Chapter 134 The Value of the Chess Pieces and Old Chen's Invitation
The next day, at Tangdi Pavilion.
The innermost private room on the second floor was filled with the gentle fragrance of incense.
Bai Shu changed into an elegant cheongsam. She didn't put her hair up; her long, black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, loosely held in place by a simple wooden hairpin.
She sat at the coffee table, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the warm teacup.
There was a gentle knock on the door.
"Please come in."
The door opened, and Liu Sisi walked in.
She dressed up specially for today, wearing a trendy pink shirt and white trousers.
She wanted to demonstrate her value and her assets.
"Miss Bai." Liu Sisi stood at the door, bowing slightly, her posture very humble.
Bai Zhu didn't even lift her eyelids. She simply picked up a fragrance cup with tea tongs and poured boiling water over it. Her movements were fluid and graceful, with a pleasing sense of rhythm.
"sit."
One word, cold and aloof, yet carrying an irresistible pressure.
Liu Sisi sat stiffly on the chair at the lower end, only half of her buttocks on it, her back ramrod straight.
She knew that what happened at the cooperative yesterday was Miss Bai announcing her existence to the entire compound.
She was the first to choose a side.
If you bet right, you'll rise to the top. If you bet wrong, you'll be doomed.
"Zhao Linlin has been put in solitary confinement by her father," Liu Sisi said, offering her first pledge of allegiance.
"I heard that some relatives from the collateral branches of the Ye family wanted to cause trouble at the Lu family's residence, but Gao Jianjun and his men blocked them at the gate of the compound, and they ran away in disgrace."
As she spoke, she carefully observed Bai Zhu's reaction.
Bai Zhu finally finished preparing the tea set, poured herself a cup, and the aroma of the tea filled the air. She picked up the teacup, gently blew on the steam, and still didn't look at Liu Sisi.
“Gao Jianjun already mentioned these things yesterday.”
The sound wasn't loud, but it made Liu Sisi's heart tighten.
Sure enough, this kind of trivial gossip was completely beneath her notice. My own little bit of cleverness was utterly useless in front of her.
Fine beads of sweat appeared on Liu Sisi's forehead, and her hands, resting on her knees, unconsciously clenched the hem of her skirt.
"I……"
"I didn't call you here to hear these things."
Bai Shu finally looked up and his gaze fell on her, making Liu Sisi feel a chill run down her spine.
"I need you to do something for me."
"Miss Bai, please give your instructions, and Sisi will certainly do it!" Liu Sisi immediately declared, leaning forward with an even more submissive posture.
Bai Zhu put down the teacup and gently touched the small cup wall with her fingertip.
"Do you know the 17th Research Institute of Beijing?"
Liu Sisi was taken aback, then quickly nodded: "I know, my cousin from my third uncle's family works there."
"Very good." Bai Shu's tone was unreadable.
"I want you to spread a message among the families of the 17th Institute."
"Take Wang Jianguo, the deputy director of the 17th Institute, for example. He was jealous of talent and misappropriated funds from a project called 'Shuguang' in the institute. He also maliciously suppressed a genius engineer named Zhou Jimin and tried to destroy him."
Liu Sisi's pupils suddenly contracted, and she gasped.
Although she didn't know anything about the "Dawn" project, she had heard of Wang Jianguo and Zhou Jimin.
Wang Jianguo was the powerful figure in the institute, while Zhou Jimin was a notorious bookworm.
If this news gets out, it will be an absolutely earth-shattering scandal!
This...this is practically kicking a deputy director right into the mud!
That's ruthless!
“Miss Bai, this…” Liu Sisi hesitated, this powder keg was no joke.
“You just need to pass on the message, and the rest is up to you,” Bai Shu said calmly. “Especially make sure that one person hears it.”
"who?"
"Li Wei's wife, who is also the deputy director of the research institute."
Liu Sisi's mind raced.
She understood instantly. This was a psychological tactic!
They targeted Li Wei's family directly, starting with the family circle, the place where rumors are most likely to spread.
If a man suffers injustice outside and his wife makes a scene at home, even the strongest fortress will crumble from within.
