CHAPTER 1602: CHAPTER 1602: KICKING SOMEONE WHEN THEY’RE DOWN

"Dad! How could you change your mind in just a few minutes? What exactly happened?" Guan Qing asked anxiously.

"You know what you did!" General Guan said before abruptly hanging up the phone.

Guan Qing hastily redialed, but though the line was clear, no one answered again.

That meant her father was abandoning her too.

Guan Qing, in despair, lay down on the desk and cried, regretting her past actions.

But some things are just uncontrollable, once started, one must keep going without turning back.

When there was a chance to turn back, she missed it, and now it was too late for regrets.

The knock on the door sounded again, and without waiting for her to respond, Secretary Zhang rushed in, his face anxious yet helpless, "It’s the Public Health officers! Boss, you need to go down and handle it! You have no choice but to go!"

What could she do at this point?

Avoidance was clearly not an option, she had to face the difficulties head-on.

She went downstairs, and both the Business Administration and Public Health officers handed her a fine. Moreover, both agencies ordered Nanguofeng to suspend business for three months, and could only reopen upon passing inspection.

Faced with these hefty fines, Guan Qing was on the verge of tears.

It was truly over!

All the employees in the hall looked at Guan Qing, unsure of where to go from here.

Seeing the confusion in her employees’ eyes, Guan Qing said only one thing, "Give me one day."

Since she could no longer rely on her father, Guan Qing could only hope to leverage her own connections. Over the years in business, she had made quite a few friends.

For now, she would pay the fines and see if any friends could help out.

She started calling people one by one, but no one answered the phone.

Finally, holding onto a sliver of hope, she called Hou Zicheng again. She was just about to speak when Hou Zicheng cut her off.

"Ms. Guan, I’m really sorry! I’ve heard about your situation, I’m in a bind myself! Like you, my company is blocked, but I’m luckier that it hasn’t hit the news yet. I’m currently trying to sort out the situation everywhere... I really can’t help you. I think it must be a more powerful opponent retaliating against our recent actions." Hou Zicheng’s voice was dry and hoarse, truly as if he had been through a battle.

"No worries. Focus on your own issues!" Guan Qing was ready to hang up.

"Wait." Mr. Hou suddenly spoke up, "I also need money now. I know you’re in a tough spot, and asking you for money would make it hard for you to move, but..."

"I understand. I’ll pay you back as soon as possible," Guan Qing said, then asked her secretary, "Check how much money is left in the company’s accounts."

After verification, the balance in Guan Qing’s account was not enough to cover the payments for the Business Administration, Public Health, as well as Mr. Hou.

"Yesterday’s losses from four stores alone were huge. And there’s still a backlog of produce in the warehouse..."

Secretary Zhang was cut off by Guan Qing, "Enough. I know! Pay Mr. Hou first!"

"What about the Business Administration? If you refuse to pay, they will seize all your assets and freeze your accounts by the bank!"

"Then what do you want me to do!" Guan Qing suddenly burst out, "Overnight I’ve become penniless! My funds are tied up, my father doesn’t care about me, my fair-weather friends don’t care about me, I..."