Chapter 96

"Father! What’s wrong with my brother?" As soon as she entered the office, Ye Mei asked.

Ye Mei’s father was a slightly overweight middle-aged man with a receding hairline, looking to be in his forties or fifties, with the appearance of an old bureaucrat. If one were to compare his looks, he was far less impressive than the Mr. He she had met before. It really made one doubt whether Ye Mei was his biological daughter.

Ye Mei asked anxiously, but her father did not rush to answer. Instead, he turned to look at Zhang Qiu and started speaking.

"I am Ye Chenghai, the president of Chenghai Group. You must be Mei Mei’s friend? Thanks to you just now! I won’t say much, but if you need any help, just let me know." Ye Chenghai had the face of a bureaucrat, but his words were straightforward and decisive.

Zhang Qiu replied, "Mr. Ye, there’s no need to be so formal. It was just a small favor. You should discuss the important matters. I’ll take my leave."

"No need. It’s not a secret. You saved Mei Mei just now, so we have a connection. If you don’t mind, stay and listen!" Ye Chenghai said.

So, Zhang Qiu stayed and listened as Ye Chenghai began to explain.

"Mei Mei, you don’t need to worry too much. They just want money. Your brother should be safe. They’ll call again soon, and we’ll see what to do then." Ye Chenghai said.

Ye Mei’s expression eased somewhat, but she was still very worried about her brother’s safety. She couldn’t help but ask, "Father, who exactly is after us?" They dared to kidnap someone right outside the office building, clearly indicating significant power.

"I should have seen this coming. I just didn’t expect them to act so quickly!" Ye Chenghai sighed. "Chenghai Group started as a small factory during the early stages of reform and opening up. It only became a group in recent years and successfully listed this year, becoming a public company."

"However, last month, the newly listed company was targeted by someone who started manipulating the stock price maliciously. I noticed the danger early and organized a financial team to respond, even bringing in external help. In the end, we stabilized the stock price, foiling their plans and causing them significant losses."

"Originally, this was just a normal financial operation. But it turns out that the company behind the manipulation has ties to the underworld. A well-meaning friend warned me that the company was out to get me. However, their company is in Jianghai, not in Suxian, so I didn’t take it seriously. I never thought they would come across provinces to kidnap Xiaoyu. I should have been more prepared."

Listening to Ye Chenghai’s account, Zhang Qiu understood the situation and sighed, "The Yakuza are getting into finance... The world has really changed."

"How can there still be the Yakuza? Isn’t the government always cracking down on them?" Ye Mei’s impression of the Yakuza was limited to TV shows, set in the 1930s and 1940s in Jianghai. She never imagined that in the 21st century, such a brutal organization still existed in Jianghai.

"Of course they exist," Ye Chenghai sighed. "There are quite a few in Suxian, but the local government is strict, so there are no major criminal organizations. However, I didn’t expect that a major international city like Jianghai would still have such brutal organizations."

"Every city has its gray areas, which provide a space for the Yakuza to survive. I understand this, but the government’s crackdown means they are mostly small, minor operations."

"Jianghai is different because it has been a haven for the underworld since the Qing Dynasty, with various gangs. The Haiqing Gang, which started from the docks, is the most powerful. The company I offended is called Hai Dongqing Investment Company. There must be some connection."

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the old society’s gangs were either disbanded or fled overseas. I thought they had become history, but it seems they have gone underground and quietly continued their legacy.

"I don’t think you should be too afraid! Maybe they didn’t do it themselves but hired criminals?" Zhang Qiu comforted. If they could operate across provinces, the criminal organization would be formidable. But if they just hired criminals, it wouldn’t be as terrifying.

"You’re right! This is a new society. Legally, there’s no room for these gangs. Even if they clean up, if they go too far, they’re asking for trouble!" Ye Chenghai suddenly became stern and said fiercely.

At that moment, his phone rang again.

"Ye Chenghai, your daughter was lucky to escape. But I’m very angry and have the urge to kill. If you want your son to live, transfer ten billion to this account..." The kidnapper then provided a Swiss bank account.

Swiss banks are known for their strict confidentiality and support anonymous accounts, recognizing only passwords, not people. This makes them popular among various individuals and, in a sense, provides a haven for criminal activities.

"Ten billion... The ransom for the Li family’s son in Xiangcheng was also ten billion! You really think highly of me, Ye Chenghai!" Ye Chenghai sighed.

