Shu Hong was the key person to contain Xu Teng. Yang Lili was not someone who liked being questioned, but thinking of the significant value these two people held for her, she could only suppress her anger and say with a pleasant tone:
"It's mainly because Xu Teng refused to be reasonable, so I wanted to teach him a lesson. You're a smart person, you know what should and shouldn't be done! I have high expectations for you, at least higher than for your sister. Loyalty to me will ensure a smooth period ahead, with promotions and salary increases!"
Hearing the words "promotions and salary increases," Shu Hong's worry visibly lessened. Living in a poor and backward mountain village, she knew better than anyone that relying on oneself was better than relying on others. Only by ensuring her own livelihood could she afford to meddle in other people's affairs!
"Besides contacting the brothers at the casino to put more pressure on Xu Teng, do you have any other instructions? I'll take care of them all together!" Shu Hong said this with a very sincere attitude.
Yang Lili nodded with satisfaction upon hearing Shu Hong's words and then said, "Besides this matter, you don't need to do anything else. Hurry up and arrange it!" With that, she hung up the phone.
Shu Hong's efficiency was remarkable. In just half an hour, she had arranged for the actors to arrive at the hospital discreetly.
Xu Teng was lounging with one leg crossed, feasting on the money donated by the public. When he heard the door open, he quickly lowered his leg and lay on the hospital bed feigning weakness. He thought it was a reporter coming for an interview and was ready to put on a full act, but then familiar faces entered.
Seeing them, Xu Teng's expression froze. He awkwardly got up from the bed and asked helplessly, "Brother Wang? How did you find this place?"
The man called Brother Wang sneered, then found a chair and sat down, saying menacingly, "News of your hospitalization has spread across the country. How do you think I found this place?"
"Then Brother Wang, why are you looking for me today?" Xu Teng's heart skipped a beat as he looked at these burly men, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.
Brother Wang walked up to Xu Teng, grabbed his hair, and said in a low, narrowed voice, "Don't you know why I'm here? Why are you pretending? You owe so much money at our gambling den, don't you think you should pay it back? Do you know how many customers have complained to me about you owing money? You've ruined the reputation of my casino!"
Upon hearing that the other party was there for money, Xu Teng's face turned instantly pale. His lips trembled, and he said fearfully, "Brother Wang, can you give me a few more days? The truth is, I really don't have money on hand right now. Once I have it, I'll definitely repay the money owed to you brothers!"
Brother Wang delivered a casual slap to the back of Xu Teng's head and coldly said, "Who would believe you when you say you have no money? Where did that relaxed demeanor go just now? Don't think I don't know that many kind people have donated money to you! What are you waiting for? Hand over all those funds immediately, or do you believe my brothers and I will break your bones and leave you bedridden for life?"
Xu Teng's face turned pale with fear. He pleaded, "Brother Wang, I really don't have any money on hand, and besides, this is a hospital. There's no need to fall out completely. If this attracts too much attention, I fear it might affect Brother Wang's reputation. Please give me some time. Don't worry, I won't be short on this money."
Brother Wang did not relent because of Xu Teng's pitiful state. Instead, he took out a dagger from his pocket and pointed it at his fingers, saying, "Are you threatening us now? You should know what price you'll have to pay if you don't have the money!"
Xu Teng swallowed nervously. He knew very well what the consequences would be, having witnessed Brother Wang chop off someone's finger at the casino for owing thirty thousand yuan and delaying payment. Just as he was about to say something in plea, Brother Wang ruthlessly plunged the dagger into his wrist. The piercing pain instantly spread throughout his brain. As he was about to cry out, Brother Wang, from somewhere, pulled out a strip of cloth and stuffed it into his mouth. Even though he was sweating profusely from the pain, he couldn't utter a single word. Just as he was about to faint, Brother Wang grabbed his hair and said to him with a sinister expression, "I'll give you one day to raise the money. If you don't gather two hundred and thirty thousand yuan, it won't just be your hand that gets broken. I think your kidneys and corneas should be quite valuable, shouldn't they?" After saying that, he roughly pushed Xu Teng onto the bed and left the ward without looking back.
Where could he raise two hundred and thirty thousand yuan in one day? Xu Teng bit his lower lip tightly, feeling a surge of grief. He regretted ever coming to Kyoto and falling into gambling. Just as he felt helpless, a message caught his attention – a payment notification from Wang Yuhua, sent by the doctors.
Xu Teng angrily swept everything off the table, his face contorted like a demon from hell as he snarled, "Money, money, money, all you want is money! Whether your illness can be cured is unknown! You might as well die to stop bothering me." As he said this, Xu Teng's rage instantly vanished. His eyes darted, and a plan suddenly struck him. He took out his phone and called Yang Lili, saying with a deep and resolute gaze, "You said if I follow your plan, you'll give me five hundred thousand. This five hundred thousand..." Yang Lili was not surprised by Xu Teng's call; instead, she calmly said, "As long as you act today, the five hundred thousand yuan will be in your account tomorrow." Seeing Yang Lili's decisiveness, Xu Teng felt relieved. Then, as if remembering something, he threatened fiercely, "Deal! I hope you keep your word. If you dare to deceive me, I'll expose all our dealings. If I don't have a good time, you won't either!" After hanging up the phone, Xu Teng had the medical staff bandage his wound. Once they left, he changed his clothes, covered himself up thoroughly, and left the hospital. He thought everything was going unnoticed, but it had already been seen by Chen Lishu's informants.