Chapter 358: Zhou Ming, You’re a Bit of a Genius

"Ah-ha! I, Du Peng, am finally back!" 

At the South Jiang airport exit, Zhou Ming, Du Peng, and a group of five Central Guard soldiers, carrying their luggage, walked out. Gazing at the blue sky overhead, Du Peng suddenly stretched and shouted. In this era, there weren't many people flying, so Du Peng's shout didn't draw too much attention; otherwise, it would have certainly made him stand out, making people think he had escaped from a mental institution.

Zhou Ming kicked him from behind and said, "Are you about to say that anyone who took something from you should return it, and anyone who ate something should spit it out?"

"Why does that sound so familiar?" Du Peng asked in confusion.

"It's from 'Shining Red Star'," Zhou Ming replied. "It's a line that's been turned into a current dialogue. Honestly, Du Peng, you've really let down Chairman Du's teachings and become a local bully!"

Zhou Ming teased Du Peng, even breaking into song, but he was genuinely happy inside. The situation was completely different from when they left South Jiang a month ago. Despite the stagnation in South Hui's township industrial park and the lack of a re-listed Jinpeng Corporation, the situation had shifted significantly. With Tao Guoling being suspended and the battle against the Tao family coming to a victorious phase, Zhou Ming was in high spirits.

If the Tao family, a huge entity, was falling, what was there to fear about the small-time Tao Qianjun?

Although Tao Qianjun had built up connections as a top figure in Beijing, these connections were based on the Tao family's reputation. Many people would partner with or support Tao Qianjun mainly because of the Tao family's backing. As long as the Tao family stood strong, everything could be smoothed over, regardless of Tao Qianjun's personal faults.

Now, with the Tao family's collapse imminent, these so-called connections were revealing their true nature. In the bustling capital, where everyone was driven by fame and fortune, how many of these connections would remain steadfast and supportive in times of crisis?

That's why Zhou Ming didn't regard Tao Qianjun as a threat. If he was a golden carp when he arrived in South Jiang with high ambitions, now he was just a mud loach struggling in filth.

However, Zhou Ming was still puzzled by Tao Guoling's comment before leaving Beijing. Tao Guoling had said that Zhou Ming was the key, but Zhou Ming remembered that in his past life, even without his presence, Tao Guoling faced punishment after the Jiangnan investment fraud case and the ** incident. The Tao family still collapsed. 

This suggested that Zhou Ming's actions had no direct impact. He was confident enough to leverage these incidents. But now, the situation was completely different, and Tao Guoling had claimed Zhou Ming was the key. Zhou Ming didn't understand why. Was there some secret he and the outside world didn't know?

Zhou Ming couldn't determine this, as political family matters were beyond the knowledge of an ordinary person. Even Du Peng, before reaching a certain level, wouldn't know. His grandfather, Du Zhongyuan, despite being the president, wouldn't discuss such matters with him, at least not at this time.

Zhou Ming didn't press the issue, knowing that since he had reached this point and Tao Guoling had come to him with such words, it meant he was getting closer to uncovering the secret.

For now, the urgent task was to figure out what Tao Guoling's message meant.

With that in mind, Zhou Ming approached a phone booth. Du Peng, seeing this, asked in surprise, "Zhou Ming, are you really going to call Tao Guoling?"

Du Peng's concern wasn't out of fear. After all, in movies, a single Central Guard could block a crowd. Though exaggerated, it was possible for one guard to handle a group if they were trained. Since they were accompanied by a team, it was nearly impossible for ordinary people to harm them without military involvement.

Du Peng asked because, after receiving Tao Guoling's message in Beijing, they had tried calling the number Tao Guoling left several times, but it was always unreachable. They concluded it might be a prank or that something had happened to the phone.

But now, Zhou Ming was trying the number again, which surprised Du Peng.

Zhou Ming explained simply, "Since we're here, one last call won't hurt. What if it gets through?"

To Zhou Ming's surprise, the phone call connected after many failed attempts.

Hearing the call connect, Du Peng jumped up in amazement. He said to Zhou Ming, "Damn! Zhou Ming, you're a bit of a genius! How did you guess that?"

Zhou Ming smiled wryly. He hadn't expected the call to actually go through. He was about to say something, but Tao Guoling's voice came through first: "I'm at the Fanqiao area in the western district. You'll find me when you arrive."

Tao Guoling hung up immediately. Zhou Ming stared at the phone's busy signal, and Du Peng, fuming, said, "Damn! Tao Guoling is really full of himself. Just a single line and he hangs up? Does he think he's still the old Tao Guoling? Or is he playing some trick? I remember the Fanqiao area is quite chaotic!"

Zhou Ming frowned, agreeing with Du Peng. The western district was a new industrial park area, filled with construction sites and factories. Fanqiao was the largest area for migrants, with high population mobility and poor conditions. Organizing a group to ambush them there was indeed a feasible option.

Zhou Ming was just contemplating this when Du Peng, serious, asked the Central Guards, "The area is filled with migrant workers and is very complex. Are you confident?"

The team leader of the Central Guards seriously considered the question before answering, "As long as the opponents are not armed and not trained soldiers, we have over 80% confidence."

Listening to the exchange between the exuberant Du Peng and the serious Central Guard, Zhou Ming felt a bit helpless. They drove to a parking lot, picked up their car, and headed towards Fanqiao.

With no city management regulations in place and urban planning in chaos, even in a reform-oriented city like South Jiang, Fanqiao resembled the slums of Shanghai in the 1930s—chaotic and dirty. 

Originally a small village on the outskirts of South Jiang, it had transformed into an industrial park. With the influx of workers, the area expanded rapidly. Some people set up makeshift shelters, while others rented out rooms. The situation was harsh, with ramshackle wooden utility poles and disorganized conditions.

They parked at the entrance of Fanqiao and got out of the car. Observing the chaotic residential area, Du Peng frowned and asked, "Damn! How did it get so chaotic in such a short time? How are we going to find Tao Guoling?"

"I'm not a deity," Zhou Ming said. "Unless he sends someone to guide us."

Just then, a child ran over to them. A Central Guard stopped the child and said, "This is for adults. Go play somewhere else."

The child shook his head and said, "No, I have ten yuan from an uncle to find someone named Zhou Ming. It should be you, right?"

Hearing his name, Zhou Ming walked over and asked, "Do you know who sent you? What did he say his name was?"

The child replied, "Tao Guoling. The uncle said his name is Tao Guoling!"

Even though Zhou Ming had anticipated this answer, hearing it from the child still left him speechless.

Du Peng, however, was astonished. He exclaimed, "Damn! Zhou Ming, I didn't expect you to have this special ability. If I didn't know you, I'd think you and Tao Guoling had coordinated this!"

The Central Guards, surprised by Du Peng's reaction, looked at Zhou Ming with curiosity, wondering if he truly had some special ability. Zhou Ming, feeling a bit helpless, had only made a random guess. He couldn't understand why predicting such a simple thing was so accurate, especially when he had trouble predicting lottery numbers in his past life.

But regardless of how coincidental it was, they had hit the mark. Zhou Ming decided to see what Tao Guoling was up to.

With that thought, Zhou Ming, Du Peng, and the five Central Guards followed the child into Fanqiao.