The supplier position clearly stated Baiqiang Steel Plant, and the company seal also bore the characters "Baiqiang."
Baiqiang, Baiqiang, a single character difference, a world of difference…
At the entrance of the goods station, Li Yuanchao glanced at the time. The hands had just pointed to twelve o'clock. A smile curved his lips; it seemed Zhu Changgui wouldn't be coming.
When Er Lai woke up, he found himself lying in an alley, with several people gathered around him, pointing and whispering.
"Comrade, are you alright? Do you need to be sent to the hospital?"
Er Lai looked up at the sun. Without bothering with anything else, he hurriedly got up from the ground and anxiously asked, "What time is it now?"
"It's almost one o'clock."
Almost one o'clock?
Er Lai's face turned pale. "Where is this? How do I get to Baiqiang Steel Plant?"
"Turn right at the end of the alley."
Hearing the directions, Er Lai bolted towards the steel plant.
As soon as he reached the main gate, before he could even catch his breath, he saw Zhu Changgui emerge from the factory with a face ashen.
"Brother Gui, why are you here? Was that batch of goods shipped?"
Zhu Changgui didn't answer, instead asking, "Where did you go?"
Er Lai truthfully replied, "I was supposed to come early this morning, but I was knocked unconscious shortly after I left."
Zhu Changgui's already ashen face turned even grimmer. "Let's get in the car first."
Soon, the two of them got into the car. As they drove back, Zhu Changgui briefly explained the situation.
"What? We were scammed? Brother Gui, if we can't deliver that batch of goods, won't we have to pay double the price!"
Zhu Changgui's expression turned ferocious. "A powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake. He's just someone from the south with no power or influence, so he wouldn't dare do anything. It's the steel plant that's the issue."
Zhu Changgui paused. "First, they pretended to sign a contract with me, and then they knocked you out. There must be something going on. When we get back, you gather a few people and investigate to see who's trying to mess with me. I'll make sure they regret it!"
Er Lai nodded. "Brother Gui, I understand."
Since the steel hadn't been acquired, there was no point in going to the goods station. Zhu Changgui decided to head straight back to the factory.
"Boss Zhu, you've really caused me a lot of trouble."
As Zhu Changgui stepped out of the car, he saw a man in a leather jacket with a slicked-back hairstyle standing at the factory entrance.
"Boss Li," Zhu Changgui greeted him with a smile. "What brings you here?"
"You're asking the obvious. Where are my goods? Isn't this a breach of contract? Do you know the losses this has caused me?"
"There was a slight hitch. In business, there are always wins and losses. Why bother being so calculative? I'll return your fifty thousand yuan deposit in full. I think it's best if we just let this matter go."
Hearing this, Li Yuanchao realized Zhu Changgui intended to break the contract. His smile turned cold. "Boss Zhu, if I recall correctly, we have a contract. If the goods are not delivered, you are to pay double the price, a total of six hundred and sixty thousand yuan. Don't get it wrong."
"Boss Li, you must be joking." Zhu Changgui gave Er Lai a look. Er Lai understood and stepped towards the factory.
"I, Zhu Changgui, have always been principled. In this life, it's about mutual help. To be frank, there was indeed a problem with that batch of goods. I'll return your fifty thousand yuan in full, and I guarantee you'll leave this place safely. What do you think?"
Li Yuanchao narrowed his eyes. "Are you threatening me?"
Zhu Changgui waved his hand. "Ah, don't put it so crudely. It's just a mutual favor."
As he spoke, four or five people emerged from the factory, each carrying a steel rebar or a plastic pipe about a meter long.
"Boss Zhu, this is no fun playing like this."
Zhu Changgui merely watched him, his intentions clear: either take the fifty thousand yuan and leave, or get nothing and possibly suffer physical harm.
"What is this performance?"
As the two sides were in a stalemate, five or six police officers on bicycles suddenly appeared from behind. Each had a passenger on the back seat, totaling about ten people. They dismounted and automatically stood beside Li Yuanchao.
Zhu Changgui saw that the leader was Deputy Station Chief Jiang Lichun, a flicker of astonishment crossing his eyes.
"Brother, what's the situation with your men? Boss Li here reportedly intends to invest in development projects in our area, and the higher authorities are paying close attention, especially to security. Anyone who doesn't behave will be taken back for a bit of hardship."
Meeting Li Yuanchao's half-smiling gaze, Zhu Changgui's face went from green to white. Finally, with a look of unwillingness, he signaled Er Lai and the others to withdraw.
He then turned to Jiang Lichun and said glumly, "Director Jiang, we are all law-abiding citizens. How could we go against the higher-ups?"
"Three days, Boss Zhu, I'll give you three days. If you have the six hundred and sixty thousand yuan ready, hand it over, and we'll consider this matter settled. Otherwise, we'll proceed through legal channels."
Zhu Changgui's lips moved, but he didn't respond.
"Oh, I forgot to mention, I've already applied for asset preservation just before coming. I advise you not to struggle pointlessly."
Li Yuanchao dropped this remark and left directly.
...
Li Xiulan had been in the hospital for over ten days and was recovering very well. She only needed to wait for the results of her final examination to be discharged.
Coincidentally, it was a rest day, so Chen Lishu brought Rui Rui along.
"Grandma, how are you feeling? Does it still hurt?" Rui Rui stood by the bed, looking at Li Xiulan's bandaged head with concern in his eyes.
"It's my dear grandson who cares about me." Li Xiulan's heart melted as she looked into his big, black grape-like eyes.
Although he wasn't born to their third family, the child was truly considerate, visiting every few days and staying by her side, talking to her and alleviating her boredom.
"Grandma, my younger siblings can talk now. They talk to me for a while every day."
"Oh?" Hearing him mention the two little ones, Li Xiulan did miss them. However, they were still too young, and the hospital was constantly busy with patients. It wasn't convenient to bring them.
"They're so young, they just babble. Mom, you don't know, Xiao Chengzi is a chatterbox. He can babble and gurgle to anyone he meets, talking endlessly."
Chen Lishu smiled, served the porridge she had made, and handed it to Li Xiulan. "Neither Xingdong nor I are very talkative people. I really don't know who this child takes after."
"What do young children know? Babbling more just means our Xiao Chengzi is cheerful."
Gu Shoufu chimed in with a smile, "Who else could he take after but your mother?"
"You old rascal, are you saying I talk too much?"
Seeing her full of spirit, Gu Shoufu felt happy, so he indulged Li Xiulan, smiling contentedly.