Yang Shiyun said, "Benny, we Chinese are not as simple as you Americans imagine. You will discover more incredible things in the future."
The final test was an obstacle course. The course was simple: a warehouse piled with miscellaneous items and boxes. Everyone had to run around the warehouse at high speed, with the goal of not being blocked by the obstacles. Most people were panting heavily, and some even tripped over the boxes and debris. However, Zhao Qiang and Yang Shiyun persevered with ease. Their rankings were neither high nor low, and they didn't attract anyone's attention. However, Yang Shiyun was a girl, and her success in staying on as a guard surprised all the men who participated in the test. This girl didn't seem to have any advantages, but she was stronger than some of the men, especially in terms of strength.
Benny suffered greatly in the last event, exhausted like a dead dog. If he hadn't seen Yang Shiyun smiling at him at the finish line, he probably would have given up. Even so, his score didn't satisfy Blake. But seeing that Zhao Qiang and Yang Shiyun had both passed, Benny begged Blake, and Alva also said a few nice words. Only then did Blake agree, and the three of them successfully advanced.
Blake dispersed the unqualified applicants, leaving exactly fifteen people. He gathered them together and addressed them: "Friends, congratulations on being qualified to compete for the 100,000 yuan prize. Each and every one of you is a commendable prodigy. You will surely complete the task entrusted to you by the Bonanos family and defeat the other families."
An American man, nearly two meters tall, said, "Blake, we know our mission. You should announce the time quickly; we have other things to do."
Blake said, "Alright, I won't say any more. Everyone, gather here again tomorrow morning at seven o'clock. Weapons will be collected then. As long as you complete the mission and survive, you will all have a chance to receive a reward of 100,000 yuan. Now, each of you will receive 1,000 US dollars to go home. Don't say I didn't warn you in advance: whoever takes money from the Bonanos family must work for the Bonanos family. If anyone is absent tomorrow morning, he/she will become an enemy of the Bonanos family."
There was also a $1,000 pre-event allowance. No wonder everyone was vying to be shortlisted; who would do something without a reward?
After Zhao Qiang and his two companions received their money, Benny excitedly exclaimed, "Great! We're getting paid before we've even done any work! Let's go out and spend it tonight!"
Yang Shiyun shook her head with a wry smile and said to Benny, "Benny, you shouldn't have gotten involved in this."
Benny, surprisingly relaxed, seemed to have temporarily forgotten the bloody battles between New York gangsters, perhaps because he had passed the test. He said casually, "Sarah, you underestimate me. Yes, I was injured by Arthur's men, but that doesn't mean I'm incompetent. It's just that they outnumbered me. You saw it yourself; I passed the test. Many people taller than me were eliminated, which shows I'm stronger than them. The Bonanos family is the most powerful family in New York. Their reputation alone prevents others from daring to touch them. Tomorrow will definitely be fine. We're just here to bolster the Bonanos family's confidence."
Yang Shiyun said, "Is that so? I hope so."
With Benny's strong encouragement, the three of them took the money and had a big meal. Afterwards, Benny took Zhao Qiang and Yang Shiyun to a bar to go wild. Finally, at Yang Shiyun's request, they returned to the hotel to rest at midnight. Before parting, Benny made an appointment to pick up Zhao Qiang and Yang Shiyun by car early the next morning.
Once inside the room, Yang Shiyun asked, "How confident are you about tomorrow's plans?"
Zhao Qiang said, "We don't know the other party's strength yet, so let's take it one step at a time. If necessary, you should take the diamonds and leave first, and I will cover the rear. As for your classmate Benny, you'd better shake him off, or things will go wrong."
Yang Shiyun said, "Are you really going to steal the Bonanos family's diamonds? I know the Bonanos family's power. If we offend them, we won't be able to stay in New York. Even if we have money, we can forget about acquiring that hospital."
Zhao Qiang said, "Of course we can't use our public identities to rob their diamonds. I think Spider-Man can also appear in America, since Spider-Man is originally an American product. What does Spider-Man robbing have to do with us?"
Yang Shiyun nodded with a smile: "You're really cunning, but how do you get rid of the diamond? This thing can't be seen in the light of day."
Zhao Qiang said, "Let's grab it first and talk about it later."
Volume Two [666] A Change of Style
We must change our work style
Knock, knock, knock. Someone knocked on the door. Yang Shiyun stood up alertly: "Who is it?"
Zhao Qiang said, "They are those two National Security agents." Having X-ray glasses is so convenient.
