Chapter 828

Municipal Party Committee staff quarters.

Wang Qigang, deeply trapped in a passive situation, summoned Zhao Tianyu to his study. The study door was shut tight, and the curtains were drawn tightly.

Zhao Tianyu stood in the center of the study, his emotions far from ordinary agitation.

"Wang Secretary!"

Zhao Tianyu complained bitterly: "Lin Dongfan is trying to kill me! Both of the plans he proposed would mean my death! You can't intervene in this, you can't just stand by and watch him do this!"

Wang Qigang sat behind his desk, his face grim to the extreme.

He gave a wry smile and retorted: "How can I control it? Both of the plans he put forward are reasonable and well-founded; this matter has already been reported to the provincial level, and the whole province is watching it. How do you expect me to handle it?"

"Does the province just let him do whatever he wants?"

Zhao Tianyu snapped: "He is using administrative means to help Mortal Group swallow our Zhao Group! This is blatant interest transfer! Are the provincial officials all blind?!"

"You say he's transferring interests—do you have any evidence?"

Wang Qigang actually wished Lin Dongfan were engaging in interest transfer; then, even if Lin Dongfan were a princeling of the capital circle, he couldn't take his life but could at least make him shed a layer of skin.

But for now, trying to find a handle on Lin Dongfan is not an easy task.

Wang Qigang replied helplessly:

"Lin Dongfan's first plan is legal compulsory enforcement; the second is market-oriented debt restructuring. These two plans have no procedural flaws."

"The Lin fellow is a cadre who came from the political and legal system; he knows the law better than you."

"You want to catch his handle."

"As difficult as climbing to heaven."

Hearing the four words "as difficult as climbing to heaven," Zhao Tianyu felt as if a bone were stuck in his throat, choking him speechless.

"Regardless of whether Lin Dongfan's procedures are compliant."

Zhao Tianyu firmly believed one thing—Lin Dongfan was exacting retaliation!

"On the surface it's about solving migrant workers' wages, but in reality it's about swallowing the Zhao Group whole! Using his administrative power, he's engaging in graft for personal gain!"

"No matter how you think about it, it's unacceptable."

Zhao Tianyu once again placed his hope on Wang Qigang, appealing to emotion: "Could it be… that we just resign ourselves to fate? Party Secretary Wang, you know how I've treated you over the years. I, Zhao Tianyu, am absolutely not an ungrateful person; as long as you help me get through this, from now on…"

"Then what?"

Wang Qigang suddenly cut off Zhao Tianyu: "General Manager Zhao, let me remind you: what you should be thinking about now isn't the future, but how to survive tomorrow!"

Saying this, Wang Qigang lifted his tea and took a sip.

He leisurely explained to Zhao Tianyu: "Why does Lin Dongfan dare to do this? Because he's seized your weak point! The wages of over eight thousand migrant workers are a livelihood issue and also a political issue! You withheld wages, and he's dealing with it according to law—quite proper! Not to mention me, even if provincial leaders came, they couldn't say no!"

Zhao Tianyu broke out in a cold sweat: "Then… what am I supposed to do? Over two hundred million… I really can't come up with it! The funds in the accounts have been frozen by the audit department, and outside money can't be recovered…"

"Just over two hundred million, and you really can't produce it?"

Wang Qigang lifted his head and glanced at Zhao Tianyu.

Then he intensified his tone: "No matter what method you use, you must pay the wages before noon tomorrow! Otherwise, I can't protect you!"

"I agree to the first plan, let him enforce it forcibly." Zhao Tianyu said.

Wang Qigang almost laughed in anger, helpless, and had to explain again: "Haven't you slept? Do you think that after compulsory enforcement, once the migrant workers' wages are paid, everything will be fine?"

"Forcible enforcement will trigger the company's debt crisis, ultimately still requiring the path of debt-to-equity restructuring."

"This is Lin Dongfan's series of interlocking moves; now you can only raise money elsewhere. Proactively settle the over two hundred million in unpaid wages, then apply to unfreeze the company's accounts and assets, to see if existing assets can be revitalized."

"Then I'll go think of a way."

When he left Wang Qigang's study, Zhao Tianyu felt like a stray dog.

He got into the car, weakly slumped in the driver's seat, his mind blank. Over two hundred million—where can I get that now?

Don't look at how he usually appears glamorous in public, with entourage when going out, and being the center of attention at banquets.

