Chapter 767 — A Five-Million Check

Seeing the look of dawning understanding on Wei Zhao's face, Zhao Qibing felt a secret swell of satisfaction. He had rehearsed these words for a long time. If he had simply offered Wei Zhao some benefit outright, Wei Zhao would certainly have grown suspicious — after all, the man had broken his leg, so why would he turn around and hand him a benefit? That would make him a fool, wouldn't it?

But by offering him money and raising this request at the same time, everything suddenly seemed reasonable! He wanted to demolish the shantytown, and Wei Zhao was the greatest threat to that plan. He was afraid Wei Zhao would interfere with the demolition, and that was why he was offering such a generous settlement!

In this way, it amounted to a roundabout, helpless show of weakness on his part — and only to save face had he dressed the payment up under the name of demolition compensation.

That way, Wei Zhao would not suspect any ulterior motive! Otherwise, no one was a fool — how could anyone, after having his leg broken, his building collapsed, and being out three million in medical fees, then shell out another few million in demolition compensation for no reason at all?

Wouldn't that make him the biggest fool under the heavens?

Zhao Qibing's condition did put Wei Zhao in something of a bind! By any reckoning, the shantytown demolition had nothing whatsoever to do with him. Wei Zhao had never been the sort to stick his nose into other people's business. But the crux of the matter was: would Tang Zhi let him stay out of it?

So Wei Zhao looked toward Tang Zhi.

Tang Zhi was in truth deeply torn as well. If it were possible, she wanted Wei Zhao to step in for those wretched neighbors of hers in the shantytown. If she had never met Wei Zhao, her own family would probably be in the same plight as theirs by now — and if Zhao Qibing had taken a fancy to her, it might have been even worse.

Yet even though Tang Zhi thought this way, she could not actually act on it. However formidable Wei Zhao's personal abilities might be, he could not be expected to handle everything, could he? There were so many injustices in the world — how could Wei Zhao possibly deal with them all?

Besides, Zhao Qibing had made it quite clear: if there were neighbors on good terms with her family, she could help them privately, and that had nothing to do with the demolition.

But even if Tang Zhi handed over the entire five million, with so many residents in the shantytown, it would come to only a few thousand yuan per household — a drop in the bucket, no help at all!

So Tang Zhi hesitated.

Mother Tang, for her part, did not care in the least. What did other people have to do with her? If others were poor and could not get compensation, that was because they lacked ability — they did not have a son-in-law like Wei Zhao. Who was there to blame? They could only blame their own daughters for not being good enough!

When her own man had been bedridden at home, had she ever seen anyone give her family money, or help them find connections?

The shantytown was mostly poor people, true, but it was impossible that every last one of them lacked connections entirely. If back then someone could have been found to put in a word for Tang Jucheng's matter, they would not have ended up with not a single cent of compensation!

And at the same time, another household in the shantytown had also worked at that electronics factory and had also suffered a work injury, scalding the top of a foot. They had pulled a few strings, and had gotten over ten thousand yuan in compensation! When Mother Tang had gone to their door back then to ask for help, that family, terrified of being dragged in, had not even opened the door!

So Mother Tang thought to herself: why should I care whether you live or die? I'll take my money and go live in my big house!

Still, though Mother Tang thought this way, with Wei Zhao present it was not her place to decide. She could only look toward Wei Zhao.

"Oh, that can be arranged," Wei Zhao said, seeing that Tang Zhi was silent and had clearly left the initiative in his hands. "But as for the compensation for the shantytown, don't set it too low. Follow the standard as closely as you can, all right?"

This was the last thing Wei Zhao could do. That he could manage even this much already counted as doing his utmost!

After all, however capable Wei Zhao might be, he could not force Zhao Qibing to give every relocated household five million, could he? Then would the man still be making any money? He would be bankrupt within days.

"I will consider that," Zhao Qibing said with a nod. In any case, he would agree to Wei Zhao first; once Wei Zhao was blown to bits in a little while, he would not have to carry any of it out.

"Fine. When will you give me the money?" Wei Zhao nodded.

"Oh, I'll have someone go open a check for five million right now and bring it over," Zhao Qibing said.

"Wouldn't a bank transfer be faster?" Wei Zhao frowned slightly.

"A transfer, you see, works like this — our company's account has a monthly outgoing limit. Didn't we just transfer you three million? So another five million would exceed the cap!" Zhao Qibing had long since prepared this reply and said it with great composure.

"Oh, then have someone deliver it." Though Wei Zhao was deeply suspicious of Zhao Qibing's motives, he still nodded.

"Fine, I'll make a call right now!" Zhao Qibing said, and shot Li Cihua a meaningful look.

Li Cihua understood at once. He took out his phone and dialed Zhang Yuzhou's number.

"Hello? Zhang Yuzhou? Where are you?" Li Cihua stood up and deliberately walked over to the window, precisely so that Wei Zhao and the others would not hear what was said on the call.

"Brother Cihua, rest easy — I'm in a very safe place right now," Zhang Yuzhou said. "The bomb has been fully installed. The moment Wei Zhao starts the car, the timer will activate."

"Good. Now prepare a five-million check and bring it over to me!" Li Cihua said.

"Understood. I'll be right there." Zhang Yuzhou said.

In truth, this call was simply Li Cihua confirming with Zhang Yuzhou whether the bomb had been installed; as for the check, that was merely a pretext he had invented on the spot.

Before long, Zhang Yuzhou knocked and entered, placing a check before Zhao Qibing. "Young Master Bing, the check is ready."

"Mm, let me see it." Zhao Qibing glanced at the amount, and once he was certain there was no problem, he signed his illustrious name upon it, then handed it to Wei Zhao. "You may call to verify the check's validity."

Wei Zhao nodded, took the check, and phoned the bank. Only after confirming that the check could indeed be cashed did he nod and hand it back to Tang's mother. Zhao Qibing's attitude today was far too strange; Wei Zhao had to be a little cautious.

As for Zhao Qibing's claim that he would no longer meddle in the shantytown demolition — Wei Zhao could not shake the feeling that it was rather unreliable. In fact, from the time Zhao Qibing began the demolition until now, Wei Zhao had only ever stood up for Tang Zhi's family; as for the other households, he truly had not interfered.

Thus today's negotiation came to a smooth conclusion. Zhao Qibing did not press Wei Zhao and the others to stay either, but said to Li Cihua, "Cihua, see Wei Zhao and Mrs. Wang's family out."

"Yes, Young Master Bing!" Li Cihua nodded and made a gesture of invitation to Wei Zhao. "Wei Zhao, the business is all settled — I trust you have no wish to linger here?"