Otherwise, given Conglomerate's usual temperament, even when the authorities step in forcefully and launch a deep investigation,
they still won't feel the slightest dread or restraint.
Judging by past experience,
for violations this serious,
they'll at most pay a token fine—nothing big enough to hurt.
Once the money's handed over, they'll go right back to their wicked ways, scot-free and untroubled.
They'll even throw huge sums at scrubbing the story from every online platform,
trying to bury the truth.
Then, as days slip by, the whole affair will fade from public memory until no one cares anymore.
Just like the similar scandals of two years back.
At first they may draw widespread attention,
but in the end they're forgotten, vanishing completely from sight.
After sending that, Jiang Cheng copied the photos into Wu Quan's wechat group.
Jiang Cheng: [photo][photo][photo]
Jiang Cheng: Guys, sort out your own channels. When the banners go up, make sure no one interferes.
Seeing the banner shots from Conglomerate's 4S store that Jiang Cheng had posted,
and right now,
Wu Quan, Zhao Cheng and Sun Zhisheng were crammed into a shabby little tavern tucked in a narrow, gloomy alley.
They sat around a scarred wooden table,
sipping liquor at ease and chatting away.
Wu Quan lifted his cup for a sip, then turned to Zhao Cheng.
'Hey, Zhao Cheng, how's the situation?' he asked, concerned.
Zhao Cheng played dumb. 'What situation?'
Wu Quan pressed, 'Your project—how's it going?'
Knowing how anxious Wu Quan and Sun Zhisheng were,
Zhao Cheng strung them along, looking all cryptic. 'Told you, don't ask. It's solid. Drink.'
Watching his feigned calm, Wu Quan and Sun Zhisheng exchanged glances,
then glared in unison. 'Man, you're tight-lipped.'
Though they'd all pledged allegiance to Jiang Cheng's camp
and had cheerfully wired every last cent to Star Galaxy International,
now that the real work had begun, Wu Quan and Sun Zhisheng—still in the dark—suddenly felt a twinge of unease. In truth, most who enter public service
start out full of lofty ideals, determined to be honest, upright officials.
Almost no one sets out eager to be corrupt.
Temptation rarely arrives all at once;
it creeps in like a frog in warming water, slow and steady.
Their families had always kept them on a tight leash,
and none of them had ever dabbled in an investment like this.
More critically, the two million they'd just handed Jiang Cheng was every cent they had.
'Brothers, I'm caught in the middle…' Zhao Cheng said, bitter and helpless.
'If you won't talk, why drag us here?'
Ever since handing Jiang Cheng the Conglomerate car list,
Zhao Cheng had kept a hawk-eye on the web.
From last night he'd watched the Conglomerate buzz start to build.
Right then he was both thrilled and on edge,
antsy as a cat on a hot tin roof—
which is why he'd called them out for drinks.
Just as Zhao Cheng was about to spill everything, Sun Zhisheng yelped in mock shock,
thrusting his phone at Wu Quan.
'Bro Wu, look, look!'
Wu Quan's heart jumped; he grabbed the phone.
The moment he saw the group message
he shot up like he'd been zapped. 'Conglomerate!!'
The shout was so loud
that everyone else in the tavern
whipped around to stare.
Zhao Cheng paled, sprang up,
yanked Wu Quan down and hissed, 'No way—how do you two know?'
Realizing he'd made a scene, Wu Quan composed himself
and slid back onto his chair.
He showed Zhao Cheng Jiang Cheng's message.
Zhao Cheng glanced, no time to explain.
He whipped out his own phone
and typed: 'Got it, Cheng. Will do.'
Wu Quan and Sun Zhisheng echoed the reply.
Only then did they breathe easy.
Wu Quan asked, 'So Cheng wanted the Conglomerate car data from you?'
Zhao Cheng scratched his head, sheepish. 'Yeah. I asked you two out today to tell you and set your minds at ease—never thought Cheng would beat me to it.'
Sun Zhisheng jabbed a finger at him, grinning. 'Bull. You just wanted to watch us squirm.'
Wu Quan laughed. 'Exactly, you little punk.'
He stood first.
'Enough drinking. Business calls. Cheng's issued the task—line up your people and make sure the banner plan goes off without a hitch.'
At that, Zhao Cheng and Sun Zhisheng exchanged looks
and both nodded at once.