"I understand." Liu Sisi nodded emphatically without further hesitation.
She carefully took a hardcover notebook out of her bag, held it with both hands, and handed it over.
"Miss Bai, this is... something I've compiled that might be useful to you."
Bai Zhu raised an eyebrow and took the notebook.
Upon opening it, one finds Liu Sisi's meticulously written records of the family circumstances and family networks of powerful figures in various units in Beijing.
They kept detailed records of who was related to whom, where each family's daughter-in-law worked, where each family's children went to school, and even private matters like conflicts between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law.
This is practically a diagram of interpersonal relationships.
A faint smile finally appeared on Bai Zhu's lips.
This Liu Sisi is indeed much smarter and more valuable than a fool like Zhao Linlin.
"I've accepted the gifts." Bai Shu closed his notebook. "If things go well, you'll get your share of the rewards."
"Thank you, Miss Bai!" Liu Sisi stood up excitedly, feeling as if she had been granted a pardon.
After seeing Liu Sisi off, Bai Shu sat alone in the room and opened the relationship database again.
Her slender fingers glided slowly across the pages of the paper. The net was woven very large, but not high enough.
The person she most wanted to connect with wasn't among them.
Old Chen.
That truly influential figure who could lend their word and provide top-tier protection for her future tech company.
How can I "accidentally" meet Old Chen and get him to willingly serve me?
Su Wantang's identity is already "dead," and her current identity as Hong Kong businessman Bai Shu is probably not enough.
She unconsciously tapped her fingertips lightly on the table, making a "tap, tap" sound, as she fell into deep thought.
"Knock knock".
Qin Zheng knocked on the door and entered, his expression serious and his steps silent.
"boss."
"explain."
“Our people who were monitoring Li Wei discovered that he had been in frequent contact with a Hong Kong businessman recently, and his behavior was very secretive.”
Qin Zheng handed over a photo, which was very blurry and only showed a profile.
“They always chose to meet in very secluded teahouses or parks.”
Bai Zhu picked up the photo, her pupils contracting slightly.
Hong Kong businessman?
Eagle's Nest!
The thought flashed through her mind instantly. It seemed that Wang Jianguo's suppression of Zhou Jimin wasn't out of jealousy at all, but a premeditated act!
The people at Eagle's Nest have their eyes on Project Dawn! Do they want to steal the technology, or do they want to completely destroy China's hope for independent research and development?
A chill rose from the depths of Bai Shu's heart.
That idiot Su Yuting is just the tip of the iceberg. The Eagle's Nest, that sinister hand, has already reached into the core areas of the country.
"Keep digging!" Bai Shu's voice turned cold. "Investigate this Hong Kong businessman thoroughly! Use all of Du Kangnian's connections in Shanghai to cross-verify his identity. I need to know who he is as quickly as possible!"
"Yes!" Qin Zheng accepted the order and was about to turn around.
There was another knock on the door of the private room.
The person who came in this time was the manager of Tangdixuan, "Yiyue" from the Twelve Beauties.
She wore a well-fitting black suit skirt, exuding a capable and confident aura, yet also conveying a sense of respect.
"Boss." January walked to the table, holding a dark red invitation card with gold foil embossing in both hands, and handed it to Bai Shu.
"It was delivered personally by the guard at Old Chen's house just now."
"Old Chen said that upon learning of your arrival in Beijing, he specially invited you to his residence tomorrow for a chat and to taste his newly acquired fine tea."
Bai Shu accepted the rather heavy, gold-embossed invitation.
The words "To Miss Bai Shu" were written in bold, vigorous calligraphy, and the signature was simply "Chen," which carried more weight than any title.
It's like my wish came true.
She knew very well that this was not an ordinary invitation to have tea.
This was a formal "examination" by Mr. Chen of her identity, purpose, and value after her "twin sister" made her appearance.
"Reply to Elder Chen." Bai Shu's voice was clear and melodious, tinged with a smile.
"Just tell them that Bai Zhu will definitely come to visit on time tomorrow. I apologize for the inconvenience."
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