Chapter 7: Is it a Mule or a Horse?

  Although Chang Fuguo decided to let Ye Shaofeng be his personal bodyguard, he was still somewhat wary of a stranger. Before reusing someone, it is necessary to examine this person from multiple aspects, which is the way an excellent leader uses people.

  The next morning, Zhang Fu Guo had just entered the office when his secretary, Lin Zhi Ya, handed him a document and said, "Director Zhang, you have a lunch meeting at noon."

  "Is it a dinner appointment? With whom? Is it about the greening development project in Longhe New District?" Chang Fuguo had to deal with countless things every day, and many of them relied on this secretary's reminders.

  "No, the development project of Longhu New District is with Director Liu of the municipal government, and it's scheduled for tonight at Shanghe Huiyuan. And lunch today was with Wang Baochai, manager of Nancheng Steel Market, to discuss your investment in Nancheng Steel Market." Lin Zhiya said clearly without missing a word.

  "Oh, with so many things happening recently, I had almost forgotten about this matter. Wang Bao from Nancheng is a ruthless and cunning person who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. We had some conflicts over the ownership of a piece of land before, and I'm worried that he might bring it up again today at noon. If things escalate into a physical fight, it's going to be hard to control the situation. It could turn our friendly gathering into a 'Hongmen Banquet'."

  "Does that mean we have to cancel our lunch appointment this afternoon?" Lin Zhiya said.

  "Cancel? If I cancel, Wang Bao will think I'm afraid of him. Then I won't be able to get any benefits from the Nanjing Steel Market side. Today, no matter what, I have to go and take a chance. If I succeed, I'll be able to get involved in the steel market aspect. If we can't come to an agreement, we'll just fight it out. Who's afraid of who? We're all from the underworld, we're all from the black society. If we can cooperate, then we cooperate. If not, then we'll settle it with a fight. Right, call Ah Qiang and have him accompany me at noon." Chang Fuguo said.

  "Director Chang, you forgot that Assistant Xiang Wenqiang was dispatched to Yunnan two days ago to escort 'tobacco' into the country. He's now at the southern border and can't possibly come back." What Lin Zhiya referred to as "tobacco" was actually narcotics.

  Zong Hai Group is a mafia-style group, and most of its economic profits are illegal income from the monopoly on drugs.

  The drug trafficking network in Luyang City and its surrounding areas is entirely controlled by the Zonghai Group. At regular intervals, Changfu Guo's personal bodyguard, Xiang Wenqiang, would personally escort the drugs into the country from the southern border of the nation. This was a top-secret operation for their company, known to very few people.

  Nowadays, Chang Fuguo doesn't care about the drug business anymore. It's all handed over to his daughter, Chang Miaoke, who is in charge of everything: how drugs are smuggled in, sold, and distributed, as well as expanding the network and bribing local officials. Chang Fuguo now only focuses on laundering the black money earned from selling drugs into white money.

  "Oh, I've long since stopped caring about this mess. Ah Qiang's trip to the south has been completely forgotten, it seems my retirement is getting closer and closer." Chang Fuguo said with a shake of his head.

  "Director Chang, don't say that. You're busy with a million things every day and it's exhausting you. You really should take good care of yourself and rest properly." Lin Zhiya said.

  "We'll talk about the rest later. By the way, let's have that Ye Shaofeng from the security department join me for lunch today." Chang Fuguo said.

  "What? Let that country bumpkin go? He's never seen the world, can he handle it? Don't let him run away with his tail between his legs at the first sign of trouble." Lin Zhiya said.

  "It's a mule, it's pulled out to play if he's a coward, I'll get rid of him immediately. If he can hold his own, then isn't that just another strong general by my side? Bringing him along is one way to test him, and also counts as training for him." Chang Fuguo said.

  At noon when getting off work, several people from the security department sat together chatting and bragging. Peng Xiaofei thought of yesterday's event at noon and asked: "Maple brother, that woman who took you to the third floor for lunch yesterday is Secretary Zhang's personal assistant, what did she want from you?"

  "She wanted to play with me, but I didn't want to play with him," said Ye Shaofeng boastfully.

  "Want to have a fling with her? Don't be ridiculous, there are several trains of people chasing after that kind of top-notch woman. Hurry up and honestly tell us, what did she come to you for yesterday?" Peng Xiaofei and several other security guards asked in unison.

  A few old men gathered together, apart from talking about women, there's nothing else to talk about.

  Ye Shaofeng glanced at them a few times and said, "Don't look at that woman's elegant and poised appearance, mature and steady, but do you know what color underwear she's wearing inside? You absolutely can't guess."

  "What color is it? Is it pink?"

  "I'm the kind of white silk, just like the one in the woolen sweater..."

  "I think those women all wear black silk stockings, right Brother Feng?"

  Peng Xiaofei and several security guards were chatting idly, indulging in flights of fancy.

  "Mistake, none of it is... " Ye Shaofeng was about to speak when a cough came from the doorway.

  He cautiously looked towards the door, and at the door stood a woman, wearing all black professional attire, with a twelve-centimeter-high black high-heeled shoe. Her breasts were large, her buttocks were raised, and her eyes were like those of a seductive fox.

  "Lin... Lin... Secretary Lin... how did you come..." Ye Shaofeng stuttered.

  "What are you guys chattering about here? It's already noon and you're not going to eat, what are you doing here? All of you should go do what you need to do." Lin Zhiya said with a glare, her voice urgent and exasperated.

  This is a red person in front of Chairman Chang, everyone knows that you have an affair with Chairman Chang, and no one dares to provoke him. Besides, it's not glorious for a group of old men to discuss others behind their backs.

  Lin Zhiya let out a loud shout, and several old men quickly walked out of the security room with their lunchboxes. Ye Shaofeng also wanted to slip away unnoticed, being the last one, but just as he reached the door, Lin Zhiya's slender white arm blocked his way.

  "They can leave, but you cannot." Lin Zhiya said.

  "Lin Secretary... just now... I didn't say anything at all..." Ye Shaofeng said with embarrassment.

  "You know what you said, clearer than anyone else in your heart, come with me." Lin Zhiya said.

  "What's wrong? I...I just made a few jokes behind your back, don't be so petty, we're colleagues after all, you won't want me to go to the finance department to collect my salary and leave with my luggage, will you?" Ye Shaofeng said.

  Lin Zhiya smiled, her pink lips slightly curving upwards, and her flirtatious eyes glanced at Ye Shaofeng. "Fire you? This little secretary doesn't have that authority. I'll take you to change your clothes, you have a dinner engagement with Director Chang this afternoon..."