Return to 88: Starting from Marrying My Sister-in-law

Lu Yang had just finished a satellite conference call. He looked a little tired, but his eyes were still sharp.

The sleepless night and intense emotional conflict of last night did not seem to break him; on the contrary, they made his aura of complete control even more solid.

Holding the still-connected phone, Da Jun quickly walked to Lu Yang's side and whispered, "President Lu, Secretary Liu from Gannan called me directly." He covered the receiver with his hand and quickly recounted Liu Zhigang's earnest expression of gratitude, his strong request for a face-to-face meeting, and the tone with which the other party deliberately emphasized Du Lingling's importance and used this as a pretext to propose a meeting.

Lu Yang picked up the water glass on the table and took a sip. After listening to the report, a cold and knowing smile slowly appeared on his lips.

He had anticipated the local reaction, but he hadn't expected Secretary Liu to be so impatient and to bypass Du Lingling and come directly to his door.

"Oh? So eager?" His voice was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger. "Give him my 'work number'." He pulled a simple business card with only a string of numbers printed on it from the inside pocket of his suit and handed it to Dajun. "Tell him that I am a helpful person and that he doesn't need to worry. He can come to me if he needs anything. By the way, don't be so eager tonight."

He has important business tonight, and he has a date with a beautiful woman!
Da Jun, understanding the unspoken message, took the business card, picked up his still-connected phone, and walked out of the office. He then released his hand from the receiver and said, "Secretary Liu, President Lu is not available to answer the phone right now."

Dajun's voice was crisp and clear, "However, President Lu instructed that he appreciates the local government's concern. He also gave me his personal business card to pass on to you. If you need anything, you can call the number on it to contact President Lu personally."

Liu Zhigang's heart skipped a beat, and a surge of immense joy instantly dispelled the gloom of being hung up on by Du Lingling!
business card!

That's Mr. Lu's personal business card!

Although they couldn't speak directly, the value of this business card was far greater than he had imagined!

This means a private channel directly to financial giants!

"Oh! Thank you so much! Thank you so much, Mr. Dajun. Please also convey my sincerest gratitude to President Lu. I will definitely thank you in person another day!" Secretary Liu's voice trembled slightly with excitement as he thanked him repeatedly, afraid that the other party might change his mind.

"Hmm." Dajun responded indifferently, then gave an address and asked Secretary Liu to send someone to pick up the business card before hanging up the phone.

Hearing the busy tone on the phone, Secretary Liu clenched his fists and excitedly paced around his office twice.

Become!

The first step was a success!

Although Mr. Lu did not agree to meet immediately, this business card was the key!

He immediately summoned his secretary and gave her instructions in a low voice.

The next morning, Liu Zhigang almost couldn't wait to dial the number embossed on the business card.

When the call connected, Lu Yang's slightly magnetic voice came through, his tone calm and revealing no emotion.

"President Lu! Hello! I am Liu Zhigang from Gannan! I am so grateful for your great help to Commissioner Du and Gannan yesterday!" Secretary Liu was very enthusiastic and humble.

"Secretary Liu, you're too kind. It was nothing." Lu Yang's voice was indifferent. "Sister Lingling is my friend."

"Yes, yes, yes, it's a blessing for Commissioner Du to have a friend like you, and it's also a blessing for all of us in southern Jiangxi!" Secretary Liu quickly chimed in, and then extended an invitation, "President Lu, it's rare for you to come to southern Jiangxi, and you've done us a great favor. It's only right and proper that I do my best to be a good host and personally show you around the customs and culture of southern Jiangxi to express my gratitude! I wonder if you're free today?"

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, and Secretary Liu's heart jumped into his throat.

"Alright," Lu Yang's voice came through. "Then I'll have to trouble Secretary Liu."

Secretary Liu was overjoyed, almost dropping the phone with excitement: "No trouble at all! I'll arrange a car to pick you up right away!"

Secretary Liu showed utmost enthusiasm and sincerity for the rest of the trip.

He personally acted as a tour guide, leading Lu Yang and his assistant on a non-stop tour of the natural and cultural landscapes that southern Jiangxi is so proud of.

Our first stop was the majestic and ancient city wall of southern Jiangxi.

Standing atop the ancient wall, Liu Zhigang pointed to the distant, rolling mountains and the flowing river below, recounting the vicissitudes of history and the blueprint for urban development: "Mr. Lu, you see, this city wall has witnessed a thousand years of history in southern Jiangxi! We are planning to develop it into a core historical and cultural scenic area, complete with ancient street restoration and cultural tourism integration projects. It has enormous potential! We warmly welcome visionary entrepreneurs like yourself to invest in its development!"

Lu Yang stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the slightly mottled city walls and the still somewhat backward urban landscape around him. His expression was calm, and he simply nodded slightly without saying a word.

The second stop was the magnificent Shangbao Rice Terraces.

