Chapter 170

After hanging up the phone, I didn't rest; I took out a cigarette, thinking about my worries.

Today Director Qi, using Yang Tao's mouth, swindled me out of another hundred million.

This is like taking advantage of a fire to rob. Damn, all my gratitude toward Director Qi is gone.

But, to take that hundred million, he must help me get through the crisis.

There's also a contract for four hundred million; I might as well have handed the company over to Director Qi.

Damn, it's hilarious—everyone is eyeing the wealth in my hands.

I never imagined that the boss behind the Southern Group is Liu Shiru.

The Liu family's power is so great,

Fifteen years later, they have risen again, and Liu Shiru has come to take revenge.

What should I do, from Director Qi's phone call,

I learned that,

This Liu Shiru not only wants to devour our Da Heng Group, but also to ruin my reputation and leave me without a place to die.

To avenge the past, when I sent his father Liu Sheng and Liu Hong to prison.

It seems this calamity is hard for me to escape.

What should I do—await death passively, or put up a dying struggle?

I gazed out the window at the dark sky, and a sense of pessimism welled up in my heart.

Director Qi says he'll help me, but how reliable is he? Maybe he just wants that four‑hundred‑million contract.

After getting the contract, he tossed me aside and then began bargaining with Liu Shiru.

All of this is possible.

In the face of profit, I trust no one.

Tomorrow we'll launch the sale of the houses,

Even if I sell this house, can I make a full recovery?

Can I lead Da Heng Group out of the predicament?

I slumped onto the sofa and smoked.

Beside me, Shi Yong's snoring rose and fell.

Yet I could not fall asleep.

Past events surged into my mind again,

In the blink of an eye, Ya Ya has grown into a young lady; I still remember her as a child, with Xia Yuan holding her as she called me Dad.

We lived together in Lanling.

Xia Yuan has also been dead for fifteen years.

Xia Yuan was a good woman who would give her all to support me; it's a pity she died in He Ping's hands.

What I want to tell Xia Yuan is, your Ya Ya has grown up; she is already eighteen, a young lady, and now she is studying dance art abroad, having inherited your artistic cells.

Sister, can you hear me? I'm murmuring this in my heart.

I drifted off to sleep and saw Xia Yuan dancing ballet by the bonfire on Beishan at night, her legs kicking so high, her face so pale, she was looking at me and smiling,

smiling so beautifully, so cutely,

she waved at me, asking me to come over and dance with her,

I also reached out and touched Xia Yuan's hand; her hand was icy cold.

She gripped my hand tightly, saying nothing,

I suddenly saw that bloodstain on her neck,

I wanted to loosen my grip on Xia Yuan's hand,

but she held me tight, wanting to embrace me, her eyes brimming with tears,

"Yansheng, I don't want to die, I don't want to die, I just want to hold you…."

Just then, someone suddenly shook me awake,

I looked and saw Shi Yong standing beside me,

"Brother, what's wrong? You were talking in your sleep."

I rubbed my face and said to Shi Yong, "Shi Yong, I've woken up; I just dreamed of Xia Yuan."

"Sister Xia, she's been dead so long—how could I dream of her?" Shi Yong sat beside me and then handed me a cigarette.

I took it, lit it with a lighter,

the ember glowed red, I took a puff,

Then I said, "Just now, Yang Tao called me, mentioning Ya Ya—she said Ya Ya is studying dance in the United Kingdom. I want to tell Xia Yuan that Ya Ya has grown up."

"So I dreamed of her in my sleep."

"Sister Xia must miss Ya Ya, and miss us too. Sigh, over ten years have passed, and this Ya Ya has grown into a big girl. Ya Ling recently asked me how Ya Ya is doing abroad, and she hasn't called her either—she also misses Ya Ya." Shi Yong said.

"Ya Ya used to follow Ya Ling for a long time; now tell Yang Tao to let Ya Ya and Ya Ling get in touch, call to report they're safe, so this girl doesn't forget the past." I said.

"Once this kid went abroad and got a foreign education, it's over. That woman Yang Tao is really bad—she went abroad and took Ya Ya with her. Damn." Shi Yong cursed.

I originally wanted to tell Shi Yong that the hidden boss behind the Southern Group is Liu Shiru,

but never mind, I won't say it.

Shi Yong, hearing that, also had no good solution.

He doesn't know much about Liu Shiru.

I said to Shi Yong, "Let's not smoke; let's sleep. We still have to prepare for tomorrow's event."

Shi Yong said, "Tomorrow's event—who knows how it will go; will we be able to sell our house?"

I said, "It should be fine. After selling the house and waiting ten months, I'll go tend to Xia Yuan's grave, so she won't keep nagging us."

"You should go, Sister Xia Yuan is a good woman. When the time comes, I'll go with you." Shi Yong said.

I didn't say anything else.

Shi Yong and I just slept like that.

In my dream, I hoped to see Xia Yuan again, but I didn't dream of her at all.

The night passed just like that.

Shi Yong went to the sports field as soon as he got up in the morning.

I didn't go; I stayed at the company.

Waiting for them to bring good news.

I remembered what Yang Tao told me, and had me send the contract to her.

Xiao Feng is handling this; I need to ask her whether the fake contract is ready.

I took out my phone to contact Xiao Feng,

Xiao Feng answered the phone quickly,

"Jianqiang, there's news from Lanling County." Xiao Feng asked over the phone.

I laughed,

"Not that fast; wait a bit more. After September, I'll definitely urge Du County to transfer it quickly." I said.

"I heard your new building is about to launch; alas, I advise you not to sell, but you won't listen—how are the sales?" Xiao Feng asked.

"It just launched today; we don't know the outcome yet—win or lose, we have to gamble. I know you mean well, but I'm not resigned."

"Xiao Feng, regarding that time you said Director Qi and Yang Tao wanted four hundred million, have you prepared the contract?"

Xiao Feng said, "It's already ready, but we can't just give this contract to them; we have to wait until Southern Group actually acquires Da Heng Group."

"Let's give it to them early, so they know that Da Heng Group has half of their assets."

"Xiao Feng, this matter is very complicated; I now need Director Qi's help. Without his support, I'll surely be ruined." I said to Xiao Feng feeling sorrowful.

"Director Qi retired, didn't he? Even retired, what help could he give you? That contract is just digging a pit for Southern Group; if you give it early to Director Qi, Yang Tao and them, and they then go to Southern Group, it's just us busy for nothing." Xiao Feng said.

"Xiao Feng, how should I tell you this? Although Director Qi retired, he still has the ability to help me. This matter, if they know, they might go to Southern Group to argue, and maybe Southern Group will back off. Xiao Feng, I'll give you Yang Tao's fax number; send the fake contract over. For now, that's all we can do."

"All right, I'll listen to you, Jianqiang—don't be too sad. We still have Qi He Mine, and we'll have a chance to make a comeback." Xiao Feng said over the phone.