Chapter Forty-Eight: Betrayal

After dropping off Huanhuan, Chen Huajiang went straight to the department store. The staff at the department store always started work very early, and it was now considered a state-owned enterprise. Upon arrival, Chen asked around for the finance department and went directly to find Guo Lin.

Through the window, he saw Guo Lin inside, busy with work. If he counted the time, it had been years since they last met. Chen Huajiang's past life had been tragic, and this life was not much better. His parents died in a car accident when he was sixteen. He witnessed the accident himself, but the party responsible was wealthy and powerful; he was too young at the time to confront them. Nevertheless, Chen Huajiang kept the matter in his mind—one day, he would take his revenge.

Afterward, he lived with his grandparents, and when he turned eighteen, he struck out on his own. Eventually, he met Lin Jiayin, and the two married.

Smiling, Chen Huajiang walked into the finance department and asked, "Hello, I'm looking for Guo Lin."

Several people turned their heads, and Guo Lin stopped what he was doing, stood up, and walked over to Chen Huajiang. He looked Chen up and down, finally recognizing him.

"You are... Huajiang?"

Guo Lin could hardly believe it—Chen Huajiang had been gone for years, and no one in the village knew what he was doing.

"That's right! You've grown so tall. I remember you weren't taller than me back then," Chen Huajiang said warmly, patting Guo Lin's shoulder.

"You've been gone for so long, and never came back to the village even once. Let's talk outside," Guo Lin said, pulling Chen into the hallway.

"Sigh, don't mention it. I felt too ashamed to go back—I haven't made any money, didn't want to worry Grandpa and Grandma. Besides, they have my uncle to take care of them, so I feel at ease."

Chen Huajiang had thought about returning, but wanted to wait until he had made real money.

"That's true. How did you know I was here?" Guo Lin asked, a question that caught Chen off guard.

"Everyone knows you went to college. I just asked around and found out. How are things now? Actually, I came to see you about something—we should find some time to talk in detail."

Chen Huajiang still felt Guo Lin would be the best candidate for their store manager. He didn't know how much Guo Lin earned here each month, but he was sure he could offer more.

"Alright, give me an address and I'll come find you after work tonight."

"You can go straight to the entrance of the Red Flag Machinery Factory. I've opened a snack shop there. I'll let you try my cooking."

Guo Lin was momentarily stunned—he hadn't expected this guy to be running a business.

"Look at you, already running a snack shop. Then I won't be shy; I'll come find you tonight," Guo Lin said, patting Chen Huajiang's shoulder, clearly familiar with him.

After making arrangements with Guo Lin, Chen Huajiang went to the textile factory entrance. Liang Long had already built two rooms, enough for their snack shop. However, they still needed to purchase some equipment. Chen Huajiang only had a few thousand yuan at the moment, but it should be enough. Aside from the refrigerator, which was a major item, everything else was fairly inexpensive. Of course, Chen Huajiang left these matters to Liang Long.

"Huajiang, do you think business here at the textile factory will be as good as at the Red Flag Factory?" Liang Long asked as he worked.

"It should be about the same. The number of people in both factories is similar," Chen Huajiang replied with confidence. As a boss, if he lacked confidence, how could his team follow him?

"Huajiang, how do you come up with all these ideas? Why don't I? Anyway, from now on, I'm sticking with you. Whatever you do, I'll invest. It's bound to make money."

Liang Long couldn't do much else, but he had some sense in this regard.

"Business has its ups and downs. Don't expect to always make money—some projects might lose, and when they do, don't blame me," Chen Huajiang said with a grin.

Of course, he was joking. How could he lose? He knew exactly what he was doing—there was no chance of failure.

After finishing preparations for the new branch, the two returned to the snack shop at the machinery factory.

Meanwhile, Wu De went to find Feng Weizhi. He had to act quickly and tell Feng Weizhi that Chen Huajiang had asked his uncle to investigate Wei Meixian, so they could join forces against Chen Huajiang.

Wu De's hatred for Chen Huajiang was now deep and bitter.

Feng Weizhi definitely wouldn't be at Wei Meixian—it had already closed down, and there was no word from the food bureau about when it might reopen. So, Wu De had to go to Feng Weizhi's home.

When Wu De arrived, Feng Weizhi was alone, gloomily drinking.

Seeing Wu De, Feng Weizhi frowned; he didn't know what business Wu De had with him at this hour.

"Hello, Mr. Feng!" Wu De greeted cheerfully.

"Is there something you need?" Feng Weizhi's mood was foul, and he wasn't inclined to chat.

"Mr. Feng, I came to tell you something. This time, Wei Meixian was investigated because someone secretly set you up."

Wu De spoke bluntly—if he didn't, Feng Weizhi's expression suggested he wouldn't listen.

Feng Weizhi had always thought that Zhou Guoan wanted to make a show at the food bureau, so he had his restaurant investigated. But now, hearing Wu De, it sounded like there was more to the story.

He pondered, but couldn't recall anyone with whom he'd had a conflict serious enough to orchestrate such a scheme—especially one that involved the food bureau.

"Tell me, who set me up?" Feng Weizhi demanded, eager for answers.

"You know him—Chen Huajiang from the Red Flag Machinery Factory snack shop."

Wu De's revelation shocked Feng Weizhi. He had no real conflict with Chen Huajiang; the man had no motive.

"How do you know? Why would he set me up?"

"Last time, you came to us and mentioned something might be wrong with his ingredients, so we reported him. The food bureau investigated, but everything in his shop was normal. He found out, figured you were behind it, so he reported you in turn."

When Feng Weizhi had visited, he did intend for Wu De and Gou Weidong to report Chen Huajiang, since he couldn't do it himself.

He hadn't expected Chen Huajiang to discover the plot and retaliate.

The worst part was, his own staff had been careless enough to leave expired products in the kitchen—just in time for the food bureau's inspection.

Even if they hadn't used them, everyone believed they had.