"Su Ning, that idiot!"
Although the municipal government was currently barely held together under Chen Huaiqian's control, it was not entirely unified. Moreover, the messenger sent by Su Ning had made no effort to hide, so the news spread quickly.
The fertilizer plant's production line had arrived at the port!
All interested parties sprang into action. Those secretly scheming for the production line were overjoyed, rubbing their hands together in preparation to intercept the goods.
In a secluded courtyard.
Someone received the news and hurriedly passed it up the chain of command, then said smugly, "...Hmph, and here I thought this woman was something special. To think she's this stupid, believing she could awe the world just because she gained a foothold?"
"It's utterly ridiculous!"
"Exactly. She's had it smooth sailing for so long that she's let it go to her head, thinking everyone will just yield to her. Once she takes a loss this time, she'll learn her place."
The others chimed in their agreement.
Their words were filled with malice and schadenfreude. They wished the fertilizer production line could be intercepted this very moment, just to see the arrogant Su Ning look utterly devastated.
Someone even clamored:
"Her father died early and didn't teach his daughter well. As her elders, we'll play the role of her father for once and teach her what it means to be obedient and low-key."
"Hahahahaha."
The room erupted in laughter.
However, despite verbally belittling her to the extreme, they still took Su Ning seriously in their hearts. They began discussing how to coordinate with their superiors to intercept the fertilizer production line.
Yet, after talking in circles, they realized there was nothing they could actually do.
For one, Su Ning's foundation in the country was already established, and she had no fatal weaknesses. As for her family, the cunning and intelligence of the Su family had been fully displayed last time.
As for the rumors about the Su clan members these past few days.
In the words of one person here: "Clan members or not, a cold-blooded creature like Su Ning only treats them as tools, like hammers or mallets."
When they can generate profit, she uses them carefully.
When they break, she throws them away.
This wasn't just a casual slander; it was something everyone could see. Su Ning did promote her clan members, but she completely disregarded kinship, looking only at their strength and qualifications.
A Su clan member, who was related by blood as her own cousin-uncle, relied on his status to secretly manipulate quotas for his own family's benefit.
After he was found out.
Su Ning showed no leniency at all. Not only did she refuse to promote anyone involved, but she also forced the clan leader to expel them from the clan!
This left those in the know completely astounded.
They knew she was making an example of him, but they didn't expect her to be so merciless. That was her own cousin-uncle, sharing the same grandfather as her father by blood.
In the eyes of the people at the time, Su Ning had gone too far. Although the Su clan members became much more obedient because of it, outsiders increasingly felt her heart was as cold as iron, completely devoid of sentiment.
In short, Su Ning had no weaknesses in this regard.
As for the rest, it was an old story: Su Ning didn't have any properties or mansions, so they couldn't even cause trouble if they wanted to.
Attack her directly?
Heh, who knows who would die first.
The group looked at each other in dismay.
"Thinking about it, Su Ning seems arrogant and lawless, but she actually has a shell as hard as a turtle's. It's ridiculous, there's nowhere to strike."
Someone couldn't help but complain.
"Should we just forget it? Our actions here are just joining in the fun anyway; the important thing is to see what the higher-ups do. She only has some status in Beiping; her reach doesn't extend to the local provinces. She'll just have to watch helplessly as her goods are intercepted."
"Hmph, let Su Ning off easy this time."
The leader stood up and smilingly comforted the crowd: "Actually, we should be thanking Su Ning. Without all her hard work, how could we get a fertilizer production line?"
"In the end, we're the ones who benefit. Fertilizer is a good thing, hahahahaha."
Once the higher-ups get the fertilizer production line.
The subordinates like them could also get a share of the spoils. At the very least, they could get first dibs on buying the fertilizer. Whether they used it themselves or resold it at a higher price, it would be a considerable profit.
Everyone understood implicitly, and someone joked:
"Right, right, right. You all have to remember, when Miss Su is heartbroken after her production line is intercepted, everyone be gentle with your words and comfort her more. Don't let Miss Su lose hope entirely."
