Chapter 732: Chapter 702: Think Twice
Li Zhong said, "We checked the surveillance video at Jianjie Square. After you left Da Yu Japanese Cuisine, you did go to the restroom, but you came out quickly."
Pei Lin looked at Li Zhong, "Did I? Why don’t I remember?"
Li Zhong said, "We counted the number of people who entered and exited the restroom during that time period."
Pei Lin’s expression did not change at all as she smiled and said, "I lied; I didn’t go to the restroom."
She indeed did not go to the restroom because she noticed that the corridor leading to the restroom had surveillance. Pei Lin directly entered the safety passage and went downstairs along the stairs. She knew very well that the police need evidence to convict, and as long as the evidence is missing, they can’t immediately charge her even if they suspect her.
The only person capable of pushing her into the abyss was Wu Fajun. As long as Wu Fajun didn’t take action, she could still resist desperately.
Li Zhong said, "No matter how well a person disguises themselves, they will eventually show a flaw. Pei Lin, we know what you’ve done."
Pei Lin smiled calmly and said, "I don’t know anything, why don’t you tell me?"
Li Zhong said, "Don’t think that turning off your mobile location means you can’t track the movement. Mobile location not only includes GPS but also WIFI and cell tower positioning. Even if the first two are turned off, cell tower positioning can still find out where you have been and how long you stayed."
Pei Lin sighed, "There’s truly no secret in this world. I was wrong from the start, thinking I could hide my past and maintain my family’s happiness, but it was all in vain."
Li Zhong said, "So you were willing to take action against Yang Mufeng to keep your secret?"
Pei Lin laughed, "I hate him, but why would I kill him? I already found someone to help me solve this problem, and Xu Chunliang agreed to it."
Li Zhong said, "This matter doesn’t seem to have anything to do with him, right?"
Pei Lin said, "I trust him, believe in his ability to resolve this. Officer Li, I was already pregnant when this happened. Do you think a pregnant woman would take the risk of doing such a thing? To gamble my future and fate for a scoundrel?"
Li Zhong said, "I only know that some people will take risks and pay any price to maintain their happiness."
Pei Lin said, "It’s definitely not me. If you have enough evidence and believe you can convince a judge to convict me, then go ahead and prosecute me. If not, I hope you won’t create panic, affecting my family and my reputation."
Li Zhong fully realized how formidable this woman was. He nodded and ended the questioning.
Returning to the police car, Lu Qi, who had been waiting inside, couldn’t wait to ask, "How did it go? Did she admit it?"
Li Zhong sighed, "It’s not that easy. This woman is very cunning. Her current strategy is to retreat in order to advance, admitting to everything we know, and then using new lies to support them, creating a new defense."
Lu Qi said, "She can’t run away."
Li Zhong said, "She will definitely hold out until the last moment."
Lu Qi said, "Victory is in sight. Once we analyze all the surveillance results, she’ll be exposed."
The fate of Renhe Hall’s trademark concerns the cooperation of Da Heng Hot Spring Town. Zhou Yiwen had no choice but to come to Hu Shan Town to negotiate, accompanied by the deputy general manager of Mingde Group, Li Changyou.
It turns out, Li Changyou has some connection with Xu Chunliang. His younger brother, Li Changmin, was punished by Xu Chunliang for betraying Gao Xiaobai.
In the past few days, Zhou Yiwen consulted many lawyers. They all unanimously believed that Zhou Yiwen’s chances of regaining the ownership of the Renhe Hall trademark through a lawsuit were slim. The best approach was to negotiate with Xu Chunliang to strive for an agreement to obtain the right to use the Renhe Hall trademark.
Xu Chunliang had just started his work when he heard of Zhou Yiwen’s visit. He let him wait at the door for more than ten minutes before arranging for them to come in.
Zhou Yiwen thought to himself, this Vice Mayor really has quite a demeanor. Today, I’m here to ask a favor, so even if I’m unhappy, I have to endure it.
Li Changyou, thirty years old, tall, with a well-proportioned physique and a brisk step looks like someone who is well-trained.
Xu Chunliang said to Zhou Yiwen, "Did President Zhou come to see me today for business or personal matters? If it’s personal, we’d better talk after work."
Zhou Yiwen said, "Of course it’s business. I wouldn’t waste Vice Mayor Xu’s precious time on personal matters." He introduced Li Changyou, who was beside him, to Xu Chunliang.
Xu Chunliang stood up, shook hands with them, and invited the two to sit down.
Li Changyou got straight to the point, saying, "Mayor Xu, we came today to discuss the Yiyang Hot Spring Town project."
Xu Chunliang said, "The Yiyang Hot Spring Town seems to be a project of Da Heng. If there’s anything to discuss, they should talk to me."
Zhou Yiwen said, "Vice Mayor Xu, you should have heard that Da Heng Group, Mingde Group, and Renhe Hall have reached an agreement to jointly develop the Hot Spring Town. We are here today mainly to provide an update."
