My autobiography is definitely not a tragedy!
Chapter 176 - 147: I Sold It for 800

Chapter 176: Chapter 147: I Sold It for 800

A day ago.

"Cheng Biao, the procedures have been confirmed without error; here are your personal belongings. You can leave prison now!"

"Once you’re out, make sure to stay on the straight and narrow. Don’t come back here again."

"Okay, thank you, officer!"

When Cheng Biao stepped out of the small door at 10 Cang Street and the slightly dazzling sunlight hit his face, his whole demeanor reflected utter enjoyment.

By this time, several cars were already parked at the door, and more than a dozen underlings dressed in flashy colors were waiting.

"Brother Biao!" "Brother Biao is back!"

The sight of so many people greeting him in unison was certainly impressive.

If this place weren’t so secluded with few passersby, it would certainly have attracted a lot of attention.

"Hmm! Everyone looks energetic, seems like you’re doing well!" Cheng Biao scanned the crowd, nodded, and cracked a smile.

The underling leading the group was a man with a shrewd face and a small mustache on either side of his mouth.

"Brother Biao! We’ve finally waited for your release."

He appeared overly excited as he stepped forward and gave Brother Biao a big hug.

"I originally wanted to bring all the brothers here today, but you instructed us to keep it low-key, so that’s why there are only a few of us here. Please don’t take offense."

"Dazhi, you’ve done well. Leaving the brothers in your hands, I feel very reassured!" Cheng Biao patted his shoulder with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

"Brother Biao, you flatter me. It’s all part of my duty. If it wasn’t for you taking me, Hu Dazhi, under your wing, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

I always remember what you said: in this line of business, there are three words that matter—’honor the code’!" Hu Dazhi patted his chest firmly.

A flicker of annoyance crossed Cheng Biao’s lips as he looked over the crowd.

"Where’s Ah Xing? Why isn’t he here?"

"Ah Xing, he..." Hu Dazhi suddenly appeared hesitant to speak.

"He got into a fight a while ago and is still in detention. But I’m working on getting him out. That guy is just as impulsive as ever.

I didn’t want to worry you while you were inside, so I didn’t tell you beforehand."

A fight? Cheng Biao stared at Hu Dazhi, scoffing inwardly.

Before going to prison, he had arranged his right-hand men to balance each other out.

Now with only one right-hand man left and the muscle, Qilin, also behind bars, wasn’t everything left to your discretion?

Is this your plan to make me reliant on you right after getting out?

Feeling uneasy under Cheng Biao’s scrutinizing gaze, Hu Dazhi hurriedly said.

"Brother Biao, Ah Xing is just in for a few days, it’s nothing serious. Let’s get in the car. I’ve already arranged a banquet to welcome you back and dispel the bad luck!"

Right away, an eager underling took Cheng Biao’s luggage bag, and a Volkswagen business van with seven seats pulled up in front of Cheng Biao.

Cheng Biao knew this wasn’t the time to turn hostile. He gave Dazhi a look and, surrounded by his underlings, got into the car.

Hu Dazhi’s eyes flickered before he plastered on a smile and followed.

The group arrived at a high-end bathhouse.

Stepping over a charcoal basin and washing their hands with pomelo leaf water, they proceeded to experience the full suite: bath, steam, the works.

Only after the whole routine did Brother Biao, soaking comfortably in the bath and puffing on a cigar, begin to inquire about the situation outside.

"How’s the company been doing lately?"

Upon hearing this question, Hu Dazhi immediately began to complain bitterly.

"Brother Biao, you have no idea. Times have changed; it’s tough to operate in our line of work now. Lots of profitable deals had to be halted because of the tight security outside.

Take the banks, for example, a few years ago legislation capped the highest annual interest rate at 24%. Forget making a profit of thirteen out of nine; if you charge more than that, you won’t win a lawsuit!

Now who exactly can you argue with about that?

There are also numerous delinquents who skipped town—those deals not only made no profit, they caused substantial losses.

Debt collecting has become even harder; many methods we can’t dare to use anymore. Those deadbeats act more arrogantly than our own brothers.

And there’s the demolitions business, with most of the surrounding towns already urbanized and civilized law enforcement being promoted, our brothers are nearly out of work!

You have no idea, Brother Biao, our business is deteriorating. Trying to feed so many mouths with just this company is just not sustainable!

Look at me, my hair is practically turning white!"

Brother Biao glanced at Hu Dazhi’s aggrieved expression and blew a smoke ring.

"So, how much money is left in the accounts?"

"That... that... we have roughly around three million in liquid funds," Hu Dazhi cautiously observed Brother Biao’s demeanor.

"Three million? Hmm, not bad," Cheng Biao remarked, somewhat surprised.

"Ahem! Though, at the bank, we’ve taken out a mortgage loan and we still owe over thirty million," Hu Dazhi mumbled.

Cheng Biao: "..."

His expression twisted for a moment.

