Chapter 128: Standing Pat

I took out my phone again to contact Hou Laoban,

Let him come over to inspect the house, so we can make the payment,

Hou Laoban agreed.

I and Li Ming returned home,

Shi Yong was moving things into the house.

Ru Meng saw that her clothes had all been gathered together,

She then asked Shi Yong, "Uncle Yong, why did you gather my clothes? I still need to go back home to live in a few days."

Shi Yong laughed and said, "Girl, just stay honestly at your uncle's place; your home is gone."

Ru Meng looked at me in disbelief,

I said to Ru Meng, "Ru Meng, what your uncle Yong said is correct. Dad sold the villa; the company really needs money now, there's no way around it. You can't go back to that home."

Upon hearing that, Ru Meng gave me a sideways glance,

"Dad, I'm truly speechless for you. The company's done for, the home's gone. What is this? Tomorrow I'm going back to the provincial capital; I really can't stay in Zaocheng any longer."

When I heard Ru Meng say that, I became anxious,

"You go back to the provincial capital, go ahead—hmph, I won't pay your tuition; you can go to hell. That private high school won't do; wait until September when school starts, and have your uncle Li Ming transfer your enrollment to Zaocheng to attend the experimental high school."

"Spending that much money a year still hasn't turned you into talent."

Ru Meng pursed her lips, turned her head back into the room, and ignored us anymore.

At this moment I still wanted to say something, when Qian Niang came over,

She said to me, "All right, Er Hai, you start yelling as soon as you walk in the door."

"What are you yelling about? The kid just asks how you sold the house."

When Qian Niang spoke, I stopped yelling at Ru Meng,

"Mom, you don't know; the company is in trouble, I sold the villa and used it as working capital. I didn't want to sell it either."

After hearing my words, Qian Niang sighed,

"Once sold, we'll have nothing left; what can we do in the future? If the company can't be saved, you'll have nothing at all."

"Er Hai, you didn't even say a word; selling the villa was too rushed."

"If I had known, I would certainly have advised you not to sell."

"As long as the green hills remain, there will be firewood to burn."

"All right, Mom, stop saying that; even my brother feels bad about it—isn't the company in trouble? When the company's situation improves, we'll just buy it back."

"Shi Yong, Brother, let's go to the study to chat." Li Ming said.

I and Shi Yong followed Li Ming into his study.

Li Ming closed the door,

then took out cigarettes and gave one each to me and Shi Yong,

"Brother, tell me, what's our next plan?"

"Right, Brother, tell us what we should do now; we can't keep enduring like this." Shi Yong also said.

I took a puff of cigarette and let out a long sigh,

"Li Ming, Shi Yong, I understand what you mean."

"Our best course of action now is to stand pat."

"What does 'stand pat' mean? They're bullying us right to our faces. They've installed eavesdropping devices at home, in the office—how can we even live like this?"

"I think this is simple: grab Sun Dajun and beat him up."

"I believe this kid will spill everything."

"Then we can just counterattack directly." Shi Yong said.

I said to Shi Yong, "Catching Sun Dajun is easy; the problem is who we go to complain to. Zaocheng outweighs Kong Shi and Niu Ju them."

"If Zhu Sheng weren't in trouble, having him back us would give us a chance to counterattack."

"Now Zhu Sheng is also in trouble; my counterattack would be worthless."

"Here, if no one is backing us, we can't accomplish anything."

"It would only bring more harm. Shi Yong, your method is completely unfeasible."

"Unless you can topple the people behind Sun Dajun."

When Shi Yong heard me say that, he immediately fell silent.

He definitely can't topple them.

Li Ming then said, "Shi Yong, don't get agitated; my brother is right—now we just need to stand pat."

"In fact, suspecting who is useless."

"Even if we find evidence, some things can be erased with just a word from them."

"I understand this all too well."

"We are currently in a weak position."

"They are in a strong position."

"If we go head‑to‑head with them, we can only end in failure; by then we might lose not only our property but even our family could be implicated."

"They dare? I, Shi Yong, am not afraid—let them try something on me." Shi Yong said loudly.

"Shi Yong, don't think they wouldn't dare touch you. Who among us can guarantee they're clean?" Li Ming asked.

"I have no illegal record, so I'm not afraid of them." Shi Yong said.

"Hehe, Shi Yong, have you forgotten what happened to Bai Lang? How he got into a car accident—Niu Ju knows it all too well. And your shady dealings with Mao Hai from Zaocheng's underworld make it easy for them to nab you; a single sentence could get you a dozen years in prison." Li Ming said.

Li Ming having said that, Shi Yong could only smoke.

I looked at Li Ming and said: "Brother, your analysis is correct. We also have had some unsavory things in the past. Especially after Xiao Long beat Da Jun,"

This matter, Niu Ju insists on not letting go, forcing me to give up the General Manager position.

If we really capture Da Jun and interrogate him, although we could get the results we want, it would be disadvantageous for us.

I know what these behind-the-scenes people can do.

With just one sentence, they can dig up our old scores.

By then, we should go in ahead of them.

Once we're in, there's no getting out.

I'm already over forty; I can't stand that kind of torment.

For now, we'll just hold our position.

Let them do whatever they want.

Now I've already sold the villa.

I'll give it one more try, see if I can help Da Heng Group survive.

If Da Heng Group pulls through, we'll get past this hurdle.

Once we have money, we can make connections with more powerful people, so we can settle both new and old grudges against him together.

Shi Yong then asked me: "Brother, you're saying if... if we can't get Da Heng Group, if it becomes theirs, what then?"

I waved my hand and said: "Then accept fate, brother—didn't I say that? Win some, lose some."

I've always had nothing; I'm just a farmer who came out of the mountain ditches. At worst, I'll go back to the village. I, Zhaoerhai, have faced all kinds of difficulties; am I afraid to go back to the past?

"Brother, we shouldn't be too pessimistic. I feel that Li Xingzhang's running away shows their internal problems too." Li Ming said, taking a puff of a cigarette.

"Exactly, brother, you're absolutely right. Li Xingzhang suddenly disappeared, and I noticed Sun Dajun is rather anxious, as are Ya Li and Niu Ju, all trying to find a way to save Da Heng Group."

Only Kong Shi's side has no movement at all.

I heard from Hou Laoban that Li Xingzhang's mishap has little impact on Kong Shi.

But he has never contacted me.

He seems to be just waiting for Da Heng Group to fail.

There is definitely a conflict between Niu Ju and Kong Shi.

The focus of this conflict is the future of Da Heng Group; they have serious disagreements.

After I finished speaking,

Li Ming also nodded,

"Brother, your analysis is correct. So we'll just hold our position for now, see how they act; if their internal struggle is severe, the problem will come out."

Then they will produce naked hatred.

"Believe me, by then we will have a good outcome."