MWC – Chapter 66 Qing Faction

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In a very rundown apartment building, Lu Ming met this important figure.

It was Gao Zhaoqing, a member of the Beiguan City Council and one of the seven top leaders of Beiguan.

He was very old, wearing a patched robe that covered his thin, frail body. He lay on a reclining chair with a cane beside him, his eyes always closed, and spoke indistinctly as if he had phlegm in his throat.

Sitting next to him was a graceful woman in a dark blue cheongsam, occasionally patting his chest to help him breathe. She also served as his interpreter.

Meng Dezhu respectfully addressed the woman as “Sister Nine,” showing her great respect.

In small gatherings within the circle, Lu Ming had vaguely heard that Meng Dezhu belonged to the “Qing Faction” and knew about Gao Zhaoqing. However, they never discussed this elder’s affairs, maintaining a deep sense of secrecy about him and the other six leaders, as if fearing that their words would reach their ears.

To Lu Ming’s surprise, the elder lived in such a simple place. The old four-story apartment building appeared to be fifty years old, with extremely dim hallways and no lights. This building seemed to be the old faculty residence of a nearby national primary school.

The leader of the Qing Faction lived in such poverty, with barely any decent furniture. Even on this hot day, the fan was broken, one of its blades chipped, and it blew hot air.

Having just been in an air-conditioned villa, the sudden change in environment was hard to adapt to.

“Third Uncle said your patents are doing well, and by the end of the year, the total revenue might exceed a million, right?”

After Gao Zhaoqing mumbled something, Sister Nine translated, her eyes lighting up with surprise as she looked at Lu Ming. Clearly, she hadn’t expected such a young man to be so impressive.

Meng Dezhu, who had been sitting respectfully beside them, also looked at Lu Ming in shock.

Lu Ming felt a slight chill in his heart. He knew that a big shot like Gao would be well-informed about his company’s details.

Recently, several car companies had signed patent licensing agreements with Huaxia Technology.

To Gao Zhaoqing, these transactions were almost transparent.

After all, Lu Ming had no roots or foundation in Donghai and had started from scratch. It was impossible to hide his assets from someone like Gao Zhaoqing.

However, he indeed needed to find a way to keep his cards hidden. Being an open book in any strategic game only made one a pawn.

Gao Zhaoqing mumbled something again.

Sister Nine said, “Third Uncle said you could open an account at Bao Yin Bank. It’s safer to handle your finances there.”

Lu Ming nodded, “Thank you, Elder Qing! I understand!” Bao Yin Bank is private, unlike the Imperial Bank, where anyone can check the accounts. Clearly, moving his financial transactions to Bao Yin Bank meant shielding them from others’ scrutiny, while being completely transparent to Elder Qing.

In truth, not many of Qing’s level would pay attention to him or investigate him at this stage. Lu Ming wondered why Gao Zhaoqing was interested in him.

Gao Zhaoqing mumbled a few more words, and Sister Nine said, “Third Uncle said Wenhua praised you highly. He also thinks you’re good!”

Wenhua? It took Lu Ming a moment to realize she was referring to Li Guan. Not many people in the world could call Li Guan by his childhood name. They had to have the right status and age.

Lu Ming felt a chill. From Gao Zhaoqing’s first sentence, it was clear that he understood Lu Ming’s thoughts perfectly, explaining things clearly.

Although all the core power figures who managed a city weren’t ordinary people, there probably weren’t many as formidable as Gao Zhaoqing.

Gao Zhaoqing mumbled again, and Sister Nine continued, “Third Uncle said the confidentiality principle for out-of-court settlements is very good; the lawsuit with Liu Hanming is also well-handled.”

Lu Ming could only smile bitterly and listen.

“The evidence against the Japanese ghost, was it found by you? Did you and Mr. Wen find the bloodstains?”

As she spoke, Sister Nine’s eyes sparkled. Although she didn’t know who “Mr. Wen” was, being called “Mr. Wen” by Elder Qing indicated a very high status.

“Just luck!” Lu Ming smiled, giving up resistance. If such a person wanted to probe him, it would be straightforward.

“Young man, very modest, not bad.” Despite his weak voice, Lu Ming could understand this clearly.

Sister Nine was momentarily stunned. Gao Zhaoqing rarely spoke so clearly, as it required great effort. Obviously, he wanted to personally say this encouragement to the young man.

“You’re too kind!” Lu Ming leaned slightly forward, speaking softly directly to Gao Zhaoqing. This was his first direct dialogue with the elder.

