Reborn as Zhao Ruilong of Handong, I will defy fate.

Chapter 213 Why should a real man worry about not having a wife? Zhao Ruilong, you really dare to sa

Knock knock knock~

There was a knock on the door.

"Xiao Ke, time to eat!"

Zhao Xiaohui called from outside the door.

"coming!"

Lu Yike quickly finished using the restroom and headed out to the dining room.

Zhao Lichun, who had already sat down at the table, saw Lu Yike approaching and immediately smiled:

"Xiao Ke, you look much thinner? Did you suffer from altitude sickness or not like the food in Beijing while on a business trip?"

"I'm not unaccustomed to it at all. In fact, I've gained two pounds from eating so much northern-style noodles!"

Lu Yike pulled over a chair and sat down.

She has always been used to being straightforward.

So even when facing the top official of Handong, or her boyfriend's father.

She, too, showed no politeness whatsoever.

However, such a straightforward and bold answer is in line with her personality.

Zhao Lichun wasn't angry; instead, he smiled and said:

"Being a little chubby is good. Being chubby is healthier, has better immunity, and looks more naturally beautiful."

"Some women nowadays starve themselves to the point of being emaciated in pursuit of beauty, their faces becoming pointed like a V-shape. Where is the beauty in that? It's clearly a disease!"

Lu Yike casually remarked, "That's right, skinny like a monkey, with arms thinner than a child's, how can that be called beautiful?"

Turning to Zhao Ruilong, Lu Yike asked with a smile:

Do you prefer someone chubby or skinny?

Zhao Ruilong was taken aback.

Ever since meeting his beautiful secretary Qin Shuang, Lu Yike seems to have become a different person.

Didn't we agree before that we would never be jealous of each other?

Why is Lu Yike acting like she's swallowed a jar of jealousy now that Qin Shuang is just picking her up from the airport and reporting on her work along the way?

Having lived two lives, Zhao Ruilong quickly realized that one cannot completely trust what a woman says.

Women, especially those in the early stages of a relationship, can change their minds faster than turning the pages of a book.

"I like being healthy!"

After giving an ambiguous answer, Zhao Ruilong picked up his chopsticks and started eating.

I had lunch with Zhang Shuhan, but we were so focused on talking business and drinking that we didn't eat much.

Later, he overworked himself...

Even though I ate the bread and snacks the flight attendants gave me on the plane, I'm still starving right now.

As soon as Zhao Ruilong picked up his chopsticks, everyone else naturally started eating as well.

Knowing that Lu Yike was acting a little strange, Zhao Ruilong naturally didn't want to provoke her further.

However, he didn't want to chat, while Zhao Lichun and Zhao Xiaohui did the exact opposite.

They had long considered Lu Yike as family, but they rarely met.

The last time Lu Yike visited our home was during the Spring Festival.

So naturally, they ate and chatted at the dinner table.

The conversation gradually shifted from the food and daily life during the business trip to Beijing to the completed case of Fan Jianyi.

And since we've already talked about Fan Jian, how could we not mention Zhong Zhengguo, who's connected to him...?

It seemed the three of them would soon be talking about Zhong Xiaoai.

They might even end up talking about their female secretary.

Zhao Ruilong sped up and quickly finished his meal.

"There's still some work to be done with the take-in, so I'll go upstairs to get back to it. You guys can take your time eating and chatting."

After putting down his chopsticks, Zhao Ruilong immediately got up, grabbed his backpack, and went upstairs.

Lu Yike and Zhao Lichun had not yet noticed anything unusual.

Because Zhao Ruilong is indeed very busy with work.

But Zhao Xiaohui, the second eldest sister, found it rather strange.

What kind of work requires you to do it right after you finish eating?

Moreover, not saying a word throughout the meal is not in line with my younger brother's habits.

Whenever the father is home, the father and son will always discuss and exchange ideas during meals.

Why did I find myself speechless when I met President Shen in Yanjing this time?

Is it that they dare not speak, or that they do not want to speak?

Zhao Xiaohui glanced at Lu Yike.

