Chapter 365: Seeking Revenge on Zhou Ming

Hearing Tan Qianjun's cries from the private room, Zhou Ming shook his head in resignation. A strategic arrangement that could have allowed the Tan family to continue thriving had turned into a deadlock because of his intervention. It was only natural for Tan Qianjun to be unable to accept this calmly.

In reality, Tan Qianjun's reaction was understandable. Born into the Tan family, he was slightly less distinguished compared to the prominent families in the capital, but still came from a privileged background compared to the millions of people nationwide.

He saw the opportunities presented by the economic reforms and boldly ventured into business. Not only did he become one of the first successful entrepreneurs in Beijing, but he also led many other red descendants to wealth, establishing a nationwide new company that even the central authorities could not ignore. Leveraging the company's influence and his own connections, he helped his father ascend to the position of Beijing Municipal Committee Secretary.

Of course, other factors were at play, but the new company was the most crucial element. The Tan family's decision to abandon politics in favor of business reflected their immense trust in Tan Qianjun.

It was easy to imagine how Tan Qianjun must have felt when he learned of this decision. He would have been full of ambition and determination to make a significant impact, but unexpectedly, Zhou Ming's interference derailed his plans, crushing his ambitions in their infancy. For anyone other than the most resilient individuals, this was a hard blow to accept.

Although Zhou Ming considered himself quite resilient, he could understand how devastating it would be if his own ventures were to fail. He had only worked hard for a year, with the advantage of his rebirth, while Tan Qianjun had labored for ten years, building his success through his own vision and effort. The difference was significant.

However, Tan Qianjun brought this upon himself. Zhou Ming might feel some sympathy and reflection, but it was merely a fleeting sentiment. After all, Tan Qianjun had opposed him and faced the consequences. Even if Tan Qianjun had succeeded, it wouldn't have been a good thing—an extensive network of bureaucratic entrepreneurs could lead to corruption. Zhou Ming's actions were a form of national cleanup.

"I didn't expect you were right, Zhou Ming. The situation in Beijing really isn't that simple," Du Peng's voice interrupted Zhou Ming's thoughts.

Zhou Ming smiled and said, "That's to be expected. Just look at how smoothly everything against Tan Qianjun has progressed, with the Tan family offering almost no resistance, surrendering immediately. It's too surreal to be true. I didn't anticipate such deep reasons behind it."

Du Peng nodded, reflecting, "Yes! When you first suggested doing this, it seemed unbelievable. Now it seems there were many coincidences, so much so that it feels like someone orchestrated it all. I didn't expect it to be this way."

Zhou Ming patted Du Peng on the shoulder. "Alright, let's stop being sentimental. The issues with Tan Qianjun can be put aside for now. We should prepare for what comes next…"

Before Zhou Ming could finish, a voice shouted from the hallway, "Zhou Ming, you're the one! I'm going to kill you!"

Both Zhou Ming and Du Peng were taken aback, only to see a person of similar age running towards them with a beer bottle, looking fierce. Zhou Ming and Du Peng didn't move. They didn't need to, as one of the Central Guard soldiers, who had been following them, quickly intervened. With a single punch, the person was on the ground, unable to get up.

After the person lost his ability to move, the Central Guard soldier brought him before Zhou Ming. The person looked up at Zhou Ming, enduring the pain, and continued to curse, "Zhou Ming, may you die a terrible death!"

Zhou Ming felt somewhat perplexed. "You wish for my death, which is fine, but you should give me a reason. Otherwise, isn't that a bit unjust? If I'm not mistaken, this is our first meeting, right?"

"You dare to ask? It's because of the stock market mess you created that all my money is tied up. I can't withdraw a single penny now. You think this isn't your fault? You might not know me, but I will remember you for life!" the man angrily shouted. Despite holding his stomach and sweating profusely, he continued to glare at Zhou Ming, stubbornly refusing to yield.

"The stock market?" Du Peng laughed when he heard this. "Are you out of your mind? You chose to invest in stocks and got stuck. Now you come to blame us? Don't you think that's shameless?"

"Shameless? I think you are the most shameless people in the world!" the man yelled. "If it weren't for you creating this stock market mess, how could so many people lose everything? It's all because of you. I want to represent the people and everyone you've deceived to wish you a terrible death!"

Zhou Ming shook his head helplessly. The man had clearly lost his mind. He couldn't accept the reality of losing money in the stock market and thus blamed others, seeking revenge. Such people were all too common, just like those who, instead of reflecting on their failures, blame others.

Zhou Ming didn't have the time to teach him a lesson. He tried to ignore him and leave with Du Peng, but the man, like a stubborn mule, charged at them again despite the Central Guard soldier's intervention. The soldier easily restrained him. "I'm going to kill you. You won't have a good death!"

Du Peng frowned, growing angry. "Damn, are you out of your mind? Keep this up, and I'll deal with you!"

Du Peng's reaction was already quite restrained for someone of his status. If it were someone else, the response would have been more severe. The man's companion hurried over, looking similar to him.

