Chapter 103

The next morning, Xiao Feng called and asked me to go to the hotel to find her; it was something important.

I quickly had Xiao Long drive and take me to the Tianxiang Grand Hotel where Xiao Feng was staying.

At the hotel, Xiao Long helped me into the elevator and we soon arrived at Xiao Feng's room.

After Xiao Long ushered me inside, he closed the door and left.

Only Xiao Feng and I were left inside the room.

Xiao Feng's bed was littered with the financial documents I had given her.

The dark circles under Xiao Feng's eyes showed she hadn't rested at all for the past two days, constantly reviewing the files.

I said, "Xiao Feng, what's the important matter."

Xiao Feng replied, "Jianqiang, have a seat. I'll pour you a glass of water."

I said, "No need to pour, just tell me what you discovered in these documents."

Xiao Feng said, "First have a sip; your lips look dry. I'll explain to you slowly."

After speaking, Xiao Feng poured me a glass of water,

and placed it in front of me,

then Xiao Feng picked up a printed sheet,

"Jianqiang, you were in a car accident in May; roughly how many days were you unconscious?"

I thought carefully,

"Probably more than half a month—about ten days in the ICU and another week in a regular ward. During that time, both Zhou Wei and I were away from the company. Zhao Xiaohua had been handling the company's management. What's the matter?"

"Look, these are the Group Company's transfer records. From the end of May to early June, your Group Company kept sending out money,

almost every day. I calculated that a total of 270 million yuan went out.

In just a few dozen days that much money left,

especially since you both were hospitalized after the accident; the outflow is highly abnormal."

Xiao Feng pointed at the printed sheet for me to see,

and highlighted parts with a red pen,

I examined it closely,

The money that went out was all payment for project materials.

Some were for hardware, others for pipelines, rebar, etc.

Given that our Group has six development projects, paying for materials is normal.

It's just more concentrated.

I looked for a while,

"Xiao Feng, I don't see anything unusual. These are all normal company payments."

Xiao Feng then pointed to a construction‑material firm called Jiahua and said, "Jianqiang, I called this company, but the number is disconnected.

I also looked up the company online,

and it has already been deregistered.

How can a normally cooperating company be deregistered?"

Xiao Feng's words suddenly jolted me awake.

Perhaps this Jiahua company is a shell corporation.

I asked Xiao Feng, "Where is Jiahua Company registered?"

Xiao Feng replied, "In Wen City."

"It's far from us; if it were nearby we could investigate," I said.

"Has Jiahua always been your supplier?" Xiao Feng asked.

I shook my head,

"Most of the suppliers are handled by Zhao Xiaohua; I'm not familiar with them."

"That makes sense. I believe most of these transfer records were made while Zhou Wei was unconscious and you were away from the company,

and Xiao Feng, who handles your company's finances, should know more."

After hearing that,

I understood,

that during our accident they seized the opportunity to transfer the company's money out.

I said, how could the company claim it has no money? It turns out those funds were transferred out by them.

When the unpaid workers' wages blew up, I was forced to sign a gamble agreement with Southern Group.

All of this was premeditated by them.

At that moment my eyes widened with anger, and my fists clenched tightly.

Seeing my angry expression,

Xiao Feng immediately said, "Jianqiang, now is not the time to be angry.

We are only speculating.

Relying on just one company cannot explain the issue.

They have dealt with about ten companies.

I will investigate each of those companies one by one.

to verify our speculation."

"Xiao Feng, let me be honest, besides Zhao Xiaohua, Xiao Feng, and Sun Dajun being insiders, there are also connections to Niu Ju and Kong Shi."

This matter is truly complicated.

"I think their purpose is to swallow the entire Da Heng Group," I said, gritting my teeth.

Translation: I think their goal is to swallow the entire Da Heng Group." I said, gritting my teeth.

"I think their goal is to swallow the entire Da Heng Group." I said, gritting my teeth.

Make sure to keep the quotes exactly as in Chinese? Chinese uses 「」 for quotes. In English we use "". Should we convert? Usually translation changes quote style. The instruction: translate faithfully, not add or omit. Changing quote style is acceptable as part of translation. We'll use English double quotes.

Thus: "I think their goal is to swallow the entire Da Heng Group." I said, gritting my teeth.

"It should be like this: they're scheming against you step by step."

Translation: "That's probably it; they're scheming against you step by step."

"So we should prepare early and make the worst‑case plan."

Translation: "So we should prepare early, plan for the worst."

"To reduce our losses."

Translation: "To reduce our losses."

"Jianqiang, the Qi River Mine matter must be pushed forward promptly."

Translation: "Jianqiang, regarding the Qi He Kuang matter, we need to implement it promptly."

"Yesterday, Kang Yali came to urge me and carried out Sun Dajun's plan."

Translation: "Yesterday, Kang Yali came to urge me to bring Sun Dajun's idea to fruition."

"Who is Kang Yali?" Xiao Feng asked.

Translation: "Who is Kang Yali?" Xiao Feng asked.

"She's the South Group's representative stationed at our company," I said.

Translation: "She is the Southern Group's representative stationed at our Group Company." I said.

"What's Sun Dajun's idea?" Xiao Feng asked again.

Translation: "What is Sun Dajun's idea?" Xiao Feng asked again.

"It's about stripping the Qi River Mine from the group. What's their purpose in doing this?" I said, looking at Xiao Feng.

Translation: "It's to spin off Qi He Kuang from the group; what is their purpose in doing this?" I said, looking at Xiao Feng.

