[Urban] The New Five Golden Flowers (Complete Version) - 12

(Volume 3) Chapter 10 Island Sentiments

Chapter 10 Island Sentiments
Monday, January 17, 1994
Meng Jialiang waited with Director Zhan An in the lobby of the Linhai Hotel for a full twenty minutes, but Fang Zhenyu still hadn't arrived, and he was extremely anxious. Director Zhan An was there to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the Linhai section of the expressway the next day. Before that, he was going to inspect the Linhai Expressway. Meng Jialiang originally thought that he could accompany him, but Director Zhan insisted that Fang Zhenyu attend as well. He had already informed Fang Zhenyu last night, but he didn't expect him to be late today. Meng Jialiang wasn't worried about himself, but about Fang Zhenyu. What if he displeased Director Zhan and said a few unpleasant things to him back in the province? Wouldn't Fang Zhenyu's future be ruined? He was increasingly aware of Fang Zhenyu's importance to the development of Linhai Port.
"Xiao Yao, look where President Fang and the others are," Meng Jialiang finally couldn't help but say to his secretary, Xiao Yao, again.
"Xiao Yao, no need to look for him. He'll come when he's done," Zhan An said calmly.
Xiao Yao looked at Zhan An, then at Meng Jialiang, unsure what to do.
Meng Jialiang said, "Then let's wait!" But he was filled with anxiety. In his memory, Zhan An hated people being late. He remembered once at a provincial meeting, a city bureau chief was late and received a severe scolding. Had he changed his ways? Or was he angry with Fang Zhenyu?
After waiting a few more minutes, Fang Zhenyu and a beautiful woman came down from the second floor. The two were whispering intimately to each other. Meng Jialiang couldn't help but say angrily, "Hey, Fang Zhenyu, Director Zhan has been waiting for you for half an hour, and you're here flirting."
Fang Zhenyu was taken aback. Seeing that Shangguan Wenxin didn't react strangely, he relaxed and said to Meng Jialiang, "Director Meng, you'd better watch your words. This is Miss Shangguan Wenxin, the daughter of President Shangguan." As he spoke, he introduced the people present to Shangguan Wenxin.
Meng Jialiang was indeed quite surprised and quickly apologized, "Miss Shangguan, I'm sorry, I was just joking."
Shangguan Wenxin said, "What's the big deal about joking?" But in her heart, she thought, "I wish it wasn't a joke."
After Zhan An greeted Shangguan Wenxin, Fang Zhenyu apologized, "Director Zhan, I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting so long, but I had no choice. The Japanese J-corporation is here, and I have to have breakfast with them and figure out how to get money out of their pockets."
Zhan An gripped Fang Zhenyu's hand tightly and said, "Fang Zhenyu, you're too mercenary! Seeing that I don't have any money for you, you've already fallen for someone else, leaving me aside to find a rich man."
"Of course, it's your own fault for being poor!" Fang Zhenyu retorted without any politeness.
Then, the two men burst into laughter. After laughing, Zhan An said, "I knew you must have something on your mind, otherwise you definitely wouldn't be late. So, did you get the Japanese money?"
Fang Zhenyu shook his head and said, "The Japanese money isn't as easy to get as yours, Director Zhan. I think they're just taking advantage of our poverty, trying to whet our appetites."
Watching their intimate conversation, Meng Jialiang felt relieved. He didn't know why Director Zhan was so kind to Fang Zhenyu, but he knew that this would lead to better development of transportation in Linhai. Anyway, the money was going to be used by lower-level officials, and since it didn't matter who it went to, it was naturally better to give it to someone who was good to him. With Fang Zhenyu, there was no need to worry about him not investing in Linhai. He stepped forward and said, "Director, Mr. Fang, it's getting late, shouldn't we set off?"
"Okay, let's go. I'll get in Zhenyu's car; I don't need to drive mine," Zhan An said.
Fang Zhenyu laughed, "Director, you're not going to take advantage of me like this, are you? I was just thinking of getting
a ride in your car." Zhan An also laughed, "I've already given you so much money, can't I even ride in your car?"
Everyone laughed, and amidst the laughter, they all got into the car, which smoothly drove away from the Linhai Grand Hotel. "Miss Shangguan, how is President Shangguan?" Zhan An asked in the car. He was in the transportation industry, so he knew about Shangguan Hao's investments in the port and his status in the Taiwanese business world.
"Thank you for your concern, Director. My father is doing well. He'll be back in a few days, and I'll invite you for drinks then," Shangguan Wenxin said.
"Okay!" Zhan An readily agreed.
"Then it's settled."
"Of course." Seeing Fang Zhenyu's smiling face, Zhan An couldn't help but ask, "Fang Zhenyu, did I fall for your trick again?"
Fang Zhenyu smiled wryly, "When have I ever lied to you? I was just thinking, Wenxin knows how to make money even better than me. If you agree to this, do you think you can come without a few thousand?"
Zhan An asked curiously, "It's just a drink in Linhai, right? Even if you people in Linhai don't treat me well, it doesn't need to cost that much."
Fang Zhenyu laughed, "If a department head from the mainland attends the wedding of a famous Taiwanese entrepreneur without a decent gift, would you dare to come?"
"You mean, President Shangguan is going back to the mainland to get married?" Zhan An asked in surprise.
"Is that not allowed?"
"Yes, of course it's allowed. Then this gift is indispensable."
Shangguan Wenxin laughed, "It's enough that your department head is here, what gift do you need?"
"Little sister, if you don't want it, I will." Fang Zhenyu said.
"What does someone else's father's wedding have to do with you? What gift do you need?" Zhan An rolled his eyes at Fang Zhenyu, thinking that Fang Zhenyu was joking.
"Her father is getting married, and I, Fang Zhenyu, am marrying my mother-in-law. Do you think I can accept your gift?" Fang Zhenyu said with a smile.
Zhan An then realized that Shangguan Hao was marrying Fang Zhenyu's mother-in-law, and couldn't help but ask about the reason. When he heard that they were childhood sweethearts, he couldn't help but sigh and said, "It's not easy for lovers to finally be together. I not only want to give you this gift, but I want a big one. Zhenyu, you tell me, what kind of gift do you want?"
"Should I choose?"
"Yes, you greedy thing can choose. I know Miss Shangguan won't ask for a gift."
"Does that mean you'll give me anything I want?"
"Of course, as long as I can afford it!" Zhan An said generously.
Fang Zhenyu laughed, "Of course you can afford it. Besides, it's not like you're paying for it yourself. My request isn't high; just give me ten kilometers of standard Haihe River embankment."
"What? You, Fang Zhenyu, want to do engineering projects?" Zhan An exclaimed, his face filled with confusion. Fang Zhenyu certainly didn't have time to do engineering projects himself; asking him for projects meant asking for someone else's. But in Zhan An's mind, Fang Zhenyu wasn't that kind of person; he wouldn't use his connections for personal gain.
"What would I need engineering projects for? I'm already too busy with the port and printing plant," Fang Zhenyu explained with a smile. "I just want you to give our city an extra ten kilometers of quota next year, outside of the planned quota. Don't tell me you don't have any; I know you have some flexible quotas every year."
Zhan An sighed, "I still fell for your trick. Okay, it's settled then. But you have to tell me, who told you I had flexible quotas? Was it Zhong Yuguang who told you to ask for them? And why did you only ask for ten kilometers and not more?"
"Thank you, Director Zhan. Your question is easy to answer. First, it wasn't Secretary Zhong who asked me to ask for it, nor did he tell me you had such quotas. Second, you might need to see for yourself to understand, but it's quite simple. Our city has a riverside development plan, the plan is complete, but we lack the funds to get started, so we can only approach you with this. But don't worry, your money will absolutely be used to build standard river embankments; not a single penny will be misappropriated." Then, Fang Zhenyu told Zhan An about the development of the river island, and said, "Once the river embankment from the city to the river island is completed, the entire riverside development will begin."
Zhan An had heard Zhong Yuguang mention the riverside development in Linhai City, but not in great detail. Hearing Fang Zhenyu's explanation, he became interested and said, "Alright, I've already been fooled by you too many times, so I don't mind doing it again. After we've seen the port access road, we'll go to the river island to take a look. If it's not as good as you say, don't blame me for going back on my word."
"Of course, I'll thank you on behalf of the people of Linhai, especially the villagers of Xiajiang Village. They should thank you even more."
Zhan An frowned and said, "That's not necessary. However, I just don't understand what benefit this will bring to your port development. You're not a selfless person who only cares about others." He thought of the highway proposal.
This time, Shangguan Wenxin spoke up, laughing, "How can there be no benefit? I heard that Secretary Zhong wants you to be in charge of the riverside development. He also said that he'll start working on it after the tourist area is completed. Besides, if the riverside development is done well, it will also greatly boost the port's tourism industry."
Zhan An couldn't help but sigh. He hadn't expected that despite his utmost caution, he had still been tricked by Fang Zhenyu. But he was also very happy because Fang Zhenyu hadn't done anything for his own personal gain. Zhan An himself was such a person, so of course he applauded Fang Zhenyu's actions and was also very fortunate that Zhong Yuguang had found a good helper. Although he was secretly pleased, he feigned dejection and said, "You, Fang Zhenyu, are too clever. I'd better stay away from you in the future, or I don't know when you'll sell me out."
His words made everyone laugh, including Zhang Lei, who was driving. As they spoke, the car had already entered the port highway. Meng Jialiang, who was leading the way, stopped, and they stopped as well.
"Director Zhan, how does it feel?" As soon as Zhan An got out of the car, Meng Jialiang came up to him, pointing to the flat and straight highway in front of him, and asked proudly. He was indeed very proud, because a high-grade highway like this would normally take at least a year to build, but he had basically completed it in just a few months. Currently, there were still two or three kilometers of concrete pavement left to be laid, but it would probably be fully open to traffic soon.
Zhan An didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked around and, finding no issues with the quality, nodded and said, "Very good. To achieve such results in such a short time, this is the best thing you, Meng Jialiang, have ever done."
Meng Jialiang said, "General Manager Fang deserves the most credit." He then recounted how Fang Zhenyu would always stop his car to talk to the road construction workers whenever he passed by, discussing the road's fundraising. Hearing that the majority of the funding for this road came from fundraising, the workers' enthusiasm soared, resulting in today's rapid progress.
"The construction enthusiasm of the people of Linhai is truly remarkable," Zhan An praised.
Meng Jialiang laughed, "It should be said that it's due to your effective leadership and strong support. Without your funding, we would have had a hard time achieving such results."
Zhan An laughed, "You rascal, here to flatter me again. Are you trying to get some benefits from me, just like Fang Zhenyu?"
"No, how could I dare!" Meng Jialiang said. He was just proud of what he had done and wanted to show off to his superiors. He hadn't intended to get any benefits from Zhan An. But when he heard Zhan An say this, he knew that Fang Zhenyu had gotten benefits from him, so he asked, "What, what benefits did you give President Fang?"
Zhan An glared at him and said, "Let's go. Let's see the whole thing first and see if you're trying to fool me with this little bit." He got into the car, but before getting in, he couldn't help but turn back and say, "Give me a plan for a standard river embankment ten kilometers downstream from your Jinhua Bridge."
"What?" Meng Jialiang exclaimed loudly.
This time it was Zhan An's turn to be stunned. He hadn't expected Meng Jialiang to react so strongly. He pulled his foot back from the car and asked, "Meng Jialiang, what's the big deal?"
"My millions are gone," Meng Jialiang said dejectedly.
"What happened?" Zhan An asked quickly.
Faced with Zhan An's sharp gaze, Meng Jialiang had no choice but to honestly say, "I lost the bet." Then, he recounted his bet with Fang Zhenyu, where if Fang Zhenyu could secure the standard river embankment construction quota in the province, he would contribute millions of yuan from the highway construction fund to build a highway from the city to the island in the river.
