Chapter 442 Hidden Secret Money?
“I think so too,” Lin Momo said, “Now that we‘ve agreed on that idea. We should get ready to expand our business to Shanghai.”
After a pause, she added, “In fact, I think that Tangmen Group should also go to Shanghai with us. That’s the commercial center of Huaxia, a huge and promising market.”
Moreover, Shanghai lay to several important herb cultivation bases, which made it easier and cheaper to purchase herbal materials. It was a perfect place for the future development of Tangmen Traditional Chinese Medicine Company.”
Qin Haodong said: “You’re right. Since we want to expand the market in Shanghai, we shall move the whole company there.”
“Since we’ve reached an agreement, I’ll go make a plan. Shanghai is the economic center of Huaxia, so it would cost much if we build a factory there. The 2 billion you just earned was merely enough.”
“What? Two billion?”
Qin Haodong looked at Lin Momo in confusion.
“You just earned one billion yuan and 150 million dollars from the Lutheran Society, didn’t you? That was two billion in total.” Lin Momo stared at him and said, “Do you want to give it to me? Are you trying to hide it away from me?”
Qin Haodong looked bitter. “I’m not trying to hide it away from you. I’ve just used it up.”
“Used it up?” Lin Momo’s mouth opened widely out of surprise, “That was two billion yuan! It was not like 20 yuan! You can buy hundreds of houses with that money! How did you use it up so soon?”
Qin Haodong said, “You’re right, I’ve used it to buy hundreds of apartments.”
Then he told her the whole story about how he gave the money away to his employees and how they had bought houses with the money.
“Oh! It’s a good thing to help your employees solve their difficulties, but what do we do now? We really need that money now.” Lin Momo thought for a moment and said, “How about borrowing some money from Lin’s Group.”
Qin Haodong said, “Forget about that. You’re the president and shareholder of Lin’s Group, and I’m also one of the shareholders. Other people would get suspicious if you borrow money from the company.”
Lin Momo said, “What then? If Lin’s Group relocates to Shanghai, I will definitely be there in charge. I wouldn’t have enough time for Tangmen Company by then. We would miss a great opportunity to develop then.”
“You don’t have to worry about it. I’ll figure it out.”
Qin Haodong started to contemplate. Although two billion was a big number, the Nalans and Old Maldini would be willing to lend him the money if he asked. However, he didn’t want to owe a debt to other people unless he had to.
Just by then, the phone in his phone rang. He took it out and found it was Long Haisheng.
“Brother Qin, are you available tonight? I need you to do me a favor.”
“Anything for you, Brother Long! Just tell me.”
Long Haisheng hesitated for a while and said, “That would be a long story. Why don’t you come over here and let’s have a talk?”
“Okay, I’ll be right there.”
Qin Haodong hung up and said goodbye to Lin Momo. Then he drove to Long Haisheng villa. Upon entering the gate, he found lots of people walking in the villa. They looked quite tense. It seemed that something bad was going to happen.
He walked into the gate and asked Long Haisheng, “Brother Long, what happened?”
Long Haisheng quickly helped Qin Haodong get seated and said, “Here’s the thing. Three days ago, Li Ao from Jiangbei City sent me a challenge letter. We’ve agreed on it that an arena contest and solve out the dispute in the gangster way.”
When Long Haisheng brought out the contract, Qin Haodong finally realized that after Lin Hu’s death, Li Ao still hadn’t given up coveting Jiangnan City, although he hadn’t been as aggressive as before.
There were two ways for gangsters to solve their disputes on the street. One was a large-scale armored confrontation, which seemed impossible now because Huaxia had better social security than ever.
The other way was to fight in an arena. Both parties would reach an agreement at first, and then solve the dispute in the arena. Li Ao had chosen that way and sent Long Haisheng a challenge letter.
They had agreed on it that if Long Haisheng failed, he would surrender the control of the underground world of Jiangnan City to Li Ao and pay him a five-billion reckon, and vice versa for Li Ao.
Qin Haodong’s eyes were lightened up by that number. He had finally figured out a way to raise the money he needed.
Long Haisheng continued, “They’ll have best two out of three in the arena. He who wins will take control of the underground world of Jiangnan and Jiangbei.”
Qin Haodong asked, “Brother Long. Have you hired any powerhouses? Are you confident of success?”
Long Haisheng smiled helplessly and said, “I surely have hired someone, but there’s a gap between the martial world and the world on the street. I knew few people from the martial world before, let alone any powerhouses. I invited Ye Kai from the Honor Martial Club, and he invited his brother Master Lei Bao.
Master Ye said his brother has reached half-a-step to the Supreme Power Realm, and they were sure we would win. I’m not that confident because I knew Li Ao must’ve invited other powerhouses since he initiated the challenge.”
Qin Haodong knew Ye Kai’s cultivation level clearly. The man was merely at the fifth level of the Covert Power. He could handle some ordinary masters, but the challenge arena was way out of his reach.
He said, “Brother Long, what can I do for you then?”
