Chapter 366: The Song Family Comes Again
Chapter 366: Chapter 366: The Song Family Comes Again
The man’s words made Xu Xianhui flinch, and she took an involuntary step back.
"What, scared already?" The man stepped forward. "Tell me. How are you going to get us that money? If you’re lying to me again..."
"I... I really have a way," Xu Xianhui said quickly. "There’s a female student at our school. If you just kidnap her, you’ll get a lot of money. It’s true, I’m telling you the truth."
"Hah. How much? We’re not interested in a few dozen or a hundred yuan," the man sneered. "Besides, why would we go looking for that kind of trouble? A female university student is a precious thing. Her family is bound to dote on her. You think everyone’s like you? Unloved by your parents and greedy to boot."
The man’s words made Xu Xianhui bite her lip. He had clearly done his homework on her. Her family had many children, and she was the least favored. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have sent her off to the countryside in the Northeast. She had worked so hard to get into Beijing University on her own merit, yet her family expected her to give her future job assignment to her nephew. They kept implying that a girl needed her family’s support and had to help her brother and nephew to avoid being bullied by her in-laws later on.
If not for that, she never would have borrowed money from this man behind her family’s back. She had just wanted to save up some money of her own, to have some security. But who could have known it would back her into a corner like this?
Although the man’s words cut her to the core, her heart was filled with a venomous hatred for Su Qing. ’I swear I’ll drag you down to hell with me,’ she thought. She immediately turned back to the man and said, "Her father is dead, and her grandparents favor boys over girls. She had a miserable time living with them. Even though she’s found relatives in Beijing and gotten into Beijing University, how could someone who just showed up out of the blue be that important to them? Most importantly, after tomorrow, she’ll have three thousand yuan on her."
"How much?" The man froze, then asked urgently.
"Three thousand," Xu Xianhui said firmly.
"Hah. That much money in some little girl’s hands?" The man scoffed, unconvinced.
"As long as you’re quick, it’ll definitely still be on her." Xu Xianhui had already learned from a conversation between Song Yufang and Zhao Xiaohui that the three thousand yuan was meant for Su Qing. She tried to tempt the man, "Think about it. You kidnap her, get the three thousand yuan, and then sell her off to the mountains. You’d make a second profit, right? And I’m telling you, that girl is gorgeous. You could definitely sell her for a fortune."
Xu Xianhui’s words swayed him. Three thousand yuan was no small sum for people like them. After all, it wasn’t every day they found a fool like Xu Xianhui willing to borrow several hundred at once. Their main source of income was, of course, selling people to the mountains—a business with enormous returns.
"You said that girl found relatives in Beijing. Who are they?" the man asked after a moment of thought.
"Just an ordinary family." Xu Xianhui didn’t dare mention they were government officials, afraid it would scare the man off.
"Hmm..." The man considered it. "It’s not out of the question, but you students don’t usually leave campus. We can’t very well storm the school to grab someone, can we? That’s a pretty high risk."
Beijing University had guards at the gate. Sneaking in for a look around was one thing, but actually kidnapping someone and getting them out would be hard to pull off.
"Her family is in Beijing, so she’s sure to go home on the weekend. I’ll find time to point her out to you. You can just follow them this weekend and grab her on the way. Who’s going to know?" Xu Xianhui quickly suggested.
"Alright, we’ll talk it over. If this really works out, don’t you worry. I’ll personally guarantee that the rest of your debt is wiped clean," the man said to Xu Xianhui after squinting in thought for a moment.
Xu Xianhui’s heart leaped with joy. ’This way, I won’t have to worry about a thing!’
"So... when will you decide?" Xu Xianhui pressed.
"Hmph. You’re in a real hurry. What’s the deal? You have a grudge against this girl or something?" the man asked, raising an eyebrow.
"N-no," Xu Xianhui stammered.
"Hah." The man saw her unease but didn’t call her out on it. "Didn’t you say the girl would have the money after tomorrow? Come back here tomorrow at noon. You’ll have your answer then."
"O-okay, then." Xu Xianhui knew not to push him too hard, so she quickly excused herself and left. The man didn’t stop her. The thought of her debt being wiped away so soon made her spirit soar.
She felt not a shred of guilt toward Su Qing. ’It’s her own fault for what she did to me. Since Su Qing ruined my reputation, I have to pay her back in kind.’
Su Qing had no idea that Xu Xianhui, simply for being refused a loan, had become deranged enough to plot against her. At noon on the fifth day, just as agreed with the Song family, Father Song and Mrs. Song arrived at Beijing University. Director He then summoned Su Qing, Li Huan, Ye Qingqing, and Song Yufang to his office.
When they arrived, Father Song and Mrs. Song were already sitting in the office. With them was a man in his early thirties. The moment Father Song and Mrs. Song saw Su Qing and Li Huan, they shot them a look that could kill.
Li Huan’s injuries were still quite noticeable. Over the past few days, Su Qing hadn’t used much of the green mist to treat her, instead just giving her a medicinal powder to apply, so the healing process was naturally slower. Li Huan wasn’t worried about the wounds on her face and neck in the slightest. She had absolute faith in Su Qing; if Su Qing said she could be healed, then she would be. Because of this, she paid no mind to the pitying glances she’d received over the past few days, and she certainly wasn’t bothered by the furious glares from Father Song and Mrs. Song.
"Brother!" Song Yufang looked at the man in his early thirties in surprise. "What are you doing here in Beijing?"
"Hmph. Look at the trouble you’ve caused the family. You’ve really outdone yourself," her brother, Song Yutian, glared at her before turning to Su Qing and her friends. His brow furrowed. "So you’re the ones extorting three thousand yuan from our family."
Seeing Song Yutian’s hostile attitude, Li Huan, still fuming over her very visible injuries, was about to retort. But Su Qing pulled her back. Su Qing looked calmly at Song Yutian. "Extorting? I only asked you to compensate me for my costs. And you call that extortion? In that case, perhaps I should be charging you the retail price."
"No, no, that’s not necessary," Mrs. Song interjected when she heard this. "We’ll pay the three thousand. We’ll pay it right now."
The truth was, Mrs. Song couldn’t bear the thought of Song Yufang being sent to the police. If that happened, her precious daughter’s life would be ruined. That was why her attitude was a complete reversal from last time; all her previous arrogance was gone. She was simply too afraid. She was terrified that if Su Qing changed her mind, she would actually go and report them.