Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

Can you contact Zhang Dabiao in Beijing anytime?

That's a bit unreasonable. The people over there don't know that Zhang Dabiao has a twin brother. These days, the mainland is very strict about investigating overseas connections.

So Zhang Dabiao didn't say anything, lest he say more and make a mistake; he just deliberately shouted loudly—

"Boss Lou, could you also pay my bill while you're at it?"

Lou Yufan paused in his walking, then smiled helplessly and waved to indicate that he had heard.

After he left, Zhang Dabiao ate while reviewing the events in his mind, but he couldn't figure out why he had murderous intent.

I can understand your disdain, contempt, and doubts.

But murderous intent?

This is a bit hard to understand. Do I eat your rice or something?

After quickly finishing his meal, Zhang Dabiao went to a tea stall, gave Ah Xiang and the others a few instructions, and then slipped away to return to Beijing.

Without making an appointment or asking Lou Xiao'e to go back and greet them first, they went straight to Lou's mansion.

"Boss Lou, what's the situation in Hong Kong?"

"Why hasn't my licensing fee been transferred yet?"

Lou Bancheng had just received a note from his subordinates. Given his current status, it was impossible for him to make a direct phone call to Hong Kong, but he had his own methods.

He was puzzled and frowning when he saw the note handed to him, but unexpectedly Zhang Dabiao came to his door directly.

Lou Bancheng was thus embarrassed.

"Hey, Da Biao, hasn't the money arrived yet?"

"I'll go ask for you this afternoon, but it'll probably take a few days."

"You know my current status; my every move is being watched. Even making a phone call gets me...right? Please wait a moment."

"The amount is too large; I suspect the approval process will be a bit troublesome."

Zhang Dabiao looked at him suspiciously, but after thinking about it, he felt it made sense.

These days, the only places to make phone calls are the post office and your workplace. That means Lou Bancheng would have to do the same. He would either have to go to the post office or the steel mill to make a call. And given his position, he'd probably be monitored.

As for the idea that they could call Hong Kong from their home phone anytime—forget about it, the authorities would never allow that. That falls under the category of international long-distance calls, which are subject to strict approval and extra control. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, their phone line was cut off.

Therefore, Zhang Dabiao could understand the communication difficulties.

Moreover, $90 (8% of which is $72) is not a small amount, and the process will probably be a bit complicated, so let's wait a few more days.

Zhang Dabiao chatted casually for a couple of minutes and was about to leave, but Lou Bancheng suddenly called him back: "Dabiao, you..."

I was going to ask if you have a twin brother, and whether you gave him your Hong Kong identity card and house.

But then I remembered that I had just said that communication was inconvenient, and asking now would be giving myself away.

Furthermore, Lou Yufan had met with the so-called "Zhang Yaoyang" in Hong Kong at noon, and less than an hour later, Zhang Dabiao appeared in front of him.

That definitely couldn't be one person. The straight-line distance between Hong Kong and Beijing is nearly 2000 kilometers. Even airplanes can't fly that fast.

So—Zhang Dabiao really does have a twin brother!

Lou Bancheng stopped talking, then quickly said, "It's alright, it's alright, you go ahead and do your work."

Zhang Dabiao looked at him suspiciously, then shrugged: "Boss Lou, urge your son to hurry up. The ministry is keeping an eye on this money."

The next layer of meaning is—【Don't narrow your path.】

[If anything goes wrong with this shipment... if this money goes wrong, you, Lou Bancheng, still think you can escape to Hong Kong? No way!]

After saying that, Zhang Dabiao left the Lou Mansion, rode his bicycle to the steel mill to pick up Mu Wanqing after get off work.

At the Lou Mansion, Lou Bancheng stood on his second-floor balcony, watching Zhang Dabiao's sloppy bicycle ride away, his face serious and somewhat gloomy.

"Eh..."

"I hope Yu Fan can be more rational and not make any impulsive decisions..."

"90 US dollars!"

"If my Lou family's assets can be liquidated and transferred there, what is $90?"

"Ah...it's fate...it's destiny..."

Lou Yufan ran into trouble in Hong Kong, so the $90 has been misappropriated. This makes it difficult to explain to Zhang Dabiao.

Lou's Trading Company in Hong Kong was controlled by Lou Yu-fan and was engaged in textile and garment manufacturing, plastic processing ("Red A model"), entrepot trade, and a small part of real estate business.

The 60s was a period of rapid expansion for Hong Kong's manufacturing industry. Lou Yufan came to Hong Kong in 52 with a box of small yellow croakers and 5 US dollars to develop his business.

They had only recently entered the textile and plastics processing industries.

Lou Yufan's shares in the Lou Family Business Company in Hong Kong, along with his net worth, totaled approximately US$200 million, which is already quite good.

However, the Lou family's most significant assets are still located in mainland China.

More than 40 shops, 8 courtyard houses, and 2 Western-style buildings in the core area of ​​Sijiu City;

The vast majority of equity in time-honored businesses in Beijing (silk shops, grain stores, pharmacies, steel mills, restaurants, etc.) has been transferred from public to private ownership, with only the right to receive dividends remaining.

The country possesses approximately 1000 ounces of gold reserves and a vast quantity of hard currency, including antiques and paintings.

There is also a considerable amount of working capital and hidden assets.

Lou Bancheng's net worth is approximately $450 million—hence his nickname "Half-City," which is somewhat fitting.

but……

These assets and this money cannot be used, invested, or moved out.

Donated it all? That's the family fortune accumulated over generations by the Lou family, how could they possibly part with it!

That's why the higher-ups have been keeping an eye on him.

Lou Bancheng was willing to help his eldest son repay Zhang Dabiao the $90, but—

How should I give it to you?

Even if he gave it to Zhang Dabiao, would he dare to accept it? Would he be able to accept it?

------------

On the way, Zhang Dabiao pondered Lou Bancheng's reaction, and his face darkened.

Something must have gone wrong with Lou Yufan in Hong Kong; he can't cash out the $90.

Lou Yufan and Lou Bancheng can definitely contact each other at any time, which is why Lou Bancheng reacted that way just now. He was feeling guilty and trying to cover it up.

Lou Bancheng had no intention of killing him, only guilt and embarrassment, but Lou Yufan had a real intention of killing him.

Hopefully, Lou Yufan won't act impulsively. If he makes any irrational decisions, then Zhang Dabiao...

Should we kill him, or kill him?

That would be a bit troublesome.

It's not that I'm afraid of falling out with Lou Bancheng, but once it gets to that point, the Lou family in Beijing can no longer be allowed to stay.

Because he had obtained a Hong Kong ID card for himself and was given a village house in Hong Kong as a gift, Zhang Dabiao had no idea how many people in the Lou family knew about it.

Does Lou Xiao'e know? Does Xu Damao's mother know?

If we really have to take action, none of these people can be spared.

Then...

Zhang Dabiao always felt that he couldn't bring himself to do something so cruel.

But if he can't pay the $90, Zhang Dabiao will really kill his whole family!

That's 90 US dollars!

He sighed and lit another cigarette.

We'll deal with whatever comes our way, let's just take it one step at a time.