Zhao Qiang waved his hand: "Let's call it a day. Anyway, there's no major mission right now. Come to work tomorrow and we'll study those aliens underground in Wulong Mountain. Consider it a way to give you some experience."
Liu Jia and Xu Changhe left, and Yang Shiyun helped Zhao Qiang tidy up his desk. Now that she was Zhao Qiang's secretary, she asked, "Zhao Qiang, do you think these two people are enough?"
Zhao Qiang asked, "You mean their abilities?"
Yang Shiyun said, "It's not just their abilities, but also their overall qualities. I think these two are good at being soldiers, but I'm afraid they wouldn't be good at this line of work."
Zhao Qiang said, "Don't worry, these two are my two favorites in the special forces division. They are quick-witted and adaptable to new things. Moreover, Xu Changhe is knowledgeable about the underworld, so choosing them is the right decision. As for their abilities, we can cultivate them little by little. No one is born knowing everything."
Yang Shiyun checked the time: "Alright, you're the director, so you're in charge. It's getting late, let's go home. Xiaoya just called to tell you that Chen Xinxin and Zhao Ling are coming from Shanghai. They're probably going to celebrate your escape tonight. They were going to throw you a welcome party a while ago, but they had a lot of work piled up while you were missing, and they only finished it recently."
Zhao Qiang stood up and said, "Since that's the case, what are we waiting for? Let's go."
In Zhao Qiang's Beijing residence, Xu Xiaoya sat in the main seat of the room. Although everyone was dissatisfied, her position was unshakable, because the lifeline of the projects hosted by the following people was actually in Xu Xiaoya's hands, since she was Zhao Qiang's financial minister.
"Sisters, Zhao Qiang has already left work. What do you all think we should do to celebrate tonight?"
Yang Shiqi said, "Let's find the best restaurant to eat at."
Zhao Ling said, "We still want to go to bars. We can go to bars in Shanghai with our eyes closed, so they're not very interesting. Beijing is the capital, so there must be better bars. Besides, we finally get a day off, so we have to go crazy."
Hu Qian said, "I think we should order a table of food and drinks and have everyone drink as much as they want. It's okay if they drink too much, and Zhao Qiang will be very happy. It would be best if everyone got drunk and then we could sleep together. I think he would be overjoyed."
The other girls blushed and pouted, clearly rejecting Hu Qian's absurd suggestion.
Just then, the door to the hall creaked open, and Zhao Qiang and Yang Shiyun walked in. Seeing the room full of beautiful women, Zhao Qiang chuckled and said, "They're all here! That's really something. We should celebrate this day properly."
Xu Xiaoya asked, "We were just discussing it. Your return is perfect. Tell me your plans for tonight."
Zhao Qiang said, "Isn't that simple? First, find a place to eat, then find a place to play for a few hours, then find a place to have a late-night snack, and then come back to sleep."
What Zhao Qiang likes most is, of course, eating, and then finding new places to visit. He loves to eat because he needs to replenish his energy, and he's been eating so much barbecue recently that he's practically lost his appetite. So he wants to try all the delicacies in Beijing to make up for his recent loss. As for new places to visit, Zhao Qiang isn't too picky; as long as it's crowded and lively, he'll be happy, as long as it's not deserted and awkward.
Xu Xiaoya said, "Since the Zhao family has spoken, let's go."
Tonight's lineup is no exaggeration. It used to be very difficult to gather such a beautiful group of women. Xu Xiaoya led the way, with Hu Qian, Yang Shiqi, Luo Wei, and Su Su on either side. Chen Xinxin, Zhao Ling, and Chen Xinyu followed closely behind, while Yang Shiyun and Liu Yiyi trailed far at the back.
Actually, Liu Yiyi hadn't planned to come. After all, her relationship with Zhao Qiang hadn't developed to that level of intimacy. Although Zhao Qiang had made promises to Liu Yiyi, she had been avoiding him due to her age. In addition, Zhao Qiang was always busy with other matters, so their relationship hadn't progressed much. However, based on past events, Liu Yiyi was now an important manager in the Zhao Group, and she had also flirted with Zhao Qiang before. Therefore, Xu Xiaoya couldn't show favoritism and informed her.
