After ending the call with Jin Qiu, I still couldn't believe the fact that Mr. Xiao was taken away by the Commission for Discipline Inspection for investigation, my breathing was a little heavy, and Maodou, who had been playing with me before, also took the opportunity to kick me, and then ran back to the yard of his house, lying at the door and poking his head out of the door and looking at me with a smug face

There will always be a few snowflakes falling into my neckline, I feel a chill to the bone, I don't know if Xiao Ai, who is far away in Japan at this time, has heard the news, and if he has heard it, what kind of mood will he have

I closed the door to the courtyard, lit a cigarette, and walked through the thick snow to the coffee shop

I knew that this morning, there was nothing else to do except clean the coffee shop and try to adjust a few cups of fancy coffee, but I was not in the mood to enjoy such leisure, and after I hesitated again and again, I did not make up my mind to tell Xiao Ai about the investigation of Mr. Xiao, because I was afraid that she would be too sad, but I couldn't do anything.

Sure enough, by noon, although there were no media reports, the white-collar workers who came to the coffee shop to consume had already discussed Mr. Xiao's affairs. In fact, we all know that with Mr. Xiao's social influence, if he is taken away by the Commission for Discipline Inspection for investigation, basically all the charges will be confirmed, and there will be no turning point in this matter. It's just that a business tycoon who has built countless houses for the city has ended up like this, which is really embarrassing and sighing

The snow outside the window gradually stopped, and after I cleaned up the dishes left by the customers, I finally sat down by the window and ate the fast food I had just bought at the alley.

I thought a lot while eating, I was just a small person, in Mr. Xiao's incident, I couldn't play any role, but I hoped that Xiao Ai wouldn't be too sad but it was so urgent. Her relationship with Li Zishan is so bad, after the fall of President Xiao, who else can she rely on in this city

Outside the window, there was a sudden sound of firecrackers, I subconsciously looked outside, saw the bacon hanging under the eaves of Aunt Li's house opposite, and steamed buns, only to remember that today is already Chinese New Year's Eve, symbolizing that the reunion of the Lunar New Year is less than a week away.

In the afternoon, I saw some neighbors who had been living in other places all year round returning to this alley, which they called "roots", and the smell of the New Year became stronger and stronger with this return.

I received a call from my grandmother, who asked me if I had bought any New Year's goods and when I would pick her up for the New Year. She also asked me why Xiao Ai hadn't visited her again during this time.

The previous question is easy to answer, and the latter question was not a problem originally, because Xiao Ai just went to Japan, but now it is like a thorn, piercing my heart, and in the end, I didn't tell Grandma Sù about the changes in Xiao Ai's family, I don't want her to worry too much.

The business of the coffee shop in the afternoon was too leisurely, and the director had nowhere to scatter his energy, and he had been thinking about Mr. Xiao's affairs, and finally gritted his teeth and decided to call Xiao Ai.

After the phone was dialed, I waited with bated breath, Xiao Ai answered after a while, and her tone was a little cheerful: "Jiang Qiao, what are you calling me for"

My Adam's apple squirmed subconsciously, and then swallowed. I judged that Xiao Ai at this moment has not yet received the news that Mr. Xiao was investigated by the Commission for Discipline Inspection, after all, she has no contact with Jinding Real Estate at all, so no one in the chaotic group has thought of telling her the news, and Ji Xiaowei, who may know some inside information, for the same purpose of protection as me, I am afraid that she will not sue her immediately, but I am sure that after this afternoon, even if Xiao Ai's news channel is closed, she will know, because the matter of Mr. Xiao's investigation is spreading on a large scale. And she has many classmates in Nanjing who are not close, and they will say it.

After giving myself enough courage, I was finally ready to speak, but Xiao Ai, who didn't want to be on the other end of the phone, said to me with a smile: "Since you called me so coincidentally, you can pick me up at the airport in the evening, I am ready to board the plane, and I will arrive at Lukou Airport at about five o'clock." ”

I was stunned for a moment, and when I swallowed all the words that came to my mouth, I replied with a "hmm", and Xiao Ai hung up the phone the next moment.

lit a cigarette, smoked halfway, the mobile phone vibrated on the table, this call was from Zhao Mu, I immediately connected, his mood was as eager as mine, and he said directly to me: "Brother Qiao, something happened to Jinding Real Estate, Mr. Xiao has been taken away by the Commission for Discipline Inspection"

"I know what your group is like right now"

"The outside world must now think that the group has become a mess, but in fact, no" Zhao Mu paused here when he said this, and then said after a while: "The life and death of Jinding Real Estate is related to the livelihood of tens of thousands of people in itself and downstream companies, so the government must also have consideration when dealing with this matter, I estimate that some of the assets involved in the case will be frozen, and the group's normal operating funds will be retained, and the new group leader should be re-selected from the board of directors, but Mr. Xiao is sure that he is facing prison time, because the evidence is very hard."

