Chapter 051: Parting on Bad Terms, Xu Juncong Brings About His Own Ruin

The sea wind howled, rushing in to bring a refreshing coolness. In the courtyard, Xu Juncong looked at the three men locked in confrontation, grinning broadly. “Why do you look at me as if I’m your enemy? Aren’t we friends?”

“Xu Juncong, since we’re friends, now’s the time you should give us a hand,” Jin Haijun said. “I only helped you out of the trust between us, releasing the story about Zhang Tianfeng before the facts were clear.”

“You swore to me at the time that this time he would be finished for good, unable to stand again.”

“And what happened? He’s alive and kicking, as if nothing ever happened, and even managed to turn the crisis into a blessing by getting selected as an honorary citizen of Zhucheng.”

“Now, a law firm from Hong Kong wants to sue the Shen City Daily, and the editor-in-chief and those higher-ups are practically skinning me alive.” The more he spoke, the more agitated Jin Haijun became, and by the end he was on his feet.

“Calm down. Things are still within control,” Xu Juncong replied. “Give me three more days, and I’ll have him utterly finished, unable to get up again.”

“Maybe I could’ve agreed yesterday morning, but now it’s impossible.” Hu Xuelian, dressed as she was, still failed to win over Zhang Tianfeng. What else could they do? Nothing at all!

Jin Haijun pleaded, “Brother, you can’t just kick us when we’re down. I helped you back then out of years of friendship.”

“That’s right. We’ve known each other for thirteen years—our friendship’s worth half a million,” Xu Juncong said, looking at Liu Haizhu. “You got him to give you a hundred thousand for friendship, and Hu Xuelian fifty thousand.”

“Fifty thousand? Wasn’t it five thousand?” Hu Xuelian glared daggers at Jin Haijun!

Liu Haizhu looked the same, as if his own share had been skimmed as well.

Xu Juncong raised an eyebrow, smiling coldly. “Our friendship ended the moment I paid you. Now you want to talk friendship with me? Save your breath.”

“Get lost before I lose my temper. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless and handing your bribery evidence to Shen City Daily’s anti-corruption department.”

“If worst comes to worst, I’ll just work at Yuanli Group. I still have my family’s support. But you? Without your current positions, you’ll be worse than stray dogs—at my mercy.”

“So, leave!”

Xu Juncong had expected something useful from this trio, but it turned out they just wanted more money. Tearing all pretense away, he cursed them out. The three didn’t dare utter a word, slinking off, humiliated.

Back in his room, Xu Juncong picked up his mobile. “Hello? What is it?”

“Boss, could you come to the shop? There’s a worker making a scene. He was already hired, but suddenly got dismissed and now he’s demanding a refund.”

“Let him wait. I’ll be right there.”

He rubbed his brow, changed, and drove off.

Not long after he left, Jin Haijun and the others emerged from a grove, eyes full of resentment.

“What now, Old Jin? That bastard Xu is burning bridges.”

“Then it’s all or nothing!” A glint of gold flashed in Jin Haijun’s eyes. “From what I know, he’s fighting for the labor market in Tangwan Town. Only Zhang Tianfeng stands in his way.”

“He’s always been ruthless in achieving his goals—he must have a dark side. If we catch him on camera and use it to threaten him, I don’t believe he won’t yield.”

“Fine, you take the lead. We’ll follow you.”

…

Half an hour later, at the Yuanli Job Agency, the crowd had dispersed. Xu Juncong loosened his tie and sat beneath a big fan, muttering, “What a bunch of troublemakers—completely ignoring the contract. It wasn’t even us who fired him!”

The young secretary sighed. “Kindness is always taken advantage of. Those factory owners don’t hesitate to use force, but we don’t, so we get all the trouble.”

“If only I could use force—but then Yuanli Group’s reputation would be ruined!” Xu Juncong pondered for a moment. “Issue a new policy immediately: once hired, even if dismissed later, we’re not responsible and no fees will be refunded.”

“Make sure it’s white background with red letters, big text, and tell all shop employees to explain this before helping anyone get hired.”

“As long as we keep evidence, let them make a fuss!”

“What if the uproar gets too big?” the secretary asked. “I heard the Bole Job Agency shop is almost finished with renovations.”

“They’ve only got one shop. What’s there to fear? They’re just in it for quick profits, and it took this long just to renovate? Are they really here to make money?” Xu Juncong sneered with contempt.

He had never regarded Zhang Tianfeng as a real threat. His anxiety came from his own less-than-clean dealings and involvement with people he shouldn't have touched.

Like Wang Li—a useless parasite who brought trouble on himself and failed to bring down Zhang Tianfeng, instead dragging Xu Juncong into the mess!

Five minutes later, the secretary ran back in. “Boss, there’s no money left in the account.”

“That’s impossible!” Xu Juncong was stunned.

Yuanli Group had given him three million yuan to expand into Tangwan Town. Even the initial shop leases only cost a little over a hundred thousand—how could the money be gone already?

“Boss, remember the discount policies we launched to compete with Bole?” the secretary explained. “We stopped charging worker and factory agency fees, handed out free drinks and gifts, even chartered buses to deliver workers to the factories.”

“The biggest headache is the rebates. That alone cost us three to four hundred thousand!”

“I calculated it for you two days ago and sent the report. For each worker Yuanli Group places, we lose two yuan. You said it was fine, the losses were manageable.”

“I completely forgot!” Xu Juncong buried his face in his hands.

The aggressive discounts to capture market share, plus the sixty-five hundred thousand in “operating expenses” given to Jin Haijun and the rest, had drained his capital.

When he left, Yuanli Group’s leadership said plainly: if the three million ran out and Tangwan Town wasn’t under control, he’d be dismissed.

“There’s no way I’ll admit defeat—to a mere peasant!”

Clenching his fists, Xu Juncong stood up. “I’m going to get more money. Have the printing press start on those banners now, and keep the staff calm.”

“Yes, boss.”

…

Night fell at the Dali Toy Factory.

Because of the holiday, even the old man who guarded the gate had left, taking the dog with him.

On the second floor of the warehouse, inside an office, Xu Juncong sat on a crate. “Old Zhou’s finished—he’s in too deep. The toy factory won’t last.”

“I heard about it,” Wang Qi replied. “The factory’s going up for auction to cover Huicheng Plastics’ losses. Only a few people know so far.”

“So, either leave now, or make a killing before you go. What’s your choice?”

Wang Qi took a drag on his cigarette, eyes narrowed. “I’ve worked here for over a decade. Why should I leave empty-handed? I want to make money—enough to never worry again.”

“Here’s what you do: say there’s new investment from Hong Kong, the factory’s expanding, and needs more workers. I’ll help you find them.”

“Once they’re hired, find any excuse to dismiss them.”

“I guarantee that by the end, you’ll get at least three hundred thousand.”

Wang Qi exhaled smoke. “Fine, but I want to see the money every night—otherwise I’m out.”

“No problem. Two a.m. every night, meet me at the Mangrove Villa Complex.”

“Deal, then. Here’s to a successful partnership!”

“A pleasure working with you.”

Both men were already lost in the thrill of the con, entirely unaware of the glint of a camera lens peeking through the window crack.

It was Jin Haijun’s miniature camera—the entire conversation had been recorded.