Fifty million a day, trapped in the county town, can't spend it all.

The food was indeed excellent, much better than Zhang Yang had expected. Many of the dishes, according to Mr. Liu, were some kind of private recipes.

However, he merely smiled at these displays of ostentation, inwardly sighing at their extravagance.

During the meal, the two were in a very harmonious atmosphere, chatting about everyday matters. Zhang Yang learned that Young Master Liu's real name was Liu Senran, and that his family had been a prominent family in the county for three generations.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yang was startled. This Liu Senran was essentially the Brahmin of the county, and the kind of Brahmin who was extremely low-key.

Otherwise, only a few people would know who he is.

Of course, the conversation only stayed at the most basic level. Although Zhang Yang was eager to know more, it seemed a bit impolite to ask too many questions on their first meeting, so he had to give up.

Halfway through the meal, Liu Senran's phone rang. He glanced at it, hung up immediately, and started chatting with Zhang Yang again.

After the meal, Liu Senran personally escorted him to the door, and the two exchanged contact information.

"Mr. Zhang, it was a very pleasant chat today. Let's meet again sometime."

Zhang Yang turned around and extended his hand: "Young Master Liu, you're too kind. I'll remember this meal. Next time, it'll be my treat."

The two shook hands, and Liu Senran said with a big smile, "Mu County is not big, and there will be plenty of opportunities to do business in the future. I remember what you said today, and I will definitely cooperate with you if there is an opportunity in the future."

"must."

Zhang Yang nodded, turned around and walked out along the gravel path he had come from. Liu Chuang was waiting for him outside the iron gate. When he saw him come out, he followed him all the way to the car and opened the car door for him.

Zhang Yang sat in the back seat, leaned back, and closed his eyes for a while.

"Let's go home."

Xiao Li started the car, and the GL8 slowly drove away from the inconspicuous courtyard.

After the car turned onto the main road, Zhang Yang opened his eyes, took out his phone, and dialed Cheng Kainian's number.

"Mr. Zhang, are you done meeting with them?"

"That's all."

"How is it?"

Zhang Yang thought for a moment: "It's not quite what I expected."

Cheng Kainian was silent for a moment.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Zhang Yang continued, "What exactly does Liu Senran do in Mou County? He only told me about construction and medicine. How much more do you know?"

Cheng Kainian chimed in, "In the construction sector, he has a construction company that does a lot of real estate projects in the county. A few years ago, when Mou County was developing its new urban area, he acquired a lot of land, and his company built many of the buildings. However, he doesn't do government projects."

"What about medicine?"

"He has invested in several pharmacy chain brands, and I heard he's also involved in some things at hospitals, but I'm not sure exactly what."

"Are other industries gone?"

"That's all that's out there. I'm not really sure about the rest. Mr. Zhang, you met with him, so you should have some basic understanding of him, right?" Cheng Kainian asked tentatively.

"We didn't talk in too much detail, but based on what I've learned, he's basically the Brahmin of the county." Zhang Yang smiled. "But my first impression of him was pretty good."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Kainian's lips twitched involuntarily. Brahman? But that was indeed a fitting description.

"Mr. Zhang," Cheng Kainian paused, "what did he say to you today?"

Let me turn hostility into friendship.

"Didn't he stand up for Zhao Yongchang?"

"I was originally supposed to step in to mediate, but I guess Zhao Yongchang asked me for help about something he didn't tell him, so I gave him a hint."

"This..." Cheng Kainian said helplessly, "Are you trying to cut off Zhao Yongchang's escape route?"

Zhang Yang chuckled: "I didn't say anything specific. We just happened to be talking about that topic and I casually mentioned that Zhao Yongchang's reaction was a bit excessive. As for what Liu Senran thinks in private, that's his business."

Cheng Kainian sighed: "President Zhang, I have a rough idea of ​​why Zhao Yongchang sought help from Young Master Liu. If he loses Young Master Liu's help, he's finished. His backers won't let him off the hook. Be careful. You can't keep the fact that you met Young Master Liu today a secret. Zhao Yongchang might do something desperate."