Zhan An laughed heartily and said, "That's what you deserve! Who told you to spend so much time with Fang Zhenyu and still not understand his character? Think about it, would he do something he's not sure of?" With that, he ignored Meng Jialiang and got into the car.
The others in the group also laughed and drove off.
On Sunday, January 23, 1994, on Jiangxin Island,
Li Wei said to Lei Xiaomin, who was repairing tools, "Xiaomin, I'll go up to the island with Hua Gu and the others first. Hurry up and come up after you've finished your business." She had just arrived from the city and had been working with Lei Xiaomin and others in Xiajiang Village whenever she had free time.
"Okay, you guys finish cleaning those houses first, I'll be there soon," Lei Xiaomin replied.
Li Wei then told Lei Xiaomin's grandmother and left. Watching Li Wei's retreating figure, the grandmother said to Lei Xiaomin, "Xiaomin, this girl is very good, you should hurry!"
Lei Xiaomin blushed and said, "Grandma, I will." After his conversation with Lei Jiehua, he had a clear direction. He believed Lei Jiehua was right; as long as he had the ability, he could definitely make Li Wei live a happy life. So what was there to hesitate about? Moreover, he discovered that Li Wei was genuinely good to him. She not only helped him make decisions at work but also cared deeply for him in his personal life. Despite being a woman, Li Wei, under Fang Zhenyu's tutelage, possessed insightful thinking, which even Lei Xiaomin admired, often heeding her advice.
The old woman had met Li Wei several times. Although elderly, she could see Li Wei's affection for her grandson and thought Li Wei was a good girl, so she encouraged her grandson to pursue her. As Lei Xiaomin was her only grandson, she naturally wanted them to marry soon so she could experience the joy of four generations living together. Therefore, she said, "Xiaomin, when pursuing a girl, you need to be bold, patient, and gentle, so as not to scare her away."
"Grandma, I understand," Lei Xiaomin said, and was about to go out when he looked up and saw Fang Yuqiong standing in front of his house. He exclaimed in surprise, "Sister Qiong, what brings you here?"
"What, you have a girlfriend and don't even want your older sister anymore?" Fang Yuqiong teased. She had been there for several minutes and had just overheard Lei Xiaomin and the old woman's conversation.
"No, how could I not want my older sister?" Lei Xiaomin was very embarrassed. He had only said that because Fang Yuqiong rarely used her free time to come to Jiangcun, but he hadn't expected it to elicit such a response from her.
Fang Yuqiong, of course, knew that Lei Xiaomin wasn't that kind of person; she was just teasing him. Seeing him like this, she couldn't bear to look at him any longer and said, "Look, who's here?"
"Xiaomin!" someone called from outside.
"Brother Fang!" Lei Xiaomin was overjoyed. He had hoped that Fang Zhenyu would come to Xiajiang to visit, but Fang Zhenyu had never had the chance. He never expected that he would come today.
Fang Yuqiong ushered Fang Zhenyu inside and introduced him to the old woman. The old woman, having heard much from Lei Xiaomin about Fang Zhenyu, was naturally delighted to see someone of Fang Zhenyu's stature visiting her grandson. She took Fang Zhenyu's hand and said, "Mr. Fang, you are truly a great benefactor to our Xiaomin."
Fang Zhenyu replied kindly, "Grandma, I'm not a great benefactor. Xiaomin and I are just friends, like brothers. You can just call me Zhenyu."
"Xiaomin is so fortunate to have met such kind older brothers and sisters! Zhenyu, there's nothing I can do to help you, I can only pray at home that everything goes smoothly for you." The old woman was deeply moved.
"Thank you, Grandma," Fang Zhenyu said, also touched by the old woman's simple and sincere feelings.
Fang Yuqiong looked at the room and smiled, "Xiaomin, having a girlfriend really changes this house."
"Yes, Yuqiong, you have to help Xiaomin, don't let such a good wife leave."
"Grandma, she won't leave. Xiaomin is so outstanding, how could she leave?" Fang Yuqiong said, then she took the opportunity to lecture Xiaomin, "Xiaomin, girls are all clean, so you should keep things tidy. Besides, you'll be the manager of the Jiangxin Island tourist area from now on, so you need to pay attention to your behavior. Hygiene habits are cultivated, don't be as casual as before."
"I understand, big sister." Lei Xiaomin felt embarrassed. After dating Li Wei, he also felt that he and Li Wei were somewhat incompatible, and now he understood why.
The old woman said, "Only Yuqiong can persuade Xiaomin."
"Grandma, soon there will be someone even more persuasive to him."
Everyone knew she was referring to Li Wei, and they couldn't help but laugh. After laughing, Fang Yuqiong said, "Grandma, let's go to the island with my brother. You should rest at home."
"Alright, you young people go and do your work," the old woman said.
So the group headed towards the island in the middle of the river. As they walked, Lei Xiaomin explained the situation to Fang Zhenyu. Because he couldn't find the time, Director Zhan An hadn't come to Xiajiang a few days ago, so Fang Zhenyu hadn't come either. He had only heard about Xiajiang Village before; this was his first time visiting in person. After looking around, he greatly admired Fang Yuqiong's foresight.
Upon arriving at the riverbank, just as everyone was about to board the boat, Fang Zhenyu noticed Zhang Hong and several others there as well. He exclaimed, "Secretary Zhang, what are you doing here?"
Zhang Hong, delighted to see Fang Zhenyu, approached with her group and said, "I'm here to handle the boundary dispute between the port area and Chaoyang District. And you?"
"I'm just here to check on Xiaomin's island development project."
"Great! I don't need their ride. I'll go back with you," Zhang Hong said.
"Sure."
Zhang Hong then dismissed her group and followed Fang Zhenyu and the others onto the island.
"Xiaomin, come quick! Is this alright?" Just as they entered the service area, they heard Li Wei's sweet voice. Lei Xiaomin blushed, glanced at Fang Zhenyu and Fang Yuqiong, and quickly went inside.
Li Wei followed Lei Xiaomin out, her face flushed, and said shyly to Fang Zhenyu, "President Fang, you're here too?" She then greeted Zhang Hong and the others. Her charming appearance stirred feelings of affection in both Lei Xiaomin and Fang Zhenyu, though each had their own thoughts.
Upon hearing of Fang Zhenyu's arrival, Lei Xiaomin's brothers also gathered around, eager to catch a glimpse of him. They whispered amongst themselves, oblivious to Li Wei's shy demeanor. Zhang Hong, however, noticed it. She couldn't understand why the usually outgoing Li Wei was acting this way, assuming it was because his first love had been discovered.
Zhang Hong laughed, "Li Wei, if you're in a relationship, just be in a relationship. What's there to be ashamed of?" Fang Zhenyu,
of course, knew she was afraid he'd be jealous. He thought to himself: What right do I have to be jealous? I took your virginity; that was already wrong of me. I only hope you find happiness. Even if I had that right, I wouldn't. After all, relationships are a two-way street. If one party feels they can't continue, then breaking up is inevitable. So he said, "Xiao Li, Secretary Zhang is right. Xiao Min is a very good young man. You should cherish him!"
Li Wei was genuinely afraid Fang Zhenyu would be jealous. Hearing him say that, he relaxed, rolled his eyes at Fang Zhenyu, and said, "Do I need you to teach me how to date?"
"Li Wei, you're not allowed to talk to Brother Fang like that." Lei Xiaomin was quite protective of Fang Zhenyu.
Li Wei thought to himself: You fool, he's already taken advantage of you so much! And you're still protecting him like this? But he was quite pleased with Lei Xiaomin's purity and obediently said, "I know."
Lei Xiaomin led everyone around the entire island, and finally, they stopped at a newly built octagonal pavilion on the mountaintop. He said, "Our finances are limited, so we can only build this many projects for now. I can't build more yurt-style accommodations."
Fang Zhenyu said, "This is already good. Three yurts are enough; there's no need to build more."
"Mr. Fang, that's too few. In my opinion, the environment here is so beautiful; there must be many tourists. This kind of place is perfect for you bad men. How can three yurts be enough?" Zhang Hong said. When she mentioned "bad men," she couldn't help but roll her eyes at Fang Zhenyu. Since they had gone through thick and thin together at sea and she had confessed her feelings to him, she hadn't had a chance to be alone with him.
Fang Zhenyu naturally knew what her glance meant. In fact, he was also trying his best to avoid Zhang Hong. Hearing this, he said, "How can it be that we men are all bad? Besides, isn't it you women who spoil men? Judging from what you just said, you were just thinking about us men. But what I'm saying is that this place isn't big. If there are too many yurts, it won't show the natural charm."
Fang Yuqiong blushed when she heard Fang Zhenyu say that men's badness was caused by women spoiling them. Hadn't she and Ning Yufang spoiled Fang Zhenyu? But hearing that Fang Zhenyu's words made sense, she said, "What you said makes sense, but if there are fewer people living here, the benefits won't be high!"
Fang Zhenyu said, "Of course there are other ways. Xiaomin, think about it carefully. I know you can think of something." He gave Lei Xiaomin an encouraging look.
Upon hearing Fang Zhenyu say that they didn't need to build so many yurts, Lei Xiaomin immediately started thinking. Encouraged by Fang Zhenyu, he became very excited and quickly said, "I understand. We can solve this by renting out tents. Although the conditions are a bit worse, it has its own kind of fun."
"That's right. This way, we only need to build some public facilities and add more bedding to increase our profits," Fang Zhenyu praised.
Seeing Lei Xiaomin's quick thinking, Fang Yuqiong was also very happy. It seemed that Jiang Village was truly about to prosper. She looked at the pavilion she was in and asked, "What should this pavilion be called?"
"We're not sure what to call it, Brother Fang," Lei Xiaomin looked at Fang Zhenyu earnestly and said, "Could you help us come up with a name?"
Fang Zhenyu said, "Let's all think about it together!"
Everyone walked around the pavilion, muttering to themselves. Fang Zhenyu arrived outside the pavilion, gazing at the ribbon-like Jinhua River below and the boats plying its waters. He spontaneously recited: "Alone in the chilly autumn, the Xiang River flows north, past Orange Isle. Behold the mountains ablaze with red, the forests dyed in vibrant hues, the river a clear, deep blue, a hundred boats racing... Do you remember, striking the water midstream, the waves halting the flying boats?"
Following his recitation, the crowd gathered around him, looking at the rushing river and the scattered sails, imagining the imagery of the poem. They all felt that this poem perfectly captured the beauty before them. Fang Zhenyu's appearance at this moment was also quite striking. Not only Fang Yuqiong, Li Wei, and Zhang Hong, but also Zhang Xia and Lei Jiehua, who followed him, couldn't help but cast admiring glances at him, secretly praising how even the usually arrogant Lei Xiaomin in the village admired him so much.
Fang Zhenyu hadn't expected everyone to look at him like that. He was thinking about naming the pavilion when, after reciting the poem, he said, "Xiaomin, let's call it Guange Pavilion. You can also put up a stele next to it and inscribe Chairman Mao's poem on it."
"That's wonderful!" Fang Yuqiong was the first to praise, and everyone immediately gave him a warm round of applause.
The wind was strong on the mountain, so after standing there for a while, everyone went down the mountain. Fang Zhenyu inquired about the situation from various aspects and came up with solutions for each problem before leaving Xiajiang Village with Fang Yuqiong and Zhang Hong. Li Wei also went out with Fang Zhenyu, since he had to go to work the next day.
Wednesday, January 26, 1994, Fang Family Building
"Mom, is the new house decorated to your liking?" Fang Zhenyu asked as soon as Wang Peiying returned home.
Wang Peiying said shyly, "It's not a big deal, it's fine as it is." In her heart, she was very grateful to Fang Zhenyu. This son-in-law was not only capable, taking meticulous care of her and her daughter, but also very filial. She truly regarded him as her son. After dinner, accompanied by Shangguan Wenxin, she went to the workers' new village to see the house that would become her new home. Although the furnishings weren't luxurious, they must have cost a considerable amount of money, and most importantly, they suited her perfectly.