Volume 2 [758] Hu Xiaojiang Hit Someone
Hu Qian has a younger brother named Hu Jiang. Hu Jiang also lived in Donghai City for a period of time and even established a Flying Bird Animation Studio. At that time, Zhao Qiang had just started working at Home Inns Computer Company and had visited Hu Jiang's Flying Bird Studio many times to repair computers. However, Hu Jiang ultimately failed to develop the Flying Bird Studio. Although Zhao Qiang had helped him produce exquisite animation videos several times, Hu Jiang was not a professional in this field. As Zhao Qiang withdrew from this area, his company eventually had to close down.
After being summoned back to Beijing by his father, Hu Jiang remained idle at home. Although his sister's company was growing stronger day by day, Hu Jiang was unwilling to help his sister. He spent his days going to various entertainment venues and getting drunk. This angered his father, Mr. Hu Weimin, to the point that he almost kicked his good-for-nothing grandson out of the house.
That day, Hu Jiang got drunk again. Several friends who came with him helped him leave the hotel, but before they even left the lobby, Hu Jiang couldn't help but vomit all over the floor. The undigested food mixed with alcohol and stomach acid smelled terrible. He fell on the floor and made a big mess. To make matters worse, a few customers who were passing by were a little slow to dodge and got some of the vomit on their feet. Their expressions changed instantly.
"Damn it, if you can't drink, then don't drink. Trying to drink like an adult at your age, I think you need a good beating. The quality of people from the mainland is really low." The man with the spiky hair cursed and stomped the dirt off his feet.
Hu Jiang's circle of friends were no ordinary people. When had anyone ever been insulted like that before? So, someone, emboldened by alcohol, immediately jumped out and pointed at the Mercedes-Benz, yelling back: "Who do you think you are? We can spit wherever we want. If you have nothing to do with us, get the hell away from us or we'll beat you up every time we see you."
The man with the muscular physique was accompanied by two companions. One of them made a phone call without saying a word, presumably realizing these kids must have some connections, so he went to find someone first. The other stepped forward to help, yelling, "You bunch of greenhorn punks want to die, huh? Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you're some rich kids. We're not pushovers either!"
In fact, considering Hu Jiang's family background, his status is extremely high. At least in Beijing circles, no one should dare to offend him. He is the only grandson of Hu Weimin, a member of the Central Military Commission. Is he an ordinary person?
However, what Hu Weimin resented most was that his family members used his name to do bad things. Hu Jiang's parents were deeply influenced by the old man and would not easily speak up for their son to save face. Hu Jiang never expected his family to make him proud, which is why he went to Donghai City to start his own company.
Because of his family background, Hu Jiang was not well-known among the second and third generations of Beijing's elite. Many people who knew his background even deliberately disrespected him, which made Hu Jiang feel even more lost and abandoned by his family. So he drank heavily every day to numb himself.
Even if Hu Jiang was drunk, he probably wouldn't have caused trouble. He couldn't control himself from vomiting, but he didn't expect it to lead to a dispute, and the other party wouldn't even give him a chance to apologize.
Even if Hu Jiang wanted to apologize, he couldn't bring himself to do it. Right now, his mind was a complete mess, and he was powerless to do anything about what was happening outside. Moreover, none of Hu Jiang's friends were easy to deal with. With Da Bentou's cursing, these young people had escalated the matter to a matter of everyone's face. Even if they weren't standing up for Hu Jiang, they had to stick it out, otherwise they would be laughed at by their friends in the industry if word got out.
"Beat them!" The young men exchanged glances and whispered. They knew the other side was outnumbered, so they decided to beat them up first and then use their connections to suppress the matter. That way, the other side would have suffered a beating for nothing, and once they learned who they were, the other side would have to come to their door to apologize. They wouldn't be satisfied unless they offered millions in compensation.
Before the bald men could react, the young men rushed up and pinned them to the ground, then proceeded to beat them mercilessly, completely changing their hairstyles. Even so, they refused to admit defeat, cursing, "You dare hit me? Fuck your mother! You're all in for it! Just you wait, none of you will escape me! I'll make you pay!"
