Chapter 72: Zhou Ming? A Hong Kong Businessman?

The factory is located in the county town, so it only took five minutes for three police cars and a sedan to roar into the factory area. In those days, the sedan was a symbol of high status, and seeing it enter the factory instantly stirred up a commotion.

"Look, that car is Director Guo's from the county bureau, isn't it? Why is it coming into our factory? Could something big have happened?"

"You don't know? I heard that Factory Director Ma's child was beaten up by Zhou Ming's child, breaking his nose and causing severe injuries. Director Ma treasures his child so much; now that Zhou Ming has done this, he'll definitely try to get Zhou Ming in trouble. Director Guo must be here to handle this situation."

"Exactly! With the factory restructuring, Director Huang and Director Ma are planning to take over. I also heard Director Huang's father was the executive deputy county head, so he's quite powerful in the county. Offending Director Ma will certainly have Director Huang's support. Zhou Ming is doomed."

"Well, who's to blame? He brought this on himself. Before, he was expelled from the factory for fighting with Director Ma's child over a woman. That was impulsive, but now, knowing Director Ma and Director Huang want to take over, he still fights with Director Ma's child. That's just thoughtless. When Director Ma and Director Huang take over, he'll be kicked out and will have no place to go."

"I really don't understand Zhou Ming. He's a university graduate! I think even the kids from the factory's technical school are more sensible."

...

Amidst the factory workers' discussions, the county bureau's cars drove straight to Zhou Ming's doorstep, and everyone rushed to see the commotion since there was no work happening in the factory.

Zhou Ming and his parents waited at the door. To the onlookers' surprise, although Zhou Ming's parents seemed a bit nervous, they were not panicking.

Then, Director Guo got out of the car. Zhou Ming took a couple of steps forward to greet him. Director Guo hurriedly shook Zhou Ming's hand vigorously and also greeted Zhou Ming and his parents.

This scene shattered everyone's expectations. They thought Zhou Ming was going to face trouble and be arrested, but they didn't expect Director Guo to be so friendly. Even though they were ordinary factory workers and didn't understand the intricacies of officialdom, Director Guo's demeanor didn't seem like someone coming to arrest anyone. It was more like a junior meeting a superior.

What was going on?

Everyone was puzzled, and Zhou Ming's subsequent conversation with Director Guo provided the answer.

"Thank you so much, Director Guo, for taking the time to see me despite your busy schedule. My parents and I are very grateful," Zhou Ming said.

Director Guo replied, "Mr. Zhou, you're too kind. Mr. Zhou is a major Hong Kong investor in Linyang. The city leaders instructed us to ensure his safety. Seeing Mr. Zhou so frightened makes me feel very guilty. If I hadn't come to check, I wouldn't be able to explain it to our leaders."

What? A Hong Kong businessman?

Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief at Director Guo's words, staring at Zhou Ming.

Reform and opening-up had been going on for years. Even though Nanhui was a rural area, people at the factory understood what a Hong Kong businessman was—wealthy individuals from the port city who could easily have hundreds of thousands or even millions. But Zhou Ming didn't seem to fit that description at all!

Everyone in the factory knew each other's situation.

Zhou Ming had been born and raised in the factory, went to school there, and even returned to work at the factory after graduating from university. How could someone who had only been away for a short time come back and be considered a Hong Kong businessman? This didn't make any sense!

Everyone's first reaction was that they must have heard wrong or were dreaming. But no matter how hard they rubbed their eyes or pinched themselves, the reality was right in front of them.

Director Guo then shook hands with Zhou Ming's parents. Since they had never met such a high-ranking official, Zhou Ming's parents were nervous as they shook hands with Director Guo and invited him inside.

Director Guo didn't refuse and spent a little time sitting inside with Zhou Ming and his parents.

About ten minutes later, Zhou Ming and his parents saw off Director Guo. Zhou Ming shook hands with him and said, "Director Guo, you know what happened earlier. I had a conflict with our factory's Deputy Director Ma Jianjun and Sales Director Huang Zheng. I was forced to fight Director Ma's child. These two people, Director Guo, might be small-minded and may try to retaliate against my family. I hope you can leave some officers here to protect my parents. Can you do that?"

