Chapter 211: Someone Is Working Against Us

Xu Shaochen sat down next to Mei Liangxin.

He hadn’t played mahjong in a long time. While shuffling the tiles, he asked, “What stakes are we playing for?”

“Let’s not go too high, two or three thousand should be enough,” Zhao Qing said casually, showing off. His demolition company had been doing incredibly well, and President Zhao was about to evolve into Chairman Zhao.

This huge progress made it hard for him to control his excitement. He just had to show off. How else would those two poor schmucks know he’d struck it rich? Zhang Wei and Mei Liangxin looked stiffened. The gap between people had grown so vast these days!

“Alright, alright, we’re just here for fun. Although two or three thousand is nothing to me, talking about money damages relationships,” Mei Liangxin secretly touched the 250 yuan in his pocket and then smiled warmly.

That was supposed to be his gambling money for today, but now, he didn’t even have the courage to take it out. How pitiful, lamentable, weak, and helpless.

In fact, whether or not they played for money didn’t really matter. After all, Zhao Qing’s main goal was just to show off, and he had already achieved that: “Alright then, we won’t play for money. Let’s just play for fun.”

After reaching an agreement, the four of them began building the Great Wall.

“Clack!”

Over half an hour into the game, the bedroom door was suddenly yanked open, and Zhang Wei’s wife stormed out. Glaring at Zhang Wei, she shouted:

“Playing, playing, all you do is play mahjong! You don’t even go to work. Take your bunch of good-for-nothing friends and get out of my house to play elsewhere!”

“Cough, cough. Well, sister-in-law, technically this isn’t your house anymore,” Mei Liangxin coughed twice, suppressing his laughter, and said a little embarrassedly.

Zhang Wei’s wife glared at him: “What do you mean, it’s not my house? Do you want me to show you the title deed?”

“Ten minutes ago, Zhang Wei already lost the house to us,” Zhao Qing said with a gloating smile, clearly reveling in the drama.

Of course, it was all just a joke. They wouldn’t actually take Zhang Wei’s house. Mahjong was just supposed to be for fun.

But hearing this, Zhang Wei’s wife was even more furious. Grinding her teeth, she snarled, “Zhang, I’m divorcing you!”

“Uh, honey, maybe not right now. Let me win you back from them first,” Zhang Wei said seriously, teetering on the brink of disaster.

“Go to hell! Get out there and go to work!” Zhang Wei’s wife grabbed him by the hair.

“Sister-in-law, calm down, calm down. I’m his boss, and I’ve already approved his leave today,” Xu Shaochen hurriedly interjected.

Zhang Wei’s wife was momentarily taken aback. She turned to Xu Shaochen, “Really? You’re not lying to me? Otherwise, I’ll have to deal with him too.”

Zhang Wei: “……”

A thousand curses ran through his mind. He’s lying to you, so why punish me? Xu Shaochen nodded: “As true as gold. Otherwise, just look at him—any other company would’ve fired him long ago, but I took pity on him.”

“Xu… Chairman Xu, right? You guys keep playing; I’ll go wash some fruits for you,” Zhang Wei’s wife instantly put on a smile. She then gave Zhang Wei a stern look: “Take good care of Chairman Xu, or I’ll have to deal with you later.”

“Pfff—”

Mei Liangxin and the others couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Is this what married life is like? It’s terrifying as hell.

“Please forgive her. My wife can be a bit headstrong; I apologize for the scene,” Zhang Wei said, a bit embarrassed.

The three men gave Zhang Wei a strange look and then said simultaneously, “What are you talking about? We’re just laughing at you.”

Zhang Wei: “……”

I don’t want to be human anymore!!!

“Give me a report on your work. Did you achieve any results?” Xu Shaochen drew a ‘one of circles’ tile and asked Mei Liangxin.

Mei Liangxin responded, “The work is fine, but I’ve noticed some issues with the accounts. There are several areas where they clearly don’t add up. If it weren’t for my meticulousness, I wouldn’t have even noticed.”

“What happened?” Xu Shaochen’s brow furrowed. The mahjong tile in his hand hovered in mid-air, spinning between his fingers.

Mei Liangxin looked up and said, “Someone in the procurement department is working against us. They’re colluding with suppliers, deliberately inflating the purchase price to pocket the difference, and even using inferior goods to earn profit margins.”

He paused before continuing, “And this isn’t just a one-time thing. The decline of Dafeng Factory isn’t solely due to outdated machines and reduced productivity. A significant part of the issue lies with ‘people’.”

“Hmph! How dare they take what’s not theirs. Aren’t they afraid of getting their hands chopped off!” Xu Shaochen sneered coldly, his eyes flashing with a chilling light as the tile dropped from his hand.

He had always suspected that some people at the old factory were up to no good. That was why he appointed Mei Liangxin as the financial director—to serve as a warning to the others.

Now that my man is here, you better behave.

But he hadn’t expected that they would continue to be so brazen, completely disregarding him. Do they think the current Dafeng Factory is still the same as before? Touch my money, and you die.

“Do you know who’s involved?” Xu Shaochen asked. He had no intention of reclaiming the stolen money—let them use it to buy their coffins.

Mei Liangxin shook his head, “I’ve only been on the job a few days. Discovering this much is already an accomplishment. I don’t know the rest.”

“Alright. When does the procurement department usually purchase materials?”

“Every Wednesday. They leave the factory around five in the morning,” Mei Liangxin replied.

Wednesday? That’s tomorrow.

Xu Shaochen nodded. He already had a plan in mind.

The game lasted over an hour before it finally concluded, and everyone returned to their respective homes.

But before they left, out of friendship, everyone helpfully put Zhang Wei’s washboard in the living room.

Because they all knew, he would definitely need it soon.

Zhang Wei almost cried. This bunch of bastards! He had just been thinking about hiding the washboard.

“Come on, we’re all friends here. Just a little help, no need to look like you’re about to cry out of gratitude.”

Mei Liangxin patted Zhang Wei on the shoulder, looking righteous and dignified.

Zhang Wei glared at him, gritting his teeth and saying, “Thank your whole family for me!”

“No need to be so formal. My parents will be very happy to hear that,” Mei Liangxin chuckled and then shouted towards the kitchen: “Sister-in-law, keep an eye on Zhang Wei. His brain isn’t working properly. Who knows why, but he’s been trying to stash the washboard under the sofa…”

“Clack!”

Before he could finish his sentence, Zhang Wei hurriedly shut the door.

“Ah! I’m sorry, honey! Let me explain, let me explain…”

Outside the door, as the cries of pain echoed from within, the three men exchanged glances and smiled in schadenfreude.

This rhythm is just too perfect—it’s something to savor.