Free Web NovelChapter 700: Chapter 670: Ambush
Lu Yunqi swallowed his grievances. No matter how displeased he felt inside, when considering his future and fate, he could only bow to the young man before him.
The world is changing too fast. How can young people be so wicked these days? Although I may have strayed in certain behaviors, I have always been very serious about my work. How can you use this sort of thing to blackmail me? It’s really too despicable and shameless.
Lu Yunqi forced a smile and said, "Director Xu, you see, this matter is already resolved. It was all a misunderstanding. We are sister cities and both work for the Weishan Lake Resort. Some collisions are inevitable."
Xu Chunliang said, "Right, it’s all for work. Director Lu is someone who understands the bigger picture, and I appreciate your work attitude."
He didn’t intend to destroy Lu Yunqi utterly, after all, Lu Yunqi now had a weak spot in his grasp, and it would certainly be more convenient to conduct work in the future. Bringing someone new might mean unpredictable work attitudes.
Lu Yunqi humbly said, "Oh, no, no, I can’t compare to the young and promising Director Xu." As they talked, he gradually felt at ease, realizing that Xu Chunliang had no intention of exposing his matter with Liang Xin. Even though there would be a sword hanging over his head in the future, it was better than having it come down right now. Besides, relationships are built between people. He was in Jizhou while Xu Chunliang was in Dongzhou; fundamentally, there was no unresolvable conflict between them.
Thinking about this, Lu Yunqi slightly regretted making a fuss over such a matter. Initially, it was just something to be ignored, and since it had landed on him, he had to promptly mend the situation.
Lu Yunqi plastered a smile on his face, saying, "Director Xu, since you’re in Jizhou, I should show hospitality. How about this, don’t leave tonight. I’ll treat you, and we can all sit together to enhance our relationship."
He said this out of courtesy, not expecting Xu Chunliang to readily agree, stating he would first return to meet with colleagues and would contact Lu Yunqi later.
After Xu Chunliang left, Lu Yunqi quickly called Liang Xin into his office. Liang Xin entered, full of confusion, asking: "Why? He’s so unreasonable. Why did you give in?"
Lu Yunqi remained silent, opened his phone, and showed Liang Xin the message Xu Chunliang had sent him earlier. Upon seeing it, Liang Xin’s face turned white with fear and she stuttered, "What should we do?" Seeing Lu Yunqi’s serious expression, she quickly explained, "It wasn’t me who leaked it out."
Lu Yunqi thought to himself, what use is your explanation now, and whispered: "This person is very clever. He isn’t targeting me directly. Rather, he wants to achieve his goals through this means."
"Do you mean he will keep it a secret for us?" Liang Xin asked cautiously, feeling a slight sense of relief inside.
Lu Yunqi said, "Go book a hotel, Cuihu Yashan, and also get him a room."
Liang Xin looked bewildered: "What? You want me to..."
Lu Yunqi was at a loss between crying and laughing, thinking, where did this woman get the idea? I’m asking you to book a room for him, not to share a room with him.
Seeing Lu Yunqi’s expression, Liang Xin realized she had misunderstood, her face flushed with embarrassment, and she snapped, "You’re not making yourself clear."
Lu Yunqi sensed something was off. If he were to actually ask her to do such a thing, she might be willing to make sacrifices, considering Xu Chunliang’s promising future and handsome appearance.
Xu Chunliang returned to the Taibaiwa Water Security Management Team, where Li Chengbo and the others had already gathered the people. The three temporary workers hung their heads, looking like defeated roosters, fully aware of the trouble they’d caused, disgracing Hu Shan Town. Li Chengbo certainly won’t let them off.
Xu Chunliang called Li Chengbo aside, who gave him a thumbs-up, "You’re still the best. I knew as soon as you got involved, the complex matters would be resolved smoothly."
Xu Chunliang said, "But you can’t just drag me in whenever there’s trouble."
Li Chengbo laughed, "It won’t happen again. Mainly because no one in Hu Shan Town can handle such a tricky issue well."
Xu Chunliang said, "Tonight, the Jizhou Weishan Lake National Resort Command is treating me to dinner. Do you want to stay?"
Li Chengbo replied, "No need for me. I must rush back to account for things. These three troublemakers have caused such a mess. I plan to fire them all, and I need to report this face to face to Secretary Qin."
Xu Chunliang looked at Li Chengbo, and Li Chengbo realized he had misspoken, laughing awkwardly.
Xu Chunliang instantly understood that it was Qin Zhengyang who gave Li Chengbo the idea to find him.
Li Chengbo said, "I’ll head back first then. What time are you going back tomorrow? I’ll personally pick you up."
Xu Chunliang said, "No need, I’ll take the car back."
Li Chengbo remarked, "Even though we’re sister cities working together to build a national resort, up to now, we haven’t even opened a flight route between us."
Xu Chunliang was struck with an idea. He decided to resolve this matter today.