So the company’s assets are roughly worth thirty million, and you’ve gone and mortgaged it all?

After mortgaging, all that’s left is barely two hundred million?

Where’s the rest of the money?

No need to ask, the money definitely ended up in certain people’s pockets!

Which means, aside from the equity he still holds, the company is basically an empty shell now.

"Ha! I’ve only been inside for a year, and the company is already on the brink of bankruptcy, Dazhi, what a great family you’ve shown me!" Cheng Biao struggled to suppress his anger.

"Brother Biao, it’s my incompetence, but you’ve got to understand me. Without money, the loyalty of the brothers underneath scattered!

You ask them, how have I treated them on a normal basis? Whenever someone’s old mother fell ill, I personally visited to offer my condolences, and that all takes money!

I can’t just watch them break apart, right?

You taught me, when you’re in the game, you have to have loyalty!"

Loyalty?

You use my money to buy people’s loyalty, and now you’re indirectly reminding me that the little brothers all listen to you, suggesting I should think twice before making a move on you—this is called loyalty?

Why was I so blind to take you on as my little brother back then?

Because of your higher education? How true the saying, ’The more honorable the man, the more likely he is to butcher dogs; the more deceitful, the more likely he is to be a scholar!’

Hu Dazhi, seeing Cheng Biao’s gloomy face, actually "plop!" knelt in front of him.

"Brother Biao, I, Hu Dazhi, swear to heaven, my conscience is clear. Kill or slash me as you wish, I won’t even frown!"

Seeing Hu Dazhi’s smug and complacent demeanor, Cheng Biao wished he could kill him on the spot.

However, he knew the current situation was very unfavorable for him.

To take action against him, he’d have to at least wait for Ah Xing to get out, get his money back, regather his little brothers under his command, and then slowly deal with this guy.

A lack of patience can ruin big plans!

"Forget it, forget it, it’s not easy for you to manage such a big operation on your own, you go out first, I need some quiet."

...

That very night, Cheng Biao sneaked over to his mistress’s place.

"You bastard! You finally showed up. It seems you still have a bit of conscience, coming to me as soon as you got out."

"Oh baby, I’ve missed you so much, you have no idea how hard it’s been without you! Quick quick quick! Go take a shower!"

"Giggle! Look at you, all impatient. Alright, wait for me then. I’ll put on your favorite outfit."

"Good, good, good! Hurry, go!"

Sure enough, the flirtatious mistress twisted her seductive waist and entered the bathroom.

No sooner had the mistress left, Cheng Biao, who had appeared impatient, immediately rushed into the bedroom.

Shortly after, sounds of banging and searching erupted from the bedroom. Moments later, Cheng Biao emerged, his face anxious, and "bam!" he opened the door and burst into the bathroom.

"Ah! You jerk! What are you doing, you can’t wait even a few minutes?"

"Shut up! Where’s the fishing rod that was under my wardrobe?"

Even with his mistress standing there naked, Cheng Biao had no desire to give her a glance.

"Fishing rod?" The mistress thought for a moment, "Oh! You mean that black and unremarkable fishing rod? I sold it."

"Sold... sold it!?" Cheng Biao felt as if he’d been struck by lightning.

"How could you sell it! How could you sell it without my permission!"

Faced with Cheng Biao’s fury, nearly to the point of madness, the mistress grew pale from fright.

"I... My wardrobe was full, so I figured I’d clear out yours to use it. I saw the fishing rod taking up space.

You... you don’t like fishing usually, I thought for sure you wouldn’t need it."

"Just because your wardrobe was full?!" Cheng Biao was beside himself with anger.

A woman’s wardrobe is always one dress short.

From this, we can infer that a woman always lacks wardrobes...

Seeing Cheng Biao’s man-eating gaze, the mistress burst into tears with a "wah".

"Wuwuwu~ It’s... it’s all because of you, you bastard. You’ve been inside for over a year and haven’t sent me a dime. I had to scrimp and scrape by!

I’ve even sold several of my treasured handbags!

So what if I sold your lousy fishing rod?

You even dare to yell at me, wuwuwu..."

"I didn’t send you money, but before I went in, I left you three hundred thousand!" Cheng Biao exclaimed angrily.

"Three hundred thousand is nothing! I spend two or three hundred thousand a year at the beauty salon. Don’t other people need to eat and shop?" The mistress defended herself.

"I was going to throw it away, but seeing it was worth some money, I posted it on Idle Fish and it turns out that trash was actually wanted by someone. I sold it for eight hundred!"

Cheng Biao felt a desire to die.

How could I have been so blind to take on such a spendthrift as my mistress?

Eight hundred?

Do you understand there were over three hundred million inside!

"Wuwuwu~" Watching her continue to feign pity, Cheng Biao could barely contain the urge to slap her.

However, the top priority was to retrieve that fishing rod!

The secret inside the fishing rod was known only to him, there was still a chance!

He must still have a chance!