"Big brother, don't worry, Mom raves about your furnishings!" Shangguan Wenxin said. Since returning home, she had been living at the Fang family's house and had become like mother and daughter with Wang Peiying, calling her "Mom, Mom" very affectionately.
"Wenxin, you're calling her so affectionately, are you trying to steal my mother away? Aren't you afraid we'll be jealous?" Ning Yufang laughed while breastfeeding Xiao Ning, her large, white breasts fully exposed.
Shangguan Wenxin looked on with envy. While her own breasts were also large, they weren't as big as Ning Yufang's. Little did she know that those things only grew larger with a man's touch. She thought to herself, "Not only will I share your mother, but if I could, I'd also share your husband!" Of course, she wouldn't dare say "steal," because she could see that Fang Zhenyu was deeply in love with Ning Yufang and treated the Ning family very well. He wouldn't let anyone ruin this family atmosphere, so she smiled and said, "I wouldn't dare. Actually, you don't need to be jealous of me. In my heart, there's only my eldest brother. You should be jealous of him."
"Girl, even you say that?" Wang Peiying glared at Shangguan Wenxin.
"Mom, there's nothing more to say now, isn't there? Not only do we feel this way, but even your new daughter says so," Ning Yufang laughed.
Wang Peiying blushed like a young girl and said, "Never mind, I won't talk to you disrespectful people anymore. I'll go take care of Xiaojian." After saying that, she went back to her room, where Ning Yufen was giving Xiaojian a bath.
Ning Yuwei glanced at Fang Zhenyu and said, "Brother-in-law, sister, you two chat. I'm going back to my room to rest." She had just returned from the training ground today, and Fang Zhenyu naturally understood what she meant by that glance.
Seeing that only Fang Zhenyu and Ning Yufang were there, Shangguan Wenxin pretended to stroke Xiao Ning's face, but her hand actually touched Ning Yufang's breast. She said, "Sister Yufang, Xiao Ning is so good. Are you willing to leave him to pursue your career?"
Ning Yufang understood Shangguan Wenxin's meaning. She didn't pull Shangguan Wenxin's hand away and said, "What's there to be reluctant about? Even if I go out, there are still many people at home. Many people want to help take care of Xiao Ning. If you're willing, you can do it too. You can even breastfeed him!"
Shangguan Wenxin didn't expect Ning Yufang to be so generous, which made her feel shy. She said shyly, "Sister Yufang!" and withdrew her hand, going upstairs.
"Fang, you're going too far," Fang Zhenyu said to Ning Yufang with a wry smile. He knew that his wife was playing the pimping game again. Although he had a strong need for women, he felt that he had enough. He wouldn't have any problems with his body if he had more, but those relationships would be difficult to manage.
"Come on, let's go upstairs too," Ning Yufang didn't answer, but instead straightened her clothes and stood up. Fang Zhenyu had no choice but to accompany her upstairs. In the elevator, Ning Yufang said, "Honey, there's no question of going too far. Looking at her like that, just like Yuheng and Yuzhi, you can't avoid her no matter what. Why not let her have her way sooner? That way, you and Yuzhi won't have to be so secretive anymore."
Ning Yufang was telling the truth. Shangguan Wenxin's constant presence at the Fang family home made Ning Yuzhi's affair quite inconvenient. Fang Zhenyu was using this as an opportunity to distance himself from Ning Yuzhi and the others, but Ning Yuzhi also needed his attention and wasn't about to let him go, just being more discreet. Not only Ning Yuzhi, but Ning Yufen was also caught up in this.
Fang Zhenyu sighed, "But it's not good for me to be too proactive in this kind of thing. Let's just let things take their course."
"That's why I'm helping you make it happen!" Ning Yufang said with a coquettish smile.
Fang Zhenyu embraced his wife, saying affectionately, "I've never seen a woman like you."
"Good to know. You must cherish me. When I go out to perform, you must find time to visit me, otherwise I really can't take it."
"Don't worry, I'll cherish you." Fang Zhenyu's large hand placed on Ning Yufang's crotch, gently caressing her.
Ning Yufang let out a series of moans. Soon, the two returned to the room, where Ning Yuwei was already waiting. Upon seeing Fang Zhenyu, she threw herself into his arms, exclaiming sweetly, "Brother-in-law, I missed you so much!" Her cherry-like lips kissed Fang Zhenyu's face, her hands not idle, caressing his body.
"Well, you little brat, how dare you have an affair with your brother-in-law in front of your sister! I'll beat you to death!" Ning Yufang pretended to hit Ning Yuwei.
Ning Yuwei, however, didn't care at all. She raised her face and said, "Sister, hit me, but before you do, let me experience the wonderful pleasure my brother-in-law brings to a woman, so I can die without regrets." Of course, she knew her sister wouldn't really hit her, so her delicate hands never left Fang Zhenyu's crotch. Instead, she pulled Fang Zhenyu's manhood out.
Fang Zhenyu kissed her, "I missed you too, didn't I?" He pulled her hands away and said, "Be careful. Wenxin is at home. Sometimes she comes to see your second sister."
"What do you mean, 'see me'? She really comes to see her eldest brother." Ning Yufang muttered, ignoring them, and went to find clothes to bathe Xiao Ning.
Ning Yuwei also said, "Why bother with her? Her little hole is itchy, just do her too. I think she's just afraid of Second Sister. If she knew that all of us sisters were with you, I think she would join in too. That way, even though we don't have the same mother, all of us sisters can serve you together."
"How could you say that?" Fang Zhenyu was greatly surprised. He didn't expect Ning Yuwei to become so lewd, and to say such things.
“Why not? Every woman wants to find a good man, and you are the best one. How could Wenxin not be tempted?” Ning Yuwei ignored Fang Zhenyu’s protests and pulled out his manhood. Completely disregarding the fact that he hadn’t showered, she kissed him and murmured, “It’s so good, so comfortable.”
Fang Zhenyu had no choice but to push her away and close the door, allowing her to do as she pleased. He said, “Fourth Sister, if you keep going like this, you’ll become a slut.”
Ning Yuwei raised her face, which was full of spring, and said, “How could that be? I’ve never let any man other than my brother-in-law’s lover touch me. I only act lewd in front of my dear brother-in-law’s lover. I don’t have much vacation time. If I don’t cherish these few days, how can I make up for the longing I’ve felt during this time?” After saying that, she lowered her head and continued working, her jade hands beginning to undress Fang Zhenyu.
Seeing Ning Yuwei's deep affection, Fang Zhenyu was deeply moved. While caressing her beautiful body, he removed Ning Yuwei's clothes and said with a wry smile, "Aren't you going to get married?"
"Of course I'll get married, but only after I win the national championship and after I've enjoyed all the happiness you've brought me," Ning Yuwei said earnestly, raising her head again.
"Silly girl!" Fang Zhenyu affectionately pinched her soft breast.
"Oh!" Ning Yuwei exclaimed dramatically. Seeing Ning Yufang carrying Xiao Ning out of the bathroom, she pulled Fang Zhenyu and said, "Brother-in-law, help me wash up."
How could Fang Zhenyu refuse such a charming and alluring beauty? He carried Ning Yuwei into the bathroom, but before they finished washing, Ning Yuwei impatiently used her soft embrace to tightly grip Fang Zhenyu's large member, moving vigorously, emitting wave after wave of lewd moans. Fang Zhenyu could only respond while washing away the remaining bath soap, finally carrying her back to the bed and launching another fierce attack on her.
As Fang Zhenyu's copious, hot semen gushed into Ning Yuwei's uterus, she awoke from her unconscious state, tightly embracing Fang Zhenyu and exclaiming with satisfaction, "Good lover, good brother-in-law, you really know how to please, I feel so good!"
At this moment, Ning Yufang, having already soothed her son to sleep, came to their side and, hearing this, laughed, "If he didn't know how to please, how could our future champion have willingly fallen so low as to become his mistress?"
"Sister, I'm sorry, I took your darling." Ning Yuwei felt somewhat guilty, because she hadn't even said hello before engaging with Fang Zhenyu.
"Never mind, what can I do when I have such a beautiful sister and married such a good husband?" Ning Yufang gently stroked her sister's full vulva, Fang Zhenyu's semen mixed with Ning Yuwei's bodily fluids gushing out. She asked with pity, "Fourth sister, you must have had a hard time holding back outside!"
"Yes," Ning Yuwei replied, caressing Fang Zhenyu's limp penis with boundless affection. "But I don't want anyone to touch me until my brother-in-law agrees."
Fang Zhenyu couldn't help but pull her into his arms tightly, saying tenderly, "Silly girl, how can you need your brother-in-law's permission for something like this? As long as you feel that the other person truly loves you, you should try to accept it. Maybe you'll find that there are people better than me."
"Impossible. In my heart, you are the best. I've read books on physiology, and no man can be as strong as you. Look, my little brother is awake again," Ning Yuwei said earnestly.
Sure enough, Fang Zhenyu's penis hardened again. He could only smile wryly and say, "I didn't expect this to be a skill too. What, do you want more?"
"Yes, but not now. I'm still too weak. Besides, I can't just keep taking you and neglect my sister."
"If you're still able, then continue. I won't mind," Ning Yufang said. But she climbed onto Fang Zhenyu's body, parted her beautiful little hole, and took Fang Zhenyu's penis inside, gently rubbing it. She continued, "Zhenyu, in a woman's eyes, besides earning money to support the family, this skill is the most important thing for a woman. How fortunate we sisters are to have a man like you who can both earn money and be charming! So, Wenxin is definitely our husband's little mistress too."
Fang Zhenyu knew Ning Yufang was telling the truth, but how could he respond? He remained silent, fully plunging her into a state of bliss rarely attained by other women, before finally saying breathlessly, "To have you sisters is true happiness."
The three whispered sweet nothings, and soon the two women were ready to fall asleep. Fang Zhenyu waited for Ning Yufen to come up, but she didn't appear. He then said to Ning Yufang, "Fang, I have to go to my shift. Please tell my elder sister I'm sorry I can't serve her tonight."
Ning Yufang replied, "Don't worry, my elder sister is on her period and won't be coming up tonight. We all understand your love for us sisters, so just focus on your work. Please give my regards to Chunmei. She's a capable woman, but very lonely. You must cherish her."
"Thank you!" Fang Zhenyu kissed each of the two sisters on the cheek before getting dressed and leaving.

(Volume 3) Chapter Eleven Year-End Summary

Chapter Eleven Year-End Summary
Sunday, January 30, 1994 Linhai Hotel
Chen Changlin and Tan Chunmei sat around a large round table, separated by a chair—Fang Zhenyu's seat. Tonight, Fang Zhenyu was to have a reunion dinner here with the main leaders of the Oriental Printing Group, and to summarize the year's work. The two had been out on business and, seeing that it was almost time, had come up early.
"This year has gone by so fast!" Chen Changlin said with deep emotion.
"Yes!" Tan Chunmei deeply agreed. She said, "But this year has also been the most fulfilling. Although it was a bit tough, I felt less lost and helpless than before. I really didn't expect that our Dongfang Printing Factory would actually come back to life and grow to its current size."
Chen Changlin looked at Tan Chunmei's radiant appearance and felt deeply moved. He said, "You're right. People aren't afraid of hardship, they're afraid of emptiness. I used to feel that kind of lostness when I was in the city factory, but after General Manager Fang came, everything changed. Even I feel much younger."
Looking back on the past six months, Tan Chunmei felt that this period had been the most meaningful in her nearly ten years of work. She said, "I really can't imagine what we would be like without General Manager Fang. To have achieved what we have today would be wishful thinking."
Chen Changlin suddenly said, "If we're talking about gains, you've probably gained the most. Not to mention the economic gains, the spiritual gains are even greater. You look like you've become ten years younger. However, you should be careful about one thing."
"What is it?" Tan Chunmei's face involuntarily turned red.
