Chapter 575 — The Tang Family's Tragedy

"Um... Young Master Bing, you see, we'd like a commercial unit—is there any way we could..." Mother Tang looked at Zhao Qibing with some unease. This Zhao Qibing was clearly the man in charge, and there was something rather sinister about him that made her reluctant to deal with him.

"A commercial unit!" Young Master Bing didn't look at Mother Tang, but at Tang Zhi. "I can give you a unit—free of charge, even. It all depends on what you're willing to do."

"What... willing to do what?" Mother Tang was taken aback. She hadn't expected Young Master Bing to say such a thing—not only could he give them a unit, he'd even waive the cost. What sort of logic was that? Were there really such generous people in the world? Clearly that seemed unlikely.

"This is your daughter, isn't she?" Zhao Qibing gazed at Tang Zhi, his eyes brimming with a lecherous light. "I'm short a secretary here. Let her come with me, and never mind one commercial unit—I'll give you two!"

Mother Tang froze for a moment, then understood what Zhao Qibing meant. He wanted her daughter! But trading her own daughter for a commercial unit—was that a fair bargain? Wei Zhao didn't want her daughter anymore; if her daughter went with this Zhao Qibing instead, that might not be so bad. Only, would he keep his word?

Tang Zhi shot her mother an angry look. Clearly the offer had tempted her mother, but how could Tang Zhi possibly think highly of Zhao Qibing? And how could she agree to his terms? Grabbing her mother's hand, Tang Zhi said urgently, "Mom, let's go home. We don't want the commercial unit!"

"This..." Mother Tang knew her daughter's temper. If she didn't like a man, she would never yield to him even if beaten to death—stubborn as an ox. There was no use in forcing her. With Wei Zhao, Tang Zhi had liked him of her own accord. But this Zhao Qibing was obviously treating her as a plaything! If he truly wanted Tang Zhi as a girlfriend, he wouldn't be making her his secretary.

"Let's go!" Tang Zhi turned around. She felt nothing but disgust at the sight of Zhao Qibing.

"Go? You come and go as you please?" Li Erlan suddenly leapt out, blocking the way of Tang Zhi and her mother, and threatened darkly, "Listen here, Tang Zhi. Young Master Bing taking a fancy to you is your good fortune. Don't turn down the toast only to be forced to drink the penalty—otherwise you'll end up losing everything and getting nothing at all!"

"Li Erlan, you traitor, get out of the way!" Tang Zhi raised her head proudly. How could she submit? This Zhao Qibing clearly meant no good—how could she keep negotiating with them? Even if Wei Zhao didn't want her anymore, she couldn't debase herself, could she? Be a man's plaything? She'd sooner be Wei Zhao's mistress!

"Tang Zhi, is it? I don't mind telling you—no woman I, Zhao Qibing, have set my sights on has ever gotten away. If you have any sense, you'll come with me. Then you'll live the high life: commercial units for your family, houses for your family. But if you don't come with me, you'll bear the consequences yourself!" Zhao Qibing laughed coldly and made his bold declaration. To be refused so flatly by Tang Zhi in front of all these people had made him feel utterly humiliated!

In the provincial capital, Young Master Bing need only crook a finger and beauties would fling themselves at him by the dozen. He'd assumed that with a few promises of benefits, this Tang Zhi would obediently submit to him. Who'd have thought she'd have such spirit.

"We don't want the commercial unit, and we won't go through with the demolition. We'll just stay in our old house—is that acceptable? What more can you do about it?" Tang Zhi was just that stubborn. She'd rather give up the house than let others push her around.

"No demolition? That's not up to you!" Zhao Qibing had been wanting to make an example of someone to warn the others, and had yet to find a target. This time, he'd use the Tang family as that target! He glanced at Zhong Fabai, who nodded and stood up. Together with Li Erlan, he walked out of the square.

Mother Tang looked helplessly at her daughter. Now that Tang Zhi had spoken that way, the talks had reached a deadlock, and there could be no going back. So much for the commercial unit! She took her daughter's hand and started to head back.

"Did I say you could leave?" Jin Gubang snapped coldly. With Zhong Fabai and Li Erlan both gone, it was now his turn to speak.

"We're not going through with the demolition, so can't we leave?" Tang Zhi glared at Jin Gubang.

"Let them go. They'll change their minds soon enough," Zhao Qibing said mildly, though his words carried utter certainty. For he could already hear the roar of the bulldozers and excavators.

Tang Zhi and her mother were baffled. How could they change their minds in a little while? Still, since they were free to go, they had no wish to linger. Mother Tang pulled Tang Zhi toward home; she needed to have a good talk with her daughter and work out a plan. They couldn't just leave it at this—if they gave up the commercial unit, what would they do afterward? The dream of opening a barbecue restaurant would be dashed as well.

The two of them had only just reached the vicinity of their home when they saw an excavator thrust its arm out and smash it down on their house! And behind it, the bulldozer roared into the Tang family's little courtyard, flattening the fence in front!

"Dad!" "Old Tang!"

Tang Zhi and her mother screamed in unison and ran toward their home! They had never imagined that Zhao Qibing would actually send people to carry out a forced demolition! But Tang Jucheng was still inside the house—what were they to do?

Without a thought for danger, Tang Zhi charged into the house, while Mother Tang went to stop the excavator from tearing the house down further. By now the roof beams had collapsed—no telling whether Tang Jucheng had been hurt! Without someone to help him, he couldn't get out on his own!

"What are you doing? My father's still inside—stop it now!" Tang Zhi shouted at the excavator driver as she ran.

But beside the excavator driver, Li Erlan's eyes flashed with a ruthless gleam as he said to the driver, "Keep tearing it down. She's lying! Young Master Bing said if anything happens, he'll take responsibility!"

The excavator driver nodded and went on swinging the machine around to tear the house down. Seeing that they would not listen, Tang Zhi could only rush into the house—but was there still a way in? The bulldozer was parked squarely in front of her home, roaring as it pushed forward, plainly meaning to work with the excavator and bring the house down.

Though bricks and tiles were crashing down from the roof beams in a clatter, Tang Zhi was frantic over her father's safety and threw caution to the winds. Gritting her teeth, she scrambled up over the bulldozer's blade and charged into the house. Her leg was gashed open in a long cut, blood pouring out, but Tang Zhi paid it no mind—her one thought was to get inside. Yet just as she was about to enter, the excavator's arm came smashing down again, shattering the beam above her head in an instant. A huge roof tile whooshed down and struck Tang Zhi square on the head, opening a gash seven or eight centimeters long across her forehead. Blood at once streamed down her whole face, and Tang Zhi was knocked unconscious, dropping straight to the ground...