Chapter 147 — The Long-Awaited...

"What?" Wei Dekang was stunned, unable to fathom how Bao Lin had learned the news. Then it hit him—Boss Niu must have tipped him off. He was furious, though also puzzled. What did this have to do with Bao Lin? "Brother Bao, hello. Might I ask where you heard such a thing?"

However foul Wei Dekang's mood, he did not dare lose his temper with Bao Lin now. Bao Lin was the sort of man Wei Dekang could not afford to cross. Though he himself walked the line between the underworld and the gray, set beside Bao Lin he was nothing at all.

The thugs under Wei Dekang were no match for Bao Lin's men—not only unprofessional, but fewer in number. So Wei Dekang's tone turned deferential.

"Where I heard it doesn't matter." Bao Lin suddenly gave a cold snort. "But you've got some nerve, Wei Dekang. Tired of living? You dare lay a hand on my company?"

"Your company?" Wei Dekang was baffled. "Brother Bao, what are you talking about? How would I dare touch your company? I wouldn't dare even with a few more guts than I have."

"Mingyang Heavy Industries and Mingyang Entertainment are brother companies. To touch Mingyang is to touch me." Bao Lin's voice was harsh. "I'd say you've got a death wish. For now I'm only warning you—if you dare make another move, I guarantee you'll vanish from this earth tomorrow. I, Bao Lin, would like to be a civilized man, but there's always someone forcing me to do uncivilized things. What a contradiction."

"What?" Learning that Mingyang Heavy Industries was connected to Bao Lin, Wei Dekang was visibly stunned. Then it hit him—no wonder Boss Niu had been so evasive, refusing even the enormous profit he had been offered. So that was the crux of it. Who would dare lay a finger on Bao Lin's company? Was that not the same as courting death?

Cursing Boss Niu inwardly as a wretch for not telling him something so important—if Bao Lin had not called him today, the situation would have been beyond salvage, and he likely would never have known how he died.

Wei Dekang was a businessman. Merchants value profit, and they also know how to read the times. Though he had operated in Songjiang for many years and had some foundations, he knew very well that there were people one could not afford to offend.

He might currently be vice chairman of the Songjiang Chamber of Commerce, but the moment he clashed with Bao Lin, he suspected not a single person would stand at his side. They would rush to distance themselves from him, terrified of being dragged down with him. This much Wei Dekang saw very clearly.

His original notion of moving against Yang Puqi's family came from his belief that his strength was enough to take on Yang Ce—at the very least, that they were evenly matched, and he could recover his lost face.

But now, that was not even worth contemplating. Fighting Bao Lin would only bring a miserable death. Wei Dekang was no fool; his head cooled at once, and he apologized to Bao Lin. "Brother Bao, I'm sorry. I truly did not know that was your company. Had I known, I would never have entertained the slightest thought, not even if you beat me to death."

To be continued.

964. Fang Tian's Intentions

"Then that's best." Bao Lin said, "I hope you remember what you've said. You get only one chance—don't come crying to me later that I never gave you one."

"Rest easy, Brother Bao. I won't do anything foolish again." Wei Dekang wiped the sweat from his brow, and the unrealistic schemes in his heart were set aside for good.

"I hope what you say is true." Bao Lin hung up.

Wei Dekang fell silent. Much as he longed to avenge Wei Jin, it now seemed impossible for the time being—at least not before his own power surpassed Bao Lin's.

Suddenly Wei Dekang cried out in alarm as it struck him—he had sent Zheng Laoliu to deal with Yang Cenbin. If Bao Lin learned of it afterward, he would likely turn the same methods on him, or worse.

At that thought, Wei Dekang dared not delay. He snatched up the phone and dialed Zheng Laoliu's cell.

"The number you have dialed is switched off or out of the service area. Please try again later." The icy recorded message came through the line, and Wei Dekang's heart lurched. Only then did he remember—to avoid complications, he had told Zheng Laoliu to switch off his phone.

Wei Dekang was filled with regret. How could he have been so rash, dispatching Zheng Laoliu to burn down Yang Juehuan's company without even considering the consequences? Even if he denied it now, he was sure Bao Lin would suspect him afterward.

What was more, when he had summoned Zheng Laoliu, Sui Yuemin had been right there listening. If Sui Yuemin's lips were loose and he let something slip, Wei Dekang would be finished.

Anxious and regretful, Wei Dekang was utterly powerless. With Zheng Laoliu unreachable, he had no way to stop him. Yet he could hardly call Bao Lin and tell him—after all, if Bao Lin learned of this, even should nothing come of it, Bao Lin would hold him to account.

So Wei Dekang truly did not know what to do, caught in a dilemma. He knew Zheng Laoliu's methods well. Even if he told Bao Lin now and put him on guard, Zheng Laoliu might well still succeed—and then the whole thing would backfire all the more badly.

Wei Dekang sighed and began to consider what consequences his actions might lead to. Since matters had come to this, he could not simply sit and worry; he had to think through what this affair might produce.

But if Sui Yuemin kept silent, then as long as he denied it, even if Bao Lin suspected him, there would be no evidence. Besides, Wei Dekang refused to believe that Yang Ce had no enemies other than himself.

At that thought, Wei Dekang felt somewhat reassured. He picked up the phone and called Sui Yuemin, instructing him not to talk nonsense about Zheng Laoliu.

Sui Yuemin readily agreed. He had never wanted to be mixed up in such disputes in the first place, and if he could say less, he naturally would.

That left only Zheng Laoliu. At the thought of Zheng Laoliu, a flicker of ruthlessness crossed Wei Dekang's face. If worse came to worst, he would have to sacrifice the pawn to save the king. Zheng Laoliu was certainly capable, but his own safety was at stake, and Wei Dekang resolved that the moment Zheng Laoliu returned, he would find a way to dispose of him first.

Only the dead never talk. That way, when it came to Bao Lin, there would be no witness left to testify; so long as he held firm and admitted nothing, Bao Lin would have no grounds to move against him. He might not be as powerful as Bao Lin, but he was no soft persimmon to be squeezed at will, and if Bao Lin truly meant to break the rules, then he would fight him to the bitter end, dragging them both down together, and neither would come out the better for it.

With that thought, Wei Dekang's heart settled somewhat. He rubbed his temples and turned his attention to other matters.

When Yang Ce arrived at Fang Tian's home, Fang Tian was as usual, lying leisurely on the bed listening to the radio, the picture of idleness. Seeing Yang Ce come in, he gave a nod, said nothing, and went on listening to the storytelling on the radio.

Yang Moyi had real business to discuss with Fang Tian, so he had no time to dawdle with him. He switched the radio off outright and said, "Old man, what do you listen to this stuff for when you've got nothing better to do?"

"And you, you little brat, never come to see me. It's boring as hell around here, so what am I supposed to do if not listen to storytelling?" Fang Tian shot Yang Puqi a disapproving glare, then said, "Turn it back on. I was right in the middle of a good bit, listening to Zhuge Liang capture Meng Huo seven times."

"Forget capturing Meng Huo seven times. There's something I need to talk over with you." Yang Ce dragged a chair over and sat down squarely in front of Fang Tian.