After hanging up the phone, Director Liu glared angrily at Bi Shenghua and yelled, "You! You! Mr. Huang is a big boss. Even the mayor treats him with utmost respect. How dare you insult him? Do you think you're just some random customer at your bar who can say whatever you want just because you know him? When he arrives, you'd better apologize properly, or else... you'll be in big trouble!"
Bi Shenghua remained silent, simply standing at the window watching the surveyors on the street.
Director Liu thought she had given in, so he said, "Alright, alright, Huahua, don't apologize anymore. Go back first. It'll be good for you to go back and make preparations in advance, to find a new location for your bar, so that you won't be caught unprepared when the demolition notice comes down."
Bi Shenghua remained silent, but didn't leave either. She saw people from the Parks and Culture Bureau carrying an instrument, walking around the trees as if scanning the ground for something, like they were searching for treasure. This reminded her of the Japanese sappers clearing mines in TV dramas.
Director Liu talked for a long time, but seeing that Bi Shenghua wouldn't listen to reason, she was very annoyed, yet she couldn't do anything about it. As a street cadre, maintaining good relations between cadres and the masses was her basic job, and she couldn't just kick her out. Besides, they had been neighbors for decades, seeing each other all the time.
But the more things were like this, the angrier she became. She thought to herself, "Being a cadre is so difficult. If this is how it is now, who knows how many more problems will arise when the land is demolished!"
She glanced at her watch; Huang Ziqiang would be arriving soon. She worried that Bi Shenghua, being so stubborn, would not only refuse to apologize but also anger this big investor. If the money-maker ran away, the street renovation project would be canceled, the higher-ups would be angry, and the residents waiting to get rich from the demolition would also be angry. She, as the director, would be in a terrible situation, pleasing no one.
" Huahua, let me tell you, you absolutely mustn't be stubborn. I've heard about that Boss Huang's background; he's not someone to be trifled with," Director Liu continued earnestly, half sincerely and half warning. "Whether you invest or not is a minor matter. He's not the only big boss in this world, but if you piss him off, he's capable of anything! You're just a young girl; running a bar isn't easy! All those employees depend on you for their livelihood!"
Just then, Xiao Wang, who was in charge of investment promotion, came in and said, " Director Liu, General Manager Huang is here."
Huang Ziqiang followed behind Xiao Wang, his droopy face looking as ugly as dried meat that had become damp during the plum rain season.
Director Liu's heart skipped a beat when he saw Huang Ziqiang's expression, but he quickly put on a smile and went to greet him, "Oh, Mr. Huang, hello, hello! Why did you have to come all this way for such a small matter? I've already taken care of everything for you."
Huang Ziqiang ignored her and didn't shake her hand. Director Liu's outstretched hand paused awkwardly in mid-air, then she moved the chair next to her, "Mr. Huang, please sit down!"
Huang Ziqiang didn't sit down. He strode over to Bi Shenghua, who was standing by the window, and said, "Um..." He couldn't think of a way to address her.
Bi Shenghua was intently looking out the window. She saw the person with the "mine sweeper" still sweeping the ground, occasionally stopping to look at the tablet in his hand, then shaking his head and continuing to sweep away into the distance with a puzzled expression.
Seeing that Bi Shenghua didn't turn around, Huang Ziqiang assumed she was very angry and realized the situation was serious. Others might not know, but he had witnessed it firsthand: the Jiang Brothers had met a terrible end because they had kidnapped this woman, thus offending Qingmu.
The thought of Qingmu sent chills down his spine. Even the Xia Family's head guard and the Hong Family's eldest son were helping him out—what kind of person was that? If someone like that could crush Huang Ziqiang, it would be as easy as crushing an ant.
He hadn't seen Qingmu for a long time. He'd heard that Aoki hadn't returned after a year abroad, and there were rumors that he was dead, or that he'd run off with a woman. Huang Ziqiang wouldn't easily believe these rumors. Besides, even if something had really happened to him, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. His woman might know some important people. Even if the Xia Family was just helping her out of old friendship, it would be enough to give Huang Ziqiang a hard time.
