Chapter 265: Behind the Takeoff

Hongcheng International Airport is a very interesting airport. Unlike other airports, which are located in the suburbs, it is located in the bustling downtown area, surrounded by mountains on three sides, with only one runway extending towards the sea. On the other side of the runway, there are high mountains and residential buildings at the end. Every takeoff and landing of an airplane is done above the heads of the high mountains and residential buildings. Therefore, it is also known as the world's most dangerous airport.

However, the irony is that precisely because of the danger of the airport, it is also the airport with the fewest air accidents in the world, and Zhou Ming and his classmates from the finance class are about to take off from here.

'Pan Am a6384 flight to Brighton, Massachusetts. Hello, you are now allowed to enter the runway and take off.'

'Beautiful and elegant lady at the tower, flight a6384 has received, entering the runway and preparing to depart.'

As the tower and the flight pilot converse, a large Boeing 747 passenger plane slowly lifts off the runway at the airport, flies out over the sea, makes a sharp U-turn, keeps climbing, passes over mountains and houses, and heads towards the United States.

Below the airport, a black Lincoln sedan is parked outside the airport. The door opens and a very beautiful woman stands in the doorway. She is wearing sunglasses and looks up at the flight as it slowly departs the airport against the setting sun. She is filled with emotion and murmurs, 'Zhou Ming, you must work hard in the United States. I believe that with your abilities, you will definitely be able to make a name for yourself there. I will also work hard in Hong Kong!'

This woman is Lin Muqing, and she is wishing Zhou Ming well. Zhou Ming and all the students in the finance class are on that departing flight, A6384.

As the flight took off, all the students in the finance class became nervous. This was certainly not the first time they had been nervous on an airplane, but it was the first time they had been abroad. After all, going abroad in those days was not as simple as it is in later generations. Especially since these students were only in their twenties, they were going to a completely unfamiliar country to study and live for a few years. The kind of nervousness and fear or excitement in their hearts was inevitable.

In response, Zhou Ming smiled and said to them, 'The flight from Hong Kong to Brighton, including the transfer, will take nearly 30 hours. There is also a 12-hour time difference between Brighton and Hong Kong. When you get there, you will have to adjust to the time difference. Everyone should get some rest on the plane, otherwise you won't be in the best of spirits when you arrive in Brighton. If you lose face abroad, don't say you're from China.'

'What should I say then?' Li Yang, the vice monitor, asked subconsciously.

'Just say you're Japanese. No need to say more, just say 'hagurou'. '

Zhou Ming's answer made everyone laugh, and the laughter also eased the tension and excitement they felt when they boarded the plane. After a while, everyone gradually quieted down. When the cabin lights were dimmed, everyone fell asleep. Zhou Ming then looked at the dark night sky outside, thinking that although this was not his first time going abroad, compared to the time he went to Northern Russia, this time seemed to be a bit more critical.

Zhou Ming then thought: And compared to that time, this time it seems like I was being driven out of the country, but in reality it should have affected quite a few things, right?

While Zhou Ming was thinking this, in the capital city of Yan Jing, in the Sui An room, Lin Zekang was receiving criticism from Yang Lao and Du Zhongyuan.

'Comrade Zekang, I think you already know why I asked you here today, don't you?'

Yang Dingguo asked. Although Yang's tone was just that of a casual chat, it sounded extremely sharp to Lin Zekang's ears. At that moment, Lin Zekang felt a chill run up his spine.

In front of Yang, Lin Zekang dared not play dumb. He could only say honestly, 'Yang, I'm sorry. I just got the news about the incident in Gangcheng. I will immediately conduct a thorough investigation and severely punish all those responsible!'

Yang Dingguo looked at Lin Zekang and said, 'I don't care if you just got the news or not, but the people on your side of the coast have really gone too far this time. Do you know that Chairman Du and I are still here? What do you want, to rebel? Or do you think that you are already the president of the country and can do whatever you want? You actually thought of bribing the officers of Gangcheng to target Zhou Ming. You are really lawless!'

Yang Dingguo's tone grew more and more severe with each sentence, and in the end he couldn't help but give his chair a few slaps. Yang Dingguo's slaps were not heavy, but each one felt like it was slapping directly on his heart, making him scared and trembling.

However, Lin Zekang still kept his head bowed and said, 'Yang Lao, I'm very sorry. I didn't expect anyone to do such a thing.'

'Unexpected?' Yang Dingguo said, "But those were your people. You saying that means you can't control your people, that they'll do things on their own, or things like this lawlessness?'

Yang Dingguo's rhetorical question made Lin Zekang break out in a cold sweat. He immediately said, "That's not the case. I will definitely find out who was behind this, and I promise you, Yang Dingguo, that this kind of thing will never happen again!'

