Chapter 184 — Zhang Naipao's Plea
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
Back in the classroom, Zhong Yongliang kept turning Zhang Naipao's matter over in his mind. By any reckoning, seven hundred thousand was only a small sum to his own family, but after all, that money could buy a luxury car. Zhong Yongliang could not afford to consider it carelessly!
By rights, Zhang Naipao had been with him for three years, served as his underling for three years, attending him at every turn each day, and had never once complained. That fact moved Zhong Yongliang somewhat.
Yet moved or not, what Zhong Yongliang valued more was the benefit those seven hundred thousand would bring him.
Throw out those seven hundred thousand, and Zhong Yongliang believed Zhang Naipao would owe him a favor—a favor of the highest order. In the future, if he needed Zhang Naipao to step up for something, given Zhang Naipao's character, he would surely not refuse...
But seven hundred thousand—was it truly worth it? Zhong Yongliang secretly weighed the pros and cons.
Judging by the way Zhang Naipao had risked himself to save his father and his younger brother, the kid had at least a shred of loyalty. But loyalty or no loyalty, did he himself have any need of it? Zhong Yongliang decided he had better call his father and ask his opinion.
At that thought, Zhang Naipao took advantage of the time before morning self-study began, slipped out of the classroom, and made his way to the restroom. Finding it empty, he pulled out his phone and dialed his father Zhong Fabai's number.
"Pinliang?" Zhong Fabai had just arrived at the company when he received the call from his son, and his heart immediately sank. These days were troubled times indeed; he had only just smoothed over the Black Panther business, and he could not afford another mishap.
Under normal circumstances, Zhong Yongliang would not call him of his own accord, and if he did call, then something serious must have happened. He hurriedly asked, "Has something happened?"
"Dad, there's a matter I need to discuss with you..." Zhong Yongliang said.
"Oh? What matter?" Hearing that Zhong Yongliang only wanted to discuss something with him, Zhong Fabai breathed a sigh of relief. So long as it was nothing too serious, all was well.
"It's like this. You remember Zhang Naipao from my class, don't you?" Zhong Yongliang asked tentatively.
"Zhang Naipao... oh, I know him, that little sidekick of yours. What about him?" Zhong Fabai did know Zhang Naipao; the kid often came over to the house to play, together with one called Gao Xiaofu.
"It's like this. Something has happened in Zhang Naipao's family. His father got cheated in business, and now he's up to his neck in debt. The other party is demanding repayment and threatens to sue him if he doesn't pay..." Zhong Yongliang explained, keeping it brief. "Now Zhang Naipao has come to me, hoping I'll lend him a sum of money to tide him over..."
"Oh, so that's what this is about!" Zhong Fabai roughly understood. In truth, the matter was simple enough: his son's classmate's family had run into trouble and had come to his son for a loan. "Son, what are you thinking?"
"Dad... by rights, Zhang Naipao is my brother. He's followed me all this time, running errands and serving at my side. Now that he's in trouble and asking me for a loan, I ought to lend it to him," Zhong Yongliang said. "But the amount he wants to borrow is really a bit large!"
"How much?" Zhong Fabai asked.
"Seven hundred thousand. And once this money is lent out, I'm afraid it won't be coming back..." Zhong Yongliang said.