Chapter 218

After sending the last message, Lin Dongfan waited Along time, but got no reply from Zhuzi.

I don't know if Shazhu is agonizing over it.

The convoy, still speeding along the highway, entered the northern plains; the view ahead was wide open, and at the far end of the long road it seemed to merge with the blue sky.

Jia Yuzhang, sitting in the back seat, remained silent the whole way, behaving as obediently as a grandson.

He probably didn't dare to speak either.

Now, sitting beside him watching over him, there's an extra Yang Qing; this guy, a former criminal investigator, has a temper far more violent than Peng Tianhua's, and he'll jab him with an elbow at the slightest disagreement.

"Captain Lin, yesterday it was exactly 250 strikes, each at 800, totaling 200,000. When will we settle the bill?" Peng Tianhua had been thinking about collecting payment all along.

Lin Dongfan flung out a contemptuous middle finger: "250, you counted it spot on."

"In front of all these brothers, how can you even think of defaulting?" Peng Tianhua frowned slightly.

Lin Dongfan said: "Screw your sister, when have I ever defaulted? A mere 200,000—I could earn back a hundred or a thousand times that just by lifting a finger."

"So... when are we settling the bill?"

After hanging out with Lin Dongfan for half a year, Peng Tianhua has also figured out Lin Dongfan's temperament: being shameless works; at critical moments you must never act like a person, or being too proud will lose you big.

This trick indeed worked.

All I saw was Lin Dongfan lighting a cigarette, rolling down the window and exhaling clouds: "I seriously suspect you falsified the count of those great hammers, but I have no proof. I'll accept it; we'll settle up when we get back."

"When it comes to being rich and bold, it's still me, Director Lin." Peng Tianhua gave a thumbs‑up, grinning like a petty thief.

Yang Qing cleared his throat twice: "Cough cough! My share..."

"Show some decorum—you didn't even swing the big hammer."

Just as Yang Qing sat there glum and speechless, Lin Dongfan pulled a bank card from his briefcase—a card prepared in advance, preloaded with five million in relief funds.

After handing the card to Yang Qing,

Lin Dongfan again showed contempt: "Damn it, you thirty‑something civil‑service drone, you can't even come up with bride‑price money—how dare you call yourself my brother, you big‑shot? The PIN is your birthday."

"How much is in it?"

"Not much—just half of ten million."

"Frankly, thanks to you, I've already worked out a hundred‑and‑eight‑move routine to thrash my future mother‑in‑law; first move: slap her face with a wad of cash."

"Such a precious mother‑in‑law deserves this slick maneuver."

"Let me get excited first."

Yang Qing excitedly kissed the bank card in his hand; at this moment he had a house, a car, and a wife and kids waiting for him at the next stop in life—what else could he be missing?

Peng Tianhua, leaning against the opposite car door, was already envious to the point of being unable to bear it.

"What the hell kind of god‑like brothers are these?"

"Handing out five‑million‑dollar gifts left and right is totally excessive, with no thought for the sour‑grape mentality of the onlookers."

Peng Tianhua closed his eyes and silently prayed to the heavenly deities: "Give me a dozen brothers like this! Don't worry I can't hold that much money—my family has sacks..."

One was excited and stirred, the other envious and jealous.

Jia Yuzhang, sandwiched between the two, had lost his baseball cap somewhere, revealing a shiny Mediterranean bald spot.

A mere five‑million gift was far below Jia Yuzhang's notice.

Jia Yuzhang glanced at Yang Qing and smirked contemptuously: "Just five million? Look at you lot being happy—back when I was in Dubai, a single night's spending exceeded that; ten times five million is just the baseline."

"So you're wearing handcuffs now—heaven's way cycles round, and the fourteen billion compatriots won't spare you, you bald thief." Yang Qing also rolled down his window, lit a cigarette, and let his mind wander.

Jia Yuzhang saw that Yang Qing didn't raise his elbow to jab him.

