Chapter 113: Visiting Hu Sichen
Zhou Haidong and the others returned quickly.
Li Dong did not ask any questions; he just handed out 12,000 yuan for the four of them to split.
The men were overjoyed, and their gazes towards Li Dong were so warm they could almost melt steel.
Li Dong accepted it calmly, then instructed them to keep a low profile for the time being, before sending them off. They seemed eager to go out and work again.
Afterward, it was as if nothing had happened. Zhu Hongtao made no response, and the police had no actions.
The supermarket resumed normal operations, and even the rumors in the market had vanished.
The more calm the situation, the more vigilant Li Dong became.
He preferred the sound of a barking dog; if Zhu Hongtao had loudly sought revenge, Li Dong wouldn't have been afraid. But the current quiet was more ominous, like the calm before a storm.
Worried about Zhu Hongtao's retaliation, Li Dong even kept Zhou Haidong and Zheng Long by his side just in case.
Li Dong understood well that leaving a snake alive could be dangerous. Although Zhu Hongtao might not be a significant figure, he could still be a troublemaker.
In mid-May, Li Dong, accompanied by Sun Tao, went to visit a mysterious figure.
On the way, Sun Tao looked puzzled and said, "Hu Sichen is just a deputy district chief in Yao Hai District, responsible for education and health. Is it useful to find him?"
Li Dong didn't respond, his mind still reflecting on Hu Sichen's background.
Hu Sichen, 48 years old, graduated from Jiangbei University and stayed on as a faculty member after graduation. In 1999, he became the deputy dean of the Business School at Jiangbei University.
In 2002, he took up a post as deputy district chief in Yao Hai District, responsible for education and health. Among the nine deputy district chiefs in Yao Hai, he was considered the most dispensable.
In 2005, Hu Sichen's term was supposed to end, and he should have returned to Jiangbei University to continue teaching. However, Hu Sichen seemed to have been forgotten, and even after the three-year term was up, no one mentioned it. He remained a deputy district chief in Yao Hai District, almost becoming invisible.
If Li Dong hadn't brought him up, Sun Tao wouldn't have known that Yao Hai District had such a deputy district chief.
Of course, this was Hu Sichen now.
Li Dong didn't know how Hu Sichen rose to prominence afterward. As a student at the time, he didn't pay attention to such political news.
What Li Dong knew was that in 2008, when he graduated, the Agricultural University invited city and district leaders to attend the graduation ceremony, and Hu Sichen was one of them.
In just three years, Hu Sichen had jumped from a deputy district chief to the district chief's position.
To say it was just luck would be hard for Li Dong to believe.
In the political arena, Hu Sichen's rapid rise indicated he had skills and connections.
Initially, Li Dong had not considered Hu Sichen, as he had no direct need for him. However, after encountering Zhu Hongtao and considering the person behind him, Li Dong had to carefully study the leadership in Yao Hai District.
It was by chance that he connected the currently low-profile deputy district chief Hu Sichen with the energetic district chief three years later.
---
Although Hu Sichen was stationed in Yao Hai District, he still lived in the faculty building of Jiangbei University.
When Li Dong knocked on the door, it was Hu Sichen himself who answered.
Seeing unfamiliar faces, Hu Sichen adjusted his glasses and asked with some confusion, "Who are you looking for?"
At this moment, Hu Sichen was at his lowest point in life. In the district, he felt almost non-existent, and at the university, he had lost his position as deputy dean. For a long time, he had been in an awkward situation with no one paying attention to him.
No one had visited him for a long time, not even the routine social gatherings that ordinary officials attend after work.
The term "temporary position" meant Hu Sichen was not expected to stay in Yao Hai District for long, so no one was eager to curry favor with him, knowing he would eventually return to teaching.
This was Li Dong's first time meeting Hu Sichen. Previously, due to the distance, he hadn't seen him clearly.
After briefly observing Hu Sichen, Li Dong's first impression was one of refinement.
Without further delay, Li Dong quickly smiled and said, "Hello, Professor Hu. I'm Li Dong, a student from the International Trade class of 2004 at the Business School."
Hu Sichen instinctively replied, "Hello, Li Dong."
He then remembered that he was no longer a university professor. Why would a new student come to visit him?
Despite his curiosity, Hu Sichen still politely invited Li Dong inside.
It wasn't until he saw Sun Tao following Li Dong that Hu Sichen realized this was not just a simple student visit.
---
Hu Sichen's home was quite large, not smaller than Li Dong's new house.
After all, Hu Sichen had been the deputy dean of Jiangbei University and a full professor, so his benefits and welfare were substantial.
Li Dong entered and first surveyed the room. Although the decor was simple, it was elegant.
Since they were not familiar with each other, the three began with some casual conversation.
Most of the conversation was about school matters.
The initial chat was formal, but when Li Dong casually mentioned that his academic advisor was Fang Qingfei, Hu Sichen was a bit surprised and said, "You're a student of Xiao Fang?"
