Sun Gang jumped up in surprise: "Oh no, you mean I won't get my money back, and I might even have to pay you back?"
Wu Ge said, "It's very likely, unless you can persuade Han Qiming. But I guess it's no use persuading him now. If this matter is reported to the headquarters of Haifeng Group, the handling opinion will be based on the headquarters. If the higher-ups tell Han Qiming to investigate, he will have to investigate. With his connections in Dongyang City, I guess he's confident he can deal with a businessman like you."
Sun Gang was both angry and worried, his expression constantly shifting. His hand trembled as he gripped the wine glass, spilling the wine inside. "Brother Wu, is there really no way to salvage this?"
Angkor asked, "How do you plan to salvage the situation? How do you get Han Qiming to drop the lawsuit against you?"
Sun Gang slammed his fist on the table in anger, causing a wine glass to fall to the floor and shatter with a crash. "I want him to pay me back for the goods!" he shouted.
Angkor said, "You really dare to ask."
Sun Gang gritted his teeth and said, "On what grounds does he claim that the employee's poisoning was due to a problem with my seafood? He can't just renege on his debts like that."
Angkor said, "They have a hospital certificate."
Sun Gang said, "But the hospital didn't initially give this conclusion. Han Qiming must have bribed someone at the hospital later."
Angkor said, “Who cares if he bribed them or not? He’s in the right now. Why don’t you go and bribe the hospital too?”
Sun Gang said, "Does this mean I have absolutely no hope? If I don't get the payment back, I'll have to apologize and apologize, and maybe even pay tens of thousands more in compensation?"
Angkor chuckled: "It's not like there's no hope at all; it all depends on how you operate it."
Sun Gang finally showed a hint of joy: "Brother Wu, teach me. I know you are knowledgeable and have many ideas."
Wu Ge glanced at Zhao Qiang and the others, and Sun Gang quickly said, "They're all my classmates, absolutely reliable."
Wu Ge then spoke up, saying, "Gangzi, you are currently in a vulnerable position. Do you understand the power of the internet? If you disclose this matter online and then hire people to spread the post, and I put in a good word for you at the municipal party committee, I think the resulting social influence will definitely reverse the current unfavorable situation. Otherwise, with your current strength, it will be of no use at all."
“This…” Sun Gang hesitated. He knew how to play online games and steal crops, but he was no expert in this kind of behind-the-scenes promotion and marketing. Moreover, the internet is now strictly regulated, and he was afraid of breaking the law.
Zhao Qiang suddenly interjected, "Isn't that inappropriate? Spreading rumors online before we understand the situation is not good for anyone. What if the truth comes out one day and the facts don't match what we've been saying online?"
Wu Ge glanced at Zhao Qiang and said indifferently, "Do you have a better idea than mine? If not, don't talk nonsense."
Luo Wei said, "I think we should first find out what happened. Since the hospital gave different assessments, we should ask the hospital for clarification."
Wu Ge snorted: "Wenming? Go get him. Girls shouldn't interrupt if they don't understand. This seems different from your quiet appearance. Remember this when you're navigating society: do more and talk less, or you'll easily offend people."
Zhao Qiang and Luo Wei exchanged a glance, both annoyed with Wu Ge. This guy was full of bad intentions. If Sun Gang publicized this matter online, would he say anything good about Haifeng Group? Of course not. No matter how big the impact of this matter was, it would damage the image that Haifeng Group had only recently established. Zhao Qiang wanted to refute Wu Ge, but considering his friendship with Sun Gang, he held back. Luo Wei, of course, acted according to Zhao Qiang's wishes. If Zhao Qiang didn't speak, she remained silent as well.
Sun Gang wasn't in the mood to consider Zhao Qiang and Luo Wei's words at the moment. He said, "Brother Wu, can't you ask Secretary Shan to put in a good word for you? Ask him to speak to Han Qiming. It's only a few hundred thousand yuan, which is a drop in the ocean for Haifeng Group. Just give it to me."
Wu Ge said, "Gangzi, don't you understand? This isn't about whether to pay back the money, but whether there's something wrong with your seafood. Did the employees of Haifeng Group's Dongyang branch get poisoned after eating your seafood? It's not about the money."
Sun Gang muttered to himself, "In other words, I have no choice."
Wu Ge stood up and said, "Yes, I've already said what I'm telling you. You can decide for yourself. Secretary Shan and the others should have finished eating. I have to go."
