27 Acting
A while ago, someone from the Miao family came and asked him to mix in more counterfeit goods, saying that they would be able to detect them in quality inspections. He was terrified. Was this the end of his life? Was he going to be shot? He shook his head and said he wouldn't do it. But the Miao family's relatives immediately exposed his occasional tricks and produced a long list of evidence.
They threatened him that if he didn't do as he was told, he'd still end up in jail. They told him to help them get some fake goods, and when they were done, the Miao family would send them to Canada and buy them a nice house. He did as he was told.
Now, he had sent his wife and children there, and stayed behind to wait for the final payment. After so many years in business, he knew everything there was to know. This time, a small fry like him was able to get a piece of the pie, but it was just because he had hit a vacancy in the exchange of interests between the big families.
By deliberately revealing some flaws and re-bidding under the pretext of failing quality inspection, they can replace suppliers and make it easier for them to transfer larger profits.
He usually did some petty theft, so naturally, he never imagined that one day it would become evidence for blackmail. Now, how come even his neighbors at the cafe knew about it? Did they not want to pay, but also wanted to send him to jail?
"Hey, little brother, are you going to bid for the Third Municipal Hospital too? Me too," Boss Zhu said, trying to get close to Fang Qiu. Seeing him turn around, Fang Qiu felt secretly pleased. Damn, the fish has taken the bait. It seems my acting is pretty good! Get this into the Beijing Film Academy textbooks!
Fang Qiu feigned surprise when he heard this: "What a coincidence?"
He picked up the coffee he had just ordered, sat down across from Boss Zhu, and began to act out his acting skills. "Oh, what a coincidence! I just told Boss Yang that I wanted to ask for some inside information so I could go back and revise my bidding proposal. And then Boss Yang turned around and told me that the Third Hospital of Renmin City had already made the decision, and we couldn't even get the parameters."
Good grief, Boss Zhu thought. This Miao family and this man were truly foolish, saying something like this so carelessly. The Miao family was so wealthy and powerful that they could survive even if they were investigated, even if they cut off one arm. A small shrimp like me would be left with nothing if I died. No one would even want to drink kelp soup.
Boss Zhu had no desire to drink his coffee at this moment. He only wanted to go home, pick up the safe, and flee to Canada to reunite with his wife and children.
What a crap house! It's just a carrot hanging in front of a donkey. Now that things have come to this, if you're any more greedy, you won't be able to leave.
Thinking of this, Boss Zhu immediately stood up, said goodbye, and left in a hurry.
Fang Qiu watched him run away in a panic, laughing with delight. He picked up the phone that was lying upside down on the table and said as he walked away, "Zhou Qi, it's your turn next. Boss Zhu should be running away now. If you scare him again, he might just spill all his money."
"Okay, get out now. Boss Zhu's leaving." Zhou Qi, seeing this, also turned on his turn signal. After Fang Qiu jumped into the passenger seat, he lightly stepped on the accelerator and followed. "So, was my acting okay?" Fang Qiu cocked an eyebrow at Zhou Qi from his seat.
Zhou Qi never offended anyone, and even though he was just a supporting actor, he spoke Fang Qiu's heartfelt words: "Yes, I suggest it be included in the Beijing Film Academy textbooks."
Fang Qiu laughed so hard that he fell backwards.
After driving to Boss Zhu's house, Fang Qiu had already shown up at the cafe, so it was inconvenient for him to get out of the car. He could only wait in the car for Zhou Qi to come back. "Alright, it's round. I'll tell you to be careful. Go, little Zhou Qi. Senior brother will wait for you in the car~"
Zhou Qi looked at him with a playful smile on his face. He thought that his senior brother was really not a serious person.
Boss Zhu had just arrived at his villa and was about to enter the password to open the door when Zhou Qi stopped him. "Boss Zhu, right? I'm Xiao Fang, a reporter from the city TV station. A while ago, the station received a real-name report alleging that your factory was mixing inferior products as good ones. Don't worry, I'm here today just to understand the situation."
Boss Zhu's hand on the combination lock was shaking. "No... no way, we all make conscientious products." Zhou Qi looked at him with a look of "Do you think I believe it?" Boss Zhu had no choice but to open the door and let him in to sit in the yard while he poured himself some water.
"Don't bother, Boss Zhu. Just tell me the truth, and who's behind the scenes. Don't worry, we reporters seek the truth, but we don't necessarily report it." Zhou Qi finished, then wondered if he was being too hasty. But seeing Boss Zhu's panicked state, perhaps pressing on would lead to his downfall.
"Boss Zhu, if you tell me today, I will leave immediately. I have no grudge against you, this is just my job. I won't make things difficult for you, and you don't make things difficult for me. Otherwise, when the time comes, the disciplinary inspection department, alas..." Zhou Qi added some weight to his argument.
"I can't tell you! If you are smart, you will find the answer yourself. You reporters have so many pinhole cameras and recorders on your bodies. I'm going to say this today. Even if you refuse to leave, I can only tell you that I can't tell you." Boss Zhu spoke excitedly and stood up to drive Zhou Qi out.
