Returning to the small mountain village of '86, intelligence updated daily.

Chapter 140 The Past of Three Families, Torn Apart and Eaten Up

When it was time for dinner, there were only three people: Zhao, his daughter, and Zhou Rui. However, there were two meat dishes on the table, which was quite extravagant.

The aroma of meat filled the room, and the pig's head meat was covered with a layer of luster.

While eating, Zhou Rui finally couldn't help but ask about Li Dehua's factory.

"Uncle Zhao, I remember Li Dehua also owns a textile factory, right? How did he suppress our factory? I want to know some details so that I can take the right approach."

Zhou Rui didn't waste any more words and went straight to the point. Zhao Jianjun was no longer surprised that Zhou Rui could say such a thing, and immediately told him everything he knew.

"Li Dehua and I were the first people in our village to start doing this kind of work. Going back a while, we worked together in a state-owned factory."

"I am meticulous, make few mistakes, and have a lot of drive, while Li Dehua often cheats and takes shortcuts. In the end, I was promoted to management, while he remained a worker."

"Although we have always advocated equality for all, the widening gap has caused Li Dehua's thinking to decline, and it was at this time that our conflicts and grudges were sown."

After hearing these two sentences, Zhou Rui couldn't help but think. So there was another layer of relationship here. It was all because of Li Dehua's character. How could he have made an enemy of Uncle Zhao?

However, this did indeed fit Li Dehua's personality. Zhou Rui only had this thought for a moment, without interrupting Zhao Jianjun, and continued listening.

"Later, the factory underwent restructuring. At that time, we both possessed some technical expertise and had a forward-looking vision, so we both chose to open our own factory without prior agreement."

"Of course, there's something else here that you're probably familiar with, Xiao Ruizi."

"What's up?" Zhou Rui seemed to have guessed what it was, but he wasn't sure. Anyway, Zhao Jianjun was going to tell him, so he just asked directly.

"Back then, we were both doing very well and made some money. I used that money to expand production and operations, buy equipment, and learn technology. But Li Dehua was different; he had ulterior motives."

Zhao Jianjun sighed deeply and continued, "He took the money and spent a lot of money to bribe his way out, taking away the opportunity that originally belonged to your father—"

'

"It was from then on that your Zhou family's development opportunities were cut off, and the position that originally belonged to my elder brother Zhou—" Zhao Jianjun sighed again, and after a while, he said somewhat apologetically, "I wanted to help at the time, but it was really—"

At this moment, Zhou Rui chimed in understandingly, "Uncle Zhao, it's not your fault. It's alright, it's all in the past."

Can we say that Zhao Jianjun was wrong?

But what wrong did he do? The two families have a deep friendship, but they are not blood brothers. Moreover, helping is a matter of kindness, not helping is a matter of right. No one is obligated to help anyone else.

Seeing that Zhou Ruiming was reasonable, Zhao Jianjun stopped dwelling on it and continued, "After he spent money to snatch that opportunity from your father, he had a powerful backer. In business, he constantly opposed me. Relying on the support of his superiors, he was always unscrupulous."

"However, he was more restrained in the past, and that person hadn't reached a certain level yet, so for now I can still cope with it by relying on advanced technology and quality."

"But in recent years, as that person's status and position have improved, Li Dehua has a stronger backer and more money to use to build connections and do favors, which has led to our family's decline."

"As the current facts show, some time ago, he used various means to steal my distributors and suppliers, and even sent people to infiltrate my factory, stirring up trouble and inciting a group of people to strike and demand higher wages —"

"Under his various tactics, our factory suffered repeated setbacks, and its profits declined day by day until now."

Zhao Jianjun recounted the entire story in one breath, and Zhou Rui finally understood.

The matter was far more complicated than he had imagined. He only knew that in his previous life, Zhao Jianjun had struggled to stay afloat and was on the verge of bankruptcy, but he didn't know why he had survived.

Later, Li Dehua didn't stop either. It seemed that after that incident, he started targeting Zhao Jianjun again. However, by then, Zhou Rui's power had grown, and he eventually returned to turn the tide.

Thinking about this, Zhou Rui was reminded of something else: Uncle Zhou Jian!

He seemed to have mentioned during a casual chat that night that he had come to see his grandfather, but his grandfather had already passed away by then.

Then he became disheartened and stopped acknowledging and associating with Zhou Shiwei.

However, considering his later actions and what we now know about his deeds, Zhou Rui has a new judgment.

The person who indirectly helped the Zhao family at that time was very likely Uncle Zhou Jian!

This time, Prosecutor Zhou demonstrated his connections and power; he was fully capable of influencing that person, and if that man got into trouble, it would inevitably shake Li Dehua's foundation.

As is the case now, after exhausting himself with dealing with the situation, Li Dehua has temporarily put aside his suppression efforts.

Once everything was connected, Zhou Rui understood completely.

"Uncle Zhao, this time, we'd better just take Li Dehua down. I have an idea."

Zhou Rui spoke calmly, his tone indifferent, each word distinct.

Zhao Jianjun pushed up his glasses, leaned forward, and asked, "What are your thoughts? Is there anything your uncle can do—"

Zhao Jianjun knew that Zhou Rui was probably going to say something shocking again, so he didn't even think much before asking Zhou Rui what he could do.

Zhou Rui didn't keep them in suspense, saying calmly, "Tear Li Dehua's factory apart and eat it up—"

Quiet.

The room fell silent. Zhao Jianjun hadn't expected Zhou Rui to be so crazy, with such a big appetite, actually thinking of swallowing him up.

Can you do it?

A big question mark briefly appeared in Zhao Jianjun's mind, but it quickly changed, and he asked directly, "What do we do?"

In an instant, Zhao Jianjun was convinced that his nephew must have a solution.

Sure enough, Zhou Rui leaned close to his ear and spoke softly for a full two minutes without deliberately lowering his voice.

Zhao Jianjun's expression changed one after another.

First came confusion, then surprise, and finally, he opened his mouth wide before closing it and swallowing hard.

"Nephew, you're trying to completely ruin Li Dehua!"

Zhao Jianjun finally managed to utter this sentence, for no other reason than that Zhou Rui's plan was intricately linked, and if all went smoothly, then his Zhao family's factory in the county town would truly have a smooth path ahead.

At this moment, Zhou Rui's lips curled up slightly, revealing a shy smile.

"Uncle Zhao, since things have already escalated to this point, why not strike while the iron is hot and kill him? After all, this Li Dehua is far too arrogant and conceited."