With a bang, Brother Wu slammed the door to the private room shut and left without looking back. Chen Yang said to Zhao Qiang, "Why did you have to interrupt? Now you've made Brother Wu angry and leave."
Zhao Qiang thought to himself that this Brother Wu was probably just a secretary at best, so why was he acting so arrogant?
Sun Gang said, "It has nothing to do with Zhao Qiang. My friend is a bit arrogant, that's just his temper. I'm ignoring him."
Chen Yang said, "So what are you planning to do? I think it's better to ask Brother Gou for help in collecting the debt. It'll save you a lot of trouble."
Sun Gang scratched his head and thought for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, you help me contact him and ask how much he'd pay if he's willing to do it."
Zhao Qiang reminded Sun Gang again, "Gangzi, I think we should go to the hospital to investigate. The truth will definitely come out one day, and then it will be clear who is responsible."
Sun Gang said somewhat angrily, "How are you going to investigate? Someone like me can't even get into the dean's office. You think you can just grab any nurse and they'll tell me? Wow, society isn't something a recent graduate like you can imagine. You're all too naive."
Luo Wei whispered, "Don't try to persuade him anymore. Let's go to the hospital and investigate ourselves."
Zhao Qiang nodded. That was the only way. Since they couldn't find any seafood from the same batch for testing, they had to go to the hospital to get the initial diagnosis. That should clarify whether it was seafood poisoning or something else.
Chen Yang made the call and happily told Sun Gang, "Gangzi, Brother Gou agreed. He said he'd give us 20% for my sake and let us come over to show him the receipts. We also need to explain the whole story to him, otherwise he won't be able to say anything. After all, Han Qiming is a prominent figure in Dongyang City, and he can't force us."
Sun Gang lost his appetite and stood up, saying, "The receipt is with me. Let's go take a look."
Luo Wei whispered to Zhao Qiang, "We can't let them go, otherwise the branch company's production will be affected."
Zhao Qiang said, "Let's follow them and see. I might know this Brother Gou; I doubt he'd dare cause trouble."
Volume 2 [387] Foot Bath
【387】Foot Bath
Sun Gang paid the bill; the meal cost over four hundred yuan. Zhao Hai and Meng Yu complained that it was really expensive, which showed that their economic level was still not high. However, they had been corrupted by the materialistic world of the big city. Zhao Hai was no longer the simple Zhao Hai they saw last year. The power of society as a big dye vat was too great.
Sun Gang drove the car out of the parking space, and Chen Yang took the initiative to sit in the passenger seat, which many people would consider the main seat. He was going to lead the way, so sitting in that seat was the right thing to do. Meng Yu and Zhao Hai sat in the back, leaving one seat, but there were two people on Zhao Qiang's side. Chen Yang leaned out of the car window and chuckled, "Qiang, you should just take a taxi. I don't think you need to go. You won't be of any help anyway, and we're worried you'll say something inappropriate. Brother Gou isn't Brother Wu; we can't just offend him. Go back. You guys should go about your business. It's not easy to find a job after just graduating."
Zhao Qiang wasn't angry. He said, "Let's go take a look too. We might be able to help."
Chen Yang said, "Let's go to Shui Zhong Hua Foot Massage. I'll treat you to the other services. If you want to go, just take a taxi."
Sun Gang gestured to Zhao Qiang, and the car drove out of Shunfeng Seafood Restaurant. Luo Wei said to Zhao Qiang, "Senior brother, it seems like your classmates all look down on you."
Zhao Qiang said, "It's nothing. Everyone has prejudices. We can't stop being classmates because of that."
Luo Wei held Zhao Qiang's arm as they walked slowly. She said, "You're such a nice person. You only ever offend others; you never provoke anyone."
Zhao Qiang said, "My motto is 'I will not offend others unless they offend me, but if they offend me, I will retaliate.'"
Luo Wei gave a soft snort, "You always have an excuse."
Zhao Qiang hailed a taxi, and the two got into the back. The driver asked for their destination, and the car set off. Luo Wei said, "Things seem to have gotten more complicated. Who's right and who's wrong?"
Zhao Qiang was also a bit troubled: "I don't know. Let's warn that Dog Brother first, and not let him cause trouble at the branch factory. Then we'll go to the hospital. Things have to be dealt with one by one."