Their minds were now fixed on the job;
staying longer held no appeal.
Sun Zhisheng turned to Wu Quan with a smile and said,
"Brother Wu, this time your family should be the main force; Zhao Cheng and I are just here for the show—we'll sit back and watch you perform."
Hearing this, Zhao Cheng hastily nodded in agreement.
"Right, nobody's going to report a banner to the IT department, but your Criminal Affairs division is different—the 4S shop will probably call the police."
Wu Quan immediately hurried home.
Because his father, who was usually as elusive as a dragon, had for once been coming straight home from work every day.
As Wu Quan steered the family's slightly dated Audi to a stop in front of the house,
Wu Zhenyu, who had been sitting in the living room, glanced through the window and instantly frowned.
The very instant Wu Quan stepped through the door,
Wu Zhenyu let out a heavy snort from his nose.
"Haven't seen you showing off that lousy super-car these two days—been up to something behind my back?"
Startled by the sudden roar, Wu Quan jumped.
Then he reflexively shot back, "Dad, that's harsh! What do you mean, lousy super-car? Can't you talk to me like a normal person?"
There was a mix of grievance and anger in Wu Quan's voice.
Seeing his son talk back, Wu Zhenyu's face turned even darker.
His eyes widened, boring into Wu Quan as if they could spit fire.
In truth, father-son relationships like theirs are hardly rare.
The moment they meet they bicker like enemies.
Even though the super-car had ultimately been bought with Wu Zhenyu's approval,
he couldn't help using it to mock Wu Quan every time they met.
Lately, with the authorities tightening supervision and cracking down hard,
Wu Zhenyu had become visibly on edge.
Now he seized the chance to lash out again.
"Where's your car? You know the climate—your Uncle Yang's already inside because his boy ran up millions in gambling debts..."
He paused, fixing Wu Quan with a piercing stare, trying to read his face.
Just as Wu Zhenyu was about to launch into another lecture, Wu Quan cut him off.
"Please—only a few million and they investigate? You think I'm three? Look where we live, where Uncle Yang lives, what those villas are worth; of course they'd look!"
Wu Zhenyu's brows knitted. "Watch your tongue. And you still haven't told me where the super-car is—don't tell me you've been fooling around too."
Mentioning the car reminded Wu Quan why he'd come.
He instantly dropped his defiant look.
"Dad, do I look like that kind of guy?"
Seeing his son unusually meek, Wu Zhenyu swallowed his doubts and let it slide.
He cleared his throat. "Enough with the lip—what happened to the car?"
"Pawned it..."
"What!""
"Hear me out; didn't I call you last time..."
Wu Quan laid out the whole story in detail.
Wu Zhenyu leaned forward in his chair, listening intently.
As the tale unfolded his calm face darkened, brows locking together.
When Wu Quan finished, the room sank into a brief, heavy silence.
Seconds crawled past, the hush growing oppressive.
Finally Wu Zhenyu, unable to contain his anger, jerked his head up and glared.
His lips trembled. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? Acting on your own like that..."
His voice was low and sharp, thick with reproach.
The sudden scolding made Wu Quan's heart lurch.
Though he usually relied on blood ties to oppose his father,
the gravity in Wu Zhenyu's eyes told him this might be a serious blunder.
Outwardly he stayed composed, but inside he was rattled.
Just as he scrambled to ask if something was wrong,
Wu Zhenyu, exasperated, snapped, "What good is a measly two million? Can thirty percent profit buy a villa?"
Seeing no outright opposition, Wu Quan frowned.
"So you're mad I didn't consult you? But if I had, what then? Do we have spare cash? Your salary feeds the mortgage every month, and for what—more houses you keep swapping..."
Wu Zhenyu's eyes flared. "You know nothing! Last year we flipped one place and made millions—how do you think we afforded your car? When this house sells, the money will roll in again..."
Wu Quan remained skeptical. "Houses sell that easily? I ask tomorrow and you can close today?"
Looking at his naïve university son, Wu Zhenyu sneered.
"Hmph—if I can't even unload a single house, what's the point of my position?"
The loaded words struck like thunder.
Wu Quan froze; seconds ticked by before the meaning sank in.
A moment's thought revealed everything—the secret behind their family's sudden wealth.
Until now, Wu Quan had wondered why they kept moving houses.