Era: Starting with the struggle to refuse being taken advantage of

Chapter 252 Overt and covert fighting
Although Wang Chengpeng was dressed plainly, his only redeeming qualities were his good looks and smart attire.
But with Song Wenxin's specific instructions, Yang Guocheng dared not neglect him in the slightest.

The most important skill for those who guard the gates is keen observation; it's something that most people can't do.

Wang Chengpeng casually placed the extra small gift he had bought on the gatekeeper's desk and said with a smile:
"Then I'd like to trouble this comrade to show me the way."

Looking at the expensive bottle of wine on the table, Yang Guocheng beamed and said:

"Comrade Wang, you are Director Song's friend, so there's no problem for us to say we're family."

"Look what you're doing. Take it back quickly, don't be so formal."

Seeing Yang Guocheng trying to return the wine, Wang Chengpeng smiled and said:
"Since we're family, let's not be formal. Can't I even invite my own family for drinks?"

"Alright, I have something extremely important to discuss with Director Song, and I can't let such a trivial matter delay me."

"Comrade, please take me directly to Director Song's office."

The supply and marketing cooperative compound is not the same as the Hongqu Textile Factory compound. Although Wang Chengpeng knows the way, it would be better to have a gatekeeper lead the way.

With a smile, Yang Guocheng accepted the wine and said:
"Comrade Wang is right. We shouldn't be too distant with family. My name is Yang Guocheng. Please feel free to ask me for help if you need anything in the future."

Yang Guocheng made grand promises, but in reality, they were nothing more than empty words.

After all, Wang Chengpeng and Song Wenxin were acquainted. If there was anything he needed to do, why would he go to the doorman instead of Song Wenxin?

However, Wang Chengpeng had already achieved his goal of having the other party lead the way, so he just chuckled and said nothing.

Before long, Wang Chengpeng arrived at Song Wenxin's office, led by Yang Guocheng.

Wang Chengpeng was left to wait alone, while Yang Guocheng returned to his post first.

After all, he is the gatekeeper here, and he can't usually leave his post without permission.

Especially those greenhorns who just arrived in the security department; if he didn't teach them properly, they might offend some important figures he couldn't afford to offend.

Instead of knocking, Wang Chengpeng looked around Song Wenxin's office.

Business Section.

Judging from the sign hanging at the office door, Song Wenxin should now be the head of the business department, mainly responsible for the supply and marketing cooperative's business operations such as commodity procurement, sales, and allocation.

Considering that the other party hadn't become a section chief when he last visited, Wang Chengpeng could only sigh and say that it's true that having connections makes things easier.

After knocking lightly on the office door and introducing himself, Wang Chengpeng was quickly welcomed inside by Song Wenxin.

After closing the door, Song Wenxin poured Wang Chengpeng another cup of tea before teasing him:

"As far as I know, Comrade Wang Chengpeng doesn't come to the temple without a reason. I wonder what brings him here this time?"

If an ordinary person has a relationship with a supply and marketing cooperative, they would practically want to live right next door and go there every few days.

However, Wang Chengpeng was clearly an exception; he rarely came to see Song Wenxin except when there was something really wrong.

It was precisely because of this that Song Wenxin thought highly of Wang Chengpeng and was more willing to help with whatever she could.

After all, Wang Chengpeng deserves great credit for dealing with Zhou Xia.

Soldiers are very fast!
Wang Chengpeng didn't bother with any preamble and went straight to the point:
"I came here mainly to ask you about Zhou Xia's recent situation. He's been acting a bit unruly lately, which is giving me some trouble, and I have no choice but to deal with him."

When it came to her ex-husband Zhou Xia, Song Wenxin didn't mince words and spoke directly:

"Zhou Xia? Why are you bringing up that unlucky person?"

"I haven't been paying much attention to his recent situation, but I've heard that he seems to have hooked up with a girl named Li Dan again."

"The Li family is no ordinary family; they are leaders of the Revolutionary Committee and I've heard they know some shady characters."

"I advise you not to provoke Zhou Xia any further, or you might not be able to bear the consequences."

Although Song Wenxin claimed she hadn't paid attention to Zhou Xia, she was actually very familiar with Zhou Xia's recent situation, indicating that she also had some feelings for him.

Her words were not an exaggeration, after all, Wang Chengpeng had already experienced Zhou Xia's methods firsthand, or rather, the methods of his future father-in-law.