Liu Deshun also left with Li Chengbo. Through this incident, Xu Chunliang realized Liu Deshun’s lack of work competence. Despite his position, he was not as efficient as Zhang Haitao. Once back, Xu Chunliang planned to remove Liu Deshun.
Liang Xin called, her tone noticeably more gentle and pleasant: "Hello Director Xu, I’m Liang Xin."
Xu Chunliang said, "Xiaoliang!"
Liang Xin was taken aback for a moment, thinking, you may not be older than me, so why call me that? But she quickly realized it was just a superior addressing a subordinate. She informed Xu Chunliang about the dinner plans tonight and also told him that she had arranged a room for him.
Xu Chunliang checked the time and told Liang Xin he would arrive on time in the evening.
When Xu Chunliang hailed a cab, a taxi that had been waiting on the roadside drove up. The driver rolled down the window and said, "Where to?"
Xu Chunliang told him the destination, and the driver let him in.
Seated in the back, Xu Chunliang made a phone call to Fu Guomin during the ride, giving him a brief report on the handling of the matter. Fu Guomin was very pleased and advised Xu Chunliang to use this opportunity to communicate well with the Jizhou side. If everyone could complement each other’s strengths and share resources during development, it would prevent wasting national resources.
After hanging up, Xu Chunliang noticed the surroundings becoming desolate and immediately grew cautious. He asked the driver, "Where are you taking me, driver?"
The driver said, "To Cuihu Yashan. You outsiders don’t know the situation; the original road is under construction and not easy to travel."
Xu Chunliang said, "You figured it out? Outsider, and you’re taking me around the long way?" He glanced at the map and realized it was a significant detour. He hadn’t expected to encounter a shady taxi.
The driver suddenly slammed on the brakes, causing Xu Chunliang to lurch forward. He quickly braced himself against the back of the front seat. This driver was a bit wild.
The driver angrily said, "What are you talking about? Who’s taking you for a ride?"
Xu Chunliang said, "Driving further and further isn’t taking me for a ride?"
The driver said, "Get out; I don’t even want to drive you."
Xu Chunliang said, "Believe it or not, I’ll report you."
"Go ahead and report me, I’m not afraid; at worst, I’ll quit."
The driver pushed open the door and got out. Xu Chunliang had never encountered such a prickly driver. After getting off, the driver suddenly bolted toward the woods.
Xu Chunliang was a bit bewildered. Is he really that scared? Worried I’d beat you up?!
Xu Chunliang opened the car door and got out, finding the road desolate with not a person or car in sight.
At this moment, he heard the puttering of a farm tricycle engine. Three farm tricycles emerged from the woods, each carrying five or six people, totaling roughly seventeen.
Xu Chunliang instantly understood—it was a setup. That taxi driver had targeted him from the start, waiting for him to call a cab and then brought him here. These seventeen people were pre-arranged to ambush him.
Xu Chunliang didn’t immediately flee. What’s to fear in just seventeen people? He hadn’t been in a fight for a while, so it was a good chance to stretch his muscles.
Before making a move, he took out his phone to record evidence.
The seventeen men who surrounded him didn’t waste words. They grabbed various weapons and got off the tricycles—there were wooden sticks, iron pipes, and shovels. The leader, a middle-aged man with graying hair, pointed at Xu Chunliang and shouted, "Dog thief, beat him!"
This was also a typical trick—when wanting to act, they’d fabricate a charge to justify their actions.
Xu Chunliang hadn’t seen a single dog; how could he be a dog thief?
Normally, one would run away in such a situation, but Xu Chunliang didn’t run. Instead, he bravely charged at them.
In the eyes of those men, he was courting a beating, volunteering for death.
In Xu Chunliang’s view, these seventeen had a fate of being beaten. It was a good way to warm up before dinner. Like the saying, "shoot the horse first, catch the bandit king first," Xu Chunliang headed straight for the leading middle-aged man.
A muscular, tanned youth swung an iron rod at Xu Chunliang in a quick sweep, but Xu Chunliang was faster. Before the rod fully swung, a punch landed on the youth’s jaw, sending his over-170-pound body flying into the air.
Grandmaster Xu broke into the enemy ranks like nobody’s business, punching and kicking. In an instant, he knocked down five men.
Although the opponents included some trained individuals, their combat prowess wasn’t in the same league as Xu Chunliang’s. The leading middle-aged man quickly realized this. Seeing Xu Chunliang’s astounding combat ability, whether they brought seventeen or seventy, it wouldn’t be enough.
Xu Chunliang kicked a 200-pound man to the ground, eliminating any barriers between him and the leading middle-aged man.
The middle-aged man was quick to react, shouting, "Everyone stop, is there some mistake..." Before he could finish, Xu Chunliang rushed in front of him, delivering a slap across his face, "No mistake, I’m beating you!"
The middle-aged man spun in place twice from the slap, turning into a human top.
