65: Jiufu Glass Factory

The night breeze was slightly cool, dispersing that nauseating smell of blood.

The trucks carrying the Meng father and son had already vanished into the depths of the night, their taillights no longer visible.

"Mr. Lin."

Chu Xiong put away the fierce aura on his face and immediately switched to the warm smile of an elder; his face-changing speed was faster than flipping a page in a book.

"Look at this, you've been tossed around all night."

"How about going to my place? My hillside residence is quiet, and the rooms are all ready."

"Yueli, this girl, still has a few bottles of good red wine stored away. Let her help you sober up?"

Chu Yueli, who had been silent by his side, had a pair of peach blossom eyes filled with autumn waters as she looked at Lin Chuan expectantly.

She bit her lower lip. Although she didn't speak, who with discerning eyes couldn't see the underlying invitation?

But while she was extending her invitation, it was Officer Su Qingyi's turn to be displeased.

This Northeast police beauty also grabbed Lin Chuan's clothes, not wanting him to agree.

A woman understands a woman best; how could she not see the eldest daughter of the Chu family's longing for Lin Chuan?

"No, thanks."

Lin Chuan waved his hand, refusing cleanly and decisively.

"It's too late today, and I just moved into a new home. My family is still waiting for me."

The light in Chu Yueli's eyes dimmed instantly, but she could only maintain the reserve of a lady from a great family and bowed slightly.

"On another day, the Chu family will host a banquet to apologize to you, Sir."

"You don't need to apologize for anything!" Lin Chuan shook his head.

"Of course we must. In this territory of Harbin, for someone to dare to clash with the Chu family's great benefactor, it is a lapse in our hospitality," Chu Xiong said.

"Alright, then we won't disturb your rest, Sir. Mr. Lin, farewell."

With a wave of Chu Xiong's hand, over a hundred men in black suits bowed in unison and then retreated silently.

They were incredibly well-trained, arriving like a thunderous rage and departing like the calm light upon a vast sea... The tiger head benz drove steadily on the empty asphalt road.

The sound insulation inside the car was excellent; only the low rumble of the V12 engine could be heard.

Officer Su Qingyi sat in the back seat, her hands clutching the trench coat that still carried Lin Chuan's body heat, still a bit dazed.

She peeked at Lin Chuan, who was resting with his eyes closed beside her.

That profile, with its sharp angles, appeared both familiar and strange under the flickering streetlights.

Was this her middle school classmate?

Was this the poor kid who once couldn't even afford his textbook fees?

Even a tycoon like Chu Xiong had to bow to him?

"Have you looked enough?"

Lin Chuan didn't open his eyes, but a mischievous smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"I'll have to start charging if you keep looking—a hundred per glance."

"Get lost!"

Officer Su Qingyi's face turned red, and she wasn't as stiff as before. She reached out and pinched Lin Chuan's arm.

"Hey, Lin Chuan, tell me the truth."

"That old man Chu Xiong is usually as proud as a rooster. Even my dad has to give him some face when they meet."

"Why is he like a mouse seeing a cat when he meets you?"

Lin Chuan opened his eyes.

"It's nothing much."

He shrugged nonchalantly and casually told a half-truth.

"A while back on Hong Kong Island..."

"The Chu family was greedy and went there to engage in quick-profit financial activities, hoping to make a fortune. As a result, they were almost swallowed up by a setup. That wave could very likely have knocked the Chu family out of the Three Kings rank."

"I gave them a hand in passing."

"That one move was equivalent to saving half the life of the Chu family."

"Tell me, can they afford not to be polite to me?"

Officer Su Qingyi nodded as if she understood, yet didn't quite.

Although she didn't understand exactly what he had done, she could still weigh the significance of the words 'saving half the life of the Chu family'.

"I really didn't expect you to be so amazing now..."

She murmured to herself, the little stars of admiration in her eyes nearly overflowing as she looked at Lin Chuan.

This was a man who held both the underworld and the legitimate world of Harbin under his feet!

And tonight, this man had gone on a killing spree just for her.

Thinking of this, Officer Su Qingyi only felt a sweetness in her heart, like she had drunk honey.

The car soon stopped below the municipal bureau's single dormitory building.

"Go on up, get some sleep."

Lin Chuan didn't linger too much; he just reached out to help her unbuckle her seatbelt.

"Mm..."

Officer Su Qingyi got out of the car somewhat reluctantly.

After taking two steps, she suddenly turned back and gave Lin Chuan, who was inside the car, a smile even more beautiful than tonight's moonlight.

"Lin Chuan!"

"Tomorrow, you must call me tomorrow, okay!"

"Otherwise, I'll arrest you!"

"I'm a law-abiding citizen, why would you arrest me?"

"Hehe." Officer Su Qingyi gave a silly laugh. The weather was a bit cold, so she then turned and went upstairs.

Watching the blue figure disappear into the stairwell, Lin Chuan smiled and shook his head.

"Let's go, Qiang Zi. To Splendid South of the River, let's go home."

...Splendid South of the River.

This was the first batch of wealthy residential areas built in Harbin in '92.

The kind of three-story small western-style buildings with independent yards, surrounded by green belts where trees were still being planted.

