Chapter 48: Chapter 047: Wealth Without Compassion

Big Shrimp wore a comical grin, his hands plunged into his pockets as he sat down nearby. Before long, Rat crept in, hunched over. At a glance, he spotted Big Shrimp snoring by the door, quietly approached, and asked, “Big Shrimp, how’s the boss?”

“You’re back?” Big Shrimp was taken aback, then smiled. “The doctor said we have to wait twenty-four hours for results. For now, we don’t know. If he doesn’t wake up in twenty-four hours, the boss’s life will be in danger!”

“What?!” Rat was stunned, his anxiety flaring. “Damn it, what’s going on? If the boss doesn’t wake up, we’ll be handing our heads to the clan chief!”

“I know, but that’s what the doctor said!” Big Shrimp replied helplessly.

“Damn, the doctor says so and we just sit here waiting?” Rat glared at Big Shrimp, enraged. “No way, we have to ask the family for help right now. If the boss doesn’t wake up, we’re dead men!”

“But…” Big Shrimp hastily grabbed Rat’s arm. “If we ask for help and Liu Jie’s people find out, we’re finished!”

“Still, we can’t gamble with the boss’s life!” Rat fumed.

“Let’s wait. We’ll see what happens after twenty-four hours,” Big Shrimp insisted, holding Rat back from acting rashly.

“Fine, I’ll listen to you this once. But if anything happens to the boss after twenty-four hours, you’ll answer to me!” Rat slumped into a chair, and the two of them waited in anxious silence.

...

Midnight.

In Jianghuai City, the general manager’s office of Siyang Tower was brightly lit. A middle-aged man sat in his chair, a Cuban cigar clamped between his lips. Beside him stood a secretary with gold-rimmed glasses, who respectfully lit his cigar with a zippo lighter.

“Mr. Zhang, the afternoon plan fell through,” the bespectacled secretary reported, bowing.

“So it failed, let it fail!” Zhang Siyang waved dismissively. “Consider it a warning shot for that girl. Hmph, let her know real estate isn’t so easy! If she wants to encroach on someone else’s market, she’ll have to pay in blood!”

“Yes, Mr. Zhang!” The secretary nodded quickly, then straightened and looked at Zhang Siyang. “Mr. Zhang, what about Jiangnan One? Should we keep pushing?”

“Yes. Tell them to hurry, the bigger the commotion, the better!” Zhang Siyang sneered. “So what if it’s Tianya Group? Hmph, just an old man who started out as a businessman, and now he lets his daughter take over? Ha! Looks like the Li family has no heir left.”

“Hmph, Tianya Group’s days are numbered. Once something happens at Jiangnan One, they won’t hold out!” The secretary’s lips curved into a cold smile.

...

Atop a skyscraper in Jianghuai City, a man dressed in black wore a long cloak, two burly men standing behind him. The man’s face was hidden by a painted mask, making his features impossible to discern. His dark eyes gazed toward the endless sky.

“Master, Siyang Group made their move today,” reported the two men behind him, also masked.

“And the situation?” the cloaked man asked, turning his head.

“No gains. The assassin Zhang Siyang hired failed to kill Li Ruo,” one of the masked men replied urgently.

“Useless!” The cloaked man gave a cold laugh. “He botched the last task I gave him, and now this. Useless!”

“Should we remind him?” the two men asked hastily.

“No need,” the man shook his head. “This can’t be rushed. We have other matters. Oh, how about the agent we planted in Tianya Group?”

“He’s slowly gaining their trust,” they answered almost in unison. “He’ll be very useful in the future.”

“Good. Keep an eye on both sides. We have our own mission.” With a flick of his cloak, the man leapt from the building, vanishing into the night, leaving the two masked men wide-eyed in shock before regaining their composure.

...

At Tianya Group, the shooting at Jiangnan One Garden reignited a frenzy across Jianghuai City. The previous incident at the factory involving Li Ruo was still fresh in people’s minds, and now another such event had occurred. The city’s safety was once again in question, stoking public anger. All media, both online and on television, focused on the incident at Jiangnan One Garden.

Pushed by unseen hands, the situation spiraled toward an uncertain future. The internet was awash with rumors of every kind, netizens swept up by an invisible force.

“The title of Jianghuai City’s model city ought to be passed on!” read one post, which exploded like a bomb across the city. The post detailed a series of dangerous incidents, recounting every case from the factory shooting onward, exposing the city’s darkness and listing each event without omission.

