Chapter 328: Wolf and Dog

Chapter 328 -258: Wolf and Dog

Zhong Hua asked Gu Heng in a low voice.

“Let them go.”

Gu Heng waved a hand, his expression placid.

‘Some sheep shear their own wool, wash themselves clean, season their own flesh, and then walk into a pack of wolves, only to beg them not to eat it. After the wolves devour the meat, they toss the bones to the dogs. And the dogs, not daring to eat the bones, just lick them obsessively.’

‘Ironic, isn’t it?’

‘But that was reality.’

‘The law of the jungle: the strong prey on the weak.’

‘Take the relationship between Gu Heng, Feng Yao, and Gao Junlin. Even if Gu Heng had never entered Feng Yao’s life, Gao Junlin’s chances of ever having her were practically zero.’

‘Although Gao Junlin’s family was well-off and he looked the part, he was merely a second-generation rich kid from a single city. His monthly allowance was limited, nowhere near enough to satisfy Feng Yao’s insatiable appetite for luxury.’

‘Vain, high-maintenance, calculating, and self-serving—that was Feng Yao in a nutshell. It was also an accurate depiction of many pretty young college students in modern society.’

‘Wildly ambitious and conceited.’

‘Their desires were a bottomless pit; they always felt they deserved better.’

‘In reality, they were just blinded by the glittering temptations all around them.’

“Understood.”

Zhong Hua bowed his head in understanding.

“After they’re released, keep an eye on them.”

“If they’re smart enough to leave, then just let them go.”

Gu Heng added, “But if they don’t know what’s good for them and dare go back to harass Feng Yao, then throw them back in a cell. Keep them locked up for another twenty-four hours. We’ll let them out when they’ve finally learned their lesson.”

“Understood.”

Zhong Hua nodded to show he understood, then disappeared into the crowd to carry out Gu Heng’s instructions. Just as Zhong Hua left, Fan Hong saw his chance and quickly came over.

“Chairman Gu, did you have a good time this morning?”

Fan Hong asked in a familiar tone.

“It was pretty good,” Gu Heng replied with a smile. “Uncle Fan, do you know how to ski? Want to join me this afternoon? A little relaxation helps relieve stress, you know.”

“I used to ski for a couple of years, so I can get by. But with these old bones, I don’t dare to anymore. If I were to fall, I’d surely end up in the hospital, and that would really hold things up.”

Fan Hong shook his head, his voice tinged with wistfulness.

“Alright then.”

Gu Heng didn’t press him. The project Fan Hong was in charge of was the top priority for the entire Group. If Fan Hong really did end up in the hospital because of skiing, it would be a real problem.

The two chatted for a few more moments. As they approached the hotel, Fan Hong shifted to business matters. “Chairman Gu, Director Zhao called this morning. He said Director Huang is back from his meeting in the provincial capital. To apologize for his absence yesterday, he’d like to treat us to another dinner tonight. He also wants to take the opportunity to discuss the policy details we couldn’t settle on yesterday.”

“This Director Huang sure got back from the provincial capital quickly.”

Gu Heng remarked languidly, his tone tinged with meaning.

Fan Hong understood Gu Heng’s unspoken point and simply smiled without saying a word.

“If he wants to meet, then let’s meet.”

Gu Heng didn’t dwell on it, saying with a faint smile, “After all, we’re on his turf. It would be a bit arrogant to refuse a personal dinner invitation from the head of the region.”

“Alright.”

Fan Hong replied in a low voice, “Then I’ll give Director Zhao our reply shortly.”

“You handle the arrangements.”

“Once the time and place are set, send them to my WhatsApp.”

Gu Heng instructed Fan Hong as he walked into the hotel.

‘Choosing the Changbai Region as the site for Zhen Cui Group’s first herbal medicine planting base was not a decision I made on a whim. Rather, it was a final judgment made after careful consideration and deliberation with the Zhao De Inheritance Think Tank.’

‘Looking across all of Ji Province, there were actually many areas suitable for growing herbal medicine. For example, Yanbian Prefecture, which borders Changbai Mountain, was also very suitable for cultivating herbal medicine.’

‘However, the reason I and the Zhao De Inheritance Think Tank chose the Changbai Region for Zhen Cui Group’s first herbal medicine planting base was that the Changbai Region was much smaller than Yanbian Prefecture, and it was also a provincially-administered area.’

‘When Zhen Cui Group arrived with an investment plan for a ten-thousand-mu herbal medicine base, we were guaranteed the highest level of reception and attention here. Had we taken the same plan to Yanbian Prefecture, we would have been valued, certainly, but a top-tier reception would have been out of the question.’

‘After all, the top officials in Yanbian Prefecture concurrently held vice-gubernatorial ranks.’

‘Under these circumstances, by establishing Zhen Cui Group’s first herbal medicine base in Changbai, we could not only secure the most favorable policies for our initial development but also leverage this position to gain more influence and command more respect for future investments in other parts of Ji Province.’

‘Furthermore, since the Changbai Management Committee was a provincially-administered body, if Zhen Cui Group’s base in the Changbai Region proved to be a great success, it would be much easier for news of that success to reach the provincial government through the Committee than it would be through a standard municipality.’

‘After that recent entrepreneurs’ banquet in Ji Province, I had officially appeared on the radar of many top leaders and prominent local business figures. I didn’t want to be the tallest tree in the forest, a target for the wind, but nor did I want to be a frog in a well, ignorant of the world outside.’

‘Since I had stumbled into that circle by a twist of fate, I might as well put in some effort to cultivate my position within it. For the future development of the many business groups under my name, the pros would definitely outweigh the cons.’

After Gu Heng and Fan Hong quickly settled the matter of the evening banquet in just a few words, Fan Hong politely declined Gu Heng’s invitation to lunch and hurried off to handle his affairs.

Gu Heng didn’t insist.

He led Wang Wan Ning through the Park Hyatt Hotel’s various restaurants, finally picking a Sichuan place and walking inside…