Chapter 168 A simple ribbon-cutting ceremony for the groundbreaking ceremony, attended by three bigwigs.

Currently, a very profitable project under the Ning Group has received investment from the Lu family, and the amount is even higher than what Ning Hai originally wanted to secure.

What she never expected was that, even though she hadn't done anything, Lu Jueming, the young master of the Lu family, managed to secure investments from three other major families for her in a short period of time.

The fact that the four top families in Xinghan City, led by the Lu family, have all given strong support to the Ning Group has caused a great stir in the business world.

Almost overnight, the Ning Group swept away years of decline and not only showed a strong momentum to return to the top tier of Xinghan City as it had been more than a decade ago, but also countless experts predicted that the Ning Group would soon become the strongest enterprise in the city and even rank among the top ten in the country.

As a result, the young Ning Yao has attracted much attention and has recently appeared frequently in various business media, receiving high praise.

After all, just over a month ago, Ning Hai, the head of the Ning Group and her father, suddenly fled abroad.

Although the specific reasons are unknown to outsiders, this is a fatal crisis for the group.

All the heavy responsibilities of the group fell on Ning Yao's shoulders.

Before this, everyone's impression of Ning Yao was just that of a spoiled rich girl. They had never heard of her having any abilities or achievements, and she would occasionally make the news for showing off her wealth or causing trouble due to her arrogance.

If it weren't for Ning Hai pulling strings behind the scenes, she would have been in jail countless times.

To everyone's surprise, after her family's group faced such a serious crisis, she took the lead and received joint support from the four top families in Xinghan City. The Ning Group's meteoric rise was now a certainty.

And so, Ning Yao experienced a tremendous turnaround.

Even her past negative news stories have now become material used by many media outlets to praise her for her unconventional behavior, daring, and individualistic nature, making her a dazzling legendary figure among the younger generation.

Ning Yao began to feel that she must be a chosen one of heaven.

However, even with the halo of fame and the group's rapid rise, she could not erase her hatred for Ning Jinli.

Even setting aside their childhood animosity and the grudges surrounding Ning Jinli's failure to save her ex-boyfriend from death, she still couldn't tolerate Ning Jinli causing her father to flee overseas.

That night, more than a month ago, was supposed to be a rare time for her family of three to have dinner together, but her father suddenly had to go out, saying it was a great thing. As a result, he never came back.

She and her mother waited at home until midnight, only to be met with a police investigation.

However, neither the mother nor the daughter knew anything about what Ning Hai had done.

It wasn't until later that the mother and daughter learned that Ning Hai had been wanted by the police and had fled to the United States.

Ning Yao knew that her father's escape abroad was caused by Ning Jinli because Ning Hai suddenly made a phone call half a month ago.

On the other end of the phone, Ning Hai told her that he was safe now and there was no need to worry. As for the reason why he was wanted, Ning Hai did not go into details, only saying that he had been defeated by Ning Jinli.

His words were full of resentment.

Therefore, Ning Yao naturally blamed all her old and new grudges on Ning Jinli.

Today is a great opportunity.

She was at the height of her fame, and she had also caught Ning Jinli in a compromising situation.

A crucial piece of leverage that could land Ning Jinli in jail with no chance of recovery.

Ning Yao, dressed in a bright red haute couture outfit, got into the Rolls-Royce that the driver had prepared, with more than a dozen luxury cars in front and behind the Rolls-Royce.

Ning's mother was already waiting in the car. When she saw her daughter arrive, she asked, "Yaoyao, are you sure you can bring down Ning Jinli?"

"Mom, I told you to learn more about business, all you do is shop and have fun all day long," Ning Yao muttered.

Ning's mother smoothed her hair, which had just cost nearly ten thousand yuan to style, and said with a smile, "Oh my, our Miss Ning is now the head of the group, that's quite something!"

Ning Yao told the driver to start the car, then took her mother's arm and patiently explained, "Mom, in our country, private transactions of oil are strictly prohibited. Any project directly related to oil must be operated by the state. Ning Jinli has opened an oil refining plant, which is definitely a problem."

Ning's mother said, "Maybe she got approval?"

Ning Yao rolled her eyes. "Only a very small number of related projects can get processing approval under special circumstances. How could Ning Jinli have that ability? Moreover, according to my people's investigation, she obtained crude oil from somewhere and dared to build her own refinery! This is no longer one of the few projects that can be specially approved; it's completely illegal! Just the fact that she's privately dealing in crude oil is already an infringement on national interests; that's enough to shut her down!"

Ning's mother was not clear about the specific rules, but when she heard that it was illegal, she roughly understood, but she was still a little confused, "Didn't Ning Jinli know that it was illegal?"

