Zhang Liunian looked at Fang Yan in surprise, feeling quite speechless. This guarantee was unnecessary; the project would proceed smoothly regardless. It was a necessary step for Nancheng at this stage. With the increase in population, employee housing had become a significant issue, and building staff apartments was an inevitable development. Even without her guarantee, Zhang Liunian believed the food factory employees with nowhere to live would agree.
This was indeed the case. However, Fang Yan, eager to secure the funds quickly, had revealed Zhang Liunian's originally agreed-upon timeline to everyone, leading to the current situation.
“So, this timeline cannot be delayed,” Fang Yan said, her expression slightly unnatural. But with things as they were, the construction site absolutely could not have its completion date postponed.
“But what does this have to do with me? You offered me this cooperation because you believed I had an advantage over others, didn’t you?” Zhang Liunian didn't think he owed Fang Yan any consideration for these matters. Their relationship was purely one of cooperation, and he saw no reason to shoulder her burdens.
“You…” Fang Yan was momentarily speechless, unable to believe Zhang Liunian could be so ungentlemanly as to push this onto her.
“This land is yours. I am merely someone helping you with the construction. The fact that it cannot be built on now has nothing to do with us, nor is it our problem.”
Zhang Liunian knew his words lacked grace, but a businessman prioritizes profit over politeness. This matter, no matter how you calculated it, would not fall on him; ultimately, it was up to Fang Yan to resolve it.
“Heh, I never expected Comrade Zhang Liunian to be this kind of person. I truly misjudged you.” Fang Yan’s face flushed with anger, and she could only let out a cold snort to express her displeasure.
“There’s no need for you to be so angry. We all know who is behind this. I just want to ask if you have a way to deal with it now.”
“I’m just a factory director, with shallow roots. How can I compare to them?” Fang Yan forcibly swallowed her anger, having to admit that she was no match for the Tang family.
“If that’s the case, haven’t you considered finding a helper? From the looks of it, the Tang family has planned against both of us. If we don’t unite and find some allies now, we will undoubtedly face countless troubles in the future.” Zhang Liunian didn't want to offend Fang Yan completely, especially since this was the first major contract for his construction company.
“Allies? Who? The Ding family?” Fang Yan suppressed her recent annoyance, leaning closer to Zhang Liunian and speaking softly. However, her eyes kept scanning the enforcement team not far away.
Zhang Liunian nodded. He was still too weak in Nancheng. If he could find some temporary partners, that would be good, and the Ding family was his best option at the moment.
Fang Yan fell silent. Aside from Ding Heng and Ding Xiaoyue, she held a favorable impression of the Ding family.
“Our current situation is that we have no help to restrain the Tang family. If we involve the Ding family, we won’t have to worry about the Tang family making a move in the future.” The Ding family was, after all, a family as renowned as the Tang family. With them involved, they would surely be able to help them. Zhang Liunian and Fang Yan both understood this clearly.
“How are you so sure the Ding family will cooperate with us? Don’t forget, you’re just a small sole proprietor, not qualified to cooperate with the Ding family. As for me, I have some hope, as the factory behind me is quite large.” Fang Yan glanced meaningfully at Zhang Liunian, as if her eyes were asking, what capital do you have to cooperate with the Ding family?
Zhang Liunian stroked his chin and smiled, “You forget, I am also someone with a factory. Although there are only three hundred people in it now, there will definitely be more in the future.
Besides, I have always had a cooperative relationship with Comrade Ding Zhaoshan. I believe after tomorrow, he will still be happy to reach a consensus with me.”
“You are quite arrogant. Relying on the small shop and small factory you run, you think you can form an alliance with their Ding family? That’s far from enough.” Fang Yan mockingly called Zhang Liunian conceited.
“Think about this carefully!” Zhang Liunian said no more, turned to give a few instructions to the twenty-eight men he had called from Zhangjia Village, and was about to leave.
Fang Yan, looking at the site that could not be built on, felt a pang of frustration, and followed Zhang Liunian’s footsteps.
However, not long after the two returned to Nancheng, they suddenly saw a madman rush out of a Chinese medicine shop.
“Murder! Help! Help!” the madman shouted as he ran, but before he could get far, two men grabbed him and dragged him away.
“Another madman?” Fang Yan murmured softly, watching the scene unfold nearby.
Zhang Liunian stood by her side, naturally hearing her words. He turned and asked, confused, “You’ve seen other madmen?”
“Yes, a few days ago I also saw a madman come out of this Chinese medicine shop. What’s going on with this shop? Why are there always madmen appearing?” Fang Yan’s heart was filled with doubt at this moment.
