Chapter 618: Choosing to Spend Money to Avoid Disaster
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The most effective strategy, he concluded, was to meet their demands by presenting a guarantor of high status. This would satisfy their immediate needs and leave them with no choice but to cooperate with the investigation.
However, the challenge lay in finding such a person on such short notice. He looked helplessly at his captain. Perhaps Deputy Director He could step in? After all, the shopkeeper was Gu Zi, who was the wife of Su Shen. Wasn’t Deputy Director He always trying to curry favor with Su Shen? This would be a huge favor.
But Captain He shook his head in silence. It was unheard of for a deputy director of a police station to act as a guarantor. That would be a breach of protocol.
Finally, the two officers turned to Gu Zi. Unfazed, she smiled and brought forward her close friend, Gong Xin.
To their surprise, Gong Xin’s presence proved useful. As the daughter of the esteemed Chief Gong, wasn’t she the perfect high-status guarantor? “Let her do it, Gong Xin, okay?” Gu Zi asked.
Gu Zi looked back at Gong Xin. She hadn’t intended to drag her friend into this, but given the circumstances, she had no choice but to ask for her help. Of course, it would depend on Gong Xin’s willingness. If she refused, Gu Zi wouldn’t force her.
Although Gong Xin was somewhat afraid of the emotionally charged relatives, she wouldn’t refuse to help a friend in need. What kind of friend would she be if she didn’t show loyalty?
Gong Xin stepped forward, gathered her courage, and announced loudly to the crowd, “I am Gong Xin, the daughter of Chief Gong from the city. I will be the guarantor. Is that satisfactory?”
Upon hearing this, the crowd was stunned. Everyone in the city knew Chief Gong. The person standing with the shopkeeper was none other than Chief Gong’s daughter…
The relatives gradually fell silent. Seeing this, Captain He stepped forward and said, “Since there are no objections, let’s all go in for the record. No one is to be left out. If you continue to resist, I won’t hesitate to enforce the law.”
The relatives dared not say anything more. After all, if they continued to resist, they could be accused of obstructing justice and could be forcibly taken away. Who would dare to gamble on that? So, the parents of Li Da, the relatives causing the commotion, Gu Zi, and Gong Xin were all led into the police station.
Meanwhile, at the city hospital, Li Da, who had been poisoned, had just had his stomach pumped and was resting in bed.
His younger brother, Li Er, who had brought him to the hospital, was taking care of him. As soon as the nurse left the room after changing his medication, Li Da sat up and asked anxiously, “Have our parents already started causing a scene?”
Li Er nodded. “Of course. You’re the eldest in our family. When they heard you had food poisoning, they immediately gathered all our relatives to seek justice. They said they were going to skin the shopkeeper alive.”
“You can rest assured. Our parents have rallied many relatives to help you. Within an hour, the shop will definitely hand over the compensation.”
Upon hearing the word ‘compensation’, Li Da’s eyes lit up. He grabbed his brother’s arm and asked, “That’s great. How much compensation should we ask for? Eight hundred? Can the shopkeeper afford to pay that much?”
Li Er laughed. “Brother, you’re not being greedy enough. Why only eight hundred? We should ask for at least two thousand eight hundred. Plus, they should pay for your nutritional supplements, which should be another three to five hundred. We’re going to be rich, brother! Don’t worry about them not being able to afford it. The shopkeeper’s husband is very wealthy!”
Li Da was pleased to hear this, but he was still a little nervous. “They may be rich, but what if they refuse to pay?”
Li Er laughed heartily, stood up, and confidently said, “As long as we make a big enough fuss, they won’t dare not to pay. These small business owners are all about making money. If we cause a big scene, their hard-earned reputation will be ruined, and they won’t be able to make money.
“They’re shrewd. They know when to hold ’em and when to fold ’em. The compensation they give us is nothing compared to the profits they can continue to make. They’ll choose to spend money to avoid disaster. But whether they can avoid disaster after giving us the money is another matter. After all, the person who hired me wants to put them out of business…”
Li Da, who was always simpler than Li Er, felt reassured hearing his clever brother’s words. “Alright, let’s ask for a few thousand then. We’re going to be rich, brother. But remember, when we divide the money, I get seventy percent and you get thirty. I’m the elder brother, and I’m the one who suffered. If we don’t divide it this way, I might just turn you in…”