Chapter 2522 - 2586: Tailing
"So it seems like there is indeed a problem with Feiyuan Company!" Half an hour later, Li Yifei was already sitting in the company dormitory. After asking about the situation, it was just as the old brother across from him said: only the wages for forty days out of three months’ salary, plus the few days’ wages, were paid. Feiyuan Company seemed not to be planning to pay the rest, or was simply delaying it. And the unpaid wages were not just for these hundred or so people, but also for various materials, which accounted for the bulk. It was said to be over twenty million. In this way, it’s not a small amount, but there’s still some discrepancy compared to the amount the Li family estimated.
At least over eighty million was falsified in the books or embezzled, to the extent that even the workers’ mere million in wages could not be paid out.
This is probably the smallest sum. If it was paid out, these workers wouldn’t make a fuss, let alone strike. As for those partners, Feiyuan Company, backed by the Li family, is the largest and the wealthiest family in the province. These partners wouldn’t easily tear their faces with a company affiliated with the Li family over a few million. That would mean directly tearing their faces with the Li family, and no one dares to make that gamble.
Those beaten up didn’t go to the hospital. Two of them were seriously beaten, but the medical fees were substantial, so they were unwilling to pay that money. They just had themselves bandaged in the hospital and returned to the dormitory to recuperate. Li Yifei observed their injuries and realized they couldn’t afford any delay; prompt treatment was necessary, or they risked severe complications or long-term damage.
What kind of situation is this! Thinking about Yang Shuo made Li Yifei frown. According to her resume, she could essentially be promoted in the next couple of years, and might even be entrusted with significant responsibilities. By then, her income, shares, etc., would increase. Even if not becoming a billionaire, she wouldn’t fall too short. But now... she’s playing a dangerous game with herself.
Li Yifei left the construction site, still perplexed. Sitting in the car, he coincidentally received a message from Xu Yingying inquiring. Yang Shuo was an old employee of her company. After the Li family expanded, these old employees became part of the core team. Of course, not many were useful, with many being recruited by Su Mengxin and others, but Yang Shuo was one of the valuable veterans, with strong business skills and enough intelligence. Li Yifei didn’t rush to leave, sharing what he gathered with Xu Yingying.
After listening, Xu Yingying was silent for a moment before saying, "Yifei, isn’t this situation... strange? From what I know of Yang Shuo, she’s not like this, really. We’ve been colleagues for years; if she had difficulties, she should have told me."
"Don’t worry, I’ll investigate slowly. We won’t let any bad person slip by, nor wrong a good person. Hmm, the deficit has occurred, there’s bound to be a reason." Li Yifei replied.
Xu Yingying sighed, feeling a bit regretful. She’s someone who values old ties but also discerns right from wrong. She wouldn’t protect Yang Shuo just because of some past connection, knowing well that it damages the Li family’s interests. Li Yifei hadn’t mentioned the workers’ reactions; otherwise, Xu Yingying would have been angrier.
"Where’s the child? I haven’t heard his voice," Li Yifei asked.
"Asleep for a while now, has been good these days, not much crying. You know that," Xu Yingying answered.
"That’s good. Take care of yourself too. You don’t have to exhaust yourself with exercise every day. Wait till I get back; I’ll help you adjust your body." Li Yifei advised, noting that Xu Yingying felt her body was out of shape after childbirth, so she started exercising every night since the beginning of the year. Sometimes she would go to the gym with other women, even hiring a body-shaping coach, learning earnestly, and exercising diligently—a commendable consistency.
Li Yifei supported it but sometimes felt compassion seeing Xu Yingying and her companions work so hard, hence his gentle advice.
Of course, this kind of advice had little effect because Xu Yingying and her group had made up their minds. Although they had practiced dual cultivation with Li Yifei, the effect was minor compared to Jiang Ningxiang and Su Lio, let alone Su Mengxin, who remarked that women seem to decline physically after thirty. If not exercised adequately, by the time they’re in their forties, Jiang Ningxiang and Su Lio would still be youthful and beautiful, whereas they would be heading towards old age and decline.
This really is a problem. Li Yifei sensed the women’s crisis in this regard. Currently, there’s no good solution. Xu Shanshan, Jiang Ningxiang, and Su Lio are now all Innate Experts, so while perpetual youth isn’t guaranteed, maintaining their present looks even at a hundred wouldn’t be difficult. Just look at Elder Qingqiu, who appears in her thirties, youthful and beautiful. As for Yao Lingfu, it’s due to her own unwillingness and being much older than a hundred, so it can’t be changed.