In this era where everyone was still living in tube-shaped apartments and communal courtyards, this was called a top-tier luxury residence.

As soon as Lin Chuan entered the door.

The house was brightly lit.

That huge crystal chandelier made the solid wood furniture in the living room reflect light.

"Oh! Xiao Chuan is back!"

It was already past four in the morning.

Country folk woke up early.

His Eldest Sister-in-law was wearing an apron, holding a rag in her hand, wiping the already shiny TV cabinet.

Seeing Lin Chuan come in, she quickly put down the rag and came to greet him.

"Have you eaten? There's rice porridge and steamed rolls in the pot!"

This was family.

No matter how impressive you were outside, the first question when you came home was always whether you were hungry.

"I've eaten, Sister-in-law."

Lin Chuan smiled and took off his coat.

His eldest brother Lin Jiang was sitting cross-legged on the leather sofa, holding a remote control and switching channels on the 29-inch color TV.

But his sitting posture was clearly not adapted to such a soft sofa; he was twisting and turning.

"Third Brother, this house is too big, too exciting!"

Lin Jiang's honest face was full of awkwardness.

"This sofa is as soft as a cotton bag; sitting on it doesn't feel steady."

"I've discussed it with your Second Brother. How about we plant some scallions and garlic in the yard? That piece of land is just sitting empty anyway."

Lin Chuan was amused as soon as he heard it.

This was a typical old farmer entering the city.

"Plant it, plant it! Big Brother, plant whatever you want!"

"This yard is our own; you can even raise pigs if you want!"

The Second Brother Lin He also came downstairs. He looked a bit more lively than the eldest brother, but he was also full of excitement.

"Xiao Chuan, this toilet is really something! You press it and the water goes whoosh!"

"Our life now really feels like a dream."

Looking at the simple and satisfied smiles of his family, the string in Lin Chuan's heart finally relaxed.

This was the meaning of his rebirth.

Wasn't it just to let this group of relatives live the life of the elite?

"Alright, Brother, Sister-in-law, this will be our norm from now on."

"Live here with peace of mind. If you lack anything, just tell Qiang Zi."

"I'm going upstairs to sleep first."

...In one breath, he slept directly until nine in the morning.

Lin Chuan sat in the dining room, eating the fried dough sticks his sister-in-law had made early and drinking soy milk.

That taste was more fragrant than any five-star hotel breakfast.

Just then.

The Nokia placed on the table began to ring.

Lin Chuan picked it up and pressed the answer button.

"Hello?"

"Boss! Something happened! Something happened again!!"

On the other end of the phone came Wang Dalong's frantic loud voice, carrying an urgency as if he were being chased by a dog.

Wang Dalong had ability, but there were truly many messy things encountered in business these days.

Lin Chuan frowned and put down the fried dough stick in his hand.

"What's wrong, Factory Director Wang? Why so flustered?"

"Zhao San and his group should have all been arrested. Is the fruit from the orchard we contracted not being collected yet?"

"It's not the fruit! The fruit is fine! This year's large yellow apricots and crabapples are a bumper crop. Our fleet is fully loaded!"

Wang Dalong sighed repeatedly on the other end.

"It's the jars! The canning jars!"

"What about them?"

"Jiu Fu Glass Factory suddenly sent us a fax this morning."

"They said they're going to withhold that batch of canning jars we ordered!"

"And they won't supply us anymore in the future!"

"Our fruit is all piled up in the warehouse. In this hot weather, it won't last!"

"If we don't have jars for canning, it'll all rot in our hands within a week!"

"By then, we'll lose everything before we even open for business!"

After Lin Chuan finished listening, his originally relaxed brow instantly furrowed into a deep frown.

He raised his hand and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Jiu Fu Glass Factory?"

"Didn't you sign a contract with them? The deposit was paid, how do they dare?"

"Boss! These days, those source factories are all like kings!"

Wang Dalong was also full of grievances on the other end.

"They cut you off whenever they say so, without even giving a reason."

Lin Chuan's eyes turned cold: "Such a lack of contract spirit!"

In this era, everything was indeed waiting to be rebuilt, and it was also a time of wild growth.

When the lifeblood of upstream raw materials is held in the hands of others, one is indeed passive.

Making canned goods requires glass jars.

If he gets into real estate in the future, he'll need glass even more!

Windows, curtain walls—which one can do without it?

Moreover, making glass curtain walls requires higher-quality tempered glass. Those factories that only know how to use connections for monopolies and pass off inferior goods as high-quality simply can't handle it.

If he gets stuck by such a small matter, how will he build large plazas in the future?

How will he build a CBD?

The matter of the glass factory must be resolved!

And not only must the current jar problem be solved, but this supply chain must be completely grasped in his own hands!

"Fine, I understand."

Lin Chuan said calmly, his tone conveying an unquestionable dominance.

"Factory Director Wang, go to the glass factory right now."

"Bring that contract with you."

"I want to see which deity in which temple dares to withhold my goods."

He hung up the phone.

Lin Chuan finished the remaining soy milk in a few gulps and wiped his mouth with a napkin.

"Qiang Zi! Prepare the car! Go pick up Chen Jiacheng."

"Have him come with me to the Jiu Fu Glass Factory!"