Chapter 20 Gathering at Fumanlou
It was past five in the evening.
Su Tianyu, Su Tianbei, Bai Hongbo, Kong Zhenghui, and Liu Laoer went to Longkou District and treated Yu Jinrong to a luxurious dinner at a high-end restaurant.
During the meal, Yu Jinrong did not say much to the others. He stayed in the private room for less than twenty minutes and only got acquainted with the younger generation of the four companies before finding an excuse to leave first.
Although the dinner seemed hasty and lacked any substantial conversation, it was a turning point for the Su, Liu, Bai, and Kong families. Yu Jinrong's presence conveyed an important message to them: he would support these four families within the limits that would not affect his own interests.
This was an internal power struggle within the Environmental Sanitation Management Association. If the four companies had not made any noise, Yu Jinrong would never have shown up. But after Wang Daolin was almost shot in the head, the strike, the case of the injured worker, and the vandalism of the Su family's garbage dump continued to escalate. Changqing Company was already overwhelmed, which led to dissatisfied influential people within the management association joining in and striking the drowning dog.
Therefore, the arrival of any turning point was the result of the four families' united struggle, not luck or coincidence.
During the meal, Su Tianyu said less than three sentences, but he kept staring at Yu Jinrong. He noticed that this person looked refined on the surface, but his actions were swift and decisive. Although his few words seemed ordinary, he elegantly conveyed his attitude to everyone. He must be a veteran bureaucrat with deep political acumen.
—---
In Zhanan District, inside Changqing Company, Li Hongze sat in his boss's chair, holding a phone with a gloomy face, and asked with a frown, "Just tell me what you mean?"
"I contacted Vice Director Guo, and he contacted Wang Daolin, but they couldn't come to an agreement." Li Xing spoke bluntly, "The current situation is, if you don't compromise, Wang Daolin will launch an attack and investigate the cases of vandalism, the injured worker, and the shooting at the Cantonese restaurant. Lu Feng's men have already been arrested. I can't use my power now. Do you understand what I mean?"
Li Hongze fell silent.
"If Wang Daolin doesn't let go of this matter, things will only get bigger and bigger. Eventually, the public opinion will label our Changqing Company as a violent monopoly. Because you have already been pushed to the forefront," Li Xing continued, "So my suggestion is to loosen up and let the matter pass."
Li Hongze was extremely annoyed and didn't respond.
"What do you think?" Li Xing asked.
"Vice Director Guo's suggestion is to discuss it in private?" Li Hongze asked.
"That's right."
"Okay, I got it." Li Hongze hung up the phone directly and lit a cigarette in frustration.
In fact, just twenty minutes ago, Zheng Fu'an from the management committee had also called Li Hongze and complained to him.
At the morning meeting of the management committee today, Yu Jinrong had attacked Changqing Company, claiming that they were monopolizing the industry, disrupting the stability of the sanitation system, and even causing a lot of negative public opinion. And all these accusations and criticisms were actually aimed at Zheng Fu'an because he was the leader who supported Changqing Company.
This passive situation made Zheng Fu'an, who had just taken office, very uncomfortable. And Yu Jinrong's attack was also justified because the evidence was conclusive that the thugs of Changqing Company were engaged in violent monopoly. So even with Zheng Fu'an's close relationship, it was difficult to make a rebuttal in the meeting.
As a result, Zheng Fu'an could only pass the pressure on to Li Hongze and ask him to deal with the aftermath and pacify the situation.
Li Hongze smoked his cigarette and thought about the direction of public opinion. He knew that Kong Zhenghui had been looking for the media recently, but the reason why they had not taken action yet was probably to leave some room for negotiations. Otherwise, the incidents of workers being seriously injured and arson should have already stirred up public opinion.
Li Hongze sat on the sofa and carefully considered for a while before picking up the phone and directly dialing Su Tiannan's number.
"Hello?"
"Little Su, let's sit down and talk."
"Okay."
"Tonight at ten o'clock, at Fumanlou, I'll be waiting for you and the other three companies to come." Li Hongze said and hung up the phone.
—---
It was a little after seven o'clock in the evening.
Su Tianyu, Kong Zhenghui, Su Tianbei, Bai Hongbo, Liu Laoer, and the core heirs of each family gathered at the People's Hospital and began discussing with Su Tiannan in the ward.
Besides the hospital bed, Su Tianyu sat on a chair, frowned, and said to Tiannan, "Call Director Wang and ask for his opinion first, then state your demands."
"What demands?" Su Tiannan asked back.
"Not only do we need people, but we also need money," Su Tianyu replied.
"Isn't that a bit too much?" Su Tiannan asked calmly.
"If things have come to this point, can you still be friends with Changqing Company?" Su Tianyu said calmly, "We have already offended them, so what are we afraid of?"
Su Tiannan nodded, "I'll go with you later."
