Chapter 159 - Zhou Huaming’s Compromise
Chapter 159 – Zhou Huaming’s Compromise
Translator: Lonelytree
After Zhou Hongwei was arrested, Old Master Zhou said, “The one who unties the bell must be the one who ties the bell”. That clarified the minds of the Zhou Brothers.
Zhou Hongwei was arrested and convicted. The key witness in his case was Xiao Lingyu.
However, Xiao Lingyu was extremely sensitive or extremely lucky. All the people sent by the Zhou Family couldn’t find her.
The Zhou Family knew where Xiao Lingyu stayed and where Xiao Lingye attended school, so they should be able to find her easily. But that was not the case.
When Zhou Hongwei was arrested, Xiao Lingyu requested protection from the police until Zhou Hongwei was convicted. Jiang Tao knew her intention immediately. Xiao Lingyu’s evidence was the most important in Zhou Hongwei’s case.
The Zhou Family was a powerful family in Xing Yin County, but Xiao Lingyu was just a normal person. Therefore, her personal safety and the safety of her family were greatly threatened.
Jiang Tao thought for a moment. He sent people to protect Xiao Lingyu and Xiao Lingye. He also released a statement to warn the Zhou Family. If something happened to Xiao Lingyu, the key witness, the Zhou family would be the first target of the investigation.
The Zhou Family thus couldn’t do things openly. Instead, they had to rely on bribery and inducement.
Of the three Zhou Brothers, two were influential men in business and politics. They had connections in Xing Yin County. They were a powerful family, and Xiao Lingyu had no power or money. They could get her easily. However, Xiao Lingyu was always absent.
The only time she showed up was when Wang Zhimin arrived to pick up the daily supply for the Gu Family Hotel every morning. The Zhou Family couldn’t approach Xiao Lingyu then because Wang Zhimin was around. After that, Xiao Lingyu would hop into her car and drive to God knows where.
The Zhou Family found out about Father Xiao and Mother Xiao, but they didn’t dare to make a move on them. If they went overboard, Xiao Lingyu might cause Wei ‘Er’s death. That would not be worth it.
It was why the people from the Zhou Family were very cautious.
“You idiots!” Zhou Huaming was furious. He sat at the office of the Yi Family Hotel. “I told you to go invite her, not threaten her. What are you so afraid of? As long as you lower your attitude and speak politely, what are you so afraid of? What if the police are watching? We aren’t doing anything wrong!”
Zhou Huaming tugged at his tie. He was so angry at these stupid subordinates that he wanted to crack open their heads. He wanted to see if they had brains.
These two subordinates said aggrievedly, “But, CEO Zhou, how can we lower our attitude and speak when we can’t even approach Xiao Lingyu?”
Zhou Huaming asked doubtfully, “Isn’t she a vegetable vendor? Go to her stall!”
One of the subordinates said with a bitter face, “Yes, but she only appears to sell vegetables to the Gu… Wang Zhimin every morning. But every time we go over, there will be one or two people guarding her door. We can’t get close at all. They will leave once Xiao Lingyu leaves. Moreover, sometimes the God of Death would be at her door. We were too scared even to get close.”
Zhou Huaming was shocked. “You mean she is protected every day, and sometimes Jiang Tao will be there in person?”
“Yes!” The two subordinates nodded and said, “They are there every time.”
Zhou Huaming was even more confused. “That’s strange. Did Jiang Tao arrange all these?” However, what was the relationship between Jiang Tao and Xiao Lingyu? The Zhou Family hadn’t found out that yet.
“We don’t know.” The two men shook their heads and said. Then, one of them asked, “CEO Zhou, are we still going to watch Xiao Lingyu?”
“Why?” Zhou Huaming scolded, “What is watching her going to help us?”
“Then, CEO Zhou, what should we do now?” One of the subordinates asked.
“How would I know?” Zhou Huaming shouted. He was really furious. After shouting, he said, “I will think of another way. You can go now.”
After the two of them left, Zhou Huaming leaned back in his chair, feeling a little tired. He was smoking and thinking at the same time.
Then, he made a call.
As the call was answered, Zhou Huaming asked, “My people can’t even get close to Xiao Lingyu, so what should we do? Are we going to target Xiao Lingye then?”
When Zhou Tanxiong heard his big brother, he frowned and narrowed his eyes slightly, “There are only seven days left before Wei ‘Er’s indictment. We have to make the best out of these seven days. Xiao Lingyu is still the key.”
Zhou Huaming slightly frowned and said, “So, what do you mean?”
Zhou Tanxiong thought for a moment and said, “Since we can’t get her from behind, then we’ll attack her from the front!”
“Hmm…” Zhou Huaming pondered. After thinking for a moment, he said, “You’re right.” At this point, he paused and asked worriedly, “Tanxiong, how are things on your side?”
Zhou Tanxiong said, “There’s no movement on my side at the moment. Don’t worry, Big Brother. There won’t be any problems.” He had made sure he wouldn’t leave behind any trails.
Zhou Huaming sighed lightly and said, “That’s good. Be careful.” After putting down the phone, he took another puff of his cigarette. The smoke lingered in front of him, making his eyes a little misty.
