Chapter 025: Repayment
“Heh heh heh!” Wang Meng burst into laughter.
He laughed with tears streaming down his face and a runny nose, “Wonderful, Xiaofeng, you’re just wonderful! You’re truly a great benefactor!”
Zhao Feng shook his head, “Don’t be in such a hurry.”
Wang Meng paused, “What’s wrong?”
Zhao Feng chuckled, “I can save you, but there’s one condition.”
Wang Meng looked bewildered, “What condition?”
With a faint smile, Zhao Feng replied, “I won’t treat you for free. I need to charge a consultation fee.”
Wang Meng blinked, “How much is the fee?”
Zhao Feng didn’t answer but held up one finger.
Wang Meng blinked again, “Ten thousand?”
Zhao Feng shook his head.
“Hundred thousand?”
Zhao Feng still shook his head.
Wang Meng grew anxious, “Xiaofeng, stop teasing me! Just tell me, how much exactly?”
Zhao Feng coolly uttered three words, “One million.”
“What?” Wang Meng was so shocked he nearly jumped up.
His face instantly turned grim.
He pulled a long face, “Xiaofeng, one million is just too much!”
Zhao Feng rolled his eyes, “County Chief Wang, you should know that even if you went to the hospital, one million wouldn’t cure this illness. But I can cure you.”
Still, Wang Meng’s face remained miserable, “Xiaofeng, can’t you ask for less? One million is too much!”
Zhao Feng shook his head, “One million. Take it or leave it.”
Wang Meng looked pleadingly at Li Changqing, who sat nearby.
Li Changqing’s face was stern, “Don’t look at me! I charge for treatment too!”
“But, but! I really don’t have that much money!” Wang Meng protested.
Zhao Feng snorted, “Oh please! County Chief Wang, you’ve been in office for so long—I don’t believe you don’t have a million!”
“I—” Wang Meng was tongue-tied.
In truth, Wang Meng’s worth far exceeded a million. But that wealth was ill-gotten, and Li Changqing was right there. If he brought out a million in front of Li Changqing, the latter would instantly know he had been embezzling.
Actually, Wang Meng was secretly delighted. A million wasn’t much to him; he could produce it in a heartbeat. Still, he had to put on an act.
Wang Meng gritted his teeth, feigning pain, “Xiaofeng, if I produce a million, will you treat my illness?”
Zhao Feng nodded, “Of course. A gentleman’s word is his bond.”
“Alright!” Wang Meng slapped the table, making his decision. “Then I’ll sell my house to pay you the million!”
Zhao Feng gave him a dramatic eye-roll, “Whether you sell your house or your wife, that’s your business. All I want is the million.”
“Heh heh!” Wang Meng rubbed his hands together, “So can you treat me now?”
Zhao Feng shook his head, “I need to see the million first.”
“This—this—”
“I came in a rush, I didn’t have time to prepare a million!” Wang Meng protested.
Zhao Feng waved impatiently, “Then go and get it ready. Whenever you have the money, I’ll treat you. This illness won’t kill you if it’s delayed a day or two.”
“This—this—” Wang Meng was anxious; this illness had become a knot in his heart.
“Enough!” Zhao Feng waved him away impatiently, “Go back and prepare the million!”
Wang Meng glanced at Li Changqing, who was calmly sipping tea.
Wang Meng gritted his teeth, “Fine, I’ll go prepare the money right now!”
“Mm,” Zhao Feng nodded, saying nothing more.
Wang Meng turned and left.
Once he was gone, only Zhao Jun, Chen Lan, Chen Ying, and Li Changqing remained.
Zhao Feng stretched lazily, “Director Li, it’s noon, shall we have lunch together?”
Li Changqing thought for a moment and nodded.
Chen Lan was delighted, “Great, I’ll go start cooking. Please wait a moment.”
Chen Ying hopped excitedly, “I’ll help out!”
Zhao Feng nodded, “Alright.”
Just as Chen Ying and Chen Lan were about to leave, shouts echoed from outside the house.
“Pay your debts—it’s only right!”
“Pay your debts—it’s only right!”
“Pay up!”
“Pay up, pay up, pay up!”
Zhao Jun frowned, “Who could it be?”
Zhao Feng’s expression turned cold, “Let’s go see for ourselves.”
“Mm.”
Everyone stood and headed outside.
Li Changqing rose as well, intending to follow.
Zhao Feng shook his head, “Director Li, you’d better stay here. It wouldn’t be good if certain people saw you.”
Li Changqing shook his head, “It’s fine, I’m not afraid! Looks like you’ve run into trouble—maybe I can help.”
Seeing Li Changqing so stubborn, Zhao Feng said nothing more.
They all stepped outside and walked toward the gate.
When they arrived, they were stunned.
Led by Liu Dahua, thirty or so people had gathered, holding banners and megaphones, shouting loudly, “Pay your debts—it’s only right!”
“Pay your debts—it’s only right!”
A crowd of villagers had been drawn to the commotion.
Villagers stood ready with shovels and pitchforks, eager for action.
“Them again!”
“Beat the hell out of them!”
“That’s right, beat them up!”
“Hmph! Let’s see who dares!” Liu Dahua shouted.
As he spoke, he drew a watermelon knife.
The move made Zhao Feng laugh.
He shook his head with amusement, “Liu Dahua, why aren’t you waving a gun this time?”
Liu Dahua’s face darkened instantly.
Last time, in a moment of desperation, he’d brandished a pistol—and nearly ended up behind bars. It had taken considerable effort and connections to get himself out; otherwise, he’d have been finished.
With a grim expression, Liu Dahua said, “Gun? What gun? I’ll have you know, I’m a law-abiding citizen—I never do anything so wicked!”
“Pfft!” Zhao Feng scoffed. “So what brings you here this time?”
“Hmph!” Liu Dahua snorted coldly, “Simple! Either you pay back the million, or you hand over your family’s heirloom as collateral!”
“Hmph!” Zhao Feng snorted as well. “Liu Dahua, if you’re coveting our family heirloom, give it up. I’ll pay you the million.”
Liu Dahua and his group paused, then burst out laughing.
“Haha! Did everyone hear that?”
“He says he’ll pay back the million!”
“Haha! Yes, yes, what a joke!”
“Exactly! What a joke!”
Liu Dahua turned to Zhao Feng, “You’ll pay back a million? How?”
Zhao Feng shrugged, “How I pay back the million is none of your concern. Come back tomorrow at this time, and you’ll get your money.”
“Bah!”
“Screw you!”