Luo Wei chuckled: "I'm not afraid. If we can't finish it today, we can finish it tomorrow. If we can't finish it tomorrow, we can finish it the day after tomorrow. As long as Sister Xiaoya isn't in a hurry, it's fine."
Shui Zhong Hua Foot Massage wasn't far from here; it only took ten minutes to get there. The parking lot in front was packed, showing how popular the place was. As soon as Zhao Qiang entered the lobby, a waiter came up to greet him. He pointed to his phone, indicating that he was looking for someone. At that moment, the call connected, and Sun Gang said, "We're on the second floor. You'll see us when you come up."
The waiter pointed out the location of the stairs, and Zhao Qiang led Luo Wei upstairs. Sure enough, Meng Yu was waiting at the door of a room, so the two went in. It was a regular private room, but it had a TV and sound system, though they weren't turned on. There was a row of reclining leather sofas, and in front of the sofas were two stools, one high and one low. One was for guests to rest their feet, and the other was for the masseuse to sit on.
Several lightly dressed girls were already standing by waiting. No wonder Meng Yu ran outside to pick up Zhao Qiang; the scene inside made her feel a little embarrassed. However, Luo Wei didn't seem to mind. After all, she was the chairman of a large company and had seen this kind of situation before.
Sun Gang said to Zhao Qiang, "Let's wash our feet first. Brother Gou is resting right now and will be out in about fifty minutes. Let's wait for him."
Zhao Qiang sat down, and Luo Wei whispered, "I need to change my clothes." She had been wearing a pencil skirt, which wasn't appropriate for lying on the sofa. The masseuse could see up her skirt, and although they were both women, it was still indecent.
Zhao Qiang pointed to a corner: "There's a changing room over there." Zhao Qiang had been carrying the change of clothes that Luo Wei had brought.
Luo Wei went into the changing room to change clothes. Sun Gang had already soaked his feet by then. He said to Zhao Qiang, "Qiang, your girl is hot. She has a figure like an air hostess. How did you manage to get her?"
Zhao Qiang said, "Didn't I say? She's my classmate, not my girlfriend."
Sun Gang said, "Stop joking. You two are all lovey-dovey. Ask Chen Yang if he believes you two are just classmates."
Chen Yang said, "Nobody would believe that. How about this, how about you introduce me to your classmate as my girlfriend?"
Zhao Qiang stroked his chin and chuckled, "I'm afraid you can't afford to marry her." Zhao Qiang's words were mostly a joke, but Luo Wei's current standard of living was over ten thousand yuan a month just from shopping alone. It was estimated that the combined income of these classmates wouldn't be enough to support her. Although Luo Wei wasn't a girl who cared about extravagance or status, she came from a wealthy family, and if you suddenly made her suffer, she might not be able to accept it. However, if she were to suffer with Zhao Qiang, she would probably be more than happy to.
Chen Yang was displeased and sat up abruptly on the sofa: "Qiang, are you looking down on me? How come I can't afford to marry her? I've been working in society for a few years now, and my income is definitely higher than yours. How dare you, a recent college graduate, say such things to me? I made over 30,000 on my last deal!"
Zhao Hai also said, "Yes, Qiang, Chen Yang is also planning to buy a car. Meng Yu and I admire him. It's not easy for him to start from scratch and make a living in Dongyang City."
Zhao Qiang said, "Buying a car isn't a big deal, it's just a means of transportation. But I'm happy for Chen Yang that he's making money."
Zhao Hai said, "Nothing? You're just being a sour grapes. Why don't you buy one for us to see? This isn't a bicycle. How many of our classmates own cars? Su Su is one. She was one of the first to own a car. I heard she changed to a Hyundai Tucson last year, which is much more upscale than her old Elantra. Sun Gang now has two trucks and a sedan. He's the best among our classmates. Who can compare to him? If you're so capable, buy one for us to see."
Zhao Qiang touched his nose: "Our car has been impounded."
Sun Gang, who was soaking his feet and squinting, opened his eyes when he heard Zhao Qiang say this and asked, "What happened? You got detained? Are you joking or serious?"
Zhao Qiang said, "Do I need to joke around?"