"You don't need to go, Li Hongze made the appointment, what use would you be there?" Su Tianyu whispered, "We'll just go."
"I'm afraid that Lu Feng will do something desperate. After all, you and him..."
"Big brother, don't worry about me," Su Tianyu smiled and replied, "My family has been destroyed and I've been wandering outside for four years without fear. Am I afraid of him, the number one blade of Zhanan? Hehe!"
"I..."
"It's okay, just call Uncle Wang." Su Tianyu urged.
Su Tiannan nodded slowly and dialed Wang Daolin's number, "Uncle, Li Hongze made an appointment with me."
"Then go, talk about it as you see fit." Wang Daolin replied.
"Besides people, I also want money." Su Tiannan said bluntly.
"There's no need for that, if you take the money, it will be difficult for you to leave." Wang Daolin reminded him.
"If I don't take the money, I'll still offend him."
"...You handle it yourself, when you negotiate, neither I nor Li Xing will interfere." Wang Daolin said straightforwardly, "We'll talk after you finish."
"Okay, I understand."
"That's it."
After the two hung up, Su Tiannan turned to Tianyu and said, "Be careful tonight."
"No problem, hehe!" Su Tianyu grinned.
—---
At 9:30 pm, in the Fulmanlou restaurant on Changfeng Street in Zhanan District, there were at least thirty strong men from the Changqing Company seated inside.
On both sides of the restaurant street, there were also about ten police officers from Wang Daolin and Li Xing's subordinates.
At the same time, Zheng Fu'an sat in the management office, not having left work yet, just smoking and waiting for the phone call.
In the villa in Longkou District, Yu Jinrong watched the news, legs crossed, and said, "Let's hear what they have to say and see how the Fulmanlou negotiations go."
"Okay," the middle-aged man next to him nodded.
At around 9:40 pm, seven or eight cars drove over from Daonan Road, and the police officers at the station stopped the convoy.
Su Tianyu rolled down the car window and smiled, "What's the order, sir?"
"Talk is talk, don't cause any trouble, or we'll deal with you," the police officer said with a stern face.
"Yes, sir!" Su Tianyu saluted with a smile.
The convoy continued to move forward, stopping at the entrance of Fulmanlou. Su Tianyu, Su Tianbei, Kong Zhenghui, Liu Lao'er, and ten others, including Bai Hongbo, walked into the restaurant lobby together.
The cold wind blew outside, and the sky was densely overcast as if this was destined to be an extraordinary night.
Chapter 20 Gathering at Fumanlou
It was past five in the evening.
Su Tianyu, Su Tianbei, Bai Hongbo, Kong Zhenghui, and Liu Laoer went to Longkou District and treated Yu Jinrong to a luxurious dinner at a high-end restaurant.
During the meal, Yu Jinrong did not say much to the others. He stayed in the private room for less than twenty minutes and only got acquainted with the younger generation of the four companies before finding an excuse to leave first.
Although the dinner seemed hasty and lacked any substantial conversation, it was a turning point for the Su, Liu, Bai, and Kong families. Yu Jinrong's presence conveyed an important message to them: he would support these four families within the limits that would not affect his own interests.
This was an internal power struggle within the Environmental Sanitation Management Association. If the four companies had not made any noise, Yu Jinrong would never have shown up. But after Wang Daolin was almost shot in the head, the strike, the case of the injured worker, and the vandalism of the Su family's garbage dump continued to escalate. Changqing Company was already overwhelmed, which led to dissatisfied influential people within the management association joining in and striking the drowning dog.
Therefore, the arrival of any turning point was the result of the four families' united struggle, not luck or coincidence.
During the meal, Su Tianyu said less than three sentences, but he kept staring at Yu Jinrong. He noticed that this person looked refined on the surface, but his actions were swift and decisive. Although his few words seemed ordinary, he elegantly conveyed his attitude to everyone. He must be a veteran bureaucrat with deep political acumen.
—---
In Zhanan District, inside Changqing Company, Li Hongze sat in his boss's chair, holding a phone with a gloomy face, and asked with a frown, "Just tell me what you mean?"
"I contacted Vice Director Guo, and he contacted Wang Daolin, but they couldn't come to an agreement." Li Xing spoke bluntly, "The current situation is, if you don't compromise, Wang Daolin will launch an attack and investigate the cases of vandalism, the injured worker, and the shooting at the Cantonese restaurant. Lu Feng's men have already been arrested. I can't use my power now. Do you understand what I mean?"
Li Hongze fell silent.
"If Wang Daolin doesn't let go of this matter, things will only get bigger and bigger. Eventually, the public opinion will label our Changqing Company as a violent monopoly. Because you have already been pushed to the forefront," Li Xing continued, "So my suggestion is to loosen up and let the matter pass."
Li Hongze was extremely annoyed and didn't respond.
"What do you think?" Li Xing asked.
