Xinhe District, Chengguan.
In the general manager's office of Fengqi Hotel, Yu Feng received Zhou Tao.
"Director Zhou, you don't look well. Is something bothering you lately?"
Yu Feng personally brewed tea and placed a cup of golden Tieguanyin in front of Zhou Tao.
"Alas, at my age, ailments start to pile up. I've been having trouble sleeping lately. Director Yu, has your father gone to the casino again?"
Zhou Tao looked somewhat haggard, with prominent bags under his eyes, dark circles, and a lot more gray hair.
"My father is a hands-off manager now, leaving everything to me. He's flying all over the world, and I don't even know where he is."
"I envy your father, having a capable daughter like you to take over. He can truly retire now. It's good that he's traveling around, seeing the world."
"Good? If he were really traveling, I'd be happy. But the place he visits most is the casino. The amount of money he's lost over the years is incalculable. He finally broke free from Pan Wenbin's clutches, but now he's addicted to gambling. If he doesn't go to the casino once a month, he's restless, like he's possessed."
"It's alright, your Yu family is wealthy. You can indulge the old man's hobby."
"That's easy for you to say. Gambling is a bottomless pit; even a mountain of gold can be lost. Alas, let's not talk about him. Director Zhou, you didn't come here to see my father, did you?"
Yu Feng steered the conversation to the main topic, still unsure of Zhou Tao's purpose.
"Director Yu, I've obtained the sand extraction rights for Daxinhe. Are you aware of this?"
"I heard about it. It should have been in October. You know our company has many projects to launch before the year ends, so I've been out of town these past few months and rarely returned to Chengguan. I'm not fully aware of some matters. Obtaining the extraction rights is a good thing, isn't it? Is there a problem?"
Zhou Tao sighed deeply. "What good thing is it? I invested millions to get these rights, and now they've become someone else's wedding dress."
Yu Feng was shocked. "Someone else's wedding dress? What's going on?"
"I'm old, and they're bullying me."
"Don't joke, Yu. On this patch of land in Chengguan, who dares to bully you, Boss Zhou?"
"I'm not joking. Hong Xing and Bao Guo have cornered me, and I can't do anything about them. I've come to ask for your advice on how to resolve this situation."
Upon hearing Hong Xing and Bao Guo's names, Yu Feng's expression changed instantly. "It's those two scumbags again. Director Zhou, you must have heard about our company's situation."
"Of course, I have. They're interfering with your company's projects throughout Xinhe again. I heard you were back, so I came to you immediately to discuss if we can join forces against them."
Yu Feng placed her teacup down heavily on the tea table. "Tell me about your situation first."
"At the auction in October, Hong Xing and I were competitors, but he withdrew midway. I eventually secured the sand extraction rights for Daxinhe at a price of five million per year.
After getting the agreement, I organized my team to integrate and renovate the sand extraction points along Daxinhe. Unexpectedly, Hong Xing and Bao Guo started interfering. They illegally opened multiple sand extraction points and engaged in rampant illegal mining.
Furthermore, they used threats, slashed tires, and other despicable tactics to coerce the sand transport drivers into obeying their arrangements, preventing them from buying my sand, effectively sidelining me.
They gained actual control of sand extraction and sales in Daxinhe without spending a dime. Not only did they damage the roads and equipment at my sand extraction sites, but they also injured my men. They are utterly brazen."
Zhou Tao's fists were clenched tightly as he spoke, clearly showing his anger.
"Director Zhou, you're a veteran figure in Chengguan. Don't you have any way to deal with them?"
"I also organized people to confront them, but without a ruthless leader, we were counter-attacked twice. I also incurred significant medical expenses and compensation. I'm old and can't fight them myself. They no longer respect me as a boss."
Yu Feng's emotions also flared up. "This is outrageous! Hong Xing is even more arrogant than Old Gui. He's now interfering with our company's development projects. He's also causing our ready-mix concrete plant to nearly shut down. He even threatened to acquire it. I'm troubled by this."
"There's no other way; he has the capital for his arrogance. I heard his father is about to be promoted to deputy district chief. We can't compete with his connections in official circles, and no one can contend with his strength in the underworld. Originally, there was Yang Jian, whom he feared. I even planned to partner with Yang Jian for sand extraction, but I didn't expect Yang Jian to have an accident so suddenly. It seems human plans are no match for fate."
"Who can say otherwise? When Yang Jian was around, no one dared to interfere with our projects in Xinhe. After his incident, all sorts of troublemakers have emerged. Even our projects in Xunsi River are now being extorted by local thugs."
Sharing the same plight, the two sighed and fell into a period of silence.
Zhou Tao suddenly asked, "Director Yu, do you have any news about Yang Jian?"
"No. I have business dealings with his template factory. I've asked his cousin a few times. It's been three months, and Yang Jian hasn't called his family once. No one knows where he is now."
"It's a great pity. Yang Jian is a very upright person, a clear stream in the underworld. He has strength but never bullies the weak or uses his influence to interfere with others' projects. To be wanted nationwide simply for running a casino, I truly can't understand it."
Yu Feng gave a wry smile. "He was framed by his partner. From what I understand, his casino partner, Li Jin, is involved in several murder cases. Moreover, the casino was too large. The cash seized during the raid exceeded ten million yuan, making it the biggest gambling-related case in Hancheng's history. It's not surprising he's wanted nationwide."
"Alas, with Yang Jian gone, both our families are suppressed by Hong Xing and can't hold our heads up. Director Yu, you're young and sharp. Hurry and think of a solution. Just like how you dealt with Old Gui last time, tell me how much money you need, and I won't hesitate."
"Director Zhou, this isn't about money. The main issue is finding someone like Yang Jian or Lu Feng is too difficult. Hong Xing and his associates are too powerful; no one within Xinhe dares to oppose them."
Zhou Tao sensed a hidden meaning in her words. "Director Yu, can you find someone from outside?"
"I do have a few candidates whose strength is no less than Yang Jian's, but I don't know if they can be used by us."
"Who are they? Tell me quickly. As long as we can deal with Hong Xing, I'll pay five million."
Having spent his life in the underworld, Zhou Tao could not tolerate being bullied. For the sake of his reputation, and even more so for his interests, he was determined to eliminate Hong Xing at any cost.
As for Bao Guo, he was just a petty thug relying on his connections. He wouldn't even enter Zhou Tao's consideration. Once Hong Xing falls, dealing with him would be a matter of minutes.