Seeing him so excited, Zhou Qi realized that intimidation was no longer effective, so he put on his usual gentle demeanor, with some sympathy in his eyes, and spoke in a gentle tone: "Boss Zhu, don't get excited. In our line of work, we always have to carry some self-defense equipment, but we also use our eyes and brains to judge people, right?"
After saying this, he paused. Without waiting for Boss Zhu to respond, Zhou Qi glanced at the beautiful villa in front of him and continued, "This villa is nice. But is it safe to live in? You're taking the blame for others and cutting off your own financial resources. You and I both know that they're after more than just the packaging; they're after the medicine, Boss Zhu. Can this little benefit buy you peace of mind for the rest of your life? Besides, whether this matter can be reported or not, the station will also weigh whether they can handle this business."
Boss Zhu's face turned pale, and sweat ran down his neck and wet his collar. He was silent for a long time, and finally spoke in a hoarse voice: "How can I trust you...Are you from that end?" Zhou Qi breathed a sigh of relief. Boss Zhu asked this because he was actually ready to explain everything and just wanted to reassure him.
"You don't need to believe me. Just give me a copy of what you have, and I will delete all the recordings I have. You take your money, and I will do my job." This reassurance pill has been delivered to Boss Zhu's mouth at this time, and there is no reason for him not to take it.
Afterwards, Zhou Qi fulfilled his promise, deleted their recording, and turned to leave. Behind him, Boss Zhu sat limply in a chair, sweating profusely. Seeing Zhou Qi leave, he struggled to get up and close the door.
When Zhou Qi appeared in the rearview mirror, Fang Qiu jumped out of the car. "Did you get it? How's it going?" Seeing Zhou Qi nod, he felt relieved. "You're just getting started. You have the evidence of the packaging box, but at most you can only trace it back to a white glove. They have more ways to get away than you've ever tasted salt."
"I understand, but I still have something in my hand." Zhou Qi opened the passenger door for Fang Qiu, then went around to the other side and got in. "After all, Boss Zhu is just the least notable of them all."
Zhou Qi had never considered revealing all his cards at once. For now, he could only use one or two small cards to temporarily contain Miao Yue, letting her know he had more than she needed. While trying to secure Zhou Daye's lifeline, he also wanted to get Yang Xiao out of this situation as quickly as possible. He couldn't guarantee that what he was doing wouldn't affect her.
When he thought of Yang Xiao, he couldn't help but smile, and Yang Xiao's words in front of the fruit stall, "Zhou Qi, your acting is really bad," inexplicably came to his mind again.
But Yang Xiao, Zhou Qi’s acting skills are now extremely good.
Miao Yue was pleasantly surprised when she received Zhou Qi's WeChat message. He never proactively messaged her, but after calming down, she developed a bad feeling. Two months had passed since their last confrontation, which ended in acrimony. In those two months, no matter how she tried, finding one "Zhou Qi" after another, it always felt bland. She couldn't pinpoint what was missing from those "Zhou Qis."
It wasn't until she arrived at the appointment and saw Zhou Qi, who was already sitting there waiting for her. He was wearing a simple white shirt with his sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing his distinct wrist bones. She suddenly understood what was missing from those fakes.
The shortcomings have a dangerous smell, as if they want to destroy each other and burn to ashes.
Miao Yue walked towards him in high heels, with her usual charming and somewhat alms-giving look, and pulled out a chair opposite Zhou Qi and sat down. "It's been two months since we last met. Have you figured it out or do you miss me? It doesn't matter. It's almost the same."
Zhou Qi never responded to her flirting. "I'm here to inform you that I'm arranging a consultation with an expert." Miao Yue laughed in his face. "What makes you say that? Zhou Qi, my love for you is conditional. I like to see you showing your claws. But I don't like your claws facing me."
Zhou Qi got straight to the point, unwilling to discuss their relationship further. "What went wrong before the hospital bid on this batch of equipment? What was the purpose of this bid? You should know, right?" Miao Yue glanced at him and immediately played dumb. "I don't know. I'm not qualified to ask about the hospital's affairs."
"The condition is to help my father arrange another specialist consultation and continue treatment until September next year."
"What do you have in your hand?"
"It's not much, but at least it can make this bidding go wrong."
"Zhou Qi, I, Miao Yue, can afford your father's medical resources. But I advise you not to meddle in other people's business. The Miao family is not something you can touch."
Oh.
Miao Yue really thought the man across from her was adorably stupid. He didn't beg for mercy, didn't ask for gifts or projects, and didn't even ask for a sweet treat. Now he actually dared to hold a knife to her neck to negotiate, like a cold-blooded debt collector, not wanting a penny more, just his father's life-saving money.
After Miao Yue left, Zhou Qi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
At least now Dad and Yang Xiao have received the best arrangements within his ability.
Meanwhile, Yang Xiao, completely unaware of the situation, hurriedly concluded her sophomore year at school. With almost no vacation time, life became even simpler and more mechanical for the soon-to-be seniors. With only one holiday a month, she'd go to the hospital to see Uncle Zhou and Zhou Qi, and occasionally visit Fang Qiu to try a new cake flavor. Then, in the blink of an eye, it was over.
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