Chapter 55 Jiang Tianqi Sets a Trap
When Fang Che said, "I want to see what tricks Jiang Tianqi can pull," A Yong was stunned. He clearly hadn't expected the young man to say something so tough.
“Brother Che, with Boss Li around, Jiang Tianqi won’t dare to really touch you.” After saying that, A Yong lowered his voice, “But he’s a very cunning person, so you should still be careful.”
Fang Che nodded, but he was still unsure.
He knew his own limitations.
Before transmigrating, he was just an ordinary office worker, relying entirely on his sports school background and recklessness to fight.
Now that he has a frail physique, his chances of winning against a madman like Jiang Tianqi are slim.
But he couldn't show weakness.
Behind him were children who had just seen hope, and beside him were his brothers who trusted him.
Li Hanzhou entrusted the shop and its people to him; he had to handle it.
For the next few days, Portland Street remained calm.
"Northeast Tiger Barbecue" is still a booming business.
After the opposite side of the street was sealed off, Fang Che practically monopolized the entire street's late-night food business.
With Xi Rong and the children working together to prepare for the school in an orderly manner, news also came from Grandma Lin...
The Education Department has agreed to designate the old classroom on Temple Street as a community school, and the formalities should be completed next week.
Everything was going so smoothly it was unsettling.
Fang Che's left shoulder injury has healed, and the new skin and flesh glows a pale pink under the light.
Li Hanzhou had mentioned that he would get a tattoo after his injury healed, but he hadn't been seen for the past few days. According to A Gui, he was discussing a business deal related to the transformation of the gang.
"Brother Che, look at this." Xi Rong came over with a ledger, a smile on her face. "The net profit this month is 87,000! At this rate, we can open a branch by the end of the year."
Fang Che took the ledger, but he couldn't feel happy.
Everything went too smoothly.
How could Jiang Tianqi remain completely silent after suffering such a huge loss?
“Xi Rong,” he said, closing the ledger, “be careful when taking the children out these days, and don’t let them go out alone. A Yong, send two more people to accompany them.”
"I know, Brother Che," Xi Rong replied, then whispered, "Aren't you being too nervous? Maybe Jiang Tianqi is afraid of Boss Li and won't dare to cause trouble?"
Fang Che shook his head.
Afraid?
This word doesn't exist in Jiang Tianqi's dictionary.
Just then, the shop door was pushed open, and the wind chimes rang.
A strange man walked in...
He was in his thirties, his suit was a little wrinkled, and he was carrying a briefcase, looking like a salesman.
He looked around and walked to the counter.
"Excuse me, is Mr. Fang Che here?"
Fang Che looked up: "That's me. And you are?"
The man took out a business card from his bag and handed it to him with both hands: "Hello Mr. Fang, I am Chen, the business manager of 'Hejia Huan Property Management Company'. We have contracted the garbage collection and transportation near Portland Street. We have heard that your 'Chefeng Express' is doing a good job and would like to talk about cooperation."
Fang Che took the business card and glanced at it.
Family-friendly property management? Never heard of it.
"How would Manager Chen like to cooperate?"
“We’ve just entered this area and are short-handed and equipped. Your team is experienced and familiar with the streets, so we’d like to entrust you with the nighttime cleaning of Portland Street, Temple Street, and Shanghai Street, paying you a monthly service fee. Here’s a draft contract for you to take a look.”
He took out a document.
Fang Che took it and glanced at it.
The terms are standard and the fees are reasonable, 20,000 per month for three streets.
This is a huge income for the children.
but……
“Manager Chen,” Fang Che closed the contract, “why did you choose me when the terms are so good? There are plenty of cleaning companies in Hong Kong.”
Manager Chen smiled: "Mr. Fang is too modest. Our boss appreciates your management style and finds it innovative. Moreover, these kids are familiar with the alleys and lanes, which is something others can't match."
He makes a good point.
But Fang Che was on edge.
“Okay,” Fang Che handed the contract back, “I’ll think about it and get back to you in three days.”
"Of course." Manager Chen didn't say much, exchanged a few pleasantries, and left.
As soon as he left, Xi Rong came over and said, "Brother Che, are you going to take it? It's 20,000 a month! That's enough to buy all the desks, chairs and textbooks for the school."
Cheng Tieniu nodded in agreement: "The work isn't tiring, it just involves making a few more trips at night. The kids are capable."
Fang Che didn't say anything, and watched the famous film repeatedly.
Hejia Huan Property... The registered address is in Tsim Sha Tsui, and the phone number is a switchboard extension.
It's too formal, so formal it's almost deliberate.
“Tiezi,” Fang Che suddenly said, “go to Tsim Sha Tsui and see if this company exists at this address.”
"Now?"