Chen Changlin said earnestly, "Although I'm a bit older, my eyesight isn't failing me. I can still see the feelings between you and President Fang. Normally, it's a private matter, and I shouldn't interfere, but I'm afraid it might affect President Fang's future, so I have to tell you. Frankly, President Fang is a rare man, but he's married after all. I think you should put away your affections."
"I..." Tan Chunmei didn't know what to say. She could tell that Chen Changlin was aware of her relationship with Fang Zhenyu, but she didn't know how much he knew.
Chen Changlin continued, “We’re both Party members, and cadres at best. We should know that lifestyle can lead a person to utter ruin. Of course, even if something happens to President Fang, he still has our printing group, but the port development will be incomplete without him. Judging from the situation over the past six months, I really don’t know what the port development will be like without President Fang.”
Tan Chunmei knew this all too well, but giving up Fang Zhenyu was impossible for her. Everything she did was for Fang Zhenyu, so she tentatively said, “Changlin, matters of the heart are really hard to predict. Luckily, it was only you who noticed. If others had noticed, it would have been troublesome.”
“Actually, I didn’t notice anything either, just guessed, but unfortunately, I guessed right. In this respect, you should learn from Zhang Bei and Fanghua. They certainly had feelings for President Fang, but it was only lip service,” Chen Changlin said.
Tan Chunmei finally felt relieved and said, “I will.” Inwardly, however, she chuckled. Those two women had already cheated on their husbands; she was learning from them. But she also secretly became wary of herself. Why did Zhang Bei and Fang Hua give Chen Changlin such an impression, while she herself had given him the impression that she was hiding something? Little did she know that Zhang Bei and Fang Hua were both with men, so they could naturally pretend nothing was wrong. Tan Chunmei was different; she had given her virginity to Fang Zhenyu. Women change after having a man.
Chen Changlin, of course, didn't know that Tan Chunmei was thinking so much. In fact, he hadn't really seen anything wrong either. He just felt that Tan Chunmei was being too nice to Fang Zhenyu, and he was afraid it would arouse suspicion from others. Seeing her say this, he said, "I'm relieved that you think this way. I don't want our business to fail because of this!"
As they were talking, Zhang Bei and Li Fanghua arrived, followed soon by Liu Tingwei and others. Their conversation naturally turned to the group's production. Everyone knew the theme of the gathering, so they talked about their work at the factory recently. However, after Hu Jun arrived, everyone started telling jokes. Since the people from the three factories had been working for Fang Zhenyu, they had developed a good relationship and didn't hold back, resulting in a room full of laughter.
Fang Zhenyu arrived promptly at 5:30, accompanied by Wei Shuping from the Dongfang No. 2 Factory. As soon as he entered, he asked, "What's going on here today? Why are you all so funny?"
Hu Jun replied, "They said they're having Fanghua and Shaomei compete to see who has the better massage skills."
Fang Zhenyu knew, of course, that he was going to use Li Fanghua and Sun Shaomei as targets for ridicule again, and he wasn't about to let him succeed. He then said, "Alright, you, Factory Director Hu, will be the referee, and these two will give you a massage. But massages cost money! How about this, we don't need to charge too much, just enough for our dinner tonight."
Li Fanghua and Sun Shaomei naturally knew that Fang Zhenyu was worried about them being embarrassed, and they were grateful. Li Fanghua said calmly, "If our Factory Director Hu wants a massage, we'll charge half price, just half of tonight's dinner. We'll pay the rest, Shaomei, is that okay?"
Sun Shaomei understood Li Fanghua's intention and smiled, "Okay." Then she said to Hu Jun, "Factory Director Hu, don't worry, although the price is lower, the service quality will definitely not be reduced."
Hu Jun never expected that instead of making fun of Li and Sun, they would gain the upper hand with Fang Zhenyu's support, and he had no choice but to surrender, saying with a wry smile, "Although I've earned quite a bit lately, I still can't afford this bill. I give up."
Everyone burst into laughter. This was Yan Ruyu's first time attending a meeting of the group's leadership. Seeing how approachable they were and how harmonious they all seemed, she thought to herself, "No wonder Dongfang Printing Group has achieved such great results in such a short time." She admired her boss, Fang Zhenyu, even more. Before joining Dongfang, she had heard many stories about him. After joining the group, since Fang Zhenyu was mainly at the port, she didn't have much contact with him. But even in those few interactions, she sensed his affability and felt he was even more outstanding than the rumors suggested. She couldn't help but feel fortunate that she had chosen the right path.
Seeing that everyone's laughter had subsided, Fang Zhenyu asked Zhang Bei, "Sister Bei, have you ordered the food?"
"Yes, I have."
"Okay, let's talk about this year's work first." So, Fang Zhenyu recounted the work of Dongfang Printing Group over the past six months. The main achievements are severalfold. On a large scale, the Oriental Printing Group was established, a new workers' village was built, and a preliminary monopoly was achieved in the printing market of Linhai City. On a smaller scale, the three factories are operating normally and at full capacity. The printing technology and quality have greatly improved, enabling the printing of more exquisite trademarks and advertisements. Workers' lives have improved significantly, and their enthusiasm is unprecedentedly high. The vast majority of worker leaders are now proactively protecting the factory's interests. Fang Zhenyu said, "Don't underestimate these small things; it is precisely these small things that have enabled our company to develop better. Without the support of the workers, it would have been impossible to complete this year's production target. Therefore, I think we should reward our workers. Of course, everyone can suggest how to reward them."
These were all things everyone had done before, so no one raised any objections. However, when it came to rewards, everyone started discussing, with some suggesting cash, others suggesting in-kind gifts, and so on. Tan Chunmei cleared her throat and said, "This is an extra reward for the workers. I think we should come up with something new. How about this: the group will cover most of the expenses, and we'll take a percentage from the workers' wages to create a travel fund, so that every worker can travel and see what the world is like. Of course, if they don't go, the money won't be there."
"I agree," Yan Ruyu immediately said. She was the youngest present and had no family burdens, so naturally she wanted to travel and see the world.
Chen Changlin, however, said, "The idea is good, but I'm afraid our workers won't be willing to spend the money." This was understandable; travel costs money. Even if the group subsidized it, it could only cover travel expenses, not the entire cost, and the workers themselves would still have to pay some.
“I think there’s no problem,” said Mo Hanzhong, who rarely spoke at meetings. “Before, people didn’t want to travel mainly because their family life wasn’t settled. Now that the workers’ lives are better and they have houses, even families like mine want to go out and travel.”
The group discussed this issue for a while, and Hu Jun said, “Actually, we can’t represent all the workers. Why don’t we draft a preliminary plan first and then let the employees decide?”
“Hu Jun is right. I think we should leave it at that for now. Chunmei, after the meeting, arrange for someone to draft the plan. The food should be served soon, so let me first talk about some plans for the new year, and then we can discuss it while we drink,” said Fang Zhenyu. The group then stopped discussing, and Fang Zhenyu outlined his plans for the new year. There were three main aspects: First, to further strengthen technological transformation and technical training to elevate the group’s printing level to a new level; second, to increase market monopoly efforts, using various means to unite all the printing companies in Linhai within a year; and third, to gradually expand beyond the city and develop markets for high-quality products outside the city.
After Fang Zhenyu finished speaking, the waiters brought out the dishes. He first toasted everyone, then asked them to drink and think at the same time, which made the atmosphere of the banquet lively.
Chen Changlin looked at the lively scene and said with deep feeling, "Zhenyu, it seems that the ideal you told me when you first came to the city factory is about to be realized."
"Secretary Chen, what was President Fang's ideal back then?" Yan Ruyu, sitting next to him, asked curiously.
"It was to establish a listed printing group!" Chen Changlin said.
"President Fang, you set your goal so early, you are really farsighted!" Yan Ruyu praised.
Fang Zhenyu smiled faintly and said, "Actually, everyone should have their own goal in everything they do. Only in this way can we have a direction to move forward, and only then can we achieve success in our careers. That's why we've gathered here today to discuss our work for the new year!"
Although he spoke very casually, Yan Ruyu's eyes lit up. Yes, whether it's a unit or an individual, everyone should have a goal to move forward. Only in this way can we unite all our strength and move towards the established goal to achieve greater success. In the future, I really need to set my own life goals.
The meeting was quite short, and Fang Zhenyu didn't speak much; most of the time was spent drinking and chatting. But this brief meeting rekindled the spirits of the Dongfang people, because they saw new goals, new hope, their boss's affirmation and support of their work, and their irreplaceable position within the group. They all secretly resolved to do even better in the new year!
On Saturday, February 5, 1994, on Jiangxin Island,
Fang Zhenyu and Tan Chunmei walked behind the guests from the province, directing several workers to carry some daily necessities onto the tour company's boat. Fang Zhenyu said to Tan Chunmei, who seemed somewhat excited, "Chunmei, do you think this is alright? Why don't you just not go?"
Tan Chunmei blushed, but wasn't afraid at all, saying, "You said they wouldn't gossip, what do I have to be afraid of? Aren't they all with women?" Tonight, they were going to spend the night on the newly opened Jiangxin Island. Fang Zhenyu wanted Tan Chunmei to accompany him so she could get acquainted with people from the Provincial Press and Publication Bureau, saving him a lot of trouble in the future. But now that they were at the riverbank, he thought it might not be good for Tan Chunmei, and wanted to change his mind. Tan Chunmei, however, was fearless. As long as it benefited Fang Zhenyu, she was willing to do anything, no matter the cost.
Seeing Tan Chunmei like this, Fang Zhenyu didn't say anything and quickly followed Su Weipeng and the others.
"Mr. Fang, is Jiangxin Island really as fun as you say?" Qin Zhongkun asked.
Fang Zhenyu laughed, "Actually, whether it's fun or not depends on one's mood. For example, today you brought such beautiful girlfriends, even the worst place should become fun. Besides, what I, Fang Zhenyu, have ever said that wasn't true?"
"That's true," Qin Zhongkun said.
"I don't think any of what you said is true," Su Weipeng said.
Fang Zhenyu was taken aback and asked, "Director Su, I haven't lied to you about anything, have I?" Su Weipeng was originally a section chief, and had only recently been promoted to deputy director. Fang Zhenyu was worried that he was deliberately making things difficult for him.
Seeing that no one else was around, Su Weipeng whispered, "Then tell me, every time you went out with us, were you really having fun? Are you trying to watch us have fun so you can tell on us?"
Hearing this, Fang Zhenyu finally relaxed and said, "Actually, it's not that I didn't want to, it's just that, to be honest, I really don't find those kinds of places interesting."
"Then the place we went to today should have aroused your 'sexual interest,' right? Why didn't you bring anyone?" Su Weipeng was still very dissatisfied. This was understandable; nobody wants others to know about having sex with women. Those who do know are usually like-minded people. Since Fang Zhenyu didn't do it but they did, they were naturally a little worried.
"Who said I didn't bring anyone?" At this point, Fang Zhenyu had no choice but to bring up Tan Chunmei.
Su Weipeng and the other two stared wide-eyed. Besides the three women they brought, the only other woman with them was Tan Chunmei. Qin Zhongkun couldn't help but ask, "Didn't you say that Ms. Tan is your woman?"
Fang Zhenyu smiled but remained silent, turning away to gaze absently at the rolling waves on the river.
Not getting an answer from Fang Zhenyu, the three naturally wouldn't let him go. Su Weipeng caught up with him, saying, "If I don't see you in one room tonight, you can forget about getting any more books from the Publishing Bureau this year."
"Hey, Director Su, what are you talking about?" Before Fang Zhenyu could answer, Tan Chunmei had already brought over with Su Weipeng and his three companions.
"It's nothing." Su Weipeng stared at Tan Chunmei's delicate face for a long time before saying, "I just wanted to see if President Fang really wanted us to seal the bags tonight."
Upon hearing this, Tan Chunmei knew that Fang Zhenyu had told them about her situation, and her face flushed. She said, "You are his good friends. Whether or not to seal the bags in this kind of situation is up to you. I just don't know if he has sealed them for you."
