Chapter Fifty-Three: Game

  Zhang Lei said, "No rush, let's go to the dock and take a look." Guo Yu was just pretending to do something at Su Lun's request. If he really did it thoroughly, it would probably cause public outrage. When the time came for him to be jointly accused, his future prospects would basically come to an end. So Zhang Lei wasn't very worried. The only uncertainty was what was said earlier - if he dragged it out for a few months, he could get away with it, but for the Zhang family business, it would be a major blow.

  Two people arrived at the dock, which was originally a place with a high density of people. Now that something had happened, whether it was the dock workers or the surrounding crowd, they all rushed over to watch the excitement. Such a large scale is probably only possible in the Huaxia civilization to nurture such a miracle.

  "Here they come." Zhang Lei and his group had just walked past when someone shouted out.

  Zhang Lei took a look, and the wood on this boat was at least 10,000 catties. It was piled up in a huge heap on the dock. Guo Yu was directing dozens of people to transport these woods with wheelbarrows. Several bailiffs were standing by, ready to draw their swords at any sign of trouble.

  Arriving in front of Guo Yu, Zhang Lei first bowed and said: "I suppose this is Lord Guo?" His tone did not contain a hint of respect.

  Guo Yu slightly raised his head and said: "Boss Zhang, you've been quite popular lately"

  Zhang Lei's young face showed a somewhat embarrassed expression, and he said: "Ah, Lord Guo has actually heard of my name, it's really an honor, I guess I'm still quite famous after all."

  The people around burst into laughter, and Guo Yu only then realized that he seemed to have been fooled. He couldn't help but secretly sigh in his heart that this young man was indeed quite capable. Irritated, he said: "Boss Zhang, now is not the time for showing off your eloquence."

  Zhang Lei also coughed lightly and said seriously, "Guo sir, I also think this is not a good time for jokes. So please, Guo sir, explain clearly why you want to confiscate these wooden planks."

  As soon as Su Lun knew Zhang Lei's name, he sent a large number of people to investigate him. However, after several months had passed, except for knowing that he lived in Xujiaying since childhood and disappeared for several months last year before returning with a greatly changed temperament, they couldn't find any other information about him.

  For someone whose background had suddenly become mysterious, Guo Yu naturally couldn't treat him as an ordinary citizen. After deliberating on his words, he said: "Some people suspect that the wood of this boat has unclear origins and is smuggled goods. In these chaotic times, I have to be careful in my actions."

  "So you just detained these goods?" Zhang Lei snorted and said: "Are you insulting my intelligence? Someone suspects you and they have to detain them? Do you think you are Cao Cao, who would rather kill a thousand by mistake than let one go? If I suspect that the official uniform on your body is fake, do you want me to strip it off first?"

  "You... I've heard that Boss Zhang has a sharp tongue, today I've experienced it myself, and indeed it's not bad." Guo Yu said through gritted teeth.

  Zhang Lei laughed and said: "Too much praise, too much praise. At this age, I don't have any official position or power to gain benefits from, I can only rely on my mouth to make a living. However, sir, you still haven't answered my previous question. Is it that as soon as there's suspicion, one must take action? I suspect that you're not like an official at all. Shouldn't you first strip off your official robes in front of everyone?"

  "How can this be! It's unreasonable! I'm just upholding the law, and even if someone else were in my position, I would still have a clear conscience! You're just a commoner, what qualifications do you have to haggle with me? Be careful or I'll report you for obstructing official business." Guo Yu finally remembered that he was an official and Zhang Lei was a commoner, so he didn't need to speak to him in such a way.

  "Oh, I see... Well, whatever. I won't bother you anymore. You go ahead, after all, you're not the first one to say that I'm interfering with official business." Having said this, he went to stand aside and remained silent.

  Guo Yu let out a snort and strode past him with his head held high, continuing to direct the men in moving the lumber. Xu Feng watched anxiously and whispered to Zhang Lei, "Boss Zhang, are we just going to stand by and do nothing?"

  "What can I do? He doesn't give me any face at all, what can I do? If he wants to move, let him move." Zhang Lei said calmly.

  Xu Feng said anxiously: "But what about those goods..."

  Zhang Lei waved his hand to stop him from continuing, saying: "Don't worry about this, in two days at most, I'll have him deliver all the wood to you obediently."

  Xu Feng's face lit up with joy and he asked, "Do you have a way?"

  Zhang Lei smiled but didn't say anything.

  Su's home, Su Lun comfortably lying on the bed, a teenage girl stretched out her jade-like hand, slowly pressing his abdomen. Every time the two got close, Su Lun would stretch out his hand and grab the girl's private parts, causing a burst of giggles, and he would laugh triumphantly.

