Please, mature women, have some self-respect. I just want a raise and a promotion.

Five minutes passed before Wang Jianguo finally spoke.

"Manager Lin, you are very cautious in your work."

"It's better to be cautious; it's less likely to cause any trouble," Lin Zheng said with a smile.

Wang Jianguo picked up his glass and downed it in one gulp: "Okay, I'll sign."

"But the contents of the memo can only be known by the two of us."

"Of course," Lin Zheng nodded.

The two discussed it for a while and finalized the contents of the memorandum.

Lin Zheng wrote a copy on the spot, and the two signed it, each keeping a copy.

"Manager Lin, it's a pleasure doing business with you." Wang Jianguo raised his glass.

"It's a pleasure working with you."

The two clinked glasses and drank it all in one gulp.

After a few rounds of drinks, Wang Jianguo's attitude became noticeably more enthusiastic.

"Manager Lin, when do you plan to file a lawsuit against Li Ting?"

"The sooner the better," Lin Zheng said. "The project can't afford to be delayed."

"Then I'll arrange an appointment with the court officials for me tomorrow."

"Thank you, Mayor Wang."

"Don't mention it, we're partners now."

Wang Jianguo smiled and patted Lin Zheng on the shoulder.

"Manager Lin, let me speak from the bottom of my heart."

"In Dianhai Town, as long as you cooperate with me, no one will dare to touch you."

Lin Zheng nodded with a smile, but he had a different thought in his mind.

In officialdom, only interests matter.

He can cooperate with himself today, and he can cooperate with others tomorrow.

He has to be on guard at all times.

After the dinner ended, Lin Zheng walked out of Wangjiang Tower and breathed a sigh of relief.

Two shops in exchange for Wang Jianguo's support.

Is it worth it?

It's worth it, and it's not worth it.

It was worth it because with his support, the lawsuit against Li Ting was much easier to handle.

It's not worth it because this guy has too big an appetite.

Lin Zheng lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.

Just then, my phone rang. It was Li Zhengang calling.

"Lin Zheng, I've increased the intensity on Zhou Hailong's end."

"Today, someone splashed pig's blood on his house and wrote down that if he doesn't pay back the money, they'll break both of his arms."

"His family was terrified when he wasn't home."

"Okay, I understand."

"Let's keep each other informed if there's any news."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Zheng took a deep drag on his cigarette.

With Li Zhengang causing such a ruckus, Zhou Hailong probably won't be able to hold out for long.

As he was pondering this, his phone rang again in his pocket.

This time, the call came from an unknown number.

"Lin Zheng, this is Zhou Hailong."

"Do the conditions you set last time still stand?"

Lin Zheng answered the phone, and Zhou Hailong's voice came from the other end.

Lin Zheng's face lit up with joy, and he replied, "Whether it counts or not depends on what you offer in exchange."

"I'll be waiting for you at Juyuan Cafe. Let's talk some more."

"Okay, I'm nearby, I'll come over now."

Juyuan Coffee Shop is located across the street from Wangjiang Tower.

A few minutes later, Lin Zheng pushed open the door and immediately saw Zhou Hailong.

He sat in the corner, a cup of coffee that had gone cold in front of him, unaware that the cigarette in his hand was burning his fingers.

He looked much more haggard, his eyes were bloodshot, his suit was wrinkled, and his tie was crooked.

"Assistant Zhou." Lin Zheng walked over and sat down opposite him.

Zhou Hailong looked up and forced a smile: "Manager Lin, you've arrived."

"Have you figured it out?"

"I..." Zhou Hailong opened his mouth, but hesitated to speak.

Lin Zheng didn't rush him. He lit a cigarette and smoked it slowly.

The coffee shop was quiet, with only soft music and the occasional clinking of cups and saucers.

After a long while, Zhou Hailong finally spoke: "Manager Lin, I agree to what you asked for."

"What is it?" Lin Zheng asked knowingly.

"Ma Cuihua's Secret".