Kuang Meihua was brought by Qin Zhongkun. Of the three girls, she was the only one who had been to Linhai before. Obviously, she and Qin Zhongkun had experienced this kind of thing, so she remained silent. The other two were Su Ling, Su Weipeng's secretary, who was said to be his sister. As for their relationship, only they knew. The other was Lin Xiaoying, Qi Chaowei's new favorite. Su Ling didn't understand why Su Weipeng said this, so she asked, "Vice President Su, what is it that requires sealing the bags?"
Su Weipeng leaned down and whispered in her ear, making Su Ling blush. Obviously, although she was with Su Weipeng, she hadn't expected that these men weren't satisfied with just playing around and wanted to hold some kind of wedding ceremony. She stared at Tan Chunmei for a long time before saying, "They are indeed a very good match, but..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but everyone understood. Fang Zhenyu, seeing that there were other people on the boat, decided it wasn't convenient to discuss this further and said, "Director Su, let's talk about it when we get there. You should enjoy the beautiful scenery of our Jinhua River."
Su Weipeng, of course, understood Fang Zhenyu's meaning and gave Su Ling a wink before going to the bow of the boat with her.
Fang Zhenyu glanced at Tan Chunmei and said somewhat uneasily, "Chunmei, I'm sorry to trouble you."
Tan Chunmei, however, remained composed and said, "Since they are all alike, we have nothing to fear. Besides, I also want them to know that it will be easier to get things done in the future. Zhenyu, I'm really happy today. I would be even more satisfied if they really gave us a gift tonight."
"Chunmei!" Fang Zhenyu was deeply grateful and wanted to embrace her, but unfortunately, besides Su Weipeng and his group, there were only a few boatmen on the boat, so he could only give her a long, affectionate glance.
It took nearly half an hour to get from the city to the island, where Lei Xiaomin and the others were already waiting for them. After introducing themselves, the group, led by a young woman, headed into the mountains. Lei Xiaomin and Zhang Xia followed Fang Zhenyu. Lei Xiaomin said, "Brother Fang, your notification was a little late. There was a room that someone wanted, and I didn't want to ask them to give it up."
"It's alright. Staying in a tent is more atmospheric than living in a house. How's business?" Fang Zhenyu wasn't concerned about where they stayed, but rather inquired about the island's operations.
Lei Xiaomin became excited and said, "Not bad, about twenty people come to visit every day, and some even stay overnight." But he quickly added worriedly, "It's just a pity the roads are difficult to travel, and we don't have any boats, otherwise business would be even better. I hope the highway to our village will be completed soon, then our Xiajiang Village will quickly become prosperous."
Fang Zhenyu looked at Lei Xiaomin's eager expression and smiled, "Don't rush, take it one step at a time. The city has already approved the highway project, and as for the boats, we've already taken the same one, haven't we?"
Lei Xiaomin was stunned for a moment, but quickly understood and became excited, "Brother Fang, you're so resourceful! How come I didn't think of that? I'll go out and make contact first thing tomorrow morning."
Fang Zhenyu smiled, liking his clever younger brother even more. He said, "Don't be anxious when you encounter problems. First, calm yourself down, then think carefully and find a solution. Even the most difficult things can be solved."
"Understood, Brother Fang!" Lei Xiaomin was filled with admiration and gratitude. Zhang Xia, standing beside him, gazed at Fang Zhenyu with her beautiful eyes, radiating a captivating allure that could bewitch any man; thankfully, no one else noticed.
Led by the young woman, Su Weipeng and the others toured the entire island before stopping at a service area nestled in the mountains. Seeing their excited expressions, Fang Zhenyu asked, "So? I didn't lie to you, did I?"
Qin Zhongkun replied, "It is indeed beautiful, a great place for a vacation and relaxation, though the facilities aren't quite perfect yet. But for us, it's enough, Director Su, don't you think?"
"Not bad, I hope you didn't lie to us about another matter either." He stared at Tan Chunmei's delicate face.
Fang Zhenyu didn't respond to his question, instead saying, "Then you should stay longer and help my little brother promote it, make this place popular. I believe the scenery here will only get more beautiful."
"Don't worry, Mr. Fang, even if they don't come, I'll introduce it to my sisters," Kuang Meihua interjected.
"Then thank you, Miss Kuang," Fang Zhenyu said ambiguously.
Qin Zhongkun, of course, understood Fang Zhenyu's tone, but didn't take it to heart, laughing, "This isn't your responsibility. Tell us, what do you want us to do?"
The girl who greeted them said, "Sir, your room and board fees already include everything except meals. Just tell us what you want to do, and we'll prepare everything you need."
"Great! Deputy Su, let's go fishing first!" Su Ling said happily. Fang Zhenyu
said, "You guys go first. I still need to arrange the tents. There are only two rooms available. Tell me, which of the three pairs wants to share a tent with me?"
"I'll share," Qin Zhongkun and Qi Chaowei immediately agreed.
Su Weipeng smiled ambiguously, "You don't need to argue. I'll share. I want to keep an eye on things and see if President Fang really wants us to pack up, so you don't get carried away and forget your responsibilities."
"Alright, let's all set up our tents before we go."
So everyone got to work, setting up the tents before starting their activities. Fishing, games—in this secluded place, they had a wonderful time, completely open and carefree. Even Fang Zhenyu and Tan Chunmei couldn't help but kiss in front of them. They cooked their own dinner, bringing plenty of food in addition to the fish they caught, and all eight of them were quite drunk.
Tan Chunmei helped Fang Zhenyu back to the tent, still very excited. After all, this was her first time attending a social event as Fang Zhenyu's wife. Under the encouragement and pressure from Su Weipeng and others, Fang Zhenyu had to publicly acknowledge his relationship with Tan Chunmei, leading to a period of unrestrained behavior. Although Tan Chunmei was shy, she joined in the "jade cup" game, calling Fang Zhenyu "husband," which aroused her intense desire, almost causing her to lose control. Back in the tent, she couldn't resist any longer and immediately made love with Fang Zhenyu. Hearing Su Ling's moans from next door, she completely let loose, shouting loudly in response.
Fang Zhenyu was also unusually excited, perhaps due to the alcohol. He was incredibly vigorous tonight, and no matter what Tan Chunmei did, she couldn't bring him to orgasm. Finally, Tan Chunmei had to give up, saying with some guilt, "Zhenyu, I'm sorry, I can't take it anymore."
By this time, both of them had sobered up. Although Fang Zhenyu was in pain, he knew Tan Chunmei had
done her best, so he comforted her, "I'm fine, rest." Tan Chunmei's hand weakly stroked his rock-hard member, and she sighed, "Knowing this, I should have called Shaomei to join in."
As soon as she finished speaking, the tent flap opened, and a woman came to them, saying sweetly, "Mr. Fang, may I join in?" Without waiting for Fang Zhenyu's reply, she sat down, her delicate hand already supporting Fang Zhenyu's manhood, gently stroking it. When the two looked closely, it was Qi Chaowei's girlfriend, Lin Xiaoying. She calmly said, "Chaowei is completely drunk, but he needs it. If you don't let me join in, I'll call for help."
At this point, neither Fang Zhenyu nor Tan Chunmei could refuse, so they had no choice but to act. Fang Zhenyu caressed her firm breasts, his other hand moving to her pubic area, which was already soaked. Little did he know, Lin Xiaoying had actually been eavesdropping there for a long time. Upon meeting him today, she was immediately captivated by Fang Zhenyu's charm. When she realized Qi Chaowei was impotent, she came out for some fresh air and strolled to Fang Zhenyu's tent. At first, she hesitated to go in, but when she heard Tan Chunmei mention calling for Shaomei, she knew Fang Zhenyu had more than one lover, Tan Chunmei, and that Tan Chunmei wouldn't be jealous. So, she boldly entered.
Fang Zhenyu, feeling stifled, disregarded everything else and immediately mounted her. Although he had already satisfied Tan Chunmei, he still managed to leave Lin Xiaoying completely disoriented. When his ample "ammunition" flooded her heart, she was utterly satisfied and completely conquered by Fang Zhenyu.
"Xiaoying, thank you for your love. Go back now. It wouldn't be good if he didn't see you when he wakes up. Come to Linhai again when you have time." Fang Zhenyu comforted Lin Xiaoying for a long time before kissing her lips, urging her to leave.
Lin Xiaoying knew she shouldn't linger. She hugged Fang Zhenyu tightly and kissed him back, saying, "No matter where I am, my heart is yours." Then she got up to dress, saying to Tan Chunmei, "Sister Chunmei, thank you for your generosity."
"It's nothing. We both love the same person, and he's a real man. Whenever you come, I'm happy to serve him with you," Tan Chunmei said.
Lin Xiaoying finally left, and Tan Chunmei threw herself into Fang Zhenyu's arms again, excitedly saying, "Zhenyu, I've never been so happy as I am today, because only here can I freely share my love with you."
What could Fang Zhenyu say? He could only hold her tightly to show his love, and soon the two fell asleep.
On Sunday, February 6, 1994, at the Fang family mansion,
Fang Zhenyu saw off the reluctant Lin Xiaoying and the others and returned home, where Zhong Yuguang was waiting for him. Of course, "waiting" wouldn't be the right word, as he was going back to his mother-in-law's house. He simply had some things he wanted to discuss with Fang Zhenyu. Because of their busy work schedules, they didn't have many opportunities to meet, and most of their conversations were over the phone. But how could a phone call explain everything? So, taking advantage of some free time that afternoon, Zhong Yuguang returned to the Fang family home.
Upon arriving at the Fang family home, he learned that Fang Zhenyu had gone out to greet the people from the province the previous night and hadn't returned yet. He had no choice but to talk to Shangguan Wenxin. Fortunately, Shangguan Wenxin was also knowledgeable and they had a very engaging conversation. Ning Yuheng listened from the side, holding her baby Ning in her arms, watching Shangguan Wenxin with great interest. The others went to cook.
"Big boss, you're so busy!" Zhong Yuguang was delighted to see Fang Zhenyu return and teased him.
Fang Zhenyu smiled wryly, "You still say that? I'm working my butt off for you, and you're all relaxed. Having a relative like you is really my bad luck."
Zhong Yuguang said smugly, "Don't put it so harshly. You're doing so well now, aren't you? A couple of days ago, Director Zhan called me, saying he was extorted in Linhai. Your reputation is huge now, even I, the municipal party secretary, can't compare to you!" He seemed very happy because Fang Zhenyu had unintentionally secured funding for the construction of a ten-kilometer standard river embankment for him.
Faced with Zhong Yuguang's smugness, Fang Zhenyu was helpless. As long as he couldn't let go of the port construction, he would be trapped by Zhong Yuguang for life. But could he really give up the port construction? He could only change the subject and say, "Secretary, what brings you back to visit your mother-in-law today?"
Zhong Yuguang glanced at Ning Yuheng and said, "Your Majesty gave the order, how could I not come back? I believe that if your family hadn't been looking for you, you would still be out there."
Ning Yuheng rolled her eyes at Zhong Yuguang when she heard him mention her and said, "I said I came back, not that you had to come with me. If you're not happy, you can leave now!"
"How could I dare!" Zhong Yuguang quickly smiled ingratiatingly.
Ning Yuheng gave him a charming smile and said, "I bet you wouldn't dare." Then, she said to Fang Zhenyu, "Uncle Hao is coming back today to discuss things with Mom, so she asked everyone to come back. Mom saw you were too busy, so she didn't ask you to come."
Fang Zhenyu replied, "Mom is right, such a big thing, and she won't let me participate."
Zhong Yuguang said somewhat jealously, "Mom loves you and doesn't want you to work hard, so she doesn't want you to know, and you're still not satisfied? I think Mom is too biased. Aren't I quite busy too?"
Ning Yuheng smiled and said, "You are the son-in-law, and in Mom's heart, you are..." "How can a son or son-in-law compare to a son?"
