director of the Yiyang New Management Committee and Deputy Mayor of Qinglin Town, Hou Weidong was very familiar with this type of person.

"This woman really needs to be disciplined," Hou Weidong thought, his mood already poor. Hearing her disrespect toward Li Jing, he completely sided with the man.

After the cocktail party began, Li Jing walked through the venue with her pregnant belly held high, holding a stemmed glass filled with mineral water. She greeted the directors, suppliers, and clients of Jinggong Group one by one, clinking glasses.

When she reached Hou Weidong’s area, Li Jing’s eyes lit up. However, she did not approach immediately. Instead, she spoke to the man: "Mr. Jiang, Jinggong Group has the strength and will not delay payment for your goods." The man replied respectfully, "Chairman, you are too polite. We hope for your continued support of our company in the future." The woman also stepped forward, saying, "Chairman, are you due this year? Is the due date at the end of the year? I heard that children bring good fortune. The chairman must make a lot of money today."

Li Jing held her glass in one hand and gently patted her abdomen with the other. "The due date is in November this year." The woman eagerly began sharing her experiences with childbirth and raising children. Li Jing was interested in the topic and chatted with the woman for several minutes.

The man, initially nervous that his wife might say something disrespectful, saw the two women chatting happily and thought, "This foolish woman is actually not so stupid after all."

After chatting for a while, Li Jing came to Hou Weidong. Their eyes met, and neither looked away. Hou Weidong spoke first. "Congratulations."

Li Jing smiled gently. "I should congratulate you even more." Her smile was genuine, and her congratulations carried deeper meaning. On the other hand, seeing Hou Weidong’s slightly resentful expression made her feel happy, because it meant that he still had feelings for her.

"When can we meet your husband?" Hou Weidong asked, thinking of the couple’s conversation. As soon as he said it, he thought to himself, "She is already married to another man. What is the point of meeting her husband?"

Li Jing smiled even more broadly. "That man? He is on a business trip out of town. When he returns, I will arrange for you to meet."

Others came over to toast Li Jing. After clinking glasses with them, she said to Hou Weidong, "Why haven’t you called me recently? We need to keep in touch, or people become strangers." She added softly, "My due date is in November. Don’t forget to congratulate me then."

When Li Jing walked to the other side with her glass, Hou Weidong suddenly shivered. "Li Jing’s due date is two months earlier than Xiaojia’s. Based on this timeline, Li Jing was not yet married when she became pregnant. The child in her belly is the result of an unmarried pregnancy."

Recalling their meetings during that period, Hou Weidong became increasingly suspicious. "Li Jing had said before that she would not marry. Now she has married so quickly and then become pregnant. Moreover, Li Jing has never brought her husband to public occasions. Could her marriage be a smokescreen? Is the child in Li Jing’s belly mine?"

He was stunned by this bold deduction. He wanted to grab Li Jing and demand the truth immediately, but he felt that asking directly would be too abrupt. Thinking it over, his mind was in chaos.

There were a few familiar friends at the venue. Hou Weidong shared several drinks with them. Normally, these drinks would not affect him, but today he felt dizzy. Unwilling to drink more, he put down his glass and went downstairs.

Sitting in his car, Hou Weidong sent a text message to Li Jing: "I want to talk to you."