Chapter 536 — Zhong Yongliang Takes Action: "You Don't Need to Be Nervous, Don't You Just Want to Bring Down Gu Pengzhan's Company?" Zhao Qibing Laughed Carelessly, "Actually, I Want to Bring It Down Too!"

"Ah?" Jin Gubang stared, not quite taking in what Zhao Qibing meant.

"Gu Pengzhan's daughter -- now she is a pretty thing. I've been wanting to have a go at her for the longest time, but there's never been the chance, and before Gu Pengzhan lost his power I didn't dare make a move!" Zhao Qibing snickered. "Bring down his company, and I won't mind going and having my fun with his daughter!"

"Oh, certainly! Young Master Bing, set your mind at ease -- under your leadership I'll bring him down sooner or later, you just wait!" Jin Gubang's heart settled at once, and he thumped his own chest in promise.

"All right, let's shelve that for the moment. Tell me instead -- how is our real estate company supposed to make money?" Zhao Qibing was not short of cash. His running a company was purely a lark, though not quite an idle one either; he wanted to achieve something of his own.

A bastard son he might be, but Zhao Qibing still wanted his abilities recognized, so that he could be reclaimed by his ancestors and restored to the family line!

"Right now the best-located, most promising land in Songshan City is the shantytown. If we can get our hands on the development rights for it, our company will take off overnight and make money hand over fist!" Jin Gubang said. "That's what I suggested to Brother Cihua before, too."

"Oh? If it's as good as you say, why hasn't anyone developed this land yet?" Zhao Qibing was no blockhead; the moment he heard Jin Gubang out, he fired back the question.

"The rabble! Too much rabble!" Jin Gubang explained. "The Gu Group wanted to develop that same stretch before, but the shanty dwellers all banded together and demanded relocation compensation so steep the whole thing stopped being worth the trouble. And Gu Pengzhan is a stubborn old mule who refuses to make up the shortfall by cutting corners on construction quality -- so naturally there was no profit in it. The other developers are probably in the same boat."

"Oh? Then if we do it, there is profit?" Zhao Qibing shot back.

"With Brother Cihua stepping in, can't we handle those rabble? If they open their mouths wide as lions, trying to extort us -- we'll finish them off!" Jin Gubang twisted his lips to one side. "Then we make up the money on the construction side. The houses don't have to be too good -- every one we swindle is one more in the pocket..."

"Don't leave yourself open on construction quality. I hear the state has issued a new policy -- a developer's liability for housing quality is for life. That's the kind of thing that comes back later and cuts you off at the roots." Zhao Qibing waved a hand. "As for those demolition households, it doesn't matter a bit -- we'll take our profit out of them!"

"No problem!" Jin Gubang grew ever more certain that this Young Master Bing was no fool. On the contrary, he was a man of real ideas, not the brutish sort who simply bashed forward. He knew what could be touched and what could not.

"When you've got free time these next few days, we'll take a walk through the shantytown together," Zhao Qibing said. "And get the development permits in hand as fast as you can."

"Simple enough. The city has been wanting to redevelop that plot for ages -- it's just that no developer has taken it on. I'll go run the paperwork tomorrow." Jin Gubang spoke breezily. "Oh, right, Young Master Bing -- what do you think we ought to call the company?"

"The name? Qibing Real Estate will do," Zhao Qibing said offhandedly.

Zhong Yongliang's spirits had been unusually buoyant these past two days; he felt that his luck had truly turned! That odious Wei Zhao hadn't shown up at school for days -- with that piece of trash out of the way, he could carry out his plan without a hitch.

"Xiaofu, how are your preparations coming?" Zhong Yongliang asked Gao Xiaofu.

"Brother Liang, I've found the cave -- absolutely safe!" Gao Xiaofu snickered. "I've installed a security door inside. However tough Gu Mengyao is, there's no way she's getting out!"

"Not bad! Now that's a fresh idea -- better than your average kidnapper's. You were born a villain!" Hearing what Gao Xiaofu had done, Zhong Yongliang burst out laughing.

"Heh heh -- that's all thanks to you leading the way, Brother Liang! I'd never have dreamed up such a scheme on my own!" Gao Xiaofu was enormously pleased. Zhong Yongliang had said earlier that they would tie Gu Mengyao up inside the cave, but Gao Xiaofu had feared that something might happen to her once Zhong Yongliang left.

Out in the wilds of the backcountry -- what if some beast came prowling? So Gao Xiaofu, seized by inspiration, installed a security door. Perfect: without the key, no one could open it.

"There's food and things to amuse her inside?" Zhong Yongliang asked.

"Of course -- I've got it all ready!" Gao Xiaofu nodded. "The rest is up to you, Brother Liang -- see how you can lure Gu Mengyao over!"

"That part is on me -- I've had it figured out for a good long while!" Zhong Yongliang said with a confidence that left no room for doubt. "I know Gu Mengyao inside and out; I can handle this one myself!"

During the class break before evening self-study, Zhong Yongliang sidled up to the desk where Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu sat, all mystery, and said in a low voice: "Yaoyao, there's something rather important I want to ask you."

Gu Mengyao glanced up at Zhong Yongliang and frowned. "I told you not to call me Yaoyao. Either call me Sister Yaoyao or use my full name. How can your memory be so wretched?"

"That's right, Sister Yaoyao -- I think Little Liangzi ought to swallow a few brain pills and top up what he's missing!" Shen Yushu nodded.

Far from losing his temper, Zhong Yongliang simply stayed solemn. "All right, then -- Mengyao it is. I really do have something to see you about; what I call you doesn't matter in the least."

"What is it?" Gu Mengyao asked with a trace of impatience. She had been about to slip out with Xiaoshu for a little snack to stave off hunger, and here was Zhong Yongliang planted at the edge of her seat -- heaven knew what trivial business he had.

"Um... Xiaoshu, would you mind stepping away for a moment?" Zhong Yongliang asked, watching Shen Yushu carefully.

"Oh?" Shen Yushu blinked in surprise. Every time Zhong Yongliang courted Gu Mengyao he never asked her to withdraw -- he would even volunteer to keep her around to help. What was this fellow after today?

"Ahem... today's business is rather private, and it may touch on some of Mengyao's personal matters, so..." Zhong Yongliang said tactfully.

"Zhong Yongliang, if you have something to say, then say it. If not, Xiaoshu and I are going shopping!" Gu Mengyao's patience had reached its end. "Xiaoshu is my best friend -- there's nothing I'd think of hiding from her!"

"All right then... I'll say it!" In truth Zhong Yongliang would rather not have Shen Yushu mixed up in this; because of who Shen Yushu was, he could not help but hold back warily.

"Are you going to have something to say or not?" Gu Mengyao fixed him with a glare.

"I do... Mengyao, you're an only child, aren't you?" Zhong Yongliang asked gingerly.

"An only child?" Gu Mengyao started. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Uh... in other words, Uncle Chu has only you, doesn't he?" Zhong Yongliang hurried to explain.

"Isn't that just stating the obvious? What exactly are you trying to say?" The more Gu Mengyao listened, the more she felt that Zhong Yongliang was simply making up things to talk about.

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