The kidnapper on the other end said, "If we think highly of you, are you not satisfied? Stop talking nonsense. If you don’t pay, we’ll send you a corpse!"

"At least let me hear my son’s voice to confirm his safety!" Ye Chenghai said.

"Dad, I’m scared... sniffle..." A little boy’s crying voice came through the phone.

Ye Chenghai comforted, "Xiaoyu, don’t be afraid, be strong!"

"How about that? You heard your son’s voice, are you satisfied now? Transfer the money quickly!" The kidnapper’s voice came through, and Xiaoyu’s voice was no longer audible.

"Ten billion, I can’t gather that much right away. Give me some time!" Ye Chenghai said, "Then, let’s meet at a designated place for the exchange! If I transfer the money and you don’t release him, who will I complain to?"

"Deal! Money for the person! But if you try any tricks, you’ll be picking up your son’s body!" the kidnapper said.

"I understand the rules and won’t mess around." Ye Chenghai said.

The kidnapper then provided a time and place: "Two hours later, at the North Suburb Auto Repair Shop!"

After the call ended, Ye Mei immediately asked, "Father, where do we get that much money? What should we do?" Ye Mei knew clearly that although Chenghai Group had listed, its market value was only around ten billion.

But this was the market value after listing. The company’s actual assets were even less, only a few billion. The available liquid funds were even less, only a few hundred million.

Even if they started gathering funds now, they could only manage one or two billion at best. Where would they get ten billion?

"I have no choice but to agree. You think we don’t have ten billion, but they believe we can gather it even if we have to borrow." Ye Chenghai said.

He then made a call and said as soon as it was answered, "Old Li, can you lend me a few people? My son has been kidnapped... I think it’s the Hai Dongqing people... Don’t worry, as long as you lend me people, I believe we can save him... If they dare to hurt my son, I, Ye Chenghai, am not without the means to retaliate!"

"Alright, I’ll lend you the people. Have them come to me as soon as possible!" Ye Chenghai hung up.

"Mr. Ye, what’s your plan?" Zhang Qiu suddenly asked.

"I’m going to get some help and then rescue Xiaoyu when we meet them." Ye Chenghai said.

Zhang Qiu asked, "Mr. Ye, can you get guns?"

"My two bodyguards have gun licenses! Why do you ask?" Ye Chenghai said.

"That’s good! If you can provide guns, maybe I can help." Zhang Qiu said calmly.

"Zhang Qiu, it’s great that you can help!" Ye Mei had seen Zhang Qiu’s abilities. He had saved her before the kidnappers even acted. While she couldn’t say how strong he was, his keen eyesight and quick reflexes were unmatched.

To rescue someone, being strong wasn’t the most critical; keen eyesight and quick reflexes were. Good eyesight could spot opportunities others missed, and quick reflexes could seize those opportunities, greatly increasing the chances of a successful rescue.

So, Ye Mei was very pleased with Zhang Qiu’s involvement. She had been thinking about how to ask him to join, but now that he offered, it saved her a lot of trouble and made her even more impressed with him.

"Does Zhang Qiu know how to use guns?" Ye Chenghai asked curiously. He had heard from his daughter that Zhang Qiu had saved her and that he knew martial arts, so he thought Zhang Qiu was just physically skilled and had happened to save her.

But now, Zhang Qiu was asking for guns. Could it be that he was more confident in his gun skills than his physical abilities?

In fact, Zhang Qiu was indeed more confident in his gun skills, as his gun proficiency was at the national level, while his martial arts were only at the quasi-national level.

Although martial arts and gun skills are different systems, the levels are system-rated, making them comparable. This made it clear which was higher.

"I know a bit. Boys, who doesn’t like this? You know what I mean." Zhang Qiu said.

"This isn’t a joke," Ye Chenghai warned. "I appreciate your willingness to help, but this is too risky. You have done a lot for Minmin, and I can’t let you take this risk."

However, Zhang Qiu really wanted to use a gun. He had a national-level gun skill but had never fired a shot. He had a private gun, but without a silencer, he didn’t dare use it. Now, he had a chance to use a gun, and he couldn’t let it go.

"Father, I think we should let Zhang Qiu come along," Ye Mei said.

"Naive girl! How can you put your benefactor in danger?" Ye Chenghai thought to himself.

At that moment, Zhang Qiu said, "Mr. Ye, can you give me a gun? Let me try it out before making a decision! I won’t take unnecessary risks and have no other motives; I just want to use a gun."

"Alright. Let you take a few shots and see." (To be continued...)