Chapter 830: The Villain's Desperate Counterattack

The agreed-upon seven days passed in a flash.

That morning, at nine o'clock.

Wuzhou Municipal Government's third conference room.

Both sides of the long conference table were filled with people—standing committee members of the Municipal Party Committee, heads of relevant departments, and several specially invited municipal People's Congress deputies and CPPCC members.

The air was filled with a sense of oppressive gravity.

Everyone's gaze furtively flicked toward the empty seat to the left of the host position.

Lin Dongfan's seat was still vacant.

Wang Qigang sat in the host seat, holding a thermos cup, slowly blowing the tea leaves floating on the water. His face showed little expression, but deep in his eyes lay a barely perceptible anxiety.

After Zhao Tianyu left yesterday, there was no further word.

Phone calls wouldn't go through, and the person couldn't be found.

Wang Qigang didn't know whether Zhao Tianyu had managed to raise the money, and he wondered how this whole affair should be concluded; the matter gave Wang Qigang a headache.

The conference room door was pushed open.

Lin Dongfan walked in, holding a folder, with his secretary Xiao Chen following behind.

Today Lin Dongfan wore a solemn administrative jacket, a white shirt without a tie, and his steps were calm, as if he were attending an ordinary regular meeting.

"Sorry, I was delayed by something."

Lin Dongfan sat down in the empty seat and placed the folder on the table.

Wang Qigang set down his thermos, cleared his throat, and said, "Everyone's here, let's begin. Everyone knows today's agenda—the final solution to Zhao Group's arrears of migrant workers' wages. Comrade Dongfan, you go first."

Everyone's focus shifted to Lin Dongfan.

Lin Dongfan opened the folder, his voice steady: "Based on yesterday's standing committee discussion and the fact that Zhao Group has yet to fulfill its payment obligation, I propose activating the second plan—have Mortal Group advance payment of the owed wages first, while initiating Zhao Group's debt restructuring procedure."

He paused, his gaze sweeping the room: "Specifically, if Zhao Group still hasn't paid the wages by noon today, the Human Resources and Social Security Bureau will apply to the court for compulsory enforcement, and the banks will launch the sale procedure for Zhao Group's debt package. Mortal Group's side is already ready to take over."

Low murmurs rose in the conference room.

Some let out a sigh of relief—finally it would be resolved.

Others frowned—such a big company, just collapse like that?

Wang Qigang's fingers lightly tapped the tabletop, his face showing no expression.

He waited for the murmurs to die down, then half-smiling said, "Comrade Dongfan, this plan… shouldn't we reconsider it? After all, Zhao Group concerns…"

His words hadn't finished.

The conference room door was flung open violently.

With a "clang," the heavy door struck the wall, making a huge noise.

Everyone jumped, turning their heads in unison.

Zhao Tianyu stood in the doorway.

He wore a black suit today, his hair neatly combed, but the bloodshot eyes and pallid complexion betrayed his fatigue.

What drew even more attention was that two people followed behind him.

One was a middle-aged man in a bank uniform, holding a black lockbox; the other was a young woman with glasses, clutching a laptop.

"Zhao Tianyu?"

Wang Qigang frowned, publicly criticizing: "You kicked the door open? General Manager Zhao, that's terribly rude—this isn't a government conference room, nor your vegetable garden…"

"I pushed the door with my hand, sorry, I used a bit too much force."

Having regained his lost confidence, Zhao Tianyu truly didn't take these officials present seriously.

He arrogantly added a polite remark: "Secretary Wang, Mayor Lin, everyone. Sorry, I, Zhao, am late."

The two people behind him followed him into the conference room.

The bank's middle-aged man placed the lockbox on the conference table; with a "click," he opened it, revealing stacks of documents, the topmost being the bank's transfer voucher and seal.

The young woman opened her laptop; the screen lit up, displaying the bank system's operation interface.

"What are you trying to do?" Lin Dongfan narrowed his eyes.

Zhao Tianyu gave a sideways grin: "Mayor Lin, didn't you say the migrant workers' wages must be paid in full? I'm here to pay the wages."

His whole person exuded arrogance, as if he had reclaimed his home turf.

