"You also know, the Li Family and the Ling Family are tangled up in all kinds of ways, and I was personally promoted by your grandfather!" Li Haiyang said with a bitter smile on his face. "Ling Zhengping is publicly recognized as the heir to the Head of the Ling Family, so those families who are attached to the Ling Family, like our Li Family, have a lot of people who look at Ling Zhengping with new eyes because of that. Right now, Ling Zhengping holds high office and great power, reaching such a high position at this age. Next, when he enters that small collective and becomes another big shot in the Ling Family after Ling Mingrui, that’s a nailed?down certainty. Too many people have set their hopes on Ling Zhengping because of this, hoping to win his favor."
Luo Ziling didn’t interrupt, just listened quietly.
"Among the Li Family, many people are very close to Ling Zhengping. The conflicts you have with Ling Zhengping from time to time, they’ve all seen them. When Ling Zhengping moved against you several times, it’s quite possible some of them were involved. As followers, they definitely have to show their loyalty in some things. Those people have long been looking for an opportunity to make things hard for you. It’s just that you never clashed with the Li Family, and even helped me stand back up again. After I stood up again, the Li Family’s prestige rose a bit as well, so they didn’t dare, and had no chance, to give you trouble. But now, this Li Family member Li Xiaoqing has had a direct conflict with you. If they want to make trouble for you, they now have an excuse."
Seeing that Luo Ziling still didn’t interrupt and was only listening quietly, Li Haiyang smiled, then continued, "They don’t know what you and your mom are really capable of, and they’re not very clear on how you’ve caused huge trouble for a lot of people during this period. The conflicts between you and the Yang Family and the Chen Family aren’t known to everyone. The ones who know the details are people roughly on the same level as you; others at most know a bit of the surface. They think you don’t have the qualifications to be in conflict with Ling Zhengping, and that in every respect Ling Zhengping is stronger than you. A lot of Li Family people even think you’re an easy target. So, they’re already thinking of using your conflict with Li Xiaoqing to do something against you."
"But you’ll stop them, won’t you, Senior?" Luo Ziling finally cut in.
"I have to stop them, otherwise it’ll get troublesome!" Li Haiyang did not deny it. "Although the Li Family doesn’t have an absolute Family Head, my status and influence in the Li Family are not low. I don’t want the Li Family to get into trouble, and even less do I want them to go after you just to curry favor with Ling Zhengping. So I must stop them."
After listening, Luo Ziling asked again, "Senior, you also hope I can endure a bit, and try not to bother with them too much?"
Li Haiyang once again showed a bitter smile. "Talking to a smart guy like you really saves a lot of breath."
"Senior, I’ll just tell you my thoughts honestly. Li Xiaoqing teamed up with others to go after his own mother and sister, and he even wanted to drag us down with them. There’s no way we can just ignore that. Letting him drink three cups as punishment and then letting it go—impossible." Luo Ziling answered very seriously. "I’m definitely going to use Li Xiaoqing to do something, to let everyone know we are going to deal with him severely, that we very much mind what he did, and that we’re going to make him pay a price. At the same time, we also want those people who used Li Xiaoqing to pay for their mistakes and suffer losses."
Before Li Haiyang could ask anything, Luo Ziling laid out more of his ideas and the countermeasures he had discussed with Luo Yuqing.
After listening, Li Haiyang nodded lightly. "That’s a good idea. It really is a relatively well?rounded way to resolve this."
"If Senior has any other instructions, please just tell me!"
"Actually, even if I say nothing, you’ll handle it properly." Li Haiyang chuckled. "I just wanted to tell you the situation so you won’t be confused about some things."
After pausing, he added, "There’s one thing you must remember: right now many people are optimistic about Ling Zhengping, because your grandfather is already old, and Ling Zhengping now holds a high position. Letting him take over is the most natural thing in the world. Everyone will assume your grandfather will soon hand over the power to manage family affairs to Ling Zhengping, and then push him to an even higher position."
"I understand what you mean, Senior. I’ll do my best not to have a head?on clash with him, and I’ll try my hardest not to let him hurt me or my mom."
Since Luo Ziling was so understanding, Li Haiyang was quite satisfied.
He then asked a bit about Dragon Rise and Wang Guoguo.
Luo Ziling told him everything he felt he could say, and Li Haiyang was also quite satisfied.
After talking about these matters, Luo Ziling started treating Li Haiyang.
The treatment went on for about half an hour. When it ended, Li Haiyang had fallen asleep.
After packing up his things, Luo Ziling opened the door to leave and saw Wang Guoguo waiting outside.
"Oh, big beauty Wang, you’re here?" Luo Ziling greeted her with a smile. "I thought you’d gone off to handle business."
"So, you’re done talking?" Wang Guoguo stared at Luo Ziling a bit unfriendly. "Can I go in now?"
"You said it wrong." Luo Ziling corrected her solemnly. "I’ve finished the treatment and am about to leave."
"Hmph, if you don’t want me to hear what you two were talking about, just say so." Wang Guoguo curled her lip in disdain.
"I really can’t figure out how someone with a personality like yours became an intelligence officer." Luo Ziling looked at her in puzzlement. "Don’t tell me you’ve already been kicked out of your department? I’d say someone like you definitely wouldn’t pass any evaluations."
"How is that possible?" Wang Guoguo instantly flared up. "This lady’s work performance is excellent."
"Even if you’re excellent, it’s useless. General Li Haiyang has been playing special operations his whole life. A little rookie like you isn’t even a fart in his eyes!"
Wang Guoguo was furious, but she had no way to refute that, and in the end could only huff angrily and glare at him. "No swearing."
"I’m going to pay a visit to your Vice Chairman Zhao now!" Luo Ziling ignored her little tantrum. "I didn’t make an appointment, so I don’t know if I’ll be able to see the old man."
"You’re going to see Chairman Zhao today?" Wang Guoguo was very surprised.
"Last time he invited me to come again and help check his health. I agreed, so I’m going to keep my promise. If he doesn’t have time, then forget it." As Luo Ziling spoke, it was as if something suddenly occurred to him, and he quietly asked Wang Guoguo, "Can you help me contact him?"
Wang Guoguo hesitated for a moment, but finally agreed. "Fine, I’ll call his office and ask if he has time to see you."
After she finished speaking, Wang Guoguo walked into the office at the end of the hall, picked up the telephone on the desk, and dialed a number.
Once the call went through, Wang Guoguo reported her identity, then asked the person who answered to check with Zhao Guosheng. She said there was a doctor named Luo Ziling asking for an audience and asked whether she should bring him over. The one who answered the phone was Zhao Guosheng’s secretary. He didn’t reply to her immediately, only saying he would go ask for instructions and call her back later.
While waiting for the return call, Wang Guoguo asked Luo Ziling rather fiercely, "My dad is coming to Yanjing on a business trip in a couple of days. Are you willing to meet him then or not?"
"Uh, don’t tell me you’ve taken a fancy to me and want me to pretend to be your boyfriend?"
Wang Guoguo glanced at Li Haiyang’s pistol hanging on the wall, wondering whether she should take it down and fire a few shots at Luo Ziling.