Wang Jingfei couldn't discern Liu Mei's intentions and responded calmly, "Go ahead."
Liu Mei spoke candidly, "Miss Wang, you are young, beautiful, a graduate from a prestigious university, a permanent resident of Hong Kong, and a senior executive at a major company. And me? Not to make you laugh, I come from a poor background with no connections. Although I have a degree, it's nothing impressive. Compared to you, we're worlds apart. You have many choices, plenty of opportunities to marry wealthy or academic elites. But I only have Xiaopeng. If you take him away, I'll have nothing left!"
Wang Jingfei's expression grew serious. "Liu, where is this coming from?"
Liu Mei smiled bitterly. "I see the signs between you two."
Wang Jingfei stood up. "This is ridiculous and impossible! Anything else, Liu?"
Liu Mei also stood, "Very well. Let me give you some advice."
Wang Jingfei, about to see her out, paused. "Go on."
Liu Mei's voice carried a hidden threat. "Haizhou Pharmaceuticals is a vast and complex organization, teeming with hidden dangers. This place is not like Hong Kong; laws sometimes don't hold much weight here."
Wang Jingfei retorted, "I believe that anywhere in China, we must act according to the law!" Her eyes flashed with cold determination.
Liu Mei revealed her true colors. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Don't overreach."
Wang Jingfei's brows twitched. "What song do you want me to sing, Liu?"
Liu Mei, at the door, turned back. "Figure it out yourself." She then strode away.
The Haizhou City market for industrial supplies was always bustling. From large items like water pumps and farm vehicles to small ones like nails, fishhooks, and rubber gloves, everything was available.
Lu Hui drove Strong Min through the chaotic crowd, finally stopping in front of a rubber goods store. The shopkeeper, seeing a business opportunity, greeted them warmly. "Oh, Boss Lu! You're here!"
Lu Hui walked to the counter, picked up a sample rubber glove, and asked without lifting his eyes, "How much for these gloves?"
The shopkeeper offered him a cigarette. "For old customers like you, the usual price, still eighteen yuan."
Lu Hui frowned. "Last time you overcharged me. Long Blind sells them for twelve."
The shopkeeper quickly said, "You can't compare like that. Mine are military-grade, and I'm giving them to you at cost!"
Lu Hui was impatient. "You call that a bargain?" He pulled Strong Min. "Let's check Long Blind's place."
The shopkeeper panicked. "Wait, let's talk. How about fifteen?"
Lu Hui glanced at him. "Thirteen. Three hundred pairs. Four thousand yuan."
The shopkeeper reluctantly agreed. "You're squeezing me dry, Boss Lu. Deal."
After the receipt was written, Lu Hui's phone rang. He stepped aside to take the call, then returned to Strong Min. "The boss wants to see me. You stay here and count the gloves. Don't move. I'll be right back."
He hurriedly left, and Strong Min began meticulously counting the gloves.
The shopkeeper asked, "What do you make that needs so many gloves?"
Strong Min tried to be friendly. "Chemical products, huge demand. We'll be back in a few days."
The shopkeeper handed him a cigarette. "Tell your boss to come to me next time. I'll treat you well," he said with a knowing look.
Strong Min smiled. "Sure. Mind if I use your phone?"
The shopkeeper agreed readily. "Go ahead."
Strong Min dialed Li Xinjian's number and spoke loudly, "Little Li, it's your Uncle Iron Pillar. I'm buying goods at the market, gotta rush back to the factory, can't play cards tonight. My stomach is killing me from Lu's pig head meat. Gotta hit the restroom across from the bus station."
He hung up and ran out, holding his stomach, telling the shopkeeper, "Please watch my stuff!"
Lu Hui drove to the meeting spot, seeing Lin Xiaoliang leaning impatiently against his Toyota, smoking an English pipe.
Lu Hui hurried over, greeting respectfully, "Boss Lin, what's keeping you busy?"
Lin Xiaoliang cursed, "You're always so slow. Chasing skirts?"
Lu Hui protested, "Busy as hell, exhausted. Even if I had the energy, I wouldn't have the time. I was buying rubber gloves."
"Why did it take so long?" Lin Xiaoliang frowned.
Lu Hui snapped, "You try it for two days, you'll see why."
Lin Xiaoliang asked, "How's the progress?"
Lu Hui replied, "Almost there."
Lin Xiaoliang got angry. "You always say 'almost,' but never deliver. Remember, I'm just a middleman. If you piss off the higher-ups, you won't survive in Haizhou!"
Lu Hui seemed unfazed. "This stuff causes a lot of pollution. Too much waste, and the environmental bureau or police might notice. Besides, reliable workers are hard to find. Most importantly," he rubbed his fingers together, "we're short on money."
Lin Xiaoliang said, "Didn't we give you a deposit? Afraid we won't pay?"
Lu Hui shamelessly replied, "Not afraid, but cash in hand brings peace of mind, and with peace of mind, progress speeds up."
Lin Xiaoliang cursed and threw a thick envelope at him.
Lu Hui's face lit up. "Great! Come back in ten days for the goods!"
Lin Xiaoliang got into his car, then paused. "I heard you got a new recruit?"
Lu Hui blinked. "Yeah, one. Did Fan Ming tell you?"
"Is he reliable?"
Lu Hui pocketed the envelope. "I've checked him out. No one escapes my scrutiny."
Lin Xiaoliang sneered. "With those eyes, you think you can spot talent?"
Lu Hui defended, "He's a rare find, even among the dregs."
Lin Xiaoliang, starting his car, said, "I'll have to see this for myself." As he drove off, Lu Hui asked with a grin, "Hey, where's your beautiful sister? I only got a glimpse at Yuehai Restaurant. Such beauty, didn't even get to talk to her. Been dreaming of her ever since. Can you introduce us again?"
Lin Xiaoliang scoffed, "Look at you! Many have tried to get close to her, but none succeeded. Stop dreaming."
Lu Hui persisted, "Just a meeting before the delivery? Please, talk to her for me!"
To avoid discouraging him and affecting the progress, Lin Xiaoliang said, "I'll see what I can do. But focus on the job, or I'll castrate you!"
He then sped off in his Toyota.
The public restroom reeked, and Strong Min squatted, covering his nose. He kept shifting his position, clearly having been there a while.
Li Xinjian, in plain clothes, hurried in, squatting next to Strong Min and starting his business.
Strong Min sighed in relief, then quickly covered his mouth.
Li Xinjian whispered, "Couldn't you pick a cleaner place?"
Strong Min retorted, "I wanted to go to Donghai Hotel, but they wouldn't let me in. Here," he handed Li Xinjian a scrap of paper, "this is a map I drew. They've produced over fifty boxes of ephedrine extract."
"Who's the boss?"
"Rumor has it, a young, beautiful woman, but no one's seen her. A young man, her brother, handles everything."
"Looks like you'll have to stay undercover longer."
"Until when?"
"Until we find out who the boss is."
"I can't take it anymore!" Strong Min complained. "I got beaten and almost buried alive!"