Yang Shiyun asked, "Should we see them?"
Zhao Qiang said, "Let's meet."
Yang Shiyun opened the door, and two agents from the National Security Bureau walked in. The leader said to Zhao Qiang, "Mr. Zhao, my name is Li Qiang. I am here on the orders of Consul General Zhang Keyu of the Chinese Consulate General in New York to invite you to a meeting at the Consulate General."
Zhao Qiang said, "It's getting late. Let's talk about this later. I have important things to do tomorrow."
Li Qiang said, "Mr. Zhao, the Consul General instructed me to make sure you go there." Although both their names contained the character "Qiang," Li Qiang didn't seem to have a good impression of Zhao Qiang.
Zhao Qiang snorted: "Then you can give it a try."
The agent behind Li Qiang stepped forward to pull Zhao Qiang away. Zhao Qiang threw a punch, which the agent dodged. At the same time, the agent closed in on Zhao Qiang, grabbed Zhao Qiang's arms with both hands, and tried to twist Zhao Qiang's arms behind his back to subdue him. However, Zhao Qiang's strength was far beyond what an ordinary agent could overcome. With a flick of his arm, the agent was thrown away and crashed into a table in the room, shattering it with a crash.
Li Qiang's expression changed: "Mr. Zhao, don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit." It seems that all civil servants have a common problem: they love to act like big shots.
Yang Shiyun pulled out a gun and pointed it at Li Qiang: "I also ask you to respect our freedom, otherwise don't blame us for being impolite."
Li Qiang said, "The Consul General has important business with you. Do you know that you're being watched by the FBI? This is very dangerous."
Zhao Qiang said, "Whether it's dangerous or not is our own business; the Consul General doesn't need to worry about it."
Li Qiang said, "Alright, since Mr. Zhao has said so, then I will go back and reply to the Consul General."
Zhao Qiang said, "Please go ahead."
Li Qiang led the way out of the room, and the agent who had been thrown to the ground got up and followed him out. As he left, he glared at Zhao Qiang, who glared back at him. Knowing he couldn't beat Zhao Qiang, the man had no choice but to back down, close the door, and leave.
Inside the Chinese Consulate General in New York, Consul General Zhang Keyu was on the phone, saying, "...Yes, I understand. Please rest assured, I will handle it properly and guarantee that there will be no mistakes..."
"Consul Zhang, this matter is of great importance. You must thoroughly implement the spirit and instructions of the Central Committee and convey our message to Zhao Qiang, asking him to consider the country and the nation and not be misled by the allure of the capitalist world."
Zhang Keyu said, "I guarantee the mission will be completed. I've already sent someone to invite him..."
"No, no, Consul Zhang, you're mistaken. It's not about sending someone to invite him; you must go see him in person. I know the way your people operate; they'll definitely anger Zhao Qiang, which is something no one wants to see. The Politburo has already reached a consensus. Our attitude towards Zhao Qiang has been perpetuating errors, so we must change. We must change our old bureaucratic style, and we must let Zhao Qiang know that the Central Committee now understands our stance. I'm entrusting this matter to you; it's a major issue concerning the development of the nation and its people, and it cannot be taken lightly."
Zhang Keyu said, "I will definitely keep his words in mind. I will go to visit him personally and make sure to convey the Central Committee's decision to him so that he can deeply understand the hopes that the Party and the Central Committee have for him."
Zhang Keyu put down the phone and considered it briefly. He knew Zhao Qiang well. As the Consul General in New York, Zhao Qiang wielded considerable power. He was well aware of Zhao Qiang's secrets. This man was too powerful, so powerful that the country feared him. Yet, he was not under the control of the country, which was why the central government's attitude towards him was wavering. But this time, Zhao Qiang had gone all out and left the country without hesitation. If he stayed in the United States, China would be in dire straits, with many production lines having to shut down. This was what truly changed the central government's attitude.
Zhang Keyu picked up his phone and made a call, "Hey, how's the matter going?"
"He resisted with force, our mission failed, and we are on our way back to the consulate."
Zhang Keyu cursed under his breath. He could imagine what had happened. "I understand. I will handle this personally. Send people to strengthen his protection. Make sure nothing happens to him, and don't let the FBI take him away."
The other party hesitated slightly. This was a difficult matter. This was American territory, and they couldn't stop the FBI from taking whomever they wanted. However, he had to agree to the orders from above. "Yes, I'll do it right away."
Zhang Keyu left his office and said to his secretary, "Prepare the car immediately, I need to go out."