"I hope he's not that stupid."

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Yang leaned back in his seat and looked out the window at the streetlights passing by.

......

Meanwhile, Zhao Yongchang was at home, leaning back on the sofa with his legs crossed, a cigar between his fingers, and a glass of red wine beside him. Suddenly, his phone received a message, which he casually picked up and glanced at.

"Take care of yourself."

Four simple and straightforward words.

He rubbed his eyes, confirming that it was sent by Young Master Liu's secretary, and his mind went blank.

"Take care of yourself"? What does "take care of yourself" mean? Before, they told him to "wait for news," and now they're telling him to "take care of himself"?

He suddenly stood up, his clothes brushing against the glass, and the wine glass fell to the ground with a "crash" and shattered, spilling wine all over the floor.

Ignoring all that, Zhao Yongchang's trembling fingers dialed the number, but he couldn't get through...

"Fuck your mother!"

He slammed his phone against the opposite wall, shattering it into pieces. He stood there, his chest heaving, his eyes bloodshot. He couldn't understand why Young Master Liu had suddenly gone back on his word after promising to help him with this matter.

After thinking it over and over again without any clue, Zhao Yongchang took out his spare phone and made a call.

"Hello, Mr. Zhao."

"Check Zhang Yang's recent movements for me, especially who he's met," Zhao Yongchang said with a grim expression. "Wait, also check on Jiang Qiao for me."

The person on the other end was taken aback: "Secretary Jiang is being investigated too?"

"Investigate! Find out who he's been talking to on the phone lately."

"OK."

After hanging up the phone, Zhao Yongchang looked gloomy. His escape route was cut off. If Young Master Liu wouldn't help him, then once the accounts were verified, the boss would definitely not let him off the hook.

Fortunately, the tax inspection bureau wasn't quick to gather evidence, so he still had time to confirm some things. He should have packed up and run away right now, but he wasn't willing to give up.

If this matter is related to Zhang Yang, he must make Zhang Yang pay the price before he runs away!

Two hours later, the person who had gone to check the information called back.

"Ring ring, ring ring."

Zhao Yongchang immediately answered the phone.

"explain."

"Zhang Yang's daily routine has been normal for the past two days, except that he probably met someone tonight."

"Who?" Zhao Yongchang asked, his breathing becoming rapid.

"I don't know exactly who it was, but the car was heading north of the city."

North? We met in the evening? Then that evening, Mr. Liu's secretary sent a text message, and Mr. Liu's courtyard was in the north.

Before Zhao Yongchang could even process what had happened with Young Master Liu, another sentence came through the phone:

"Besides you, Zhang Yang is the other person who has been talking to Jiang Qiao on the phone quite frequently lately."

These words were like a knife, stabbing straight into Zhao Yongchang's chest.

Jiang Qiao? His secretary? He was on the phone with Zhang Yang?

Zhao Yongchang froze on the spot, and the previously scattered fragments in his mind instantly came together.

Zhao Yongchang felt his blood rushing to his head, and something inside his body burning.

He kicked over the coffee table in front of him, scattering the ashtray, teapot, and phone charger all over the floor.

"Exaggeration—!"

Zhao Yongchang paced back and forth in the room, smoking one cigarette after another, until the sky outside the window began to lighten.

He threw his last cigarette to the ground, took out his phone, and dialed a number.

When the call connected, his voice was eerily calm:

"Do me a favor."

"Brother Zhao, go ahead and say it."

"Two people, Jiang Qiao and Zhang Yang, you're like this..." Zhao Yongchang paused, his eyes red-rimmed, but a grim smile tugged at the corners of his mouth: "You handle the arrangements for Jiang Qiao, as for Zhang Yang... wait for my notification."

"clear."

After hanging up the phone, Zhao Yongchang walked to the window, looked at the gradually brightening light on the horizon, and muttered to himself:

"Zhang Yang...didn't you want to open a shopping mall? On your opening day, I'll give you a big gift."