Part Two: Dongtu Datang, Chapter 25: West Factory

you to pick up and drop off the kids.”This seemingly simple sentence carried weight. It was a promise to protect her and the children, which brought Shū Tinglan peace of mind. "Thank you," he replied...In the early days, Baojia's business was built on selling raw materials to illegal arms dealers. The piece of land on the west side wasn't ordinary; it was a mineral-rich mountain range that Uncle Bao secured through his network of contacts.

After making his first fortune, Boss Bao's ambition grew. He built a factory, developed and sold his own products, initially focusing on Southeast Asian markets and raking in profits. However, as government regulations tightened, their unconventional methods became unsustainable, leaving them with no room to operate. They had to navigate bureaucratic channels, securing licenses and certifications to adopt a "legitimate" facade and survive by attaching themselves to established, official manufacturers.

This was also a resource exchange between Gu Ruandong and Boss Bao back then. Boss Bao helped him settle many underworld affairs, and he used his Beijing resources to recommend some people to Boss Bao. Of course, the people he could recommend back then were only marginal figures, but Boss Bao gradually approached key figures through these marginal individuals.

> These people's appetites are getting bigger and bigger. At least 60% of Boss Bao's factory's annual profits have to be supplied to them.

This is the real deal, and it's getting worse.

Uncle Bao's personality was fiery, and naturally he wasn't willing to accept this, so he hatched a wicked plan to get rid of them.

It's actually a case of one faction betraying another, but in the end, as the saying goes "for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction". Bao Shu didn't succeed in getting rid of them, instead he implicated Bao Sang and Gu Ruandong, charging them with bribery.

Although Gu Ruandong did not have any practical economic dealings with Bao Shu, his figure often appeared by Bao Shu's side at many occasions; while Bao Sang, being someone nurtured by Bao Shu, was responsible for many business affairs.

The other party is striking at the vulnerable point, giving two choices: Bao Sang goes in, or Gu Ruandong goes in. That is to say, they are choosing one person to go in as a hostage.

After weighing the pros and cons, Bao Shu personally sent Bao Sang in, leaving Gu Ruan Dong outside.

"From now on, Bao Sang will depend on you."

He would have to mediate for them, rely on him to keep Bao Sang safe.

Also due to this incident, Bao Shu suffered a great blow and his health deteriorated until he was hospitalized and never came out again.

So how could Bao Sang possibly turn back If he didn't become stronger, he wouldn't even be able to protect himself.

---

Lu YaoYao's life returned to its peaceful state. The girl named Bao Sang appeared out of nowhere, then vanished without a trace, like a hallucination. Even Gu Ruan Dong never mentioned her again afterward.

Her short drama has wrapped up. She had previously vowed to ask Hao Jie for more roles, but after finishing the short drama, she found it quite tiring and decided to take a few months off first. She's just not very ambitious and always prioritizes her own comfort above all else.

When I'm free and have nothing to do, I either go to the company to bother Ms. Hao or go to the top floor to bother Lu Kuo every day. Of course, I occasionally go to Gu's Group to bother Gu Ruandong too.

Everything falls under her influence, nothing can escape her reach.

After getting married, Lu Kuo became much more stable. At least he was willing to go to work on a regular schedule every day. The main reason was that he had to send Ruan Ruan to school in the morning and pick her up after work in the evening. He spent his free time at the company.

Lu Kuò always felt a little annoyed when he saw her.

"I'm too busy to deal with you, so please leave."

Lu Yaoyao didn't care either. She sat opposite him, drooping her head on the desk and staring at him listlessly.

"Bro, do you feel that the relationship between you and Ruanruan has changed before and after marriage"

Lu Kuo: "Of course there's a difference, it's getting better and better."

Public displays of affection, she absolutely cannot be outdone in that. Though, to be fair, things are indeed getting better.

"Am I falling more and more in love with Ruan Ruan"

"Of course."

Lu Kuo looked at her suspiciously: "Why are you asking this out of the blue Did you have a fight with Gu Ruandong"

Lu Yaoyao shook her head. "We weren't fighting."

He was very accommodating to her and indulged her, but she felt that things were different from before they were married. The passionate feeling they had before marriage seemed to have disappeared.

Lu Kuo: "Idiot, things are obviously different before and after marriage. Before marriage, it's all about hormones and feelings, but after marriage, those will naturally fade away. After the initial excitement wears off, you need to put in effort to make things last. Do you think I would rather spend my days working 9 to 5 and taking care of Ruan Ruan if sleeping in was more appealing"

Lu YaoYao looked at him seriously and couldn't help clapping: "Brother, you've really matured."

Lu Kuo grinned. "That's right!"

"Alright, don't bother me if it's nothing. Go find your own husband."

He's on a business trip today.

This was Gu Ruandong's first business trip after marriage. He said it would take about a week to come back, supposedly to the northwest. She didn't care much anyway, because before marriage, he frequently went on business trips.

"Brother, can I stay at your place tonight I don't want to go back home," she asked with a playful smile. Her own large villa felt empty and lonely when she was alone, especially since Gu Ruan Dong wasn't usually there.

"What do you want me to agree to Go on, we have guests coming over for dinner tonight, including Zhuo Yu'an. It'll be lively."

"What kind of guest is it"

“Song Jingye.” Lu Kuo thought of this man and felt a little annoyed. He always kept his distance from outstanding people. Having someone like Zhuo Y uan around when he was a child was already enough; he didn't need another one. That's why, after transferring to Qining with Zhuo Yuan, even during winter and summer breaks when they went back to Beijing to play games with their old friends, he never invited Song Jingye, automatically excluding him from their world.

But this time, Song Jingye came to Senzhou on a business trip. The old man gave an order, requiring him to entertain well. He had no choice, so he also invited Zhuo Y uan and his wife, letting them socialize among the excellent people.

"Song Jingye I don't know him!" Lu Yaoyao really had no memory of him.

Lu Kuo: "You have a good head on your shoulders. Any unpleasant memories just disappear automatically."

"You remind me of... someone I really dislike If so, I won't be coming to your place tonight."

"Do you remember the only time your grandpa ever scolded you when you were a child"

"Remember, I cheated on the exam!" She often ranked at the bottom of the class. To save face, she had done cheat sheets beforehand, but was caught by the teacher and threatened with a parent-teacher meeting. So she called Lu Kuo.

She got scolded by her grandfather when she got home. Her grandfather hates people who play tricks. She always thought it was Lu Kuo who told on her, so she didn't talk to him for half a month.

Let me repeat, it was Song Jingye who divulged the secret. He was his grandfather's errand boy when he was a child.

Song Jingye was a military buff from a young age, idolizing his grandfather. In the courtyard, he constantly called his grandfather "grandpa," even more so than Lu Kuo did.

Lu Yaoyao suddenly realized, "I remember now, it's that fat man, right I really want to meet him."

Lu Kuo...

Song Jingye's physique was a result of being overfed as a child. After puberty, as a military enthusiast, there was no way he would let himself get fat. He trained to achieve pure, authentic eight-pack abs.ut to Ting Lan with the other, saying: “Give me your backpack too.” 。He was referring to Wen Jian's backpack. 。"No need for the backpack, I'll carry it. Thank you." 。"She only realized it after she s...