The terraced fields, cascading down the slopes, gleamed with emerald green or golden hues under the sunlight, resembling the fingerprints of the earth. Liu Zhigang passionately described his grand vision for creating a "photographer's paradise," an "agricultural culture experience base," and a "high-end homestay cluster": "Mr. Lu, this place is beautiful in all four seasons, a summer resort, and a photographer's paradise! With investment, improved transportation, hotels, and high-standard viewing facilities, it will definitely become a national and even world-class tourist destination! The return on investment will be absolutely substantial!"

Lu Yang walked along the ridge of the field for a while, the mountain breeze blowing against the hem of his clothes.

He crouched down, rubbed the red soil under his feet, and gazed at the rugged mountain road and sparse power facilities in the distance, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

Tourism industry?
Investing is a bottomless pit.

Just building roads, providing water, electricity, and signal infrastructure to support high-end tourism would require astronomical sums, not to mention the subsequent operation, promotion, and long payback period.

The domestic tourism market is still far from mature.

What he saw was not a mountain of gold and silver, but a "bonsai" that required continuous massive financial support to maintain. He shook his head and remained silent.

Secretary Liu's heart sank lower and lower, and beads of sweat began to seep from his forehead.

He forced a smile and then drove Lu Yang for several hours deep into the mountains to visit the mysterious Niedu Karst Caves.

Inside the deep and magnificent karst cave, Liu Zhigang pointed to the strangely shaped stalactites and continued his enthusiastic promotion: "Mr. Lu, look at the wonders of nature! Developing it into a base for underground exploration, light shows, and science education, combined with the surrounding hot spring resources, would be an absolutely unique tourism IP!"

Lu Yang walked slowly forward in the dim light, the damp and cold air inside the cave carrying the smell of earth.

He listened to Secretary Liu's blueprint, but his heart remained unmoved.

Similar landscapes are not unique in China, and their development is extremely difficult and risky. Compared with his businesses that can generate cash flow quickly, their appeal is very limited.

He stopped and finally spoke, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable air of aloofness: "Secretary Liu, the landscape of southern Jiangxi is indeed exceptionally beautiful and unique. However, tourism investment has a long cycle, slow returns, and involves too many supporting facilities, so currently... it may not be in line with my investment direction."

These words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing the last embers of hope in Liu Zhigang's heart. His smile froze, and he stood there helplessly, the atmosphere becoming awkward and heavy. The most prized asset of southern Jiangxi seemed utterly insignificant in the face of capital.

On the way back, Liu Zhigang was extremely anxious, racking his brains for a way to persuade the stubborn CEO Lu.

Just as the vehicle drove over a lush, green hillside, his eyes suddenly lit up! Rows of fruit trees laden with golden fruit came into view—the golden brand of southern Jiangxi, the Gannan navel orange!

"Stop the car! Stop the car now!" Secretary Liu shouted urgently.

After the car came to a stop, he practically begged and pulled Lu Yang out of the car and quickly walked to the nearest orchard.

"President Lu, President Lu! Look at this!" Liu Zhigang's voice rose with excitement as he pointed to the heavy, golden navel oranges hanging from the branches, as if grasping at a last straw. "This is our treasure from southern Jiangxi, the Gannan navel orange! You must try it! You absolutely must try it!"

Without saying a word, he personally picked the largest and plumpest orange from the tree and carefully peeled it open.

Instantly, a rich, sweet, and sun-kissed fruity aroma filled the air. The orange-yellow flesh was translucent and juicy.

Liu Zhigang broke off a piece and handed it to Lu Yang, his eyes full of anticipation: "President Lu, please try it! It's definitely different from what you eat outside!"

Looking at the juicy orange segment in front of him, Lu Yang was indeed intrigued by its enticing aroma.

He took it and put it in his mouth.

With a soft "crack," the fruit burst open between your teeth. Crisp! Juicy! Almost no annoying fibers, just a mouthful of sweet juice with a perfectly balanced hint of tartness instantly filling your mouth.

It is extremely sweet, but not cloying at all. The unique and rich citrus aroma hits the nose and has a long aftertaste. This taste is indeed far better than any orange he has ever eaten before!
Liu Zhigang stared intently at Lu Yang's expression, speaking rapidly: "Mr. Lu, our Gannan navel oranges have crisp, tender, and melt-in-your-mouth flesh, are juicy with no fiber, have a perfect sugar-acid ratio, a sweetness of 13-16 degrees Brix, an acidity of 0.5-0.9%, and a pulp content of over 75%! They are rich in Vitamin C, carotene, and citric acid, making them a nutritional all-rounder! Why are they so good? It's because of the acidic red soil in our hilly area, which is rich in trace rare earth elements. This is a gift from God; you can't grow this flavor anywhere else!"

Lu Yang savored it carefully, then peeled another one himself.

This time, he ate more carefully, savoring the unique texture and flavor, and his eyes gradually brightened.

As a successful businessman, he keenly grasped the enormous commercial potential behind this small fruit—standardized production, deep processing, juice, jam, branding, cold chain logistics… This is much more realistic than the vague tourism blueprint, and easier to enter and control!