Ning Yao curled her lip. "She doesn't know anything. She's never done business before. She just got lucky and made money by that crappy factory. People like her are usually the most careless. They only think about how to make more money and don't consider whether it's legal or not."

Seeing that her mother still seemed a little worried, Ning Yao took her hand and said:

"Anyway, ever since oil appeared in her factory, I've had people watching her. My people couldn't find out where her oil came from, which is enough to conclude that she used some kind of particularly covert smuggling method."

“I’ve not only called in reporters, but also the relevant official investigation team. They’ll all be there,” Ning Yao said, becoming more and more excited. “And I’ve also invited representatives from the four major families to witness this. I’m going to make Ning Jinli lose face and reputation before sending her to jail!”

Ning's mother smiled and praised repeatedly, "My Yaoyao has really grown up, she's got the skills and the guts! Well done!"

"Of course!" Ning Yao leaned her head on her mother's shoulder. "I won't let anyone who messes with us get away with it! Otherwise, they'll think our family is easy to bully!"

With a look of satisfaction in her eyes, Ning's mother couldn't help but say, "Seeing how successful you are now, all the efforts your father and I made back then... really weren't in vain."

Ning Yao sensed a hint of gossip. "Hmm? Back then? What happened?"

"Ah...no, no," Ning's mother said calmly, looking out the car window. "It was just a momentary feeling."

Ning's mother's reaction clearly indicated that there was something going on behind the scenes, but seeing that she was unwilling to talk about it, Ning Yao didn't press the matter further.

Compared to Ning Yao's elaborate scheme, Ning Jinli's was much simpler.

The oil processing area was expanded from an unused area behind her original large factory. The groundbreaking ceremony was held there, and there were very few participants.

Besides her, her parents, Su Qinglan, and senior executives of the large factory such as Zheng Houcheng, as well as all the employees of the oil refinery, there were only three guests.

"Dad, Mom, godmother, this is Sister Ying whom I've mentioned to you before." Ning Jinli introduced Shangguan Ying to her family.

"Hello." Shangguan Ying greeted them with a smile and shook hands with them one by one.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Ning Shan glanced at the two middle-aged men behind Shangguan Ying.

Although both of them were dressed in the most ordinary clothes, they exuded a unique aura in their every move.

"Xiao Li, who are those two?" Ning Shan asked his daughter quietly.

"I don't know her either..." Ning Jinli answered softly, "I only invited Sister Ying, maybe she's one of her entourage?"

Ning Shan didn't think so.

Firstly, Shangguan Ying did have quite a few entourage members with her this time, but they were all waiting next to the oil processing plant, unlike these two who stayed by her side the whole time.

Secondly, these two people have a different temperament from the entourage, and seem to be people of extraordinary status and position, just like Shangguan Ying.

As the father and daughter speculated...

Shangguan Ying said generously, "Let me introduce you. These two are the top officials of the National Energy Administration and the National Security Administration, respectively. Jinli's crude oil processing plant is extraordinary and has a special situation. It was thanks to the help of these two that it was able to pass the internal approval. That's why I invited them here as well."

Upon hearing this, Ning Jinli and her family were all shocked.

It goes without saying that they, like Shangguan Ying, are also national-level figures!

"Hello, hello!" Ning Shan hurriedly shook hands with the two of them in turn. "Thank you both for taking care of Xiao Li."

The two were approachable, laughing and saying no to formalities, and jokingly said they hadn't informed everyone beforehand and hoped no one would mind.

Shangguan Ying pulled Ning Jinli aside and said, "Jinli, because your oil factory is unprecedented in nature and its source cannot be disclosed to the outside world, there are currently no relevant documents or rules to refer to. After the two responsible persons have investigated the situation, they will go back and make a license for you that can be made public."

Ning Jinli stuck out her tongue. "If I start refining oil now, wouldn't that be operating without a license?"

Shangguan Ying laughed and said, "The special approval from the state, plus the green light from those two big shots with decision-making power, is far more useful than a piece of paper. Giving you a license is just to avoid some unnecessary trouble in the future. Otherwise, if someone reports you for operating illegally every few days, wouldn't the relevant departments be kept busy to death?"

“Hehe…” Ning Jinli’s big eyes sparkled. “It feels so good to have the country supporting me.”

"It's time, everyone please come over here," Zheng Houcheng, who was in charge of the ribbon-cutting ceremony, called out.

The factory's senior management and the oil refinery's employees stood on both sides of the oil refinery's gate, in front of which a large red ribbon woven with flowers was stretched out.

