Chapter 478: Only I Have My Own Law Chapter 478: Minor Punishment, Major Warning (1)

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Protagonist:

Chen Yi

In Liu Bian's conception, the worst outcome was returning the gold to Chen Yi, with the Liu Family completely distancing themselves from gold bonds—how bad could it be? Holding gold wouldn't result in a loss.

However, Chen Yi showed them a situation where, if he did not actively buy back the gold, holding gold could sometimes result in a loss.

He didn't want the 40 tons of gold, so the Cao, Wang, and Liu Three Families ended up with over 10 billion yuan in high-interest debt—the insurance company's money wasn't easy to borrow.

On the other hand, none of the three families were particularly wealthy, and they only had enough money to repay principal and interest after selling the gold, but most of China was in a state of gold saturation, and 40 tons of gold was equivalent to one-tenth of annual consumption.

Besides, the storage cost of gold wasn't low, and most troublesome was that they were collateral for loans from the insurance company, so they couldn't be sold casually—if used directly to offset debt, they'd owe a huge favor unless they wanted to be plucked clean.

A commercial design of interlocking links became interlocking troubles. Liu Bian thought of the National Materials Bureau, the Central Bank, various jewelry companies and private equity funds, but no matter who he asked to exchange the gold, even if they were very willing, favors would have to be owed...

"You don't lack gold?" Liu Bian finally understood a bit, but still didn't quite believe him.

Chen Yi showed a sincere smile and answered: "Two months ago I lacked it, now not so much."

He said it very lightly, because telling the truth indeed made one feel light.

Since the bank run occurred, Chen Yi had raised the exchange ratio and price for gold in the West Continent, purchasing nearly 150 tons in one month, completely offsetting the West Continent's huge investments over the recent period. Plus the mining output, his inventory had already increased to a scale of 500 tons, and he didn't care at all about a mere 40 tons of gold.

To him, the Liu Family selling 40 tons of gold themselves to flood the market was also a good choice, saving him trouble while giving them some trouble.

Liu Bian helplessly swallowed the bitter fruit: "Alright, for the missing part, when do you think it would be better to return it to us?"

Chen Yi smiled and corrected: "I don't owe you goods, but I will help you get them back."

"Of course, you don't owe us." Liu Bian glared at Liu Chuanzhong, having nowhere to vent, and said: "Actually, the Liu Family is very grateful that you only gave Liu Chuanzhong a small punishment, so he won't dare to raise his tail again in the future."

He had long inquired about the details of the lost gold, knowing the railway warehouse's protection level was high and strict; in other words, gold of the same or similar level in the Xijing Insurance Vault might also be within their grasp.

Chen Yi's behavior could be called a minor punishment as a major warning... that was where Liu Bian's so-called gratitude lay.

Communicating with smart people was always simple yet complex; after shaking hands with Liu Bian and seeing him off, Chen Yi left Liu Chuanzhong, who couldn't figure out the situation—compared to Cao Yuan, he was three floors higher, but in a pure capital contest, he basically had no say.

This made Liu Chuanzhong very discouraged. He got into the car, like a child sulking, and the last time he did this was when he was thirteen.

Halfway along, Liu Chuanzhong couldn't help but ask: "Are we really giving up?"

"That's right." Liu Chuanzhong said very firmly, and warned: "You were too rash in this matter, and didn't discuss it with the family; all losses caused thereby shall be borne by you, and I won't let you reimburse my travel expenses."

He finally made a small joke, though not very funny, but it at least helped Liu Chuanzhong relax, saying: "Cao Yuan and Wang Han might not be willing."

"You go tell them; if unwilling, then you go negotiate yourself." Liu Bian turned to look at Liu Chuanzhong and said: "Don't take everything on yourself. That missing 10 tons of gold is their trump card. You wouldn't think he'd return all the gold to us at once, would you?"

"Ah? He already agreed, surely not..."

"Doing business always involves debt, let alone this kind of thing. 2.5 billion—do you think he'd pay it all at once? If you keep being disobedient, he'd at most return one-third, and do it righteously." Liu Chuanzhong said in a quite dissatisfied tone: "I have to stay in Jiangning for a while. For the next few months, I'll be collecting debts for you."

"Surely not." Liu Chuanzhong was slightly surprised; he knew Fifth Uncle's status in the family, and a few months was truly not short.

But thinking about it carefully, 800 million was truly not a small amount!

Before evening, the Cao Family and Wang Family both received the news.

The Wang Family expressed no opposition; as the person in charge, Wang Han was merely a third-generation scion who couldn't afford 800 million but could afford time. In short, he actually didn't pay much.

Cao Yuan was different. He had used various connections, racking his brains just to store and guard the gold, and now to give it up all at once, he was naturally extremely unwilling.

He angrily hung up Liu Chuanzhong's phone, then called back and said: "Since Chen Yi doesn't want it, leave the remaining gold to me, counting as my debt."

The harried Liu Chuanzhong helplessly advised: "You want to take on the debt of that 10 tons of gold too? If only the Cao Family is involved, continuing will be too difficult."

"The three of us split equally, and whatever comes back is split equally." Cao Yuan naturally couldn't foot the bill for all the gold; his tone softened as he said: "I don't believe Chen Yi has gold; he definitely wants to prop us up. I'll prop him up, and I don't believe he won't submit."