Long Haisheng said: “Brother Qin, I don’t know why but I feel secure as long as you’re around. That’s why I need you to do me a favor. If Lei Bao failed to beat him, I’ll have to ask you for help.”
After they had been through, he found Qin Haodong could almost manage to do anything he wanted. Now he believed the man out of no reason.
Qin Haodong said, “I can help you, but I have to make a request.”
Qin Haodong then added, “I don’t care about the control right of the underground world, but I want two billion out of that five-billion reckon.”
Long Haisheng was a quite generous man. He promised, “Brother Qin! Save your concerns on that! You can have all the five billion as long as you can help me win the challenge.”
Qin Haodong said, “Two billion, that’s all I want. You can also count that in your reckon. If I lose, I’ll pay you two billion as well.”
Long Haisheng waved his hand and said, “There’s no need for that. The money will come and go, but our friends.h.i.+p lasts forever.”
As they were talking, the housekeeper brought a few more people inside. The first one was over 2 meters tall, looking strong and fierce, followed by the master of the Honor Martial Club. The master brought two of his disciples this time, Zhou Wen and Zhou Wu.
Long Haisheng stood up hastily and greeted them, Ye Kai introduced the two disciples to him, “Mr. Long, this is my brother, Lei Bao, an Eight Extremes Boxing master. Now he has reached half-a-step to the Supreme Power Realm. You don’t need to worry about losing as long as he’s here.”
Lei Bao’s voice sounded very coa.r.s.e and deep, maybe due to his cultivation in Eight Extremes Boxing, or due to his quick temper. He guaranteed. “Don’t worry, Mr. Long. You can count on us in the arena. We’ll definitely beat the h.e.l.l out of that b.a.s.t.a.r.d.”
That was when Ye Kai saw Qin Haodong sitting next to him. He greeted Qin Haodong hastily, “Dr. Qin, what a surprise!”
Ye Kai had been admiring Qin Haodong’s cultivation and medical skills after they went through the incident last time. He sounded very polite now.
Having greeted Qin Haodong, he turned around to Lei Bao and told him. “Brother, this is Dr. Qin Haodong I mentioned last time. He had reached half-a-step to Supreme Power Realm at such a young age. He will be a supreme power very soon in the future.”
Out of everyone’s surprise, Lei Bao didn’t show any interest in Qin Haodong upon hearing the introduction. He questioned in anger. “Are you the one who had won my brother’s reckoning last time?”
Lei Bao’s reaction was out of Ye Kai’s expectation. He explained hastily, “Brother, it was not Mr. Qin’s fault. I was too ignorant back to then.”
Qin Haodong ignored the reckless man. He took a sip of the tea, raised his head and said, “Your brother could’ve got killed by Li Hu if I hadn’t been there for him. You should thank me.”
Ye Kai added, “That’s true. I lost the bet last time, but he saved my life and cured my injuries. I’ve made much progress in cultivation after that. Now I’ve reached the sixth level of the Covert Power.”
Lei Bao halted for a second and bowed to Qin Haodong. “Thank you for saving my brother!”
Then he stood right up and said, “Let’s get this straight, I’ve already thanked you for you saving my brother. Now show me what you’ve got. I dare you to challenge me.”
“Brother, you can’t do that!” Ye Kai tried to stop Lei Bao. He apologized to Qin Haodong, “Dr. Qin, please don’t get him wrong. That’s who he was.”
Qin Haodong didn’t hate that guy much, because at least he was honest. He smiled and said, “I can challenge you, but we should do it after you win the fight in the arena. If you lose, you wouldn’t be worth my challenge.”
“They are just some unnamed drug dealers. They are no match for me.” Lei Bao waved his huge fist and said confidently, “Then we’ll wait until I finished the fight in the arena.”
“Hope you can have the chance.”
Qin Haodong smiled at Lei Bao. He had already seen the big tall man through. The guy was talented in the cultivation of physical martial skills. His Eight Extremes Boxing had obviously reached a high level, which brought him closer and closer to become a supreme power.
If Li Ao hadn’t invited a supreme power, Lei Bao would have no qualified opponent in Jiangbei.
Long Haisheng said, “It’s about time for us to go to the arena!”
Qin Haodong nodded. The three people then left the villa and drove to the arena.
Jiangnan and Jiangbei City were separated by a river. To show the fairness of the match, the arena was set on an island in the middle of the river.
The island was small, covering an area of one square kilometer. The arena had already been built up on the island.
The wave of the river on the other side of the island looked fearsome. There were seats on both sides of the arena. One side for Long Haisheng was from Jiangnan, and the other for Li Ao was from Jiangbei.
In order not to avoid the attention of the government, Long Haisheng took a small speedboat and brought twenties more people.
Soon after they got ash.o.r.e, another speedboat sailed here from the direction of Jiangbei City. A man in his 40s was standing in the front. His golden frame gla.s.ses made him look sophisticated, but his fierce eyes gave him away. He was Li Ao, the man running the underworld of Jiangbei.
He brought as many people as Long Haisheng did, which was, twenty more of his fellows.
Soon both parties arrived at the arena. The fight was about to be on.