Chapter 156: Zhou Ming, I think you're tired

Zhou Ming's black car was driving on the road to Harvard University, with the trees on both sides of the road constantly receding. Lin Muqing was sitting next to Zhou Ming.

"I think it is still necessary for you to listen to what Tong Gang, Li Cheng and Ildebald just said. After all, you rescued them. With this incident, the relationship between you and them is no longer purely based on interests. They really did it for you and for the current situation.'

Lin Muqing said to Zhou Ming, 'Even you yourself have said that after you mentioned suing the 45 investment companies and claiming compensation of hundreds of billions of dollars, the entire chess game was already approaching its endgame. But as far as I know, the endgame is also very important, because if this final move is not done well, then the series of previous layouts and other efforts will all be for nothing. Is this what you want to see?' /Fiction >

'And,' Lin Muqing continued, 'our alliance with the three families is not that strong. The three families and the Adams family have dominated the Brighton Consortium for two hundred years. They have seen every kind of storm. Even if they have differences due to certain issues, they are still one in the Brighton Consortium.

'Now that you, Zhou Ming, are helping them seize power from the Adams family, they will support you wholeheartedly. But once the situation becomes clear, will they still support you like that? Or will they try every means to take the situation into their own hands?' Lin Muqing said.

Zhou Ming knew that the rhetorical questions Lin Muqing had just asked were the same words that Tong Gang, Li Cheng, and Yerbedov had said at the hotel earlier. Zhou Ming was not unaware that these were their heartfelt words, nor was he unable to think of the current situation. Even Zhou Ming's rational mind kept reminding him that it would be absolutely foolish to give up and go help Lin Muqing's aunt and uncle find Tang Ran. But somehow Zhou Ming always felt like there was a voice telling him that he should do this, for Tang Ran's sake, for Lin Muqing's sake, and for his own sake as a man.

However, Zhou Ming was unable to explain these words to Lin Muqing. He could only retreat and say, 'Sister Muqing, I understand what you are saying, and I am not someone who does not care about the big picture. However, for now, we still have to go to Edward's place and listen to what the governor wants with me. We can talk about other things when we get back. Perhaps the governor wants to give me some new tasks that will keep me busy.'

'For now, this is the only thing we can do,' Lin Muqing sighed helplessly, but her next sentence made Zhou Ming break out in cold sweat. Lin Muqing looked at Zhou Ming doubtfully and said, "I really don't know why you are so persistent in going to find Ranran. Even my cousin is not as nervous as you, as if she is your girlfriend, it's so strange."

'Maybe after I find her, she will be very grateful and then want to marry me.' Zhou Ming said with a laugh, in return for Lin Muqing's impatient glare.

Seeing that Lin Muqing did not continue to dwell on it, Zhou Ming let out a sigh of relief.

Zhou Ming continued to drive in the direction of Harvard University. This was Governor Edwards' arrangement. Just now, at the hotel, while Zhou Ming, Lin Muqing, Tong Gang, Li Cheng, and Il'yadov were chatting, they suddenly received a call from Edwards. He said that there was something important to discuss with Zhou Ming, regarding the lawsuit, so he wanted him to go to Harvard University as soon as possible to meet. He would be there today due to his schedule.

About a quarter of an hour later, Zhou Ming's car arrived at Harvard and drove directly into a quiet church in the north campus of Harvard. This was the place arranged by Edward, saying that they would worship here and discuss things together in passing.

Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing walked through the entrance inspection and entered the church. It was very quiet inside. The Catholic choir was chanting on the stage. Only Governor Edward, Harvard President Lawrence, and Lowell family patriarch Louis sat in the back of the seats below, their hands folded in prayer.

Zhou Ming had never been to a church before, but he had seen many foreign movies, so he didn't say anything and just walked over silently and sat down next to Edward.

After a while, Edward opened his eyes and turned his head to look at Zhou Ming and asked, 'Don't you attend church?'

'As far as I know, today doesn't seem to be Sunday, and our beliefs may not be the same,' Zhou Ming replied.

'Then you should be glad that it's not 400 years ago, otherwise you would be heretics that the church is hostile towards and would be tied to the stake,' Louis joked.

'You are the royal family of the former French Empire, and it seems that you have done a lot of this kind of thing in the past."

After teasing a bit, Zhou Ming then asked, 'But I am not here to discuss the medieval Inquisition with you today. Compared to this, I am more interested in knowing what exactly you want from me.'

Facing this question from Zhou Ming, both Lawrence and Louis focused their attention on Edward, who then stepped forward and said to Zhou Ming, 'Before talking about things, I want to ask Mr. Zhou Ming a question. I know that you went to court with your lawyer and Senator Brooke, and submitted a lawsuit against 45 investment companies in the Caribbean and other places, right?'

'Of course, didn't we all discuss this? If you want to go back on this, I won't allow it,' Zhou Ming said.

'Mr. Zhou Ming, please rest assured, since we have already decided on something, we will not go back on our word. I just want to confirm with you that the lawsuit has been successful, right?' Edward asked again.

