Chapter 376: Zhou Ming, Please Return

In the morning, on a not particularly wide cement road, two Audis drove one after the other, heading towards Dongkou Textile Factory. Zhou Ming, Du Peng, and Xia Lang were all in the car. Seeing Xia Lang clutching a cloth bag tightly, Zhou Ming couldn't help but smile and say, "Don't be so nervous."

"Sorry, Mr. Zhou, for making you laugh. I've just never handled so much money before, and I'm really afraid something might go wrong," Xia Lang said.

Zhou Ming shook his head, indicating that it was okay. They were going to the textile factory to deliver the payment. After several days of preliminary work, Xia Lang had raised 150,000 yuan from various clients. For someone with a monthly salary of just a few thousand yuan, such an amount was significant—even in twenty years, it would be a large sum. Hence, Xia Lang was understandably nervous.

In twenty years, transferring money would be much simpler, but now it was cumbersome. It wasn't that banks couldn't handle transfers, but it was just a hassle. Since they already had the money, it made sense to deliver it directly to the factory.

Zhou Ming thought that presenting 150,000 yuan in cash would have a greater impact than just seeing the number on a ledger. So, he advised Xia Lang to bring the money in person. As for any dangers on the road, Zhou Ming wasn't worried; with a group of five bodyguards from Zhongnanhai accompanying them in the two cars, even military forces would have trouble challenging them.

The drive was swift, and they arrived at Dongkou Textile Factory, but they didn't drive straight in. Instead, they stopped at the gate. Wu, the director they had met previously, was waiting outside with his sales team in a welcoming posture.

What was going on?

Zhou Ming and Du Peng exchanged puzzled glances, but Xia Lang seemed unconcerned and excitedly said, "Mr. Zhou, you're really impressive. Director Wu must have heard you were coming and came out to welcome you. Only someone like you could get this kind of treatment!"

Zhou Ming and Du Peng didn't share Xia Lang's belief. Even if Zhou Ming were arrogant, he didn't think he warranted such a grand reception. Clearly, something else was happening.

Despite their confusion, Zhou Ming and Du Peng got out of the car. Wu immediately approached them and said, "On behalf of Dongkou Textile Factory, I warmly welcome Consultant Zhou and Young Master Du."

Zhou Ming nodded and replied, "Thank you, Director Wu, for your attention. Xia Lang has brought the money. I hope you will honor the commitment and offer him the promised favorable terms."

"Please rest assured, Consultant Zhou. I will take care of this. Please, you and Young Master Du, come inside and have a seat," Wu said, motioning them inside and ignoring Xia Lang. His behavior only deepened Zhou Ming and Du Peng's suspicions that something was amiss.

However, they kept their concerns to themselves. They were already there, so they decided to see what was going on. As they walked into the factory, Wu led them directly to the administrative building and into the reception room. There, Zhou Ming and Du Peng saw several familiar faces: Peng Shengyou, Secretary Chen Yunfei's assistant from Lingnan, and Zhao Anmin, the Public Security Bureau Chief of Nanjiang.

Peng and Zhao were surrounded by factory leaders like stars around the moon. This was understandable because, in the current environment, those with power were the real leaders. Peng and Zhao, being influential figures even within the system, were major figures in Nanjiang. The factory leaders were eager to please them to avoid any possible trouble.

But when Peng and Zhao saw Zhou Ming and Du Peng enter, they immediately stood up and approached Zhou Ming, shaking his hand and saying, "Consultant Zhou, you've finally arrived. We've been waiting for you."

Zhou Ming and Du Peng shook hands with them, and Zhou Ming asked with a smile, "I'm sorry for the delay. May I ask why Secretary Peng has been waiting for me here?"

Peng Shengyou nodded and said, "Secretary Chen instructed me to wait for you here. He needs to see you at the Municipal Committee. There are important matters he wants to discuss with you."

The room was stunned by this announcement. All the factory leaders gasped and stared at Zhou Ming. It wasn't that Peng Shengyou's words were shocking, but the reality was hard to accept.

Peng Shengyou, as Secretary Chen's assistant, often represented the leader's face. He wouldn't just come to the factory for no reason. Furthermore, Chen Yunfei, the Executive Vice Governor of Lingnan and Secretary of the Nanjiang Municipal Committee, sent his assistant specifically to meet Zhou Ming. This was an extraordinary level of treatment.

Zhou Ming, accustomed to high-profile status as Nanjiang's development advisor and a key figure in various projects, appeared calm. After hearing Peng Shengyou's message, he simply nodded and said, "Understood. I've finished my business here and am ready to go."

Peng Shengyou immediately said, "Great, I'll take you back now."

He gestured for Zhou Ming to follow him, and Zhou Ming and Du Peng walked out, with Zhou Ming giving Xia Lang a parting encouragement: "Work hard and make me proud."

"I will definitely work hard and not let you down, Mr. Zhou!" Xia Lang vowed.

With that, Zhou Ming and Du Peng left the textile factory and returned to their cars. Once they were back, Du Peng asked Zhou Ming, "Do you think something major has happened?"

Zhou Ming shrugged and said, "There's definitely something going on. Given that Governor Chen sent Peng and Zhao to meet me, it's not a small issue."

The car drove off, and after about thirty minutes, they arrived at the Nanjiang Municipal Committee building. They parked and, guided by Peng Shengyou, went straight to the reception room. There, they found many people waiting, including Chen Yunfei, the Municipal Secretary of Nanjiang, whom Zhou Ming and Du Peng knew.

As they entered the room, Chen Yunfei immediately stood up and angrily pointed at Zhou Ming, saying, "Zhou Ming, you're really hard to find! I tried calling your pager and phone, but they were turned off. Are you trying to disappear in Nanjiang or do some underground work? You're the development advisor for Nanjiang—don't you have any sense of responsibility for the party and the people?"

Faced with Chen Yunfei's reprimand, Zhou Ming found it hard to bear and asked with a smile, "So, Governor Chen sent someone to the textile factory to find me?"

Chen Yunfei grunted, still visibly angry. It was understandable, though, as Zhou Ming had turned off his pager and phone while he took a break from his busy schedule. He hadn't anticipated that his absence would prompt such a response.

However, once the government decides to find someone, they will find them as long as the person is still around. Given Zhou Ming's high-profile status, it was not difficult for the city to track his whereabouts, especially since he had caused a stir at the textile factory.

Chen Yunfei's actions made it clear that something significant had happened. Zhou Ming, serious now, asked, "Governor Chen, what exactly is going on?"

Chen Yunfei, although angry, understood the gravity of the situation. He sighed and said, "Let me first introduce you to someone. This is Yao Xingguo, the Deputy Director of the General Office. He has come specially from the capital to ask you to return to Beijing as soon as possible."

Chen Yunfei introduced a man who had been sitting quietly. The man, appearing in his forties or fifties, was tall and thin with a broad forehead, exuding a commanding presence. As the Deputy Director of the General Office, Yao Xingguo was directly involved with the highest leadership. Anyone in this position was essentially a high-ranking official's steward.

Zhou Ming realized that having someone of this level come to Nanjiang meant something serious had occurred, something he could not escape from.

What exactly had happened?

Zhou Ming had a vague idea but lacked sufficient information to understand fully. With limited exposure from newspapers and news, he couldn't grasp the full picture.

At that moment, Yao Xingguo extended his hand and said, "Zhou Ming, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Zhou Ming shook his hand and replied, "It's a pleasure to meet you too."

Yao Xingguo did not indulge in pleasantries and said directly, "I have been sent by the Chairman to urgently ask you to return to Beijing."

Zhou Ming took a deep breath, his heart racing: So it's true!