340: Chapter 339 Zhao Lintai's Difficult Decision

The time rewinds one hour.

Southwest, in the banquet hall of the Shangri-La International Hotel.

Crystal chandeliers illuminated the banquet hall as bright as day, and the cocktail party of the Southeast Asia Chamber of Commerce was reaching its climax.

Figures crisscrossed on the velvet carpet, and the crisp sound of champagne glasses clinking mingled with greetings in various languages. Zhao Lintai was holding a wine glass, chatting and laughing with a wealthy Malaysian businessman. The hands of his Patek Philippe watch had just passed eight o'clock when the phone in his trouser pocket suddenly vibrated—the caller ID showed the word "Grandfather," causing his smile to instantly vanish.

"Excuse me for a moment."

He nodded in apology to the person in front of him, then quickly walked through the crowd with his wine glass in his fingertips, not bothering to wipe away the fine ripples of wine that sloshed out.

As soon as he pushed open the heavy carved wooden door of the banquet hall, the evening breeze, carrying the dampness from the poolside, rushed towards him. He immediately swiped the screen to answer the call, his tone unconsciously softening by a few degrees: "Grandfather, have you eaten dinner?"

"Yes, I have." The voice of Old Master Zhao on the other end of the line was like aged Pu'er tea steeped for thirty years, so deep that no emotion could be detected. "Lintai, are you still in the Southwest? What are you busy with right now?"

Zhao Lintai leaned against a pillar, his gaze sweeping over the brightly lit banquet hall in the distance; the noise there seemed to be separated by a pane of glass. "Still here. A few friends from the Southeast Asia business circle are holding a cocktail party, and everyone who came is from the circle. I came over to get familiar and build some connections."

"Oh." The old man's voice paused, clearly uninterested in the cocktail party, and he changed the subject abruptly. "Have you heard about the matter in Shanghai?"

Zhao Lintai's fingertips tightened, and he froze for half a second with the rim of the glass against his lower lip. He had been completely focused on the Southwest lately, and the matters in Shanghai had long been handed over to Lawyer Wang: "What matter? I haven't had time to pay attention; I've entrusted the business there to Lawyer Wang."

"It's nothing major." The old man said slowly, "I just watched the News Broadcast. Shanghai caught a murderer who had been on the run for ten years, and the commotion was huge—the Security Bureau, the Public Security Bureau, and the SWAT team all mobilized together. You know, nothing that makes it onto the News Broadcast is simple. I thought I'd call to ask, and also to remind you not to be careless while you're out alone."

"The Security Bureau?"

Zhao Lintai's heart sank abruptly, and a bad premonition welled up in his mind. What kind of murderer could alert the Security Bureau! Could it be someone from Hongmen again?

Thinking of this, Zhao Lintai immediately asked: "Grandfather, did the news mention the murderer's name?"

"Haha, how could they mention the name? Murderers also have privacy rights; the News Broadcast wouldn't report blindly." The old man laughed, but his tone suddenly shifted. "However, a few days ago, while playing chess with an old friend from the courtyard, I heard them say that the granddaughter of the Old Ye family—Ye Qingcheng—was transferred from the military to the Shanghai Security Bureau, right? When you were in Shanghai, didn't you meet her?"

"I didn't see Ye Qingcheng." Zhao Lintai recalled, "But I ran into her younger brother, Ye Ziming, on the plane to Shanghai, and we even had a meal together."

"Is that so?" There was a hint of a smile in the old man's voice. "What is that kid, Ziming, doing in Shanghai instead of accompanying Old Ye in the capital?"

"Heh, he said he was doing business with friends." Zhao Lintai sneered, his tone full of disdain. "A few of them formed a supercar club; it actually has some strength. But in my opinion, Ziming is just playing around."

"Sigh, you boys of the same generation are not as promising as a girl." The old man sighed, his voice deepening. "In my opinion, this time catching that murderer might just be the credit of that girl from the Ye family."