Lu Yike, with her carefree and easygoing personality, was completely without any suspicion.

She shared all the findings of her investigation during her time in Yanjing without reservation.

Being able to learn some news from this opportunity, her father, Zhao Lichun, was naturally happy to chat with her more.

"I'm done eating, you guys chat."

"I'll wash some fruit for Ruilong and take it upstairs."

Zhao Xiaohui got up and left her seat.

A moment later, she knocked on the door and went into her brother's bedroom.

"Why are you busy programming as soon as you get back?"

Zhao Xiaohui closed the door behind her and placed a plate of fruit on Zhao Ruilong's computer desk.

"Optimizing and improving this virtual simulation software will be very helpful for industrial design, especially for our large aircraft and aero-engine development projects, so we need to hurry up."

Zhao Ruilong stared at the screen, his fingers flying across the keyboard.

"Even if we need to hurry, there's no need to be so frantic."

"Your girlfriend rarely comes to your house, can't you spend more time with her?"

Zhao Xiaohui stood to the side with a half-smile, carefully observing her younger brother's expression.

"What's there to keep her company about? Isn't Dad still chatting with her?"

Zhao Ruilong responded expressionlessly.

"That's wrong!"

Zhao Xiaohui glanced at the door, then bent down and asked in a low voice:

Did you two have a fight?

Zhao Ruilong glanced sideways at his second sister.

"No, how did you tell we had a fight?"

"Don't try to fool me, I'm your second sister!"

Zhao Xiaohui leaned closer and asked in a low voice with a laugh:

"I guess it's because of Qin Shuang!"

Zhao Ruilong sighed.

“We didn’t argue, but I’m not happy because she suspects Qin Shuang.”

"Qin Shuang and I are completely innocent, nothing has happened between us, yet she clearly suspects that Qin Shuang is my woman!"

"On the way back from the airport, she kept asking me questions like she was checking my household registration. If you didn't know better, you'd think she hadn't finished get off work and was still working on anti-corruption!"

Zhao Xiaohui chuckled.

"Oh dear, I thought it was something serious!"

"I bet any woman would be suspicious if she saw a stunningly beautiful woman next to her man."

"Besides, Qin Shuang has always had feelings for you. Otherwise, she wouldn't have taken the initiative to apply for a transfer from Luzhou to Jingzhou to work in administrative positions at Huilong Electronics."

"Furthermore, even I can tell from her clothing, her eyes, her expressions, and other details that she genuinely wants to please you, let alone Lu Yike, who is even more meticulous in her work on anti-corruption!"

At this point, Zhao Xiaohui's smile faded, and she sighed:

"Of course, Qin Shuang clearly orchestrated this situation on her own."

"on purpose?"

Zhao Ruilong frowned slightly.

Why do you say that? What is she trying to do?

After Zhao Xiaohui sat down, she picked up a grape, peeled it, and said:

"Think about it, she clearly knew that you and Lu Yike flew back from Yanjing together, and the plane landed in the evening, so it was impossible for you to go back to your unit."

"As her secretary, she didn't really need to pick you up at the airport, but she still came, dressed up carefully, and even used expensive designer perfume."

"Isn't she deliberately showing up in front of Lu Yike? It's obvious she wants your girlfriend to know that you have such a beautiful and graceful secretary by your side!"

"As for what she's trying to do... you're so smart, how could you not guess? She's not trying to show off to Lu Yike, but rather testing Lu Yike's reaction to decide on her next move."

Zhao Ruilong quickly asked, "Lu Yike's various questions, which seemed like she was checking my background, clearly showed that she was wary of me. Will that make her back down and stop having any thoughts about me?"

Zhao Xiaohui fed Zhao Ruilong a grape and asked with a doting smile:

"Then you have to tell me first, did Lu Yike do anything to you in the car?"

"For example, holding hands affectionately, calling you 'darling' in a coquettish way, and other various ways of showing affection."

Zhao Ruilong shook his head decisively.

"I'm busy with work, how can I have time to show affection with her?"