Seeing the newcomer, the man complained, "Brother, what are you doing here? Don't embarrass yourself. Get out of here!"

The new arrival didn't care and approached Zhou Ming and Du Peng, bowing and apologizing, "Sorry, sirs. My brother is too impulsive and has disturbed you. I apologize."

"It's good that you understand your brother's impulsiveness. Just keep a closer eye on him and restrain him if necessary. Otherwise, he might end up injured," Du Peng said irritably.

The newcomer, who had a status similar to Tan Qianjun's, was already quite restrained in his response. He continued to apologize and express gratitude, but Du Peng waved him off. At this moment, Zhou Ming, who had been silent, suddenly asked, "What's your name?"

The newcomer was startled by the unexpected question. After a moment, he replied, "Mr. Zhou, if you're asking me, my name is Xia Lang—Xia as in summer, and Lang as in bright."

Zhou Ming repeated the name to himself, then pointed to the man being held by the Central Guard soldier and asked, "Is this person your brother?"

Xia Lang nodded and confirmed. Zhou Ming continued, "Are you running a textile business now?"

"We're not running a big enterprise, just a small factory benefiting from special economic zone policies, earning a modest income," Xia Lang explained.

"Brother, why are you talking to him? He's the one who harmed us. We need to…"

Xia Lang's brother was cut off when Zhou Ming told him to be quiet. Zhou Ming's gaze made him shiver as if his life were in danger if he continued to speak, so he remained silent.

Zhou Ming then asked Xia Lang, "What's the situation with you two?"

Xia Lang, feeling a bit embarrassed, replied, "It's not a big deal, but we're willing to share. My brother, seeing others making money in the stock market, was inspired by your lectures, Mr. Zhou, and decided to mortgage our factory to invest. Unfortunately, the stock he invested in was suspended, and we couldn't retrieve our money."

"Suspended?" Zhou Ming asked, "Which stock did you invest in?"

"It was… Jinpeng Company's stock," Xia Lang said awkwardly.

Zhou Ming sighed, realizing the situation. "So, this is another reason why your brother holds a grudge against me?"

Xia Lang quickly shook his head, saying, "No, Mr. Zhou, you're mistaken. My brother's grievance is due to his own recklessness. This issue has nothing to do with you."

Zhou Ming sighed, "It's true that it's not directly related, but to say it has no connection at all would be misleading."

This convoluted statement left Xia Lang puzzled. Zhou Ming didn't explain further but concluded, "Let's find a place to sit and discuss this matter properly. What do you think?"

Xia Lang nodded in agreement.

Zhou Ming led Xia Lang and Du Peng to a nearby quiet café. After ordering some refreshments, they settled into a private booth. Zhou Ming gestured for Xia Lang to sit down and began speaking.

"Let's get to the point," Zhou Ming said calmly. "You mentioned that your brother invested in Jinpeng Company's stock and ended up in trouble. How did this investment decision come about?"

Xia Lang looked uncomfortable but answered, "My brother was really enthusiastic about the stock market after attending your lecture. He saw other people making profits and thought he could do the same. He convinced me to invest our factory's funds, believing it was a sure thing."

Zhou Ming nodded thoughtfully. "And what did you think of this decision at the time?"

Xia Lang hesitated before admitting, "I wasn't entirely convinced, but my brother was so insistent and confident that I didn't want to discourage him. I didn't think it would end up like this."

Zhou Ming leaned back in his seat. "It's clear that the investment didn't go as planned. But the fact that you're here now, apologizing and trying to make amends, shows that you're taking responsibility. I appreciate that."

Xia Lang looked relieved but still concerned. "I really didn't expect things to turn out this way. I'm just worried about how to make things right for my brother and for us. We've lost a significant amount of money, and it's affecting our lives badly."

Zhou Ming's expression softened. "I understand. It's unfortunate that things went wrong. However, blaming others won't solve the problem. The important thing now is to find a way to move forward."

Xia Lang nodded vigorously. "Yes, I agree. We're trying to find ways to recover, but it's difficult. I hope we can figure out a solution."

Du Peng, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. "It's good that you're trying to make amends. But don't forget, there are consequences for actions. Make sure you and your brother learn from this experience."

Zhou Ming added, "If there's anything I can do to help, I will. But it's crucial to address the issues responsibly and avoid making impulsive decisions in the future."

Xia Lang nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Mr. Zhou. We'll take your advice seriously and work hard to recover from this setback."

With the discussion concluded, Zhou Ming, Du Peng, and Xia Lang parted ways amicably. Xia Lang's brother, having calmed down, was left to reflect on the lessons learned from the ordeal.

As they left the café, Du Peng remarked, "Well, that was an interesting turn of events. At least it seems like things are resolving in a somewhat positive way."

Zhou Ming nodded, "Indeed. Sometimes, confronting issues head-on and taking responsibility can lead to unexpected outcomes. Let's see what the future holds."

The conversation wrapped up, and the group went their separate ways, each with a newfound understanding of the complexities of their respective situations.