Chapter 103: The City Committee's Sealing

Following the sound, an unpleasant face came into view. It was none other than the Toyota man, Zhou Hu.

Zhou Hu, swaying slightly, came over with several people from Shenzhou Company. He glanced at the two-story building next to him and then looked at Zhou Ming with a mocking expression. "Zhou Boss, you're quite impressive, aren't you? You actually managed to rent two floors in such a bustling place on Dongmen Commercial Street. Truly worthy of being a big boss from the Port City, and our South Jiang's development consultant. You sure have guts!"

"Persistent as ever, huh? Why don't you stop being a nuisance and do something productive?" Zhou Ming frowned.

"You still dare to scold me?" Zhou Hu sneered. "Enjoy your arrogance while it lasts, Zhou Ming. Later, I'll enjoy watching you cry!"

Zhou Ming responded, "So it sounds like your boss has already started moving against us?"

"Do you think so?" Zhou Hu replied. "You used to like scaring me with the police, didn't you? Well, this time I've called the police first. Whether it's a dance hall or karaoke bar, it's all getting shut down! Our boss wants me to tell you that you like to ruin other people's fun, so now he's going to ruin yours."

As if to prove Zhou Hu's words, two vans with City Committee license plates parked at the side of the road. Several people got out and walked straight towards Zhou Ming. The leading figure spoke, "I am Director Yao from the City Committee's Comprehensive Security Office. We received a report that illegal renovations are taking place here with the intent of operating a capitalist vulgar establishment. Who is in charge here?"

Zhou Ming knew that at this time, the Political and Legal Committee had not yet been reinstated, and the Spiritual Civilization Office would not be established for another decade. Therefore, all public security and ideological matters were under the City Committee. South Jiang had specifically set up a Comprehensive Security Office for this purpose.

"Hello, Director Yao, I'm Zhou Ming, the person in charge," Zhou Ming stepped forward and said.

Director Yao looked Zhou Ming up and down and said, "Hello, this place is suspected of promoting decadent capitalist culture. We need to seal it according to the law."

After finishing his statement, Director Yao waved his hand, and his subordinates, who had already prepared the seals, came forward.

Seeing this, the usually fiery Du Peng stepped forward and blocked their path, shouting, "Stop! We are operating legally and have already registered with the Industrial and Commercial Bureau. We've also rented this floor from the State Assets Office. On what grounds do you seal our place?"

Kong Xiaolin, standing nearby, was also unhappy. "Exactly! How is operating a dance hall promoting decadent culture? You need to explain this to us. You can't just enforce the law arbitrarily!"

Indeed, accusations of promoting capitalist culture were absurd in the future, but in this era, even in a reform pioneer city like South Jiang, where everything was not yet fully regulated, it was a handy accusation.

"Legal operation?" Director Yao looked at Du Peng with a smile. "Do you have approval from our City Committee? Do dance halls even exist domestically? Since they don't, you're not operating legally but promoting decadent capitalist culture. Get out of the way and don't obstruct our law enforcement. If you continue to make trouble, we'll arrest you!"

Du Peng and Kong Xiaolin wanted to argue further, but Zhou Ming pulled them back and said, "Forget it. Director Yao is just carrying out orders. No amount of arguing will help."

Director Yao looked at Zhou Ming with some surprise. Although this person seemed timid and harmless, his calm and confident demeanor irritated him, as if the act of sealing the venue was merely a childish prank in Zhou Ming's eyes.

Director Yao, feeling a bit ashamed and angry, waved his hand. "Seal this place immediately, completely!"

With that order, Director Yao's subordinates rushed forward, sealing all the doors of the floor with the sealing tape. 

After completing this task, Director Yao initially intended to say something more to Zhou Ming but saw that Zhou Ming was talking to Du Peng.

"Du Shao, it seems your influence doesn't carry much weight. Others will do as they please regardless," Zhou Ming said.

Director Yao caught the hint of mockery in Zhou Ming's words, snorted coldly, and left without saying another word.

After the City Committee's Comprehensive Security Office people left, Zhou Hu approached Zhou Ming with a hearty laugh. "My dear Zhou Boss, how does it feel? I heard you spent a lot of money on these two floors! Including treating city government officials and the rent, it must have cost hundreds of thousands, even millions! How does it feel? This is my revenge on you! But I'm a merciful person, not as heartless as you. You might try begging me; I might even help you out with my boss. What do you think?"