"Now."
Cheng Tieniu responded and left.
Fang Che then looked at Xi Rong: "When you're cleaning up tonight, keep an eye out for any unfamiliar faces loitering around. Especially those wearing suits and carrying briefcases."
Xi Rong's expression changed slightly: "Brother Che, you suspect that person..."
"I don't know," Fang Che shook his head, "but it's always better to be careful."
He picked up his mobile phone, intending to call Li Hanzhou, but then paused and put it down again.
Brother Li is busy with important matters. He should investigate and clarify these unfounded suspicions first.
At three o'clock in the afternoon, Cheng Tieniu returned with a strange expression.
“Che, I went to check it out.” He took a sip of water. “The address is an office building, very impressive. The receptionist said there is indeed a ‘Family Property Management’ unit on the twelfth floor. I wanted to go up, but she said I couldn’t go in without an appointment.”
"Did you see the sign?"
“I saw it, it’s shiny and golden.” Cheng Tieniu scratched his head. “It’s just too new, so shiny it’s blinding, like it was just hung up.”
Just hung it up?
Fang Che's heart sank.
“Also,” Cheng Tieniu lowered his voice, “I squatted downstairs for a while and saw several men in black suits going in and out. Their walking posture… didn’t look like they were going to work. They looked more like the kind of people Ah Gui led, with straight backs and menacing eyes.”
Gang members.
Fang Che took a breath.
There was indeed a problem.
"Tiezi, don't tell anyone about this yet." Fang Che stood up. "I'll go ask Sister Thirteen."
The Paramount nightclub is not open during the day, but its back door is always open.
Fang Che went in and bumped into Thirteen Sister, who was scolding the waiters.
"Oh, little brother!" Thirteen Sister's eyes lit up. "What brings you here? Come, come, I just made some bird's nest soup to nourish you!"
"Thirteenth Sister, I have something to ask you," Fang Che said directly. "Have you heard of 'Family Harmony Property Management'?"
Thirteen Sister's smile faded slightly: "The one in Tsim Sha Tsui?"
"right."
How did you know?
Fang Che recounted what had happened that morning.
After hearing this, Thirteen Sister's expression turned serious.
She waved the waiter away, pulled Fang Che into her office, and closed the door.
“Little brother, listen carefully,” she said in a low voice, “‘Hejia Huan Property’ was only registered last week. The legal representative is just a shell company. The actual controller is… Jiang Tianqi.”
Although Fang Che had guessed some of it, his heart still sank when he heard the confirmation.
What is he trying to do?
"I don't know." Thirteen Sister shook her head. "But Jiang Tianqi never does things without a reason. He's using a shell company to ask you to cooperate, so he must have a backup plan."
She paused, then looked at Fang Che: "You're under Li Hanzhou's protection now, so he won't dare to touch you openly. But he can play dirty tricks! He can trap you in a contract, lay traps in the terms, and then deal with you legitimately once you've fallen into them."
Fang Che felt a chill run down his spine.
He had seen many such business traps in his previous life.
I never expected that I would have to deal with this kind of thing when I arrived in Hong Kong in the 1990s.
"Thank you for reminding me, Thirteenth Sister." Fang Che stood up. "I know what to do now."
"Wait a minute." Thirteen Sister called out to him, taking a business card from her drawer. "This is the phone number of a lawyer friend of mine who specializes in handling commercial disputes. If Jiang Tianqi really tries to cheat you with the contract, contact him. Mention my name, and he'll give you a discount."
Fang Che took the business card: "Thirteenth Sister, thank you."
"Don't be so polite." Thirteen Sister smiled and pinched his cheek. "I like you, and I don't want you to suffer. But little brother..."
She changed the subject, her eyes becoming somewhat serious: "You're quite the celebrity on Portland Street now. You open a shop, run a school, and do community service; everyone in the neighborhood praises you. Some people might not feel comfortable with this kind of attention."
Fang Che smiled wryly: "I understand that a tall tree catches the wind."
"Good that you understand." Thirteen Sister patted his shoulder. "Go back now. If you need anything, just let me know."
Back at the barbecue restaurant, Fang Che locked himself on the second floor and studied the draft contract for two hours.
The terms and conditions are well-structured, the service fees are reasonable, and the liability for breach of contract is clearly defined!
On the surface, it is a standard commercial agency contract.
However, on page thirteen, in Appendix Three, it is written in small print: "Party B (Fang Che) shall ensure that there are no other competing garbage collection activities within the service area; otherwise, it shall be deemed a breach of contract and Party B (Hejia Huan Property) shall pay Party A (Hejia Huan Property) a penalty of ten times the contract amount."
Two hundred thousand.
Fang Che smiled.
So that's where the pit was.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com