Chapter 80

Intimidation, beatings, and other low-level tactics were immediately filtered out by Bian Xuedao. Although it would be easy for him to find someone to do these things given his current financial resources, he couldn't guarantee that there wouldn't be legal consequences.

In Bian Xuedao's mind, killing or crippling Tao Qing was something a lawless fool would do.

Beating Tao Qing up would be easy, but making him suffer for a lifetime wouldn't be.

Bian Xuedao was thinking about how to make Tao Qing suffer for a lifetime.

Looking at the calendar on the desk, Bian Xuedao came up with a plan to scheme against Tao Qing.

Tao Qing took three attempts to pass the college entrance exam and get into Dongsen University, which was his most vulnerable soft spot. Bian Xuedao decided to strike at Tao Qing's most painful point.

To implement this plan, Bian Xuedao needed help, and the person he needed was Tao Qing's roommate, his junior high school classmate, Wang Deliang.

When Bian Xuedao was setting up the honest bicycles, he gave Wang Deliang a key to the collection box and invested capital in him. Now was the time to use Wang Deliang.

He called Wang Deliang's dorm, but no one answered, probably because they were all in class.

Bian Xuedao sat on the sofa, gradually refining his plan. By noon, he had designed two strategies.

The first strategy could be implemented immediately but required certain conditions; the second strategy could only be used next year.

In Bian Xuedao's eyes, these two strategies would make Tao Qing suffer greatly, and if both were successful, Tao Qing's college career would be over, and he would have to go back to retake the adult college entrance exam.

The core of both strategies revolved around Wang Deliang.

Without Wang Deliang's cooperation, neither strategy could be implemented, unless he developed other informants in Tao Qing's dorm. But without the layer of old classmate relations, it would be hard to trust them.

When the media came to interview about the honest bicycles, Bian Xuedao had Chen Jian and Shan Rao do the interviews to prevent Tao Qing from connecting the dots between him and Wang Deliang. Now it seemed that his caution was justified.

The excitement of being a plotter made Bian Xuedao eager to contact Wang Deliang.

In the afternoon, he finally got through to Wang Deliang's dorm. The person who answered wasn't Wang Deliang or Tao Qing. Wang Deliang was called over to the phone: "Hello, who is it?"

Bian Xuedao said, "Listen carefully, don't say a word except 'yes.'"

After a pause, Bian Xuedao continued, "At 4 PM, take a taxi to Tianxiang Teahouse. I've booked room 203. Don't ask where it is; just tell the driver, and he'll know. Recognize my voice?"

"Uh-huh," Wang Deliang replied.

Bian Xuedao said, "Good, see you at 4. Don't worry, it's only good news."

Wang Deliang was confused.

They were in the same school, so why was this so mysterious? It felt like a secret meeting. Was it a joke? A prank? It didn't seem like it! It wasn't April Fool's Day, and Bian Xuedao's tone didn't sound like he was joking.

Although he was uncertain, Wang Deliang decided to go. The reason was simple: the key to the honest bicycle collection box that Bian Xuedao gave him had brought in over 2100 yuan the first time. With the arrival of summer and the extended activity time of students, plus the impact of the closed campus, he collected nearly 3000 yuan in May.

All this money went to Wang Deliang.

Bian Xuedao had clearly stated that Wang Deliang didn't have to pay him back a cent, and if he did, the key would be taken back.

Wang Deliang wasn't stupid. He knew the principle of no free lunch and that Bian Xuedao must have a favor to ask. He thought about it for over a month but couldn't figure it out.

One evening, while chatting with his dorm mates, he suddenly wondered if Bian Xuedao was a homosexual who had a crush on him. But he quickly dismissed this idea. Wang Deliang was smart, had a good personality, and was humorous, but he wasn't particularly good-looking. He thought that even if someone had a sexual orientation issue, their aesthetic wouldn't be so distorted.

Moreover, after a semester of college, Wang Deliang realized the differences between college and high school. Academic performance was only a concern at the beginning and end of the semester; otherwise, it was irrelevant.

To get along well with his dorm mates, he had to spend money. To pursue the beautiful girls he admired, he needed money, good looks, athletic prowess, or sweet talk. Wang Deliang was good at sweet talk, but his appearance held him back. When he tried to pursue a top-three girl in his class at the beginning of the semester, she politely rejected him.