Yang Dingguo held out his hand and tapped Lin Zekang lightly, saying, 'I hope you can keep your word. This country has worked hard to achieve its present success, and I will never put it in the hands of someone who cannot be trusted.'

After saying this, Yang Dingguo did not give Lin Zekang the chance to speak, and waved him away. After Lin Zekang had left, Du Zhongyuan asked him, 'What do you think?'

'He definitely didn't do it. After all, he is my chosen successor, and he wouldn't stoop to such petty behaviour. But he definitely knew about it beforehand,' Yang Dingguo said. "But now I've given him a warning. Given his personality, he will definitely go back and investigate thoroughly. Let's see how much he can handle. It's also a wake-up call for him and those people.'

Yang Dingguo paused after saying this, and then asked Du Zhongyuan, "It's just that Zhou Ming's flight to the United States has already taken off. How are things arranged over there?'

'Don't worry, Yang, it's all been arranged,' Du Zhongyuan said, "and the news from the US is fine.'

Yang Dingguo let out a sigh of relief: "That's good. Our country has been through many storms over the years, and there have been many scumbags who are obsessed with power or crazy about subversion, but there are more heroes for the motherland. Comrade Zhongyuan, we are all getting old. We can see that the future is an era of great change, but we are a bit out of step. So all we can do is take care of these heroes who can lead the times.'

'If Zhou Ming knew that you were giving him this kind of appraisal, he would definitely be flattered,' Du Zhongyuan said.

Yang Dingguo shook his head, however, and said, 'I don't think he would.'

...

As Pan Am flight 6384 carrying Zhou Ming took off from the harbour city, the news reached the White House on the other side of the Pacific Ocean. At this time, the newly elected US President Walsh was having breakfast with his wife in the White House's own dining room. As soon as he received the news, he immediately put down his bread and milk, hurriedly followed and left the dining room, in such a hurry that he forgot to wipe his mouth.

In the office next to the dining room, a tall middle-aged man was already waiting. This person was named Brent and was the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs.

When he saw President Walsh enter, Brent immediately went up to report to him, but Walsh waved his hand and said, 'I already know. The flight of that Chinese Zhou Ming has already taken off from Harbor City and is headed to Brighton, Massachusetts. There are more than 20 Chinese students selected to study aboard the plane, and they are going to Harvard University to study finance.'

Walsh paused here, looked up and asked Brent, 'Mr Brent, do you think he is a dangerous person?'

'At the very least, he is no friend,' Brent said. 'Mr. President, do you remember the Tower Project set up by the previous president, Logan? The original plan was to wage a financial war against the Soviet Union and take advantage of the collapse of the Soviet Union to plunder at least 20 trillion US dollars in assets from there. But it was because of this sudden intrusion by Zhou Ming that the plan, which had been in preparation for 15 years, went bankrupt. Not only did the assets decrease a lot, but even Mr. Meta defected.'

Walsh nodded. As President of the United States, he must have known about this incident, especially since the outbreak of the financial war was when he had just taken office.

'Indeed, if we could earn back all this money, our country would be in a much better position now, and we wouldn't have such a large fiscal deficit.' Walsh took a deep breath to suppress some of his annoyance, and then asked Brent, 'But after all, Zhou Ming is someone protected by the Chinese authorities, and it's not particularly good to do anything rash. What about over there? Is there any news?'

'They are all opposed to letting Zhou Ming enter the country, especially the William family, who even advocate having Zhou Ming shot,' Brent said.

Walsh was a little annoyed: 'These greedy hyenas, the biggest beneficiaries of this financial war are them, of course they want Zhou Ming to look good, especially this old William, it's not enough that he controls the Federal Reserve, he also wants to meddle in all the banks? But don't think about how China will react!'

Facing Walsh's anger, Brent just stood there quietly, as if he hadn't heard. After a burst of anger, Walsh calmed down and looked up at Brent and asked, 'You are my assistant for national security affairs, so what is your suggestion?'

'My suggestion is that other international students from China can be admitted to Harvard University, but this Ming Zhou must be controlled. He should be controlled as soon as he gets off the plane at the airport, either by problems with his documents or other problems. He must not be let go.' Brent thought for a moment and added, 'I heard that Zhou Ming has bodyguards around him, and special trained agents need to be sent.'

Walsh nodded and was about to say something, but then his secretary ran in again and handed him a phone. Walsh received the call and his face immediately changed.

He nodded and agreed to a pass and then returned the phone to his secretary. He silently turned around and sat down in the chair, which surprised Brent. Brent asked, 'Mr. President, what happened?'

'For Zhou Ming, we should not make any sudden moves for the time being. If he wants to come to the United States, he can come to the United States; if he wants to go to Harvard, he can go to Harvard. In short, everything should be done according to procedure,' said Walsh.

Brent was even more surprised, but he suddenly thought of the phone call just now, which made him fall into deep thought.

!!!