He didn't even put Lin Dongfan in his sights.

Zhao Tianyu took a document from the lockbox and pushed it to the center of the table: "This is the entrustment agreement in which Zhao Group commissioned the bank to pay wages to 8,327 migrant workers."

As he spoke, he produced another document: "This is the fund transfer authorization, totaling 214,630,000 yuan."

Finally, he looked at the young woman: "Begin."

The young woman nodded and quickly operated the computer.

A few seconds later, she lifted her head: "The system has initiated the batch disbursement program. All migrant workers' wages will be deposited into individual accounts within an hour."

In an instant, the conference room fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone was stunned.

Including Lin Dongfan.

Including Wang Qigang.

Wang Qigang was the first to react, a surge of elation instantly flooding his face—though he tried hard to restrain himself, the corners of his mouth still rose involuntarily.

Wang Qigang glanced at Lin Dongfan, a flash of pride crossing his eyes.

In silence, it seemed to say: "You Lin, never expected this? Zhao Tianyu got the money! Just one final step away, and your annexation plan comes to nothing!"

Lin Dongfan indeed had not anticipated it.

He stared at Zhao Tianyu, his mind racing: Over two hundred million—where did Zhao Tianyu get the money? Yesterday Manager Xiao had greeted all the sister banks; the route for collateral loans was already blocked. As for private borrowing, that was even less possible. He had learned that Zhao Tianyu's so-called friends were all sharp operators.

So where did this money come from?

I can't figure it out!

"General Manager..." Lin Dongfan forced out a faint smile: "You can take the initiative to solve the problem—that's good. But I want to confirm the source of this funds, is it legal and compliant?"

Zhao Tianyu laughed.

His smile carried a hint of mockery: "Mayor Lin, rest assured, every penny can stand up to scrutiny. Shall we let the audit team come over now for an on-site audit?"

Those words were spoken firmly.

Lin Dongfan helplessly withdrew his gaze, not pursuing the matter further.

The atmosphere in the meeting room grew subtly tense.

Those who had been waiting to see Zhao Tianyu make a fool of himself now wore complex expressions; those who had originally supported Lin Dongfan's plan were now also somewhat at a loss.

Wang Qigang cleared his throat.

His voice carried an undisguised ease: "Since Zhao Group has voluntarily paid the wages, the problem is solved, right? Comrade Dongfan, those plans you mentioned yesterday are now unnecessary for the time being."

"Certainly."

Lin Dongfan closed the folder.

He stood up and looked at Zhao Tianyu: "General Manager, the wages have been paid—that's the first step. But the audit team is still investigating the issue of the seven projects of Zhao Group that have been halted; all these need follow‑up resolution."

"Mayor Lin, rest assured." Zhao Tianyu met his gaze: "What needs to be cooperated with will be cooperated with; what needs to be rectified will be rectified. Our Zhao Group will certainly operate in accordance with the law and regulations."

The words were spoken beautifully, but in the eyes locked on each other, both hid a knife.

"All right then." Lin Dongfan nodded, picking up the folder: "Since the problem's solved, I have another meeting—I'll head out first."

He walked out of the meeting room.

The moment the door shut, the meeting room burst into noisy discussion.

Wang Qigang laughed as he stood up, patting Zhao Tianyu on the shoulder: "General Manager, you did well this time! Knowing one's mistakes and correcting them is the greatest virtue!"

Zhao Tianyu forced a smile: "Thank you, Secretary Wang."

But Zhao Tianyu couldn't manage a smile at all in his heart.

That over two hundred million yuan was borrowed from an overseas financial institution, secured against all his personal properties! More crucially, the interest is capped, and the overseas institution's terms are no better than those of private loan sharks.

If he cannot unfreeze the company's assets within three months to repay this sum, then Zhao Tianyu will face the embarrassment of being homeless, possibly even saddled with debt.

But he had no choice.

Either he dies now, or he goes all‑in on a gamble, perhaps still having a chance to turn things around.

"You Lin, do you think you've won? Damn it, wait till I catch my breath—I'll show you how I'll play you to death!"

Zhao Tianyu watched Lin Dongfan's receding back, his heart filled with surging hatred.