Besides Cheng Wenyun and the Zhou family, Huang Zheyue and another young man also came to the Cheng family tonight.
After introductions, it was revealed that the young man was Cheng Shaojun, who had previously helped Zhou Mingli's family obtain Beijing residency.
Cheng Yehan has four grandsons and one granddaughter.
The eldest grandson is Cheng Wenyun, and there are also three other grandsons: Wencheng, Shaotian, and Shaojun.
Jiang Ci and Zhou Mingli are currently living in the house of Cheng Shaotian, who works as a foreign correspondent.
Unlike his older cousin Cheng Wenyun, who was calm and composed, Cheng Shaojun was much more tactful and outgoing.
Although it was the first time Cheng Shaojun had met Jiang Ci and the others, he was good at talking, and the people he was talking to were already close friends, so he had no reservations and they quickly got into a conversation.
After the Cheng family learned that the boy following Zhou Mingli and Jiang Ci was Huang Zheyue, they looked at him with more pity.
Because of Huang Zhiyuan, people naturally took better care of him.
The adults' warmth eased Huang Zheyue's tension considerably, and her stiff back also relaxed a bit.
Zhou Mingli learned several dishes from Chef Mo, and this time he didn't hold back in cooking, making several impressive dishes.
After tasting Zhou Mingli's cooking, Cheng Huasheng and Li Ailian immediately noticed the improvement in Zhou Mingli's culinary skills.
Cheng Huasheng praised, "It seems your master is really skilled. Mingli, your cooking is getting better and better."
Cheng Yehan nodded as she drank the easily digestible soup that Zhou Mingli had specially prepared.
Cheng Wenyun said, "Chef Mo is a chef specializing in state banquets. He was one of the head chefs when the Americans visited China in 1972."
Zhou Mingli served food to Zhou Yang and Zhou Miao, and upon hearing this, said, "He never told me any of this."
Cheng Wenyun laughed and said, "Then you probably don't know that Chef Mo's family has produced several imperial chefs in the past. If you can become his apprentice, even if you can't reach his status, you will have the opportunity to prepare for state banquets."
For a chef, cooking for the top leader is a great honor.
Zhou Mingli humbly replied, "Then I will try my best."
After dinner, Huang Zheyue and Cheng Ke played with Zhou Yang and Zhou Miao inside the house, while the adults moved to the study.
Cheng Shaojun and Cheng Wenyun expertly brewed tea and brought out a fruit platter.
They lit the stove, placed the teapot on the wire mesh, and then roasted sweet potatoes, persimmons, and oranges on it. The seven of them gathered around the stove to warm themselves and chatted about their business.
Cheng Yehan was most concerned about Jiang Ci's work. As soon as he sat down, his gaze fell on Jiang Ci, and he asked her how her work was going.
Jiang Ci then recounted how she had run into Guo Zhen at the event and how he had recognized her. She then added that she had been seconded to the European Department.
Of course, she didn't go into the details of why. When it comes to work, there are things that can be said and things that can't be said, and Jiang Ci can still tell the difference.
When Li Ailian heard that Jiang Ci had met Guo Zhen, her heart skipped a beat. She didn't work in a government agency and didn't know the significance of Jiang Ci's secondment from the Protocol Department to the European Department. So, she asked about it.
"What's the difference between the Protocol Department and the European Department? Can we avoid Guo Zhen?"
Cheng Huasheng held his wife's hand and said, "The director of the Protocol Department and the director of the European Department have different backgrounds."
Cheng Shaojun, who works in the relevant department, knows more. He said, "Director Chai of the European Affairs Department has a powerful family background. His father is still in the central government and holds a much higher position than Guo Zhen. Director Yan of the Protocol Department is different. He doesn't have any background. He worked his way up to the position of director through his abilities."
Cheng Shaojun glanced at Jiang Ci and said, "If Guo Zhen puts pressure on Comrade Jiang's superior, Director Yan might not be able to withstand the pressure, but Director Chai will."
Why should Director Yan help Jiang Ci by transferring her to the European Affairs Department?
Cheng Shaojun felt there was something Jiang Ci hadn't said.
Li Ailian nodded in sudden realization, understanding dawning on her.
Cheng Shaojun continued, "I also received two pieces of information about Guo Zhen and Huang Zhiyuan's colleague's family."
Upon hearing these words, Jiang Ci and Zhou Mingli straightened their backs and focused their gazes on Cheng Shaojun.
Finding Guo Zhen's weaknesses and the real culprit who killed Huang Zhiyuan and his colleagues are two extremely important matters for Jiang Ci and Zhou Mingli right now.
"Two nights ago, Xia Lei and Liu Yinyin went to Guo Zhen's place together. About twenty minutes later, only Xia Lei came out, and he had obvious bruises on his face from being beaten."
“My men have been observing Guo Zhen these past two days and discovered that he was also injured. He told the media that he accidentally scraped himself. Liu Yinyin has not come out since she arrived at Guo Zhen’s house two days ago. It seems that Xia Lei is preparing to deal with Guo Zhen.”
Jiang Ci smiled and said, "It seems that Liu Yinyin hasn't found a way to balance the two men."
Everyone: "..."
There is nothing wrong with what you said.
One is Liu Yinyin's new love, and the other is Liu Yinyin's ex-husband. If the two cannot get along peacefully, then they will truly become mortal enemies.
It seems that a dog-eat-dog scene will soon appear.
Jiang Ci looked at Cheng Shaojun and asked, "What about Huang Zhiyuan's colleagues? Did they leak any useful information?"
Cheng Shaojun shrugged. "Unfortunately, the other side is determined to wipe them out. The families of Huang Zhiyuan's two colleagues were either suppressed and sent back to their hometowns or sent to the Northwest. No one knows who is behind this."
"How could this be?" Cheng Wenyun frowned and looked at Cheng Shaojun. "You haven't found out a single clue?"
“I had people investigate based on the information about their suppression, and we only found a few people who might be connected. If we continued to investigate based on these people, the time and manpower required would only double.”
Let alone a month or two, with the current investigative methods, it would be really difficult to solve a murder case that happened last year without a year or two of investigation.
Cheng Huasheng sighed, "It's normal that the other party is difficult to investigate because they are well hidden. This matter really can't be rushed."
Zhou Mingli didn't offer Jiang Ci tea, but instead got her an orange. He said in a calm and unhurried voice, "Do you know anyone who has a grudge against Guo Zhen?"
Cheng family: "Huh?"
Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, Zhou Mingli's expression remained unchanged. "The reason why Xia Lei and Guo Zhen fought is very clear. For us, it may just be a piece of insignificant news, but if it reaches the ears of people of the same status as him who have a grudge against him, it may be an opportunity to suppress Guo Zhen."
If Guo Zhen and Liu Yinyin really get together, then there's room for manipulation.
Although it may not amount to having illicit relationships, a chaotic private life is still a significant blow to a high-ranking official who strives for integrity, introspection, and self-discipline.
Cheng Wenyun and Cheng Shaojun fell into deep thought for a moment.
How could there not be?
Guo Zhen's high position and great power at such a young age were enough to make many people envious.
And the methods he used to climb the ladder... were clearly not so honorable.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
