Chapter 260 Northwest Layout
In the study of Courtyard No. 1.
A map of Beijing was laid out on the long table, with a red circle marking the desolate Gobi Desert in the northwest corner.
Su Wantang pointed to the red circle and said, "Since Mr. Shadow was able to investigate for a hundred years for the 'Moonlight Grass,' he wouldn't let go of the only mineral vein."
Her voice was soft, yet carried a chill, "I suspect he will turn his attention to the northwest."
Lu Jingyan stood behind her, holding her in his arms, without saying a word.
“We must get ahead of him.” Su Wantang turned around and looked up at him.
"It's not just about the 'Moonlight Grass,' but also about taking the initiative. I need someone to go to the Northwest, someone I can absolutely trust and who can get things done."
Lu Jingyan asked, "Who do you choose to go?"
“Wang Kun,” Su Wantang uttered the name. “He’s in charge of ocean trade in Shanghai. He’s resourceful, daring, and quick-witted. It’s perfectly reasonable for him to go to the Northwest under the name of the ‘Ocean Trade’ company to do mining business. I want him there not to rob, but to buy.”
She paused, her tone becoming even sharper: "Buy all the land around the mine that you can. If you can't buy it, use money to seize all the small mining rights. I want to make sure that when 'Mr. Shadow's' men get there, they won't even find a single stone to step on!"
This is her overt strategy: to crush all conspiracies and schemes with the giant wheel of capital.
Lu Jingyan reached out and gently stroked her cheek with his fingertips; the delicate touch softened his heart.
"Okay." He said only one word, but it contained all his support and tacit agreement.
Su Wantang immediately went to the phone and dialed the encrypted line in Shanghai.
The phone was answered after three rings, and Wang Kun's rough yet respectful voice came from the other end: "Young Miss."
Su Wantang's voice regained Bai Zong's coldness and efficiency, "I have a task for you. Put down everything you're doing and head to the Northwest immediately. Under the guise of ocean trading, acquire all the land and mining rights near the 'Mingsha' mining area. Money is not an issue; I need speed and results."
Wang Kun on the other end of the phone paused for a moment, but then replied without hesitation, "Yes, Miss! I'll get right on it! I guarantee I'll complete the task!"
He didn't even ask why. His only reaction to Su Wantang's orders was to obey. This kind of unconditional trust is priceless.
Hanging up the phone, Su Wantang felt a huge weight lifted from her heart. With Wang Kun's move, she had already secured half the territory in the Northwest.
However, plans can't keep up with changes.
The next afternoon, a phone call came from Courtyard No. 1. It was Meng Wan, and her voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement and a slight tremor.
"Wantang! Come back quickly! Jingyue... Jingyue, she..."
Su Wantang and Lu Jingyan's hearts jumped into their throats at the same time, and the two immediately drove back to the compound.
Upon entering the back garden, one could see Meng Wan and Wang Ma surrounding Lu Jingyue, while Lu Jingyue squatted on the ground, gazing intently at a pot of blue "moonlight grass" that Su Wantang had specially placed there.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, falling on her pale face. Her lips moved slightly, as if she was trying to remember something.
"Just now, just now," Meng Wan said excitedly, her words tumbling out as she held Su Wantang's hand, "I brought her here to sunbathe, and she kept staring at this potted plant, and then... and then she started talking!"
Su Wantang and Lu Jingyan exchanged a glance, both seeing the surprise in each other's eyes.
They approached slowly, their footsteps light.
Lu Jingyue's fingers gently stroked the peculiar blue petals of the "Moonlight Grass," her eyes vacant and lost. Suddenly, as if touched by something, she uttered a few words, mumbled but unusually clear.
“Zero…Seven…” Her voice was very soft, like a dream.
"07... Experiment..."
Lu Jingyan's body stiffened abruptly, and his fists clenched instantly.
Su Wantang's heart skipped a beat.
07!
Subject No. 07!
It was the experiment number belonging to Lu Jingyue on that incomplete logbook from the Northwest underground base!
She was actually revisiting that darkest memory!
Lu Jingyan crouched down, wanting to hug his sister, but stopped halfway through his outstretched hand. He was afraid of disturbing her, afraid of interrupting this hard-won revival of memories.
His eyes reddened. This tough man, who shed blood but not tears on the battlefield, was almost in tears because of his sister's mumbled words.
"Immediately!" Lu Jingyan stood up, his voice excited, and gave the order to Wang Ma.
"Move all these blue flowers from the house to Jingyue's room and place them wherever she can see them! From now on, record her every word and action 24 hours a day, without missing a single word or gesture!"
"Yes, sir!" Wang Ma wiped away her tears with excitement and hurriedly went to make the arrangements.
Su Wantang helped Meng Wan up, gently comforting her mother-in-law who was crying tears of joy, but her gaze fell on Lu Jingyue. The "Moonlight Grass" had opened the floodgates of her memories, and no one could predict what would come out next.
......
That evening, Su Wantang, posing as Bai Zhu, contacted Li Yuanchao, a reporter from the Beijing Daily, again.
"Reporter Li, this is Bai Shu."
"President Bai! What can I do for you?" Li Yuanchao's voice was always so full of energy.
"I need your help. Please pay close attention to the Northwest region recently, especially some remote mining areas. Report as many news reports as possible about illegal mining, environmental damage, and the exploitation of miners. I want the whole country to see how dark those places, where the sun doesn't reach, really are."
Li Yuanchao was a smart man, and he immediately understood Bai Shu's intention. This was to create public pressure and pave the way for certain actions.
"Understood, Mr. Bai! Just you wait and see! I guarantee that within a week, none of those lawless mine owners in the Northwest will be able to sleep peacefully!"
After hanging up the phone, all the arrangements were complete.
Late at night, the streets of Beijing have returned to tranquility.
Lu Jingyan didn't drive; instead, he held Su Wantang's hand and walked slowly under the dim streetlights.
The evening breeze ruffled her hair, and he naturally reached out to tuck it behind her ear.
“I’m worried about Wang Kun going to the Northwest alone,” he said in a low voice.
“I transferred Qin Zheng’s most capable men to help him. They are all veterans of the battlefield, and each one can take on ten.”
Su Wantang responded softly, "Besides, what I gave him wasn't orders, it was money. In that place, sometimes money is more useful than a gun."
Lu Jingyan fell silent; he knew she was right. But he tightened his grip on her hand even more.
The two walked to a park in the middle of the street and sat down on a bench.
Su Wantang leaned on his shoulder, looking at the twinkling lights in the distance, enjoying this rare tranquility.
"Jingyue's memory recovery is a good thing, but it's also a double-edged sword," she said softly.
“Since ‘Eagle’s Nest’ was able to use Granny Mei to provoke her, it means they also know the effects of ‘Moonlight Grass.’ Now if we let her come into contact with more ‘Moonlight Grass,’ Jingyue will be in even greater danger if they find out.”
“I’ve tripled the manpower, and now not even a fly can get into Courtyard No. 1.” Lu Jingyan’s voice was as cold and hard as iron.
Su Wantang smiled and said nothing more. She knew that this man would protect his family with his life.
She was too.
The night grew deeper, and a slight chill filled the air.
Lu Jingyan took off his military jacket and draped it over her shoulders, wrapping her completely in his arms.
"Once things in Beijing are settled," he said, gazing into the distance with unwavering focus, as if his gaze could pierce the darkness and reach the distant Gobi Desert.
He lowered his head, looking at the person in his arms, his eyes filled with deep affection and an unwavering resolve.
"We must go to the Northwest."
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