Chapter 47: Dog Brother-in-Law
Chapter 47: Dog Brother-in-Law
Yu Jiahao stayed on the mining mountain for over an hour before coming down. It seemed like he really wanted to take over this copper mine.
When he returned to the mining site, Yu Jiahao chatted and laughed with several leaders, occasionally glancing at Li Zian.
Every time Yu Jiahao glanced at Li Zian, Li Zian would smile back at him. After a few times, Yu Jiahao simply stopped looking at him.
Wang Cheng walked over, his expression serious.
Li Zian quietly reminded him, “Speak softly if you have something to say.”
Wang Cheng nodded and leaned close to Li Zian’s ear, lowering his voice. “That guy Yu was chatting with the leaders the whole way. He asked how much General Manager Yu owed in Mineral Resource Compensation Fee, how long it had been overdue, and the amount of the fine. He asked in great detail.”
“What else did he say?”
“He also asked how much it would cost if he wanted to buy this copper mine. The leaders said they needed to go back and discuss it in a meeting to decide, but as long as he pays off the overdue Mineral Resource Compensation Fee owed by the mine, they would definitely give him policy benefits.”
“Go on.”
“That was the important part. As you instructed, I took them along the hardest route and showed them the most desolate areas. That effeminate guy complained the whole way; he wasn’t even as tough as the woman with him.”
Li Zian smiled. “You worked hard.”
Wang Cheng said, “General Manager Li, you don’t need to be polite with me. I’ll go back and listen some more, see if I can gather some valuable information.”
Li Zian nodded and watched Wang Cheng leave.
Wang Cheng hadn’t even been gone a minute when Yu Jiahao waved at Li Zian. “Brother-in-law, come here a moment.”
Li Zian said lazily, “What’s the matter?”
Yu Jiahao said, “The leaders want to talk to you. If you don’t come over, I and the leaders will come to you.”
Only then did Li Zian get up from his stool and slowly walk over.
It was exactly noon, and the sun was scorching. Several men in suits held umbrellas for the leaders, Yu Jiahao, and Ge Jun, so they didn’t feel the heat. But Li Zian and Wang Cheng stood under the sun, feeling hot and exposed. Wang Cheng was used to it with his rough, thick skin, but Li Zian had fair, clean skin. This sun exposure would probably tan him.
Standing under the sun, Li Zian cursed in his heart, “Damn it, they’re deliberately making me stand in the sun, trying to tan me. I’ll have to ask the Housekeeper for some skincare products tonight.”
“Are you General Manager Yu’s husband?” a tall leader asked.
Li Zian said, “Yes, my name is Li Zian.”
“Why isn’t General Manager Yu here?” the tall leader asked again.
“She went to withdraw money to pay the migrant workers from Jingua Village,” Li Zian said cooperatively, giving them full respect.
“When will she be back?” a female leader asked.
Li Zian said, “It might take a little while. It’s sunny here; why don’t we go to the reception room? I’ll have someone make tea for the leaders and turn on the air conditioning.”
Ge Jun said, “That won’t be necessary. We’ll wait for her here.”
Yu Jiahao looked at Li Zian standing under the sun, a cold smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
Aren’t you handsome?
I’m going to tan you!
The leaders originally wanted to go to the reception room. Having tea and waiting in air conditioning would be much more comfortable. Here, even with someone holding an umbrella, it still affected their leader image, and it was hot even under the umbrella. But since Yu Jiahao didn’t move, the leaders worried about offending the investor and could only endure it.
Local minor leaders wanting to attract investment and develop the local economy sometimes had no choice.
Li Zian wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling somewhat trapped. Leaving would offend the leaders. As Yu Meilin’s husband, he had to treat these leaders from Yu Meilin’s perspective. Even if he didn’t like it, he couldn’t offend them. Staying meant suffering under the sun, and Yu Jiahao and Ge Jun were clearly trying to mess with him. If he got tanned standing in the sun, wouldn’t that please his enemies and pain his loved ones?
Just then, Wang Cheng shouted, “Hey, someone, go get an umbrella for General Manager Li.”
“Alright!” Several rough men rushed to do it.
Li Zian got an idea and said, “Mine Manager Wang, have some people bring a few chairs with backs for the leaders. We can’t have the leaders standing.”
“Okay.” Wang Cheng acknowledged and then saw Li Zian wink at him. He understood and nodded.
In a flash, several rough men stood behind Li Zian, each holding an umbrella, blocking the sun above him completely. Wang Cheng also led some miners to bring chairs, all with backs—one for each leader, and one for Li Zian too. Only Yu Jiahao and Ge Jun didn’t get chairs. If they didn’t get any, the fashionable woman and the umbrella-holding lackeys certainly didn’t.
Li Zian smiled and said, “Leaders, please sit, sit, let’s talk sitting down.”
The leaders felt very awkward, unsure whether to sit or not.
Li Zian didn’t mind; he sat down on a chair himself and then said, “Mine Manager Wang, have someone check if there’s any ice cream or something in the kitchen to bring for the leaders. Eating ice cream on such a hot day is refreshing.”
