Chapter 46: A Car Rushed Over and Crashed Into Them

Fang Zhan and Chen Puer both drove cars; Fang Zhan’s was a typical Volkswagen, likely a company car. Chen Puer’s was a discreet but luxurious Volvo, renowned for its excellent safety features. This Volvo must be priced above 600,000 yuan, at least 100,000 more expensive than Liang Jiyong’s Desert Prince.

They started their engines and allowed the cars to warm up slowly. The three of them stood in the snow, stomping their feet to keep warm as they chatted. After several minutes, five beautiful women appeared, each with her own unique charm. Wei Min naturally got into Fang Zhan’s car, while Xiaoya took the passenger seat beside Chen Puer.

“Old Liang, the three beauties are in your hands. Drive safely...” Fang Zhan called out to Liang Jiyong as the car pulled away. Chen Puer also gave Liang a knowing look. The atmosphere grew somewhat awkward, even Liang himself felt it.

“Can I hitch a ride? I don’t want to be a third wheel!” Jiang Lan said with a candid smile. But Liang Jiyong was unsure who should sit in the front passenger seat.

Di Yutong was tempted but, seeing Su Wanqing’s gaze, withdrew. Su Wanqing seemed hesitant.

“Jiyong, can I drive for a bit? I haven’t driven on snowy roads before. You’re the experienced driver—teach me!” Liang knew Jiang Lan had learned to drive over the past two months. Chen Puer’s car mostly stayed parked here, so Jiang Lan and Xiaoya had started practicing driving during their free time.

Though still a novice, Jiang Lan was bold and careful, good enough for normal road conditions. Her suggestion effortlessly eased the tension; Liang understood she was being considerate—a perceptive girl indeed.

“Sure, but go slow. This isn’t a learner’s car; I can’t hit the brakes for you!” Liang warned.

“Okay, the car’s anti-slip system is great. I’ll drive carefully!” Jiang Lan climbed into the driver’s seat. Liang opened the rear door for Su Wanqing and Di Yutong to get in, then took the front passenger seat. Jiang Lan glanced sideways at Liang, her mind involuntarily recalling their first drive out of Yunzhou together—the carefree afternoon they had shared in this very car. Those memories had become a treasured part of her recent months.

It was false to say she felt no sadness. The two women in the back clearly looked at Liang with tender eyes, though they foolishly believed they were hiding their feelings, blissfully unaware—just as she was. Yet this man was irresistibly captivating.

“Seatbelt! You’re careless about safety!” Liang chided, leaning over to buckle Jiang Lan’s seatbelt. His familiar scent made her almost want to kiss him, but she restrained herself.

The car slowly pulled away. Jiang Lan said nothing, eyes fixed ahead, determined not to lose focus thinking about Liang. Otherwise, she would be distracted.

“Slow down, stay to the right, don’t cross the line!” Liang instructed. “It’s slippery—keep a safe distance from the car ahead!”

Along the way, Liang kept sharing driving tips and safety advice.

“You don’t have a license yet, right?” Liang asked.

Jiang Lan shook her head. “No, I feel my skills aren’t quite ready, so I haven’t taken the test.”

“You should find a professional instructor. Yunzhou has a driving school. Besides driving skills, safety is crucial—don’t take it lightly.”

“Oh, but forget the driving school. The instructors there are all middle-aged men, and some are quite lecherous...” Jiang Lan explained. Some classmates had been taken advantage of by instructors. Though she wanted Liang to teach her, she knew he was busy and, besides, there were two girlfriends in the car.

“I know a deputy captain at the traffic police. He helped me get my license. I’ll ask Zhao Qiao to arrange a dinner with Captain Hu and get a professional instructor for you and Yutong.”

“No need, it’s too much trouble. For something like this, just ask County Chief Zhao.” Zhao Qiao was now the head of public security in Longshan County, also holding the post of deputy county chief. Recently, he had been in Changzhou city for a case briefing since Longshan County was a key area for the Thunderous Action campaign.

Zhao Guangming wanted Zhao Qiao to get some exposure, as Longshan’s crackdown on crime was commendable.

“Good connections get stronger the more you use them—help each other out, share meals, drink a little, and relationships deepen.”

“Zhao Qiao’s a decent guy—capable and well-connected. By the way, Yutong, do you want to learn driving too? It’s an essential skill.”

“Sure, but if I start learning to drive, I won’t have much time for tutoring you!” Di Yutong replied.

“That’s fine. My grammar is improving a lot. Last monthly exam, I scored 77 in foreign language, losing only five points on grammar.”

“Sounds like I’m about to be out of a job?” Di Yutong said half-jokingly, a little disappointed.

“No way. I’m committed—no starting something you can’t finish!”

“Pooh, you can’t expect a dog’s mouth to spit out ivory...”

They laughed.

Outside the Yunzhou Building, Jiang Lan searched for a parking spot. It was Christmas Day. Though not yet widely celebrated, some young people liked the occasion or used it as an excuse to stroll with their girlfriends. Parking spaces were scarce, even more so now.