“Since we can’t get her from behind, then we’ll attack her from the front!” He smashed the cigarette butt against the ashtray.
…
“Miss Xiao, our boss wants to see you!” They finally got the chance to accost Xiao Lingyu. They were at the entrance of Number One High School. Xiao Lingyu was waiting for her brother.
Xiao Lingyu saw the two people blocking her way and frowned. Then she asked coldly, “Are they sent by the Zhou Family?”
The expressions of these two people instantly stiffened. They nodded and replied, “Yes!”
“Who is your boss? Why are you looking for me?” Xiao Lingyu asked. “The last time someone said they wanted to see me, it was Zhou Hongwei from the Zhou Family. That man is very impolite. I don’t like him.” She was reminding these two men not to treat her like a fool.
The two men calmed down. They smiled and said, “Don’t worry, Miss Xiao. Our boss really wants to invite you and your brother for a meal. You can choose the location!” This was to let Xiao Lingyu feel at ease, and it also showed the sincerity of the Zhou family.
Xiao Lingyu raised her eyebrows. The two men had no idea what Xiao Lingyu meant. They looked a little anxious and asked, “Miss Xiao, what do you think?”
Xiao Lingyu smiled, and her eyes sparkled. Then, she directly replied, “I’m not going!”
“Miss Xiao,” the two of them were anxious.
Xiao Lingyu chuckled, “Until now, I still don’t know who your boss is. I won’t make the same mistake twice.” She was not going to play their games.
“Miss Xiao, let’s not beat around the bush,” One of them, Zhao Hu, said, “Our boss is Zhou Huaming. He really wants to treat you and your brother to a meal…”
“Stop!” Xiao Lingyu raised her hand to make the man stop. Her expression was serious as she said in a sharp tone, “Tell your boss to stay away from my brother. Or there will be consequences.”
‘The whole Zhou Family is the same. Do they think I’m so easily bullied? They have threatened me with Ye ‘Er twice already.’
They said they were sincerely inviting them to dinner, but in fact, the man was warning her that if she didn’t cooperate, he would harm her family. They were testing Xiao Lingyu’s bottom line.
Zhao Hu’s brows were tightly knitted. He opened his mouth to explain, but he did not know what to say. In the end, he sighed, “Miss Xiao, don’t misunderstand. Our boss did not mean that.”
Xiao Lingyu sneered, “Then, what does he mean? In any case, I’m not going to waste any more time with you.” She thought for a while and said, “Go back to tell your Boss Zhou that I agree to his dinner invitation. It’ll be at the Gu Family Hotel three days later. I’ll be there waiting. If he doesn’t come, then I can’t help him.”
Zhao Long’s face was a little ugly as he said, “You’re ridiculous! You know that our Boss Zhou and the Gu family hotel are sworn enemies! How can you ask our boss to go to his sworn empty’s place? This is a direct insult!”
“I don’t feel safe going anywhere else. In fact, I don’t feel safe sitting at the same table with the Zhou Family. So I have to find a place where I can be more at ease.” Xiao Lingyu said firmly, “I’ve already stated the conditions. It’s your boss’ choice whether to agree or not.”
Zhao Hu and Zhao Long’s faces were stiff.
Zhao Long was about to say something to Xiao Lingyu when Zhao Hu pulled on his sleeves. Zhao Hu said, “Alright, we’ll convey Miss Xiao’s intentions to Boss Zhou truthfully.” The two left.
Zhao Long immediately complained, “Brother, the bitch is too much. You should have let me scold her.”
Zhao Hu’s expression froze as he said very seriously, “Zhao Long, use your brain. Even if Boss Zhou came in person, he had to be polite to Xiao Lingyu. The Zhou Family needs her. Besides…” Zhao Hu narrowed his eyes, “We’re just lackeys. Boss Zhou is the one making the decision. So, why should we risk our future to offend the woman? No wonder Zhou Huaming called us idiots. You’ve dragged our overall intelligence down.”
Zhao Long rubbed his head and said in a silly voice, “Brother, you’re right!”
Zhao Hu, “…”
After Zhou Huaming heard Zhao Long and Zhao Hu’s report, his face turned green and then white. He was incensed.
He gritted his teeth and shouted, “Xiao Lingyu, you’ve really gone too far!”
The Gu Family and the Zhou Family were rivals. How could she ask him to treat her at the Gu Family Hotel? This was a slap to his face.
“Did she say anything else?” Zhou Huaming asked again.
“She said she wants the Zhou family to stay away from her younger brother. Otherwise, there will be consequences.” Zhao Hu replied truthfully.
How could Xiao Lingyu, an ordinary person, be a threat to the powerful Zhou Family? It was because Zhou Hongwei was too dumb. In his criminal case, Xiao Lingyu was the key witness. She also requested protection from the police.
Once something happened to her, the Zhou family would be the primary target of suspicion.
Because of this, the Zhou family had to be careful. They couldn’t take risks unless it were absolutely necessary.
Zhou Huaming took a few deep breaths and tried his best to calm himself down.
Then, he gritted his teeth and said, “Alright, I’ll go meet her!”
After Zhou Hongwei’s matter was settled, and Xiao Lingyu lost the police’s protection, they would take serious revenge!