The leading elder was stunned, then slapped his forehead and said, "My apologies, Comrade Zhang Liunian. I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Liao Gui, and I'm from Pengcheng..."
After hearing his self-introduction, Zhang Liunian learned that he was simply the boss of a small processing factory. He had seen Zhang Liunian's story in the newspaper and conceived the idea of collaborating with him to make money. He ran into him halfway and then rushed over.
"I'm sorry, Comrade Liao. I haven't found a suitable project yet, so I don't need to find anyone to cooperate with for now." Zhang Liunian indeed had no projects on hand. The ones he had were already in progress and didn't require outside intervention.
Liao Gui looked regretful upon hearing this but didn't insist. Besides, Zhang Liunian wasn't someone he could force. His saying he had no projects was already being accommodating.
"It's alright. If you do, remember to find me. I'll be going then," Liao Gui said and left.
As soon as he left, Zhang Liunian also intended to go, but after taking only a few steps, he was surrounded again.
"Are you Comrade Zhang Liunian?"
"It must be him. He's the rich man who became the third wealthiest in Pengcheng just by buying a piece of land."
"..."
Two hours later, Zhang Liunian returned home, panting. His clothes were disheveled, as if he had gone through something.
Jiang Qingqing, wearing a fitted long dress, saw him and her expression instantly changed. She stepped forward, clasped her husband's arm, and asked, "Liunian, what happened to you? Why are you so disheveled?"
Zhang Liunian's mouth twitched. He quickly sat up properly and tidied his clothes before replying, "It's nothing."
Jiang Qingqing didn't believe him. Her husband's clothes were torn, and his hair was messy. How could this not be due to some incident?
Could it be that some woman had taken a liking to her Liunian, causing this?
Thinking of this, Jiang Qingqing couldn't help but size up her husband. He was indeed becoming more handsome, so it wasn't strange for women to like him, but they couldn't compete with her.
"Could it be that someone likes you and insists on being with you, so..." Jiang Qingqing didn't finish her sentence. She saw her husband's face darken as if he were angry.
Jiang Qingqing swallowed, feeling a little upset, and lowered her head dejectedly. "Don't you like me anymore?"
Seeing his wife saying more and more outrageous things, Zhang Liunian couldn't afford to be angry. He pulled her small hand and drew her into his embrace, explaining in a low voice, "That's not true. You're overthinking it. I encountered some people who wanted to cooperate with me, that's why this happened. Where would a woman be so bold?"
Jiang Qingqing was taken aback and raised her bewildered face. "Really?"
Zhang Liunian held her tighter and said, "Of course, it's true. If you don't believe me, you can ask Uncle Yi and the others later! They came back with me."
Seeing her husband's forthright expression, Jiang Qingqing believed his words and felt embarrassed for her unfounded jealousy. "It's my fault. I misunderstood you."
Zhang Liunian didn't mind these things. He smiled and rubbed his chin on her shoulder, saying affectionately, "It's alright. How was your day at home? Were you bored? Do you want to go shopping?"
"No, no. I'm fine staying at home. Our new house is very big and lively. Just wandering around the yard is enough for a whole day."
When Jiang Qingqing heard that he wanted her to spend money again, she quickly shook her head, indicating she wasn't bored. She thought to herself, she absolutely couldn't go out and spend money again. They had already spent enough yesterday.
Zhang Liunian saw her little thoughts, and a smile involuntarily appeared on his lips. "Okay, you can go shopping anytime you want."
"Mm."
Jiang Qingqing nodded and said no more.
The next day, Zhang Ya sent someone to call Zhang Liunian early in the morning. He was going to attend a gathering of Pengcheng's elite.
Zhang Liunian followed Zhang Ya into the gathering and sat quietly, watching the big shots discuss Pengcheng's plans and development.
Meanwhile, Zhu Lao Er seized the opportunity to make his move. He led his men to Zhang Liunian's house and sent people to impersonate Zhang Liunian's subordinates, calling for Jiang Qingqing and the others to come out.
Although Jiang Qingqing had many bodyguards, they lacked the ability to distinguish truth from falsehood.
So, when they heard that Zhang Liunian had sent someone to ask Jiang Qingqing to bring their children to have lunch with him, they didn't suspect anything. They returned to the house and told Jiang Qingqing about it.
"You're saying Liunian asked us, mother and daughters, to have lunch at Pengcheng Restaurant?"
Why didn't Liunian mention this when he left this morning? Moreover, she remembered her husband was going to attend a gathering with Zhang Ya. Had it ended already?
Jiang Qingqing felt suspicious, but she thought of what her husband had said – that Pengcheng no longer had any enemies, so there shouldn't be any trouble.
"Tell him to wait a moment. I'll get ready and go," Jiang Qingqing said after a moment of silence.
The doorman bodyguard received the order and replied.
Zhu Lao Er's subordinates didn't expect things to be handled so easily and were somewhat pleased. When they saw Jiang Qingqing, Yi Wanghua, and the two children appear together, one of them almost let out a shout of "Heaven helps me!" Fortunately, his professionalism remained, and he suppressed this joy until he had escorted Jiang Qingqing and the others into a minivan.
"When did Liunian buy this car? How come I don't know about it?" Jiang Qingqing asked, holding her daughter, as she sat inside the car.
Logically, if her husband had bought a car, she would have seen it. How come she had never seen this car before?
And she didn't recognize these people either. Were they really Liunian's people?
"Why haven't I seen you before?" Jiang Qingqing felt increasingly uneasy for some reason, yet she couldn't pinpoint why.
The two men in the car exchanged glances. The man who had appeared earlier spoke up to explain, "We were guarding the mountainside of Fude Village for a while and didn't come back, so you haven't seen us. As for this car, it belongs to the boss's friend. The boss asked his friend to borrow it to pick you up for lunch, and we have to return it later."
"Is that so?" Jiang Qingqing looked enlightened. Just as she was about to relax, she inadvertently caught sight of the man from earlier seeming to smile.
That smile was malicious and not at all like the expression of a loyal bodyguard.
Jiang Qingqing's vigilance was immediately raised again, and she uneasily asked, "Why didn't Liunian pick us up himself?"
"..."
Yi Wanghua, who was sitting next to her holding a child, also felt something was amiss. Given Zhang Liunian's doting nature towards his wife and children, even if they were going out for a meal, in character, he would definitely pick them up himself. Why would he send someone else to do it? And he wouldn't call a group of people they didn't recognize. This didn't make sense!
Yi Wanghua pondered for a moment, and then a thought flashed through her mind. She felt a sudden unease. She glanced at the two people in front who were about to drive and quickly whispered to Jiang Qingqing, "Get out quickly! They might not be good people."