Leaving the municipal government, the drying and processing plant was now legally and nominally Yu Zhou's.
Although he was excited, it wasn't the primary reason for his elation.
What truly thrilled him was finally dealing with Liu Dalong. Even if Liu Dalong was destined to be imprisoned eventually, the two-life feud was something he had actively participated in, and it brought him immense satisfaction.
Regardless of the outcome, his involvement gave him a sense of fulfillment and ease.
After leaving the municipal government, he didn't head home immediately.
Instead, he returned to the couple he had previously contacted.
The couple was already home. Fortunately, Yu Zhou had gotten acquainted with them before, so he wasn't a stranger.
"Why... why are you here?"
The man's expression was serious. He knew clearly that his success today was entirely due to the man before him.
However, logically, he should not have intervened himself but let Yu Zhou handle it. This implied he didn't want to get entangled in trouble.
Perhaps he had a sense of justice, not wanting to see Liu Dalong continue his tyranny.
But if he were truly driven by pure altruism, he wouldn't have merely instructed him and refrained from acting directly.
By all rights, Yu Zhou should have no further connection with him.
"Do I not deserve your trust? Knowing what's happening, would I just watch you die?"
A sense of bitterness welled up in Yu Zhou's heart.
Indeed, his animosity towards Liu Dalong stemmed largely from past grievances, but there were also practical considerations.
Having the deputy director of the second factory constantly opposing him, with a powerful backer, meant that if this "mountain" wasn't removed, he could never achieve his goals.
However, he was not an indifferent person.
Seeing that the couple might face dire consequences, he couldn't simply leave them without a way out.
"I... I didn't mean it like that."
The honest man suddenly became flustered. He knew full well that without Yu Zhou's intervention, he would never have achieved this.
By all accounts, Yu Zhou was their benefactor, and treating him with such an attitude was not how he felt he should act.
"What are your plans now?"
Yu Zhou understood that the couple, being honest and simple, likely hadn't considered the future. With a touch of compassion, he asked.
As Yu Zhou had anticipated, they hadn't thought about what to do next.
They looked at Yu Zhou blankly and replied, "Continue living our lives?"
"The bad guy is arrested, what else can we do but continue living?"
Zhang Meng couldn't fathom any other path for them besides continuing their lives.
His wife was mentally unstable, a result of Liu Dalong first sending her to a mental hospital and then assaulting her again.
Her mental faculties had deteriorated, and under these circumstances, without intervention, their lives were likely ruined.
They had suffered misfortune and were also on the list for layoffs. If they didn't find work and continue their lives, Zhang Meng saw no other way out.
"Liu Dalong is indeed arrested, and even his brother-in-law won't escape."
"However, this doesn't mean you are safe, especially you."
"Reporting him, along with your wife, not only cut off Liu Dalong's lifeline but also the entire network behind him."
"Do you really think everyone in that network will be executed?"
Yu Zhou's words were blunt, but they were the truth.
If he hadn't warned them, Zhang Meng would likely never have realized this.
He would have died without knowing why.
After all, among those who followed Liu Dalong, while there might not have been many desperate criminals, seeking revenge on a mere laid-off worker was an easy task.
"Ah? You mean we'll be in danger?"
Indeed, Zhang Meng was bewildered.
His actions before were driven by impulse. He had considered that only one of him and Liu Dalong would survive.
But now he had won, and he heard Liu Dalong was arrested that afternoon.
Given all this, how could he still be in danger?
Upon deeper reflection, however, Yu Zhou's words held undeniable logic.
Would those who were in league with Liu Dalong let him off the hook?
Putting himself in their shoes, if it were him, he would surely seek revenge.
Instantly, Zhang Meng was in a panic, as he couldn't think of a solution.
He could only look at Yu Zhou, hoping he had a plan.
"Let's go! It's best never to return to Jiangbei."
"Otherwise, the retribution will come. Leave the very night after this matter is completely resolved."
"Never come back!"
Yu Zhou took a deep breath, feeling a pang of regret.
He might be able to protect them, but not yet.
He hadn't yet reached a point where thugs in Jiangbei wouldn't dare to provoke him.
This realization made his mood complex.
He could foresee the repercussions of this event and could protect himself.
However, if some powerful figure were determined to target him using this opportunity, he too would find it difficult to cope.
It was simply that sometimes, when you take certain actions, you must bear the consequences.
Being benevolent was what Yu Zhou considered the best approach.
But as a businessman, one could never be universally benevolent and avoid offending people.
He himself was not afraid, but that didn't mean the couple before him wasn't.
"What? Is it that serious? We must leave?"
Zhang Meng found it hard to believe.
"I can't guarantee that not leaving will invite retaliation, but I believe it's best to be cautious and not leave anything to chance."
Yu Zhou said with a heavy heart.
In his previous life, the person who ultimately brought Liu Dalong down was not this couple, but that person had faced retribution in the end.
If not for this, Yu Zhou wouldn't have risked coming to see them.
Under these circumstances, he felt a cautious approach was best, as this matter was now inextricably linked to him.
"But, we have no relatives outside of town..."
Zhang Meng still hesitated, unable to imagine how the couple would live if they truly left Jiangbei, their home.
After all, this era was entirely different from the subsequent labor migration tides.