Chapter 588: Yang Tao Writes an IOU

Yeah, the money Liu Xian had placed in the fish pond was confiscated by me.

I never expected that the money he kept in the residential community would be taken by Yang Tao.

He had been hiding inside, finally came out, and after coming out he discovered that his hidden money was all gone—anyone would find it unbearable.

After all, Yang Tao is still his legal wife, so it's only natural for him to ask her for money.

I hurriedly said to Yang Tao: "Yang Tao, Liu Xian is now like this, after coming out he has no job, just working as a guard. However much money you took, give it to him."

He was counting on that money to get by.

Yang Tao frowned and said: "Jianqiang, I really have no money on hand now. If I had money, giving him a few hundred thousand would be easy. I don't even remember how much I took back then; I was in a hurry to flee. I'd guess it was around four or five hundred thousand."

"Bullshit, I hid one million in that room. How can you only come up with four hundred thousand?"

"After I opened the door, you gave me just over two thousand left. You're too ruthless, Yang Tao—today you must cough up that one million for me, otherwise you won't get away,"

"No matter which country you're from, I'll risk my life to get that money from you."

"I really didn't take that much. If you keep harassing me, I'll call the police." Yang Tao pulled out her phone.

"What's there to report? Li Ming just got released; we should talk things out. Brother Liu, don't be so nitpicky about a million,"

"Whatever we can get now is better than nothing—how about this: let Yang Tao give you five hundred thousand."

"That five hundred thousand would be enough for you to live on in Lanling County seat." I said in the middle.

"Brother, out of respect for you, I agree—if Yang Tao hands over five hundred thousand, we'll be square; otherwise I'll hound you forever, even as a ghost I won't let you go." Liu Xian said fiercely.

At that moment Yang Tao whispered to me: "Jianqiang, I don't even have five hundred thousand."

"What? You've been with Director Qi for so long, you've made a lot of money out there—five hundred thousand is just a drop in the bucket for you. Hurry up and give it to Liu Xian so he stops bothering you; we need to get out of this godforsaken place quickly." I urged Yang Tao.

Yang Tao shook her head and sighed: "Jianqiang, let me be honest with you—we really have no money. All our funds were invested and got scammed. This time we came back only because Old Qi borrowed money from his friend to buy the tickets."

"We've been having a rough time out there."

I somewhat doubted Yang Tao's words, but I judged that she was probably telling the truth.

For Yang Tao, five hundred thousand is really a small amount.

Out of old sentiment, we should give Liu Xian some money so he can support himself in his old age.

But she can't even come up with five hundred thousand,

Fuck, I've been pretending for so long.

Once we're abroad, we'll just get bullied.

I said, I rushed back to demand those four hundred million.

They're probably having an even worse time out there than I am.

"You bitch, you lied to me—you can't even come up with five hundred thousand. Your mouth has not a word of truth; today I'll fight you to the finish."

"Living like this is meaningless anyway; if we're going to die, let's die together." Liu Xian flew into a rage.

He stared at Yang Tao with bloodshot eyes like a dog, wanting to fight her to the death.

Yang Tao was terrified and hurriedly hid behind me.

"Jianqiang, what should we do?"

I immediately stepped in front of Liu Xian,

"What's there to fight over, Brother Liu? This money is trivial—cool down. Let's talk it out nicely."

"As for the money, don't rush—how about I have Yang Tao write you an IOU?"

"What good is an IOU? She'll become a foreign woman, run off and disappear; I'd go look for her there and get nowhere—I need cash." Liu Xian disagreed.

"Gee, nobody carries that much cash on them. Let me first have Yang Tao write you an IOU; if she doesn't give it to you, I'll cover it for you."

"It's just five hundred thousand, right? I'll pull together the cash I have on me in a bit, see how much there is, and you can spend it first." I said in the middle.

"Give it to me, brother—if I had trusted you before, after all you were once chairman of Da Heng Group. I heard your Da Heng Group has collapsed; can you come up with this five hundred thousand?" Liu Xian asked doubtfully.

Liu Xian also knew about the Da Heng Group situation.

"Brother Liu, a skinny camel is still bigger than a horse—I can still scrape together five hundred thousand. Rest assured, if Yang Tao doesn't pay, I will. With my word, you can relax." I assured Liu Xian.

After hearing my assurance, Liu Xian then asked: "Where should I go to find you?"

"Niushiling—I'll live there from now on. By the way, I've changed my name to Zhao Jianqiang. Just go to Niushiling and look for Zhao Jianqiang." I said.

"Fine, having a brother as guarantor makes me believe you. Okay, let Yang Tao write an IOU; once it's done I'll let you go. We'll be square." Liu Xian said.

Yang Tao was unwilling to write an IOU,

"Jianqiang, I just returned to Zaocheng—I haven't gotten hold of those four hundred million, and now I'm supposed to write a five-hundred-thousand IOU—what's going on here?"

"Enough, Yang Tao—if you want to stay the night here, fine, you negotiate with Liu Xian; I'm out. I don't even want the car anymore—I'm leaving now." I said angrily.

Yang Tao remained unmoved.

At this moment I leaned close to Yang Tao's ear,

and whispered again: "Yang Tao, give him an IOU to get us through, let's leave quickly—don't you have any idea?"

Yang Tao immediately understood,

"Li Ming, get paper and pen from the car, I'll write him a note."

Li Ming hurriedly fetched it,

Yang Tao happily wrote down a five-hundred-thousand IOU.

Liu Xian took it, very pleased.

Then I had Li Ming pull the loose change from the car—altogether over two thousand.

Then I took the money and gave it to Liu Xian,

"Brother Liu, I came in such a hurry I never dreamed I'd run into you."

"This money is my sentiment."

"Take it and spend it first."

I still say the same thing: if Yang Tao doesn't give you five hundred thousand, just come to me for it.

Liu Xian took the money, tears welling up in his eyes,

"Brother, what are you talking about? I thank you,"

Ah, after I came out, you are the only one who can recognize me.

Brother, thank you so much."

After saying that, he gripped my hand and wouldn't let go.

"Alright, Liu Xian, it's getting late, we should go."

Liu Xian said: "How about this: tonight I'll treat you to a meal, to show some host's courtesy."

This guy, holding my money, yet treating us to a meal—really interesting.

I chuckled,

"Liu Xian, we'll get together again when we have time; open the door so we can leave."

Liu Xian nodded.

He took the key and opened the hotel's main door.

I had Li Ming drive,

Yang Tao bolted into the car like a rabbit.

Li Ming drove the car out of the hotel.

I wasn't in a hurry to leave,

I wanted to shake hands with Liu Xian to say goodbye; after all we've known each other for a while, and time has already faded our hatred.

Actually, why did I have Yang Tao write an IOU for five hundred thousand?

If Yang Tao really defaults on the debt,

then I will repay the five hundred thousand on Yang Tao's behalf.

After all, back then I started my business with the money Liu Xian had hidden in the fish pond; this money also counts as repaying him, so we can settle everything once and for all.

This five hundred thousand is enough for him to live on in retirement in the county town.

I stepped out the door and took Liu Xian's hand,

"Old Liu bro, I'm leaving; when we have time we'll drink and chat."

"Jianqiang bro, I just saw that slut act impulsively and forgot to ask something. It's perfect—now it's just the two of us, tell me"

"I miss her so much."