Chapter 615: How About Taking Action Tonight?

After visiting the zoo.

Xu Shaochen took the four women to the aquarium.

After visiting the aquarium, they had lunch outside and then went shopping at the mall.

Xu Shaochen felt utterly bored, yet the four women were endlessly enthusiastic, chatting and laughing.

This is probably the biggest difference between men and women.

Women can go to the mall, not buy anything, and still have a great time.

But men always have a clear target. Once they get what they need, they leave. There’s no interest in aimlessly browsing.

Time flew by and, just like that, it was 6 PM.

Xu Shaochen arranged for the bodyguards to send the four women home, then finally returned Zhao Li’s Phone call.

“You called in the morning, and you’re only returning the call now. Mr. Xu, you must be very busy,” Zhao Li said sarcastically after picking up the call.

“What’s the matter? I’m having dinner tonight with the head of Qinghua County. Do you still want that gold mine or not?”

When Zhao Li called earlier, Xu Shaochen was busy accompanying the four women, and Du Ruyan didn’t allow him to answer the Phone.

With no choice, Xu Shaochen had hung up, thinking that if it was urgent Zhao Li would call back. If not, it meant there was no rush, and the call could wait.

“Well, I talked it over with Liang Huan…” Zhao Li began explaining the situation.

After a moment of contemplation, Xu Shaochen responded, “How about we act tonight?”

“Tonight? If you can arrange it, we’re ready on this end at any time,” Zhao Li replied, slightly taken aback by how suddenly Xu Shaochen wanted to take action.

“Just let me know when everything’s in place.”

As soon as Xu Shaochen finished speaking, he hung up the Phone and immediately called Zhao Qing.

“Hello, Mr. Xu.”

“Find a reliable Brother from among your subordinates to take care of something for me… Yes, it’s that simple. The rest, you don’t need to worry about.”

………

Evening.

Chen Yu Grand Hotel.

In a private room, Xu Shaochen and Chen Ju were waiting for someone.

Xie Lin had just called, saying he was stuck in traffic due to an accident on the highway, and might arrive a little late.

“Is it really worth meeting with a county official? I hear some people are directly connected to the city officials,” Chen Ju said, somewhat apprehensive.

Xu Shaochen shook his head. “Young Master Chen, you’ve been at the top for too long. Don’t you understand the saying, ‘A local official is better than a distant one’? The gold mine is in Qinghua County, and Xie Lin is the one in charge there.”

“Besides, given Xie Lin’s character, even if they approached the city officials, or even the provincial ones, Xie Lin wouldn’t budge.”

Chen Ju was stunned for a moment before commenting, “Then it seems he’s hit the ceiling for his career.”

“Exactly. He’s been governing Qinghua County for three years now,” Xu Shaochen nodded. Xie Lin was too upright, and he had offended too many colleagues. There was no way he’d rise any further.

Chen Ju said nothing more. If the situation was as Xu Shaochen described, it seemed that they really had no choice but to work through Xie Lin.

“One more thing—don’t try any shady tricks tonight. Just follow the standard contracting procedures. If it’s for my sake, he won’t refuse.”

“If you try any underhanded moves, he might just walk out.”

“Do you think I’m stupid? It’s clear this won’t be necessary tonight. Here, take this,” Chen Ju said with a roll of his eyes, tossing a brand-new watch to Xu Shaochen.

“Click—”

At that moment, the door to the private room opened.

A middle-aged man in a gray suit walked in, looking apologetic. “Mr. Xu, I’m so sorry. I should have arrived this afternoon, but I got caught in traffic due to a highway accident and was stuck until now.”

“Secretary Xie, please come in. Let me introduce you. This here is Chen Ju, Mr. Chen. Actually, I’m just the middleman tonight. The one who really invited you is him.”

Xu Shaochen stood up, greeting Xie Lin and motioning for him to sit down, gesturing toward Chen Ju.

“Secretary Xie, Mr. Xu has told me a lot about you. I greatly admire you. Let me make a toast to you,” said Chen Ju, raising his wine glass. He then downed it in one go.

Following Chen Ju’s bold action, Xie Lin couldn’t decline, so he too took a drink to moisten his throat.

“Come, come, let’s not just drink. Try the dishes, or else you’ll get drunk too fast.”

………

Jiangzhou Grand Hotel.

Kong Biao stayed in room 021, and Kong Tianjing was in room 022. Six bodyguards stayed in room 023.

A young man wearing a cap and the uniform of the Yijing Grand Hotel knocked on the door of room 023.

“Knock, knock, knock…”

“Click—”

After about ten seconds, a bodyguard opened the door. “What’s up?”

“Hello, sir. I’m the janitor, here to clean the room,” the young man said with a friendly smile, speaking politely.

The bodyguard sized up the young man, then stepped aside to let him in. “Come in.”

“Thank you for your cooperation, sir.”

The janitor, holding his cleaning tools, followed the bodyguard into the room.

Inside, the other bodyguards sat on the sofa, playing Cards.

The janitor started cleaning the living room while the bodyguard who opened the door kept a close watch on him.

After cleaning the living room, the janitor moved into the bathroom.

The bodyguard stood right at the bathroom door, keeping an eye on him.

Through the bathroom mirror, the janitor observed the bodyguard. With a rag in hand, he began to wipe down the water heater.

When the bodyguard wasn’t paying close attention, the janitor discreetly dropped two small bags of white powder between the gaps in the water heater and the wall.

Unless someone was specifically searching, these would be impossible to find.

“Are you done yet? How long does it take to clean a bathroom?” the bodyguard complained.

“I’m almost done. Sir, please check if you’re satisfied,” the janitor said, nodding quickly, flashing a humble smile.

The bodyguard, disinterested, waved his hand impatiently. “If you’re done, get out already.”

“Alright. I hope you enjoy your stay at our hotel, sir.”

The janitor said this with a smile, then gathered his tools and headed toward the exit.

While walking past the bodyguards still playing Cards, he bowed slightly in a respectful manner, then left the room.

Instead of taking the elevator, the janitor used the stairs. As he descended, he dragged the mop along the ground.

When he reached a corner of the stairwell, the young man pulled out his Phone and dialed 110.

“Hello, is this the Police? I’d like to report something. I work as a janitor at Jiangzhou Grand Hotel, and I just found two small bags of what appears to be drugs hidden between the water heater and the wall in room 023…”