One of Hu Jiang's companions stepped forward and kicked the man with the spiky hair in the mouth, twisting it crooked. "Want to make us look bad? You'll have to make yourself look bad first."
After vomiting, Hu Jiang became a little more sober. He staggered to the side, trying to stop the fight: "Stop, stop fighting, stop!" But no one listened to him. Even the hotel security guards who rushed over after hearing the commotion got caught up in it, and the scene became even more chaotic with so many people.
I don't know who called the police, but there are plenty of police officers around here. They arrived in less than five minutes. Since this place is close to Zhongnanhai, a slow response could affect the security of the central government offices, which would be terrible.
A dozen or so burly policemen rushed in. They were all incredibly strong, and each of them lifted one of the fighting sides apart. At this point, the three men with the big head were practically powerless to resist and were just being beaten up. When had the big head ever suffered such humiliation? He felt like he couldn't go on living. His body was trembling uncontrollably, whether from excitement, anger, or fear.
"...I won't let you get away with this, even if you're the King of Heaven himself!" Big Head was still being defiant, but his tone was much weaker. He had no choice but to back down, as he was now bruised and swollen, and had been kicked several times in the stomach.
"What's going on?" the police officer in charge asked.
"Is this Officer Zhang?" Hu Jiang's friend recognized him. They often drank and ate here, so they naturally knew a bit about the authorities in the area. Otherwise, it wouldn't be good to lose face because of a misunderstanding.
Officer Zhang was shocked. This group of people were all princelings, but the guy with the big head didn't look like an ordinary person either. Officer Zhang's head immediately started spinning. He was in charge of the security of this area. It seemed glamorous. He often participated in the outer protection work of some big shots under the emperor's nose. But in reality, this area was also a place where princelings often came and went. Trouble and fights were commonplace. As a policeman, he dared not offend either side and was often caught in the middle, suffering from both sides.
"So it's Young Master Wang," Officer Zhang greeted him. He decided to find out more about the other party before making a decision. If he was just an ordinary person or a rich second-generation, things would be easier. He might even be able to get some benefits from the other party today.
Wang Shao said smugly to Officer Zhang, "Officer Zhang, these people are very arrogant. They were cursing people in a public place. We couldn't stand it, so we stepped in to teach them a lesson on behalf of you police officers. Now that they've been subdued, you can take them back for questioning."
Officer Zhang was embarrassed. These young masters were all arrogant and didn't take the big man seriously at all. However, the big man had recovered his composure by now. He raised his noble head and said to Officer Zhang, "Listen up, I'm Taiwanese. Hitting me is disrupting national harmony. No matter how powerful your connections are, you can't cover this up."
Officer Zhang's expression changed. A Taiwanese? Although not a foreigner, given the special circumstances in Taiwan, this could cause a misunderstanding between the two sides and even damage official relations. This was something he absolutely could not afford to take responsibility for. So, Officer Zhang instructed his subordinates to call back to the station for instructions while simultaneously changing his attitude and stepping forward to question Da Bentou.
"May I ask your name, sir?"
The man with the Mercedes-Benz head emboldened, saying, "My surname is Ma, and I'm here in Beijing on a visiting mission. I've already informed the Taiwan Affairs Office. If this matter isn't handled to my satisfaction, I'll take it all the way to your General Secretary."
Officer Zhang's face turned pale. He cursed inwardly, "Damn it, someone of your status only brought two people to the hotel without any reception staff accompanying you. Aren't you deliberately trying to cause us trouble?"
Officer Zhang was scared and in a dilemma. Hu Jiang's people also began to feel apprehensive. No matter how spoiled they were, they still had a bottom line. Their families couldn't let them cause trouble. Otherwise, their parents would be crazy. If it affected the overall situation, they would definitely be scolded and made to apologize to the other party. They might even be beaten by their families or grounded.
Before Officer Zhang and his second and third-generation relatives could come up with a solution to the hotel, several people rushed in. Officer Zhang didn't recognize them, but Hu Jiang's people did. They were indeed from the Taiwan Affairs Office. In fact, the Taiwan Affairs Office is not an important institution; on the contrary, it is much less important than other departments. However, in the eyes of the central government's bigwigs, it is not a mere figurehead. It is responsible for all matters related to Taiwan policy. The fact that these three people alarmed the Taiwan Affairs Office indicates that their identities are extraordinary.
