Chapter 377: Zhou Ming, You Must Find a Solution

In the afternoon, a small passenger plane landed at Yan Jing Airport. As the plane touched down, three black sedans and other ground vehicles quickly departed for the plane. The aircraft door opened, and several people disembarked, including the leading figure, Yao Xingguo, the deputy director of the Central Office. Behind him were Zhou Ming, Du Peng, and their five Zhongnanhai bodyguards, as well as other accompanying personnel.

"The Chairman is already waiting for us. Let's head straight there."

Yao Xingguo gave Zhou Ming and Du Peng these instructions before getting into the first car. Zhou Ming and Du Peng boarded the second car, while the Zhongnanhai bodyguards distributed themselves among the three cars, and the rest of the Central Office staff took separate vehicles back to Zhongnanhai.

The cars smoothly departed the airport. Watching the scenery recede outside the window, Du Peng remarked, "It seems that something really serious has happened this time!"

Zhou Ming nodded in agreement. Reflecting on their recent experiences, he remembered that upon meeting Yao Xingguo in the Nanjiang Municipal Committee building, Yao had instructed them to return to Yan Jing immediately. They rushed to the airport, barely having time to exchange a few words with Nanjiang Municipal Committee Secretary Chen Yunfei. A specially arranged plane was already waiting, and they took off as soon as they boarded.

Now, arriving in Yan Jing, they had direct access to Zhongnanhai. The urgency and meticulous arrangement of this trip suggested that something serious had occurred; otherwise, the Central government would not have acted with such haste.

An hour later, their car entered Zhongnanhai and arrived at the highest leader's office. Zhou Ming and Du Peng got out of the car and followed Yao Xingguo into a large conference hall where two prominent figures, Yang Dingguo and Chairman Du Zhongyuan, were present.

Seeing Zhou Ming and Du Peng enter, Du Zhongyuan put down his teacup and snorted coldly, "Missing for a week in Nanjiang without a word, and with your pager off and your phone shut down—what are you playing at?"

Du Zhongyuan's words hit Zhou Ming and Du Peng hard, making them lower their heads and remain silent. On one hand, it was due to Du Zhongyuan's authoritative demeanor; on the other hand, they could tell from his words that he was genuinely angry. At this moment, any attempt to explain would only worsen the situation.

This time, Du Zhongyuan clearly was not going to be lenient with Zhou Ming and Du Peng. Noticing their silence, he continued, "What have you been doing during this time? Associating with a small businessman from a minor company in Nanjiang and creating such a fuss at the Dongkou Textile Factory. Do you think this is a game? Do you even understand the current situation?"

Hearing Du Zhongyuan's reprimand, Zhou Ming, despite his reluctance to exacerbate the situation, had no choice but to speak up, "Chairman Du, I truly did not expect the Central government to act so quickly against the Tan family."

Zhou Ming spoke sincerely, as he had inquired about the Central situation from Yao Xingguo on their way. He learned that while Zhou Ming was in Nanjiang dealing with matters related to the Dongkou Textile Factory, the Central government had already taken decisive action against the Tan family. Not only had they sealed off the New Hope Company, but key members and core associates of the Tan family across the country were also apprehended, effectively dismantling the entire Tan family operation.

As for Tan Qianjun, he had been captured in Nanjiang when Zhou Ming revealed his identity at the Dongkou Textile Factory, while attempting to flee to the port city. Tan Li, his father, was the Secretary of the Yan Jing Municipal Committee, and his case was not publicly disclosed.

This approach aligned with the current leadership's decisiveness. Without it, the country might have faced significant turmoil. The Central government recognized the threat posed by the Tan family, especially in terms of its political and economic influence. Allowing it to continue would only result in more severe consequences, making it necessary to take action.

"Didn't expect it?" Du Zhongyuan glared and said, "Is that all you have to say? What kind of attitude is this? This is distrust towards the Central government! Do you think you're just kids? Acting recklessly in Yan Jing, causing such a huge mess for the Central government, and then running away? Is this your sense of responsibility?"

Both Zhou Ming and Du Peng bowed their heads. While they might ignore such criticisms from other officials, facing the Chairman, even if he was only nominally the top leader, his words still carried a significant weight that could not be ignored.

