She suddenly spoke:
"Director Li, can I say a few words?"
Deputy Director Li looked at her:
"Lawyer Zhang Please say."
Zhang Qingxue pushed up his glasses:
"Actually, Chairman Zhao has an unspeakable secret. It's not convenient for him to speak first. I'll tell it for him."
Private Room was quiet for a second.
Zhang Qingxue's voice was very calm, as if he was stating the facts:
"Henglong is not unwilling to help. But we have an unavoidable problem."
She paused:
"Among those three profitable projects, one - we checked, there are shares of Lin Wanqing company."
Deputy Director Li's brows moved slightly.
Director Zhou and Section Chief Wang looked at each other.
Zhang Qingxue continued:
"Who is Lin Wanqing? You should all have heard of it. Henglong's predecessor, Finance Director, she was the one who took the initiative to expose the rumors about illegitimate children."
She paused:
"We Chairman Zhao voluntarily gave up this project in order not to have any intersection with her.
Even if it's a sure profit, don't do it."
Deputy Director Li was silent for a few seconds.
Of course he has heard about Lin Wanqing.
During that time, this incident was widely circulated in the industry - she had three children with Zhao Jianguo, was kicked out of Henglong by Zhao Chen, and later appeared at Jiahe's signing reception.
This is an open secret.
"So..." he started.
Zhang Qingxue took the call:
"So, it's not that we are unwilling to help. We have no way to deal with Lin Wanqing.
If she is involved in that project, we will go around it. As long as she is not involved in other projects, we can talk about it."
She paused:
"But is there any trace of her in those projects with low profits and losses? Judging from the information we have obtained, she is involved.
If we take it, we are helping to stop her bleeding. We can't do this kind of thing."
Private Room was quiet for a few seconds.
Deputy Director Li picked up the wine glass, took a sip, and said nothing.
Director Zhou and Section Chief Wang looked at each other and said nothing.
Shen Jue leaned on the back of the chair and raised the corners of his mouth slightly.
Zhang Qingxue This passage is so beautifully said.
It shows our attitude - we are willing to help.
The bottom line has been drawn again - but I don't want to have anything to do with Lin Wanqing.
She also made a secret comment - you didn't make it clear whether she was involved in those projects.
This is unacceptable.
Deputy Director Li put down the wine glass and sighed:
"Lawyer Zhang, this is right to the point."
He looked at Zhao Chen:
"Chairman Zhao, we have indeed heard about your... grudge with Ms. Lin.
But when it comes to the specific project, we haven't really found out whether she has any shares."
Zhao Chen nodded:
"Director Li, I understand. The focus of your work is to revitalize the project, not to check these details.
But for us, these little details are the bottom line."
He paused:
"In order not to deal with her, we gave up even profitable projects. You should be able to see this attitude."
Deputy Director Li was silent for a few seconds.
Then he nodded:
"You can see it."
He picked up the wine glass:
"Chairman Zhao, let's discuss this matter again. I've written down what you mean."
Zhao Chen also picked up the wine glass and touched it with him:
"Thank you Director Li."
During the following meal, the atmosphere subtly relaxed.
Everyone started talking about other things - Shan City's weather, recent policies, someone they knew in common.
But no one mentioned the "loss-making project" again.
When it was almost over, Deputy Director Li suddenly said:
"Chairman Zhao, was that project you abandoned really because of Lin Wanqing?"
Zhao Chen looked at him:
"Director Li don't believe it?"
Deputy Director Li smiled:
"It's not that I don't believe it. I just think... it's a pity. That project is in a good location and the profit should be considerable."
Zhao Chen said:
"No matter how good the profits are, it will be hot if you touch the people you shouldn't touch."
Deputy Director Li nodded and said nothing more.
When I walked out of the club, it was almost ten o'clock.
The river breeze brought moisture, which made people sober up.
Shen Jue stood next to Zhao Chen and said softly:
"Lawyer Zhang Today is worth a big meal."
Zhao Chen smiled:
"Remember it."
Zhang Qingxue pushed up his glasses and showed a rare smile:
"Business matters."
Shen Jue's assistant drove the car over.
Before Shen Jue got in the car, he looked back at Zhao Chen:
"Today's round, although it has not been completely solved, at least the two loss-making projects have been blocked. We will talk about it later, and the pressure will be much less."
Zhao Chen nodded:
"Thank you for your hard work."
Shen Jue smiled and got into the car.
The car drove into the night.
Zhao Chen stood there and watched the car disappear into the traffic.
Then he turned around and got into his car.
Zhang Qingxue is sitting in the passenger seat, fasten your seat belt.
Liu Haitao drove away slowly.
The car drove past Jialing River Bridge, and the lights on both sides of the Taiwan Strait quickly receded outside the car window.
