At the same time, New New World also came under investigation.
Someone reported the bar for illegal operations. Not only was it running gambling activities, it was also selling prohibited narcotics. When police raided the place, they found hidden drugs on site. Someone even tried to dump the drugs into a toilet and flush them away, but it was too late. The people responsible for the bar were arrested.
Sun Jian was already furious over the tax-evasion investigation when this new disaster struck. He kicked his office desk hard. After venting his anger twice, his phone rang. Seeing that it was the official’s son who had partnered with him in New New World, Sun Jian answered immediately. Before he could even ask what had happened, the other man announced that he wanted out of New New World and would give up his shares. Sun Jian had thought the man could help him, yet he was calling only to sever ties?
“Why did so many things happen all at once? Aren’t you the son of Director X? How did you not hear anything in advance?” Sun Jian forced down his anger.
The other man became irritated too. “Think carefully about who you’ve offended lately, someone you shouldn’t have offended. My father can’t control this matter either. Higher up, they specifically ordered an investigation into Dongwang Group. You’re on your own.”
He knew Sun Jian had committed illegal acts, but he had not known the man actually dared sell drugs. He had heard that the police found a full kilogram. The news frightened him badly. Afraid his own father would be implicated, he had called Sun Jian immediately. Whether Sun Jian agreed or not, he was withdrawing. He also believed Sun Jian would not dare drag him down now.
Listening to the disconnected tone, Sun Jian finally lost control and hurled his phone at the wall. Not long ago, this same man had called him brother while drinking with him. The moment trouble appeared, he could not distance himself quickly enough. And Sun Jian truly did not dare drag him into it. But who exactly had such a grudge against him?
Sun Jian thought about all the people he normally offended. There were plenty of them, but none had this kind of ability. If they did, they would have acted long ago instead of waiting until now.
Two figures suddenly flashed through his mind. Sun Jian remembered the group he had encountered at New New World that night. Two of them in particular had left a strong impression. What had they said again? That it was just a newly opened lousy bar, and that his bar did not need to stay open?
At the time, Sun Jian had not taken their words seriously. Now the more he thought about them, the more wrong everything felt. A chain of incidents targeting him had begun immediately afterward. Someone was clearly trying to bring him down. If only Dongwang Group had been targeted, he could have assumed it was a business rival. But New New World was his private investment, and very few people knew about his ownership. If someone attacked New New World at the same time, then that person obviously knew the bar belonged to him.
At that thought, Sun Jian drew in a sharp breath. If that was really the case, could those two men actually be involved?
Sun Jian immediately retrieved the SIM card from his broken phone and inserted it into another one. The moment he turned it on, a call came through. The caller was his father.
As soon as Sun Jian answered, Chairman Sun launched into a furious tirade. He had thought retirement meant he could finally enjoy a peaceful old age, only for something like this to happen and nearly put him in the hospital from anger. If he learned that drugs had been found in the bar his son owned, he might come over personally to kill him.
Sun Jian did not dare tell him. He only promised he would handle everything, though Chairman Sun clearly doubted him.
The crimes of hiding and selling narcotics were serious. Unless he pushed a scapegoat forward, the police would eventually trace the matter back to him. For the moment, dealing with this problem was even more urgent than the tax investigation.
There was only one week left before Spring Festival. Every household had begun stocking up for the holiday. Hoping to catch the surge in New Year shopping, Wang Cheng specifically asked the renovation company to speed things up. They finally finished a few days before the festival. The walls of the new shop had been painted long ago, and the space had good ventilation on all sides. They could start operating the very next day.
Wang Cheng returned to Guanjia Village. Mama Wang and Wang Ziyu were preparing to go shopping for New Year goods. There was a market in the village that day, and things were cheaper than usual, so nearly every household planned to buy something.
Wang Cheng called Papa Wang and learned that he was still at the jam shop, with Song Hai and Guan Ying there as well. He immediately drove over. When he arrived, all three were busy.
As the year-end approached, business at the jam shop had picked up considerably. They had barely had time to rest these past few days. Song Hai and Guan Ying only managed to greet Wang Cheng in passing.
“Why do you have time to come over today?” Papa Wang walked out carrying a plate of freshly cut fruit.
Wang Cheng speared a piece of apple with a toothpick and ate it as he answered, “The renovation on the new shop is finished. I came to ask whether Song Hai and Guan Ying are interested in going over there.”