  Suddenly, a knock at the door was heard outside. He waved his hand to let the blushing girl retreat behind the screen and then said: "Come in."

  Chen Yufei pushed open the door from outside and said: "Young master, there is news on the dock."

  Su Lun suddenly sat up and said: "How is it?"

  "As expected, that Zhang Lei went to the dock, but... heh heh, now he can only stand aside and watch Mr. Guo move things." Chen Yufei said with a flying eyebrow and a smile.

  "Ah ha, he also has his own embarrassing moments. If I couldn't appear, I would definitely go and mock him thoroughly." Su Lun heard this good news, seemingly having vented some of her anger, and suddenly felt a bit better.

  Chen Yufei said: "Still young master is wise."

  On the dock, since Zhang Lei stood aside, no one else spoke. Dozens of people silently watched as Guo Yu led his men to move all the wood away.

  After everyone had dispersed, Xufeng anxiously said: "Boss Zhang, don't keep us in suspense anymore, just tell me if there's a way."

  Zhang Lei felt that the timing was about right, so he told her his plan in such and such a way.

  "Boss Zhang is indeed powerful, this move of borrowing power and using force is wonderful!" Xu Feng said with admiration.

  "Alright, alright, let's disperse everyone and get back to work. This period of time has been tough on everyone, so consider these few days a holiday for them."

  Back in the factory, Zhang Lei immediately became anxious and all the bosses came forward, telling them about this matter.

  "It's simply outrageous!" After listening to Zhang Lei's description, everyone was indignant and furious. Ma Teng angrily said:

  Zhang Lei pressed his hands down to signal everyone to calm down, then said: "Don't worry, this matter is just the beginning. After the Chamber of Commerce is established, such things will come one after another, unless we have strong power and connections in all aspects. As they say, he's an official and we're civilians, as long as he doesn't say something that insults our intelligence, we can't refute it, so we can only take action from other angles."

  He explained his plan, which was actually quite simple. He would dig up Su Ren's old accounts and make them public knowledge, putting pressure on him. At that time, he would inevitably be forced to surrender. As for Guo Yu, he was just acting on his behalf and had no intention of getting involved in this mess himself. If Su Ren continued to be stubborn, he would inevitably be ruined by the joint attack of so many people.

  It sounds simple and easy to operate, but almost all strategies that are most effective are generally very simple.

  Almost overnight, in the streets and alleys of Songjiang Prefecture, people were talking about Su Lun's strong robbery of good family women and his extravagant and wasteful behavior.

  Of course, this news also soon reached Su Lun's ears, which originated from his wife going out to buy vegetables.

  Then he found Chen Yufei again and asked him to go out and listen to the rumors outside.

  "Master, something is wrong." Chen Yufei told Su Lun everything he had found out and then said.

  Su Leng also broke out in cold sweat upon hearing this, these things were all his mistakes over the years, not a single one was off. There must be someone behind the scenes directing this matter.

  "Where did all these come from?" Su Lun said, slapping the table.

  Chen Yufei shook his head honestly and said, "I don't know. These are all rumors that have come out from different families in the east and west. The stories from the eastern and western parts of the city are not even the same. There's no way to investigate this."

  "What's going on here? There are still people in Songjiang Prefecture who dare to oppose me?" Su Lun was furious.

  "Could it be Zhang Lei?" Chen Yufei said, "He was scolded yesterday and has been harboring resentment..."

  "It's impossible, he has only been in Songjiang Prefecture for a few days, how could he know those things?"

  Chen Yufei said: "Young master, even if he doesn't know, don't forget that his Zhang's business association is not just him alone."

  "So that's what it is... It's really possible that Zhang Lei had someone spread the word..." Su Lun said, stroking his chin and narrowing his eyes.

  Just then, there was another knock at the door outside. Su Lun gestured to Chen Yu Fei to go and open it, and a servant came in saying: "Young Master, Miss has sent word over."

  "Older female cousin? What message did she send over? Isn't she currently out of town?" Su Lun said. "What message did she send over?"

  "The young lady says you've gone too far this time, and tells you to hurry up and return their goods." said the servant.

  Su Lun suddenly stood up and said: "How did she know about this? Could it be that Zhang Lei sent someone to tell her? This kid..."

  The situation is becoming more and more unfavorable to myself, even my sister who has been abroad for many years has come forward to intervene, if the old man in the family also comes out, it will be really terrible.

  "Master, what should we do now?" As Su Lun's think tank, Chen Yu Fei also couldn't think of a way to counterattack for the time being.