Fang Zhenyu said with a wry smile, "If you two keep going on like this, I don't know what to do. Wenxin, when will Haobo be home? Don't make Mom worry like last time."
Shangguan Wenxin gave Fang Zhenyu a charming smile and said, "Having learned his lesson last time, he wouldn't dare. He just called and said he'll be back soon. Brother, you've worked hard too, go upstairs and rest for a bit. I'll call you when Dad comes." Her caring manner made Zhong Yuguang extremely jealous, but he couldn't say anything.
Fang Zhenyu said, "I'm not tired, just covered in sweat after a long day. I really need to take a shower before I eat. Secretary, please have a seat, I'll be right back."
Zhong Yuguang also noticed the unusual odor on Fang Zhenyu and assumed he had been doing some manual labor. He said with concern, "Zhenyu, you said you'd let your subordinates have a say, how come you forgot when it comes to yourself?"
"It's nothing, just once in a while," Fang Zhenyu said, hurrying upstairs. He thought to himself, how could he ask someone else to do this for him? He was worried that Zhong Yuguang would smell the scent of his intimacy with women. Because Jiangxin Island was short of water, he had only washed up briefly after being intimate with Tan Chunmei and Lin Xiaoying.
After taking a shower, Shangguan Hao arrived just in time, and Wang Peiying and the others had already prepared dinner. So they ate and chatted. Of course, the first thing they talked about was the two elders' marriage. Shangguan Hao pushed the matter onto Wang Peiying, who then pushed it onto Fang Zhenyu. Helpless, Fang Zhenyu could only ask Zhong Yuguang, "Yuguang, tell me, when are you free?" He knew that of everyone, his schedule was the hardest to arrange, and it wouldn't be good if he didn't attend his mother-in-law's wedding.
Zhong Yuguang thought for a moment and said, "I don't have time before the Spring Festival, so it can only be after the Spring Festival, before the tenth of the lunar month. You decide, right? Once you decide, I'll arrange my work."
Fang Zhenyu said, "That's fine. I can't find the time before the Spring Festival either. Let's set it for the sixth of the lunar month. I've only been working for a short time, so there's nothing major yet, and Yuwei hasn't gone to training. That's the schedule. Uncle Hao, are you planning a big celebration or something simple?"
Shangguan Hao also felt that the time before the Spring Festival was too rushed, and the sixth of the lunar month was just right. Seeing Fang Zhenyu ask, he said, "I said, everything is up to your mother."
Before Fang Zhenyu could speak, Wang Peiying said, "Even the seventh..." "I'm already eighty, so it can be simple. We don't need to invite anyone; just our family and a few close relatives will do."
Fang Zhenyu laughed, "In that case, write down who you want to invite. Our Party Secretary has excellent handwriting, so let him write the invitations! I'll take care of the rest. Yu Guang, you're only doing such a small thing, don't refuse."
Having come this far, how could Zhong Yu Guang refuse? He had no choice but to agree. Thinking it over, he realized he couldn't really help much. Fang Zhenyu entrusting this matter to him was a huge favor; otherwise, he, as the third son-in-law, really wouldn't know what to do.
After discussing Wang Peiying's matter, everyone casually talked about other things, naturally focusing most on Fang Zhenyu's printing group. Zhong Yuguang had been worried that Fang Zhenyu's focus on the printing industry would distract him from developing the port, so he listened very carefully to this topic and inquired in detail about the group's operations. When he heard that Fang Zhenyu wanted to monopolize the printing industry in Linhai City, he was surprised by Fang Zhenyu's grand ambition and asked, "Won't this cause panic in the printing industry of Linhai City?"
Fang Zhenyu smiled and said, "Such panic is inevitable. We've already taken the first step, and now our competitors in Linhai City are plotting how to deal with us."
"You've already made a lot of money; aren't you just asking for trouble?" Zhong Yuguang asked, puzzled.
Listening to Fang Zhenyu's explanation, Shangguan Hao nodded repeatedly. He said, "This is an inevitable path for the growth and expansion of an enterprise. Without this kind of growing pain, how can an enterprise grow big and strong?"
Zhong Yuguang thought about it and felt that only in this way could a new path be blazed for the enterprises in Linhai. He said, "Zhenyu, I don't object to you going into the printing industry, but you must put the development of the port first. The development of the port depends entirely on you."
"Zhenyu, whatever you do, you must take care of yourself and not overwork yourself," Wang Peiying said with concern. Her eyes were full of maternal love when she looked at Fang Zhenyu. No wonder even her own daughters, Ning Yufang and others, were a little jealous.
Ning Yufang said, "Mom, don't worry, your son is very capable. He has recruited a lot of talented people. There's Tan Chunmei in the printing group, Zhan Dajun in the port development, and soon, our little sister Wenxin will join him. How could he be tired? Wenxin, don't you think so?"
Shangguan Wenxin didn't expect Ning Yufang to bring up the issue with her. She hesitated for a moment and said, "My brother really knows how to use talent, so he only does a lot of the work. It's not hard work for him. Mom, don't worry. Just like Sister Yufang said, I'll come back to help him after I graduate in six months."
"That's more like it." Wang Peiying then turned her gaze to Zhong Yuguang and Ning Yuheng, saying, "Yuguang, you need to help Zhenyu with his affairs in the officialdom. He's just like Yufang's father; he doesn't listen to anyone." Finally, her gaze fixed on Ning Yuheng's lower abdomen, and she said, "Shouldn't you two give me a grandson soon?"
It wasn't easy for Zhong Yuguang to have a child, so Ning Yuheng came to his rescue, saying, "Mom, I'm still young, I don't want one yet. Besides, I want to wait until Yingying graduates before having another." Ning Yufang
also said, "Mom, let them handle this. What you need to do is be a good bride."
"Get lost! You even dare to make fun of your own mother!" Wang Peiying felt incredibly happy seeing everyone so concerned about her. She asked with concern, "How is Yingying doing now? School's out for break, why hasn't she come back?"
Zhong Yuguang was very grateful for her concern for her daughter; this was something not every mother would do. She quickly replied, "She's performing at the provincial Spring Festival Gala and is preparing for the show. She won't be back until after the New Year."
Shangguan Hao, seeing the family's happy scene, felt a surge of emotion. He hadn't seen such a scene in many years. For years, he had only lived with Shangguan Wenxin. He couldn't help but say, "Erya, with Zhenyu and the rest of the family, you're truly blessed."
Fang Zhenyu smiled and said, "Uncle Hao, why are you being so formal? Aren't you happy now too?"
"Yes, Dad, we're family now. My older brother and the others are all your children, aren't they?" Shangguan Wenxin, who hadn't spoken until now, quickly chimed in when she heard Fang Zhenyu's words.
Everyone laughed, and in the laughter, their friendship deepened, and they spoke more casually. After dinner, they arranged all the family matters for the New Year. Fang Zhenyu then discussed port construction with Zhong Yuguang, especially urging him to expedite the establishment of a customs office in Linhai. Around ten o'clock, Zhong Yuguang and Ning Yuheng finally left.
Because Shangguan Wenxin and her father were present, Fang Zhenyu, Yufen, and Yuzhi didn't dare to be overly affectionate. After chatting for a while in the living room, they all returned to their respective residences.

(Volume 3) Chapter Twelve Family Meeting (Final)

Chapter Twelve Family Meeting
Tuesday evening, February 8, 1994, at a hotel in Linhai
“Hello!”
“Hello!”
Yue Shaoxiong and Zhu Jianjun sized each other up, both attracted by each other’s appearance. They were both quite handsome, but as Yue Shan had said, they lacked a certain masculine air; they were more like pretty boys. Yue Shaoxiong had a bit more maturity, while Zhu Jianjun had a bit more youthful energy. “Chairman Yue, I’ve heard Fanghua talk about you for a long time, but I haven’t had a chance to meet you,” Zhu Jianjun said, tightly gripping Yue Shaoxiong’s hand.
Zhu Jianjun was Li Fanghua’s boyfriend. Although Zhang Bei and Li Fanghua were so close that they could serve Fang Zhenyu together, Yue Shaoxiong and Zhu Jianjun had never met. Seeing their affectionate manner, Zhang Bei couldn't help but laugh, "What are you two doing, being gay? So affectionate."
Yue Shaoxiong glared at his wife and said, "I'm afraid you and Fanghua are the ones being gay! You're together every day." Everyone laughed.
"Dad, I'm hungry," Yue Shan called out. Today, it was a dinner party for both families, arranged by Li Fanghua.
"Yes, yes, I'm hungry too. Let's order first!" Zhu Jianjun said.
Given the relationship between Zhang Bei and Li Fanghua, there was no need for formalities, and they quickly ordered. Zhang Bei asked, "Engineer Zhu, why are you being so kind as to invite us to dinner today? Is there something important we need to discuss?" Zhu Jianjun was an engineer at the Water Conservancy Bureau, hence Zhang Bei's address. She glanced at Li Fanghua and saw that she was blushing, so she understood.
Sure enough, Zhu Jianjun said, "We're thinking of getting married soon. You're Fanghua's best friend, and we're neighbors, so we've asked you to help with the planning."
"Great! Fanghua, you've finally decided to get married," Yue Shaoxiong said with a smile.
Zhang Bei glared at her husband and said, "What are you saying? It's as if Fanghua doesn't want to get married."
How could Yue Shaoxiong speak up in front of his wife? He quickly said, "Of course not, I mean Fanghua should get married sooner." As he spoke, he looked at Zhu Jianjun with a wry smile, thinking to himself, "I hope you don't end up like me."
Li Fanghua was a little shy at first, but after Zhu Jianjun opened up, she became more natural. She said, "Do you think I don't want to? But where would I get a house before? Now it's all good, I finally have my own house, so of course I can get married whenever I want." It turned out that Zhu Jianjun's water conservancy bureau didn't have any housing either, so although he had proposed marriage several times, Li Fanghua had refused. Now, Li Fanghua was contributing to the housing construction project at the printing factory, and she and Zhang Bei happened to be neighbors. After moving into their new home, marriage naturally became a topic of discussion. Besides, Li Fanghua wanted to get married sooner rather than later, because spending more time with Zhu Jianjun made her feel more at ease when playing with Fang Zhenyu. Otherwise, she would be constantly worried about getting pregnant at the wrong time.
"Yes, Mr. Fang is really resourceful. He built a house without spending much money; otherwise, I don't know when I would be able to get married," Zhu Jianjun said. Initially, when Li Fanghua mentioned contributing to the housing construction project, he didn't dare to speak up because he hadn't been working for many years and had no savings. He hadn't expected Fang Zhenyu's method to be so convenient, requiring no upfront investment.
"Yes!" Yue Shaoxiong wholeheartedly agreed. After moving to their new home, he and his wife no longer had to wait for their daughter to fall asleep before making love. Moreover, Fang Zhenyu had been a great help in his promotion. Naturally, he spoke highly of Fang Zhenyu.
"My godfather is so smart," Yue Shan praised, her beautiful face filled with admiration.
Zhang Bei and Li Fanghua listened to their husbands praising their lovers, their hearts filled with mixed feelings. Zhang Bei, afraid that saying too much would cause a misunderstanding, said, "President Fang is a good person, but we also need to work hard. Fanghua, tell me, when do you plan to hold your wedding?"
Zhu Jianjun said, "It's a date set by our family, the eighth day of the first lunar month. Because we're following rural customs, we'll have to trouble you with things here, Sister Bei. We've attended many weddings, but we've never had one ourselves." Zhu Jianjun was a bookworm, so he didn't even know how to speak properly.
Seeing his reaction, Li Fanghua playfully scolded, "Nonsense, do you want to get married a second time?"
Everyone laughed. Just then, the waiter brought the food, and they began to eat. Yue Shaoxiong and Zhu Jianjun were drinking and wanted to order drinks for the two women and Yue Shan, but Zhang Bei said, "Just get one bottle for Shanshan. Fanghua and I will drink baijiu too. Fanghua, what do you say?"