Gao Zhaoqing fell silent. After a long time, he mumbled again.

Sister Nine hesitated and whispered, “Third Uncle said he’s old. This term, he can only step down during the council member re-election.”

Next to him, Meng Dezhu’s face showed a dejected expression.

Lu Ming noticed this and understood why.

The first time they met, Meng Dezhu hoped that Liu Laocai and Wen Liangyu would invest more, aiming to join the Seven Management Committee.

Apparently, this was due to the Qing Faction’s leader stepping down, and the faction naturally hoped to have someone take his place.

This gave Meng Dezhu unrealistic ambitions, but both Liu Laocai and Wen Liangyu knew he couldn’t make it into the Seven, regardless of his qualifications and reputation. Thus, while they agreed verbally, it was just lip service.

The Qing Faction could be seen as a political alliance, with 11 out of 57 Beiguan council members belonging to it.

Primarily, it was the Beiguan branch of the Great Public Party. Among the 11 members, 7, including Gao Zhaoqing, were from the Great Public Party, while the remaining 4 were independent members politically aligned with the Qing Faction, or small party leaders like Meng Dezhu, whose “Educator’s Alliance” mainly attracted teachers and acted as an ally to the Great Public Party.

Lu Ming pondered while the elder mumbled again. Sister Nine said, “Third Uncle asks, do you know what ‘Great Public’ means?”

Lu Ming was stunned. He hadn’t studied this world’s parties and factions seriously. After a moment of thought, he said, “I believe ‘Great Public’ means working for the welfare of all people, breaking down ethnic barriers, wholeheartedly serving all citizens, striving for a world of equality and common prosperity!”

These teachings from his childhood came naturally.

The term he used for “people” was more affectionate than “citizen” and more equal than “masses,” similar to the meaning of “people” in his previous life’s Chinese.

But here, Lu Ming was probably the first to coin this term.

The elder seemed momentarily stunned and suddenly patted the reclining chair. Sister Nine was startled and quickly helped him up, softly advising, “Third Uncle, why get up? Just lie down!”

Gao Zhaoqing opened his eyes, scrutinizing Lu Ming. For a moment, his cloudy eyes turned deep and intimidating.

“People… this term is well used! Good… cough…”

Just as he tried to say more, he started coughing.

“Third Uncle, please calm down!” Sister Nine was startled again, gently patting his back and giving Lu Ming a reproachful look.

Meng Dezhu was already stunned. Even when Gao Zhaoqing summoned the other ten members for a meeting, he usually expressed his wishes through Sister Nine. He never got this excited to speak directly.

Gao Zhaoqing scrutinized Lu Ming, slowly nodding. Finally, he sighed, looking tired, and lay back down with Sister Nine’s help. But he seemed too agitated, suddenly turning over, his breathing becoming rapid.

Sister Nine quickly picked up a porcelain bowl with an unknown liquid and fed him a small spoonful.

After a while, Gao Zhaoqing’s breathing gradually steadied. He mumbled again.

Sister Nine hesitated and told Lu Ming, “Third Uncle said, Lawyer Lu, if I invite you to join the Great Public Party, would you be willing to let me be your introducer?”

Lu Ming was equally stunned, sensing that Gao Zhaoqing’s current words and his original intention for this meeting were somewhat different.

After a moment’s thought, Lu Ming said, “Elder Qing, to be honest, I have no knowledge of your party. So, I need to consider it because I haven’t seriously thought about politics yet.”

Sister Nine and Meng Dezhu were shocked. Gao Zhaoqing’s invitation as an introducer was a great honor. Others couldn’t even dream of it, yet this guy wasn’t accepting it readily.

Meng Dezhu kept signaling to Lu Ming, who pretended not to notice.

“Good, good, young man, very steady, has a future!” Gao Zhaoqing laughed twice, then fell silent as if he had fallen asleep.

“Sorry, Elder Qing is asleep. Let me see you out,” Sister Nine stood up.

Lu Ming and Meng Dezhu also rose.

In the narrow, dark staircase corner, as Meng Dezhu walked ahead obliviously, Lu Ming opened his briefcase, glanced at his checkbook, then at a few red bills. He was about to take the checkbook but decided to grab the red bills instead, about four or five, all his pocket money, and shoved them into Sister Nine’s hand.

She hesitated but, seeing Meng Dezhu ahead, naturally pocketed the money.

Lu Ming sighed inwardly and slowly descended the stairs.

At the building entrance, Sister Nine waved goodbye to both with the same attitude.