Xu Chunliang handed them two bottles of water, smiling warmly, and said, "On behalf of the Hu Shan Town Government, I welcome both investors. But I must emphasize that any investment projects within Weishan Island must undergo strict review and comply with relevant laws and regulations. The relevant entities must have legal qualifications. Your private agreements must go through the process and receive approval before they become legally valid; otherwise, we won’t recognize them."
Li Changyou said, "Our agreement has the support of the leaders in charge of Dongzhou and Weishan County. There were no issues in the process of signing the agreement. You can rest assured, Mayor Xu."
Xu Chunliang smiled, "Then there’s no problem. If the leaders in charge have agreed, why are you coming to me?"
Zhou Yiwen silently cursed Xu Chunliang for pretending to be ignorant. He sighed and said, "There were no issues when we signed the agreement, and we also consulted my father’s opinion at the time. He also signed the authorization letter. Although it was reasonable and lawful, after my father passed away, he transferred the trademark ownership of Renhe Hall to you, and additionally gave you thirty percent of Renhe Hall Pharmaceutical Group’s shares. Out of respect for my father, and considering that you deserve the right to know, I’m informing you today."
Xu Chunliang said, "President Zhou, what you’re talking about is clearly a personal matter."
Zhou Yiwen said, "I don’t consider it a personal matter. You are a leader in charge of attracting investment in Hu Shan Town, and at the same time, you are one of the shareholders of Renhe Hall. It’s not easy to separate business and personal matters."
Xu Chunliang said, "You said Mr. Zhou previously signed an authorization letter?"
Zhou Yiwen took out a prepared copy and handed it over. Xu Chunliang glanced at it, "A copy. You should have brought the original. How do I know whether this authorization letter is real or fake? How do I know if Mr. Zhou signed this authorization letter when he was fully aware?"
Using another’s method to deal with them, just a few days ago, the Zhou brothers questioned the legality of the will, and now it’s Xu Chunliang’s turn.
Zhou Yiwen reminded Xu Chunliang, "Before the agreement was signed, you had no relation with Renhe Hall, and you weren’t a company shareholder. I consulted a lawyer, and our agreement holds legal effect. You have no right to veto."
Xu Chunliang laughed heartily, "President Zhou keeps saying he wants to talk business with me, but it turns out it’s all personal matters. Since you all came, I’ll give you a response. The current trademark owner of Renhe Hall is me. As long as your cooperation project does not use the name Renhe Hall, I certainly won’t interfere. But if you want to use Renhe Hall to create influence for promotion, my position is absolutely not. If you persist, I will hold you legally accountable."
Zhou Yiwen said, "Look carefully. Our agreement was before you obtained the trademark of Renhe Hall."
Xu Chunliang said, "If you think you’re in the right, there is no need to come and talk to me. Just go ahead and use the name Renhe Hall, but I only remind you of one thing: think three times before acting."
Zhou Yiwen couldn’t bear it any longer, "Xu Chunliang, Renhe Hall was established with the hard work of the three of us, father and sons. What right do you have to occupy it?"
Xu Chunliang said, "I don’t want it either, but my granduncle insisted on giving it to me. It is true that you brothers contributed, but you’ve also done a fair share of immoral things, especially your brother Zhou Yi Wu—his actions are utterly despicable!"
Zhou Yiwen said, "Don’t let personal grudges drive public affairs!"
Xu Chunliang laughed, "Zhou Yiwen, I haven’t even started retaliating. If I wanted to, I wouldn’t need to use public power. I’m protecting my rights. The ownership of Renhe Hall is with me. I may not be able to make Renhe Hall flourish, but I can guarantee that from now on, you two brothers can forget about making a penny from the name Renhe Hall. If you’re not satisfied, feel free to try. Whatever you swallow, I’ll make you spit out tenfold!"
Zhou Yiwen looked at the arrogant Xu Chunliang, cursing him silently for being too overbearing.
Li Changyou coughed and spoke, trying to ease the deadlock in front of him.
"Mayor Xu, in business, we aim for a win-win. You should be aware of Da Heng Group’s current financial situation. If we don’t invest in this project, their Yiyang Hot Spring Town is likely to become a stalled project, which wouldn’t be good news for your town, right?"
Xu Chunliang said, "We have a saying in China: ’A mighty wave washes away the sand to reveal the gold.’ Companies that can’t withstand the test cannot survive in this market. Do you think our government is a pushover? Let it stall if you dare!"
Zhou Yiwen thought to himself, how did this guy mingle into the system? He’s just a rogue.
Li Changyou said, "Mayor Xu, are you refusing our investment? In these times when Dongzhou is vigorously attracting investment and improving the investment environment, your actions go against the leaders at all levels!"
Xu Chunliang smiled warmly at Li Changyou, "A foreigner seems to have really studied our policies comprehensively—know yourself and know your enemy, and you’ll win every battle. You’ve put in quite the effort to make money from our country."
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