Chapter 170 Kneel down and kowtow to apologize, once for each person.
Ning Yao became annoyed by the question.
She had hired a private investigator a month or two ago, and one of the best in the industry, for which she paid hundreds of thousands of yuan.
However, Ningjin Glass Factory also has very strict internal security measures.
Even the skilled private investigator could only tell Ning Yao that he had infiltrated the area and witnessed numerous barrels of crude oil over a period of more than ten days, but he couldn't trace where the crude oil came from.
However, it was also discovered that earlier, Ning Jinli had sent some crude oil samples to an identification agency for testing.
Based on this information, it is entirely possible to conclude that Ning Jinli was smuggling oil.
According to Ning Yao's original plan, she could find the most direct evidence in front of the reporters today, kill Ning Jinli in public, and make a big splash herself.
But to everyone's surprise, an unexpected change occurred.
She had no idea what had just happened!
Without the help of official investigators, she simply couldn't explain herself on her own.
"Ms. Ning Yao, I heard that you have always had conflicts with Ning Jinli, and there are rumors that your parents and her parents also had a feud. What do you think of these rumors?" A reporter suddenly asked.
These words piqued the curiosity of the other reporters, and one immediately asked, "Ms. Ning Yao, you personally led a group to break into your cousin's factory, which happened to be holding a groundbreaking ceremony. Are you intentionally targeting her?"
"Did you hire the investigators and SWAT officers?"
"Was her oil smuggling a misunderstanding, or an excuse you made up to cause trouble?"
The reporters' questions were becoming increasingly pointed.
Ning Yao flew into a rage, "What nonsense are you spouting?! Get out of here!"
The reporters had various expressions.
It's hard to say whether this group leader, who has recently been showered with accolades in the business world, is genuinely genuine or simply lacks emotional intelligence and the ability to handle interviews.
"Excuse me, everyone," the group secretary rushed over with a smile, "Our CEO Ning only accepts interviews by prior appointment. Regarding the questions you just asked, please make an appointment in advance to arrange the interview later."
Upon hearing his words, the reporters silently grumbled a few times before shifting their interview focus to Ning Jinli and swarming over to her.
Then, the secretary whispered to Ning Yao, "The representatives of the four major families have arrived and are outside the factory."
According to the original plan, official investigators should have already taken control of the factory and, in front of reporters, discovered the oil hidden inside.
At the same time, representatives from the four major families arrived and witnessed Ning Jinli fall into the abyss with her.
Since things didn't go as expected, Ning Yao felt that calling the reporters over was like shooting herself in the foot.
Now that the representatives of the four major families have arrived, it seems that the original plan has lost its meaning.
Seeing that Ning Yao remained silent with a dark expression, the group secretary thought for a moment and whispered, "I'll go deal with her. Take Young Master Lu and the others somewhere else first."
"Wait, Lu Jueming is here?" Ning Yao was surprised.
“Yes,” the secretary added, “The Lu family sent Young Master Lu, and the other three families sent senior executives from their respective groups.”
To date, she has only met Lu Jueming three times.
One time was on the plane returning from a trip.
The last two times were for discussing investment cooperation; the rest of the time, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get people to meet up.
Lu Jueming was always too busy to keep his appointment.
This time, Ning Yao made up a reason to say that she planned to invest in her cousin's factory and invited the four major families to come and inspect it. She thought that the four major families would at most send a few senior executives from their respective groups.
Unexpectedly, it was Lu Jueming himself who personally intervened in the case of the Lu family, which ranked first among the four major families.
Ning Yao's mind raced as she analyzed the situation.
Although she tried every possible way to get closer to Lu Jueming some time ago, it was all in vain.
But she felt that Lu Jueming had feelings for her.
Otherwise, why would they still invest when the Ning Group was facing a crisis?
Moreover, not only did the investment far exceed my father's initial expectations, but he also helped bring in three other major families to participate.
This definitely wasn't just about making money; it must have been to help her.
Therefore, one must have a good impression of the other person to offer help.
Based on this speculation, and considering that Lu Jueming came here personally for her, then... it can be basically confirmed that it's not just ordinary goodwill, but love!
“I understand…” Ning Yao’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she murmured to herself, “Young Master Lu must be thinking of quietly helping me first, so that my status and position are commensurate with the Lu family. That way… his family won’t look down on me, and he can marry me. He’s really going to great lengths…”
"Ms. Ning Jinli, how do you explain today's situation?" A reporter's voice came from not far away.
"Ms. Ning Jinli, what is your response to Ms. Ning Yao's accusation that you are smuggling oil?"