To keep all wives at home youthful permanently, they would have to cultivate, and succeed in it. Relying solely on this dual cultivation technique isn’t enough. It seems there’s only one solution: for Li Yifei to reach the legendary Indescribable Realm and forcibly modify all the women’s physiques like he did for Su Lio, allowing them to enter the realm of Innate Experts thereafter.
Currently, Li Yifei can’t achieve that, so he has to consider other options. Hearing Xu Yingying say it’s okay and exercising benefits the body, Li Yifei decided to stop persuading. After chatting for a while, Li Yifei hung up the phone, drove to the Dan City Skyhigh Company’s headquarters, arriving at the off-duty time, hoping either to see Yang Shuo or find useful information.
At quitting time, people gradually streamed out of Feiyuan Company in groups of threes and twos, their faces showing nothing. Li Yifei stood nearby, got out and smoked, listening to their voices of varying volumes. One particular conversation caught his ear, as two women talking closely said, "I’m telling you, our Director Yang is in trouble this time."
"You heard about it too?"
"This isn’t a secret at all. A strike at the construction site, the workers being beaten, can’t be suppressed. Moreover..." The woman grinned mysteriously, glanced around noticing nobody, then whispered, "This morning I was going to deliver documents, and heard Director Yang seemingly making a call, asking someone to book her a flight ticket. Her tone... was quite urgent. I don’t know where Director Yang is planning to go, but if she’s going abroad, I can’t believe there’s nothing going on here."
Going abroad? Li Yifei was also surprised when he heard these three words. If that’s true, then it would indicate that Yang Shuo is indeed behind this. Even if there were extenuating circumstances, it was still her doing, which would mean there’s no need for further investigation—just controlling her would suffice.
"No way, what did Director Yang do with the money? Well, it’s none of our business. As long as we get paid, it’s fine. If something happens to her, someone will clean up the mess."
"That’s true. Hey, I’m telling you, that restaurant we ate at yesterday was so delicious. I want to go again today. Aren’t you free? I’ll treat you, shall we go?"
"Let’s go, let’s have a drink." The two women laughed and walked away. Li Yifei finished his cigarette, put it out, threw the butt into a nearby trash can, glanced at the office building, not seeing Yang Shuo, and prepared to find out where she was.
Just as he was about to leave, Li Yifei saw Yang Shuo walking out, noticing her pale complexion from dozens of meters away. After leaving the building, she looked around as if checking if anyone was following, then quickly walked to her own Chevrolet.
The car started, promptly merging into traffic. Yang Shuo did not notice a Crosstour following behind. Li Yifei had already planned to tail her, so naturally, when he saw Yang Shuo, he decided to follow her.
If this woman intended to run, Li Yifei would step in to detain her. However, if there was another reason, then it was better to first observe the situation.
Yang Shuo’s car zigzagged, almost hitting cars in the adjacent lane several times. To Li Yifei, for such an experienced driver to drive like this meant she was either drunk or not paying attention.
The car drove through Dan City, finally arriving at a newly built residential area. Yang Shuo’s car entered the underground parking lot. Li Yifei’s car couldn’t follow in, so he frowned, remembering Yang Shuo’s aura. Fortunately, his perceiving abilities had grown considerably. Within a hundred meters wouldn’t be difficult, but if beyond this range, Li Yifei could still perceive, but not necessarily accurately, especially for ordinary people.
The community had good security. Without a key, Li Yifei was blocked outside. However, using a pack of cigarettes, he got the gate opened and walked in. As Li Yifei walked inside, he began sensing the area. Steel and concrete didn’t hinder his sensing abilities. In Li Yifei’s mind, it seemed like a three-dimensional map emerged, every building, every room, whether people were inside, all presented in his mind.
At the same time, he heard many sounds. Checking the time, it was already past six, and some families were already cooking. Li Yifei also heard some sounds that seemed to be... people doing things they liked. Hmm, those didn’t need listening to. Walking to the center of the neighborhood, Li Yifei didn’t sense Yang Shuo’s location, so he stopped.
Continuing to walk further inside, Li Yifei still couldn’t sense Yang Shuo’s aura, which was very abnormal. No, it could be said to be extremely abnormal. Li Yifei had started sensing since entering the community, without finding where Yang Shuo was. Either she drove inside and immediately left, beyond Li Yifei’s sensing range, or she was... shielded.
Li Yifei clicked his tongue softly, murmuring, "This is getting interesting. If it’s the former, it means she probably noticed someone was following her, so she went in circles intentionally. If it’s the latter, then someone escaping my senses must be a formidable expert."
Feeling anxious, Li Yifei found a quiet spot, pulled out his phone, and called Xu Yingying, instructing her to have people monitor the provincial airport to prevent Yang Shuo from fleeing.