The remarks about being irresponsible and immature made Zhou Ming and Du Peng feel particularly helpless. They were only in their twenties, an age usually associated with youthful recklessness. As for responsibility, they lacked the power to affect national stability significantly and could only wait for the results.

However, Zhou Ming understood that this was more than just reprimanding. The real issue was that Du Zhongyuan's anger and the urgent summons indicated that they were expected to provide a solution.

At this moment, Yang Dingguo, who had remained silent, spoke up, "Alright, Zhongyuan, let's focus on the crucial matters. Since things are already this way, no amount of anger will change anything."

Hearing Yang Dingguo's words, Zhou Ming and Du Peng straightened up instinctively, knowing that the next part was crucial.

Du Zhongyuan composed himself and asked, "Do you understand the current situation facing the Central government?"

This question was not something that could be answered by playing dumb. Zhou Ming nodded and said, "I understand. The Central government's actions against the Tan family will likely lead some people to exploit the situation. Many conservative and obstinate individuals will use this opportunity to stir up trouble. If they gain power, there is a real risk that the achievements of the past decade of reform and opening-up could be undone, which would be disastrous for both the country and its people."

Zhou Ming's statement reflected a complex reality. While the Tan family was a corrupt entity, they also represented an early symbol of the reform and opening-up era. The collapse of this symbol could embolden conservatives and opportunists, leading to instability.

This was not a trivial matter. Even decades later, dealing with such a major entity could cause significant disruption, let alone now when not everyone was open to change.

Zhou Ming understood that this was the real reason the Central government was so urgently summoning him.

"Yes," Yang Dingguo sighed, "with the fall of the Tan family, many people will rush to deny reform and development. Some argue that the rise of the Tan family was due to the soil provided by reform and opening-up and that we should return to the past. There are even claims that Western ideologies are fundamentally evil. If we manage to boost the economy, people will be corrupted by money. Thus, the path of reform and opening-up is becoming increasingly difficult."

From Yang Dingguo's words, Zhou Ming could sense the elder's exhaustion and frustration. Despite being a stalwart figure in the reform era, Yang Dingguo faced resistance and misunderstanding from within the party.

However, Zhou Ming realized that while some viewpoints from conservatives might be valid, especially concerning the impact of money on human nature, these concerns were not ones he could express in front of Yang Dingguo.

Zhou Ming cautiously asked, "Yang Lao, what is the current situation in the Central government?"

Yang Dingguo shook his head and sighed, "It's challenging. Daily reports focus on the Tan family, and many newspapers are publishing articles condemning Western capitalism. There's a need to guard against the so-called 'capitalist candy-coated bullet' attacks. Some even claim that there are traitors within the Central government. They are essentially accusing me."

Yang Dingguo's words might have seemed calm or self-deprecating, but Zhou Ming could perceive the immense pressure he was under as a leading figure in the reform movement.

Zhou Ming said, "No matter what, reform and opening-up must not stop. The future is a golden age of development, and we must seize this opportunity!"

Yang Dingguo raised an eyebrow and said, "Really? I didn't expect you to see it that way. It seems you have a better understanding than us old-timers. We push for reform because we've experienced poverty and seen the hardships it brings. We want a strong and prosperous country. It seems you young comrades have a higher level of awareness."

"Yang Lao, please don't tease me. I'm just a small businessman who wants to make money. I'm only concerned about reform and opening-up because it benefits me too," Zhou Ming said.

Yang Dingguo laughed heartily and said, "I didn't expect you to be so modest."

But Yang Dingguo's light-hearted comment ended there. He then told Zhou Ming, "No matter what, you can't escape today. This issue arose because of you, and you must find a solution."

Zhou Ming felt both helpless and troubled. It was clear that Yang Dingguo's statement was a firm order, but it was daunting to be expected to resolve such a significant issue. Nonetheless, Zhou Ming understood that Du Zhongyuan's frustration and urgency were aimed at hearing his perspective on the situation.

With that in mind, Zhou Ming took a deep breath and asked, "The New Year is in two months. Yang Lao, do you have any plans for the Spring Festival?"