"What's wrong with Mr. Ma?" the person from the Taiwan Affairs Office asked Da Bentou first.
"I got beaten up, beaten up for no reason. You guys really did a good job," Big Head said coldly.
The Taiwan Affairs Office personnel showed Officer Zhang their work IDs and said, "Officer, please take these individuals into custody. We need to report this matter to the State Council and the Central Committee. You'll be questioned soon. Mr. Ma, we'll take you to the hospital first." With that, the Taiwan Affairs Office personnel ignored the others present and left with Da Bentou. Da Bentou knew he would be held accountable, so he stopped causing trouble and obediently followed them to the hospital.
Officer Zhang, sweating profusely, bent down and asked, "Young Master Wang, what do we do now?"
Wang Shao's face also darkened. The truth was, they dared to cause trouble outside because they were keeping it a secret from their families. If things came to light, it would definitely be bad for them. So Wang Shao cursed, "Damn it, how should I know what to do? Whatever."
Hu Jiang broke out in a sweat and sobered up considerably. He said, "This is all my fault. It has nothing to do with you. If your family asks, just say I'm the one who hit him. It has nothing to do with any of you."
Wang Shao and his men were delighted and gave Hu Jiang a thumbs up: "Hu, you're really a loyal friend. We're grateful for your kindness this time. We'll treat you to drinks and have some fun another day."
Hu Jiang waved to everyone: "You can go now. I'll go back to the station with Officer Zhang to give my statement, so that Er Bi won't make things difficult for Officer Zhang later."
Officer Zhang was so moved he almost knelt down before Hu Jiang. He knew that if Hu Jiang and his group insisted on leaving without giving a statement, there was nothing he could do. But if they didn't file a report, it would be his responsibility if the higher-ups asked. Now that Hu Jiang was cooperating, he was incredibly grateful.
The hotel manager remained on the periphery, hesitant to approach, fearing trouble. Just then, the hotel's automatic doors opened, and another group of women poured in – all stunningly beautiful. The sudden sight of so many beautiful women with such diverse features left everyone stunned. The men were dazzled, while the women marveled at the abundance of beautiful women in Beijing, and were astonished by the sheer number of them appearing at once.
(Thanks to Id问天 and 机甲人 for their generous donations)
Volume 2 [760] Blackmail
Once inside the private room, Zhao Qiang introduced Zhao Ling and Chen Xinxin to Hu Xiaojiang. Hu Xiaojiang praised, "Brother Qiang, you're really amazing! You even managed to seduce a beauty from Shanghai. I have to admire you. But you're being a bit too arrogant. What am I supposed to do with my sister?"
Hu Qian glared at Hu Xiaojiang: "My affairs are none of your business."
Hu Xiaojiang said with dissatisfaction, "Look, look, this is the standard case of 'you are allowed to set fires but I am not allowed to light lamps,' and 'I am not allowed to meddle in your business, but you meddle in my business.' It's so unfair."
Hu Qian said, "Yes, it's just that unfair. You have to come home with me tonight. I think the Taiwan Affairs Office will soon be able to complain to my parents. Just you wait."
Hu Xiaojiang's face darkened. That guy surnamed Ma from Taiwan was no ordinary person; this matter was really not easy to resolve.
Zhao Qiang comforted Hu Xiaojiang, "Don't be afraid. At worst, I'll go home with you tonight. Your parents should at least give me some face." Zhao Qiang wasn't someone without status now. Hu Weimin knew his background, so surely Hu Qian's parents knew as well? If he stepped forward to plead for Hu Xiaojiang, it shouldn't be difficult for him.
Sure enough, Hu Xiaojiang became happy and said to Hu Qian, "Sister, look, my brother-in-law has said so, do you still have any objections?"
Hu Qian said to Zhao Qiang, "Don't spoil my brother, or something bad will happen sooner or later."
Zhao Qiang said, "You're wrong. Actually, Xiao Jiang is a very ambitious young man. Look, he started his own business when I was still studying. He's much better than me. It's just that you have too high expectations of him, which is why you don't see his achievements."