“Whose Chinese medicine shop is this? It doesn’t seem to have been open for long!” Zhang Liunian looked at the five large red characters on the storefront, “Nancheng Chinese Medicine Shop,” feeling a bit curious. He remembered that this pharmacy would soon close down due to poor management.
“It’s only been open for half a year. I don’t know whose it is. I vaguely heard it belongs to higher-ups, but no one has confirmed it.”
Fang Yan was a native of Nancheng, yet she didn’t know who owned this Chinese medicine shop. The person behind it was keeping a low profile.
As she was thinking this, something suddenly flashed through Zhang Liunian’s mind. He then looked at Fang Yan. Didn’t she also go mad later? Could her madness be related to this?
But the timing didn’t match. Fang Yan only went mad several years after this shop closed down.
Ah well, he’d have someone investigate later. This shop was too suspicious.
“This shop is very suspicious. It’s best to avoid it,” Zhang Liunian said, thinking of Fang Yan’s eventual madness, and still reminded her. Just as he was about to leave, he saw Zhang Liuxing, holding a key and smiling broadly, walk into an alley.
“I have something else to attend to, I’m leaving,” Zhang Liunian hastily said, then hurried to follow.
Fang Yan also saw Zhang Liuxing and was very curious, so she followed. When she saw Zhang Liuxing arrive at a three-story detached house and open it with a key, she exclaimed in surprise, “This house has been on the housing market for a long time without selling. Seeing this situation now, did Zhang Liuxing buy it? But he left with nothing when he divorced his second sister. How could he have the money to buy this house?”
Hearing this, Zhang Liunian’s expression stiffened, “You mean he left with nothing after divorcing Fang Ru?”
“Yes, aren’t you brothers? You don’t even know about this? And how could he have the money to buy this place? As far as I know, this house would cost at least twenty thousand yuan. Such a large sum of money isn’t something anyone can just produce. Zhang Liuxing couldn’t possibly have it.”
At this point, Zhang Liunian understood everything. The one hundred thousand yuan he lost was definitely stolen by Zhang Liuxing. As for the motorcycle… it was highly likely him as well.
Confirming it was Zhang Liuxing, a cold glint flashed in Zhang Liunian’s eyes. Zhang Liuxing thinking he could use his money to live a good life was wishful thinking.
“The night before the day before yesterday, I was attacked on my way home. My second brother saved me. My Qingqing had him stay at my place for the night. When we got home, we discovered ten thousand yuan was missing.” Zhang Liunian stared at Fang Yan, his smile chilling.
“So he took your money? Impossible, he wouldn’t be that kind of person.” Fang Yan was utterly shocked, then felt that Zhang Liuxing shouldn’t be that kind of person.
“I will report this to the police. If it’s not him, then so be it.” Zhang Liunian would ensure Zhang Liuxing’s reputation was ruined.
Zhang Liuxing thinking he could use his money to live a good life was too optimistic.
Turning to leave, Zhang Liunian actually went to the police and then took them home to investigate.
Unfortunately, Zhang Liuxing had not encountered any eyewitnesses when he left.
However, the fact that he had used twenty thousand yuan to buy a detached house was undeniable. If he couldn’t explain the source of this money, he couldn’t clear his name of suspicion.
“I didn’t steal his money. I found this money.” Zhang Liuxing was taken away by someone during work hours, which was another blow to his future.
He could imagine that no matter how this matter was resolved in the end, his job was likely to be lost.
“Liunian, I am your biological second brother, and I saved your life. How can you treat me like this and frame me? Are you my brother?” Zhang Liuxing sat at the table, looking at Zhang Liunian opposite him, and questioned loudly.
Zhang Liunian indifferently picked at his ear, “Second brother, I am very grateful that you saved me, but that night, not only did I lose one hundred thousand yuan in merchandise, but I also lost a motorcycle. I must recover these things.
As long as you can explain how you got your money, I believe they won’t trouble you.”
“…” If he could explain, would he have begged him for help? Zhang Liuxing resented it, but he couldn’t show it on his face.
“It was truly that second brother picked it up. When you were injured and unconscious that night, I sent you to the hospital. When I returned, I found this money. It was dark and no one was around, so how could I find a witness to prove my innocence?” Zhang Liuxing was not stupid; he would not admit to stealing Zhang Liunian’s money, nor would he expose that he had sold the motorcycle.
His thoughts were good, but what he didn’t know was that the motorcycle was considered a large item at the time, and as long as the buyer rode it out, its origin could be easily traced.