"Who knows, maybe she'll bring in more good things for us to take in the future."
Another burst of laughter followed.
…………
"Miss, we caught three more."
Su Ning was writing and drawing on a piece of paper. Hearing this, she barely lifted her head: "We've caught so many already, how are there still people who don't believe it... Do as usual and send them all to the police station for Jian Ren."
"The police station must be packed full these past few days, right?"
"Chief Jian hasn't said so."
The implication was that it wasn't. Lin Sen decisively ignored how, when he delivered people that morning, Jian Ren had pulled him aside for a tactful half-hour chat. It wasn't that there weren't enough prison cells, but rather the pressure brought by the masterminds behind these culprits.
Ever since the news of the fertilizer plant's production line spread.
A huge, juicy piece of meat was dangling out there.
Both the capable and the incompetent wanted a bite. So, they sent people to monitor Su Ning, hoping to find clues and intercept the goods one step ahead of everyone else.
Naturally, they gained nothing.
And even lost their own personnel in the process.
Unable to openly cause trouble for Su Ning, they vented all their anger on Jian Ren. He was getting five or six calls a day demanding he release the prisoners, and every caller had some level of status.
Yet he couldn't go against Su Ning's wishes either.
He could only make himself like a mouse in a bellows—catching flak from both sides.
Hearing this, Su Ning finally put down her pen, looked up at her stoic assistant Lin, leaned back in her chair, and said playfully:
"And here the dignified police chief calls you a brother, yet you don't even speak up for Jian Ren at a critical time? Aren't you afraid of being called cold-hearted, Assistant Lin?"
"I draw my salary from you."
Lin Sen smiled and said softly, "Naturally, I must stand on your side in all matters. My personal feelings should absolutely never affect you."
Besides, they weren't truly friends anyway.
Their friendship was completely superficial.
"Not bad." Su Ning felt increasingly proud of her previous flash of inspiration to recruit Lin Sen to work under her. Changing the subject, she brought up another matter:
"Although the Grand Hotel of Beiping is very nice, there are always people coming and going, so it's inevitably subject to prying eyes. The Lantern Festival has passed, so let's start construction on the mansion."
It would just happen to use up the last bit of her task quota, and she was somewhat looking forward to the completion reward.
Hearing this, Lin Sen paused.
He hesitated to speak. Although building a mansion was a major event, and many merchants who had previously received supply quotas would ask about it from time to time... the fertilizer production line was far more important.
Others didn't know, but he was fully aware—the miss truly hadn't made a single move regarding the covetous glances from all sides, and had even refused Mayor Chen's help.
What if the goods really were intercepted?
Though his heart was in turmoil, Lin Sen didn't show a hint of it on his face. He methodically answered regarding the arrangements for starting construction on the mansion, stating that material supplies were already sorted out and work could begin as soon as the manpower arrived.
They could publish recruitment notices in the newspapers.
That would be both fast and efficient.
Su Ning agreed with this suggestion as well. Building a sprawling, luxurious mansion that combined Chinese and Western styles required designers, carpenters, bricklayers, stonemasons, sculptors, painters... In short, it was troublesome and complex.
It was best to solve it all at once.
"There's no need to look for a Feng Shui master. I plan to ask my uncle to help."
Su Ning added.
"Understood."
After nodding, Lin Sen saw Su Ning lower her head again, signaling that the young lady had finished her instructions. He should have left immediately to carry out his orders, but his feet felt as though they were glued to the floor, refusing to move.
He trusted the young lady, of course.
However, there was no shortage of powerful figures, and even warlords along the route, who were eyeing the fertilizer production line. Without a formidable force to protect it, the equipment would never make it to Beiping.
"What are you still standing around for?"
Her bewildered voice rang out.
Lin Sen instinctively apologized. It was only after he walked out the door that he snapped back to reality. Letting out a long, heavy sigh, he thought with little hope:
The young lady... she must have arranged for some backup, right?