Ning Yao immediately perked up her ears and looked over.
Ning Jinli answered calmly:
"I don't know what happened just now, but I have nothing to hide and I'm not afraid of any false accusations. I hereby declare that I do all legitimate business and there is no smuggling or illegal operation involved."
"As you can see, although the official investigators came here to conduct an investigation for some reasons I am not aware of, they have already left."
"As for Ning Yao's baseless accusations and slander, which have seriously damaged my reputation, I will pursue her legal responsibility. Oh, and that also includes her bringing a group of bodyguards to smash up my factory gate and force her way in to cause trouble; I will sue her for that too. A society governed by the rule of law will not tolerate anyone acting recklessly."
"Today was supposed to be the groundbreaking day for a new factory building in my factory. I was thinking of having a simple ribbon-cutting ceremony. If I had known that all of you media friends would be here, I would have made preparations for your hospitality in advance. I am truly sorry. After the ceremony, I will arrange for you all to have dinner at the hotel as a token of my apologies."
Thank you everyone.
Her clear, dignified, and composed response, coupled with her thoughtful consideration for the reporters at the end, instantly won them a lot of goodwill.
Especially in contrast to Ning Yao's attitude when facing reporters' questions just a moment ago.
The difference in quality is immediately apparent.
The reporters couldn't help but applaud.
Then they all politely continued interviewing Ning Jinli.
"You, Ning Jinli," Ning Yao gritted her teeth, "You accuse me of spreading rumors and slander? And you want to hold me accountable? You're turning the tables and blaming me... I'm so angry!"
Lin Lina got out of the car, went to Ning Yao's side, and took her hand. "Yao Yao, let's go."
"I'm not leaving." Ning Yao shook her arm. "If I just leave like this, she'll have already said everything, and the reporters will write all sorts of things, ruining the image I've worked so hard to build!"
Lin Lina frowned and said, "Things are not going according to your plan at all. Now it's even more disadvantageous for you. Listen to me, go back first, and Mom will find a public relations team to smooth things over for you."
"No!" Ning Yao's attitude was firm. "Mom, the young master of the Lu family has arrived. With him and representatives from the other three major families backing me up, which reporter from any news media in Xinghan City would dare to oppose me? You don't need to hire a public relations team. Today, I'm going to trample Ning Jinli under my feet!"
After saying that, Ning Yao dragged the group's secretary to pick up the people from the four major families.
"Daughter, you...sigh..."
Lin Lina looked solemn.
She had a bad feeling ever since she arrived here, and then her daughter's original plan failed, and now her unease is becoming more and more obvious.
There was a vague sense of foreboding, as if something even worse was about to happen.
She took off her sunglasses and stared directly at Ning Jinli, who was surrounded by reporters.
After a moment's thought, he gently touched his chest and comforted himself:
"I'm probably overthinking it. Back then, even her parents weren't a match for me and Ninghai... How much trouble could a little girl like her possibly cause?"
A short while later, Ning Yao arrived with Lu Jueming, accompanied by representatives from three other families.
"Ning Jinli, you still dare to talk about pursuing legal action against me?" Ning Yao shouted indignantly, "More than thirty of my bodyguards were injured by your people, and I haven't even settled the score with you yet!"
A single, highly charged remark brought the reporters' interview to an abrupt halt.
Ning Jinli and Lu Jueming met eyes and nodded slightly to each other.
Then Ning Jinli looked at Ning Yao and calmly said, "Miss Ning, are you sure you want to continue causing trouble?"
Ning Yao crossed her arms and raised her sharp chin. "I'm putting this out there now—so what if I want to cause trouble?"
The reporters were stunned.
Having worked in the news media industry, I've seen all sorts of oddballs, but this is truly the first time I've encountered someone so arrogant and conceited.
Some reporters were already silently complaining to themselves that Ning Yao must have become arrogant because of her sudden rise to fame and the halo surrounding her.
He is still too young and has received glory that is not commensurate with his character. The higher he flies, the harder he will fall.
Despite the reporters' furrowed brows and stares, Ning Yao remained unfazed and said arrogantly, "Let me introduce you. This gentleman next to me is Lu Jueming, the young master of the Lu family."
The reporters were taken aback for a moment, then quickly shifted their attention to the young man behind her, who was dressed in a simple white shirt and had a gentle and refined demeanor.
Lu Jueming rarely appears in the public eye, but this time he did.
A large area of flashlights lit up instantly, causing Lu Jueming to slightly turn his head to avoid the light.