"Besides, given her carefree personality, she would never show affection to Qin Shuang."

Zhao Xiaohui picked up another grape.

"That's it, Qin Shuang will definitely think Lu Yike is easy to fool, and she'll be even more proactive towards you in the future."

"In my opinion, you should just go along with it and take her. You already have plenty of mistresses, so what's the harm in having one more?"

"If you're worried about Lu Yike finding out, just transfer her back to Luzhou, just like the Gao sisters did. What's wrong with keeping a mistress in a gilded cage?"

In Zhao Xiaohui's view, this was not a big deal.

My younger brother is rich and powerful, and is known as the Crown Prince of Handong.

How could there not be beautiful women throwing themselves at him?

Besides, aren't all these beautiful women throwing themselves at you just for fame and fortune?

Does the Zhao family lack this little bit of fame and fortune?

We can afford to raise as many as we want.

Zhao Xiaohui wouldn't tell.

The reason she supported her brother's womanizing ways.

Actually, there was another little thought behind it: to pass on the family line as soon as possible, preferably to have many children.

This is why, before Zhao Ruilong was about to be released from prison, she recruited many beautiful women to work at the Huilong Hotel in Luzhou with high salaries.

"Qin Shuang... let fate decide!"

"Anyway, I don't force things when it comes to relationships."

"Even if Lu Yike wants to break up, I don't care. What does a real man have to worry about not having a wife?"

Changing the subject, Zhao Ruilong smiled and said:

"Let's talk about my second brother-in-law instead!"

"You took the child to the US, why couldn't you persuade him to come back? Wouldn't it be better to transfer him back to China so the whole family can be together?"

June is almost here, and there are not many days left until September 11th, when terrorist extremists hijacked planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center in the United States.

Helping my second sister's husband escape the attack and save his life is not only related to the happiness of my second sister's family, but also one of the system's tasks.

Therefore, Zhao Ruilong naturally wanted to have his second brother-in-law transferred back to China ahead of time, so as to easily avoid a disaster.

Unfortunately……

Zhao Xiaohui shook her head repeatedly.

"Didn't I already tell you?"

"He was reluctant to give up his current position; he wanted to stay in the United States and serve his country more."

"Especially since our Dragon Country is about to officially join the WTO, it will gain unprecedented development opportunities."

"Having worked in the United States for many years, he should be making even greater efforts to promote cultural exchange and economic and trade cooperation at this critical juncture..."

Just then, there was a sudden knock on the door.

The door was then pushed open, and Zhao Lichun and Lu Yike appeared outside.

"Ruilong, aren't you done yet?"

"almost."

"Then come to the study when you're done. I want to know what you and President Shen talked about."

After saying that, Zhao Lichun glanced at Zhao Xiaohui.

"You and Xiao Ke take the child out for a walk."

"Okay dad!"

Zhao Xiaohui immediately stood up and told Lu Yike to leave.

Before leaving, Lu Yike couldn't help but glance at Zhao Ruilong's bedroom.

And it was confirmed that Zhao Ruilong was indeed busy coding, and seemed quite busy.

The couple had just taken their child out not long ago.

Zhao Ruilong immediately shut down the computer and went to his study.

"You and Xiao Ke didn't have a fight, did you?"

Just as Zhao Ruilong closed the door, he heard Zhao Lichun ask curiously.

"Why are you just like my second sister? We didn't fight, it's just that my secretary picked me up at the airport, and she might be a little jealous."

"I can't stand her nagging and asking endless questions like she's interrogating me, so I don't want to talk to her much for now."

After sitting down at the desk, Zhao Ruilong took out a cigarette and offered it to him.

Zhao Lichun lit a cigarette and smiled calmly:

"Women are naturally a little suspicious, that's normal."

"And her suspicions prove that she cares about you."

"If she really doesn't care or ask about it, then that proves she doesn't take you seriously."

Zhao Ruilong chuckled.

"Never mind her, let me tell you about my conversation with President Shen!"

"Wait a moment!"