"What's the point of doing something with no benefit?" This question had also been discussed by Liu Chuanzhong and Fifth Uncle. 40 tons of gold was the output of a decent gold mine; no matter how you looked at it, it wasn't a small figure. It was just that the waters were too muddy, and Liu Bian didn't want to delve deeper.

Cao Yuan had contributed the most and was most reluctant to leave. He asked sternly: "Just say, will you or won't you?"

He had just sorted out all the links; once he took over, he could continue immediately. In his view, holding gold meant only losing some interest and storage fees, no more troublesome than selling, but if done well, he could earn several times or even hundreds of times.

"I've seen through you." Cao Yuan constantly simulated in his mind scenes of crushing Chen Yi.

At least make him submit!

Hearing Cao Yuan's tone, Liu Bian knew it was hopeless, and evasively said: "Now Fifth Uncle makes the decision; I'll put in a word for you. But taking the gold means taking the debt too."

"I understand. I'll convince my family."

"Fine, when shall we meet?"

"Fine." Cao Yuan pretended to be nonchalant as he finished speaking, then immediately smashed his mobile phone into pieces, cursing loudly: All they want is to scoop up benefits, none dare to chew the bone.

Finished, he shouted very proudly: "I'm here to chew the bone."

Chen Yi soon heard the story of the bone, but didn't take it to heart.

After the Wang Family and Liu Family withdrew, the Cao Family was alone and couldn't make a clamor unless they got several times the banknotes; otherwise, there was no question of a bank run.

But Cao Yuan stubbornly held on.

He paid nearly a million in interest every day, just so Chen Yi would come to him to buy back the gold.

This money naturally all belonged to his pocket money, and was also all the funds Cao Yuan used for buying sex and keeping women. The young model he had finally seduced threatened more than once: "Now even eating oranges requires careful budgeting, really boring."

For the first two days, Cao Yuan, in a bad mood watching his bank card drop from six figures, still cursed a couple of times, but later it was all coaxing: "In a couple of days, once I deal with this local snake, I'll buy you a mansion. Haven't you always wanted a Maserati? I'll buy it for you."

"Really?" The young model jumped up immediately, kissed Cao Yuan hard, and smiled: "If you buy a Maserati, I'll give you the fifth way to play. Let those little sluts show off their understated luxury again."

Even the fifth way to play couldn't get Cao Yuan interested; he reluctantly said: "You too, isn't a BMW good enough?"

"A mistress's car, not driving it anymore." The young model tossed the keys with a snap and said: "I'll sell it tomorrow and return the credit card."

Cao Yuan was startled: "No need to sell the car, how much did you charge on the credit card?"

"Calculate how long it's been since you gave me money for clothes?" The young model said confidently: "I'm being considerate of you, that's why I charged your credit card."

She pointed to the wardrobe behind her and said: "Only half the clothes inside have been changed, and they're all unworn."

Cao Yuan rubbed his forehead, a bit afraid to look at the wardrobe over ten meters long attached to the dressing room.

"Only half a month."

"He said."

"The credit card isn't due until next month." The model toyed with the corner of her clothes and laughed, "The 52-day interest-free period—I'm on your side."

Cao Yuan suffered waves of headache, his body going limp.

The nightmare of lacking money began to haunt him.

Upon waking, checking the financial section first thing became Cao Yuan's habit, making him look like a Wall Street elite at first glance.

Such a life was never attempted by rich kids, and after persisting for half a month, Cao Yuan could no longer endure it.

He thought it over and over, unable to show weakness to Chen Yi, and since showing weakness was useless anyway, he sought out Liu Chuanzhong, spending three days before finally cornering him in Nan Ning.

Two non-locals stood on the street like strangers for half a day before Cao Yuan asked impatiently, "Has the compensation for those 10 tons of gold been paid?"

"Some of it."

"Why don't I see it in my account?"

"Fifth Uncle handles the accounts; I don't." Liu Chuanzhong was straightforward enough—the conditions Liu Bian had finally negotiated were naturally used first for the Liu Family's money. The Wang Family considered the money was for the Insurance Company and didn't rush to demand it back; only Cao Yuan couldn't go on.

Since he couldn't go on, he no longer cared about Liu Bian's hardships and said directly, "What we agreed on that day: the gold is mine, the debts are mine, and the money paid back must be split evenly."

"Split evenly, I'll give it to you."

"When?"

Liu Chuanzhong didn't answer then, and after a while said, "You should sell the gold."

"I can still hold out." Cao Yuan stopped Liu Chuanzhong, who was turning to leave, and said, "Give me a portion of the money paid back first."

"How much?"

"100 million."

"No." Liu Chuanzhong felt Cao Yuan was a bit possessed, sighed, and said, "I'll give you 20 million; go pay off the interest and then withdraw."

"I can hold out."

"Chen Yi can hold out even longer. Now there's no run on the bank, with only one or two tons of gold flowing out daily—thirty or forty tons a month. How long can you persist?" Liu Chuanzhong felt he had been more than generous and had no more interest in speaking.

Cao Yuan was instead persuaded by him, muttering to himself, "It's time to add some pressure to Chen Yi again."

... (Unfinished. If you like this work, welcome to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets on Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.)