At this moment, Luo Wei came out after changing her clothes. Her originally serious business attire had been transformed into a crisp tracksuit. At first glance, her quiet temperament seemed somewhat out of place with the lively tracksuit, but upon closer inspection, the two complemented each other perfectly, making up for each other's shortcomings. Her long, black hair was casually tied back with a scarf, and her slender legs made Luo Wei appear very tall. Standing gracefully in front of everyone, Chen Yang was stunned, while Zhao Hai only glanced at her before quickly lowering his head, afraid that Meng Yu would be jealous.
Luo Wei didn't lie on the sand to soak her feet. She wasn't used to the environment in Dongyang City. If she wanted to wash her feet, she preferred to go to a women-only place. So she just watched Zhao Qiang wash his feet. If she wasn't worried about what the staff would say, she really wanted to wash Zhao Qiang's feet herself. She would have done it without hesitation, even if Zhao Qiang asked her to lick his feet. No one could understand her feelings for Zhao Qiang.
Sun Gang continued, "Why didn't you say so earlier? I would have asked Brother Wu to help you get it. There's been a crackdown lately, and they're checking cars very strictly on the streets. It's best not to break the rules without some connections. What's going on with you?"
Zhao Qiang said, "Driving without a license."
Chen Yang asked, "You actually have a car? I thought you were joking. But if you have a car, why are you driving without a license? Are you trying to fool us?"
Zhao Qiang said, "I don't know where I put my driver's license. Usually, someone else drives me. I was careless this time."
While taking out his phone, Sun Gang said, "What's the license plate number? Which intersection was it stopped at? I need to ask Brother Wu for help right away. It wouldn't be good if we missed our car."
Zhao Qiang said, "It's alright, we've found someone to handle it."
Sun Gang put down his phone and asked, "Do you have any acquaintances in Dongyang City?"
Zhao Qiang said, "I guess so."
Chen Yang said, "Qiang, weren't you at the Donghai City Exhibition? What were you doing? Did you make a lot of money? Otherwise, why would you buy a car?"
Zhao Qiang said, "It's the repair I was talking about earlier. The car belongs to my junior sister."
Everyone glanced at Luo Wei, then exclaimed in sudden realization, "Oh, I see." The implication was that Zhao Qiang had hooked up with a wealthy woman.
Zhao Hai asked, "So what does your junior sister do?"
Zhao Qiang said, "Start a company and sell home appliances or something."
No one asked any more questions. They closed their eyes and enjoyed the relaxation brought by the foot bath. About half an hour later, Chen Yang's phone rang. He glanced at the number and answered immediately with a very respectful attitude. After putting down the phone, he said to Sun Gang, "Let's go, Gangzi, let's go find Brother Gou. He's on the third floor. Let us go up."
Sun Gang immediately kicked aside the masseur who was giving him a massage, put on his slippers and followed behind Chen Yang. Zhao Qiang also quickly put on his socks and shoes and followed behind the two of them. Sun Gang turned around and said, "You guys continue with your massages, don't mind us."
Zhao Qiang said, "I'd better go and take a look."
Chen Yang said, "It's fine for you to come and see for yourself, but don't say anything out of line or cause me any trouble."
Zhao Qiang chuckled: "No, no, would I harm my old classmate?"
On the third floor, two men in black stood outside a luxurious private room. Their clothes and demeanor made it clear that they were gangsters. Chen Yang chuckled and stepped forward, saying, "My name is Chen Yang. Brother Gou sent me up."
The man in black glanced at Chen Yang and his companions and said, "You go in alone for now."
Chen Yang turned to Sun Gang and said, "Wait outside for a while, and come in when I call you."
Sun Gang was a little nervous and said repeatedly, "Okay, okay."
Chen Yang pushed open the door, and Zhao Qiang saw that there were quite a few people inside. He turned on his X-ray glasses, and Chen Yang let go of the door and closed it by himself. His first action was to bow to both sides and keep saying hello. Who would dare to be frivolous in front of this legendary underworld boss?
Dog Brother stood up from the sofa, dragging one leg and limping. This leg injury was from when Big Beard's smuggling gang arrested Yang Shiqi at Huangjinge in Hedian District. Two students died at the time, and countless civilians were also accidentally injured. If Yang Shiqi hadn't finally relented, countless officials in Dongyang City and Hedian District would have been brought down. After learning that his official position was safe, Zhang Zhiqiao almost erected a longevity tablet for Zhao Qiang. He was also very grateful that he had found a powerful master. If it were any other official, being sent to the deepest hell would be the least of his worries.
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