"Great! I've heard that Chairman Yue is a good drinker. Let's see who can drink more today, you two or Jianjun and I," Li Fanghua said excitedly. She and Zhang Bei were both good drinkers. When they went out to eat with Fang Zhenyu and encountered some heavy drinkers, they would help him out, but they never had a chance to compete with each other.
"Great! I'll be the referee," Yue Shan said happily. "If my godfather and godmother were here, we'd have another pair of competitors."
"Shanshan, are your godfather and godmother good drinkers?" Yue Shaoxiong asked. He had only dined with Fang Zhenyu once, during the reshuffling of the Federation of Industry and Commerce, but he was busy and couldn't have a proper drink with him. Afterwards, he wanted to invite Fang Zhenyu to dinner, but Zhang Bei objected, saying that Fang Zhenyu wasn't the kind of person who
would expect something in return. "Of course, there's nothing my godparents can't do," Yue Shan said proudly.
"Chairman Yue, we should find a chance to have a good drinking contest with him," Zhu Jianjun, also a skilled drinker, said, eager to join in.
Li Fanghua glared at Zhu Jianjun and said, "Why are you always thinking about drinking? President Fang doesn't have time to go crazy with you."
Zhang Bei said, "Fanghua, forget it, let them do what they want. But Jianjun, we're all neighbors, it's awkward to call you 'Chairman' or 'Engineer.' Why don't you just call each other by our names like Fanghua and I do? Wouldn't that be more comfortable?"
"Sister Bei is right, you should just call each other by our names, it won't feel so awkward," Li Fanghua immediately agreed.
The two grown men readily complied. Then, everyone returned to Li Fanghua's wedding arrangements. Zhang Bei was from Linhai and had good interpersonal relationships. She often helped her neighbors with errands and was very familiar with this kind of thing. Li Fanghua trusted her completely, so everyone mainly listened to Zhang Bei, who arranged everything very well. Even Yue Shaoxiong, who came from an office background, couldn't get a word in edgewise.
"Okay, Fanghua, we'll do as Sister Bei says." Zhu Jianjun breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this. He came from the countryside and was completely unfamiliar with city etiquette. He thought things would be simpler in the city than in the countryside, but he didn't expect it to be so complicated. He secretly rejoiced that Li Fanghua suggested consulting Zhang Bei, otherwise he might have made a fool of himself.
"Okay!" Li Fanghua also agreed.
Zhang Bei was happy to see that they agreed with her, and said, "You can just relax and be the bride and groom. I'll handle everything else."
"Yes, you can rest assured about what my wife handles." Yue Shaoxiong had great faith in Zhang Bei's abilities.
"Come on, let's drink!" Li Fanghua raised her glass, inviting him to a drink, seeing that the matter was resolved.
"Cheers!" The five glasses clinked together.
The plan had been agreed upon, but who knew that things would change so drastically later?
On Wednesday, February 9, 1994, at noon, at the Linhai Hotel
, although it was already Lunar New Year's Eve, Ye Peidong, who was originally preparing to return to the provincial capital, still came to the Linhai Hotel to have lunch with Chen Xiangdong, as arranged by Chen Xiangdong. In the private room, there was also Lin Heng and two women. Ye Peidong recognized one of them, Chen Chunyan, Chen Xiangdong's so-called sister. The other woman, sitting next to Lin Heng, was obviously Lin Heng's woman.
"I'm so sorry to have invited you here during the New Year," Chen Xiangdong said, shaking Ye Peidong's hand warmly.
Ye Peidong feigned surprise and said, "The mayor summoned me, so even if it's really New Year's, I'll still come. Besides, I haven't eaten yet!"
"That's good. I was really afraid of bothering you during the New Year. Please sit down, let's have New Year's Eve dinner together." Chen Xiangdong warmly invited Ye Peidong to sit down next to him, and then said to Lin Heng, "Lin Heng, you're always with a couple, are you going to leave President Ye all alone? Try to find him a pretty girl."
"Mayor, is that necessary?" Although Ye Peidong had brought prostitutes to Chen Xiangdong before, it wouldn't be right for the mayor to help find one.
Chen Xiangdong said, "How can someone like our CEO Ye be without a lady to keep him company? Of course, he needs one."
Lin Heng immediately went out and soon returned with a pretty, young woman. He pointed at Ye Peidong and said to her, "Miss Aju, this is our CEO Ye. Your task is to serve him well, but please, don't let him be unable to leave. His family is waiting for him to celebrate the New Year!" These words made everyone laugh.
Aju sat down next to Ye Peidong with a magnanimous air, squeezing her voluptuous body into his lap, and said coquettishly, "Of course I don't want CEO Ye to leave. I want him to spend the New Year with me! It's just a pity that CEO Ye is so strong, how could I possibly let him be unable to leave?" Judging from her words, this Aju had a very close relationship with Chen Xiangdong and the others; otherwise, she wouldn't have said such a thing.
Ye Peidong felt helpless, but he couldn't show it. He pretended to be delighted and put his arm around Aju's slender waist, laughing, "With such a beautiful woman like Aju by my side, I'm truly forgetting about home. Home? I don't need to go back."
Lin Heng laughed, "President Ye, you're wrong. It should be 'enjoying home and missing home,' because Miss Aju is from Sichuan, and Sichuan even has Wushan!" Everyone burst into laughter again.
After laughing, Ye Peidong asked, "Mayor, what brings you here today?"
"Nothing much, just a casual New Year's dinner to chat about next year's plans. You've made quite a bit in Linhai this year, haven't you?" Chen Xiangdong smiled at Ye Peidong.
Ye Peidong's mind raced. He wondered what Chen Xiangdong meant. Was he trying to ask him for something? Perhaps. Chen Xiangdong had introduced him to some projects, but he hadn't reciprocated. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but Chen Xiangdong had been too busy lately, and he hadn't received anything despite several attempts. So, he had come prepared today. After some deliberation, he said, "With your help, Mayor, I've certainly made some money. I've been wanting to report to you about my work these past few days, but you've been too busy to find the time to meet with me."
Chen Xiangdong, appearing very understanding, said, "We're friends, what's there to report? I just wanted to tell you that we have even more projects planned for Linhai next year, and see if you can get your old friend to help." He then mentioned the more than 30 kilometers of standard sea dikes throughout the city, as well as several development and construction projects.
Ye Peidong was completely disappointed in Zhong Yuguang, so he said, "Mayor, forget about that so-called old friend. He brought me to Linhai, but he's never given me any good projects. He just wants me to invest here so he can have political achievements. If it weren't for you, Mayor, I'm afraid I would have lost everything by now. Please help me think of a way for next year!" He spoke very sincerely and with immense sadness, as if he was truly disappointed by Zhong Yuguang's disregard for friendship.
"Don't say that. Secretary Zhong is just concerned about the impact. Don't worry, I'll have my men make things easy for you." Seeing his reaction, Chen Xiangdong knew his strategy had worked and was pleased, putting on a savior-like demeanor.
"Then I thank you in advance, Mayor," Ye Peidong said gratefully.
"Let's not talk about that. Come, let's drink. Let's talk and discuss what to do next year," Chen Xiangdong said, and began to offer toasts. After a few rounds of drinks, Chen Xiangdong finally said, "Mr. Ye, my younger sister's company isn't doing well, and she's having a tough time. Do you think you could arrange a part-time position for her so she can earn some extra income? She works as a cashier in the dance troupe. I think you should have a suitable job for her, right?"
Ye Peidong then understood Chen Xiangdong's purpose in seeking him out today. Of course, he wouldn't refuse, and smiled, "What a coincidence! My finance department is looking to increase staff. Having someone as familiar with financial work as Miss Chen is perfect. Miss Chen, you can report for duty right after the Spring Festival."
"That's wonderful, Xiaoyan! Hurry up and thank Mr. Ye!" Chen Xiangdong said.
"Thank you, Mr. Ye! And thank you, big brother!" Chen Chunyan gave Chen Xiangdong a charming kiss on the cheek, almost squeezing into his arms.
Chen Xiangdong reached out and hugged Chen Chunyan's slender waist, laughing heartily, and said, "Come on, let's keep drinking!"
Lin Heng and Ye Peidong naturally joined in. All three of them had a good tolerance for alcohol; after downing three jin of Wuliangye, they were only slightly tipsy. As they drank, Lin Heng and his girlfriend went into the rest room. Ye Peidong gave Aju some money to buy fruit, then took out a large envelope from his purse and handed it to Chen Xiangdong, saying, "Mayor, it's almost the New Year. I was originally thinking of visiting your home to see you..." "I need to give this to your little grandson, but I'm busy right now. Could you please give it to him for me?"
Chen Xiangdong seemed very happy, but he didn't take it. Instead, he said, "Peidong, you're so kind. But Xiaojian is still young and doesn't know how to use these things yet. Little sister, you can take it. Consider it a gift from your older brother."
Chen Chunyan's eyes lit up, and she immediately took the envelope, saying sweetly to the two men, "Thank you, brother. Thank you, President Ye." After giving Chen Xiangdong a kiss, she didn't forget to blow a kiss to Ye Peidong.
Ye Peidong felt that giving it to Chen Chunyan was the same as giving it to Chen Xiangdong, so he didn't mind too much. He said, "No need to thank me. I'll need your help in my work in the future."
Just then, Aju returned with the fruit, and Lin Heng and his companion came out of the lounge. The group started talking about romantic matters again. Seeing that things were settled, Ye Peidong took Aju and left. Of course, before leaving Linhai, he couldn't resist having a romantic encounter with Aju in a hotel room.
On the evening of Wednesday, February 9, 1994
, after dinner in Zhongxing Village, the family sat in the living room watching the CCTV Spring Festival Gala. The exciting programs captivated the young people, but Pang Ling couldn't concentrate. Looking at her son, who was engrossed in watching TV, she couldn't help but ask, "Zhenyu, it's been so long since you've come back to see us. Is your work very busy?"
Fang Zhenyu looked up from the TV screen and at his mother, asking, "Yes, our work is very busy, which is why we ask Yufang and Yufen to come back to see you more often. Mom, is something wrong?" The Ning sisters, Yufen and Ning Yufen, sitting next to him, also turned their faces towards him. Ning Yufang was holding the sleeping little Ning in her arms.
"I'm fine," Pang Ling hesitated for a moment before saying, "Since it's so hard, why don't you let Zhenyu go and help?"
"Second Aunt, I've already said that I'm not suited to working in the city," Fang Zhenyu quickly said
. "His mother, don't worry about the children. Zhenyu has his reasons for not letting Zhenyu go," Fang Kaitong added.
Fang Zhenyu then understood that his mother was upset because he hadn't accepted Fang Zhenyu into the factory. This was understandable; he had been away studying since childhood, leaving Fang Zhenyu and his mother at home. Therefore, in his mother's eyes, Fang Zhenyu was no different from her own son, perhaps even closer. Moreover, Fang Zhenyu's wife, Pang Liping, was her niece! He stopped Fang Zhenyu and his father from continuing, saying, "Mom, listen to me first. It's not that I look down on Yu Di, but Yu Di really isn't suitable for working with me. He has expertise in agriculture, which is perfect for developing in the countryside. If he came to work for me, he'd at most be a workshop foreman, not much of a future. But it's different here. He's the village head now, doing a great job!" He then gave his mother a detailed analysis of the pros and cons of Fang Zhenyu working for him. Finally, he added, "It turns out that Yu-di has done a great job at home. If it weren't for him, where would the road into the village have started? Where would our village's large orchard be?"
Pang Ling thought about it and realized it was true, so she said nothing more. She took her grandson from Ning Yu-fang's arms and said, "I'm too lazy to bother with your young people's affairs."
Ning Yu-fang saw that although Pang Ling said she wouldn't bother, she still had some resentment towards Fang Zhen-yu, so she went over and leaned against her, saying, "Mom, Yu-di is honest by nature. He's easily bullied in the city, and it will be difficult for him to achieve great things." "It's different in the countryside. Look, he repaired the road into the village. Not only people in our village, but people from other villages also respect and love him."
