Chapter 155: Buying a Maybach

As he spoke, Jiang Shunfa tossed a small leather suitcase to the owner. It contained 780,000 in cash, just withdrawn from the bank.

"Huh? What's going on?" The car dealership owner, unaware of the conflict between Jiang Shunfa and Guo Tao, took the suitcase with a look of utter confusion.

"Nothing. Just do as I say." Jiang Shunfa and Zhang Cong slipped out through the office's back door. They didn't go far, hiding in the shadows to observe Guo Tao's every move.

When Guo Tao entered, he swaggered in with an air of arrogance. "Hey boss, this lot is getting bigger, isn't it? Still selling that Mercedes 600? Has it been overhauled?" Seeing the various high-end used cars parked in the yard made his eyes widen with greed.

"Oh! Boss Guo is here! Now, look at what you're saying—when have I ever sold overhauled junk? That car was brought in by a friend from the capital. He didn't get paid for a construction job, so he took it as a debt settlement. The car is perfectly fine." The owner hurriedly pulled up a chair for Guo Tao and lit a Panda brand cigarette for him. "The buyer had something come up and left, leaving the money with me. Shall we go take a look at the car?"

Guo Tao was momentarily stunned. What kind of relationship did this buyer have with Old Zhang to trust him with nearly 800,000 in cash? *Ah, whatever. As long as I get my money.*

Guo Tao didn't dwell on it. He stood up and headed into the yard. He had specifically stopped at a car wash earlier to have his Q7 scrubbed clean.

"Wow, it really is a new car," Old Zhang remarked, unable to hide his admiration. "It’s a pity to sell it when it’s this new."

"Of course it's new. It’s only got 28,000 kilometers on it, less than two years old." Guo Tao exhaled a cloud of smoke and boasted, "Pity my ass. My boss is tired of driving it and wants to switch to a Maybach. This little car isn't high-class enough."

"Impressive, truly impressive!" Old Zhang circled the car, popped the hood, inspected the engine, started the ignition, and listened to the engine's purr. After revving it a few times, he nodded in approval. "It really is a new car; the condition is excellent."

"Duh. If it wasn't, I would've dumped it on the side of the road as scrap metal a long time ago." Guo Tao stared intently at the suitcase full of cash in Old Zhang’s hand, feeling a surge of excitement. He had almost forgotten the feeling of being stuck in Liangzi’s van. *Damn, that idiot Liangzi is getting out of the hospital today. Ever since he went to fight Rui-ge, he’s been in and out of the hospital like a total loser! Once I get this money, I’ll take Liangzi to the grand mall and treat him to a good time.*

"The price was agreed upon—780,000. Shall we count it?" Old Zhang dropped the suitcase onto the hood and popped the latches. Stacks of crisp, new banknotes appeared, making Guo Tao’s heart race with excitement.

Guo Tao grabbed the case and began to feign a count, touching the stacks as he whispered, "Damn it, there aren't any counterfeit bills in here, are there? Old Zhang, you know who I work for."

"Oh, come on, what are you saying? I’ve been in the used car business for over twenty years. In this Bohai District, my professional reputation is a benchmark. You don't trust me?" Old Zhang was instantly agitated. He gripped the suitcase and said, "How about we go to the bank right now? Let them count it. If there’s one fake bill, I’ll pay you ten thousand!"

*Whoosh!* Guo Tao was taken aback. He hadn't expected this old man to be so stubborn. He quickly softened his tone. "Hey, I'm just messing with you. Look at how tense you are! If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't have come to you."

With that, Guo Tao continued to count the money on the hood, deeply engrossed. Meanwhile, Jiang Shunfa and Zhang Cong had quietly circled from the back of the office to the other side of the yard. Using the rows of used cars as cover, they crept toward Guo Tao.

*Swish! Swish!*

The two moved stealthily, each holding a square wooden club they had scavenged from the yard. "Left and right. Aim for the back of the head. Don't go too hard, just enough to knock him out," Jiang Shunfa whispered, crouching on the ground as he gave the final instructions to Zhang Cong.

Zhang Cong had been timid since childhood and had never done anything like this. Despite the crisp autumn breeze, his forehead was covered in sweat. "Okay! Got it!" He took a deep breath, waiting for Jiang's signal.

*Whoosh!* Seeing Guo Tao begin to rummage through the suitcase to count the next layer of cash, Jiang Shunfa signaled, "Go!"

*Rustle!* They moved with lightning speed, crouching low. They emerged from behind the nearest car; they were less than ten meters away and covered the distance in a few quick strides. Guo Tao, having never seen so much money and terrified of being reprimanded by Rui-ge for a mistake, was completely focused on the count.

*Thwack! Thwack!*

He never realized the two clubs were coming for him from behind. By the time he reacted, the back of his head was already bleeding, and he collapsed into unconsciousness before he could even see who had hit him.

Guo Tao slumped over the hood of the car. Seeing this, Zhang Cong felt a surge of adrenaline. He swung the club repeatedly at Guo Tao’s back, buttocks, and legs. "Damn you! Damn you! Damn you! Screw you! You tried to steal our car to sell it back to us! Hell! You thought you were being clever! Die!"

Zhang Cong hit him with such vigor that Guo Tao’s clothes were soon soaked in blood, a gruesome sight. Fortunately, he didn't hit any vital points. If Zhang Rui had been there in person, Zhang Cong’s method would have killed him on the spot.

Old Zhang, standing nearby, was terrified, trembling as he watched. "What is going on here? Where did you two come from?"

Jiang Shunfa gave Zhang Cong a look to stop, then turned to Old Zhang. "This car was mine to begin with. If you don't believe me, check the registration in the car! Damn it! They stole my car and tried to sell it to you! I never expected the buyer to be me!"

*Damn it,* he thought, *if I had bought my own stolen car for 780,000, that would be the ultimate humiliation. How would I ever show my face again? Might as well go home and babysit.*

"Ah! This is too chaotic! Do whatever you want with him, but please, not in my yard!" Old Zhang started to head back inside; he didn't want any part of this bloody business.

"Heh, you think you can just walk away? Do you think Guo Tao’s boss, Zhang Rui, will let you off the hook? He doesn't know who the buyer is, only that you’re the dealership owner." Jiang Shunfa said with a sinister grin, "However, if you dare to betray us, the cars in your yard..."

"No! Absolutely not! I don't know you, there's no surveillance in my yard, I don't know anything!" Old Zhang choked, waving his hands frantically in agreement.

"You don't know us? Then aren't we just common thugs?" Jiang Shunfa growled, "You *do* know us! We're with Xie Tianhua! Understand?"

Even though Jiang Shunfa had been in Xiying County lately, he hadn't been idle. He knew exactly how Zhang Rui had beaten up Black Brother at the Money Cabinet Bar, and so far, Xie Tianhua hadn't made a move. Since they chose silence, Jiang Shunfa decided to throw a smoke bomb into the mix just to play with them.