bookrandom Chapter 649 Is it better to go to jail or pay compensation?
Chapter 649 Is it better to go to jail or pay compensation?
The factory was silent the next night.
According to the apparent arrangement, there were only two security guards on duty at the main gate, and it seemed that no one was guarding the other places.
In reality, Li Xiangyang had already arranged for more than a dozen people to hide in various corners of the factory, ready to take action at any time.
At 2 a.m., three dark figures quietly sneaked into the factory. They were dressed in black, wore masks, and carried various tools.
In the monitoring room, Wang Ergou stared intently at the screen: "They're here. Three people. Their target is Workshop Two."
Li Xiangyang nodded: "Have the brothers prepare, but don't act rashly. Wait until they make their move."
The three shadowy figures had a clear division of labor: one acted as lookout while the other two began sabotaging the equipment. They smashed the control panel with a hammer and cut the wires with a knife.
"Enough, make your move!" Li Xiangyang ordered.
Suddenly, all the lights in the workshop turned on, and more than a dozen people rushed out from all corners, surrounding the three saboteurs.
"Don't move! Everyone squat down!" Wang Ergou shouted.
The three panicked when they saw so many people suddenly appear. One of them tried to run away but was kicked to the ground by Li Xiangyang.
"Trying to run? No way!" Li Xiangyang said coldly.
The three men were quickly subdued. After removing their masks, Li Xiangyang discovered that one of them was actually an imposter who had come during the day to "enforce the law."
“Tell me, who sent you?” Wang Ergou demanded.
“We…we don’t know anything,” the man stammered.
"You won't talk, huh?" Li Xiangyang took out his phone. "Then I'll report it to the police. Intentionally damaging other people's property is enough to get you several years in jail."
Upon hearing that a police report was being filed, all three panicked. The younger one finally spoke up: "It was...it was Zhang Zhihua who sent us!"
"Zhang Zhihua? The one from Huasheng Investment?" Li Xiangyang pressed.
"Yes, it was him. He said he'd give everyone ten thousand yuan if they could bring down this factory." The man confessed everything.
Li Xiangyang and Wang Ergou exchanged a glance; they had finally obtained the evidence.
"What evidence do you have to prove that Zhang Zhihua instigated this?" Li Xiangyang continued to ask.
“Yes!” The young man pulled a voice recorder from his pocket. “Before each operation, we record Zhang Zhihua’s instructions, just to prevent him from denying it later.”
Li Xiangyang took the recorder and pressed play. Zhang Zhihua's voice came through clearly: "Tonight, go again and take down their second production line as well. Remember, leave no trace."
"Great!" Wang Ergou exclaimed excitedly, "Now we have evidence!"
Instead of immediately reporting the incident, Li Xiangyang had the three troublemakers detained.
"Ergou, make arrangements for tomorrow. I want to meet Zhang Zhihua in person." A cold glint flashed in Li Xiangyang's eyes. "Since he wants my factory so badly, I'll grant his wish this time."
The next morning, Li Xiangyang took the initiative to contact Huasheng Investment Company.
As soon as the call connected, he said in a trembling voice, "Mr. Zhang, it's me, Li Xiangyang. There was another accident at the factory last night, I...I'd like to talk to you again."
Zhang Zhihua felt a surge of smugness on the other end of the phone, but feigned concern in his voice: "Mr. Li, what happened?"
"Someone else has damaged the equipment; this time the damage is even greater." Li Xiangyang deliberately feigned despair. "I really can't hold on any longer. Could you... perhaps we could discuss the price again?"
“Mr. Li, I understand your difficulties,” Zhang Zhihua said insincerely, “but given the current market situation, our offer can only be 1.2 million.”
“One million two hundred thousand…” Li Xiangyang was silent for a moment, “Okay, I agree.”
Zhang Zhihua almost jumped for joy, but he pretended to be calm: "It's good that Mr. Li has come to his senses. Shall we go over to sign the contract this afternoon?"
"Okay, I'll wait for you." Li Xiangyang said and hung up the phone.
Wang Ergou, listening from the side, shook his head repeatedly: "Xiangyang, your acting skills are getting better and better."
"There's no other way. How can we deal with these kinds of people without putting on an act?" Li Xiangyang sneered. "When they arrive this afternoon, that's when we'll close the net."
At 3 p.m., Zhang Zhihua arrived at the factory with a large group of people.
This time, they brought not only the contract, but also lawyers and accountants, seemingly determined to win.
"Mr. Li, it's wonderful that you've come to your senses." Zhang Zhihua walked into the office with a beaming smile. "One million two hundred thousand, cash transaction, the transfer can be completed today."
Li Xiangyang feigned a look of reluctance but helplessness: "I hope that after the acquisition, Mr. Zhang will treat my employees well."
"Of course, we are a legitimate investment company and we will not mistreat anyone," Zhang Zhihua assured, patting his chest.
Just as they were about to sign the contract, Li Xiangyang suddenly stood up: "Mr. Zhang, before signing the contract, I would like to ask you to look at something."
"What is it?" Zhang Zhihua asked, puzzled.
Li Xiangyang took out the voice recorder and pressed the play button.
The sound of Zhang Zhihua instructing his men to sabotage factory equipment could be clearly heard throughout the entire office.
Zhang Zhihua's face turned pale instantly, and Zhao Jianwei and the others were also dumbfounded.
"Mr. Li, what...what does this mean?" Zhang Zhihua stammered.
"What do you mean?" Li Xiangyang sneered. "President Zhang, you sent people to sabotage my factory, trying to force me to sell at a low price. Now the evidence is irrefutable. Do you still want to deny it?"
"You...you're making baseless accusations!" Zhang Zhihua tried to remain calm. "This recording might be fake!"
"Forged?" Wang Ergou walked in, followed by several arrested spies. "What about these people? They were caught red-handed at our factory last night and have all confessed."
Seeing his men arrested, Zhang Zhihua panicked completely: "This...this is a misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding!"
"A misunderstanding?" Li Xiangyang picked up the phone. "Then I'll report it to the police right now and let law enforcement determine if it's a misunderstanding."
"No! Don't report it to the police!" Zhang Zhihua hurriedly stopped him. "Boss Li, let's talk this out!"
"Now you know you want to negotiate?" Li Xiangyang hung up the phone. "Weren't you very arrogant just now? You wanted to buy my factory for 1.2 million?"
Cold sweat broke out on Zhang Zhihua's forehead. He knew that if he really reported the case, he would be finished.
"Mr. Li, what do you say we do?" Zhang Zhihua finally gave in. "As long as you don't report it to the police, I'll agree to any condition."
Li Xiangyang paced around his office a few times, then said, "It's very simple. First, immediately cease all acts of sabotage against my factory; second, compensate us for our economic losses, 500,000 yuan; third, issue a public apology and admit to your hostile takeover attempt."
"Five hundred thousand? That's too much!" Zhang Zhihua exclaimed.
"Too much?" Li Xiangyang sneered. "Do you think going to jail is better, or paying compensation?"
Zhang Zhihua gritted his teeth and finally nodded in agreement: "Okay, I agree. But you must promise that this matter ends here."
“Of course.” Li Xiangyang nodded. “In business, reputation is the most important thing.”