Jianghuai City Municipal Office Building.

Bang!

Jiang Zhonggen slammed his hand on the table. In the conference room, the heads of every city department sat with heads bowed. Facing the mayor’s wrath, all could do was endure the scolding; to speak up now would be to ask for trouble.

“Liu Zhiqiang, tell me: what is going on here?” Jiang Zhonggen fixed his gaze on the police chief.

“Mayor, I suspect someone is stirring up trouble behind the scenes,” Liu Zhiqiang frowned.

“Hmph, trouble? Can’t you investigate?” Jiang Zhonggen glared at the group, then turned to Minister Wang Qingkui of the Propaganda Department. “Minister Wang, what was your department doing after the incident? Why didn’t you block such negative news? Why didn’t you give the public an explanation immediately?”

“Um…” Wang Qingkui hung his head, not daring to speak.

“Useless!” Jiang Zhonggen fumed. “Whoever dares sully my reputation, I’ll ruin him!”

“Mayor, this doesn’t even need investigating. Anyone can figure it out!” Liu Zhiqiang stood.

“Let’s hear your thoughts,” Jiang Zhonggen replied, sitting back and crossing his legs, a cigarette between his fingers. All eyes turned to Liu Zhiqiang; after all, the investigation should fall to the police, but the city’s PR team had been so inept that rumors now ran rampant online.

...

“Siyang Group is a longstanding real estate company in Jianghuai, while Tianya Group is a diversified conglomerate with subsidiaries all over the province—they’re flush with cash. Now that real estate is booming, Tianya wants in. Jiangnan One is just the first step; if it goes well, the board will certainly push further into real estate,” Liu Zhiqiang analyzed, then smiled faintly. “But if Tianya enters real estate, it will inevitably squeeze Siyang’s market share, instantly turning two unrelated companies into mortal enemies. So, I think Siyang Group is behind this!”

Gasp!

Everyone’s eyes widened in disbelief as they stared at Liu Zhiqiang. Siyang Group belonged to Zhang Siyang—everyone knew Zhang Siyang was the provincial party secretary’s own brother. To accuse him now—was Liu Zhiqiang tired of living?

“Do you have any proof?” Jiang Zhonggen glanced at him.

“Not at the moment,” Liu Zhiqiang admitted.

“Then don’t make baseless accusations!” Jiang Zhonggen snapped. “Mr. Zhang is not only a model entrepreneur, he’s devoted to charity. Don’t slander him! I know him well—he may seem fierce, but he’s kind-hearted.”

“That’s right, Chief Liu, you mustn’t make such claims.”

“Yes, I can vouch for Mr. Zhang’s character.”

Jiang Zhonggen’s faction all spoke up to defend Zhang Siyang, each acting as if they knew him intimately, jumping in to shield him.

“That’s enough. For now, the matter stands as it is. Minister Wang, you’re in charge of PR—handle this. In three days, I don’t want to see a single rumor about the city on any media platform!” Jiang Zhonggen said, casting a look at Wang Qingkui.

“Yes, sir!” Wang Qingkui replied respectfully.

After the meeting, everyone left dispirited. The recent string of incidents had left them all exhausted and overwhelmed. With rumors flying and the city’s reputation in decline, everyone was deeply worried.

The next day, all rumors and TV reports vanished as if cut off at the source. Programs were suddenly replaced with advertisements, and news stories disappeared without a trace. Major forums received orders from cyber police to delete related posts and block offending accounts.

“How’s the situation?” Jiang Zhonggen personally sought out Liu Zhiqiang.

“Mayor, all information has been completely blocked, but the earlier impact still lingers—citizens remain skeptical,” Liu Zhiqiang shook his head.

“No problem,” Jiang Zhonggen chuckled. “Let them doubt—as long as there’s no trouble, it’s fine. Give it time and they’ll forget.”

“Why is that?” Liu Zhiqiang asked, surprised.

“Heh, remember how big the Li Gang incident was? What about now? No one hears a word—who even knows what Li Gang is doing? Let me tell you, he’s been promoted!” Jiang Zhonggen sneered. “That’s PR, understand?”

A grin spread across Liu Zhiqiang’s face. Clearly, Jiang Zhonggen was confident he could quell the fallout from the Jiangnan One shooting. And indeed, a few days later, everyone had forgotten all about it. Life had to go on, and in an era of soaring prices and skyrocketing inflation, who had the energy to care about such things?