"Grandfather, isn't your thinking a bit too jumpy?" Seeing that his grandfather was going to compare him to Ye Qingcheng again, Zhao Lintai couldn't help but retort, "That murder case belongs to the Public Security Bureau. Even if the case is solved and the person is caught, that's the credit of the Public Security Bureau. How can it be counted on Ye Qingcheng?"

"You, you are still too young." Old Master Zhao's voice was full of frustration at his lack of progress. "If that credit really belonged to the Public Security Bureau, why would the news mention the Security Bureau first?"

Hearing his grandfather say this, the doubt in Zhao Lintai's heart deepened. Could it be that the person caught really was someone from Hongmen?

Thinking of this, Zhao Lintai frowned and agreed: "Uh, now that you put it that way, it does seem to have that meaning."

"Heh, what do you mean 'it seems to have that meaning'? It's nine times out of ten exactly like that." Having said this, Old Master Zhao continued to share his views on the matter, still having more to say.

"What do you mean 'a little'? It's nine times out of ten exactly like that." The old man huffed and continued, "Old Ye is trying to push his granddaughter into politics. If you transfer someone from the military to the Security Bureau without producing some decent results, how can they move up? What does it matter if she has ability and has won merit in the military? If she wants to enter politics, she must have solid achievements. Isn't that case of the fugitive on the run for ten years the best achievement?"

After a pause, there was a hint of disappointment in the old man's voice: "You don't care when I tell you these things. In my opinion, our Zhao family has completely lost its connection to politics by your generation. Forget it, let's not talk about this."

The more Old Master Zhao spoke, the angrier he got, so he prepared to end the call. In the end, he was still worried about his grandson and instructed: "The Southwest is not like the capital; it's located on the border, and it's not safe at night. Go back to the hotel early after the cocktail party ends, and don't wander around outside."

"Oh, I know, Grandfather. Don't worry, I'm not a child anymore; I know what I'm doing." Zhao Lintai agreed verbally, but he was feeling uneasy inside.

"I hope you really do know what you're doing." The old man's voice softened a bit. "I don't understand the business you're doing now, so just be more careful yourself. It's fine in Dragon, but when dealing with foreign businessmen, you must be on your guard. Those foreigners have plenty of bad intentions hidden inside them."

"Grandfather, rest assured, it's already good that I don't scam them." Zhao Lintai said with arrogance in his tone. "The person who can scam me, Zhao Lintai, probably hasn't been born yet."

"You, don't be too arrogant."

"I know, Grandfather. You should rest early. When I finish my business in the Southwest, I'll return to the capital to see you."

"Good, I'll wait for you."

A busy signal came from the phone, and Zhao Lintai stood under the veranda, holding his phone. The evening breeze blew over, carrying the scent of flowers from the poolside, but he had no mind for it at all. His fingers slid quickly across the phone screen, opening the replay of today's News Broadcast.

After finishing the last segment of the inserted news, Zhao Lintai could no longer sit still.

Returning to the banquet hall, after greeting a few wealthy businessmen he knew, he hurried back to his room.

As soon as he entered the room, Zhao Lintai immediately dialed Wang Ming's number.

"Boss, this is Wang Ming." As soon as the call connected, Wang Ming's voice came through, carrying a hint of cautious flattery.

"What major event has happened in Shanghai recently?" Zhao Lintai's voice was very low, but it could not hide the urgency.

Wang Ming had long since figured out Zhao Lintai's temper and knew that he must have heard some rumors by asking this way. He dared not hide anything and immediately reported the matter of the Security Bureau coming to question Zhang Min today to Zhao Lintai in detail.

"Why didn't you report such a big matter immediately?"

Zhao Lintai's voice instantly turned cold, as if quenched in ice. Wang Ming could clearly hear the anger in his tone, and his heart tightened with fear.

"Boss, I'm truly sorry!" Wang Ming hurriedly explained, his voice trembling. "There were too many things today, and I forgot for a moment. Besides, Zhang Min is from Chus Investment in Hong Kong Island, and the person replacing her has already arrived today. I thought it had nothing to do with us, so I didn't report it immediately..."