Zhou Ming's voice was not loud, but the surrounding crowd heard him. They were displeased: everyone knew that public security officers were meant to protect officials. How could a vague Hong Kong businessman like Zhou Ming demand police protection? Wasn't that a bit too self-important?

But what happened next left them dumbfounded.

Director Guo seriously considered Zhou Ming's request and said, "Indeed, while the security in Nanhui County is usually very good, there's no guarantee that some people won't seek revenge. Since Mr. Zhou is a highly valued guest in our county, it is necessary to provide protection."

What? Leaving police officers to protect Zhou Ming's parents? And it was necessary?

The crowd suddenly felt like the world had changed. How could the county bureau send people to protect a factory worker who had been expelled? Especially since the factory security had just reported that Zhou Ming's mother, Wang Fengqin, might have stolen factory property and Zhou Ming had just beaten Marin, leaving him bleeding. It seemed Director Guo knew these details but still didn't arrest Zhou Ming. Instead, he followed Zhou Ming's request and left police officers to protect his parents. This logic was baffling.

As Marx once said: Reality does not conform to human will.

Regardless of whether the onlookers could accept it, Director Guo left several officers at Zhou Ming's doorstep for 24-hour patrols before leaving. Additionally, he instructed the city management and town police station to keep a close watch on Zhou Ming's area and respond immediately if there were any incidents.

Back inside, Zhou Ming's parents were still stunned. Wang Fengqin asked Zhou Ming, "Zhou Ming, did Director Guo just say… that you're here to buy Factory 760? Are you really a Hong Kong businessman?"

Facing his parents, Zhou Ming was honest. He said, "Mom, I'm your son. You should know I'm not really a Hong Kong businessman. I just used that identity to get more attention from the government."

This answer made Wang Fengqin anxious. "So you're still deceiving the government?"

Zhou Ming quickly reassured her, "Mom, don't worry. It's not like that. Actually, I can be considered a Hong Kong businessman because I did make a good amount of money in Hong Kong, and my status as a Hong Kong businessman is also recognized by the government, so there won't be any problems."

This calmed Wang Fengqin down, but Zhou Ming's father, Zhou Guoping, had more questions. "Zhou Ming, your mother and I have worked at Factory 760 our whole lives. Even though the factory isn't doing well now, it's still worth millions. Where did you get so much money to buy the factory?"

Hearing this, Wang Fengqin's anxiety returned. "Yes! Zhou Ming, haven't you done anything illegal? I've heard things are chaotic in Hong Kong. Be careful not to get into trouble and be arrested by the police."

"Mom and Dad, don't worry. None of that is true," Zhou Ming said. "Do you remember the treasury bond business I did before?"

Zhou Guoping and Wang Fengqin nodded. Zhou Ming continued, "Actually, I was doing a similar business in Hong Kong, but it was even more profitable. I earned a lot of money. When I heard the factory was being restructured and the county set the price at three million, I had just enough money, so I used some connections and friends to come back and buy Factory 760."

"Three million? How is that possible?" Zhou Guoping exclaimed. "There are so many workshops and equipment in the factory, each worth tens of thousands. Just the equipment alone is worth more than three million!"

Wang Fengqin also said, "Yes, is it possible your friends made a mistake? Factory 760 is well-known in Nanhui County. Even though the recent performance hasn't been great, it shouldn't be worth so little!"

Faced with his parents' astonishment, Zhou Ming wasn't sure how to explain. He knew the factory's poor performance in recent years was deliberate, and the factory's price was set artificially low by some people to make it easier for them to take over. In fact, in a past life, Huang Zheng and Ma Jianjun had taken over the factory for one and a half million and sold it for eight million, making a profit of 6.5 million!

However, since these events hadn't occurred yet, even if he explained, his parents wouldn't believe him. So Zhou Ming said, "Mom and Dad, don't worry. The county will set a reasonable price."

Wang Fengqin said, "That's true. Since it's our son taking over, the cheaper, the better. But Zhou Ming, you need to find a good position for your dad. He's always dreamed of being a leader

."

Zhou Guoping, an honest worker, blushed when Wang Fengqin joked about him being a leader. "I don't need to be a leader; being a workshop director will be fine."

Zhou Ming laughed, "Dad, you're too modest. I think you should be the factory director!"