Jiang Cheng immediately let go of Fang Yuan and took a few steps back.
His eyes couldn't help but widen slightly, and he cursed inwardly.
Fuck! It really was Fang Yuan, no doubt about it.
Although it felt pretty good, this was still a bit awkward.
Fang Yuan's face was flushed red at this moment. She glanced at Jiang Cheng and then gave a helpless dry cough.
When Jiang Cheng hugged her just now, he had even leaned close to her ear and given her a small kiss.
That intimate, close-contact feeling instantly gave her a burst of goosebumps.
One had to know that she had only ever been intimate with Zhou Ying's Father once, and even then, she hadn't experienced such an ambiguous feeling.
And now, she had actually been held and kissed by her own daughter's boyfriend in broad daylight.
This made her feel both flustered and a bit strange inside.
Although Fang Yuan's outward appearance made her look like she was only in her twenties.
She was still an elder, after all. A hug was a hug; she couldn't just act like nothing had happened, could she?
Jiang Cheng rubbed his nose awkwardly. "This... Auntie, your profile looks so much like Zhou Ying's that I..."
Before Jiang Cheng could finish, Fang Yuan immediately interrupted him anxiously, "Don't mention it. It's fine. Let's go inside first."
People passing by were all looking at them.
Seeing Fang Yuan hurriedly walk into the restaurant in embarrassment, Jiang Cheng smiled and followed behind her.
Since they had business to discuss, Fang Yuan had booked a private room.
After entering the room, Fang Yuan sighed inwardly and then adjusted her mindset.
Handing the menu to Jiang Cheng, she asked, "Jiang Cheng, take a look and see what you'd like to eat?"
"Auntie, you order first."
After taking the menu and looking it over, Fang Yuan asked Jiang Cheng as she usually did, "Is there anything you don't eat?"
"Anything is fine, just nothing too fishy or smelly."
Fang Yuan nodded at his words.
She figured that Jiang Cheng's words meant he didn't like certain types of seafood.
After checking the menu, she ordered two meat dishes and one vegetable dish, then handed the menu to Jiang Cheng. "See if you want to add anything?"
Jiang Cheng looked it over; this restaurant specialized in home-style stir-fry.
Jiang Cheng proceeded to check off a few items.
Seeing that Jiang Cheng had selected two abalone dishes, Fang Yuan spoke up, "I thought you didn't like seafood?"
"That depends on what kind of seafood it is."
"So you like eating abalone?"
"It's alright. It depends on the variety. I really like the ones that are tender, plump, and juicy."
The reason he ordered two abalone dishes was that he had obtained a 'Guan-Bao Friendship' card the last time he ate buddha jumps over the wall.
Today, Jiang Cheng wanted to try his luck and see if he could get that kind of card again.
After Jiang Cheng finished speaking, he handed the menu to the Waitress standing nearby.
Unlike Fang Yuan, the Female Waitress had a very strange expression. Her legs involuntarily pressed together, and she hurriedly walked out of the private room in a panic.
After the Waitress left, the atmosphere in the air suddenly froze.
Jiang Cheng didn't take the lead to break the awkward silence. After all, Fang Yuan was the one who had something to discuss with him.
Fang Yuan squeezed the folder in her hand and decided to get straight to the point.
After all, Jiang Cheng was her daughter's boyfriend, and the two of them had just experienced that awkward incident.
Exchanging pleasantries at this time would indeed be somewhat inappropriate.
After waiting for a while and seeing that the dishes hadn't arrived yet, Fang Yuan couldn't help but speak up first with some urgency.
"Jiang Cheng, I asked you here today because I want to talk to you about the Zhengde Group."
"Auntie, go ahead." Jiang Cheng also wanted to hear Fang Yuan's thoughts.
"A few days ago, Manager Liu from their company found me. She wanted to beg you to let the Zhengde Group go. After all, it's the company she's been with for over a decade. However, I didn't agree to her request."
Fang Yuan knew Jiang Cheng's attitude toward the Zhengde Group. She didn't want Jiang Cheng to think she was pleading on behalf of the Zhengde Group, so she had to make things clearer.
Seeing that his expression remained unchanged from beginning to end, Fang Yuan continued more directly.
"I told you on the phone that I needed your help. Originally, I was thinking of asking if you could give Liu Ming a job opportunity. Because I know Zhengde will be acquired by you sooner or later. When I needed a job, Liu Ming reached out and even made some calls to help me with connections, so I'm very grateful to him. Although I know you and I have only met a few times, I still hope you can do me this favor."
Jiang Cheng nodded upon hearing this and said, "That's a small matter. If his ability is up to par, his position can naturally be retained."
Jiang Cheng's tone was very casual. After all, the favor Fang Yuan was asking for was indeed very simple.
"Liu Ming is a person of good character. I was the one who recommended him to Fang Wende's company back then. He has been in the position of management manager for over ten years, handling all the company's affairs, big and small. His ability is quite good, and he is very kind to the employees."
Seeing Fang Yuan trying her best to put in a good word for Liu Ming, Jiang Cheng smiled slightly and said, "Auntie, don't worry. I will personally assess his ability. If he is truly as you say, then I will give him a suitable position."
"I'm relieved to hear you say that. I also told him about your intention to acquire Zhengde, and he's quite supportive. After all, if you don't acquire Zhengde, its end would probably be even worse."
"Auntie is so sure that I'll acquire Zhengde?"
Fang Yuan didn't answer Jiang Cheng's question directly; she simply took several documents out of her bag.
"I have a document here that will be of great help to your acquisition of Zhengde."
After speaking, Fang Yuan took a deep breath, her face pale as she pulled the documents out of the manila envelope and handed them to Jiang Cheng.
After Jiang Cheng took the documents, he began to look through them.
However, he didn't quite understand what use these documents had.
The documents contained some private situations and some signed orders.
"This is a project from two years ago. Zhengde secured a portion of the orders for the highway and overpass, providing clinker and cement materials for the project. This order shouldn't have gone to the Zhengde Group, but Fang Wende bribed a person in charge of the project to get it."
Fang Yuan stopped there for a moment, seemingly observing Jiang Cheng's reaction.
Hearing this, Jiang Cheng couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
He hadn't expected Fang Yuan to bring him this kind of information.
Jiang Cheng tapped his fingers on the table rhythmically and then said, "Auntie, this isn't some private project. If this kind of thing is exposed, Fang Wende will be going to prison. What do you want me to do by giving me this?"
Fang Yuan's expression was now very pale.
She naturally knew the consequences.
Things reaching this point was not what she wished for, but it had already happened.