Wang Cheng said, “There’s no ice cream, but there are several watermelons frozen in the kitchen fridge.”
Li Zian said, “Then what are we waiting for? Quickly go cut some watermelon for the leaders.”
Wang Cheng went himself.
Soon, Wang Cheng came out carrying a ceramic plate with several pieces of watermelon on it. Each leader got one piece, and Li Zian got one too. Again, none for Yu Jiahao or Ge Jun.
Li Zian sat on the chair, munching on watermelon, praising as he ate, “So sweet, so cool, so comfortable.”
The female leader finally couldn’t resist and started eating the watermelon Wang Cheng gave her. She glanced sideways at Yu Jiahao with a rather dissatisfied look.
This was exactly what Li Zian wanted. By providing chairs and watermelon, he was courteous and respectful to the leaders. This way, the leaders would feel that Yu Jiahao was using his investor status to pressure them and didn’t respect them.
Sure enough, after taking a couple of bites, the female leader simply sat on the chair and continued eating the watermelon.
Li Zian smiled and said, “Sorry, brother-in-law, there’s no more watermelon. Would you like to eat mine?”
He really offered his half-eaten watermelon to Yu Jiahao.
How could Yu Jiahao accept it?
Ge Jun spat, “Who wants your stupid watermelon!”
The female leader looked up at Ge Jun.
Ge Jun had more insults ready, but under the female leader’s gaze, he swallowed his words.
“Let’s just go to the reception room to wait. After all, my brother-in-law is just a live-in son-in-law; he doesn’t have a say. Specific matters have to be decided by my sister,” Yu Jiahao said sarcastically.
Li Zian just listened and continued eating his watermelon.
The tall leader laughed awkwardly. “Yes, yes, let’s go to the reception room to wait. It’s too hot here.”
Just then, a beat-up pickup truck drove in through the main gate. The driver was one of the mine’s drivers, and Yu Meilin sat in the passenger seat.
The pickup drove right up to the edge of the crowd before stopping. The door opened, and Yu Meilin got out.
Li Zian stood up and went to meet her, leaning close to her ear to ask, “Is it done?”
Yu Meilin nodded. “It’s all done.”
Li Zian breathed a sigh of relief. “Then go talk with the leaders. I’ll back you up here.”
Yu Meilin smiled. “You solved all the problems. I’m the one backing you up.”
Her voice was gentle.
Li Zian felt a strange itch in his heart.
“Sis, you’re back. The leaders are all here too. Come over and chat,” Yu Jiahao said. He hated seeing Yu Meilin and Li Zian talking and laughing together.
Yu Meilin walked over and greeted the leaders, then said, “It’s too hot here. Let’s go to the reception room to talk.”
The tall leader said, “Mr. Yu, it’s too hot here. Let’s go to the reception room to talk.”
Yu Jiahao nodded, full of confidence.
Li Zian lagged behind, taking out his mobile phone to make a call.
The call connected quickly.
Li Zian stopped walking. “Is that Big Brother Jielong?”
“It’s me, Zian. I beat up that San Jiuxiang guy. He won’t dare cause trouble at the mine again,” said the voice of Kaqianda Jielong.
“That’s good. Big Brother Jielong, you helped me a lot today. I’ll remember it.”
“Why be polite with me?”
“Then I won’t stand on ceremony. Here’s the thing: the money has been withdrawn. Have the people who worked at the mine come collect their wages.”
“No problem. I knew you were a man of your word. I’ll go notify them right away.”
Li Zian hung up and walked toward the reception room.
Ge Jun’s bodyguards stood in the corridor in front of the door, just like yesterday. But this time, no one blocked Li Zian’s way; they moved aside in advance.
The fashionable woman in the spaghetti strap dress also stayed in the corridor, staring straight at Li Zian. For some reason, she deliberately pushed out her chest.
Even pushed out, it wasn’t as big as Yu Meilin’s.
“Mine Manager Wang, the people from Jingua Village will come to collect their wages soon. Please get the payroll ready,” Li Zian instructed before entering.
“Okay, I’ll go prepare it right away.” Wang Cheng left.
Li Zian pushed the door open and went in.
Yu Meilin and the leaders sat on the sofa, while Yu Jiahao and Ge Jun stood. Neither of them sat.
When Li Zian entered, Yu Meilin was speaking.
“Leaders, I just got back from the bank. I’ll pay the migrant workers from Jingua Village soon. Also, I promise that once the copper mine is in normal production, I will invest locally to help develop the area—building bridges, paving roads, donating to education, all without issue.”
The leaders glanced at each other, as if exchanging looks.
The tall leader spoke. “General Manager Yu, we know you want to run the copper mine well. But it’s been several years without success. As the mining rights holder, you owe the local government over twelve million in Mineral Resource Compensation Fee. We came today to be straightforward with you: our area is very backward, and local finances are tight. This money is very important to us; we must collect it.”
Just as Yu Meilin was about to speak, Li Zian leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Don’t rush. Let’s see what cards Yu Jiahao still has to play.”
Yu Meilin nodded.
A contemptuous smile appeared on Yu Jiahao’s lips. “Sis, when did you start obeying this mountain villager?”
He was playing his card.