Reborn in 1991, I opened supermarkets all over the world.

Song Zheng found a seat, poured himself a cup of tea, and then continued:

"My judgment is this: Didn't you ask me to find those troublemakers and make a scene in front of the reporters? Ma Jun is definitely afraid that the reporters will expose his past illicit dealings. So inviting them to dinner is just an excuse. The real purpose is probably to slip them some money during the dinner to shut them up."

Qiao Ling frowned and looked at Lu Zifeng: "Didn't you already get the warehouse? Why are you still causing trouble?"

Before Lu Zifeng could explain, Wei Jun pointed a finger at him and said, "Grain, flour, oil!"

Lu Zifeng snapped his fingers: "That's right."

At that time, grain and cooking oil were subject to a dual-track pricing system.

The so-called dual-track pricing system means that items within the planned economy are sold at a fixed price with ration coupons; items outside the planned economy are sold at negotiated prices (market prices) without ration coupons.

However, the supply of goods was basically controlled by the grain stations.

Lu Zifeng took over the grain station's warehouse through proper procedures. After the revenue was handed over to the treasury, Ma Jun didn't receive a single penny. Instead, it ruined his insider deal with Su Min.

Regardless of how much Ma Jun hates Lu Zifeng, he certainly doesn't like him.

Therefore, if Lu Zifeng wants to take over the grain and oil business, he must first break Ma Jun's leg and then give him a pair of crutches so that he will be grateful.

Song Zheng knew about Lu Zifeng's plan.

That's why he rushed in and said "something's wrong" – he was worried that if Du Heng really accepted Ma Jun's bribes, Ma Jun wouldn't need Lu Zifeng's "crutch" anymore.

"Brother Feng, do you think Du Heng will accept the money?" Song Zheng asked.

Lu Zifeng smiled and waved his hand.

He had dealt with Du Heng a few times, and the man was fairly upright.

Moreover, he also had an even more upright Lin Siyan by his side.

Sure enough, two days later, Ma Jun took the initiative to contact Lu Zifeng.

He politely poured tea and offered cigarettes to Lu Zifeng, saying, "The grain station's warehouse is now in your hands. We grain station are practically family, aren't we?"

Lu Zifeng took the tea and said with a smile, "Then I have to call you father-in-law and mother-in-law too?"

Ma Jun laughed and said, "No need for 'father-in-law and mother-in-law,' but we're family now. I heard those two reporters from last time, were they your friends?"

Lu Zifeng nodded: "I guess so."

Ma Jun sighed: "These reporters nowadays, in their eagerness to grab attention, often believe everything they hear. The other day, they were surrounded by a few troublesome employees at the grain station and they seem to have taken everything they heard to heart."

Lu Zifeng calmly placed the teacup on the table and said, "They are all veteran reporters at the newspaper, and they have their own judgment and thinking. If there are any mistakes in their reporting, the newspaper will punish them. Station Chief Ma, don't worry, we should trust in the openness, fairness, and justice of society."

Ma Jun said seriously, "Even if they are punished, my reputation will be tarnished."

Lu Zifeng sneered, "Besides, they might not even be punished, right?"

Ma Jun knew that Lu Zifeng knew, and he also believed that Lu Zifeng knew that he knew that Ma Jun knew.

Since that's the case, let's be frank and not beat around the bush.

"I'll always remember your kindness in helping me out. By the way, what kind of business do you plan to start after you take over the warehouse? Do you want to distribute some negotiated grains, like rice, flour, and oil?"

"Brother Ma, you... I didn't even dare to ask, and you just came to me like this." Lu Zifeng said with a smile.

"Once you speak, will we still call ourselves family?"

"Alright, I'll remember Brother Ma's kindness. What did you just say? Reporters believe everything they hear, right? Fine, leave this to me. If they dare to write anything nonsense, I'll break their legs."

Ma Jun's anxiety subsided somewhat.

What he didn't know was that Du Heng had never intended to publish the material provided by those troublemakers in the first place.

The reason is simple: there is no evidence.

Official newspapers of that era were quite rigorous, unlike later self-media outlets that start with a single image and then rely entirely on fabrication for the rest of the content.

The same picture can be interpreted differently depending on the perspective: today Zhang DaV says it's a mother-in-law/daughter-in-law conflict, tomorrow Li DaV says it's a neighborly dispute.

Some people even throw their own puppies into stinky ditches, then film a video saying, "I found a poor little puppy. Its owner is so cruel." Then a group of dog lovers condemn it indignantly, and the video goes viral.

But newspapers are different, especially when it comes to the auction of state-owned assets. Even if there is evidence, they won't necessarily make wild claims, let alone if there is no substantial evidence.

Du Heng refused to accept bribes from Ma Jun because he didn't want to give Ma Jun any leverage over him.

Of course, Lu Zifeng still contacted Du Heng by phone to make sure he wouldn't use those materials before replying to Ma Jun: "It's all settled. The materials will only be archived, not reported."

When Ma Jun heard the news, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

What the hell is this "archive"?

No wonder Su Min fell into Lu Zifeng's hands.

Su Min's attempt to seize the warehouse ended in failure, and with some family members making sarcastic remarks, she had no desire to have any further contact with the Su family.

However, with the opening of Huidong Department Store's new store on Renmin Road, as the eldest daughter of Su Yan, the actual controller of Huidong Department Store, she had no choice but to go back and show her support.

Zhou Hai comforted her, saying, "You can ignore your two younger brothers, but you still have to give Dad face, right? How about this, the opening day happens to be a Sunday, I'll go back to the city with you. You just go with Dad, and I'll handle whatever your brother-in-law says."

Su Min nodded silently.

Ever since Zhou Hai took the paddle and raised it twice at the auction, Su Min's attitude towards him has softened considerably.

Although Zhou Hai had always opposed Su Min being enemies with Lu Zifeng, he actually went for it when Lu Zifeng took advantage of Su Min.

Zhou Hai's decision to return to the city was also based on the overall situation; otherwise, as an outsider, he would have had no reason to get involved in the Su family's affairs.

The opening of Huidong Department Store was also a big event for Lu Zifeng.

On the one hand, he also wanted to observe and learn;

On the other hand, Huacai Electric Appliances invited him, so he had to give them face.

"Sister Ling, pack your things, we're going to the city tomorrow," Lu Zifeng said to Qiao Ling, who was watching the TV show "The Outsider Girl," as he leaned against the shop door.

With the food supply recently cut off, and Lu Zifeng adopting a "take it or leave it" attitude towards the clothing business, Qiao Ling has finally found some peace and quiet.

Lu Zifeng is currently busy renovating the warehouse, and Qiao Ling occasionally goes to check on it.

Qiao Ling shook her head: "I'm not going, I get terribly carsick."

Lu Zifeng said, "I had Deng Darong come and pick me up."

Qiao Ling turned her head and said, "Why waste money like that? Since you're not here, don't I have to keep an eye on the renovations?"

"Okay, so it's your own fault for not going."

"Yes, yes, don't disturb me while I'm watching TV."

Lu Zifeng snorted coldly: "Didn't you say you bought it to watch the news?"

Qiao Ling turned and glared at Lu Zifeng, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "Is Gu Quan going with you?"

Lu Zifeng said, "When have we ever missed out on his share?"

Qiao Ling smiled and said, "Then don't forget to treat Reporter Du to dinner."