In the Yang family home in Beijing, Yang Zhaoxi was meeting with an important guest. The study was filled with smoke. After his secretary went in to refill the water, he quietly closed the door and came out. Yang Zhaoxi flicked the ash from his cigarette and said, "Old Hu, only if you step forward can we sit down and talk."
Hu Weimin smiled politely, "Old Yang, I've never gotten involved in this matter, and now that things have come to this, I can't get involved even more. Now that your two granddaughters are with Zhao Qiang, I think you have more say than I do."
Yang Zhaoxi said, "Don't mention those two girls. Neither of them is obedient. Even Shiyun, such an honest and introverted child, has gone bad. She went abroad without a word and caused such a big commotion."
Hu Weimin said, "A big deal? You really think so?"
Yang Zhaoxi said, "Isn't this a big deal? Old Hu, do you even know what's going on? The production of 'G' materials has been completely halted, and even the drugs for treating the H virus have been interrupted. And that's not all; Zhao Qiang is currently abroad, and he could betray the country at any moment."
Hu Weimin chuckled: "Old Yang, I'm not trying to criticize you, but you still don't trust Zhao Qiang, so there's no need for you to sit down and talk. Since there's a lack of trust between the two sides, any talk is meaningless."
Yang Zhaoxi said, "I know you're a nice guy, but there's a real possibility that what I'm saying is true. Zhao Qiang's betrayal is something we can't afford to lose."
Hu Weimin said, "If that's the case, why did you force them like that in the first place? Now you're offering them money and benefits. What do you think you'll get out of this? Aren't you just shooting yourself in the foot?"
Yang Zhaoxi's face flushed red: "This is not a matter that I can decide alone. Besides, it seems that you only abstained from the vote instead of opposing it. You old fox, you want to offend neither side."
Hu Weimin blushed and said, "I reserved my opinion. I said before that Zhao Qiang can only be dealt with softly, not hard, but you wouldn't believe me. I remember you tried to be hard once at first, and what happened? You still haven't learned your lesson. What can I say to you? Zhao Qiang is not the same Zhao Qiang he used to be, and the funds he controls are enough to make us fear him. Under these circumstances, you still don't consider things properly..."
Yang Zhaoxi emphasized, "It is precisely because we have given this matter careful consideration that we cannot allow him to act recklessly. As for your claim that the funds are not a concern and we can freeze them if we want, the key is that Zhao Qiang possesses technology that we cannot control. This is crucial to us. Once the Americans acquire this technology, they will be greatly empowered."
Hu Weimin stood up: "In short, you still think you have a reason to freeze assets whenever you want? Hmph, Zhao Qiang can make money whenever he wants. What's the little bit of money you have in your hands? Since that's the case, I won't say any more. You handle things yourselves. I won't offer any opinions."
Seeing that Hu Weimin really wanted to leave, Yang Zhaoxi hurriedly stopped him with a smile, "Old Hu, what's going on? We've been partners for many years, can't we talk things out properly? How about this, you have Hu Qian join us, and I've had Shiqi invite Xu Xiaoya. How about we sit down and talk together?"
Hu Weimin said, "Talk? Is it a genuine conversation or is there some conspiracy? You've driven Zhao Qiang away, and now you want to force Xu Xiaoya too?"
Yang Zhaoxi said, "I wanted to plot something, but Shiqi insisted on tearing this old man apart. A granddaughter is no match for a grandson; she always sides with outsiders. This time, I've really come to terms with it. We're all getting old, and this world will eventually be handed over to the children. Instead of getting angry and upset now, I should relax, resolve this matter satisfactorily, let Zhao Qiang return to China, and then everything will be fine."
Hu Weimin said, "I can bring Hu Qian over, but if you cause any trouble in the meantime, don't blame me for turning my back on you."
Yang Zhaoxi said, "Don't worry, I guarantee I'm sincere this time. Don't you understand the current situation?"
Hu Weimin said, "It's good that you know. The current situation doesn't allow you to be selfish anymore, otherwise you'll end up with nothing."
In a hotel in New York, Zhao Qiang and Yang Shiyun began to consider their sleeping arrangements for the night.
Yang Shiyun said, "Why don't you go to the room next door?"
Zhao Qiang said, "We've almost spent all our money today, and we still have to pay for the hotel table. I think we should save some money and share a room."
Yang Shiyun said, "No, it's not good. It's not good for a man and a woman to be alone together."