I took a deep breath of my cigarette, sighed, and replied, "I guess that's the same." ”

"Well, Brother Qiao, Xiao Ai, does she know?"

"Probably not, but she has already boarded the plane back to China, and she will be in Nanjing at five o'clock, and I will pick her up at the airport later."

"I'll go with you."

"Aren't you going to work today?"

"I can't care about that"

It was getting dark, and the snow had stopped for a long time, and the alleys were full of neighbors clearing the snow after work. I didn't care that there were still customers in the café, so I apologized to them, closed the door of the café, and put on my hat and scarf and walked down the alley.

Zhao Mu and I met outside the alley, I beckoned him to get into my car, and then the two of us drove in the direction of the airport.

It wasn't until I got out of Tulip Road that I said to him: "I heard Jin Qiu say that this time Mr. Xiao was investigated, and it was probably reported by someone within the group, and now there is a rumor about who it is?"

Zhao Mu shook his head and replied: "It won't be so fast, but in the end, who is the biggest beneficiary of this incident, then it should be possible to determine who it is." The interior of Jinding Real Estate is more complicated, and there are several veterans who follow Mr. Xiao to fight the country, and they are all possible, but such confidential evidence, even the people in the board of directors will not get it lightly."

After thinking for a while, I asked, "Mr. Xiao's wife, Li Zishan, will she participate in the daily management of the group?"

"She is one of the shareholders but is not involved in the management of the group. Brother Qiao, you are suspicious of her."

"This woman is very scheming" I thought about it and self-denial, and said: "But she has no motive, Mr. Xiao is not good for her at all, and it is not good for her and Mr. Xiao's son."

Zhao Mu nodded, then closed his eyes and lay on his back in the car seat, this thing is enough to set off turbulent waves for Jinding Real Estate, and it also has a great impact on him personally, because the future of the new project he is involved in will become uncertain, and the possibility of getting a commercial loan from the bank will become even more remote

After nearly half an hour of driving, the car finally came to Lukou Airport, Zhao Mu and I parked the car and came to the exit of the international flight together to wait for Xiao Ai.

Ten minutes after we arrived, we met Ji Xiaowei again, his face was full of heaviness, this was the same as I expected, he had also learned about Mr. Xiao's affairs, but he had not yet told Xiao Ai, so at this moment, our mood was the same.

We stood together, and he first asked me, "Are you also here to pick up Xiao Ai?"

I nodded, and asked him with confirmation: "You shouldn't have told Xiao Ai about Mr. Xiao yet."

"Nope." Ji Xiaowei's brows were furrowed, and after being silent for a long time, he said again: "My junior sister, although there is a big gap with Mr. Xiao over the years, but I care about Mr. Xiao's father very much, if she knows that Mr. Xiao will face prison, her love will collapse if she doesn't get it right, this girl is really pitiful, Mr. Xiao has fallen, the teacher has left Taiwan, the whole family can't be broken anymore, who else can she rely on in the future"

Ji Xiaowei's words made my heart sour, I am willing to be good to her, of course Zhao Mu is also willing, but these are not family affection after all, and family affection is the most irreplaceable thing in the world.

After muttering for a while, I finally asked Ji Xiaowei again, "Does Xiao Ai's mother know about this?"

Ji Xiaowei replied in a low voice: "Well, I have already informed the teacher, she can rest assured that Xiao Ai will come from Taiwan tomorrow." ”

I nodded, feeling a little relieved, if Xiao Ai's mother can temporarily go back to Nanjing to accompany Xiao Ai, it will at least be a comfort, but this legendary woman who has been living in our ears is going back to Taiwan after all, and when the time comes, the pain of losing Mr. Xiao will still have to bear it alone, I am really worried that she will collapse