Volume Two: The Path to Azure Clouds 29. The Battlefield of Sales (Part Four)

Lin Xiaolong told me that evening he was going to meet a friend and would be back late. I stayed in my hotel room, the television on, though I barely watched it, lost in thought about my next steps, market analysis, and the logistics of opening our branch office.

Around eight o'clock, there was a knock at the door. Thinking it was Lin Xiaolong, I walked over and opened it, only to be stunned to find Lin Yuanyuan standing there.

Compared to earlier in the day, she had changed into a camisole dress, and her hair, which had been pinned up, now cascaded loosely, giving her a look of provocative allure. Seeing that I hadn't invited her in, she asked, "What's the matter, Director Wang? Don't you welcome me?"

To be honest, I truly did not want her in the room. I was alone; if I let her in, I had no idea what she might do. Even if nothing happened, it would be impossible to explain later. I had already been careless enough to open the door without checking who was outside. On someone else’s turf, and with so many conflicting interests at stake, I had to be extremely cautious.

I decided then and there that no matter what she said, I would not let her inside. I remained standing in the doorway, blocking her path, and asked, "What brings you here, Ms. Lin? Do you have some good news for me?" I added, "And where is Mr. Li? Why didn't he come?"

"Must I be accompanied by someone for you to welcome me, Director Wang? Not even letting me through the door—that’s hardly the way to treat a guest." She laughed softly. "You’re a grown man, what are you afraid of? Surely you don't think I'll eat you?"

"Well, I'm mostly afraid of my wife making me kneel on a washboard," I joked, though I didn't budge.

"Afraid of your wife? I doubt that," she said, looking at me.

"Oh, it's true. I'm a coward," I laughed, but only for a second. I immediately regained my serious expression. "Ms. Lin, if there’s something you need, let’s discuss it tomorrow. I’m tired and would like to rest." I gestured for her to leave and turned as if to close the door.

"Director Wang," she called out from behind me, "please, just one more word."

Seeing me pause, she continued, "You are a smart man. If this were about company business, would I come to see you alone at night? I am here for a different matter—one that has nothing to do with Li Qiang. I am here because you are the only one who can help me, and this matter would only benefit you, not hurt you."

Hearing her refer to him as "Li Qiang" rather than "Boss Li" told me this was no simple matter. My instincts told me that hearing her out might help me grasp the situation or even solve my own problems.

I turned back. Her smile had vanished, replaced by a glint of tears that made her look pitiful. But I knew better; she was not a simple woman. Whether this vulnerability was genuine was debatable, and I had to keep my cool, refusing to be swayed by appearances.

"Ms. Lin, what exactly do you mean?" I asked in a calm, steady voice.

"This involves many sensitive issues; it's not convenient to discuss them here," she said, looking up at me with a piteous expression.

"There is nothing inconvenient about it. Since there is no one else around, I am all ears if you wish to speak. If you find it difficult, I won't force you."

She acted as if she were on the verge of tears again, but seeing my indifference, she pulled herself together and said, "Li Qiang is no human being!"

I remained silent, watching her calmly. She continued, "Do you know what happened to President Zhang?"

I shook my head. She went on, "President Zhang was framed by that scum, Li Qiang, and is currently in prison."

*So that’s why the boss changed from Zhang Peng to Li Qiang,* I thought.

"The fault lies in the fact that our boss trusted him too much. In front of him, Li Qiang played the part of a docile dog, but he was a venomous wolf all along."

Right there in the hotel corridor, she began to recount the upheavals at Pengda Chemical. Whenever someone passed by, she would stop, waiting for them to move away before continuing her narrative.

"Pengda Chemical was formerly the Jiangning Province Chemical Procurement and Supply Station. When it was reorganized into the Jiyang Province Chemical Supply and Sales Company, President Zhang was the General Manager. Li Qiang started as a mere supervisor, whom Zhang promoted step by step to Deputy Manager and then Manager of the Sales Department. When the company’s performance declined, the governing authorities pushed for a restructuring, allowing management and key personnel to buy shares. President Zhang bought 70%, while others bought 30% collectively—including 10% by Li Qiang, with part of that money actually lent to him by Zhang himself."

"Once Zhang took control, the company recovered and thrived. He even promoted Li Qiang to Deputy General Manager."

"But never did we expect that Li Qiang would abuse that trust. He meticulously worked to seize control. Two years ago, he siphoned off most of the company’s capital, turning it into an empty shell. More viciously, he instigated people to report Zhang for tax evasion, sending him to prison."

"After Zhang was jailed, Li Qiang colluded with people in the courts to buy Zhang's shares at an extremely low price. He transformed himself into the majority shareholder and, naturally, the Chairman."

"As President Zhang's office director, I knew too much. Li Qiang tried to threaten and bribe me. He promoted me to Deputy General Manager on the surface while bringing in his own nephew to be the office director, all to keep his secrets hidden."

"Li Qiang is devious and has close ties to the underworld. I live in constant fear for my life. I have no choice but to act submissive and swallow my pride. I suppose he thinks I’m too afraid to resist and that I lack the power to do so. Plus, he has dirt on me, so he feels he can control me. That’s why I’m still safe for now."

"But he is a degenerate. He has twisted perversions, and he finds ways to torture me." She began to sob softly.

I remained hard-hearted, ignoring her display while privately calculating how much of her story was true. Li Qiang was likely a villain, but was Lin Yuanyuan any better? She had initially relied on her looks to get close to President Zhang, and after his downfall, she clung to Li Qiang. Someone who would let herself be degraded for her own benefit couldn't be a good person. Perhaps she was just trying to use me to take down Li Qiang for her own gain. And as for President Zhang? He was likely no saint either; the tax evasion probably existed, and who knew what state assets he had embezzled during the restructuring? I remembered the look on his face eight years ago—he was far from clean. Coming to me for sympathy? She must think I'm a fool. I had a clear picture in my mind, yet I remained unmoved.

Lin Yuanyuan stopped speaking, looking at me with a pitiful expression.

"What is the use of telling me all this?" I asked, playing dumb to see if she would reveal her true objective.

"I am asking for your help. I have endured this for two years, and I finally have an opportunity. Director Wang, I know you are an honest man; you are the only one I trust. Furthermore, your factory is powerful—only you have the strength to pull this off. I have sufficient evidence of Li Qiang’s crimes. If you are willing to help, we can certainly send him to prison."

Her words confirmed my suspicions: she wanted to repeat the maneuver Li Qiang had used against Zhang Peng, but she lacked the power to do it alone. She wanted to use me as a weapon. I wouldn't let on that I knew this.

"And if I help you, what do I get out of it?" I asked with a smile.

"You would benefit, of course. You want to open a branch in Jiangning, don't you? If Li Qiang remains, it will be difficult; he will never concede. If he falls, your office will be established smoothly. That would be a great achievement for you."

"We will open the office sooner or later regardless. That doesn't seem like much of a trade-off. The effort hardly seems worth the reward," I said, chuckling.

"So, you want other benefits?" She stared at me, her eyes lingering on mine. "Anything you ask for, Director Wang, I can satisfy." She winked. "In any way you desire."

"Let me consider it. This matter is far too complex." I looked away and gestured for her to leave.

"I hope to hear good news from you," she said, seemingly unwilling to give up, but she turned and left with a sigh.

I went back inside, closed the door, and looked out the window. Vaguely, I saw two men following her. I felt a chill of fear. Looking back, I thanked my lucky stars that I hadn't let her into the room. It was terrifying to imagine what might have happened otherwise.