Zhao Lichun opened his notebook, picked up his pen, and looked like he was about to take notes seriously.

"We were just chatting idly, why were you taking notes?"

Zhao Ruilong was both amused and exasperated.

"Don't you understand this?"

Zhao Lichun put down his cigarette butt and said in a serious tone:

As the ancients aptly put it, "A thousand cups of wine are too few when drinking with a bosom friend, but even half a sentence is too much when talking to someone with whom you don't see eye to eye."

"The fact that he is willing to talk to you for hours is enough to prove that he appreciates and even agrees with what you say, and values ​​the questions and opinions you raise."

"Put yourself in their shoes. If someone talked to you about topics you weren't interested in, or if you disagreed with them, would you talk to them for a long time?"

Zhao Ruilong nodded slightly.

"That's true. Then let me start by talking about future trends!"

Zhao Lichun listened and took notes, and finally frowned and thought for a long time.

"You spoke quite well about things like the international situation and development strategies."

"But you really dare to speak out about regulating the real estate market!"

Zhao Ruilong frowned and asked, "What's wrong? Am I being too radical?"

"radical?"

Zhao Lichun gave a cold snort.

"You're not just radical, you're bold!"

"Do you know that regulating the real estate market means affecting land revenue?"

"Land revenue accounts for almost half of local fiscal revenue, and even more in some places."

"Such an important source of tax revenue, can it be touched so easily? If the revenue drops even slightly, many places will probably go hungry and there will be big trouble!"

Zhao Ruilong chuckled awkwardly, "Of course I know that!"

"In the 1980s, in order to cope with the economic crisis, Shenzhen followed Hong Kong's example and tried the paid transfer of land use rights for the first time, which opened the prelude to land finance."

“Because the land was acquired at a low price, after the infrastructure was completed, it could be mortgaged to banks at a higher price, or auctioned off to real estate companies, thus obtaining a large amount of funds.”

“After the land is developed, there are also a lot of taxes that are directly and indirectly related to the land, such as land value-added tax, urban land use tax, cultivated land occupation tax, real estate development tax, etc.”

"With land revenue being so lucrative, local governments naturally engage in rampant real estate development, using cheap industrial land to attract investment and increase urban population. With more people, the demand for housing and consumption is strong, and the prices of residential and commercial land naturally rise."

"If prices can't rise any further, they can use scarcity marketing, restrict land supply, and hold centralized land auctions to artificially inflate prices, or use this method to stabilize prices and prevent a collapse..."

Zhao Lichun waved his hand.

"Don't tell me how local governments have developed a reliance on land revenue, or how they exploit the mentality that 'a house is essential for a home' to inflate and maintain housing prices. I know all the ways and means."

"What I want to tell you now is that you really shouldn't have talked to President Shen about increasing the intensity of real estate regulation. If you cause the land revenue of various provinces and cities to decline, wouldn't that be killing everyone?"

Zhao Ruilong spread his hands.

"A bad sign has already appeared. Are we all going to turn a blind eye?"

"Is he only interested in using his capital and power to make a fortune through land development, engineering construction, and other opportunities?"

"Are we just letting housing prices keep soaring? Are we just letting arable land be illegally occupied and cities expand rapidly, resulting in a lot of land being left idle and wasted?"

"Food is becoming less and less every year, but housing prices are rising year by year. If a large-scale disaster or war were to occur, would more than a billion people be able to have enough to eat?"

"If this continues, do you know what will happen? Local governments will become increasingly reliant on land revenue, and finance and real estate will collude to drive up housing prices."

"The rich and powerful can make a fortune by speculating on land and houses with just a little money and time, while ordinary people who just want an ordinary house have to empty their savings to make a down payment and then pay off a loan for twenty or thirty years!"

At this point, Zhao Ruilong slowly stood up.

He braced his hands on the edge of the table, looking intently at Zhao Lichun.

"Is it worth it? Is it fair to drain the wealth of countless people and mortgage their future for the sake of a short-term economic boom and the interests of a small group of powerful and wealthy individuals?"