Perhaps it was because Ning Yufen had been visiting them more often lately, Pang Ling was particularly fond of this woman who was pretending to be her daughter but was actually her daughter-in-law. Seeing her like this, she knew that Ning Yufen was speaking up for her black market husband, so she stroked her face and said, "Silly girl, I was just saying it. How could I ignore you? Actually, I didn't really want Zhenyu to go to the city. If he goes, what will we two old people do? We don't want to be cremated in the city."
"Mom! You're still so young, how can you say such things?" Ning Yufen snuggled into Pang Ling's arms coquettishly.
"Silly girl, Mom is almost sixty, still young?"
"Sister, I think Mom only wants you, she doesn't even want me." Ning Yufen laughed.
"How can I not want you? Mom will want you no matter how much more!" Pang Ling couldn't help but say.
Ning Yufang raised her face to Fang Zhenyu and said, "Zhenyu, did you hear what your mother said? From now on, you can do whatever you want."
Actually, everyone in the family knew about the relationship between Fang Zhenyu and Ning Yufang, so they all laughed. Pang Ling couldn't help but laugh and said, "I've never seen women like you sisters."
Fang Zhenyu couldn't sit still any longer. Afraid their
conversation would escalate, he turned to Fang Zhenyu and asked, "Brother Yu, what are your plans for the New Year?" Fang Zhenyu greatly admired Fang Zhenyu and didn't want them discussing his brother like this, so he raised his voice and said, "We need to discuss the specifics with everyone. However, the most urgent task is to repair our village roads; otherwise, our orchards will have a hard time generating profits." It turned out that the village's collective orchards were located in the mountains behind the village, covering several hundred acres. If the roads weren't repaired, transporting goods out would be difficult, and the prices would naturally be lower.
"That's true," Fang Zhenyu said, of course aware of the situation in his village.
"Brother Yu, they've nominated me to be the village head, but I don't think I'm capable enough. They're only interested in my relationship with you. What should we do? Please give me some advice!" Fang Zhenyu, knowing his older brother's abilities, sincerely sought his advice.
Fang Kaitong knew his nephew wasn't as capable as his son, so he said, "Yes, Zhenyu, you don't want them to laugh at Yu'er, do you?"
"Dad! Look at what you're saying. Actually, Yu'er has his own talents; he just hasn't shown them yet. Do you think everyone's blind, just randomly picking someone to be village chief? Yu'er is doing very well now, and with more training, he might even surpass me in the future!" Fang Zhenyu said shyly, but then he continued, "Generally speaking, a cadre should be a public servant. With this mindset, many things become easier to solve. Unite the majority, work for the people's benefit, and I guarantee your work will get better and better."
"So, being a cadre means making sacrifices?" Pang Liping asked.
Fang Zhenyu said earnestly, "Sacrifices are inevitable. Only corrupt officials know how to extort money from the people and don't work for their benefit. Of course, there are also gains. As everyone's lives improve, the lives of cadres also rise accordingly. You have to experience it for yourself to understand the specifics. But if you need any help, just tell me. I will do my best to help. Although I'm away, I will do everything I can for my fellow villagers."
Fang Zhenyu knew that his older brother wouldn't abandon him. He was just trying to get him to do more. Hearing this, he said, "Brother, don't worry. I will do my job well and work for the benefit of our village and more people."
"That's right, that's my good brother," Fang Zhenyu said approvingly.
"Yu'er, do a good job. Your second uncle supports you," Fang Kaitong also said.
Fang Zhenyu glanced at his wife, seeing her encouraging look, and said with great enthusiasm, "Alright, since everyone supports me so much, I'll definitely make a name for myself."
Then, the group discussed village matters again, finally concluding around one o'clock. "Zhenyu, what are your plans?" Pang Ling asked after everyone else had left.
Fang Zhenyu looked at Ning Yufen for a while before saying, "Mom, we'll handle our own affairs. You should rest first!"
Pang Ling left, and Fang Zhenyu and the Ning sisters returned to their room.
Ning Yufen lay comfortably on the bed, saying happily, "I can finally sleep in the Fang family's bed! It feels so good to be at home. Zhenyu, I was really afraid you'd send me to sleep somewhere else!"
Fang Zhenyu laughed, "I just can't do anything with you."
Seeing that the door was closed, Ning Yufen threw herself into Fang Zhenyu's arms and said softly, "I feel that only by receiving your love once in the Fang family can I truly be considered a daughter-in-law of the Fang family."
"There's no heating at home, and it's so cold, why are you still doing this?"
"Is it cold when we're doing this?" As she spoke, Ning Yufen began to undress Fang Zhenyu.
On Friday, February 11, 1994,
Fang Zhenyu stood on the highest peak of the port area, looking at the gradually taking shape development zone, and said to Zhan Dajun with satisfaction, "The construction speed is really fast. It seems that in another six months, the dock will be completed."
"Yes!" Zhan Dajun replied, but her mind was not on this at all. She nestled tightly in Fang Zhenyu's arms. Although the sea breeze was strong, she did not feel cold at all, but rather felt a sense of warmth. Early this morning, Fang Zhenyu arrived at the port area to prepare materials for negotiations with foreign businessmen. She happened to be on duty and followed him.
"What are you thinking about?" Fang Zhenyu sensed Zhan Dajun's distraction and asked.
Seeing that Zhang Lei hadn't followed, Zhan Dajun turned and hugged Fang Zhenyu, saying affectionately, "I was thinking about you!"
Fang Zhenyu was startled and tried to push Zhan Dajun away, but her hand landed on his full chest. She quickly withdrew her hand and said, "Dajun, please don't do this."
Zhan Dajun let out a comfortable groan and said, "What's wrong with me?" He pouted his lips, about to kiss Fang Zhenyu, when his walkie-talkie rang. "What is it?" she asked, somewhat annoyed.
"Deputy Zhan, an elderly man wants to visit our development zone. He says he wants to invest here and wants to hear about our port area. What should I do?" The speaker was Ma Jianmin, who was on duty with Zhan Dajun.
As soon as work was mentioned, Zhan Dajun immediately snapped out of his daze and said, "Fang and I are in Area Two. Have someone from the management committee check on things and bring the guests over. Fang and I will introduce them."
"Yes," the other person replied.
Zhan Dajun blushed as he watched Fang Zhenyu walk to the side, looking somewhat uneasy. He said, "They just wanted to experience the feeling of kissing, what's the big deal? But I'll let you off the hook today. Come on, let's go down and see who's here for an inspection at this hour."
The two walked down the winding mountain path, pointing out the seaside and discussing the planned designs. Fang Zhenyu went to great lengths to prevent Zhan Dajun from returning to their previous topic. As they approached the foot of the mountain, they saw Ma Jianmin, on duty, leading two men towards them. Upon closer inspection, Fang Zhenyu exclaimed softly, "Why is he here at this hour?"
"Who?" Zhan Dajun also looked in their direction but couldn't make out anything, only that the old man looked somewhat familiar.
Fang Zhenyu said, "I haven't seen him in person, but you must have seen him on TV often, right?"
"Hmm, that's right, it's him!" Zhan Dajun finally recognized him and asked, "President Fang, what should we do?"
"Let's go up and talk about it. He seems to not want people to know him," Fang Zhenyu said, and he and Zhan Dajun went to greet him.
"President Fang, this is the old gentleman who said he wanted to inspect our development zone. This is our President Fang," Ma Jianmin, who was leading the group, introduced.
"Hello!"
"Hello!" The four hands clasped tightly together. Afterwards, Fang Zhenyu said to Ma Jianmin, "You go back to your shift. I and Deputy President Zhan will handle things here." Then, Fang Zhenyu introduced Zhan Dajun to the visitor. Only after Ma Jianmin had gone far away did he say, "You finally couldn't resist coming to see for yourself."
The old man smiled and said, "You recognized me?"
"Yes, this must be Lieutenant Colonel Xu!" Fang Zhenyu then extended his hand to the middle-aged man.
Seeing Fang Zhenyu shake hands with the middle-aged man, the old man smiled and said, "It seems that Xiangjun has sold out our family." So that's how it was. The visitors were none other than Xu Guanghua, the provincial party secretary, and his son. The old man, having nothing to do during his vacation, and with his son returning from the army and having some free time, couldn't resist making an incognito visit to Linhai. He went straight to the port development zone without notifying anyone and met Ma Jianmin, who was on duty. Perhaps wanting to test the quality of the staff, he requested a tour, which Ma Jianmin surprisingly didn't refuse due to the holiday or the small number of people. He was even more delighted when he learned that Fang Zhenyu was also at the port.
Hearing this, Fang Zhenyu felt a little embarrassed. Of course, Xu Xiangjun had told him about Xu Guanghua's family situation, but how could he say that? He could only pretend not to hear and exchange pleasantries with Xu Zhengjun.
Xu Guanghua said, "I'm just here for a casual stroll today, and I don't want the officials in Linhai to know. Mr. Fang, is that alright?"
"Sure, of course, but since you're here, I'm the host, and you have to follow my instructions," Fang Zhenyu said with a smile.
"Okay, it's settled then."
Fang Zhenyu led him downstairs, taking Zhan Dajun's walkie-talkie and instructing the duty room to take care of things.
"I told you not to disturb them," Xu Guanghua objected.
Fang Zhenyu smiled, "Don't worry, I'm just informing my family of our lunch time, is that not allowed?"
"That's more like it." Xu Guanghua felt relieved; he didn't want that kind of welcoming and farewell ceremony anyway. Unexpectedly, he overheard Fang Zhenyu informing Zhong Yuguang, and he couldn't help but say unhappily, "Fang Zhenyu, are you really so untrustworthy?"
Fang Zhenyu, however, didn't seem to care, saying, "How am I untrustworthy?"
"You informed your Secretary Zhong,"
Fang Zhenyu laughed, "Old man, I didn't inform any of your officials, I just invited my brother-in-law to dinner."
Xu Guanghua then remembered the relationship between Fang Zhenyu and Zhong Yuguang, and couldn't help but laugh, saying, "No wonder Zhan An said he always fell for your tricks, it turns out you really are that annoying."
Fang Zhenyu smiled, finished the call, and then led them to see the tourist area and the starting dock, introducing the current project progress and future development direction.
Xu Guanghua listened attentively, nodding repeatedly, and in his heart, he also greatly admired Fang Zhenyu, because from Fang Zhenyu's introduction, he could see that this young man had a thorough understanding of the entire development zone. Not only him, but even Deputy General Manager Zhan Dajun showed a deep understanding of the development zone in his occasional supplements. With such talent, how could the port development not succeed?
After visiting these two places, Fang Zhenyu wanted to ask Xu Guanghua to return to the city, as it wasn't very safe here. However, before he could bring it up, Xu Guanghua pointed to groups of people boarding the boat and asked, "Where are they going?"
Zhan Dajun quickly replied, "They're going to Linglong Island." It turned out that Linglong Island had finally opened its Mazu Temple before the Spring Festival.
"What kind of place is that?"
Fang Zhenyu asked helplessly, then explained the situation of Linglong Island to him.
"You, Fang Zhenyu, how dare you hide such important information from me!" Xu Guanghua said unhappily.
"Old man, the boat is small and the wind is strong; it's really not advisable for you to go there today," Fang Zhenyu said with a wry smile.
"Who says? Some of them are even older than me!" Xu Guanghua said, pointing to the crowd.
Zhan Dajun realized he had been too talkative and looked at Xu Zhengjun for help. Xu Zhengjun said, "The old man won't give up until he gets what he wants. You should let him go up and take a look!"
"That's more like my son, understanding his father so well. Come on, let's get on the boat. If I'm pleased, maybe I'll give you three or five million." Xu Guanghua said, then, like a child, excitedly walked towards the simple dock.
Fang Zhenyu glanced helplessly at Zhan Dajun, and then they all walked towards the ferry. (
End of Volume Three of *The New Five Golden Flowers*)

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