With a sigh, Wang Chengpeng said helplessly, "I never provoke anyone, but there are always people who want to provoke me."

"I have already experienced Zhou Xia's methods firsthand. It is precisely because I realized how powerful and ruthless he is that I have to pin him down in the mud and make sure he can never rise again."

"I just don't know if Director Song will still be my ally this time, and whether he can work with me to bring down Zhou Xia again."

Upon hearing Wang Chengpeng's words, Song Wenxin burst out laughing and said:
"You clearly asked me for help, but all you said was 'we'll stand together through thick and thin.' You really aren't willing to suffer even the slightest loss."

"If you want me to help you deal with Zhou Xia, that's fine, but even if I help you this time, it'll be to repay the favor you did for me before."

"But since you know the other party's strength, I'm now a little curious. Where do you get the courage to say you want to pin Zhou Xia down in the mud, so he can never rise again?"

"Based on my understanding of your family background, your actual abilities seem somewhat inconsistent with your tone."

Song Wenxin was also unwilling to suffer losses. She had feelings for Zhou Xia, but only admitted that she was helping Wang Chengpeng.

As for Wang Chengpeng? He wouldn't mind showing Song Wenxin his trump card.

After all, personal connections alone are not enough to achieve cooperation; one must offer something that the other party values.

Faced with Song Wenxin's questioning, Wang Chengpeng simply smiled indifferently and said:
"Given Zhou Xia's Chen Shimei-like character, how could he possibly truly love someone? He's bound to be opportunistic and treacherous."

"This matter is actually very easy to resolve. I just need to tell this comrade named Li Dan Zhou Xia's true colors, and the matter will naturally be resolved."

“If handled properly, Li Dan herself could even become a sharp weapon against Zhou Xia.”

"The real difficulty is how to bring down the Li family, the force behind Zhou Xia. However, I have already made some progress. It depends on whether your Song family is willing to help with this."

Anonymous whistleblower letters might have some effect, but the effect will definitely not be particularly significant. At most, they can only become a sharp weapon for future purges of the Revolutionary Committee.

However, if the equally powerful Song family were to help, the situation would be completely different. It is highly likely that the problem could be turned into a major one, delivering a fatal blow to the Li family.

Faced with Wang Chengpeng's confident words, Song Wenxin scoffed and said:

"I believe you that you can turn Li Dan to the other side. After all, we both know what kind of person Zhou Xia is."

"But if you say you have leverage over the Li family and can shake them, I still don't quite believe it."

"The Li family is a behemoth, and you have no power whatsoever. I hope you have some self-awareness and don't try to stop a chariot with your bare hands." "If you're not careful, you'll be completely crushed by their wheels."

At this point, Song Wenxin paused again before explaining:

"Although you did help me last time, you were just there by chance. I was the one who did the main work. It doesn't count as your true ability."

"The reason I'm telling you so much is for your own good. I hope you won't do anything you'll regret."

Faced with Song Wenxin's earnest persuasion, Wang Chengpeng simply smiled and said:
"Director Song, you underestimate me a bit too much."

"There is only the luck of being a thief for a thousand days, not the reason to guard against thieves every day."

"Instead of living in constant fear, it's better to solve this problem once and for all before the other party notices."

"Even if the opponent is an impenetrable tank, I, the mantis, will fight him."

"Moreover, I never make empty promises. Since I've made this request, it means I have the ability to do it."

"If you're interested, I wouldn't mind telling you the whole story."

Seeing that Song Wenxin seemed quite interested and did not intend to interrupt him, Wang Chengpeng recounted the cause and course of events.

In conclusion, Wang Chengpeng said, "This kind of thing is neither a big deal nor a small deal; the key is how it's handled."

"After all, if someone without the strength to make a move, it's easy for the Li family to find a scapegoat to cover it up."

"That's precisely why I wanted to ask if the Song family had any plans to make a move."

"If the Song family is unwilling to cooperate with me, I, being insufficient in strength, will naturally have to resort to other means."

"Although it can achieve the same goal of bringing down the Li family, it is difficult to achieve a quick victory."

Having said all that, Wang Chengpeng had finished speaking.

He immediately stopped talking, picked up the tea in front of him and started drinking, waiting for Song Wenxin to give him a reply.

One whale fall brings forth a myriad of life!

