Lu Ming smiled and said, "I live at the Xiao family's place. After I go home today, I'll prepare some medicinal herbs for treating heart disease. The city mayor will be back for a follow-up appointment tomorrow, and I guarantee the illness will be cured by the medicine."
Liang Ren's face lit up with joy upon hearing this.
It was known that this heart disease had plagued Liang Ren for nearly ten years, and there were several occasions when he had almost died from it.
If Lu Ming hadn't appeared in time today, Liang Ren would have truly been harmed by his heart condition!
Now, with Lu Ming stating that a follow-up appointment tomorrow would completely cure a decade-long heart condition, Liang Ren was overjoyed. If Lu Ming hadn't saved him, he might have even suspected Lu Ming of being a liar who spoke without thinking.
"Then I am truly grateful, sir!" Liang Ren said.
Lu Ming smiled and replied, "Then Mayor Liang, I'll see you tomorrow. I'll head back to a taxi now. I'd appreciate it if you could help restore the road."
Liang Ren laughed heartily, "I'll get it restored right away. Ah, Jiadong, escort Mr. Lu for me."
"Okay, Uncle."
Liang Jiadong politely escorted Lu Ming back to the car.
The road was soon restored to normal.
The taxi smoothly took Lu Ming to the Xiao family's residence. As soon as he stepped through the gate, he saw Jiang Mengxin, Xu Qin, and Xiao Zhan intensely discussing something.
Upon seeing Lu Ming return, Xiao Zhan was the first to greet him with a smile.
"Brother Lu, where were you yesterday? We didn't see you all day. You didn't answer your phone either."
Lu Ming dared not tell the truth. Yesterday, he had returned to Jinling to rescue Jiang Lan, shattering Jiang Xueyi's delusion of inheriting the勋荣.
He casually concocted a lie, "I went drinking with some old friends. I had a bit too much, so I fell asleep."
Jiang Mengxin shot him a disdainful look. "I can't tell, you a grave keeper, actually have friends in Modu? What, friends from grave keeping in Modu?"
Xu Qin chuckled, speaking sarcastically, "Daughter, how can you say that? Lu Ming is a grave keeper, so his friends must also be grave keepers? Can't you allow for the possibility that his friends are street sweepers, night soil collectors, or garbage pickers?"
The mother and daughter exchanged a look and burst into laughter.
Lu Ming was already accustomed to such sarcastic remarks and didn't bother arguing with them.
Instead, Xiao Zhan found it somewhat unbearable.
He snorted coldly and said, "President Jiang, Aunt Xu, your words are rather unpleasant. Regardless, Brother Lu is President Jiang's fiancé, and Aunt Xu's son-in-law. Moreover, didn't we get the Ma family's 996 project all thanks to Brother Lu?"
Xu Qin spat.
"What kind of son-in-law? We haven't even gotten the marriage license yet!" Xu Qin said unhappily. "And how is the Ma family's 996 project his credit? If my daughter wasn't capable, would the Ma family cooperate with us? Heh."
Hearing this, Xiao Zhan was speechless.
Such behavior of discarding someone after they've served their purpose was truly disgusting.
If Lu Ming hadn't helped the richest man, Ma Tengyun, resolve the poison of Ju Xianxiang, how could they have obtained the supreme 996 project? Now that the project was secured, they belittled Lu Ming as useless. It was truly sickening.
Lu Ming, however, was already used to it.
The Jiang family had always been this way.
He patted Xiao Zhan's shoulder, signaling him not to take it too much to heart, and then they both sat down.
Returning to the main topic.
Lu Ming asked, "Regarding the 996 project, what stage has it reached?"
Jiang Mengxin said proudly, "For a major project like 996, normally, I shouldn't be telling you, an inferior person, because you are not worthy. However, since you once made a small contribution, I'll consider it a reward and tell you a little."
She waved her hand, producing an invitation letter.
Jiang Mengxin continued, "Mr. Ma has invited us to the Ma family headquarters tonight to discuss the 996 project and formally bring us into the project! Once we sign the contract tonight, our Kaiyuan Jewelry will soar and become a premier large enterprise and company in Modu!"
At this point, Jiang Mengxin's voice couldn't help but rise a few decibels.
Lu Ming also showed a happy expression.
If everything went smoothly, with the signing tonight and Kaiyuan Jewelry taking flight, there would be nothing to worry about in Modu.
This way, he could return to Jinling, back to Jiang Lan's side.
Everything depended on tonight.
...
At the same time.
A five-star hotel, VIP private room.
Murong Ba was hosting, inviting a group of influential figures to a banquet. Everyone present was a prominent figure in Modu.
After everyone was seated.
Murong Ba ordered the wine to be poured and then raised his glass, saying, "Esteemed guests, I am grateful that you have all shown me the courtesy to attend my dinner party. To begin, I'd like to propose a toast to all of you."
He drank it down in one gulp, and everyone else also raised their glasses and emptied them.
After the drink, Murong Ba's expression became serious, and he began the real topic of today's banquet.
He said, "The reason I've invited everyone here today is for one matter – the 996 project!"
As soon as the words '996' were mentioned, the expressions of everyone present changed.
Each of them had previously visited Ma Tengyun's establishment, all wanting to join the 996 project; however, they all received the same outcome – rejection.
The 996 project, which Ma Tengyun had poured his life's work into, refused any outsiders!
No matter how wealthy or powerful you were, you couldn't join!
Gradually, everyone had given up hope.
But unexpectedly, just a few days ago, Ma Tengyun suddenly announced that the obscure Kaiyuan Jewelry would be allowed to join the project!
This was unacceptable to them.
Murong Ba said, "What is Kaiyuan Jewelry? How do they qualify to join the 996 project? If Kaiyuan Jewelry truly succeeds, where will all your faces be?"
He paused and continued, "Losing face is secondary. Most importantly, behind Kaiyuan Jewelry is the Jiang family from Jinling! The influence from Jinling coming to our Modu to show off, can you tolerate this?"
After a period of instigation.
Everyone present gnashed their teeth in anger.
Envy, jealousy, hatred!
Why should Kaiyuan Jewelry be able to obtain what they could not? Most importantly, Kaiyuan Jewelry's strength was far inferior to theirs.
Ma Tengyun choosing Kaiyuan Jewelry over them was not a slap in their face?
If this is unbearable, what is?
Jia Guowei, the son of the current Modu Mayor's secretary, slammed his hand on the table and cursed, "A mere Jiang family, which is considered insignificant even in Jinling, dares to come to our Modu to cause trouble? I would rather die than let them get this 996 project!"
Murong Ba nodded and said, "Brother Jia speaks wisely! We need to unite and devise a strategy to prevent Kaiyuan Jewelry from obtaining the 996 project and drive the Jiang family out of Modu! Then..."
A sly smile curved Murong Ba's lips as he said with a wicked grin, "Then we will work together to force Ma Tengyun to release the 996 project, and we brothers will divide and conquer it!"