Seeing Cheng Ran turn to leave, Zhang Jin quickly ran in front of him to stop him, opened his arms, chuckled twice, and rubbed his hands together awkwardly.
"Comrade Cheng, please wait a moment. Director Yang is not in Beixin either; he has gone out to conduct market research."
"Market research?"
"Oh, right."
Such secrecy, furtively acting, and hesitantly—something was definitely up. Cheng Ran's keen intuition was no joke, especially since he remembered Jiang Wanqing's advice not to break ties with Yang Changzai at this time…
So, he twitched the corner of his mouth and nodded: "Okay, then I won't go to find Yang Chang. I'll go to Wanqing's office to get something for her."
"What do you need? Let me help you."
"Are you going to help me? Or are you afraid I'll steal something?"
Cheng Ran put a label on him, and the pressure came immediately. Zhang Jin was stunned and waved his hands repeatedly.
"No, no, that's not what I meant. I don't know what Comrade Jiang asked you to get?"
"She completed the design drawings and technical specifications for a new product before the accident. I'm going to pick them up. Is there a problem?"
"No problem, of course no problem, I'll go with you. Please don't misunderstand, I'm just sorry for neglecting you."
Zhang Jin then went on to explain, but his shifty eyes told Cheng Ran that he had no good intentions.
"Okay, let's do it together then," Cheng Ran replied, pretending not to notice.
The two went to Jiang Wanqing's office. Cheng Ran opened the door with his key. Zhang Jin didn't have a key to this room, and Yang Changyou wasn't there.
After entering, Cheng Ran went straight to the desk. Zhang Jin watched as he skillfully opened the locked drawer, took out a stack of blueprints, placed them on the desk, and examined them one by one.
Zhang Jin stared intently, not blinking. He hadn't expected Jiang Wanqing to have new product design drawings. It seemed he had to tell Yang Chang about this!
"Ahem... Comrade Cheng, wasn't this design drawing meant for the factory to use in production? Why do we need to take it back?"
"She said it wasn't completely finished yet, and she would take it back to perfect it before bringing it back for everyone to produce according to the drawings."
Cheng Ran's calm reply made Zhang Jin realize that it was fortunate he had asked, otherwise telling Yang Chang about the defective product would have definitely caused trouble.
"So that's how it is. Comrade Jiang is really amazing. She really cares about the factory's affairs. No wonder Director Yang said it's a blessing to be able to follow her."
Cheng Ran chuckled inwardly at the woman's casual use of such words, then picked up her things and stood up.
“I’ll take the things first. When Yang Chang comes back another day, I’ll tell him to come and see us when he has some free time.”
"Okay, okay."
Cheng Ran nodded slightly and walked out of the office, closing the door behind him. Just as he was about to leave the factory, he suddenly stopped, and Zhang Jin also stopped.
"Comrade Cheng, what's wrong?"
"I need to use the restroom, wait a minute."
"Okay, go ahead, I'll wait for you here."
Cheng Ran turned and went to the restroom, never expecting that one day she would be forced to become such a skilled actress...
In fact, he didn't go to the restroom, but went to the No. 2 control room and found someone.
This was what Jiang Wanqing told him before he left. She said there were a few people in the factory whom she trusted to a great extent, and that if he didn't find anything, he could go and ask them.
The man's name was Xia Qiang. He was short but muscular. Cheng Ran deliberately said that she couldn't find the restroom and asked him to show her the way.
In the corner, he offered the other person a cigarette.
"Comrade, how's everything at the factory lately?"
"It's all good, it's all good..." Xia Qiang replied while smoking.
"What about Yang Chang? Is he spending more time here or in Beixin lately?"
Xia Qiang took a drag of his cigarette: "Well... it's half and half."
"Where did he go today? Has anything major happened at the factory lately?"
"They should have gone to Beixin. Everything is fine at the factory lately, except... for some reason, some orders have decreased, but we still need to produce a lot of goods. I calculated it myself and it doesn't add up."
The goods produced don't match the goods ordered? Cheng Ran frowned.
"Comrade Cheng, are you feeling better? Did you come to the wrong place?"
Upon hearing Zhang Jin's voice, Yang Chang immediately stuffed some money into Xia Qiang's pocket and patted him on the shoulder.
"Okay, I'll contact you again if I need anything. Goodbye."
"Please give my regards to Director Jiang, and I hope she will return soon to lead us."
"I will."
There were still people in the factory who remembered Jiang Wanqing's guidance, so at least the trip wasn't in vain. Cheng Ran quickly parted ways with Xia Qiang and went out to meet up with Zhang Jin.
"Comrade Cheng, we've finally found you! Where did you go? Did you go to the restroom?"
Zhang Jin was worried that he might wander off and get into trouble after being gone for so long.
"After using the restroom, I went to have a cigarette. What's wrong?"
"Oh, it's nothing. Shall I see you out?"
"Um."
Zhang Jin's desire for him to leave was obvious, and Cheng Ran didn't insist on staying. With Zhang Jin's escort, he easily left the factory area.
Cheng Ran got into the same car he had come in; the driver was still there.
"Comrade, shall I take you back to where you got on the train?"
After walking for a while, the driver asked.
He pondered for a moment and replied, "No, let's go take a look at Beixin Machinery Factory."
...
It's still early, and things haven't been clarified yet. Cheng Ran won't be able to explain to Jiang Wanqing when he gets back. He promised to help her investigate, so naturally he has to investigate thoroughly.
To earn an extra fare, the driver worked hard and delivered Cheng Ran to the entrance of Beixin as quickly as possible.
Just like at Jiang Wanqing's factory, they also check identities here, but fortunately, no one here recognizes him.
"Comrade, who are you? What are you doing in our factory?"
Cheng Ran had an idea. He straightened his clothes, put on an imposing air, and snorted at the security guard.
"Our group is discussing cooperation with your factory director, Mr. Yang, and you're just stopping them from entering like this?"
Upon hearing this, the security guard's eyes widened, and he looked somewhat frightened.
"You...you're a comrade from the Northwest Group?"
Cheng Ran's eyes flickered. He'd already figured it out; there really was something fishy going on. He cleared his throat and nodded.
"Yes, our group has been discussing cooperation with your factory these past few days. The boss came first, and I followed. They're inside, aren't they?"
"Yes, yes, Mr. Kang and our factory director Yang are talking inside. Please wait while I make a call to verify and then I'll let you in."
Sure enough, it was inside! So it was Yang Chang, not Jiang Wanqing, who was cooperating with the Northwest Group!
Yang Chang concealed the truth from all of them; one could even say he pulled a switcheroo!
While the security guard was making a phone call, Cheng Ran narrowed his eyes and quickly returned to his car.
"Master, let's go back."
"Alright, comrade!"
Yang Changzai received a call from the security guard in his office, while President Kang was drinking tea on the sofa.
"What? You're saying someone claiming to be from the Northwest Group is out there?" Yang Chang turned to ask President Kang, "Did you bring anyone with you this time?"
"No."
Yang Chang opened his eyes wide and realized, "Oh no!"
He hung up the phone, his mind racing. It seemed Jiang Wanqing and Cheng Ran already knew he was playing them. Suddenly, he remembered the mysterious woman from last time, and that note… Yes! It was still in the car!
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