Zhao Qiang said, "Nobody here knows us, and my main concern is safety. Besides, didn't those two say that we're being watched by the FBI? They might come to arrest us tonight."
Yang Shiyun said, "Really? Don't exaggerate."
Zhao Qiang said, "Think about whether it's true or false for yourself."
Yang Shiyun thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I accept your opinion, but you are not allowed to hug me after you fall asleep."
Zhao Qiang chuckled: "I'll try my best. What happens after I fall asleep isn't my responsibility."
Because it was already late at night when they got back, and they had things to do early the next morning, Zhao Qiang and Yang Shiyun went to bed and turned off the lights. But before they could even get the covers warm, someone was knocking on the door. Zhao Qiang was annoyed and said, "Can't people get any rest?"
Yang Shiyun jumped out of bed with a whoosh. She was really afraid of being caught sleeping in the same bed with someone. Zhao Qiang went to open the door. He could already see the face of the person standing outside, but he didn't recognize him.
Zhang Yuqiang peeked over and saw Yang Shiyun sitting on the sofa with a flushed face, but she was clearly wearing pajamas. Zhao Qiang also looked exhausted and was barely wearing any clothes. It seemed the rumors outside were true; Zhao Qiang had slept with both of the Yang family's daughters. No wonder Old Master Yang was angry.
"Who are you looking for?" Zhao Qiang asked. The other person glanced at him, then looked at Yang Shiyun inside the room. Just by looking at her eyes and expression, it was clear that she was not the type to knock on the wrong door.
“Comrade Zhao Qiang,” the other party said in a very official tone, shaking hands with him immediately, “I am Zhang Keyu, Consul of the Chinese Consulate General in New York. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
(Thanks to Wind Blowing Willow Catkins for the 588 coin donation, to mypyoo for the 7 coin donation, and to Jiulu for the monthly ticket support)
Volume Two [667] Rehabilitation
Zhao Qiang chuckled: "What, you're here to force me to come too?"
Zhang Keyu hurriedly said, "No, no, Comrade Zhao Qiang, you misunderstand. I apologize for the reckless behavior of those two people. Their actions were entirely personal and disrespectful to you, Comrade Zhao Qiang. I have severely criticized Li Qiang and made him write a profound self-criticism. I will definitely give you a satisfactory explanation."
Zhao Qiang said, "I don't need to explain. It's already very late. I won't see you out." After saying that, Zhao Qiang prepared to close the door.
Zhang Keyu quickly reached out to stop him: "Comrade Zhao Qiang, please hear me out."
Zhao Qiang said, "I don't have time."
Zhang Keyu said, "I must convey the central leader's message."
Zhao Qiang was even less willing to pay attention and slammed the door shut. If Zhang Keyu hadn't been quick, he would have been caught in the door. When had someone of his status ever been turned away? Zhang Keyu's face was as long as a donkey's, but he couldn't retaliate. After thinking for a while, he could only leave temporarily. Zhao Qiang was in a fit of anger and wouldn't listen to anything anyone said, so it was better to let him calm down first.
Hu Qian reluctantly sat down in Yang Zhaoxi's study. If Yang Shiqi and Xu Xiaoya hadn't been there, she would have turned around and left immediately.
Yang Zhaoxi naturally noticed Hu Qian's displeasure, but he pretended not to notice and said, "Ms. Xu, Ms. Hu, this is a formal, private occasion. I am here on behalf of the Politburo members to speak to you."
Yang Shiqi said, "Grandpa, just say what you want to say. We don't like beating around the bush. If you want to freeze the funds invested in the homestead, you don't even need to say anything. Just give the order. Anyway, you're good at this kind of thing."
Yang Zhaoxi looked somewhat embarrassed; this granddaughter really didn't give him any face. Yang Zhaoxi coughed to ease the tension and said, "The Politburo has agreed to lift the freeze on Zhao Qiang's bank account."
Xu Xiaoya remained silent with a cold face, and Yang Zhaoxi continued, "The country's previous actions were somewhat extreme, and I apologize to everyone now."
Yang Shiqi didn't know what to say at this moment, but Xu Xiaoya said, "No need, we don't need any apologies."
Yang Zhaoxi said, "The country has decided to fully support investment in our homeland."
Xu Xiaoya said, "There's no need for that, Mr. Yang. We don't need any support. I've already planned to open a branch in the United States. We can close the branch in China at any time. Not having funds is no big deal. With Zhao Qiang's technology, we can make a comeback at any time. Money is not a problem for us at all."