Then he recalled, "When Xiao Fang came last year, she mentioned she stayed on at the university. I forgot to ask at the time. I didn't expect she was teaching International Trade."
Seeing Li Dong's confusion, Hu Sichen smiled and said, "Xiao Fang was a student of mine in the undergraduate class, and she was the only undergraduate class I taught before leaving the university."
Li Dong was delighted; it was a pleasant surprise!
He had no idea Fang Qingfei was Hu Sichen's student, given that Hu Sichen had left the university years ago.
Li Dong quickly joked, "That's quite a coincidence. I should call you 'Teacher Hu' in that case."
With Fang Qingfei as a connection, Hu Sichen seemed warmer than before. He waved his hand and said, "No need for titles. We can just talk as equals."
Li Dong then wondered about Wang Jia, who was also connected to Fang Qingfei.
He asked, "Professor Hu, do you know Wang Jia?"
He knew Fang Qingfei and Wang Jia were classmates in graduate school, but whether they were undergraduate classmates was unclear to Li Dong.
"You know Wang Jia too?"
Hu Sichen was even more surprised, and his smile grew.
Probably because of Wang Jia and Fang Qingfei's relationship, Hu Sichen added, "Wang Jia was supposed to be my graduate student, but I had to go on temporary duty, so I missed her."
Li Dong's joy increased, and he said, "Wang Jia is a friend of mine; we're very close."
Whether Wang Jia was actually close to him was irrelevant. He was just boasting for effect.
They continued with small talk, and Hu Sichen then turned his attention to Sun Tao, who had been listening attentively.
Understanding that Li Dong had a specific purpose, Hu Sichen knew the casual conversation was just a prelude.
As expected, Li Dong introduced, "This is Sun Tao, the general manager of Yuanfang Supermarket."
Sun Tao quickly stood up, extended his hand, and smiled, "District Chief Hu, hello!"
"Hello, Mr. Sun. I've heard of you for a long time!"
Hu Sichen's surprise was genuine. Yuanfang Supermarket, as the largest retail supermarket in Yao Hai District and located next to Jiangbei University, was well-known. Hu Sichen had heard of it many times and had even visited it several times.
Upon learning that the silent man who had just entered was the head of Yuanfang Supermarket, Hu Sichen had to shift his gaze to Li Dong.
It was clear that Li Dong was the key person.
Since Li Dong was just a freshman, Hu Sichen was curious about his background.
Li Dong didn't pretend and directly said, "I didn't mention it earlier, but Yuanfang Supermarket is actually my property."
Hu Sichen didn't know how to respond. Normally, he wouldn't have asked, but since he had just had a pleasant conversation with Li Dong and had connections through Fang Qingfei and Wang Jia, he was intrigued.
After a moment of thought, Hu Sichen finally asked, "And your father is?"
Li Dong didn't hesitate to answer, "My father is Li Qi, the chairman of the Li Corporation."
Hu Sichen's eyes widened with surprise. It was clear that Li Dong had connections far beyond what his appearance suggested.
With a respectful tone, Hu Sichen said, "So you're Chairman Li's son. It's an honor to meet you. Please, have a seat."
Li Dong smiled and sat down, feeling that the conversation was now on more familiar and comfortable terms.
After everyone was seated, Hu Sichen offered some tea and continued, "Mr. Li, I'm curious why you're interested in me. With your background, you must have many choices. Is there something specific you need?"
Li Dong replied, "Thank you for your hospitality, Professor Hu. I'm here today because I've recently encountered some issues, and I believe your insights and connections could be very helpful. Specifically, I'm looking for someone who can provide guidance and support in navigating certain challenges."
Hu Sichen nodded thoughtfully. "I see. Challenges can be numerous and varied. If you're comfortable sharing more details, I might be able to offer more specific advice or assistance."
Li Dong took a deep breath and began to explain the situation involving Zhu Hongtao and the complications he had faced. He was careful not to disclose too many sensitive details but provided enough context to illustrate the seriousness of the situation.
Hu Sichen listened intently, his expression serious. After Li Dong finished, he said, "It sounds like you're dealing with a complex and potentially dangerous situation. I can understand why you would seek my help. Let me think about this and see how I might be able to assist you."
Li Dong thanked Hu Sichen and assured him that any help would be greatly appreciated.
The conversation continued with Hu Sichen asking more about Li Dong's business and future plans. Li Dong spoke candidly about his ambitions and the direction he hoped to take with Yuanfang Supermarket.
As the meeting drew to a close, Hu Sichen offered some advice on dealing with similar situations and promised to provide any necessary assistance. He also suggested maintaining a low profile and avoiding unnecessary confrontations until the situation was more stable.
Li Dong and Sun Tao thanked Hu Sichen for his time and valuable insights. They left the meeting feeling optimistic, knowing they had made a significant connection that could prove beneficial in their current circumstances.
As they departed, Li Dong reflected on the meeting. He felt reassured that Hu Sichen could be an important ally in addressing the challenges they faced. The connection with such an influential figure, especially one with such a background, was a promising development.