"Bribe them to shut them up, or pin the blame on those troublemaking pharmaceutical dealers," Zhang Yujie said calmly. "Send more to the newspapers, and have them say it was their own news report that was wrong."
"If the newspapers don't change, those people won't dare to collect money anymore, but the newspapers won't collect money, Mr. Zhang. It's too late, and besides, this is in Britain, far away from Hong Kong. There's no time to do this."
"So you're saying the Zhang Family has to admit to smuggling military supplies?" Zhang Yujie spat out his cigarette butt. "Fine, admit it. Tell the police that the Zhang Family did indeed have some military supplies, but no one else knew about them. It was all Zhang Yuliang who did it."
"It's too late, Mr. Zhang. I only received the news when I entered the police station. Young Master Liang has already confessed to the police and Customs that the Zhang Family was involved in trafficking military supplies and medicines and producing and distributing counterfeit drugs, and that the amount involved was huge. Moreover, you were the one who instructed all of these matters, and everyone else was just an executor. He is willing to testify in court and identify you as the mastermind," Wei Jiafei said.
Zhang Yujie stood up and kicked Wei Jiafei, sending him sprawling to the ground. "I'll take it!"
"Mr. Zhang, given the current situation, you will not be granted bail until the court hears the case. Furthermore, the assets of European Coast Company and your own assets will be temporarily frozen." Wei Jiafei struggled to his feet, took two steps back, and said to Zhang Yujie, "This matter has been reported in the London newspapers, so the trial will be quick. I think it will be in two weeks at most. Then, regardless of the verdict, we can try to pay bail or use medical treatment as an excuse to avoid imprisonment. Why not just admit it and go through the process?"
"Bring Yuqi to see me." After finishing his attack, Zhang Yujie sat back down and said impatiently, "We must protect the Zhang Family's pharmaceutical distribution rights; I risked my life for them! Also, bring Ding Jiafeng and Yuqi to see me together. Get lost, you good-for-nothings! You only tell me this after I'm already in the police station!"
Wei Jiafei, carrying his briefcase and ignoring his disheveled appearance, walked out, reminding Zhang Yujie before leaving, "Mr. Zhang, please don't say anything while I'm gone."
"Do you need to tell me?" Zhang Yujie gritted his teeth, practically squeezing out those four words.
After Wei Jiafei left, Liu Fu came in with two plainclothes officers and sat down opposite Zhang Yujie with a smile, "Mr. Zhang, Detective Li went to the restroom. I'll personally take your statement. Is that considered disrespectful?"
Zhang Yujie glanced at Liu Fu opposite him, then closed his eyes and remained silent.
Liu Fu began taking notes in the interrogation logbook, and soon asked his first question, "Mr. Zhang, did you instruct Cai Jianxiong to arrange for people to set fire to the Customs warehouse?"
Zhang Yujie did not respond.
"Mr. Zhang, are you aware that the European Coast Company is illegally trafficking military supplies and medicines?"
"Mr. Zhang, European Coast Company..."
Liu Fu Fulin asked more than a dozen questions, but Zhang Yujie remained silent with his eyes closed. After asking the last question, Liu Fu smiled at Zhang Yujie and said, "Thank you for your cooperation. I'm done."
Liu Fu got up and left with the interrogation book. Zhang Yujie slowly opened his eyes, his mind racing. Wei Jiafei, that good-for-nothing, said he would be detained for at least two weeks without bail. During this time, the family business could only be managed by his second son, Zhang Yuqi. Zhang Yuqi was quick-witted but soft-hearted, unlikely to amount to much. He hoped that Zhang Yuqi could manage the situation well for the next two weeks until he got out. As for his Zhang Yuliang son, Zhang Yujie made no attempt to hide his murderous intent. Cai Jianxiong was currently in custody, so he could only have Ding Jiafeng arrange for someone to deal with Zhang Yuliang, to silence him completely before his court appearance. Without him, a key witness within the Zhang Family, the situation would be much clearer. He could hire some well-known lawyers and pin everything on his fourth son, who was nowhere to be found, and he might be acquitted. At most, the Zhang Family would have to pay some fines for the deceased Zhang Yuliang.
The only concern is whether the Zhang Family's distribution rights with major pharmaceutical companies will be affected, as that is the foundation of the Zhang Family's business.
Moreover, once I get out, I must first deal with Chu Xiaoxin and drive Likang Company, which sells medicine, out of the industry. The two things—setting fire to the warehouse and colluding with pharmaceutical merchants in Chiu Chow and Dongguan —were definitely not done by the Zhang Yuliang. It could only be that Chu Xiaoxin's Likang took advantage of the internal strife in the Zhang Family to cause trouble.
Moreover, Likang brazenly transported the medicine away before setting the fire.
Do they really think that by having a few pharmaceutical merchants from Chiu Chow and Dongguan spread rumors, they can secretly embezzle tens of millions of Hong Kong dollars of medicines? Other Pharmaceutical Association members can be easily driven to the brink of ruin by a few instructions from the pharmaceutical industry itself.
"Making a fortune these days isn't as lucrative as it used to be." Zhang Yujie leaned back in his chair, contemplating the complex situation, when this thought suddenly popped into his head.
Back in the day, Zhang Yujie's ruthlessness in business was on full display. He would strike decisively at the slightest sign of trouble or opportunity, giving his opponents no chance to retaliate or struggle. It was precisely this domineering and ruthless approach that allowed him to reach Zhang Yujie current position. But now, looking back, Zhang Yujie couldn't help but feel that he had aged somewhat. His opponents hadn't confronted him directly; they had used tactics like publishing articles in newspapers, burning down Customs warehouses, and taking photos. There hadn't been a single direct confrontation; all of them had been ruthless attacks from behind, making it impossible to defend against them.
Likang's Chu Xiaoxin and his own Zhang Yuliang both used this method, making Zhang Yujie want to kill someone but not know who to target. Just like how he was taken to the police station without even seeing his two opponents.
Times have changed. After the war ends, I'll move to Australia and settle down to be a legitimate businessman in my retirement.
Zhang Yujie increasingly felt that Australia was a good place.
"Young Master Liang sent me to greet you, Mr. Zhang!" Just as Zhang Yujie was pondering his future path, a figure silently slipped in from outside, a sharp dagger concealed at his wrist, and spoke to Zhang Yujie's back.
Chapter 172 Chaos
Although Zhang Yujie had been living a life of luxury for the past two years, five years ago he was a ruthless character who could kill without batting an eye on a ship and throw the body into the sea. As soon as the door opened, he turned to look. By the time the other person uttered the first word, Zhang Yujie had already noticed the dagger in the other person's hand. He reached out and grabbed the teacup on the table and threw it at the other person. While the other person dodged, he grabbed the chair he was sitting on and swung it at the other person, taking the initiative to attack!