Chapter 99: Lion's Share

February 23rd, Sunday. The temperature had risen, and the weather was quite good. The sky didn't have a single cloud and was a deep blue. More than ten years later, such a clear sky could no longer be seen in the city.

At the city hospital, the three people, Sun Dahai, were lying in a ward. Yesterday afternoon, the three of them hadn't had a moment of peace. Besides the police questioning, there were quite a few reporters interviewing them.

The three of them hadn't slept well all night, thinking about what happened during the day, feeling like they were in a dream. Especially the things that happened afterward, the police questioning, and the content of the reporters' interviews were almost the same as what Zhou Andong had told them, which made them admire Zhou Andong and trust him even more.

Just before dawn, the three of them fell into a hazy sleep. It seemed like they had just fallen asleep when there was a noisy commotion in the corridor outside, and then the ward door was pushed open.

The three of them opened their eyes and saw a group of people walk in, including those carrying cameras, clearly reporters. And the one being surrounded in the middle was Zhao Jianlong, whom they were no strangers to.

As soon as Zhao Jianlong entered and saw the three people lying on the hospital beds, his eyes turned red, and he walked quickly to the side of the beds. He shook hands with this one and that one, his voice even sounding choked with sobs.

"I'm sorry, I'm truly sorry for the grievance you've suffered. To tell you the truth, the game hall involved gambling, and there were even many minors. When I found out about this, I was also quite shocked."

As he spoke, he even squeezed out two tears. "You might not believe my words, but this is the truth. You all know that the game hall is mine, but you don't know that I am only one of the shareholders and do not participate in management."

"So, I was unaware of the gambling in the game hall. But as a shareholder, I must take responsibility. Whatever demands you have, just put them forward, and I will definitely do my best to satisfy you."

The three of them looked at each other. Sun Dahai had already become the spokesperson for the other two: "The game hall almost destroyed our families. My child has been missing for more than two months, and I don't know if he's alive or dead. Especially the mental torture and blow, which made my wife go crazy, to the point where she doesn't even recognize me."

A flash of impatience crossed Zhao Jianlong's eyes, but his face showed a look of remorse: "The big mistake has already been made. The company's legal representative, who is the actual manager of the company, surrendered to the police yesterday. Before long, he will be severely punished by the law, which can also give your wife an explanation."

Sun Dahai sneered in his heart: "My son is only thirteen, and you enticed him to gamble, stole everything in the house, and then went outside to steal. You ruined his whole life, and my wife's illness requires a large sum of money for treatment. So, the three of us, each..."

The atmosphere in the ward suddenly went quiet, as if even breathing had stopped. Everyone, including Zhao Jianlong, hadn't expected these three guys to be so greedy, opening their mouths to ask for ten thousand.

Not to mention in this era when ten-thousand-yuan households were still very rare, even twenty years later, ten thousand was an astronomical figure for most people.

Zhao Jianlong's breathing stalled, and anger flashed in his eyes, but he didn't show it on his face. He just took a deep breath and said with a smile: "Okay, I understand your demands. I'll study them after I go back, and then I'll have my assistant come to talk to you."

Zhao Jianlong didn't have the patience to stay any longer. These three bumpkins were simply ungrateful. Did they really think he was a sucker? Opening their mouths to ask for ten thousand—weren't they afraid of having the life to take it but not the life to spend it?

Out of the hospital, Zhao Jianlong shook hands with the reporter behind him: "Brother Gao, thank you for me to Director Kong when you go back. When I have time, I'll invite him to dinner."

"Okay!" The reporter nodded and carried the camera into a van.

At this time, Huo Xing got off a BMW: "How was it?"

Zhao Jianlong said coldly: "Do you know how much money they wanted?"

Huo Xing asked curiously: "How much?"

Zhao Jianlong laughed mockingly: "Ten thousand."

Huo Xing was stunned. He thought two thousand each would be enough to satisfy those three guys. He didn't expect ten thousand. How did they dare?

Zhao Jianlong cursed: "Damn it, I really gave them face. Let's go, let's go back."

Huo Xing said: "Talk to them."

Zhao Jianlong was stunned and said incredulously: "Xingzi, what do you mean? You don't really want to pay ten thousand, do you?"

Huo Xing said: "Money can be earned again if it's gone, but your reputation can't be earned back."

A fierce light flashed in Zhao Jianlong's eyes: "Then let them disappear."

Huo Xing shook his head: "The matter has become too big. Yesterday, many reporters came to interview them. If something happens to them, we will become the suspects immediately."

"Then just be blackmailed by them like this?" Zhao Jianlong was so angry his face turned livid. For so many years, he had been the one blackmailing others; when had he ever been blackmailed?

Huo Xing sighed: "You have to swallow this breath even if you can't. Let's talk about it after the limelight passes."

Zhao Jianlong was unwilling, but he also knew Huo Xing was right. Their situation was very passive right now. Even if he was unwilling, he could only be manipulated by others.

"You go talk to them, I'm going back."

"Okay!" Huo Xing said: "However, we have to leave them hanging for two days first."

Zhao Jianlong was just about to get into the car when he saw Zhou Andong get off a yellow minibus. He put his raised leg back down. Why could he meet this disgusting thing everywhere?

"Oh my, isn't this Zhao Zong?" Zhou Andong was very surprised. He had calculated that Zhao Jianlong would come to the hospital to see the three Sun Dahai, but he didn't expect him to come so soon.

"Zhou Andong!" Zhao Jianlong said coldly: "Jiangzhou is too small; I can meet you everywhere."

Zhou Andong laughed: "The game hall is sealed. Come on, Zhao Zong, talk about how you feel right now."

The few guys standing behind Zhao Jianlong swarmed over and surrounded Zhou Andong, ready to make a move.

"What's up!" Zhou Andong looked at Zhao Jianlong and said with a smile: "Want to make a move? Zhao Jianlong, you'd better think it through. This is a hospital, and there are people everywhere. Once you let them make a move on me, it will be hard for you to wash yourself clean."

"Come back!" Huo Xing called the people back. "Zhou Andong, from now on, let's mind our own business. How about we go our separate ways?"

"What were you doing before, damn it?" Zhou Andong laughed mockingly. "Zhao Jianlong, I warned you the day I divorced Jiang Yuping: don't look for trouble for no reason. Otherwise, even if I can't kill you, I can squeeze the urine out of you. You don't believe me?"

"Back then, the Americans ignored the warnings and brazenly bombed the Yalu River, and in the end, they paid a heavy price for their arrogance and haughtiness. Later, the South Vietnamese were unconvinced and kept provoking, and then they were beaten until they cried for their fathers and mothers. This proves one truth: being blind and arrogant without strength is just seeking your own death. I said all this to tell you: if you don't have that much ability, don't act tough, damn it."

. m ===== CHAPTER 100 =====