Inside a dilapidated factory outside the county town, a group of people shivered by a fire, their expensive suits offering no protection against the biting wind. A simple, coarse cotton-padded jacket would have been far more effective.
These were the construction team Du Feiyun had summoned. They were all elites: renowned designers, engineers – the best in their field. While the work of civil engineering wasn't inherently easy, they had never experienced such extreme cold or poverty. "Suffering" was an understatement.
Du Feiyun himself was staying at the guesthouse, which at least had heating, keeping him warm. But there were forty to fifty of these people; how could there be enough rooms for them all? It was Secretary Tang who arranged for them to stay here temporarily. However, providing stoves and meals was beyond his scope; he wasn't their butler.
When Du Feiyang found them, he couldn't help but chuckle. Their chief designer, Tommy, a formerly arrogant man who had been dismissive of Du Feiyun at the company, was now shivering with snot bubbles hanging from his nose, trembling like a leaf in the wind. It was quite amusing.
"Young Master Du, what brings you here?"
Du Feiyang tutted. "Poor things, is this how my elder brother treats you? It pains me to see it. I've come to help. Big brother's project won't start anytime soon. Someone died, and there will be a lot of trouble. Why don't you come work with me for now? Double your salary, two months' year-end bonus, and double your performance bonus. I'll take care of your living arrangements. I'm a Du family member too, and a shareholder. You belong to the Du Group, not just Du Feiyun. What do you say? Are you willing to come with me? At least I won't let you freeze like dogs."
Tommy looked like he was about to cry. "Can you handle Chairman Du?"
"Of course. I'm not the same as before, relying on the family. I have my own money in the group. If he pushes me too far, I can withdraw my investment in minutes. Let's see which of those old geezers dares to cross me then."
"Alright, as long as we're not cold, we'll go with you."
Du Feiyang was like a Bodhisattva descending from heaven to save them. Without a moment's hesitation, the group followed him.
First, they were settled into the collective dormitories near the pickle factory. Several of them had caught colds, making them unfit for work. Food and lodging were provided at the canteen. Although the environment was basic, at least they weren't starving or freezing. Du Feiyang also bought them cotton-padded jackets and thick woolen boots. Here, these were essential for surviving the winter, far more practical than any high-fashion brand. Topped with a sheepskin hat, they immediately felt alive again.
After a bowl of hot mutton soup with flatbread, the group was utterly devoted to Du Feiyang. It wasn't that they didn't want to go back; without orders from above, they dared not. Returning meant unemployment, and even the Du family's suppression could make their lives difficult forever. Now, Du Feiyang had shouldered all the pressure. These people were truly grateful.
Du Feiyang settled them in and, in good spirits, went to see his dear elder brother that evening.
At the guesthouse, Du Feiyun's face was as dark as if water could be squeezed from it as he listened to his secretary's report. The secretary nervously closed his notebook and asked, "Young Master, should we withdraw for now? Those stubborn villagers are determined to extort a lot from us. This is a troublesome matter. If we give in this time, they'll come back again. Their demands will only grow. If we don't give in now, they'll block the project. They can afford to wait, but we can't."
"If I go back like this, doesn't that mean I've lost? What have I accomplished then? My sister is still missing, and the project is being obstructed. How can I face Father?" The secretary fell silent, unable to offer a solution.
A bodyguard announced, "Fifth Young Master is here to see the Young Master."
"Let him in. Is he here to gloat?" Du Feiyun straightened his clothes and sat upright. He mustered a fraction of his grandfather's demeanor, determined not to lose face.
Du Feiyang entered, a bright smile on his face. "Elder Brother, I heard you've run into some trouble. Do you need your younger brother to step in and help? Just say the word, 'please,' and I'll solve it for you immediately."
Du Feiyun sneered. "I don't need it. I can handle it. You're not here to gloat, are you? You can leave after you're done watching. Asking me to beg you is impossible in this lifetime."
Du Feiyang shrugged, unfazed and still in a good mood. "Alright, I won't force you. But I'm not here to gloat, I'm not that idle. I've come to tell you that I've taken the engineers you brought with me."
Du Feiyun was furious. "They are my people! Why do you get to use them?"
"No, Elder Brother, you're mistaken. They are Du family people, Du Group people. Whoever pays them can use them. You brought them here but didn't arrange for their well-being. When I arrived, they were almost frozen stiff, truly pathetic. Elder Brother, you've been by Father's side for so many years, don't you know how to treat subordinates well? If you disagree, you can complain to Father and see if he takes your side. That's all. I'm leaving now. Elder Brother, take your time to be angry."
Du Feiyang stayed for less than ten minutes, but he managed to infuriate Du Feiyun immensely. He immediately used the front desk's phone to call the old man, demanding that Du Feiyang return the people.
The old man listened for a full ten minutes without interruption. When Du Feiyun finished, he said, "Tommy has already spoken to me. Eldest son, you have truly disappointed me. You can't even handle this small matter, how can you achieve great things? Have you made any progress finding your sister?"
Du Feiyun replied, "No. The local police are useless. They can't even find a person. They're really incompetent."
Old Master Du sighed. "You've been by my side for so many years. When have you ever seen me rely on the police? I will send people to assist you. But those people, if Feiyang wants to take them, he can. What he says also makes sense. They are Du family people, not yours alone. Furthermore, you failed to provide for them properly. If they become disloyal to the Du family because of this, that will be your greatest mistake, one that can't be rectified no matter what you do. That's all for now. Be patient. You've greatly disappointed me this time. Think carefully about your mistakes."
After Old Master Du hung up, Du Feiyun remained silent for a long time. The young lady at the front desk, seeing his state, reminded him, "It's cold here. You're wearing thin clothes; don't catch a cold."
"Mind your own business!" Du Feiyun roared. The young lady was furious. She had shown him kindness, and he had lost his temper. How ungrateful. It served him right. Those who operate in the world shouldn't be too arrogant. The insignificant people you look down upon are rarely simple.
That evening, the young lady turned off the heating, letting him freeze. One could only imagine how Du Feiyun spent the night. By dawn, the heating was back on. It was just "maintenance," wasn't it? Du Feiyun successfully caught a cold, developing a fever and cough. Secretary Tang should have been concerned, but he was busy. Du Feiyun ended up getting an IV drip and lying in bed, completely incapacitated.