Risk

"Your suggestion is invaluable. We'll focus on discussing it in our internal meeting," Fu Zan said, going with the flow.

The car doors closed, and the two black Santanas slowly pulled onto the main road.

Fu Zan stood on the curb, watching the taillights merge into traffic, then raised a hand and rubbed his cheeks hard.

The early-summer breeze blew over, carrying the smell of car exhaust.

With several million in foreign exchange coming in, plus the city leaders personally vouching for them, Mercury Technology had truly put down roots today.

Secretary Chen's reminder was still turning over in his mind: set up a Party branch, develop the core staff into Party members. If they made that move right, the road ahead would be cleared of more than half its trouble.

A technical moat, plus a political moat—grasping both with both hands. That was the long-term plan.

The second-floor window above his head was shoved open.

Old Zhang stuck half his body out, still holding that borrowed pair of leather shoes one size too big, and shouted down at the top of his lungs, "Old Fu! Are they far gone yet? My toes are almost rubbed raw!"

Right after him, several more heads crowded up to the window. Someone was still clutching an unlit cigarette, his face flushed from holding it in.

"Stop howling and get down here to move things!" Fu Zan tilted his head up and cursed. "Go get the bedrolls out of the storage room.

"Tonight we're going to the seafood restaurant across the street for a feast. The company's paying!"

Upstairs, a burst of cheering erupted loud enough to flip the roof.

In Cangshan District, Fuzhou, the second-floor "Fortune and Honor" private room of the seafood restaurant was boiling with voices.

The glass lazy Susan at