Chapter 654: Investigating the Lou Family, Finding Nothing

Xu Damao waited for a long time before he finally gathered the seven people from the Broadcasting Group.

Covering one eye, he sat down there and said with a mournful face, "From today on, I am your Group Leader! Whoever isn't convinced can leave right now; don't stand there and be an eyesore to me!"

Yu Haitang stood up abruptly: "I'm going to find the Factory Director! If you're going to be the Group Leader, I'm not doing this anymore!"

Xu Damao rolled his eyes: "Get lost! Let's see how you come begging me later."

Wang Qiang hurriedly leaned in toward Yu Haitang and persuaded her with a grin: "Haitang, you're a friend of my daughter, Wang Xiaomi. I'll be bold and call myself Uncle Wang. Listen to me, a wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him; stay for now!"

As he spoke, he kept winking at her vigorously.

Only then did Yu Haitang sit down, gritting her back teeth, and sneer: "I'd like to see what kind of mess you can make of the Broadcasting Group."

Xu Damao was pleased with himself, his voice rising by an octave: "Yu Haitang, from now on, whatever I tell you to broadcast, you must broadcast for me. And you all, everyone, must report everything to me. Liu Erhei, every time you go out for repairs, you must write it down clearly for me when you return—exactly what you repaired!"

When getting off work, Xu Damao covered his bruised eye and slipped into Li Huaide's office to complain: "Factory Director Li, that kid Liu Erhei really can't be used anymore; look at what he did to me!"

Li Huaide waved his hand, clearly not caring about his injury, and said with a gloomy face: "Damao, our funds are tight; you need to quickly think of a way for me to make some money."

Xu Damao's eyes darted: "Factory Director Li, if you ask me, the most direct way is to go find Lou Zhenhua; his family assets are deep..."

His resentment toward the Lou Family had not been a matter of one or two days.

Back then, he had asked his mother to propose marriage to the Lou Family, only to be flatly rejected by Lou Zhenhua; he had kept this grudge in mind ever since.

The next day, Xu Damao used the pretext of auditing the Rolling Mill's old accounts to take a few people to the Lou Family.

As soon as he entered the door, he was dumbfounded.

Inside the house, apart from a few broken tables and rotten stools, there was nothing. Antiques, calligraphy, or paintings? Jade or porcelain? He couldn't even see a shadow of them.

"Lou Zhenhua!" Xu Damao raised his voice, "Lou Laoban, shouldn't you bring out the things you owe the factory? Those are all public property and must be returned!"

Lou Zhenhua looked up at him, unhurried: "Xu Damao, have you forgotten? I stopped drawing a salary long ago, and for these past few years, I've been getting by on selling things. If you don't believe me, go ask your mother; she only left because I truly couldn't hold on anymore."

Xu Damao sneered: "Your family assets were so deep before, and you squandered them all in a few years? Who are you trying to fool with that?"

"If you can find them, then go ahead and look," Lou Zhenhua said in a flat voice.

Just then, Lady Lou Tan Yali came out from the inner room, her eyes red: "Xu Damao, you ingrate! If it weren't for me back then, your mother wouldn't have survived, let alone have you! Now that you've gained power, you've turned around to bully us."

Xu Damao gave a hehe laugh: "Lady Lou, don't say those useless things. Hurry up and bring out everything that needs to be handed over! Otherwise, I'll have to follow the rules and invite you to the factory to explain things clearly."

"All my family's things are here; search however you like!" Tan Yali said.

Xu Damao searched the small building inside and out, but found nothing.

In the end, he could only invite Lou Zhenhua back to the factory to cooperate with the investigation.

He was unwilling to give up, so he turned and headed to the Ninety-five Courtyard to find his mother, Cui Xiu.

"Mom, I've invited Lou Zhenhua to the factory. That old thing has a very stiff mouth and refuses to cooperate. You stayed at his house for so many years, tell me quickly, does he have any other residences? Is the stuff hidden outside?"

Cui Xiu laughed: "His family is currently being supported by Lou Xiao'e; they've been out of money for a long time!"

Xu Damao covered his face and said: "Mom, Lou Zhenhua is very shrewd; don't let him fool you!"

"If you could find the things, why would you come back to ask me?" Cui Xiu said.

"I don't believe he has nothing!" Xu Damao shouted hysterically.

"Damao, keep your voice down, your mother has a bad heart," Luo Jiangtao reminded him.

"This is no place for you to speak!" Xu Damao shouted.

"Slap!"

Cui Xiu slapped Xu Damao across the face.

"You hit me!"

Cui Xiu scolded: "Look at yourself, you've lost your mind!"

"I hate the Lou Family! Back then I wanted to marry Lou Xiao'e, but they humiliated me; this time I will absolutely not let them off!" Xu Damao said viciously.

Cui Xiu looked at him coldly: "Give up that thought! I will never tell you anything about the Lou Family, even if it kills me!"

"If you won't tell me, I'll find someone else; anyway, I won't let the Lou Family off!" Xu Damao turned and left.

Luo Jiangtao still smiled as he saw Xu Damao out the gate: "Damao, come home and visit often!"

Xu Damao ignored him and hurried out.

As soon as he stepped out the gate, he saw Liu Guangfu and Yan Jiekuang leading a group of people their age, noisily searching for things in other courtyards.

Xu Damao laughed: "Those little brats are quite good at making a ruckus!"

He then headed toward Xinjiekou.

Because he remembered someone—the driver, Lao Li, who used to drive for the Lou Family.

Lao Li now lived in a miscellaneous courtyard in Xinjiekou.

Xu Damao knocked the door open, and Lao Li was stunned: "Damao? Who did you get into a fight with? You've got a black eye and a slap mark."

Xu Damao cursed: "Hit by my mother!"

"Buddy, stop pulling my leg, your mother could give you a black eye?" Lao Li asked with ill intent.

Xu Damao said with a grin: "Lao Li, I'm here to offer you a chance to get rich today."

Lao Li grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth: "Get rich, my foot. I've gone out trying to drive for people, and no one dares to hire me."

Xu Damao laughed: "Lao Li, it's such a hot day, are you going to make me stand in the courtyard to talk?"

Only then did Lao Li step aside: "Fine, come in."

Entering the room, Lao Li poured him a bowl of cold boiled water.

Xu Damao took a sip, put the bowl down, and lowered his voice: "Lao Li, do you want to get rich?"

Lao Li's eyes darted: "I dream about it."

Xu Damao leaned in: "You drove for Lou Laoban for a long time; do you know if his family has any other courtyards—the kind where things are hidden?"

Lao Li frowned: "I left three years ago; even if there were any, he would have moved them away by now."

Xu Damao was not giving up: "Take me for a round to see."

Lao Li did not make a sound; he stretched out two fingers and rubbed them together.

Xu Damao cursed inwardly, "This grandson won't release the hawk until he sees the rabbit," then pulled out ten yuan and slapped it into his hand: "Is this enough?"

Lao Li took the money, chuckled twice, and stuffed it into his pocket: "Back in the day, I went to about five places with old Lou; they were all residences where his relatives or business partners stayed. But whether those people are still there, I can't say for sure."

Xu Damao's eyes lit up: "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

Lao Li didn't budge: "Damao, if this trip works out, can you get me into the Rolling Mill?"

Xu Damao shook his head: "Lao Li, you think too highly of me; I don't have that kind of ability. But... if we really dig up something, I can try to pull some strings for you!"

Lao Li nodded, said no more, and led Xu Damao out the door.