"Jianqiang, Kang Yali is the South Group's representative; they're in the same camp. Their aim is to use you to dispose of the group's non‑performing assets."

Translation: "Jianqiang, Kang Yali is the Southern Group's representative; they're in cahoots. Their purpose in doing this is to use your hands to dispose of the group's bad assets."

"Leaving only the high‑quality real‑estate projects."

"Leave only the quality real‑estate projects."

"The advantage is that after they swallow the Da Heng Group, they won't need to separately strip non‑performing assets, and there'll be little negative impact on society."

Translation: "The advantage is that after they swallow the Da Heng Group, they won't need to specially divest the bad assets, and there'll be no negative impact socially."

"Because the group's bad assets are being stripped through you, you'll make many people in Zaocheng hate you."

Translation: "Because the group company's bad assets are all being spun off from your hands, you'll make many people in Zaocheng hate you."

"After I heard that,"

Translation: After I heard that,

"I cursed inwardly: Damn, I didn't expect Yali to be so scheming. She's using me again."

Translation: I cursed in my heart: "Damn, I didn't expect Ya Li to be so scheming. She's also using me."

"I said, 'Xiao Feng, what should we do? I don't want to be used by them.'"

Translation: I said: "Xiao Feng, what should we do? I don't want to be used by them."

"We'll use their strength against them, Jianqiang. We'll seize the chance to take over the Qi River Mine," Xiao Feng said, looking at me.

Translation: "We'll use their force against them, Jianqiang; we'll seize the opportunity to take over Qi He Kuang." Xiao Feng said, looking at me.

"How do we take over the Qi River Mine?" Xiao Feng asked.

Translation: "How do we take over Qi He Kuang?" Xiao Feng asked.

"First, go to Lanling County and transfer Da Heng Group's shares in the Qi River Mine to Lanling County in the cheapest way possible. Then I'll step in and buy those shares from Lanling County. I'm sure Lanling will sell; the Qi River Mine is heavily loss‑making right now, and they don't want to clean up a mess."

Translation: "First go to Lanling County, transfer Da Heng Group's shares in Qi He Kuang to Lanling County in the cheapest way possible; then I'll step in to buy those shares from Lanling County. I believe Lanling County will sell, since Qi He Kuang is suffering heavy losses now—they don't want to clean up a mess."

"That way the Qi River Mine will be in our hands."

Translation: "Then Qi He Kuang will be in our hands."

"Jianqiang, after we finish these procedures, I'll have Lao Ye come back to discuss cooperation with the Zaocheng Mining Group."

Translation: "Jianqiang, after these procedures are done, I'll have Lao Ye return to discuss cooperation with the Zaocheng Mining Group."

"As long as we cooperate again with the Zaocheng Mining Group."

Translation: "As long as we cooperate again with the Zaocheng Mining Group,"

"Then the Qi River Mine can make money."

Translation: "then Qi He Kuang will be profitable."

"Jianqiang, this Qi River Mine is the money bag that will turn your fortunes around."

Translation: "Jianqiang, this Qi He Kuang is your money bag to recoup your losses."

"After hearing Xiao Feng's words,"

Translation: After hearing Xiao Feng's words,

"I nodded,"

Translation: I nodded,

"I have a decent personal connection with County Chief Du of Lanling, so I'll go to Lanling tomorrow to negotiate with him. We need to give him some benefits, but not tell him too much."

Translation: "I still have a good personal connection with Du County of Lanling; I'll go to Lanling tomorrow to talk with him. I need to give him some benefits. I can't let him talk too much."

"All they care about are Da Heng Group's real‑estate projects; they ignore everything else. This is easy to manipulate," Xiao Feng said, taking a sip of water.

Translation: "They only see Da Heng Group's real‑estate projects; they won't look at anything else. This matter is easy to handle." Xiao Feng said, taking a sip of water.

"Xiao Feng, you mean my Da Heng Group really can't be saved?" I said seriously.

Translation: "Xiao Feng, you mean my Da Heng Group really can't be saved." I said seriously.

"Xiao Feng smiled,"

Translation: Xiao Feng laughed,

"Brother Xinseng, are you stupid? They've already dug the trap, and you've already jumped in. Stop thinking about Da Heng Group; just accept destiny. August is coming, and who knows what will happen with Zaocheng Bank's 420 million loan. Without that loan, how can your Xin Cheng project ever be completed?"

Translation: "Xin Sheng Ge, are you stupid? They've already dug a pit and you've jumped right in. Don't think about the Da Heng Group anymore; just resign yourself to fate. It's almost August; by then, Zaocheng Bank's 420‑million loan—who knows how it'll turn out. Without that loan, what can you hope to complete with your Xin Cheng project?"

"If you can't finish on schedule, how will you sell the houses and repay South Group's money?"

Translation: "If it can't be finished on schedule, how will you sell the houses and repay the Southern Group's money?"

"If you can't repay them, you'll obediently hand over Da Heng Group to them."

Translation: "If you can't repay them, you'll obediently hand over the Da Heng Group to them."

"Stop fantasizing."

Translation: "Don't indulge in fantasies any longer."

"No matter how hard you try, you can't escape."

Translation: "No matter how hard you try, you can't escape."

"After hearing Xiao Feng's words, I sat dumbfounded on the sofa without saying a single word."

Translation: After hearing Xiao Feng's words, I sat dazed on the sofa without saying a word,

Just as if I were sentenced to death, knowing the result, yet still unwilling to accept this cruel reality.