Wen Liang and Huo Jinghao had finished their dinner when Zuo Jingcai returned, looking a little uncomfortable. Huo Jinghao hurriedly helped him sit down and complained, "Did you drink again? If you have a bad stomach, don't try to be brave. Why don't you listen?"
"It's okay. I just took some medicine... Serve me a bowl of porridge. I'll have a sip to warm my stomach." Zuo Jing leaned back on the sofa and said to Wen Liang with a wry smile, "It's an old problem that I've had since I was an educated youth. It's never healed. It hurts when I drink a little alcohol."
Wen Liang really didn't know that Zuo Jing had such a serious stomach problem. It was helpless to think about it. Ordinary people would quit drinking if they were asked to do so, but he was a member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and the head of a city. He didn't even have the freedom to quit drinking and couldn't avoid it when it came to socializing.
In this society, being unable to control one's own destiny is everyone's sorrow!
After drinking the porridge and resting for a while, Zuo Jing's complexion gradually recovered, and he got up and took Wen Liang to the study. As expected, the purpose of his invitation to Wen Liang to Lingyang this time was for the crude oil terminal.
Wen Liang couldn't say that he got the news through other channels, so he pretended to ask, "I heard that there are some different opinions in the province, and the dispute is very fierce?"
Zuo Jing nodded slightly and said, "But that's all in the past. Now the main leaders of the province have expressed their opinions. In principle, they agree that Lingyang City will build the crude oil terminal in Xishatou Port Area on its own. Apart from some details, there will basically be no more back and forth."
Lingyang snatched this piece of cake from Guanshan this time, and offended quite a few people. For the overall situation, these people were powerless to do anything, but when it came to certain "details", they knew with their toes that there would be a lot of trouble. However, these troubles belonged to Zuo Jing, and Wen Liang could not manage them, nor did he want to manage them.
"That's great. I'll contact the person in charge of Hengsha Mining tomorrow. If nothing goes wrong, there will be a reply within a week!"
Zuo Jing shook his head and said, "A week is too long. My opinion is that we should cut the Gordian knot as soon as possible!"
Wen Liang understood the elegant meaning of the music from the sound of the strings. Zuo Jing wanted to create a fait accompli. Only when the substantive negotiation stage was entered with Hengsha could the crude oil terminal be truly settled.
"I'll call now..."
Zuo Jing stood up and said firmly: "Contact them and we will leave now."
"Ah?" Even though Wen Liang was calm and composed, he was stunned when he heard this. He subconsciously looked out the window at the night and said, "Now? If I drive, I'm afraid I won't get there until tomorrow. Your body..."
"I'm fine, don't worry." Zuo Jing rarely teased Wen Liang, "Also, young man, don't be so old-fashioned. Now besides cars, there is another means of transportation called airplanes!"
Wen Liang blushed. He himself didn't like flying, so he usually ignored this fastest means of transportation. He said, "I'm sorry to make you laugh, Uncle Zuo. I grew up in a poor family and have never been on a plane..."
Zuo Jing laughed out loud because of his amusement. Huo Jinghao, who happened to be passing by, pushed the door open and came in, asking curiously, "What are you so happy about?"
"Nothing. Oh, by the way, prepare some clothes. Xiaoliang and I are going to Dongming City to meet a distinguished guest."
After so many years, Huo Jinghao has gotten used to Zuo Jing's work status of being away from home at any time. She didn't ask anything and prepared some clothes for him to change into. She secretly pulled Wen Liang aside and said, "He just got sick today. You should take care of him on the way. People who usually deal with him are clumsy and not as careful as you. I'll give you two bottles of medicine later and tell him to take them on time. Also, you must keep an eye on him for me and don't drink anymore!"
Wen Liang immediately expressed his determination and said, "Auntie, don't worry, I will make sure Uncle Zuo goes safely and comes back healthy. If anyone dares to toast him, I will smash the bottle."
Huo Jinghao smiled sweetly and said, "Yes, let's do it!"
When the two of them were leaving, Wen Liang looked around and didn't see Wang Ziqiang or other people from the municipal party committee and government. Zuo Jing saw what he was thinking and said, "I'll be the only one going with you this time. If you bring fewer people, things will be easier to discuss."
Wen Liang nodded, and the shadow of Dou Wenbo appeared in his mind.
The plane landed at Dongming Airport and left through the VIP channel. Outside was an imported Mercedes-Benz luxury business car, driven by Ning Xi's personal assistant Zhuo Min, while Ning Xi herself did not show up. This was a unique pride of the Ning family, and even Wen Liang was helpless. He opened the back door and smiled at Zuo Jing, "President Ning couldn't come because of an emergency, so I apologized to Secretary Zuo. Oh, this is Assistant Zhuo, the person President Ning trusts the most."
Of course, the most trusted person is different from the real body, it's just a step. Fortunately, Zuo Jing didn't have those annoying pedantic airs. Or maybe he had a clear understanding of these rich and powerful children who were born in the capital and lived with the country. He didn't feel neglected at all and said, "Mr. Ning is very busy. It's our sudden arrival. I hope we didn't disturb him."
The car sped all the way to a hotel in Dongming City. Zhuo Min led everyone to a private room on the third floor. He pushed open the door and gestured for them to go in. He waited for Wen Liang and Zuo Jing to go in, but he stretched out his hand to stop Chang Cheng who was following closely behind, and then gently closed the door.