He forced a smile and added: "I admit I'm greedy—could it be that your brother Lin Dongfan isn't? If he weren't greedy, where would he get all this money? We're all in the same boat; who looks down on whom?"

Upon hearing that, Yang Qing glanced at the smiling, silent Lin Dongfan in the front seat.

This question is instantly obvious.

Yang Qing took a slow drag of his cigarette and exhaled leisurely out the window: "Old bald thief, my brother got rich through his own ability and legitimate means—his money can sit openly in a bank card; what do you have to compare with that?"

"I suspect he has some hidden background."

Seeing Lin Dongfan sitting calmly in the passenger seat, ignoring all speculation, Jia Yuzhang gritted his teeth somewhat unwillingly, but didn't dare continue.

Jingcheng is full of nobles and powerful figures—a place where tigers and dragons lie hidden.

Jia Yuzhang secretly analyzed that, in the whole oil chain, he occupies a middle‑link position, knowing too many secrets; the boss above, Old Zou, has only two options: either protect someone or kill them!

But whether it's to protect or to kill?

This depends on whether you know how to conduct yourself—you need to let Old Zou see your attitude.

All that's happening now, bluntly put, is a contest between Old Zou and the bigwig behind Lin Dongfan; we and Lin Dongfan are merely pawns.

If you want to survive, you must consciously keep your mouth shut.

Having thought this through in silence,

Jia Yuzhang closed his eyes; although his hands were cuffed, it didn't hinder him from calming his mind and nurturing his spirit.

Lin Dongfan, sitting up front, suddenly smiled and asked: "Director Jia, are you interested in making a deal with me?"

"!!!"

Jia Yuzhang kept his eyes shut, repeatedly reminding himself: "This is a trap, absolutely a pitfall! I must not speak, I cannot say anything!"

Yang Qing suddenly jabbed an elbow forward: "Deaf? Hurry up and answer Director Lin's question!"

"No interest!"

Jia Yuzhang firmly refused, keeping his eyes tightly shut the whole time.

Yang Qing slapped him on the head: "Damn the Gobi, aren't you treating me, Yang Qing, like a bandit?"

"!!!" Jia Yuzhang, having been slapped, opened his eyes wide, holding back like a wronged wretch: "I, Jia Yuzhang, am also a man of principle—I will absolutely not deal with bandits!"

"Little Zhao, pull into the service area ahead," Yang Qing said.

Jia Yuzhang heard the voice and startled: "What are you planning to do?"

"Nothing much, just wanted to test how hard your bottom line is." Yang Qing chuckled: "Those who don't know how to cooperate, I've seen plenty of idiots; I have plenty of ways to deal with you."

Upon hearing that, Jia Yuzhang turned his gaze to Lin Dongfan in the front row: "Section Chief Lin, this case of mine isn't under his jurisdiction, right? He's threatening me, intimidating me, and even hitting me; I'm applying to switch vehicles!"

"Conditions are limited, just bear with it for now; if he mistreats you, you can sue him later." Lin Dongfan replied.

Jia Yuzhang angrily asked: "What do you mean by this? Section Chief Lin, don't say I didn't warn you—if I get injured, you're the primary responsible party! If I file a complaint, it'll be against you."

"You scared my bladder." Lin Dongfan commanded: "Xiao Zhao, stop at the service area ahead; I need to use the restroom."

"Lin Dongfan!"

Jia Yuzhang was so anxious his eyes welled up: "If you're in cahoots with that Yang-surname snake and rat, abusing me! I really will file a complaint against you! Don't say I didn't warn you—you have people above you, and I have people above me too!"

"Losing your temper?" Lin Dongfan turned his head, smiling, and asked: "Think again—do you want to make a deal with me?"

Jia Yuzhang's face darkened with anger: "No way! If you've got the guts, just kill me—if something happens to me, you won't even live to see next week."