But after he started earning money from the bicycles, he went out with a girl a few times and spent over 4000 yuan. The girl's attitude changed. She no longer pushed him away, and her tardiness went from 30 minutes to 5 minutes or less. They were getting closer.

At this point, how could Wang Deliang say no to the person who gave him money?

If the key was taken back, the 4000 yuan he had already spent might be wasted.

If it weren't for his high regard for his boss, Wang Deliang wouldn't have recognized Bian Xuedao's voice immediately and followed his instructions. If it were someone else on the phone, he would have teased them.

Although he was almost certain that Bian Xuedao wasn't interested in him romantically, Wang Deliang still put on his most casual clothes, found a pair of smelly socks from under his bed, and considered wearing a dirty pair of underwear. He almost gagged at the thought. He sighed, knowing that what was coming couldn't be avoided, and resolutely got into a taxi.

Out of respect for his boss, Wang Deliang arrived at 3:40. As soon as he entered, a server greeted him: "Sir, how many people?"

Wang Deliang said, "203."

The server politely said, "Sir, please follow me."

Wang Deliang thought he would be the first to arrive, but when the door opened, he saw Bian Xuedao sitting there on the phone.

The server added a set of tea ware and left.

Bian Xuedao poured a cup of tea for Wang Deliang: "I didn't expect you to come so early, you're a good friend. Try this, 220 yuan for this small pot, it's my first time drinking it."

Perhaps it was the power of money, or perhaps it was Bian Xuedao's growing adult aura, but Wang Deliang felt a bit uneasy. He quickly took the cup with both hands and sniffed it, saying, "It's really fragrant!"

Seeing Wang Deliang take a sip of tea and look at him, Bian Xuedao took out an envelope from his bag and pushed it across the table: "Liangzi, I need your help. This is 10,000 yuan. Whether you agree or not, whether it succeeds or not, it's yours."

Wang Deliang looked at the envelope and swallowed.

10,000! This is 10,000! For me?

And whether I agree or not, whether it succeeds or not, it's mine?

What does Bian Xuedao mean?

Fight and take the blame? Cheat on the exam? Run naked in public? Pull down a girl's pants during morning exercises?

Wang Deliang hesitated but couldn't take his eyes off the envelope.

Bian Xuedao had initially planned to offer 5,000 yuan, but after a quick calculation, he realized that the key he gave Wang Deliang had brought in over 5,000 yuan in the past few months. He feared that Wang Deliang, who had seen the money, might be harder to persuade, so he offered 10,000 yuan.

10,000 yuan in 2003 still had significant purchasing power.

Most college students couldn't come up with 10,000 yuan.

Sure enough, the look on Wang Deliang's face suggested that he would seriously consider running naked for 100 meters.

Bian Xuedao emphasized again, "Whether you agree or not, whether it succeeds or not, it's yours."

Wang Deliang knew that if Bian Xuedao was willing to offer 10,000 yuan, this matter must be important. If he took the money and didn't do the job, this 10,000 yuan would likely be his advance for medical expenses.

Thinking of his new girlfriend, the bright eyes when he bought her gifts, and the recent intimacy, Wang Deliang gritted his teeth and pressed his hand on the money.

Seeing Wang Deliang take the money, Bian Xuedao felt relieved.

Wang Deliang held the money, looking at it from all sides, unsure where to put it.

Bian Xuedao saw this and took out his small shoulder bag, took out his phone and wallet, and handed the bag to Wang Deliang: "Put it in the bag and take it home. Otherwise, it's too conspicuous and unsafe. I'll give it to you; I have a spare."

Since he had already taken the 10,000 yuan, Wang Deliang didn't hesitate to take the bag.

After taking the money, Wang Deliang didn't speak, savoring the tea and waiting for Bian Xuedao to speak.

Bian Xuedao was satisfied with Wang Deliang's composure.

Bian Xuedao said, "Actually, it's not as difficult or dangerous as you might think. I have a grudge against Tao Qing in your dorm, and I plan to deal with him."

Wang Deliang finally spoke: "What do you want me to do?"

This was Wang Deliang's smart move. Unlike most people who would first ask, "How did the grudge start?" he asked what he needed to do.