"Enough, don't explain." Zhao Lintai didn't dwell on assigning blame and asked for the key information. "What was the name of the person from the Security Bureau who went over to ask questions today?"

"The surname on the ID was Ye, but I didn't see the specific name clearly..." Wang Ming's voice grew quieter and quieter, lacking confidence.

"Surname Ye? From the Security Bureau?"

Zhao Lintai's heart skipped a beat, and he muttered to himself: "Could it really be Ye Qingcheng?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Wang Ming suddenly remembered something and hurriedly added, his voice rising a little. "I remember now, that police officer is indeed named Ye Qingcheng!"

"Alright, I know." Zhao Lintai rubbed his throbbing temples and asked again, "You just said Chus Investment sent a new person over?"

"Yes, named Dong Yudong." Wang Ming replied quickly. "He said he is the secretary of Boss Chu from Chus Investment and has the same rank as Zhang Min. He came here this time for the equity transfer, and Chus Investment is also preparing to appoint him as the person in charge in Shanghai."

"How is the matter with Hongtai Construction being handled?"

"I went to see Zhou Qian right before I got off work." Wang Ming's voice was steadier. "He said the city is holding a meeting tomorrow, and the investigation into the online public opinion regarding Hongtai Construction should yield results. I asked on the side, and the city's attitude towards Hongtai is quite positive—after all, Hongtai has changed owners, and it involves taxes, employment, and a bunch of projects under construction, so the city won't drag it out forever."

"Hmm, handle the matter with Hongtai cleanly as soon as possible." Zhao Lintai's voice deepened, his tone carrying an unquestionable command. "Remember, our goal is to make money, not to continue operating Hongtai Construction."

"Understood! Boss, rest assured, I will definitely get it done as soon as possible!"

"Good, report to me anytime if there's a situation."

Zhao Lintai hung up the phone and leaned back on the leather sofa, his face so gloomy it could drip water.

Zhang Min is dead? Chu Weimin didn't reveal a single bit of news!

Could it be that Chu Weimin knows something?

A chill crept up his spine. He held the phone, hesitated for a moment, and still dialed Chu Weimin's number.

The phone rang five or six times, but no one answered. It wasn't until the second call that Chu Weimin slowly answered.

The voice on the other end of the line was thick with the smell of alcohol, slurred and unclear: "Hello? Young Master Zhao? What made you think of calling me?"

"Boss Chu, have you had too much to drink?" Zhao Lintai's tone carried a probing intent, his fingertips unconsciously tapping on the sofa armrest.

"Hahaha, nothing to do, so I had a few drinks with some friends." Chu Weimin's laughter was full of drunkenness, and he sounded completely unguarded.

"Heh, Boss Chu certainly has refined interests." Zhao Lintai's voice turned cold, like an ice pick stabbing someone. "Your subordinate is dead, and you still have the heart to drink?"

The voice on the other end of the line instantly fell silent.

Chu Weimin frowned, his mind racing: Is Zhao Lintai probing? Or does he really know something?

He suppressed the panic in his heart and continued to pretend to be drunk, his tone confused: "Who? Who died? Why don't I understand what you're saying?"

"Boss Chu, let's not pretend between us." Zhao Lintai sneered, his tone full of mockery. "Haven't you already sent a new person to take over the matters in Shanghai? That person named Dong Yudong, didn't he report the situation to you?"

"Oh... you mean Zhang Min." Chu Weimin sighed, with a hint of deliberate regret. "It is a pity. But her death is good for both of us; at least business matters won't be affected. Don't you agree, Young Master Zhao?"

"That may be so, but I always feel that something is not quite right about this matter." Zhao Lintai's tone was full of doubt.

"Young Master Zhao, you're overthinking it." Chu Weimin's voice paused, then added another sentence, as if to appease him. "To tell you the truth, I'm going to Shanghai tomorrow. If there were really anything wrong, would I be able to go there so confidently?"