Every word he said tonight was spinning in his mind.
Deputy Director Li What does the last sentence "what a pity" mean?
Do you really feel it is a pity, or are you testing it?
It's not important anymore.
At least today, those two roads are blocked.
As for how to go from there--
Wait for them to call again.
The sound of the door lock turning is very soft, but it is particularly clear in the quiet entrance.
When Zhao Chen opened the door and came in, Su Wantang put down the book in his hand and stood up immediately to greet him:
"Back?"
She came over and handed the prepared sobering tea into his hand:
"Sobering tea, just brewed."
Zhao Chen took it, the temperature is just right, not hot or cold.
He took a sip, and a warm feeling slid down his throat, with a faint taste of ginger and the sweetness of honey.
"Comfortable." He said softly.
Su Wantang smiled, walked around behind him, and gently put his hands on his shoulders:
"Are you tired?"
Zhao Chen leaned on the sofa with his eyes closed:
"It's okay."
Her fingers pressed on his shoulders, not too hard but not too light, just enough to make his tense muscles slowly relax.
The familiar fragrance came from behind, mixed with the smell of sober tea, making the whole night soft.
"How was the conversation tonight?" she asked softly.
Zhao Chen took a sip of tea:
"It's pretty much as expected."
Su Wantang didn't ask any further questions, just said "hmm" and continued to press.
She knew he would say it when he wanted to say it.
Zhao Chen Close your eyes and slowly talk about what happened tonight--
How does Deputy Director Li speak, how does Shen Jue deal with it, and how does Zhang Qingxue move Lin Wanqing out to block the other party's mouth.
Su Wantang occasionally says:
"Lawyer Zhang played well today."
"Well, she said it beautifully."
"Did they mention that loss-making project again later?"
"I didn't mention it anymore. At least not today."
The two of them just chatted away, their voices very soft, as if they were afraid of disturbing someone.
Zhao Chen slowly leaned his head on the back of the sofa, resting his whole body on Panasonic.
Su Wantang's fingers slid from his shoulders to his temples, rubbing them gently.
It's a tacit understanding that doesn't require words.
The cell phone rang suddenly.
Zhao Chen opened his eyes and glanced at the caller ID - Chen Xi.
He picked up:
"Chen Xi."
Chen Xi's voice came from the other end of the phone, a little cautiously:
"Zhao Zong, I didn't disturb your rest, did I?"
Zhao Chen leans on the sofa:
"Tell me what's going on."
Chen Xi asked:
"How was the conversation tonight?"
Zhao Chen said:
"It's almost as expected. Deputy Director Li has relented. At least they didn't force the two loss-making projects anymore."
Chen Xi said "Yeah" and then was silent for a second.
That second of silence made Zhao Chen feel that something was wrong.
"Anything else?" he asked.
Chen Xi said:
"Zhao Zong, there's something..."
She paused:
"Chen Wei wants to see you."
Zhao Chen was stunned for a moment.
Chen Wei?
The name turned around in his mind, but he couldn't find the corresponding place.
"Who?" he asked.
Chen Xi quickly explained:
"Chen Wei. Chen Hao's sister. Haoyu Construction's eldest lady."
Only then did Zhao Chen react.
Chen Hao's sister.
In the description of Chen Xi, the woman who drives Chen Jianye around every day and carries the mess of the entire family on her shoulders.
"Why did she see me?" Zhao Chen asked.
Chen Xi said:
"I can't tell clearly. She asked someone to find me and said she really wanted to see you. The sooner the better."
She paused:
"The tone was very urgent, as if there was something important."
Zhao Chen was silent for a few seconds.
Chen Hao's sister.
Haoyu Construction's eldest princess.
At this juncture, what could happen if she came to see him?
"She didn't say what exactly?" he asked.
Chen Xi said:
"No. I just said I wanted to talk to you in person."
Zhao Chen leaned on the sofa and looked at the ceiling.
Su Wantang's hand stopped on his shoulder, waiting quietly.
A few seconds later, Zhao Chen said:
"Okay. You arrange a time for me to meet with her."
Chen Xi responded:
"Okay. Then I'll contact her tomorrow."
The phone hangs up.
Zhao Chen put the phone back on the coffee table, picked up the sobering tea and took another sip.
Su Wantang asked softly:
"Chen Hao's sister?"
Zhao Chen nodded:
"Hmm."
Su Wantang didn't ask again.
She just continued to press his temples gently to let him relax.
Zhao Chen closed his eyes, thinking about the name that suddenly appeared in his mind.
Chen Wei.
Haoyu Construction's eldest lady.
Why did she come to him at this juncture?
Ask him for help? Or is there something else?
He doesn't know.
But he knew there would be an answer tomorrow.