Chapter 716: The Secret Comes to Light

As soon as Hu Yunbin saw Xu Damao step over the threshold, his eyes lit up, and the wrinkles on his face bloomed into a smile.

He hurriedly grabbed Xu Damao's hand and excitedly showed off the few plum-blossom birds he had recently acquired. The birdcage was polished until it shone, and the birds were chirping merrily.

Xu Damao didn't even have time to admire them; he busied himself pulling things out of his leather bag—a soy-sauce braised pork knuckle from Tianfuhao and the Beijing Eight Delicacies from Daoxiangcun, all things Hu Yunbin loved to eat.

"Siqiang, your Apprentice has been too busy lately to come see you; please don't hold it against me." Xu Damao offered an apologetic smile, his tone full of flattery.

Hu Yunbin laughed heartily, waved his hand, and said, "You are at the prime time for your career. Opportunities are good now, so you must work hard to earn money while you can; don't worry about this old bag of bones!"

Xu Damao took the opportunity to explain the matter of flipping televisions from start to finish.

After listening, Hu Yunbin's brows knitted into a knot. He pondered for a good while before speaking: "Damao, Siqiang has never thought highly of that Li Huaide. But since you are determined to work with him, I won't stop you. However, I've thought about this matter over and over, and it just feels wrong. Li Huaide has been a Deputy Factory Director for so many years; it's impossible for him to have no connections at all, to the point where he can't even find someone to take 500 such high-demand televisions? At best, he likely smelled the risk in this. Of course, Siqiang is old, my thinking is behind the times, and I might be guessing blindly. How about this: you handle half of these 500 televisions. If they still don't agree, then call off the deal. I have 150,000 here; take it and use it."

When Xu Damao heard this, his head buzzed as if someone had poked through a paper window. His eyes grew hot, and his voice trembled: "Siqiang, I understand. Don't worry, I will pay you back as soon as I earn this money!"

Hu Yunbin smiled kindly and patted the back of his hand: "Forget it, consider this an investment from Siqiang."

Xu Damao felt a lump in his throat, and tears began to fall, patter by patter. He choked out, "Siqiang, you are too good to me, but I have..."

Hu Yunbin hurriedly waved his hand to interrupt him: "Don't say it; if you say more, it will sound like we are strangers."

Seven days ago, Li Huaide was lying on a hospital bed, his complexion sallow, eyes closed as he rested.

You Fengxia stood by the bed, lowering her voice as she reported the situation.

After listening, Li Huaide's mouth curled slightly, carrying a hint of triumph: "This Xu Damao really has some tricks; he swallowed 450 units all by himself."

You Fengxia covered her mouth and laughed: "Lao Li, but we still haven't gathered the money for the remaining 250 televisions. What should we do?"

Li Huaide narrowed his eyes, thought for a moment, and said slowly: "I'll give you a phone number. You call it; that person should be able to handle it."

You Fengxia was stunned and couldn't help but ask: "Lao Li, if you have this connection, why did you let Xu Damao find the money?"

Li Huaide shook his head: "That person is someone who can help me if I get into trouble; I don't want to make them take the risk. If something goes wrong with this shipment, that connection would be ruined. Besides, the Boss supplying the goods has plenty of stock. If nothing goes wrong this time, we can have a long-term business relationship, and it won't be too late to bring that old connection in later."

You Fengxia nodded vigorously, her eyes full of admiration: "Lao Li, since you realize there is a risk this time, then let's not do it."

Li Huaide shook his head and said: "I didn't say this shipment is risky; I just don't quite trust Xu Damao and his group."

You Fengxia gave a thumbs up and praised: "So you let them take the lion's share."

Li Huaide nodded.

Yan Jiekuang slid down from the wall with a "whoosh" and took off running.

He found a public phone, and without a second word, dialed Beijing Customs directly, explaining the smuggling by Hongyuan Trading Company clearly.

After making this call, he still felt it wasn't enough, so he made one to the local police station and one to the Municipal Bureau as well.

In less than two hours, the warehouse at Deshengmen was surrounded three layers deep, making it impossible for even a drop of water to leak out.

It was already ten o'clock at night when You Fengxia received the news that the goods had been seized.

She was so scared that cold sweat broke out on her back and her hands trembled. She threw on her clothes haphazardly and dashed toward the hospital.

But by the time she arrived, the main gate of the hospital building was locked tight. The old man guarding the door huddled in the guardroom and refused to let her in no matter what.

You Fengxia tried handing him cigarettes and stuffing money into his hand, saying a mountain of nice words, but the old man was unmoved.

You Fengxia was truly out of options. Her eyes rolled, and she told a lie: "Old man, the person staying inside—his elder at home is about to pass away and is just waiting to see him one last time; they haven't breathed their last yet. Please have some mercy and let me go in to tell him the news!"

The old man squinted at her and said slowly: "But what is the use of telling him? He is a patient himself and can't leave."

You Fengxia stomped her feet in anxiety and hurriedly explained: "He only had a minor hemorrhoid surgery; he's almost better."

Only then did the old man reluctantly relent, waving his hand and saying: "Be quiet, don't disturb the others!"

After Li Huaide was woken up and heard the news, his face turned deathly pale. Without a word, he changed his clothes, muttering: "Once this shipment is traced back to our company, both of us will end up eating prison food. Run, quickly!"

You Fengxia was still reluctant: "But our company still has furniture, tables, and chairs!"

Li Huaide glared at her fiercely and cursed: "Long hair, short insight! Why worry about that junk? Anyway, we are partners with Xu Damao; once we leave, he will have to take the fall for this!"

Upon hearing this, You Fengxia actually laughed: "Xu Damao was even getting handsy with me two days ago, saying that following you was boring and that it would be better to follow him."

Li Huaide sneered, his eyes full of contempt: "That dead eunuch, he really isn't honest, daring to touch my woman!"

Early the next morning, the Siheyuan exploded with chaos.

Liu Haizhong, Yan Bugui, Yan Jiecheng, and Xu Damao were all taken away; not a single one was left behind.

Yang Ruihua ran to the East Cross Courtyard to find He Yuzhu, crying and howling, her face covered in tears and snot.

He Yuzhu was holding a teacup, sipping tea. Seeing her in this state, he looked puzzled: "Third Aunt, what happened to you?"

Yang Ruihua was sobbing so hard she couldn't catch her breath: "My Lao Yan has been arrested! Don't you have connections at the Municipal Bureau? Can you get Lao Yan out?"

He Yuzhu sneered and set his teacup on the table: "You were doing smuggling work, right? I don't know anyone in that department."

"Aren't the police all one family? Go and find someone to help us; we won't treat you poorly when the time comes!" Yang Ruihua refused to leave, begging shamelessly.

He Yuzhu waved his hand impatiently: "I am now a man without an official post, and no one can order me around. You should go back! Your family isn't the major shareholder; just cooperate with the investigation, and maybe you'll be released in a few days."

Seeing that he refused to help, Yang Ruihua flipped her attitude on the spot, pointing at He Yuzhu's nose and cursing: "He Yuzhu, I bet you were the one who reported this! You are just jealous that our families made money!"

He Yuzhu was so angry he laughed: "Is your petty, thieving business even worth my effort? If I wanted to ruin you, you would have been caught on your first two shipments."

Yang Ruihua sat on the ground, throwing a tantrum and howling so the whole courtyard could hear: "In this courtyard, Xu Damao, our family, and the Liu family are all at odds with your family! If it wasn't you, then who could it be?"