Moreover, Huang Ziqiang is not an ungrateful person.
He has had a smooth year ahead of him. He not only took over the power from Jiang Deguan, but also successfully connected with the Xia Family. His business has expanded into real estate and finance, industries that can really make big money and are respectable, unlike in the past when he only contracted a few small mines and opened a few bathhouses and entertainment venues.
All of this is thanks to Qingmu. If it weren't for Qingmu, given Huang Ziqiang's background and status, the Xia Family would never have given him a second glance.
He was very glad that he had decisively sided with Qingmu. If he had chosen the wrong side and helped Jiang Deguan deal with Qingmu for a little gain, he would probably be buried with weeds three feet high by now.
He always remembered Qingmu's words. "Your caution saved your life."
This sentence has become his life motto, and he recites it silently in his heart whenever something important happens. Recalling the scene from that day, his back would be soaked with sweat.
Seeing Huang Ziqiang head straight for Bi Shenghua without saying a word, Director Liu assumed he was going to settle Bi Shenghua with her and hurriedly tried to smooth things over. "President Huang, young people are ignorant, please don't take it to heart. Don't worry about things here, we'll handle everything properly! Um... Huahua... why don't you apologize to President Huang!... Hurry up!"
Bi Shenghua turned around and looked coldly at Huang Ziqiang.
Huang Ziqiang felt a chill run down his spine when he saw Bi Shenghua's expression.
He knew Bi Shenghua very well. Apart from dressing like a man and sometimes speaking a bit harshly, she was actually a very easy person to get along with. But now her face was like it was covered with a layer of Siberia frost, as cold and hard as a block of ice. Even when she was kidnapped by the Jiang Brothers, she wasn't like this.
Huang Ziqiang had no idea how he had offended this wicked woman. He came to Liuying Lane to carry out the renovation project, but in essence, he still wanted to curry favor with Qingmu and Bi Shenghua. The old street renovation project in Liuying Lane had been delayed for so many years because the demolition and renovation costs were too high, while the economic benefits and political achievements that could be obtained were only average. Therefore, neither capital nor the government had much enthusiasm.
He's really gone all out this time, risking hundreds of millions to get this project off the ground. As long as he has the renovation project, he can curry favor with Bi Shenghua however he wants. He can see that Bi Shenghua has an attachment to this place, and as long as he serves this proprietress well, he'll naturally be credited with a great deal when Qingmu returns.
Seeing that Bi Shenghua remained silent and her face was so stubborn, Director Liu knew things were about to go wrong and angrily said, " Bi Shenghua, what's wrong with you? Is it so hard for me to ask you to apologize?"
"Shut up!" Huang Ziqiang suddenly turned around and scolded Director Liu harshly.
Director Liu was startled. "Ah, General Manager Huang, I..."
She suddenly saw Huang Ziqiang bow deeply to Bi Shenghua. She heard Huang Ziqiang say, "Boss lady, I'm so sorry, I really don't know what I did wrong. Please point it out, and I will definitely correct it."
Director Liu gave a thumbs-up and said, "Listen to that, listen to what he's saying! Such a big boss is bowing and apologizing to a nobody like you. And look at you, getting angry over who moved the tree—it's all for your few shops. Don't worry, the government will compensate you according to the best plan; no one will be shortchanged, and no one will be favored..."
Huang Ziqiang was seething with anger; he really wanted to slap Director Liu to the Proxima Centauri. He interrupted Director Liu, saying, " Director Liu, are you really willing to help me?"
Director Liu nodded and said, "Yes, of course I'm willing!"
Huang Ziqiang said, " Director Liu, you're an official, and I'm just a businessman. I don't have the right to ask anything of you, but I don't want to throw my hundreds of millions of yuan into a fire pit. Since you're willing to help me, and we'll be cooperating for a long time, then I have a favor to ask—could you please apologize properly to Boss Ruhua and then shut your mouth?!"
Director Liu finally realized something was wrong and chuckled awkwardly, "Mr. Huang... what... what do you mean?"