Chapter 147 — The Long-Awaited...

Early that morning, Boss Niu had also heard the news that Wei Dekang and Zheng Laoliu had both been blown to death. Though he had his suspicions about Bao Lin and believed the man was behind it, he still found it a little hard to credit.

After all, the jewelry company fire and the deaths of Wei Dekang and Zheng Laoliu had come practically one on the heels of the other. At that time Bao Lin had been busy running about at the jewelry company; true, he had slipped away for a while, but Boss Niu had not noticed.

Besides, Boss Niu simply did not believe Bao Lin could react so quickly as to go to Wei Dekang's headquarters and blow the two of them up. So the only explanation for their deaths had to be that twisted love affair between the two men.

Boss Niu rubbed his own backside and silently counted himself lucky. Thank goodness he had not gotten too close to that pervert Wei Dekang—otherwise, would he not have become a target of the man's "hunting" too? And more than that, he would probably have been blown up as well.

The very thought sent a chill crawling over him, a cold shudder running through his whole body. Still, with Wei Dekang dead, Boss Niu could rest easy. He had offended Wei Dekang on Bao Lin's account, but Wei Dekang was no oil lamp himself. He could use Bao Lin's banner to throw his weight around, but he had also had to guard against Wei Dekang tripping him up. Now it was settled—death had put an end to everything.

Early that morning, apart from gathering information, Bao Lin had hurried over to the jewelry company with Hou Lin. Seeing the company looking brand new, Bao Lin nodded in satisfaction and clapped Boss Niu on the shoulder. "Boss Niu, you're a true friend."

Hearing Bao Lin's praise, Boss Niu immediately grinned from ear to ear, his heart blooming with joy. He reckoned that once word of this morning's business got out, those grandees who owed him money would be falling over themselves today to pay up like obedient grandsons.

"Have Boss Hou settle the project payment with you in a bit. How much is it?" Bao Lin said with a smile. Hou Lin handled the company's accounts, so when it came to money, Bao Lin had to go through Hou Lin.

In a company, controlling the money meant controlling its lifeline. Bao Lin understood Yang Juehuan's intent: he handled personnel, Hou Lin handled finances, and only so could the two balance and check each other.

"No need, it's not much." Boss Niu no longer cared about such a trifling sum. The fees he had spent hiring a debt-collection agency back then had come to more than this, and there was still plenty of money he had failed to recover. "Boss Bao, don't stand on ceremony with me."

"One thing is one thing. This repair speed was beyond anything I expected," Bao Lin said. "Friends are friends, but accounts must still be kept clear."

Boss Niu nodded. He liked Bao Lin's straightforward nature. Though the project payment this time was not large and he truly did not want to take it, he feared that once Bao Lin got used to taking advantage, he would withhold payment every time, and then he would not be able to bear it. So he said, "All right, since Boss Bao wants to pay, I won't stand on ceremony. Counting materials and the men's overtime pay, Boss Bao can just give a hundred and fifty thousand. I won't make a profit."

"Done. I'll write you a check for two hundred thousand in a bit," Hou Lin said after hearing this. "Boss Niu, you've been at it all night too—you can't go away with nothing. That extra fifty thousand is for your trouble."

Hou Lin had also inspected the quality of the work. Normally speaking, a hundred and fifty thousand was practically cost price, and the men had even worked through the night to finish it; they could not be shortchanged. Hou Lin was not the sort to bully others by virtue of his power—to cheat someone over such a small sum would earn him no mercy from Yang Shuyu.

Indeed, Bao Lin and Hou Lin owned the largest security company in Songjiang. In terms of strength, no one was their match, but that strength was not meant for dealing with ordinary people like these. Toward those conceited types who bullied the weak while cowering before the strong, Hou Lin would show no mercy.

"Thank you, Boss Hou," Boss Niu said hastily in thanks. The hundred and fifty thousand just now really had been cost price, the budget being rather tight, and now with two hundred thousand, that was quite good.

Still, for Boss Niu, whose fortune ran to tens of millions, this was merely pocket change. Compared with the debts of over ten million owed to him out there, it was nothing at all.

"Boss Niu, things are more or less wrapped up here. Take the men back to rest. Here's the check for two hundred thousand." Hou Lin wrote out a check for two hundred thousand from the checkbook he carried and handed it to Boss Niu.

"Very well, Boss Hou, Boss Bao. I'll be off then—just call me if anything comes up," Boss Niu said repeatedly.

And Boss Niu's prediction had indeed been right. Word travels fastest in the world of business, for a merchant must possess a keen nose to sniff out every opportunity.

The news that Boss Niu was on good terms with Bao Lin and Hou Lin spread quickly. Of course, Boss Niu had deliberately arranged for people to spread it. Only, he had not expected it to come so fast.

Boss Niu had barely returned to his office and was still calculating the material costs of yesterday's project when his secretary knocked and came in. "Boss Niu, Boss Chen of Hongxi Real Estate is here and wishes to see you."

"Boss Chen? What does Boss Chen want? Isn't I the very person he least wants to see?" Boss Niu said in surprise. "Let him in."

Boss Chen owed Boss Niu three million in project payment and had dragged it out for over half a year. Boss Niu had pressed him countless times in between, and Boss Chen had always said he had no money, yet he was seen driving a Benz in and out of all sorts of entertainment venues. Boss Niu knew full well that Boss Chen meant to welsh on the debt, but there was nothing he could do. Such were the times: the one who owes money is the master.

Moreover, Boss Chen's brother-in-law was said to be with the construction quality inspection brigade, which happened to have jurisdiction over Boss Niu, so Boss Niu could not press him too hard. Though several hundred thousand had trickled back in bits and pieces, more than two million was still outstanding. It had been over half a year with no word, and now, unexpectedly, Boss Chen had come to his door of his own accord.

The reason for Boss Niu's puzzlement was that word of his friendship with Bao Lin and Hou Lin had only just been let out and should not yet be known to anyone. So he did not think Boss Chen had come because he had heard the news, and the purpose of this visit was probably not to repay the debt either.

Before long, a knock came at the office door. "Boss Niu, Boss Chen is here."

"Come in," Boss Niu said.

The office door was pushed open, and Boss Chen of Hongxi Real Estate walked in beaming. "Brother Niu, it's been so long. Your little brother has missed you!"

Boss Niu was momentarily stunned. Had Boss Chen had too much to drink? Normally he avoided Boss Niu like the plague—would he really miss him? Could he be up to some new trick to do him harm?

But the one who owes money is the master. Boss Niu hurriedly rose and went to greet him with great solicitude. "Boss Chen, welcome, welcome."

"Oh, Brother Niu, aren't you slapping your little brother's face?" Seeing Boss Niu come to greet him in person, Boss Chen said in feigned alarm. "Brother Niu, sit down, please sit down."

After instructing the secretary to pour tea, Boss Niu and Boss Chen sat side by side on the sofa. Boss Chen said with a smile, "Boss Niu, I've come this time to share a bit of good news with you, brother."

"What good news? Thank you for thinking of me, brother," Boss Niu said without betraying any emotion.