"Vice Director Guo's suggestion is to discuss it in private?" Li Hongze asked.
"That's right."
"Okay, I got it." Li Hongze hung up the phone directly and lit a cigarette in frustration.
In fact, just twenty minutes ago, Zheng Fu'an from the management committee had also called Li Hongze and complained to him.
At the morning meeting of the management committee today, Yu Jinrong had attacked Changqing Company, claiming that they were monopolizing the industry, disrupting the stability of the sanitation system, and even causing a lot of negative public opinion. And all these accusations and criticisms were actually aimed at Zheng Fu'an because he was the leader who supported Changqing Company.
This passive situation made Zheng Fu'an, who had just taken office, very uncomfortable. And Yu Jinrong's attack was also justified because the evidence was conclusive that the thugs of Changqing Company were engaged in violent monopoly. So even with Zheng Fu'an's close relationship, it was difficult to make a rebuttal in the meeting.
As a result, Zheng Fu'an could only pass the pressure on to Li Hongze and ask him to deal with the aftermath and pacify the situation.
Li Hongze smoked his cigarette and thought about the direction of public opinion. He knew that Kong Zhenghui had been looking for the media recently, but the reason why they had not taken action yet was probably to leave some room for negotiations. Otherwise, the incidents of workers being seriously injured and arson should have already stirred up public opinion.
Li Hongze sat on the sofa and carefully considered for a while before picking up the phone and directly dialing Su Tiannan's number.
"Hello?"
"Little Su, let's sit down and talk."
"Okay."
"Tonight at ten o'clock, at Fumanlou, I'll be waiting for you and the other three companies to come." Li Hongze said and hung up the phone.
—---
It was a little after seven o'clock in the evening.
Su Tianyu, Kong Zhenghui, Su Tianbei, Bai Hongbo, Liu Laoer, and the core heirs of each family gathered at the People's Hospital and began discussing with Su Tiannan in the ward.
Besides the hospital bed, Su Tianyu sat on a chair, frowned, and said to Tiannan, "Call Director Wang and ask for his opinion first, then state your demands."
"What demands?" Su Tiannan asked back.
"Not only do we need people, but we also need money," Su Tianyu replied.
"Isn't that a bit too much?" Su Tiannan asked calmly.
"If things have come to this point, can you still be friends with Changqing Company?" Su Tianyu said calmly, "We have already offended them, so what are we afraid of?"
Su Tiannan nodded, "I'll go with you later."
"You don't need to go, Li Hongze made the appointment, what use would you be there?" Su Tianyu whispered, "We'll just go."
"I'm afraid that Lu Feng will do something desperate. After all, you and him..."
"Big brother, don't worry about me," Su Tianyu smiled and replied, "My family has been destroyed and I've been wandering outside for four years without fear. Am I afraid of him, the number one blade of Zhanan? Hehe!"
"I..."
"It's okay, just call Uncle Wang." Su Tianyu urged.
Su Tiannan nodded slowly and dialed Wang Daolin's number, "Uncle, Li Hongze made an appointment with me."
"Then go, talk about it as you see fit." Wang Daolin replied.
"Besides people, I also want money." Su Tiannan said bluntly.
"There's no need for that, if you take the money, it will be difficult for you to leave." Wang Daolin reminded him.
"If I don't take the money, I'll still offend him."
"...You handle it yourself, when you negotiate, neither I nor Li Xing will interfere." Wang Daolin said straightforwardly, "We'll talk after you finish."
"Okay, I understand."
"That's it."
After the two hung up, Su Tiannan turned to Tianyu and said, "Be careful tonight."
"No problem, hehe!" Su Tianyu grinned.
—---
At 9:30 pm, in the Fulmanlou restaurant on Changfeng Street in Zhanan District, there were at least thirty strong men from the Changqing Company seated inside.
On both sides of the restaurant street, there were also about ten police officers from Wang Daolin and Li Xing's subordinates.
At the same time, Zheng Fu'an sat in the management office, not having left work yet, just smoking and waiting for the phone call.
In the villa in Longkou District, Yu Jinrong watched the news, legs crossed, and said, "Let's hear what they have to say and see how the Fulmanlou negotiations go."
"Okay," the middle-aged man next to him nodded.
At around 9:40 pm, seven or eight cars drove over from Daonan Road, and the police officers at the station stopped the convoy.
Su Tianyu rolled down the car window and smiled, "What's the order, sir?"
"Talk is talk, don't cause any trouble, or we'll deal with you," the police officer said with a stern face.
"Yes, sir!" Su Tianyu saluted with a smile.
The convoy continued to move forward, stopping at the entrance of Fulmanlou. Su Tianyu, Su Tianbei, Kong Zhenghui, Liu Lao'er, and ten others, including Bai Hongbo, walked into the restaurant lobby together.
The cold wind blew outside, and the sky was densely overcast as if this was destined to be an extraordinary night.
