Seeing the look of sudden understanding on Wei Zhao's face, Zhao Qibing felt a private satisfaction. He had been rehearsing these words for a long time. If he had simply handed Wei Zhao benefits, Wei Zhao would surely have grown suspicious — the man had broken his leg, and now he was handing him benefits? Who would do that unless he were a fool?

But by offering money and tacking on this demand at the same time, everything looked reasonable. He wanted to demolish the shantytown, and Wei Zhao was the greatest threat to that; it was out of fear that Wei Zhao would interfere with the demolition that he had offered such generous compensation.

This way, it amounted to a veiled, helpless show of weakness on his part — only to save face, he had wrapped the money in the name of demolition compensation.

That way, Wei Zhao would not suspect him of ulterior motives. Otherwise, no one is a fool: who would, after having a leg broken, a skyscraper toppled, and three million in medical fees paid out, then cough up several million more in demolition compensation for no reason at all?

That would make him the greatest fool under heaven.

Zhao Qibing's condition really did put Wei Zhao in a difficult spot. By any reasonable reckoning, the demolition of the shantytown had nothing whatsoever to do with him; Wei Zhao had never been the sort to poke his nose into other people's business. The crux was this: would Tang Yun let him take a hand?

So Wei Zhao looked toward Tang Yun.

Tang Yun was in fact deeply conflicted. If it were possible, she wanted Wei Zhao to do something for those poor neighbors of theirs in the shantytown. If she had never met Wei Zhao, her own family would probably be in the same plight as theirs right now — and given that Zhao Qibing had taken a fancy to her, things might have been even more miserable.

Yet though Tang Yun thought this, she could not act on it. However formidable Wei Zhao's personal abilities were, he could not take charge of everything, could he? There was so much injustice in the world — how could Wei Zhao possibly handle it all?

And Zhao Qibing had made it quite clear: if there were neighbors on good terms with her family, she could help them privately. That had nothing to do with the demolition.

But even if Tang Yun took out the whole five million, with so many residents in the shantytown, each household would get only a few thousand — a drop in the bucket.

So Tang Yun hesitated.

Mother Tang, however, could not have cared less. What did other people have to do with her? If others were poor and could not get compensation, it was because they lacked ability — they had no son-in-law like Wei Zhao. Who was there to blame but their own daughters for not being up to scratch?

When her own man had been bedridden at home, had she ever seen anyone give her family money or help them make connections?

Though the shantytown was basically full of poor people, surely not everyone there was utterly without connections. If back then someone could have been found to speak up for Tang Jucheng's case, it would not have ended with him not getting a single cent.

And meanwhile, another household in the shantytown, also working at that electronics factory, had also been scalded on the foot in a work injury — but they found connections, and got over ten thousand yuan in compensation. Back then, Mother Tang had gone to their door to ask for help, but the family, terrified of being dragged in, had not even opened the door.

So Mother Tang thought: what do I care whether you live or die? I will take my money and go live in my big house!

But though Mother Tang thought this, with Wei Zhao present, it was not hers to decide. She could only look at Wei Zhao.

"Oh, fine," said Wei Zhao, seeing that Tang Yun said nothing — clearly she was leaving the initiative to him. "But as for the compensation for the shantytown, don't make it too low. Follow the standards as closely as you can, all right?"

This was the last thing Wei Zhao could do; as far as he could go, he had already done his utmost.

After all, however remarkable Wei Zhao might be, he could not force Zhao Qibing to give every demolished household five million, could he? Then would the man still make any money? He would be ruined in a few days.

"I'll take that into consideration," Zhao Qibing said with a nod. In any case, he would agree to Wei Zhao first — once Wei Zhao was blown up later, he would not have to carry it out.

"All right, when will you give me the money?" Wei Zhao nodded.

"Oh, I'll have someone draw up a check for five million right now and bring it over," Zhao Qibing said.

"Wouldn't a bank transfer be faster?" Wei Zhao frowned slightly.

"Ah, a transfer — the thing is, our company's account has a monthly outgoing limit. Didn't we just transfer you three million earlier? So transferring another five million would exceed the limit!" Zhao Qibing had long since prepared this reply and delivered it very calmly.

"Oh, then have someone bring it," Wei Zhao said. He was deeply suspicious of Zhao Qibing's purpose in doing this, but he nodded all the same.

"Fine, I'll make a phone call right now!" Zhao Qibing said, and shot Li Cihua a look.

Li Cihua understood at once, took out his phone, and dialed Zhang Yuzhou's number.

"Hello? Zhang Yuzhou? Where are you?" Li Cihua stood up and deliberately walked over to the window, precisely so that Wei Zhao and the others would not hear what was said on the phone.

"Brother Cihua, don't worry, I'm in a very safe place right now," Zhang Yuzhou said. "The bomb's already in place. The moment Wei Zhao starts the car, the timer will kick in."

"Oh — then get a five-million check ready for me and bring it over!" Li Cihua said.

"All right, I'll be right there," Zhang Yuzhou said.

In truth, the call was simply for Li Cihua to confirm with Zhang Yuzhou whether the bomb had been installed; as for the check, that was just a random excuse.

Before long, Zhang Yuzhou knocked and came in, laying a check in front of Zhao Qibing. "Young Master Bing, the check is ready."

"Mm, let me have a look?" Zhao Qibing glanced at the amount on the check, and once he was sure there was no problem, he signed his great name upon it. Then he handed it to Wei Zhao: "You can call and confirm the check's validity."

Wei Zhao nodded, took the check, and called the bank to confirm that it could indeed be cashed. Only then did he nod and hand it back to Mother Tang. Zhao Qibing's attitude today was far too strange; Wei Zhao had to be a little careful.

As for Zhao Qibing's talk of not letting him interfere with the shantytown demolition — Wei Zhao still felt it was not quite credible. In fact, from the time Zhao Qibing began the demolition until now, Wei Zhao had only ever stood up for Tang Yun's family; as for the other households, he truly had not interfered.

And so today's negotiation came to a smooth end. Zhao Qibing did not press Wei Zhao and the others to stay either; he said to Li Cihua: "Cihua, see Wei Zhao and Mrs. Wang's family out."

"Yes, Young Master Bing!" Li Cihua nodded and made a "this way, please" gesture to Wei Zhao. "Wei Zhao, everything's been settled. I trust you don't want to stay here any longer than you have to?"

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