He swallowed the last bite of sweet fruit, looked at the orange-yellow peel in his hand and Liu Zhigang's hopeful face, and slowly spoke, his voice carrying a hint of decisiveness: "Secretary Liu, your oranges are indeed very good."

Liu Zhigang's heart was in his throat.

Lu Yang paused for a moment, then said firmly, "How about this, I'll invest 1000 million yuan first. We'll build a high-standard, scientific breeding and demonstration base for superior varieties of Gannan navel oranges. The goal is simple: to make the 'Gannan navel orange' brand famous throughout the country and sell it to the world. Let people all over the country, and even the world, taste the delicious flavor of Gannan. What do you think?"

"Ten...ten million?!" Liu Zhigang could hardly believe his ears!

A tremendous surprise exploded in his mind like a thunderbolt, instantly washing away all his previous disappointment and anxiety! He was so excited that his face turned red, his voice changed, and he instinctively grabbed Lu Yang's hand tightly and shook it vigorously: "President Lu! Thank you! Thank you so much! On behalf of the five million people of southern Jiangxi, I thank you! You are truly our great benefactor and savior! This is wonderful! This is truly wonderful!" His joy was overflowing, and he almost danced with delight.

The news spread like wildfire back to the regional government, and naturally reached Du Lingling, who was in her office processing documents related to post-disaster reconstruction.

"Secretary Liu led Lu Yang on a day-long inspection tour. They didn't reach an agreement on the tourism project, but in the orchard, President Lu made a decision on the spot to invest ten million yuan to build a navel orange base!"

Upon hearing the news reported in a low voice by her secretary, Xiao Chen, Du Lingling's fingers gripped the pen tightly, and the pen tip left a deep ink dot on the document.

Her face instantly darkened, and her heart felt like a jumble of emotions, a surge of indescribable irritability and bitterness welling up inside her.

Ten million? Investing in navel oranges?
She absolutely did not believe that Lu Yang was interested in any business prospects!
No matter how good or famous the navel oranges from southern Jiangxi are, they are still just agricultural products. How can their return on investment compare to those of his projects that often double in value?

Why did he vote?

Why did he choose to make the decision in the orchard, in front of Liu Zhigang, after rejecting the tourism project?
Du Lingling's mind was filled with Lu Yang's roguish smile.

It's for her!

It must be for her!
He was atoning for his sins in this way, paying the price for that "wrong" and crazy kiss in the grove, for his domineering nature and the chaotic emotions it caused her!
He was using money to clumsily express his "guilt" and "compensation" that made her feel uneasy and resistant!
"That idiot...bastard!" Du Lingling bit her lower lip and cursed under her breath, but a surge of uncontrollable bitterness and...a slight flutter of being cherished welled up in her heart.

She was pleased that he was willing to be so "lavish" for her and the people under her rule. She wept because this "kindness" carried a tinge of "guilt" she didn't want to bear, making her feel like an object of charity. She was angry because he thought money could solve everything, and why he was stirring her heart in this way.

"This isn't how you spend money..." she muttered to herself, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the ink spot on the document. "How can you do business so irrationally? The teaching building was donated, and now it's a base worth tens of millions... Keep throwing money into this poor mountain village, when will we ever see a return? What kind of business is this?"

The more she thought about it, the more awkward she felt.

The better Lu Yang treated her, and the more he gave Gannan "special treatment" because of her, the more she felt that the complicated relationship between the two of them had been tainted by this naked money relationship and had become impure.

She didn't need him to "be good to her" in this way; it suffocated her and made her feel an invisible pressure.

She irritably pushed the documents aside and walked to the window.

Outside the window, the sky over southern Jiangxi is hazy and gray.

She reached out, as if trying to grasp something ethereal—was it that unreachable star? Or…the figure of the man she both hated and…?

Her palms involuntarily and gently covered her lower abdomen.

The ground was still flat, but could she feel a faint, life-like tremor in her fingertips? Or was it merely a hallucination, an illusion born of her intense desire?

"Perhaps... it really is time to make a move." She gazed into the distance, her eyes filled with complex and lost emotions, and murmured to herself. Leave this place of trouble?

Leave this place where he is?
Perhaps distance will allow her to see her own heart clearly and free her from this passive situation of being entangled by "money" and "guilt".

These past few days... have been her ovulation period.

She gently pressed her hand against her lower abdomen, a secret yet intense thought rising in her mind: "I hope... it will come true."

If they could have a child... a child that belongs to her and... him, wouldn't that bring a clear answer and... a bond to all this chaos?
Meanwhile, Lu Yang, who was finalizing investment details with an excited Secretary Liu in the navel orange orchard, wore his usual confident smile, completely unaware of the turmoil his extravagant "kindness" and "compensation" had stirred in Du Lingling's heart. He was even less aware that this decision would push her towards a point where she might be forever out of his sight, almost causing him to completely lose this "good sister" buried deep in his heart. (End of Chapter)