Aunt Qiao glared fiercely at Aunt Zhao.
They were all residents of a village near the railway who had been relocated due to demolition. They had thought that they would be set for life after receiving the compensation, but the men in their families proved to be disappointing.
They had been cursed with bad luck for eight lifetimes, and the good fortune they had finally managed to get was squandered by them. Not only did they lose their demolition compensation money gambling, but they also incurred millions in debt.
Fortunately, the person who ran the gambling den wasn't entirely heartless; he introduced them to a high-paying job.
They were already doing manual labor in various places, and they didn't have any aversion to construction work.
The boss here is a very nice person. He pays high wages and doesn't allow overtime. Both families feel that they have hope for the future and even hope that things can continue like this, and that they might really be able to pay off their debts one day.
Unfortunately, a leopard can't change its spots.
With money in their hands, they couldn't resist going out to gamble again, and people said that as long as they jumped off the construction site, all their previous debts would be wiped clean.
Aunt Qiao and Aunt Zhao both knew about this, but they tacitly accepted it. They had been married for many years and of course had feelings for their husbands, but no matter how much affection they had, it couldn't withstand repeated wear and tear.
When something annoying dies, a huge weight is lifted from my heart.
The reasons for causing this disturbance are twofold: first, to retrieve the remaining IOUs from those people, and second, to secure their future livelihoods.
A son's wedding and a daughter's marriage are both important matters; neither requires money. When such an opportunity arises, of course, one should ask for as much as possible.
Aunt Qiao complained that Aunt Zhao was asking for an exorbitant amount, saying that Old Wang from the village entrance had only received a little over a million yuan in compensation when he fell while repairing electrical wires.
Both of her family members committed suicide. She was asking for five million and was afraid that the person in front of her wouldn't give her a chance to bargain. Aunt Zhao asked for ten million as soon as she opened her mouth. Did she really think that person was a sucker?
"Sure." Tang Xining agreed without hesitation. "The accident happened on our construction site, so we should be responsible. Do you have children at home?"
Aunt Qiao and Aunt Zhao nodded hesitantly.
Tang Xining sighed, "It's not easy for anyone. I'll cover all the expenses from now until the child goes to university."
After a moment's hesitation, Tang Xining added, "If I hadn't gone bankrupt."
Tang Xining recalled her previous experiences, but Aunt Qiao and Aunt Zhao thought it was an implication of something, and felt guilty and extremely ashamed.
Tang Xining pointed to the tall building in front of her, "Once the buildings are completed, I will give each of you an apartment. It will be beneficial for the children's schooling. If you have any questions, you can come and ask me directly."
The two women stood there stunned. Tang Xining's offer was too good to be true; if they didn't know the truth, they would have suspected that she was behind their husbands' deaths.
But they knew, and not only did they know, they were also involved.
Guilt weighed heavily on them, and they were also angry at Tang Xining for being so easily deceived.
The reporters who had been called in behind them were also stunned. Before they came, they were there to speak out for the vulnerable and expose the true face of vicious capitalists.
Now they want to speak out for themselves. They can get ten million by jumping down from there, so they all want to jump.
But thinking that I was here for money to do something, I felt a little better. After taking the photos, I interviewed the two of them according to the pre-arranged questions, but the two of them completely changed their attitude.
Aunt Qiao and Aunt Zhao didn't consider themselves good people, but they weren't completely heartless either. After hearing their words, the Qiao family became a truly conscientious enterprise, and it was only because the country had no vision that the family wasn't selected as one of the top ten outstanding enterprises in the country.
The reporter could only sigh: Capitalism truly corrupts people's hearts.
This report was naturally unusable. Tang Xining had unknowingly diffused the conflict, but she hadn't expected the mastermind to arrive so quickly.
Mu Xiaozhe was twirling car keys in his hand, with an earring in his left ear, and his short black hair was permed into small curls. His outfit, which his mother would disapprove of, made Tang Xining frown.
"They were only taken away by the police this time. I can't guarantee what will happen next time. Sign the agreement, and I'll guarantee your safe departure from City A," Mu Xiaozhe said arrogantly.
Tang Xining calmly sipped her tea. "Is this considered a threat?"
"You can understand it this way: to tell you the truth, this piece of land is what our Mu family has our eye on. It's only because I'm the one who came that we're here. If it were someone else, we wouldn't have been so gentle."
Upon hearing this, Tang Xining raised her head and carefully looked him up and down, then calmly said, "I understand."
Businesses like the Qiao family and the Mu family have always had dealings with each other. She recognized the child in front of her through his heavy makeup, but he obviously didn't recognize her.
If Qiao Xia and Qiao Zhaoxing were here, he might know that the Qiao family bought the land. Unfortunately, Tang Xining has never liked to show herself in public. Even his parents' generation might not know her, let alone Mu Xiaozhe.
Mu Xiaozhe became even more enraged by her cold attitude. "Can't you understand human language? I'm a member of the Mu family. Go out and ask around..."
No matter what Mu Xiaozhe said, Tang Xining remained unmoved until he got bored and left.
Police station
The police station wasn't in a remote location, but Qiao Xia still couldn't hail a taxi late at night.
"Get in, I'll take you back." Zhao Yuncheng rolled down the car window and offered to give them a ride.
The car was deathly silent; no one spoke first.
Upon arriving at the entrance of Qiao Palace, Zhao Yuncheng called out to Qiao Xia, "Miss Qiao, I have some more details I'd like to ask about the migrant worker's fall from the building."
Qiao Xia knew he had something to say, so she sat back in the passenger seat, and Qiao Zhaoxing followed suit and climbed into the back seat to sit obediently.
Zhao Yuncheng frowned, "I would like to confirm this matter with Miss Qiao alone."
"Xia Bao~" Qiao Zhaoxing said with concern.
Qiao Xia shook her head. "It's okay. Mom might be getting impatient. You should go back and tell her."
Qiao Zhaoxing then got out of the car, looking back every few steps.
Qiao Xia looked at Zhao Yuncheng, who remained silent for a long time, which added to her irritation. "What does Officer Zhao want to say to me?"
"Is the Qiao family very rich?" Zhao Yuncheng asked a completely unrelated question.
Qiao Xia was more than happy to answer this question: "You could say they're extremely wealthy!"
Zhao Yuncheng tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, his expression obscured by the darkness. "If I help you resolve this matter, how much will you give me?"
Qiao Xia sat up abruptly and refused righteously, "Officer Zhao, entrapment is not allowed now."
The carefully crafted serious atmosphere was completely dispelled by her words.
Zhao Yuncheng gave a wry smile and shook his head, then looked at Qiao Xia, "I'm serious. Isn't collusion between officials and businessmen commonplace? Or does Miss Qiao prefer something else?"
As he spoke, Zhao Yuncheng took her hand and gently stroked his chin.
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