Yang Shiyun said, "To be fair, it's not that Xiao Jiang hasn't achieved anything; it's just that the Hu family set the bar too high for him, which led to your family's disappointment in him. For example, your family might compare him to Zhao Qiang."
Zhao Qiang grinned: "Are you praising me or insulting me?"
Hu Xiaojiang agreed, saying, "Sister Shiyun is absolutely right. My parents keep nagging me about my brother-in-law, saying that I'm not as good as him in this way or that way. I think we should just let my brother-in-law be their son."
Zhao Qiang quickly interrupted Hu Xiaojiang before he could continue: "So I am partly responsible for Xiaojiang's current situation. How about this, to atone for my sins, let Xiaojiang follow me from now on, and we'll support each other. When Xiaojiang feels it's time to leave, we'll let him go solo."
Hu Qian said, "Of course I believe you, but you have to bring this up with my parents in person, otherwise I'm afraid they won't agree."
Hu Xiaojiang said, "It's better to hurry than late, brother-in-law. Come home with me after dinner, otherwise I'm afraid I won't make it through the night. People from the Taiwan Affairs Office will definitely say a lot of bad things about me to my parents. They're kicking me when I'm down. I'm not a good kid in my parents' eyes anyway."
Zhao Qiang glanced at the other girls, and they all nodded. Hu Qian's brother's matter could not be delayed.
Because of Hu Xiaojiang's matter, dinner was eaten in a bit of a rush, and the plan to have fun after dinner was also canceled. Hu Qian felt very apologetic because her family affairs had caused everyone to suffer.
Hu Qian drove Zhao Qiang and Hu Xiaojiang home. The nanny opened the door, and Hu Qian asked, "Aunt Zhang, are my parents back yet?"
Zhang Ma said, "They're back. Master and Madam seem very angry. It seems something happened to the young master. You should be careful."
Hu Qian gratefully smiled in response to Zhang's tip-off: "We understand."
In the living room, Hu Dahai and Wei Fang wore stern faces. Hu Xiaojiang peeked in hesitantly, not daring to enter. Hu Dahai shouted sharply, "Get in here!"
Hu Xiaojiang became even more frightened and shrank back, but Hu Qian pushed him and forced him into the living room. However, he huddled in the corner and didn't move forward. At this moment, Hu Dahai and Wei Fang noticed that there was another person behind them. Although this person was visiting their home for the first time, they recognized his appearance very well. "Zhao Qiang?"
Zhao Qiang bowed respectfully to the two elders, saying, "Uncle, Aunt, hello."
Hu Dahai and Wei Fang quickly greeted him, "Oh, it's Xiao Zhao! What a rare guest! Please have a seat, please have a seat. Zhang Ma, bring some tea."
Zhao Qiang sat down, and Wei Fang complained to her daughter, "Qianqian, what were you thinking? You ambushed us like this! You didn't even give us a heads-up. You could have come back earlier and had a regular home-cooked meal together."
Hu Qian said, "Mom, we only decided to come back after we met Xiao Jiang."
Hu Dahai said, "So you brought Zhao Qiang here to protect your brother?"
Hu Qian said, "Dad, don't be angry. Actually, my brother isn't what you think. Zhao Qiang said that Xiao Jiang will stay with him from now on, so you can rest assured that Xiao Jiang will definitely learn to be good."
Hu Dahai glared at Hu Xiaojiang and sighed, "Sigh, if you had even a tenth of Zhao Qiang's skills, your grandfather and I would be at ease."
Wei Fang said, "Xiao Jiang, come here."
Hu Xiaojiang remained huddled in the corner: "I'm not going over there."
Wei Fang said, "Come here, your dad and I won't hit you this time." It turns out there was domestic violence involved.
Only after receiving his mother's promise did Hu Xiaojiang dare to slowly walk over. Wei Fang asked, "What happened? People from the Taiwan Affairs Office came to your father and me, saying that you offended a guest from Taiwan. If we're talking about Taiwanese guests currently staying in Beijing, and they're surnamed Ma, I think it's only Ma Jili." Wei Fang is the director of a department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so she has good information on this kind of thing.