Jiang Lan finally found a spot, but the cars on either side were parked tightly, making it tricky.

“Can you manage?” Liang asked.

“I’ve practiced side parking a lot, but the cars on both sides are too close. I’m a bit nervous.”

“Take your time. Parking is the real test of skill. Watch your mirrors, tire position, and tail.”

As Liang spoke, a car suddenly sped through the parking lot. Though their cars were still far apart, the speeding car seemed aimed for the same vacant spot. Jiang Lan, backing into the space, didn’t notice the fast-approaching vehicle.

“Stop! Hit the brakes!” Liang shouted, but it was too late to intervene.

“Bang!”

There was a collision, not severe but enough to startle everyone.

Jiang Lan screamed; Su Wanqing and Di Yutong gasped. “How can someone drive like that?” Di Yutong exclaimed. Jiang Lan calmed down but was angry—it was clearly the other driver’s fault, rushing to grab the spot and driving recklessly.

“Don’t get out yet. Come here, quickly!” Liang pulled Jiang Lan away from the door.

She didn’t understand.

“You don’t have a license, beauty. If someone dies, it’s murder! Hurry, don’t let them see!” Liang said, pushing his seat back.

“Oh!” Jiang Lan realized. She wasn’t licensed yet.

Quickly moving from the driver’s seat, she brushed past Liang, their bodies touching briefly—bringing back memories of their intimate moments here. On impulse, she swayed her hips slightly against his waist. Though clothed, Liang felt the playful gesture. His hand silently squeezed her hip before he slid into the driver’s seat.

Their subtle moves were invisible to the two women in back, who would never guess what was happening now.

“Get out!” Liang commanded sharply. Two months of abstinence had left him irritable, and today his anger flared.

Di Yutong couldn’t hold back and opened the door, stepping out. She saw a young man getting out of the Crown car’s front passenger seat—a handsome youth wearing glasses.

“It’s you!” Di Yutong frowned, clearly displeased to encounter him.

“Yutong, what a coincidence!” he smiled.

“We’re not ‘coincidentally’ connected. It’s Zhang Li who’s involved with you. How can you drive like that?” Di Yutong snapped.

“Heh, Zhang Li and I didn’t work out. We broke up,” Lu Bin said, indicating he was single again.

Di Yutong knew well since Zhang Li had been her roommate. Lu Bin and Zhang Li hadn’t lasted three months before he grew bored and ended it. After a few days of drama, Lu Bin paid some money and threatened her into silence. She knew Lu Bin was influential in Yunzhou.

He had tried to lock down a wealthy husband but realized Lu Bin only wanted to play around. She wasn’t exactly an innocent girl, so she squeezed what she could from him.

Di Yutong despised Lu Bin more now. Having been classmates for three months, he was firmly labeled a scoundrel, and no friendship was possible—just mere classmates.

By then, Liang, Su Wanqing, and Jiang Lan also stepped out. Seeing Liang in the driver’s seat, Lu Bin’s expression soured instantly. He had once felt attracted to Su Wanqing, but she had never looked at him properly. The passenger seat held one of Yun University’s Twelve Beauties, the so-called Blue Enchantress—Jiang Lan, famed for her mesmerizing blue eyes, like a blue rose: mysterious and alluring.

This guy was out shopping with three near-perfect beauties. From the Crown’s driver seat came a young man in a leather jacket—a stylish look for this era, around 27 or 28, with an arrogant air. His anger at the accident vanished upon seeing the three women.

“Ladies, sorry for rushing. I’ll cover the repair costs and treat you all to a meal to make up for it.”

“No thanks. Jiyong, it’s your problem now. We’re going to find Puer and the others,” Di Yutong said, disgusted by the man’s eager gaze.

“Okay,” Liang nodded.

The leather-jacketed man’s face darkened as the women turned and headed toward Yunzhou Building. Su Wanqing glanced at Liang worriedly. Di Yutong said something, and Su Wanqing stayed silent. Even if a fight broke out, Liang would not be the one to lose.

“Let the traffic police handle it,” Liang said, pulling out his phone, unwilling to waste words with Lu Bin.

“Do you know each other?” the man asked Lu Bin, eyeing Liang.

Anyone who could afford a Desert Prince and a large mobile phone must have some background.

Lu Bin sneered quietly, “He’s just from a worker’s family at the Hongqi Factory. The car and phone are probably borrowed. He’s close with Chen Puer, so maybe it’s Chen Puer’s.”

“Chen Puer? The one who ruined the Wen family?”

“That’s him! That guy’s arrogant because of his family’s money.” Lu Bin held no respect for Chen Puer—money was nothing compared to power.

“Heh, not just money. Chen Puer’s worth at least two or three billion. His business is huge, so even the provincial government respects him. Were those three girls connected to Chen Puer?”

The man in the leather jacket clearly knew Chen Puer was not to be trifled with. While he disregarded ordinary businessmen, Chen Puer was no ordinary man.

