His relationship with Lin Dong, spanning so many years, was being discarded as if it meant nothing.
Although Zhang Ke was a businessman, his foundation was built on people.
Hearts were made of flesh and blood, and in this regard, he couldn't be so ruthless.
These were all dilemmas for Zhang Ke.
However, for Dong Hua, they were as fleeting as passing clouds.
"Godfather, you might be worrying too much. The Lin family is still in the dark. You'll see, before long, once this wolf grows strong and its wings are full, who will truly be in charge of the Lin family!"
These words instantly rendered Zhang Ke speechless.
Realizing he had said all he needed to, Dong Hua didn't intend to stay much longer.
Dong Hua slowly rose.
He regained the expression he had when he first met Zhang Ke.
"Alright, Godfather, your son has disturbed you for quite some time. This matter is urgent for you, so please consider it carefully. Tomorrow, or the day after at the latest, I expect a reply from you. After all, I've noticed this young man is about to make some big moves. Of course, once this young man is dealt with, our Dong family will surely fulfill the promises made to you."
The initial part was urging, while the latter half was temptation.
After Dong Hua stood up and walked out of the tea room, Zhang Ke felt completely dazed.
It wasn't for any other reason, but more so for the consideration of his own interests.
At this moment, Zhang Ke believed this matter with about seventy to eighty percent certainty.
There was still about thirty percent doubt.
However, more than these doubts, he was more concerned about the Dong family.
Dong Hua was a figure within the Dong family who, apart from Dong Ye, held absolute authority.
This person had personally visited him.
He had voluntarily offered to form an alliance with him.
If he agreed, everything would be smooth sailing. But if he refused, the person who had been so amiable to him moments ago might turn hostile and treat him with extreme coldness.
Zhang Ke understood this delicate balance of interests.
Consequently, Zhang Ke remained motionless in the tea room.
His mind was constantly oscillating between the Lin family and the Dong family.
Half a minute passed in a flash.
Finally, Zhang Ke had made his judgment.
Just as he was about to get up and stretch his stiff shoulders, a creaking sound was heard.
Accompanied by a sharp and rapid door-opening sound, a figure appeared before Zhang Ke.
Zhang Ke thought Dong Hua had remembered something and had returned, so he quickly looked up.
As his gaze fell upon the figure, he couldn't help but freeze.
"Zhang Dong? Why are you here?"
Zhang Dong didn't say much. He had heard everything clearly from outside earlier.
However, as he listened to the conversation, his heart grew increasingly uneasy.
To the point that after Dong Hua had completely left, he could no longer suppress the words bottled up inside him and rushed in.
Closing the door behind him, Zhang Dong finally spoke.
"Father, do you really believe him?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Ke was instantly bewildered.
"Believe what?" Zhang Ke asked, utterly confused.
Zhang Dong felt he had nothing to hide from his father.
"That person named Dong Hua, just now."
As these words were spoken, Zhang Ke realized his son had eavesdropped on his conversation with Dong Hua, and a hint of displeasure flickered across his slightly tanned face.
"You were eavesdropping!"
But at this critical juncture, Zhang Dong couldn't afford to care about anything else.
"Dad, that's not the point. The point is, are you really planning to do this? Doing this is equivalent to directly confronting the Lin family."
Zhang Ke's expression remained resolute.
"Your father has considered this. Your father has his own reasons."
Zhang Ke was a rather stubborn person, especially when it came to decisions he had made. Unless he had a sudden realization, no one could easily change his mind.
This was a habit cultivated over many years in business.
After all, during the arduous early stages, if one were too easily swayed, achieving success would be nearly impossible.
Seeing this, and understanding that his father intended to join forces with the Dong family, or rather, to incite the entire business community of Southeast City to openly target the Lin family, Zhang Dong spoke again, this time raising his voice.
"Dad, this Dong Hua definitely has his own ulterior motives, and they are likely unspeakable. How long have we known this person? 'No reason to offer flattery, unless it's theft or deception.' We gain nothing by doing this."
Zhang Ke was already quite displeased with Zhang Dong, even though he was his own son.
If it weren't for the fact that his son had managed to achieve something and earn a considerable amount of money recently,
which had earned him a sliver of goodwill,
he would likely still have a cold expression on his face.
This was Zhang Ke's nature.
Although he cared for his son in his heart, his attitude towards him was quite contradictory.
However, this time, Zhang Ke's impending anger was met with a sudden chill,
and it quietly subsided.
"Don't worry, your father isn't senile yet. Your father still needs to send people to investigate the current situation of the Lin family."
Saying this, Zhang Ke stood up. "Alright, your father is handling this matter. As for you, go attend to your own business."
With that, Zhang Ke quickly disappeared from the tea room.
Meanwhile, Dong Hua had just left Zhang Ke.
He immediately took out his phone.
The call went directly to Lin Hai.
"What is it?" Lin Hai sounded impatient upon seeing the familiar number.
Dong Hua's voice was calm. "I spoke with Zhang Ke today. I believe he will definitely send people to thoroughly investigate the Lin family's affairs, both internally and externally. I'm not worried about the external aspects, but the internal ones entirely depend on his informants. How is the task I assigned you to identify the informants progressing?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Hai became visibly excited.
Lin Hai gripped his phone as if the person on the other end wasn't Dong Hua, but a high-ranking superior.
"Mr. Dong, please rest assured. I have control over all those informants. Whatever information you want Zhang Ke to gather, that's the information he'll get."
In the car, Dong Hua nodded with satisfaction.
"Very good. Then listen carefully. From now on, have those informants act according to my instructions."
As he spoke, Dong Hua lowered his voice.
His voice was like a mosquito's hum, and Lin Hai nodded repeatedly as he listened.
The night passed quickly.
After all, Zhang Ke had held his position for so many years.
Once he made up his mind, his efficiency in handling matters was quite high.
Currently, near a large circular table,
Zhang Ke scanned the faces of several people and then said, "Now, can you report the information you've collected about the Lin family?"
The individuals were all of secretarial level.
Each of them was exceptionally diligent.
However, these people themselves did not know that those informants had long since become Lin Hai's pawns.
Zhang Dong was waiting outside the conference hall.
Anxiously awaiting the final outcome.