If the traffic police catch you, you'll at least be fined and have your vehicle impounded; in serious cases you might even be sent for re-education.
Seeing that no one else dared to speak, the little delinquent who'd sold herself for make-up mustered her courage and asked, "Didn't you just say you'd pay us compensation?"
"I pay you? Do you think you're worth it?"
As soon as Jiang Cheng finished speaking, he called Jiang Jianming. After a brief summary, Jiang Jianming quickly replied, "Got it. I'll send someone to handle it. Don't worry."
Watching Jiang Cheng call for backup, the gang of flashy youngsters grew even more panicked.
They pinned all the blame on Qin Cong.
"Qin Cong, what now? If it weren't for you, we wouldn't be in this mess!"
"That's right. If we don't get the money, this is on you."
"Pay for the cars, or my father won't let me off—and I won't let you off."
Qin Cong's hand was already broken; gritting his teeth against the pain, he snatched his phone from the ground and snapped, "So you can call people, huh?"
"Fine, here's your chance—make your call."
With the phone in hand, Qin Cong glared viciously at Jiang Cheng, then dialed Qin Cheng.
The moment Qin Cheng picked up, Qin Cong immediately whined, "Dad, save me! Someone broke my hand!"
On the other end, Qin Cheng was already at his wits' end.
Hearing that his son had caused trouble again, he blurted, "What? You broke someone else's hand again? Son, you can't keep this up. Dad's hit a rough patch; I won't be able to clean up after you anymore. You need to grow up. I've set aside some money. After your mom and I divorce, stay with her. Don't do this again."
Qin Cong froze for a long moment before realizing his father was abandoning him.
"Divorce? You two are serious?" Qin Cong's voice shot up involuntarily.
"I have no choice. The company's in big trouble; if we don't divorce it'll drag you down. Behave, go back to your grandpa's place with your mom, and stop causing trouble. When I'm not around anymore, who'll wipe your messes?" Qin Cheng's tone was as gentle as ever, but his words sent a chill through Qin Cong's bones.
Qin Cong's throat felt blocked; after a long pause he managed, "Then… what do I do now?"
"Where are you? I'll find a way to send money for a private settlement. We're still an ordinary family, not yet on the blacklist; it won't be hard. How serious is it?" Qin Cheng still doted on him, instinctively trying to buy his way out.
After all, for an ordinary family, a payoff of a couple hundred thousand would be the end of it; the other side would have no leverage.
"Dad, it wasn't his hand that got broken—it was mine…"
Qin Cheng jumped. "What? Your hand is broken? How?"
"Last night I overheard you and Mom. I got mad, asked around, found out he was here, and came over. I only said a couple of things and he snapped my hand—and even smashed my car. He won't pay. Dad, I don't want to go to the station. Help me; I've got a bunch of buddies here and their cars are wrecked too," Qin Cong babbled.
When Qin Cheng heard the name, the breath he'd been holding rushed out; his whole body sagged, eyes full of despair.
"We're finished… totally finished…"
"Dad, don't scare me…"
A few seconds later Qin Cheng said, "Son, Dad can't help this time. Yesterday the Bodyguard beside him twisted my arm; I swallowed it…"
Qin Cong's back ran cold with sweat. "He even dared hit you…?"
"Really no way out. I crossed him, and that same day the company's loan got frozen. Now we're half-dead. Just before you called, I got another notice—an audit of our projects. They'd only blocked our loan before, but after your stunt the investigation order came down. I suspect it's their doing again. We're ruined."
The words hit Qin Cong like lightning; his body went rigid, face pale, forehead beaded with sweat.
"Dad, are they that powerful? Can they crush our company? Beg Grandpa!"
"It's no use, even your grandpa can't help. That's why I agreed to the divorce. I'll sign today; after that my company's mess won't touch you."
"Dad… I…"
Qin Cong tried to speak but was cut off.
"It's done. Say nothing more. I can't help with today's trouble. Our books won't stand scrutiny. Promise me—if I go inside, let your mom send you to study in another city. Stop hanging with these riff-raff, and don't fool around with women like I did. At least wait till you grow up…"
Only now did terror seize Qin Cong. "No, I won't promise! Dad, I know I was wrong, really wrong. Help me—how do I face all these people? I can't lose face like this…"
Qin Cheng felt awful, but he knew it was too late.
"Son, it's fate. Dad failed you—never gave you a proper upbringing, let you stray. But now it's irreversible. Take care of yourself."
"Sigh… it's my fault. I spoiled you rotten. Your old man went from hauling cement on a site to marrying your mom and riding connections to build a real-estate empire. These past years everything went too smoothly; I got arrogant. Remember today's lesson—there's always someone bigger. Think before you act."
"So what do I do now??"
"No choice. Dad can't win. Take this as a lesson. Look at my ending and let it warn you."