Zhou Ming subconsciously frowned, feeling that Edward's words were a bit strange, but still replied, 'It can only be said that it has been submitted, and whether it is successful or not will have to be seen in the subsequent court arguments.'

'As long as it can be successfully submitted, I believe that the next thing will definitely be fine. Then as the news spreads, the entire market will know about the investment company's fraudulent acts in the s contract, which will further hit the subprime mortgage market. Since these companies are more or less closely related to the Adams family, this lawsuit, regardless of whether it is successful or not, will put a lot of pressure on the Adams family. So in the end, as long as we put in a little effort in the middle of Brighton Bank, we can quickly take down the Adams family,' Edward said.

What Edward said was the countermeasure that Zhou Ming had originally discussed with him, but now as Zhou Ming listened, his brows furrowed deeper and deeper.

'Mr. Governor, then what exactly are you trying to say?' Zhou Ming asked.

'I was wondering if you've done so much, Mr. Zhou Ming, if you're too tired and need a break?' Edward asked.

Hearing Edward's question, Zhou Ming was first taken aback, then said, 'Governor, I don't know if I've misunderstood, but are you saying this to get me out of this matter?'

Edward shook his head and said, 'How can we do that? We are allies, and all the strategies for the Adams family were thought up by you alone. Otherwise, I don't think we would even be able to find the Adams family's weaknesses. How could we do such a thing as crossing the bridge after the river? But there are only so many hours in the day, and we know you've already done so much, so you must be tired. Let us help you with the rest."

Edward then added, 'Of course, we will still honour all the promises we made to you before, whether it's your personal safety, your business position in Brighton, or other cash rewards.'

Almost as soon as Edward had finished speaking, Lin Muqing said discontentedly, 'Hey, Mr. Governor, from what you just said, it sounds like you don't want us to continue to participate. Didn't our alliance previously say that we would stand together no matter what? But what do you mean by this? Before, when we were thinking of a plan, you didn't offer any help, and now that our plan has already begun to be implemented and has achieved results, you just want us to leave. Don't you think that what you are doing is very immoral?'

Lin Muqing's angry voice was a little loud, and it made the Catholic choir on the stage in front of them stop.

In response, Louis waved his hand to let the choir continue, and then said to Lin Muqing, 'Ms. Lin Muqing, as a lady, you shouldn't behave like this. Because of what you just said, I think you seem to have a lot of misunderstandings about us. As Edward just said, we have not crossed the bridge to destroy the bridge. We are simply thinking about Mr. Zhou Ming's well-being. You are his lover, and I think you should also consider his health, right?'

'Mr. Louis can rest assured that apart from his parents, I am definitely the person who cares about him the most,' Lin Muqing said.

'Since Ms. Lin Muqing cares so much, why bother to make him worry? Anyway, the matter has already come to a conclusion, so wouldn't it be better to just enjoy the fruits of your labour?' Lawrence also said.

Lin Muqing wanted to say something more, but Zhou Ming stopped her in her tracks and said, 'I can feel your concern, but are you really sure you know what to do next? Although I have now filed a lawsuit against the 45 investment companies, this is not yet conclusive, and the situation is not yet clear.'

'Really? But I think you, Mr. Zhou Ming, may be over-worried, because at least in our opinion, as long as this lawsuit is filed, regardless of the final result, our goal against the subprime loans and Brighton Bank has been achieved, and the Adams family has also been under a lot of pressure. He has been looking for us to discuss countermeasures recently, which can be seen from this.' Louis said.

Edward added, 'And on the other hand, we are also directors of Brighton Bank, and the subprime mortgage crisis has also had a great impact on Brighton Bank. Therefore, we will understand better than you how to deal with it next. After all, we just want to teach the Adams family a lesson, not destroy Brighton Bank, which has a history of more than a century. Do you understand what I mean?'

Zhou Ming nodded and said, 'Of course I can, because if it were me, I would do the same.'

'So what do you think, Zhou Ming? That's why we've come to see you today,' Lawrence asked.

'My thoughts?' Zhou Ming said, 'I think that I have been busy with this matter for a long time, and I have also filed the lawsuit in court. I can say that I have both the credit and the hard work. So at least I have no problem with my Wharton Insurance Company getting an interest-free loan of 10 billion. And if my company has any problems in the future, you must also help. What do you think?'

With Zhou Ming's question, Edward Lawrence and Louis both laughed. After they looked at each other, Edward said, 'Of course it's no problem. An interest-free loan of 10 billion U.S. dollars. In addition, the three of us can give you an additional 200 million U.S. dollars. In your Chinese words, this is called a red envelope.'

'If that's the case, I'm very grateful.' Zhou Ming said as he stood up and stretched, "Then I can enjoy my vacation and squander this huge fortune to my heart's content!"

Zhou Ming then left, but before he did, he left Edward and the others with a message: "I just hope you don't regret today's decision, because I don't think the Adams family has run out of options."