Chang Cheng frowned and said, "What do you mean? If I don't go in, what if something happens to the boss?"
Zhuo Min ignored him, her straight body always maintained the most perfect posture, like a sharp sword unsheathed, with a faint edge flowing. Chang Cheng really loved her arrogant look, the more she ignored him, the more excited he was, and said: "Xiao Zhuo, I haven't seen you for so long, you look thinner, is it because the food here is not good? Otherwise, I will talk to the boss, you just change jobs, I can't guarantee anything else, at least you still have meat every day..."
"Girls should pay attention to skin care. Although I am naturally beautiful, Shahe is a dusty and dry place. It is best to replenish water before going to bed..."
"Uh, which unit do you serve in? I've used all my connections, but I can't find anything. I know, it's confidential, but we're old acquaintances, so I can't reveal even a little bit..."
Chang Cheng kept chattering in Zhuo Min's ear, changing the subject after one topic, and never stopped. But one had to admire him, as he kept talking about meaningless nonsense for more than an hour, until the people inside came out after finishing their conversation, and then he stopped with a feeling of unfulfilled desire.
Zhuo Min's face was still cold, without the slightest change, as if Chang Cheng didn't exist. Her calmness alone was enough to attract people's attention. But Chang Cheng didn't see that when she turned around to open the door for Ning Xi and the others, a fleeting smile appeared on her lips, which made her look beautiful and charming!
"Mr. Ning, it's settled then. I'll be waiting for you in Lingyang in three days." Zuo Jing looked very happy, as if he had gotten what he wanted.
"Okay, Secretary Zuo has a lot of things to do, so I won't keep you here. See you in Lingyang in three days!"
Ning Xi gently shook hands with Zuo Jing, then looked at Wen Liang, her beautiful eyes full of emotions. Wen Liang knew that she wanted him to stay, but as the saying goes, when you are in the arena, you can't decide for yourself. He came here with Zuo Jing, so it was unreasonable for him to leave alone.
Ning Xi could ignore Zuo Jing's status and position, but he couldn't—at least not yet!
"Uncle Zuo, go to the car and take a rest first. I'll talk to Mr. Ning and come right down."
Zuo Jing smiled slightly and said, "No hurry, you guys can chat slowly."
Just as Zuo Jing was about to turn around and leave, four or five people suddenly appeared at the end of the corridor. The man in front was a man in his thirties with an ordinary appearance and a medium build, except for his thick and black eyebrows, which looked as if they were roughly drawn with a brush dipped in ink, leaving a deep impression on people.
"Hey, what a coincidence, President Ning, you are also having dinner here?"
Wen Liang was sure that he had never seen this person before, but for some people, one would know who they were without even meeting them.
If I'm not mistaken, this man who smiles enthusiastically but always makes people feel chilly should be Lei De, who succeeded Lei Fang as the head of Hengsha Mining.
By the way, he also has a nickname, “Fake Mercy”!
Ning Xi said calmly, "I came to see a friend... Mr. Lei, why did you come to Dongming instead of staying in Shahe?"
This was a bit impolite, but Lei De didn't care. He smiled and said, "The city leaders invited me to dinner. How dare I not come? Mr. Ning, let me introduce you. This is Director Wang from the Mining Administration Bureau, this is Section Chief Liu from the Municipal Party Committee Propaganda Department, this is Director Zhao from the Municipal Federation of Industry and Commerce, and this is Xiao Zhang from the Municipal Reception Office. They are all old friends..."
Lei De was introducing things enthusiastically, Ning Xi didn't even bother to nod, she turned her head and glanced at Zhuo Min. Zhuo Min immediately walked to Zuo Jing's side, stretched out his hand and made a gesture of invitation. The reason why Zuo Jing came to Dongming alone this time was because he didn't want too many people to know before the matter was settled, so he didn't intend to deal with these local officials, and quietly followed Zhuo Min to leave.
Unexpectedly, Reid took a step aside and stood in front of him, squinting his eyes and smiling, saying, "Boss Ning, I think your friend looks familiar, why don't you introduce him to me?"
Zuo Jing's face darkened. With his status, there weren't many people who dared to block his way so casually. Even though Ning Xi could choose not to pick him up in person or see him off, she didn't dare to do such an unreasonable thing!
"There's no need for Mr. Lei to know my friend!"
Ning Xi's words were still cold, but Zhuo Min's eyes became extremely cold the moment she spoke, like a female leopard with its back arched, full of intimidating explosive power, as if in the next second, anyone who stood in its way would be devoured without leaving even a bone.
At the command, we march forward without hesitation.
Even if this person is Reid from the Lei family!
Only the Ning faction, which controls countless military resources, can cultivate such a tough, fierce and fearless person. The Lei faction, the Yan faction can't do it, and even the Zhuang faction pales in comparison!
Although Lei De is not a top figure in the third generation of the Lei family, nor is he particularly outstanding, he is at least a smart person who can enter Lei Yunhai's vision, otherwise he would not have been sent to Hengsha to replace Lei Fang.
But facing Zhuo Min, a tiny person in front of him, he retreated inexplicably. Although a common man's anger can only splatter blood three steps away, no one wants to be the one who splatters blood.
Red smiled, stepped aside, and said, "Goodbye, welcome back!" (To be continued)