Afterwards, Ning Jinli pulled Shangguan Ying to cut the ribbon together, and also invited two heads of national departments.

Just as the ribbon-cutting ceremony was about to begin.

The factory's security captain ran over and said that a group of people had ignored the gatekeepers' attempts to stop them and forced their way in, even breaking down the factory gate.

As soon as the security captain finished speaking, the roar of a vehicle engine grew louder as it approached.

A convoy of more than a dozen luxury cars drove straight in, brazenly barging into the front of the oil refinery, with a large group of security guards chasing after them, panting heavily.

The entourage of the government officials immediately went on alert, protecting the two of them and Shangguan Ying behind them.

After the convoy stopped, thirty or forty bodyguards dressed in black suits and sunglasses quickly got out of the cars.

Then, several bodyguards ran to the Rolls-Royce and a luxury car behind it and opened the doors.

Three serious-looking men carrying briefcases got out of the car behind.

Ning Yao and her mother, Lin Lina, stepped out of the Rolls-Royce one after the other.

Ning Shan and Ye Zhi Qiu's faces immediately fell when they saw their sister-in-law and niece.

"How dare they barge in here?" Ye Zhi Qiu rolled up his sleeves, ready to rush over.

"Zhiqiu, don't be impulsive!" Ning Shan hurriedly pulled her back. "We don't know what they're up to yet. Let's see how things go first."

Ye Zhi Qiu felt a surge of pent-up anger rush to the top of his head, causing a headache and difficulty breathing. His face instantly turned pale.

"Zhiqiu... what's wrong?" Su Qinglan hurriedly helped him up.

Ye Zhi Qiu knew that he was so angry that he had carelessly caused his internal energy to surge wildly. He gritted his teeth and said, "It's nothing... I just need to rest for a while."

Ning Shan immediately decided to help Su Qinglan to the side, where they would mingle among the employees to rest and observe the situation.

After getting out of the car, Lin Lina and her daughter Ning Yao raised their chins high, adjusted their large sunglasses, and looked around with mocking smiles on their faces.

"Mom, have you ever seen such a shabby ribbon-cutting ceremony?"

"Oh, I've finally found you."

"Ha ha ha ha."

The two men walked towards Ning Jinli with arrogant strides, mocking her as they did so.

Ning Jinli strode forward to meet the two, "Who sent you? Did I invite you?"

The mother and daughter stopped in their tracks.

Ning Yao glanced at the person standing behind Ning Jinli and sensed a different aura, but she didn't recognize him, so she didn't pay any attention to it.

Lin Lina frowned slightly and glanced a few more times at the crowd of employees next to the factory.

When she got out of the car, she seemed to feel uncomfortable being stared at by sharp eyes, and even now, that discomfort is still faint, but she can't see anything wrong.

"Are your ears broken?" Ning Jinli said bluntly.

Lin Lina withdrew her gaze. "Is this how you treat your elders? Didn't your parents teach you... Oh, I almost forgot, they really didn't teach you for very long."

"Pfft!" Ning Yao burst out laughing. "Mom, don't you dare make her so angry."

In the past, Ning Jinli would have been so angry that she cried.

But now, Ning Jinli showed no reaction, only saying calmly, "Breaking in without permission, do you want me to call the police, or do you want to get out of here?"

Today was supposed to be a good day for the oil refinery to start construction, but she didn't want to ruin the mood or waste any time.

Ning Yao said arrogantly, "I haven't even called the police yet, and you're already thinking of calling the police? You've got some nerve!"

Ning Jinli frowned. "What nonsense are you spouting?"

Then more vehicles arrived one after another, and when the doors opened, reporters and photographers got out.

Ning Jinli was even more puzzled. "Even the reporters are here? Ning Yao, what exactly are you up to?"

"Oh dear, the sun is so strong," Lin Lina waved her hand in front of her face. "I think I'll go back to the car and watch the show. Yao Yao, let's see how you do next."

After saying that, she walked towards the Rolls-Royce in her high heels.

Just as I was about to sit down, I suddenly noticed a gaze as sharp as a knife.

The midday sun was shining brightly, and the temperature was still quite high, yet she felt inexplicably chilly.

Without thinking twice, she quickly crawled into the carriage and tightly closed the door.

"Come here!" Ning Yao didn't answer Ning Jinli's question, but turned around and waved to the three people carrying briefcases.

The three walked up to Ning Jinli and showed her their work badges.

Before Ning Jinli could see clearly, the leader said sternly, "Ms. Ning, we suspect that you are engaged in illegal business activities that seriously infringe upon national interests. We are now conducting an investigation into you and the factory. Please cooperate!"