Chapter 231: Do a Quick Tally

I sat in the room smoking with Shangguan Zhuren,

Shangguan Zhuren said, "Kidnapping Kong Xiangju is illegal; we didn't expect Niu Ju to break the law knowingly. Moreover, the methods are so despicable to achieve his own goals."

I replied, "Indeed, they have completely changed. Anyway, this illegal act is ordered by Niu Ju. We fear nothing."

Shangguan Zhuren took a drag of his cigarette,

"It's the only way: capturing Kong Xiangju gives us another bargaining chip. The question is how to catch him; will the men under Xiao Wu act recklessly?"

I said, "Catching Kong Xiangju is easy; the fellow is a compulsive gambler, almost obsessed. He used to fly south to gamble, which made Kong Shi express great disappointment in his son before me.

Kong Shi's accumulated family fortune has nearly ruined this guy as well.

There is an underground casino in Zaocheng Xin Cheng, and Shi Yong knows about it.

Shi Yong's friend used to run the place inside.

Kong Xiangju goes there almost every day to play.

I asked Shi Yong to contact his friend, take a few photos of Kong Xiangju and send them over, so Xiao Wu can give them to that group of Northerners; only if they know what Kong Xiangju looks like,

they will act immediately and bind Kong Xiangju."

"Let's bind him first and worry about the rest later.

Jianqiang, you still have to take a risk, which is to negotiate with Niu Ju," Shangguan Zhuren said.

"Negotiating with Niu Ju, is it about using Kong Xiangju as a card?" I asked.

Shangguan Zhuren shook his head,

"No, this is to deal with Kong Shi. We need to use Zhou Fuhai as a card."

"Use Zhou Fuhai as a card—how?" I was a bit confused.

"Think about it: Niu Ju follows Kang Yali and has captured Zhou Fuhai; now he only doubts Zhou Fuhai's identity. The next step is to investigate thoroughly and confirm that Zhou Fuhai is genuine.

Then Niu Ju will release Zhou Fuhai.

After his release, it will be unfavorable to us.

We must persuade Niu Ju not to release Zhou Fuhai," Shangguan Zhuren said, looking out the window.

"Can Niu Ju listen to us?" I asked.

"If you explain the stakes clearly to Niu Ju, even if he releases Zhou Fuhai, he will have offended the Zhou Family. Then his fate is a dead end; if he doesn't release him, just assume that Zhou Fuhai is a fake. Moreover, it's Zhao Jianqiang in disguise. Find a way to make Zhou Fuhai look like Zhao Jianqiang.

Thus, between you and him, no one can tell the difference. A fake may be real, and a real may be fake.

"Do you understand what I mean?" Shangguan Zhuren asked, looking at me.

I pondered for a moment,

"I get it, Shangguan Zhuren: no matter what, we must not let Zhou Fuhai go out, so we can keep the act going. Since there is no truth, this fake of mine might also be real.

As long as we explain the stakes to Niu Ju, he'll know what to do. In that way, we'll have won Niu Ju over.

The leverage over Niu Ju's kidnapping of Kong Xiangju remains in our hands."

"Exactly, that's the point. Niu Ju mainly thinks of his own position and interests, lacking a sense of the bigger picture, and will keep using us as a tool.

He's easy to manipulate; he's different from Kong Shi."

I nodded,

"Alright, Shangguan Zhuren, we'll first move to capture Kong Xiangju. After that, I'll meet Niu Ju and lay out the stakes clearly."

"Do that first. We're in the shadows while they're in the open; they're already on the defensive. You go arrange Shi Yong." Shangguan Zhuren said.

I left Shangguan Zhuren's room,

and headed to Shi Yong's room,

Shi Yong was binge-watching a drama.

Shi Yong looked at me as I entered,

"Bro, this drama is total nonsense—fighting Woguo people, that's so simple, yet they tear ghosts apart and hide mines in their pants. It's absurdly over the top.

Damn, is that Director Chen's work?"

I laughed,

"It's such a crappy drama, and you still watch it; I'm nowhere near better than Director Chen."

Shi Yong continued, "Do the media folks in Sijiucheng have shit in their brains, making these trash TV shows? I watch dramas just to curse them.

My mouth is almost sore from swearing now."

"Enough, turn off the TV. I have something serious to discuss with you." I said to Shi Yong.

Shi Yong reluctantly turned off the TV,

"What's up? I already replied to Mao Hai, telling him Xiao Wu is considering before agreeing."

I nodded,

"Shi Yong, the billionaire entertainment city in Zaocheng Xin Cheng has a venue called the Vulture, right? I heard you have a good relationship with him."

"Sigh, we've shared women; the bond is solid." Shi Yong said.

Shi Yong thinks that sharing women makes a relationship ironclad—truly his style.

"Since you're close, have him find time to take photos of Kong Xiangju and send them to you."

Shi Yong, excited, replied, "So we're going to kidnap Kong Xiangju?"

I said, "Right, that's the plan. Tell Mao Hai that Xiao Wu has agreed, but ten thousand is too low; it must be two hundred thousand."

"Fine, it's not Mao Hai's money anyway. Bro, you've spent all day criticizing the shady people I know, all of them are lowlifes; now you see their importance, right? We have to rely on them now." Shi Yong said.

"Shi Yong, do you understand? At that time we ran a business and cared about image; now it's different—we have to survive."

To survive, we won't worry about much; anyone useful to us we're willing to befriend.

I explained to Shi Yong.

After hearing my explanation, Shi Yong smiled,

"Anyway, no matter how you put it, you're always right. I can't argue with you. I, Shi Yong, have never cared about any image."

"When I was Vice President before, I thought about eating, drinking and having fun every day; now that I'm no longer in that position, it's still the same eating, drinking and fun. I've realized the most important thing in life is eating, drinking and fun."

"Actually it's like the people who make those god dramas; they don't know we're criticizing them, yet why do they keep making them? It's just to give us something to criticize, to let us vent."

"Everyone is just acting, all for the sake of eating, drinking and fun."

"After hearing Shi Yong's sigh,"

"I patted Shi Yong's shoulder,"

"'Shi Yong, you're becoming more mature; being able to glean so much from god dramas is something ordinary people can't do. Many people pursue happiness just for the sake of happiness.'"

"But you find happiness in unhappiness,"

"and that makes your life valuable."

"After Shi Yong heard me finish, he was stunned and, after thinking for a long while, still couldn't grasp what I said."

"He muttered to himself, 'Fine, I won't think about it. I'll contact Mao Hai right now and have him tell Niu Ju that the price must be 200,000.'"

"Also Tu Ying, have him take photos for Kong Xiangju."

"'The work still has to be done well. Let me know once the contact is made.'"

"I said that and left Shi Yong's room."

"At that moment, Shi Yong hurriedly turned on the TV, watching the god drama while making a phone call."

"I also pulled out my phone, contacted Xiao Wu, explained the situation to him and told him to be ready. As soon as Tu Ying sends the photos, Xiao Wu will forward them to those Northeasterners, so they can act quickly."