"Oh? Boss Chu is going to Shanghai? Is it for the matter with Hongtai Construction?" Zhao Lintai grabbed the key point and asked.

"Cough, the matter with Hongtai is already set in stone." Chu Weimin laughed, his tone relaxed. "When the contract period expires, the equity will naturally be in hand. It's Mr. Smith from Goldman Sachs Investment who is coming to Dragon, and he invited me to join him. Haven't you always wanted to meet Mr. Smith, Young Master Zhao? Why don't we take this opportunity, and I'll connect you two?"

"That would naturally be something I'd ask for." Zhao Lintai's tone softened somewhat. "However, I still have some things to finish in the Southwest. I'll contact Boss Chu after I'm done. I hope Mr. Smith can stay in Dragon for a few more days."

"Rest assured, I'll definitely tell him when I see Mr. Smith." Chu Weimin's voice swayed again. "If you don't have anything else, Young Master Zhao, I'll hang up first? I'm a bit dizzy from drinking too much."

"Good, I wish Boss Chu a smooth trip to Shanghai."

Hanging up the phone, Chu Weimin leaned back on the sofa and let out a long sigh. The drunkenness from just a moment ago vanished instantly, and his eyes were very clear. He muttered: "Zhao Lintai, oh Zhao Lintai, even at this point, you still haven't seen the situation clearly. It is Heaven wanting to destroy your Zhao family!"

On the other side, Zhao Lintai stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window of the presidential suite, holding a cigarette between his fingertips.

In the night of the Southwest outside the window, neon lights wove into colorful bands of light on the streets. The border wind blew in, carrying faint noise, but he had no mind to appreciate it at all.

What should the next step be?

Continue to stay in Dragon, or use the Southwest as a springboard to go to Southeast Asia?

During this time, through Si Hongjun, he had met quite a few Southeast Asia businessmen, many of whom were white gloves for local politicians, and the business they did was almost the same as his current path—how could he possibly let go of the business opportunities hidden within that?

But if he left Dragon, all the industries he had painstakingly built over these years would be in vain. Moreover, his grandfather's health was getting worse by the day. If he didn't take advantage of the time while his grandfather was still around to pull the Southwest Si Family in as a backer, the things he had done over these years would sooner or later be settled by the upper echelons.

The cigarette butt burned his fingertips, sending a sharp pain. Zhao Lintai snapped back to reality, and just as he was about to stub the cigarette out in the ashtray, his phone suddenly rang—the caller ID was "Si Hongjun."

He answered immediately, his tone instantly filled with smiles, and his voice even rose a few degrees: "Uncle Si, you haven't rested yet this late?"

"Hmm, just finished handling some things." Si Hongjun's voice was very gentle, with no detectable emotion. "Lintai, are you busy? I'm not disturbing you, am I?"

"Not busy, just got back from the cocktail party, I'm at the hotel now." Zhao Lintai leaned against the window, his tone relaxed. "Is there something, Uncle Si?"

"It's like this, Yaoyao is coming back from Shanghai tomorrow, and I heard she brought a few friends." There was a hint of a smile in Si Hongjun's voice. "If you have time, will you come with me to the airport to pick her up tomorrow?"

"Of course I have time!" Zhao Lintai's eyes lit up, and the gloom in his heart instantly dissipated by more than half. "I haven't seen Yaoyao for a long time, and I was just thinking of chatting with her."

"That's fine, you rest early. I'll send a car to the hotel to pick you up tomorrow morning."

"Alright, Uncle Si, see you tomorrow."

Hanging up the phone, the smile on Zhao Lintai's face deepened.

Si Yao is back, which means the Si Family is still wary of his grandfather's influence. Looking at it this way, wanting to pull the Southwest Si Family in as a backer wasn't as difficult as he had thought.

He stubbed out the cigarette, turned and walked to the liquor cabinet, and poured a glass of whiskey—the troubles of tonight seemed to have suddenly taken a turn for the better.