While it may seem that the Song family is helping him, this is actually a win-win cooperation model.

After all, if the Li family were to fall, the resulting profits would be unimaginable to ordinary people.

Even if they only take a few big bites, the Song family can not only recoup their initial investment costs, but also make a fortune.

The only difficulty in this matter lies in whether the Song family has the power and is willing to get involved in this mess.

After finishing a cup of tea, seeing that Song Wenxin was still hesitating, Wang Chengpeng immediately decided to add fuel to the fire, saying:
"What? The Song family, which prides itself on its strength, doesn't even have this much courage? They actually leave the fat meat placed in front of them without daring to take a bite."

Faced with Wang Chengpeng's provocation, Song Wenxin could only sneer and say:
"Of course I can't make such a big decision on my own. It's already the limit for me to help you go back and ask your family."

"What I'm thinking about now is whether you're worth the Song family's fuss over, because you've directly gotten involved in this mess."

In fact, Song Wenxin's continued refusal to reject Wang Chengpeng's proposal meant that she had already tacitly agreed to the collaboration.

The reason for the long delay in replying was simply to control Wang Chengpeng.

This matter involved Wang Chengpeng's personal grudges. Although the Song family could also profit from it, Wang Chengpeng was still willing to suffer a small loss.

Thinking this, Wang Chengpeng took out his medicine bag separately and said:

"Even if I asked you for help with this matter and you do me a favor, I've also brought you something quite good."

"This prescription is a folk remedy that I obtained after a long and difficult process by begging a barefoot doctor known as the 'Fertility Arhat'. Give it a try; it might have a miraculous effect."

Considering that Song Wenxin had previously scoffed at his medical skills, Wang Chengpeng distanced himself this time and instead created a fabricated story about a fertility-granting arhat.

In this era, many terminal illnesses that even large hospitals cannot cure can be treated by unlicensed folk healers, so many desperate people are willing to try these so-called folk remedies.

Looking at the medicine packet that Wang Chengpeng brought over, Song Wenxin's eyes were full of amusement, as if she had met her match.

She wanted Wang Chengpeng to acknowledge his help this time, since he needed her help, so that they could be considered to be even over before.

But Wang Chengpeng didn't play by the rules. He came up with some kind of unorthodox remedy for infertility, intending to use this crooked method to offset the help he had received.

In this era, folk remedies for infertility are like a game-changer for a woman who can't have children, and even Song Wenxin couldn't refuse them.

But as long as she accepts this folk remedy, even if it is ineffective, she will still have to owe Wang Chengpeng a favor.

After all, Wang Chengpeng himself said that this was a folk remedy he had obtained with great difficulty from the so-called Arhat who grants children.

What a cunning and shrewd fox!
Anyway, Wang Chengpeng knows when to advance and when to retreat, and he won't be like those annoying relatives who come over every now and then to try and get something for nothing.

Furthermore, since the Song family could indeed gain substantial benefits from this transaction, Song Wenxin tacitly approved of Wang Chengpeng's crooked methods.

Thinking this, Song Wenxin took the medicine packet and said:
"In that case, you are quite thoughtful."

"As for bringing down the Li family, you've come to the right person."

"The Song family and the Li family are sworn enemies, and they are always thinking about how to bring the other down."

"Although Li Weiguo, that old fox, is entangled with various forces, he never leaves any loopholes."

"For the time being, even our Song family couldn't do anything to him."

"Since such an obvious flaw has been presented to us, our Song family is happy to do you a favor and help you out."

"What you've said isn't enough to bring down the Li family. You need to provide us with stronger evidence."

“If this crucial issue cannot be resolved, no matter how much you boast about yourself, our Song family will not stand up for you.”

"At most, I can help you deal with the previous wrongful convictions and miscarriages of justice, and make the Li family more tolerant."

It was precisely because the Song family and the Li family were enemies that Song Wenxin was able to directly make the decision on behalf of her family and agree to cooperate with Wang Chengpeng.

However, Wang Chengpeng's bargaining chips were clearly insufficient to make the Song family go all out in a desperate fight against the Li family.

However, if Song Wenxin could think of something, how could Wang Chengpeng not think of it?
Faced with Song Wenxin's veiled hint, Wang Chengpeng showed no sign of panic. He smiled confidently and said:
"So what if I have evidence that the Li family hired someone to commit murder?"

(End of this chapter)