Chapter 242: Negotiations with Niu Ju

Seeing me pressing him relentlessly,

Niu Ju burst into a hearty laugh again,

"Jianqiang, don't make jokes like that. There were some misunderstandings between us before, but I believe once I explain, you'll understand."

I looked at Niu Ju,

"Then go ahead and explain; I'm all ears."

"The matter is like this: I believe you just asked the Bank Manager. The Bank Manager said our whole group swallowed your 50 million."

I don't want to say more,

I haven't touched the money; our purpose in doing this is to keep it for you.

To preserve capital for your future resurgence.

"Bullshit, Niu Ju, I'm not a three‑year‑old kid for you to fool around with. You split the money; you took the lion's share, while Kang Yali and the Bank Manager only got a small portion."

Fine, stop making up such lies.

If you want to stay alive, you must show sincerity.

I glared at Niu Ju, my eyes blazing,

Niu Ju laughed awkwardly,

"Jianqiang, good brother, give your older brother some face. I'm not thorough when I act."

Sigh, some things I did were really bad; please, little brother, forgive me.

Regarding that money, I truly didn't touch it; I kept it for you. Just say the word and I'll give it to you immediately.

I know Kong Shi ruined you; this was plotted together by Kong Shi and Southern Group's Zhang Zong. I truly had no part in it.

I was just eyeing them greedily,

snatching that much money from your hands,

I also wanted a cut, so together with Kang Yali I schemed against you. I admit I was wrong, but compared with Kong Shi and the others,

I'm nothing; they caused your family's ruin and death.

They made you a fugitive, and they even captured Sun Dajun.

Jianqiang, your biggest enemy is that bunch led by Kong Shi.

Think about it; am I right?

I was merely a pawn they used.

When Kong Shi captured you, they didn't even employ my forces, which shows I'm not on the same side as Kong Shi.

I was a bit greedy, I admit that.

Brother, what do you suggest? Today it's money or life, it's up to you.

After speaking, Niu Ju stepped forward voluntarily.

I looked at Niu Ju and laughed heartily: "Niu Ju, you're bright."

After speaking, I tossed the dagger onto the ground,

then pointed at the sofa,

"Sit, let's have a proper chat."

Niu Ju quickly clasped his fists,

"Jianqiang brother, thank you for this mercy. Older brother, I present you a salute."

He finished with a bow to me.

"No need to be formal, Niu Ju, we're brothers; come, sit down and talk."

I sat on the sofa first,

Niu Ju followed suit and sat down.

Niu Ju looked at me and said, "Jianqiang brother, you look a lot like someone."

"Like who?" I asked.

"Zhou Fuhai," Niu Ju said.

"If I look like him, that's right; I've been impersonating him. Niu Ju, I ask you, that real Zhou Fuhai, are you still keeping him locked up?"

"Ah, that Zhou Fuhai is real. I see, you've been impersonating Zhou Fuhai. Now I've caused a big trouble. Brother, this matter is troublesome." Bureau Chief Niu sighed, slumped onto the sofa.

"What's wrong, Niu Ju, you're so afraid of Zhou Fuhai," I asked deliberately.

"Brother, you don't know the power of the Zhou family. My old superior is a very shrewd man; dealing with someone like me, he could make me disappear easily."

That Zhou Fuhai is the person my old superior trusts most,

I've never met him.

I never expected I'd actually capture him. This situation, isn't it a death sentence? Sigh, Jianqiang brother, you've almost killed me. It would have been better if you had killed me earlier." Niu Ju sighed.

Looking at Niu Ju's sigh,

I said straightaway, "Niu Ju, I came to see you this time to save you."

"Save me? How will you save me? You came to find me, isn't it revenge?" Niu Ju asked, somewhat incredulous.

"Yes, I'm here to save you. Between us there are only minor grudges, not worth mentioning."

The two amounts you took from me, are they even comparable to Da Heng Group's money?

Also, in the end you let Sun Dajun send word so I could escape; that shows our friendship still remains.

I, Zhao Jianqiang, am a person who knows gratitude. Niu Ju, the matters you, Kang Yali, and the Bank Manager used against me, I can disregard.

I think we must join forces,

to deal with them together. Niu Ju, I'm listening to your thoughts.

Niu Ju fell silent.

Niu Ju looked at me without speaking.

I thought Niu Ju was surely calculating his interests in his mind.

I then took out a cigarette, threw one to Niu Ju, who caught it and lit it himself.

I then said, "Niu Ju, you have only two options before you: one is to release Zhou Fuhai, in which case Zhou Fuhai will surely hate you to death.

Your own fate can be easily imagined.

Moreover, if you don't release Zhou Fuhai and keep him locked up long-term, you need a reason—how long can you detain him? The longer you hold him, the greater your crime. Both paths are dead ends.

What do you say?"

Niu Ju nodded but still said nothing.

I took a puff of my cigarette,

"Niu Ju, you still have Kong Shi's son Kong Xiangju kidnapped, and he's actually in my hands."

As soon as my words fell, Niu Ju sprang up from his seat,

"What, Kong Xiangju is also in your hands, Jianqiang? That means you know everything about the feud between me and Kong Shi."

I gestured for Niu Ju to calm down,

"Everyone knows that Kong Shi has been slandering you to Zhou Renfeng. Zhou Renfeng sent Zhou Fuhai here just to oust you from your position. Actually, detaining Zhou Fuhai was the right move; otherwise, you couldn't stay in this position at all.

Niu Ju retorted, "How do you know all this?"

I laughed, "Niu Ju, you still don't get it—this Zhou Fuhai, the moment he entered Zaocheng, I had him kidnapped, then I went into his room,

then I impersonated him, met with Kong Shi, and even spoke with you on the phone."

Niu Ju then realized, "Ah, the person I spoke with on the phone that day was you as well."

I smiled.

Niu Ju looked at me,

"Jianqiang, it seems I, Niu Ju, am no match for you; you're too formidable.

You've already gotten ahead of me,

Now Zhou Fuhai has become a hot potato, quite troublesome. And you also know full well about the kidnapping of Kong Xiangju.

I never imagined that Mao Hai also has connections with you.

It seems you permeate every corner of Zaocheng,

Compared to you, I'm merely a petty witch seeing a great witch,

I truly admire you, Jianqiang—tell me what to do, I'll follow your lead.

Now I have no way out."

After saying that, Niu Ju slumped back onto the sofa.

From Niu Ju's expression,

Niu Ju truly has no way out,

it looks like he will indeed listen to me, because he wants to live.

These two matters—detaining Zhou Fuhai and kidnapping Kong Xiangju,

each is enough to make Niu Ju drink a pot.

This is exactly the outcome I want,

I want to subdue Niu Ju, make him obey me; only then can I deal with Kong Shi and his group, and I'll have more confidence.

I then took another puff of my cigarette,

I said to Niu Ju, "Niu Ju, let me tell you this: a gentleman does not go back on his word. Since you're listening to me, you must follow my instructions. You cannot be fickle,

otherwise, I will expose all your dirty deeds and let you spend the rest of your life in prison.

Think about it—what would happen if you ended up in prison?