Chapter 1090: Charging into Battle

After a good night's sleep, Zhao Fusheng and Fan Baobao were having breakfast in the hotel restaurant the next morning when they saw Ye Jing and Xue Yuanfang approaching them with hurried expressions.

"What's wrong?"

Zhao Fusheng was somewhat puzzled and looked at them curiously.

These two were used to big scenes—why were they suddenly so serious? Had something happened?

"Fusheng, is that matter about Sanjulu true?" Ye Jing sat down beside Zhao Fusheng and asked with a serious expression.

Zhao Fusheng was startled and looked at him in surprise: "What's wrong?"

He still thought that this matter had something to do with Ye Jing's family.

Ye Jing gave a bitter smile, turned to look at Xue Yuanfang, who said anxiously, "My elder brother is now the deputy mayor of Shihai City, and he is in charge of the work related to Sanjulu Company."

The moment he heard this, Zhao Fusheng's pupils contracted.

To be honest, he really hadn't expected such a connection.

"This matter, I also heard from my subordinates," Zhao Fusheng repeated to Xue Yuanfang what he had said to Jiang Wen, and finally said, "I'm not sure if it's true, but if it is..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but Xue Yuanfang and Ye Jing both knew what he meant.

If such a thing were to be exposed and verified as true, it would undoubtedly trigger a huge storm nationwide.

After all, the reputation of Sanju Deer was too great. Not to mention its status as a leading enterprise in Stone Sea City, just its current nationwide influence was enough to cause a large number of officials to lose their positions.

"Old Jiang told you?" Zhao Fusheng looked at Ye Jing and asked.

Ye Jing nodded: "I heard him on the phone with Zhou Yun. To be honest, if this is true, it's absolutely terrifying."

Zhao Fusheng shrugged: "To tell the truth, I don't know either. If they've just started doing this, it's still manageable. What I'm afraid of is that these guys have been at it for a long time."

Hearing his words, Xue Yuanfang's face flashed with severity: "No matter who it is, if this is true, it must be thoroughly investigated."

Not everyone lacks bottom lines and principles.

Some people always think that those idle rich kids seem to mean neglecting their proper work, but in fact, that's just a small minority of black sheep.

It's like how everyone thinks journalists and media are not good people, always fond of reporting fake news, but in fact, the vast majority of journalists are conscientious and responsible. And the medical staff in hospitals and grassroots police officers—many people have a very poor impression of them due to various incidents, but in fact, the vast majority are ordinary people like us. They also need to eat and drink, get sick and feel unhappy, and when tired, they want to hide in a corner and rest.

For example, many people go to the hospital and feel that the medical staff's expressions are unpleasant and they don't smile. But put yourself in their shoes: if you were busy all day, even grudging the time to eat and rest for work, you wouldn't be in a good mood either.

So Zhao Fusheng wasn't surprised by Xue Yuanfang's reaction. After all, this guy could hang out with Ye Jing, so he probably wasn't the kind of idle rich kid without principles.

Birds of a feather flock together; there's some truth to that saying.

"If we want to investigate, we can do it covertly. Once we have solid evidence, we can ask your brother to step in." Zhao Fusheng had an idea and said to Xue Yuanfang.

Xue Yuanfang was momentarily stunned, then understood what Zhao Fusheng meant.

When it comes to lifting the lid, if someone else does it, as the supervising official, Brother Xue would naturally bear leadership responsibility. But conversely, if he himself lifts the lid, the implications are different.

The reasoning was actually quite simple: in a place like officialdom, whoever seizes the initiative gains a step ahead.

With that thought, Xue Yuanfang gave Zhao Fusheng a deep look, smiled, and casually took a card from his bag, handing it to Zhao Fusheng. “This is my business card. Remember to call me when you’re back in the capital. I’ll treat you to a meal at the Chang’an Club.”

Having said that, he patted Zhao Fusheng on the shoulder, turned, and strode away.

This matter was important; he dared not delay here and planned to fly directly to Shihai City to see his elder brother.

“The Chang’an Club, tsk tsk!” Ye Jing looked at the card in Zhao Fusheng’s hand, revealing a meaningful smile. “Looks like he intends to pull you into his circle.”

Zhao Fusheng chuckled but said nothing.

The earliest club in the capital was called the Royal Club, established in 1990 with overseas investment, introducing the management and operation models of high-end foreign clubs. By 1994, membership clubs appeared in the capital: the Chang’an Club and the Capital Club. Their characteristic was being located in the city center, luxurious and high-end, with a full range of leisure and entertainment. At that time, the wealthy often made friends here for business needs, making it a true business club, primarily with business members. From 1996 to 1997, club-style venues began to transform, and large high-end communities saw private clubs, with design and management heavily influenced by Hong Kong-style clubs.

This kind of club-style venue actually exploited the weaknesses of human nature, grasping well the inherent tendencies in human society such as arrogance, comparison, and the desperate need to save face. The harder it was to enter, the more people flocked to it.

Under every nightfall, inside secretive富豪 clubs, in dazzling hotels of all kinds, in alleyways with high walls and large courtyards, in wine pavilions deep in the bamboo groves of Houhai, and in tea rooms on Financial Street whose doors were always shut, some people were toasting and feasting, sometimes whispering, sometimes laughing loudly, either gentle and refined or drunk and singing wildly. Behind them lay wealth in the billions and industries capable of leveraging an entire city. Wasn’t their circle as deep as the sea? How could their stories not be relished?

Of course, there are always some people in this world who don’t need to join any clubs or associations to elevate their status. Instead, those clubs or associations would beg and plead for them to become members, because even having such a person’s name on the roster was an honor for that place.

For example, Mark Zuckerberg ten years later, Steve Jobs, and Xue Yuanfang.

Ye Jing vaguely knew that the highest-level membership card of the Chang’an Club was not the platinum or diamond cards rumored outside, but a set of only ten Star Cards issued. Those who held Star Cards were not members who paid membership fees; rather, the club proactively sent the cards to them, hoping they would lend their names to the club. Such people were invariably top figures in the capital, and even some legendary figures.

Of course, Xue Yuanfang was not one of the Star Card holders; even his brother, now a deputy mayor, could not be. He was merely a platinum member of the Chang’an Club.

“Different circles, better not force your way in.” Zhao Fusheng smiled faintly, but the meaning behind his words made Ye Jing pause.

Clearly, Zhao Fusheng did not intend to accept Xue Yuanfang’s “gratitude.”

…

…

Since Xue Yuanfang was taking the lead, there was naturally no need for Jiang Wen to step forward. Zhao Fusheng also persuaded Jiang Wen to remain silent on the matter.

Jiang Wen was initially reluctant, but after Ye Jing talked to him for a while, he let it go. After all, compared to the power of the Xue family, he was far inferior.

There was nothing shameful in admitting that; the gap in strength was obvious.

Not everyone was as shameless as the Chinese men’s football team, capable of anything, even drawing with India.

Of course, having too high expectations for the men’s football team was itself a very unreliable behavior.

After staying there for another two days, Zhao Fusheng and Fan Baobao also left, with Ye Jing on the same flight.

In his own words, since everything was done, he naturally wanted to return to the capital to eat and drink well. Only a fool would stay here eating sand with Jiang Wen.

Zhao Fusheng fully agreed, ignoring Jiang Wen’s affectionate gaze, and pulled his suitcase onto the plane.

As for Old Jiang, well, the TV series would be finished filming in three months, and he could then go home to accompany his wife during her pregnancy.

Zhao Fusheng felt he was truly a considerate friend.

Thumbs up for himself!

666!