Chapter 79: 79: Pleading

Yang Tiancheng said, “At this point, Xu Yang is indeed the main cause of the problem, but what you did is really not right. Even if you manage to shut down Zhao Hai’s restaurant, do you think he would rent the storefront to us?”

Yang Jingsheng was taken aback, “Isn’t that the case?”

Yang Tiancheng shook his head, “You’re too naive. Even if the restaurant can’t continue, he wouldn’t rent it to us.”

Yang Jingsheng said, “Just because of the grudge between you and him from years ago?”

Yang Tiancheng nodded, “Exactly.”

Yang Jingsheng said, “I thought, even with your grudge, as long as his restaurant couldn’t continue, given the money involved, he would still rent it to us.”

Yang Tiancheng sighed, “I’m partly to blame for this. If I had known, I would not have let you do it.”

He knew he should not have trusted his son.

Yang Jingsheng said anxiously, “Dad, let’s not talk about that now. The police might come knocking as soon as tomorrow. What am I supposed to do?”

After some thought, Yang Tiancheng replied, “There’s nothing to be done now. We can only go to Zhao Hai, apologize to him, and seek his forgiveness. If he forgives you, the police won’t make trouble for you. I can give Zhao Hai some money, a hundred thousand, two hundred thousand, whatever it takes.”

Yang Jingsheng nodded repeatedly, “Yes, yes, Dad, hurry and call Zhao Hai. Tell him I will apologize and compensate him with two hundred thousand, so he won’t pursue my responsibility. Then the police won’t make trouble for me. At most I’ll get a fine.”

Yang Tiancheng took out his mobile phone and dialed Zhao Hai’s number.

Soon, the call connected.

Yang Tiancheng immediately said, “Zhao Hai, this is Yang Tiancheng.”

Zhao Hai responded indifferently, “What do you want, calling me?”

Yang Tiancheng carefully phrased his words, “Zhao Hai, there was trouble at your restaurant tonight, and it was my son who sent people to do it.”

Zhao Hai seemed to realize, “I’ve been thinking about who would want to target me, and after considering everything, only you seemed likely. But I knew you wouldn’t use such childish methods against me, and I was puzzled. Did you go senile? It turns out it was your son who did it. Well, that I can understand. Only your useless son would do such a thing.”

Hearing Zhao Hai calling his son useless, Yang Tiancheng felt he couldn’t hang on to his pride, but since he had called to solve the issue, he couldn’t lose his temper. He could only take a deep breath and suppress his anger, “Zhao Hai, I’m calling to seek a solution to this matter. I apologize on behalf of my son and offer a compensation of two hundred thousand. I hope you won’t pursue my son’s responsibility. Tomorrow we can go to the police station and sign a private settlement agreement, how about that?”

“Not good at all!” Zhao Hai said indifferently, “Your son did such a thing and you think I won’t pursue it? That’s impossible. Not to talk about two hundred thousand, even if you gave me two million, I would still hold him responsible.”

Yang Tiancheng’s expression turned ugly, “Zhao Hai, if you insist on pursuing this, my son will be detained for at least ten to fifteen days. If detained, he will have a criminal record, which will affect him whether in work or life. My son is just young, and acted without thinking. Can’t you be generous? Do you realize, by doing this, you could ruin my son?”

“I ruined your son?” Zhao Hai laughed sarcastically, “Why don’t you say that when he sent people to cause trouble, he wanted to ruin my restaurant?”

Yang Tiancheng said, “Isn’t your restaurant all right now? Can’t you make an exception?”

Zhao Hai sneered, “You make it sound so easy. If I hadn’t been alert, your son might have indeed managed to run my restaurant into the ground. And you’re asking me to make an exception? Don’t you find that laughable?”

Yang Tiancheng argued with conviction, “I’m offering you two hundred thousand, which is half a year’s income for you, right?”

Zhao Hai sneered again, “As I said before, not to mention two hundred thousand, even if you gave me two million, I would still hold your son responsible. He made a mistake and should pay the price for it. Don’t talk to me about him being young and thoughtless, it’s more accurate to say he’s brainless. Let him go inside and do some reflection—I think that’s quite appropriate.”

Yang Tiancheng spoke in a grave tone, “So, Zhao Hai, is that a no on discussing this?”

Zhao Hai said, “There’s nothing to discuss.”

Yang Tiancheng didn’t say anything more and hung up the phone, his face looking extremely grim.

Although Yang Jingsheng didn’t hear everything Zhao Hai said, he knew from Yang Tiancheng’s responses that a private settlement was out of the question. He said anxiously, “Dad, what do we do now? I don’t want to be detained.”

Yang Tiancheng thought about it and looked at Zhao Yulu, “Yu Lu, call your birth father. Beg him, and see if he might forgive Jingsheng, out of consideration for you, his biological daughter. If you can get him to agree not to pursue Jingsheng’s responsibility, I’ll get you a car worth two hundred thousand.”

Yang Jingsheng’s eyes lit up, “Yes, Yu Lu, please call and beg your birth father. I’m asking you. Just help me this one time, and from now on, whatever you ask of me at home, I’ll do it.”

Zhao Yulu said, “He probably won’t listen to me.”

She knew what she meant to Zhao Hai.

Her attempt to borrow money from Zhao Hai had already made his attitude clear.

Zhao Hai would not treat her differently just because she was his biological daughter.

Moreover, she didn’t want to make that call.

Even, seeing that Yang Jingsheng might be detained brought her a bit of joy.

This was not schadenfreude.

It was because all these years, Yang Jingsheng had enjoyed the care of Yang Tiancheng, who had given everything good to him.

By comparison, she had not had it nearly as good.

Under such circumstances, she really did not want to save Yang Jingsheng.

Yang Tiancheng frowned, “How do you know he won’t listen if you don’t try? Call him now, in front of all of us, and put it on speaker.”

It was an order, and Zhao Yulu could not refuse.

Despite her anger, Zhao Yulu still took out her phone and dialed Zhao Hai’s number.

Soon, the call connected.

Zhao Yulu immediately said, “Dad, about my brother’s situation, can you forgive him for the sake of me, your biological daughter?”

Truth be told, she felt slightly embarrassed saying this.

Aside from their blood relationship and her being Zhao Hai’s daughter, they didn’t have much else in common.

Asking Zhao Hai for such a favor felt somewhat shameless.

Zhao Hai answered indifferently, “No. This matter has nothing to do with you. Don’t interfere. Whoever did it must bear the responsibility.”

Liu Yujuan spoke up, “Zhao Hai, how can you be so heartless? Yu Lu is your daughter. She never asked you for anything from childhood till now. She’s asking you this time, and you remain unmoved. Do you have any humanity at all?!”