“Probably not. The one in the passenger seat, Jiang Lan, is the daughter of a small factory owner in Longshan County. I heard Chen Puer invested in that small garment factory—so maybe there’s a link.”

“What about the hottest one?” The leather-jacketed man seemed interested in Di Yutong.

“No connection to Chen Puer. But her father is Chen Wei, former chief engineer of Hongqi Factory and now chairman and general manager after restructuring. I heard he took on 300 million yuan in debt for the restructuring. My dad says Chen Wei’s a real figure.”

“Oh.” The man showed no concern for a debt-laden factory boss.

Liang didn’t know these two men were judging his women. Since it was still early, he called Zhao Qiao. He casually mentioned the accident and arranged to meet Zhao Qiao back in Yunzhou to find a professional instructor for Jiang Lan and Di Yutong.

After a brief chat, Zhao Qiao arranged for someone to come handle the incident promptly. Although calling the police directly would bring officers, they’d arrive slowly.

Within three minutes, Liang received a call from Deputy Traffic Captain Hu Fei. Hu Fei’s father wasn’t Hu Yidao but was a devoted Jin Yong fan. Luckily, they hadn’t named their son Hu Yidao, or else the grandson’s name might have been set too.

Hu Fei was not nearby but promised to dispatch local traffic officers who would arrive shortly. Liang thanked him and arranged to meet Zhao Qiao later for drinks.

Liang and Lu Bin had little in common. In the past, Liang wouldn’t have wasted time on him. But years of experience taught him to deal with all kinds of people—even if it meant feigning politeness to avoid unnecessary enemies.

Although he disliked Lu Bin, there was no open conflict yet.

“What’s your name?” Liang and Lu Bin casually asked the other man.

“Pei Haitao, small-time businessman,” said the man in the leather jacket, who didn’t even bother shaking Liang’s hand.

Liang looked at Pei Haitao with mild surprise. He didn’t know him personally but had heard of him. Pei had once caused a major scandal, ruining many officials, especially his father, Pei Chengwen, a senior official in Pingzhou City.

Pei Haitao was somewhat capable, a graduate of a prestigious university with connections and background, but his reputation was questionable.

He studied urban planning and worked in a design institute, but mostly drew a salary without real work.

After years in the field, knowing some insiders and backed by connections, he aimed to achieve something big. His original intentions were good, but he overestimated his abilities.

He wanted to plan a new inland aviation city in Changjiang Province, targeting the economically advanced Pingzhou. His father, a high-ranking city official and provincial committee member, strongly supported the project.

Initially, everything went smoothly, including the expansion of Pingzhou Airport. But Pei Haitao lacked the competence and was impatient, resulting in numerous unfinished projects.

This development became a major blunder for Pingzhou’s economy, even dragging down growth. Otherwise, Pingzhou might have surpassed several cities in Changjiang Province and become a top-tier economic powerhouse.

In Liang’s memory, Pingzhou remained the tallest among the short in Changjiang.

These troubles began three years later. After Liang retired from the military, Pei Haitao fled with funds, and his father suffered greatly. Though the father had no major financial scandal, his poor decisions and his son’s entanglements led to his downfall. At fifty, a rising official might have become a provincial governor.

Pei Haitao was the quintessential son who ruined his father.

But these events were yet to unfold. Liang wouldn’t mention them, as no one would believe such tales.

When the aviation city began, there were doubts. Given Pingzhou’s economic strength back then, such a project was unsustainable. Blind investment and government hype raised land prices, forcing innocent citizens to bear the cost.

Why was Pei Haitao in Yunzhou? Liang doubted it was for shopping. And with Lu Bin? These two men were unusually energetic.

Lu Bin’s father, Lu Hongtian, was secretary of Yunzhou Fengcheng Economic Development Zone.

Whatever their business, Liang wasn’t concerned.

“Jiyong, nice car. Did you buy it?” Lu Bin asked, feigning familiarity but with a mocking tone, hoping to catch Liang off guard.

“It’s a friend’s,” Liang replied casually. The car was registered under his second sister, Liang Shaoping.

Liang’s calm demeanor left Lu Bin feeling like he had punched thin air.

Within five minutes, several traffic officers arrived, filed the accident report, and told them to take their cars for repair. They could settle payment issues at the station later.

After parking, Liang entered Yunzhou Building. Lu Bin and Pei Haitao also went inside but not with Liang—they were there to find someone else.

Liang called to confirm Chen Puer and the others had already met up and were shopping on the seventh floor.

Women’s shopping power was formidable. Though Chen Puer was paying, Su Wanqing and the others only shopped moderately. Chen Puer didn’t care about money, but even so, they wouldn’t let him max out his card—which, realistically, they couldn’t.

It was Christmas Day, and New Year’s was just days away.

Liang felt he should bring gifts to Su Wanqing and the others.

Currently, he didn’t have much money. His second sister had just invested in the stock market. The frenzy didn’t explode immediately but was expected to surge dramatically after February next year.

By then, getting in would be difficult. Nobody wanted to sell, driving prices higher.

His current stock investment had tripled—a miracle—but still far from his hopes.