Zhou Ming looked at him disdainfully. "Have you lost your mind? Do you really think that just because the City Committee's Comprehensive Security Office sealed this place, I have no way to deal with it? Even if I had no solution, so what? It's just a matter of hundreds of thousands or millions. I have plenty of money, unlike you, who went bankrupt over a meal."

"You… All right, Zhou Ming, keep talking tough. Let's see how long you can keep it up! Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, our boss thinks your idea of a dance hall is quite good. He asked me to thank you on his behalf." Zhou Hu said this and then left.

Watching Zhou Hu leave, Du Peng turned to Zhou Ming. "This guy is too arrogant. Shouldn't we teach him a lesson?"

Zhou Ming shook his head and pointed at the sealed doors. "No need. It's easy to deal with this guy. What's urgent now is to resolve this issue."

Zhou Ming then turned to Manager Rao. "Sorry to have made you witness this. You should head back for now. Once I sort out this issue, I'll invite you to dinner and apologize."

"Mr. Zhou, you're too polite. I'll wait for your call."

Manager Rao said and left. Zhou Ming then told Kong Xiaolin, "You should head back too. Your salary will continue as usual."

At this point, Kong Xiaolin no longer had the shyness from earlier. She shook her head gently. "My salary isn't a big deal. I'm worried that if someone else grabs this spot, it'll be bad for us."

"Don't worry. Even if they know about it, it won't be a problem. With you here, they won't be able to compete with us," Zhou Ming said.

Kong Xiaolin nodded gratefully and left in a cab. Once everyone had left, Du Peng asked Zhou Ming, "What should we do now?"

"First, contact Mayor Chen to find out what's going on," Zhou Ming said.

Du Peng agreed and soon reached Mayor Chen Yunfei. When Zhou Ming asked what was happening, Chen Yunfei said the Comprehensive Security Office was managed by the Deputy Secretary Lu Zhengrong, and he didn't know the specifics.

After hanging up, Zhou Ming thought about Lu Zhengrong, one of the three deputy secretaries of the City Committee. In this era, political and administrative divisions were not as clear as in later years. Lu Zhengrong, who mainly handled ideological and social security matters, was a key figure in South Jiang, ranking third on the City Standing Committee. Even the mayor, Chen Yunfei, had to give him considerable face as he represented the local faction.

Given that Zhou Ming was merely a development consultant for the South Jiang government, he had no ties to the City Committee. Was it possible that such an important person had been mobilized against him?

Zhou Ming looked at Du Peng with doubt, who responded, "Lu Zhengrong should be part of the local faction. Could he have joined the opposing side?"

Zhou Ming thought it was likely that Lu Zhengrong was supporting Shenzhou Company. He said to Du Peng, "We shouldn't concern ourselves with political matters we don't understand. As businessmen, our focus should be on making money, not getting involved in politics. Can you find a way to contact Lu Zhengrong and see if we can arrange a meeting with him?"

Du Peng agreed, "Okay. I know some people in the City Committee; I'll make the connections."

"Don't delay. Contact him immediately," Zhou Ming said.

Du Peng made the call, and to their surprise, the City Committee quickly arranged a meeting with Lu Zhengrong, saying he was available and they could go to the City Committee to see him.

Zhou Ming and Du Peng exchanged glances. Although they were unsure of the situation, the opportunity to meet with Lu Zhengrong was not to be missed. They promptly drove to the City Committee. Upon arrival, Lu Zhengrong's secretary informed them that Lu had a meeting and asked them to wait in the reception room. They ended up waiting for an entire afternoon.

At four-thirty in the afternoon, Du Peng, looking at the clock on the wall, expressed his impatience. "Zhou Ming, do you think Secretary Lu is just toying with us? We've been waiting here for three hours, and I've never seen a meeting last this long!"

Initially, Zhou Ming might have reassured Du Peng to be patient, but now he too felt something was off.

Zhou Ming suggested, "How about we go find him ourselves?"

Du Peng, already irritated, agreed. Zhou Ming and Du Peng left the reception room and went directly to

 Lu Zhengrong's office, only to see Lu Zhengrong just leaving his office.

"Secretary Lu, hello. Have you finished your meeting?" Zhou Ming asked.

Lu Zhengrong, unfamiliar with Zhou Ming and Du Peng, only recognized them after an introduction by the secretary. Lu Zhengrong glanced at them and said something that nearly drove Du Peng to the brink of anger: "Oh, it's you. Why haven't you left yet?"