Zhou Hailong gritted his teeth, "I'll use her secret to pay off your gambling debts."

Lin Zheng looked at him but did not answer immediately.

Are you sure?

Zhou Hailong smiled bitterly: "I have no other choice."

"This morning, Li Zhengang's men came again, and this time they went directly to my house."

"My wife found out about this, we had a fight, and she said she wanted a divorce."

"If I can't pay off my debts, my family will fall apart."

He paused, his eyes reddening.

"Manager Lin, I beg you, please help me."

Lin Zheng stubbed out his cigarette: "Assistant Zhou, it's not that I don't want to help you, but you need to show some sincerity."

"What kind of sincerity do you want?"

"How much of Ma Cuihua's secret can you reveal?"

Zhou Hailong paused for a moment: "A lot."

"I know she's done a lot over the past few years."

"for example……"

He lowered his voice, "That ten million from the Nanshan project was embezzled by her."

"She transferred the money to her brother's account, and then had her brother launder the money under the guise of investment."

"I have all these transaction records."

Lin Zheng was secretly delighted, but he didn't show it on his face.

"Anything else?"

"And..." Zhou Hailong gritted his teeth, "her divorce with Li Ting was actually a sham."

"They each live their own lives. Ma Cuihua has men outside, and I'm not the only one."

"Li Ting knew it too, but he didn't care because he had other women outside of his marriage."

"They each did their own thing, and neither cared about the other."

Lin Zheng nodded: "I know all of that. Tell me something I don't know."

Zhou Hailong thought for a moment: "Ma Cuihua and Liu Kaishan are also related."

Lin Zheng was taken aback: "What's the connection?"

"Liu Kaishan has something on Ma Cuihua, which is why he dares to do whatever he wants in the group."

"I don't know what that weakness is, but Ma Cuihua is very afraid of him."

"She gets extremely nervous every time Liu Kaishan calls."

Upon hearing this, Lin Zheng immediately became interested.

Does Liu Kaishan have something on Ma Cuihua?

No wonder Ma Cuihua listened to Liu Kaishan so much.

"Anything else?"

"And..." Zhou Hailong thought for a moment, "Ma Cuihua plans to tamper with the project."

"What tricks?"

"I don't know the specifics, but I overheard her mentioning it on the phone."

"She said the project couldn't proceed smoothly, otherwise her past would be exposed."

"So she gave you a month to force you to leave."

"If you don't leave, she has a backup plan."

Lin Zheng's heart sank: "What backup plan?"

"I don't know, but she said that if necessary, you can take the blame."

"Just like we did with Zhang Wenshan back then."

Lin Zheng clenched his fists, his face turning ashen.

Damn it, Ma Cuihua, are you trying to wipe us out completely?

"Assistant Zhou, do you have any evidence for what you're saying?"

"have."

Zhou Hailong nodded and said, "I've saved the transfer records, call recordings, and some other documents."

"Where should I put it?"

"In the safe in my office."

Lin Zheng thought for a moment and said, "Go back and get the things, and give them to me tomorrow."

"Okay." Zhou Hailong nodded. "What about the gambling debts?"

"Don't worry, as long as you give me the things, I'll handle Li Zhengang's side."

"Five hundred thousand, I'll help you pay it back."

Zhou Hailong breathed a long sigh of relief: "Manager Lin, thank you in advance."

Lin Zheng stood up.

"Don't thank me, it's a deal."

"Tomorrow afternoon, still here, I'll be waiting for your things."

"it is good."

The two walked out of the coffee shop, the night breeze blowing on their faces, carrying a slight chill.

Zhou Hailong hailed a taxi and left, while Lin Zheng stood by the roadside and lit a cigarette.

If we could get our hands on Ma Cuihua's secret, we could not only solve the project problem, but also get rid of Ma Cuihua once and for all.

However, Zhou Hailong's words should not be taken entirely at face value.

He's been able to stay by Ma Cuihua's side for so many years, he must be someone who's not to be trifled with.