That's all superficial; the true extent of his wealth is known only to himself. He trembled as he pulled out his phone, opened the banking app, and checked his private accounts one by one.

ICBC account: 12 million

CCB account: 8.5 million

CMB account: 7.6 million

ABC account: 4.2 million

The four cards together barely add up to thirty-two million.

It's off by a hundred and eighty thousand Chinese miles.

"Damn it!"

Zhao Tianyu slammed his fist hard on the steering wheel.

He still had considerable assets—a courtyard house in Jingcheng, a seaside villa, three luxury homes in Wuzhou, five luxury cars, and his shares in Zhao Group.

But now none of these can be moved.

His shares are under audit scrutiny; any move would trigger an alarm. Real estate and cars need time to liquidate. Noon tomorrow is the final deadline—there's no time left.

The only option now is to borrow money.

Zhao Tianyu took a deep breath, started flipping through his contacts. Over the years he'd made many friends—in business, politics, even showbiz—who considered him a sworn brother.

The first call was to Tang Zong, who runs a building materials business.

"Tang Bro, it's me, Zhao Tianyu." Zhao Tianyu tried to keep his voice light: "Lately I'm a bit short on cash; I'd like to borrow some working capital from you—just fifty million will do, I'll repay it in a month…"

The other end of the line fell silent for a few seconds.

Then came a troubled voice: "General Manager Zhao, it's not that I won't help you; I'm really strapped myself. Raw material prices have risen recently, and I've tied up a lot of funds in advances…"

"Thirty million would work too!" Zhao Tianyu exclaimed desperately: "I'll pay the highest market interest!"

"It really isn't about the money…"

Liu Zong let out a deep sigh: "General Manager Zhao, hear me out, brother: you should just back down in your matter with Mayor Lin. Civilians shouldn't fight officials; for us in business, the most important thing is to seek stability."

After saying that, he hung up the phone.

"Damn!"

He managed to borrow the money, but also got lectured, and Zhao Tianyu was so angry he almost smashed his phone.

He then dialed the second number—Boss Ma, who runs an internet finance business.

Zhao Tianyu got straight to the point as soon as the call connected: "Boss Ma, this is Zhao Tianyu. I urgently need money—one hundred million; interest is negotiable..."

"Beep beep beep..."

He hadn't even finished speaking when the other party hung up, without even letting out a fart.

"Damn!"

Zhao Tianyu swallowed his resentment and dialed the next person's number.

The third, fourth, fifth...

He made over a dozen calls in a row!

The result was the same every time—no exceptions.

Some hung up immediately, some answered, said they were in a meeting and hung up, and some even turned around to complain to him about how hard business was, then asked him, Zhao Tianyu, for a loan.

Truly, in a big forest there are all kinds of birds—this left Zhao Tianyu feeling heartbroken and indignant.

The last call was to the boss of an entertainment company, an old iron-clad brother of his, with whom he had once forged a lavish friendship at a private club.

"Old Wang, this time you really can't refuse to help."

"Who are you?"

Boss Wang's lazy voice came over the phone, as if he hadn't woken up.

Zhao Tianyu shouted anxiously: "It's me, Zhao Tianding!"

"Oh, it's Tianyu—I knew the voice sounded familiar." Boss Wang said: "Tianyu, as your brother I'm telling you, you need to fix that foul temper. Who is Lin Dongfan? Is he someone you can afford to offend? I advise you to quickly scrape together the money, pay the workers' wages, and not make a bigger mess."

"You're right; I'm just short on cash right now—could you help me out?"

"How much?"

"Two hundred million."

"I only have two kidneys; even if I sold them both, I couldn't raise that much money."

"Brother, this is the first time I've ever asked you for a loan, and you're pretending to be poor—how is that appropriate? Tell me the truth: are you also like those bastards, wanting to see me die without helping?"

"Don't put it like that—at most we're just fuck buddies. You once invited me to play, then later you hit me up for two hundred million. Only my kidney would say that's appropriate, since it's the one enjoying the benefits."

"Damn!"

"Damn right. We're the kind who repay a drop of kindness with a spring. Another day I'll treat you twice—whoever goes back on their word is a grandson."

"You damn grandson!"

Zhao Tianyu hung up the phone, fuming, and wondered how, at this critical moment, he had not a single reliable friend around him.