C10 A Huge Plan to Steal Money

Zhao Changjiang couldn't fathom Chu Yunhe's behavior. It appeared as though the power to sell or not rested entirely in the hands of his son, Chu Jun, all because the young man had unearthed his grandfather's heirlooms.

But as it stood, all eyes were on Chu Jun, everyone awaiting his command.

Suddenly thrust into the spotlight, Chu Jun initially felt a twinge of unease, but he quickly regained his composure. Despite his youthful appearance as a high school senior, his mind was filled with the memories of a thirty-four-year-old.

"Hmm... Fourteen million yuan," Chu Jun said after a brief pause, decisively raising the price by two million. "It's all yours, including this box of books. Consider it a gift!"

Chu Jun had thought it through. He knew Zhao Changjiang's initial offer wasn't the last word; there was always room for negotiation. Yet, he was also aware that his budget had little wiggle room.

After all, it was the nineties! Money held significant value, not nearly as inflated as in later years. And with a final price of fourteen million yuan, minus the debt owed by his father, he'd have a substantial ten million yuan to work with.

Chu Jun had already brainstormed a myriad of innovative ideas, all awaiting realization, and for that, money was essential.

Another factor was the unexpected windfall of the book. It wasn't part of his recollections at all. It was entirely possible that the stamps would be auctioned, and this damaged volume would end up in a private collection.

If he stubbornly pursued an auction, Zhao Changjiang might indeed leverage national pressures, causing Chu Jun to suffer a net loss. Although the fourteen million yuan was a far cry from his initial expectations, it was still within the realm of acceptability.

"Fourteen million!" Zhao Changjiang repeated, his brow furrowing slightly. He turned to Chu Yunhe, only to find him sipping tea, head bowed, seemingly endorsing his son's decision.

Zhao Changjiang's breath grew heavier. The truth was, he had reported a final bid of thirteen million to his superiors, pocketing a hidden million. It wasn't out of greed; funds were finite. Should any unforeseen circumstances arise, he'd have no margin for additional financial requests.

Zhao Changjiang heaved a deep sigh, turned, and squatted back down beside the wooden box to resume his careful examination of the remaining ancient books. As he assessed the value of these fragmented texts, he pondered deeply.

The room was filled with a heavy, oppressive silence. Chu Yunhe kept his head down, sipping tea, his heart racing so fast he could hear its thumping in his ears.

Minutes ticked by without a word spoken.

"Alright, 14 million, no problem!" Zhao Changjiang finally stood up, having finished appraising the remaining ancient books. None matched the excellence of the "Art of Civilization," but they were all authentic.

Reaching an agreement on the price smoothed out the rest of the transaction. The parties signed the transfer contract, secured the stamps and the prized "Art of Civilization" in a safe, and placed the other ancient books into a separate leather case.

By ten o'clock that evening, all formalities were complete. Zhao Changjiang watched the leather case being carried away by a police officer, his heart not entirely at peace. He had secured these two valuable artifacts for the nation at the cost of 14 million yuan.

This sum exceeded what he had previously agreed upon with his superior by one million—a figure he had not discussed with his leader. In truth, there had been a dispute over the phone; 13 million was the leader's firm limit.

Communicating again would likely not meet Chu Jun's expectations, and Zhao might face criticism for his unilateral decision upon returning to Beijing. But his conscience was clear, and that was what mattered.

Chu Yunhe and his family escorted their guests to the door, bidding them farewell. The deal had gone smoothly, leaving both sides pleased, smiles coming easily to their faces.

"If there's anything you need regarding your son's college entrance exam, please feel free to reach out to us!" Zhao Changjiang offered as he was leaving. He didn't need to extend such an offer, but truthfully, 14 million was a modest sum compared to the value of the small-character red stamp and the ten volumes of "Art of Civilization."

At auction, these items could easily fetch upwards of 20 million, so he was keen to offer additional support in any way he could.

"Thank you so much, Dean Zhao. We might indeed call on you in the future!" Chu Yunhe said, shaking Zhao Changjiang's hand warmly, his face etched with sincere appreciation. The promise was indeed a valuable one.

Watching the procession depart, Chu Yunhe and his family retreated to the living room. Settling into the couch, Chu Yunhe pulled a cash check for 14 million yuan from the Agricultural Bank out of his pocket. Come morning, when the bank doors swung open, he'd be able to access the funds.

Reflecting on the day's events felt like recounting a roller coaster ride. By morning, he had been on the brink of despair, contemplating ending it all. Yet by nightfall, he was 14 million yuan richer, capable of settling every debt and making a fresh start.

This windfall was all thanks to his son, Chu Jun. Chu Yunhe inhaled deeply and gazed at his son across the room. "Jun, I can't thank you enough, son."

"Dad, don't mention it. It's fate's doing, and we owe it to the old man with the white beard!" Chu Jun grinned, knowing the white-bearded gentleman would serve as his convenient cover for a while. Sometimes, seizing money required just the right moment.

"Chu, be honest with me. What's going on with the company?" Ma Yan had sensed his distress when Chu Yunhe came home at noon, his demeanor lost and face ashen. Her inquiries had been met with vague dismissals.

She had also overheard him discussing the company's dire straits with Zhang Tingtao during the stamp appraisal, but hadn't had the chance to probe further. Now, with a substantial sum before them, she expected her husband to drop the act.

With a heavy sigh, Chu Yunhe decided to come clean. "Our company's toy exports to Southeast Asia have hit a wall. You've probably seen the news about the financial crisis there. Our recent major deals have all fallen through."

"Our clients in Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Singapore have gone bankrupt. We can't recover our payments. Between the raw materials, bank loans, and workers' wages, we're in the hole for about six million yuan."

Chu Yunhe had previously told Chu Jun four million, intending to sell the company's main building and the county factory, hence the understatement by two million.

"Ah?" Despite clutching a check for fourteen million in her hand, Ma Yan couldn't help but freeze in shock upon hearing the news.

"Don't worry, the issue's resolved. I'll pay off all our debts and use what's left to make a comeback!" Chu Yunhe hurriedly reassured her, noticing the distress on his wife's face.

Chu Jun's heart raced with panic at the thought. If the leftover funds were handed over to his father for seed money, what would become of him? Without any capital, how could he possibly carry out his grand scheme to amass a fortune?