“They both work very hard.” Papa Wang nodded, then asked, “But neither Song Hai nor Guan Ying has experience with that kind of work. Will it be a problem?”
“Dad, don’t worry. I’ve already made arrangements,” Wang Cheng said.
A while later, business finally slowed. Wang Cheng called Song Hai and Guan Ying over and explained his plan. Papa Wang had originally intended to give them time off in another couple of days so they could spend New Year with their families, and he had already told them about it. Now that the new shop needed staff, Wang Cheng wanted to ask for their opinions first.
Both looked delighted, especially Song Hai. He had wanted to work in the city for a long time.
“Brother Cheng, can we really go?”
Wang Cheng nodded. “Of course. My dad can watch the shop here, so I’m planning to have both of you work in the city. I don’t know whether you’re interested, but if you decide to go, you probably won’t get time off until New Year’s Eve.”
“I’m willing, I’m willing!” Song Hai blurted out, then his excitement wilted slightly. “But I don’t have much experience. I’m afraid I’ll mess something up.”
“You don’t need to worry about that. I wasn’t planning to put both of you at the new shop anyway. I’ll have Cousin Jiahe go there to help. Song Hai, you can learn from Cousin Jiahe first. Once you’re capable of handling things independently, I’ll let you take responsibility for the new store. As for Guan Ying, spend some time working with Uncle Liang at the jam shop in the commercial center.”
Song Hai and Guan Ying nodded together.
Wang Cheng immediately gave them time off so they could go home and prepare, while he stayed behind to help Papa Wang. Neither Song Hai’s nor Guan Ying’s parents objected when they heard the news. On the contrary, they were supportive. It was a good thing for their son and daughter to leave the small town of Chengping instead of remaining there forever and see more of the world.
That afternoon, both returned with their luggage packed.
Wang Cheng called home and asked Wang Ziyu to come help at the shop, then took Song Hai and Guan Ying with him. Neither was visiting the city for the first time, yet they chatted excitedly all the way as though it were. Wang Cheng first brought them to the rented apartment. He had considered this situation from the beginning, which was why he had rented a three-bedroom, two-bathroom place.
“There’s still one empty room. Guan Ying gets that one. Song Hai, you can decide whether you want to share with Cousin Jiahe or Uncle Liang, although Uncle Liang’s room is bigger.”
Wang Cheng handed Guan Ying a set of keys for the apartment and her room, three keys in all. It was not ideal for a young woman to share an apartment with three grown men, but everyone knew one another, and Wang Cheng trusted two of the men. Guan Ying’s room was not large, but it had a fairly big window with space outside where she could hang clothes.
Song Hai went to look at Guan Jiahe’s room. It really was small. He wanted to look at Uncle Liang’s room next, but the door was locked.
Wang Cheng calmly took out a key and opened it. He kept a spare key for every room on his own key ring.
Song Hai went inside and looked around. It really was larger. “Then I’ll share with Uncle Liang.”
“Put your luggage away. I’ll take you to see the jam shop.” Wang Cheng had not yet told his cousin or Uncle Liang about the arrangement.
The three arrived at the jam shop while Guan Jiahe and Uncle Liang were busy.
When Liang Youshan saw Song Hai and Guan Ying following behind Wang Cheng, his expression became slightly unnatural. The two of them should still have been working at the jam shop in Chengping. Seeing them suddenly appear here gave him a bad feeling.
After the customers left, Wang Cheng explained why they had come.
“Song Hai and Guan Ying will be working here from now on as well. I plan to have Song Hai learn from Cousin Jiahe first, while Guan Ying will work with Uncle Liang.”
Hearing that the two newcomers would be split up, Liang Youshan’s expression eased slightly and hope rekindled. He immediately asked, “Then who will be responsible for the New District shop?”
“I’m planning to have Cousin Jiahe and Song Hai take responsibility for the new shop,” Wang Cheng said.
Liang Youshan’s expression stiffened. Guan Jiahe looked a little surprised and instinctively glanced at Liang Youshan. Sure enough, the man’s face had turned ugly. Despite their recent friction, Guan Jiahe knew Uncle Liang desperately wanted to be in charge of the new shop. Wang Cheng’s decision might make him resentful.
“I object.” This time, Liang Youshan had no intention of staying silent.