“These three,” Ning Jinli casually pointed, “are from three other major families, and are all senior executives in the group. I’m sure you’ve seen them often, so I don’t need to introduce them in detail.”
As soon as he finished speaking, all four of them, including Lu Jueming, showed a slightly strange expression.
Among the four top families in Xinghan City, the Lu family is undoubtedly number one. Therefore, the other three families tend to show more respect to the Lu family. However, the Lu family members themselves do not become arrogant because of this and also show full respect to the other three families.
The four families maintain a delicate balance with each other.
However, Ning Yao, an outsider, clearly treated them differently in front of the reporters, even giving the impression that she was treating the three of them like her underlings.
This displeased Lu Jueming and the other three.
"What are you trying to say by introducing these four people to the reporters?" Ning Jinli asked with a smile.
Ning Yao glanced sideways and said, "I want to tell the reporters here that if you're going to publish any news, you should all carefully consider the content. Don't publish anything that will have a bad impact on me or make me uncomfortable."
The reporters' faces immediately fell.
Ning Jinli said, "Is such a blatant threat appropriate?"
"I'm happy to do it, so what? You're not happy about it?" Ning Yao said with a sneer. "If you're not happy, then keep it to yourself, Ning Jinli. I demand that you compensate and apologize to my bodyguards. Otherwise, I'll make sure you have no place to stand in Xinghan City from now on!"
In the crowd behind Ning Jinli, Shangguan Ying sighed and facepalmed, while the two high-ranking officials from national departments next to her also looked on with a wry smile.
In a situation like this, the three of them would all feel it would be beneath their dignity to step in and resolve the matter.
"How will you compensate us? How will you apologize?" Ning Jinli asked with a smile. "Tell me about it."
Ning Yao opened her mouth and said, "I don't need your compensation. A symbolic one yuan per person is enough. But you have to kneel down and kowtow to say sorry. Note that it's once per person."
"Once per person?" Ning Jinli suppressed a laugh and feigned surprise. "More than thirty bodyguards, and I have to kneel down more than thirty times, kowtow more than thirty times, and say sorry more than thirty times?"
Ning Yao snapped her fingers. "All of you, come here and line up. Boss Ning has to apologize to you."
The bodyguards were somewhat embarrassed.
But since it was his boss's request, he had no choice but to endure his discomfort and step forward.
Lu Jueming's eyes were filled with gloom, his cheeks were tense, and he was ready to step in and quell this farce.
However, Ning Jinli silently gave him a look that said it was alright, so he held back.
"Ning Jinli, my people are waiting," Ning Yao said in a commanding tone. "And you reporters, film her apologizing later."
The reporters gripped their microphones tightly, and the cameramen held their cameras firmly, all afraid that they might lose their temper and throw something at her head.
Ning Jinli watched quietly with a smile on her face.
Seeing that she didn't move, Ning Yao said coldly, "I'll give you three seconds to get over here."
"one!"
"two!"
"three!"
After counting to three, Ning Jinli still didn't react.
"I gave you a way out, and you still don't know what's good for you!" Ning Yao cursed, then walked up to Ning Jinli, raised her arm, and slapped her across the face.
Snap!
A crisp slap rang out.
However, Ning Jinli struck first, slapping Ning Yao across the face.
Even no one present could clearly see her movements.
It wasn't until the slap ended, and Ning Yao, with her head tilted to the side, fell on her bottom, her left cheek visibly swelling rapidly, that everyone realized who had hit whom.
Ning Yao was stunned.
This was the first time in her life she had ever been slapped.
"Yao Yao!" Lin Lina exclaimed as she rushed over.
Ning Yao snapped out of her daze and burst into tears, "Mom! She...she hit me! Waaaaah!"
Lin Lina was heartbroken. She helped Ning Yao up, wiped away her tears, and gently comforted her. Then she turned to Ning Jinli and glared angrily, "How dare you hit my daughter?!"
"What's there to be afraid of?" Ning Jinli said calmly. "You should have seen what happened just now. Did I slap the wrong person?"
Knowing she was in the wrong, Lin Lina didn't want to act like her daughter in front of so many people. So she said sternly, "Yaoyao is still a child, and she is my child. No matter what, as her mother, I can't stand by and watch her be bullied. You have to give me an explanation."
Ning Jinli's tone was slightly cold, "What, do you want me to apologize again? Have you already forgotten the consequences of her asking me to apologize?"
"Ning Jinli!" Lin Lina roared in fury, "Who do you think you are! How dare you speak to me like that now?"
Ning Jinli's eyes flashed with a cold light. "May I ask, who do you think you are?"
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