Wang Cheng raised an eyebrow. “What do you object to?”
“I don’t think I’m any less capable than Guan Jiahe or Song Hai. I’m fully capable of managing the new shop too. Yet because Guan Jiahe is your relative, you’ve repeatedly put him in charge of new stores. I think Little Boss is showing favoritism.” Liang Youshan threw caution aside. He was convinced Wang Cheng had developed a prejudice against him because of what happened last time.
The shop fell instantly silent.
Song Hai and Guan Ying stared at Liang Youshan in surprise. Uncle Liang had always seemed hardworking, dutiful, and honest to them. They had never imagined he harbored so much resentment.
“I won’t deny that you’re capable, Uncle Liang. But if I remember correctly, you had never even been to this area before. You aren’t familiar with the city, and Cousin Jiahe knows it better than you do. There’s another point too. What I need isn’t a store manager who only knows how to keep the shop itself running. Cousin Jiahe performs better in that respect as well, which is why I chose him.” Wang Cheng crossed one leg over the other. What he did not say was that a manager’s character also mattered to him. In that respect, Liang Youshan failed completely. Wang Cheng kept that thought to himself only to spare the older man some dignity.
Liang Youshan obviously did not see it that way. He already felt deeply insulted by Wang Cheng’s words. Was Wang Cheng implying that he was worse than Guan Jiahe at dealing with people and handling affairs? He knew it. Wang Cheng really had held a grudge over the previous incident. What was so great about Guan Jiahe anyway? He was nothing but a man who slandered others behind their backs!
His expression made his thoughts so obvious that Wang Cheng frowned.
Not wanting everyone’s relationship to deteriorate beyond repair, Guan Jiahe stepped forward to smooth things over. “Uncle Liang, if there’s no opportunity this time, there will be another one…”
“I don’t need you standing here pretending to be nice!” Uncle Liang shouted, cutting him off. His dissatisfaction with Guan Jiahe erupted all at once. Only after the words left his mouth did he realize they were inappropriate. But spilled water could not be gathered back up, so he could only fall silent.
Wang Cheng noticed two customers entering and said, “Uncle Liang, think it over carefully. If there’s anything else to discuss, we’ll talk after work.”
After this, the atmosphere among them was no longer as harmonious as when they had first started working together. Even the usually talkative Song Hai fell silent. He and Guan Ying had actually heard the rumors circulating in Chengping. Both felt Uncle Liang and his wife had behaved dishonorably. Brother Cheng had never treated them badly. Yet simply because his wife had been thrown out of the apartment, Uncle Liang resented Brother Cheng and allowed his wife to slander Brother Cheng’s family. Put harshly, it was ingratitude.
Now Uncle Liang also resented Brother Cheng for not letting him manage the new shop. In truth, Song Hai and Guan Ying both thought Brother Jiahe was more capable. First, Jiahe had worked at the jam shop longer than any of them. Second, he was absolutely the hardest-working employee there. His sales performance had always ranked first, and he handled things in an orderly fashion. Uncle Liang genuinely could not compare on either point. Jiahe had tried to advise him out of goodwill, yet he rejected it and even accused Jiahe of hypocrisy. The two younger employees could not help feeling that Uncle Liang was becoming increasingly obsessed with personal gain.
Earlier that morning, Wang Cheng had instructed Lu Dade at the jam factory to arrange for someone to deliver goods to the New District shop that afternoon. Not long after they arrived, the delivery truck showed up.
Guan Jiahe took charge of cleaning the New District shop, while Song Hai went outside to help unload. Another truck arrived afterward, this one carrying goods from Boss Xie’s factory. Wang Cheng handed the remaining work to them, told them to call if anything happened, and left first.
Wang Cheng called Chu Yifeng before going over. After learning that Chu Yifeng had not eaten lunch yet, he bought food on the way and brought it to Huaying Real Estate. It was already noon when he arrived. Most employees had gone out for lunch, while only a handful had ordered delivery. An employee who did not recognize Wang Cheng started to approach him, only to be pulled back by someone who did. After Wang Cheng entered the office, they began whispering quietly.
“I heard he used to work here.”
“Would an ordinary employee be that close to our boss? The two of them don’t look normal to me.”
Everyone exchanged glances, then lowered their heads and stopped talking.
One of the company rules was that employees were forbidden from gossiping about the boss.