Hu San reported, "Stammer said on the phone that this kid only has a basic electrician's certificate, his skills are subpar, and he taught me how to stage an electrocution death in the basement garage, foolproof. Then, we had others discover and report it. I reported back that it was done and prepared to withdraw, but then Stammer changed his mind, claiming it was your order, boss. He told me to cleanly finish the job by taking the kid to the wilderness, bury him, and be done with it."
Upon hearing his name, Xiong Feng frowned but kept his emotions in check, coldly saying, "Continue."
Hu San replied, "I did as instructed, but who would've thought the kid would come back to life? Can you blame me for that?..."
Stammer interjected, "Boss... Boss Xiong, please judge this... Hu San didn't complete the task, pocketed the dirty money, and didn't return it, breaking the rules. How should we deal with him?"
Hu San defended, "The money went to my daughter's surgery. I planned to repay it gradually from my salary, but he refused. What else could I do?"
"That's bullshit!" Stammer retorted angrily, "That was fifty thousand yuan, and you only make six hundred a month. How long will it take you to repay? You clearly don't intend to return it. How am I supposed to explain this to the boss?"
Hu San, unfazed, coldly replied, "My family can barely eat, and my child is still in the hospital. No matter how much you push me, it's useless."
Furious, Stammer shouted, "You agreed to the killing! I didn't force you! I helped you, and now you won't repay me. You even teamed up with that kid to beat me up at the 'Good Come Again' restaurant. Today, it's you or me—if you don't repay the money, I'll kill your entire family!"
Hu San sneered, "That kid has such skills, yet you sent me alone to assassinate him? Clearly, you were setting me up to die! If you really want to kill my family, I'm ready anytime, anywhere!"
Desperate, Stammer turned to Xiong Feng, "Boss... Boss Xiong, you heard him. You have to stand up for me!"
Xiong Feng's face grew darker and colder as he snapped, "What are you arguing about? Dog eats dog? Infighting, is it? Always ready to kill each other!"
The two immediately stopped their verbal clash and waited for Xiong Feng's decision.
Xiong Feng turned his gaze to Hu San's face and sneered, "Hu San, you talk like this kid's some kind of thunder god descending to earth?"
Hu San replied, "If you don't believe me, ask Stammer. He felt the same wrath."
Xiong Feng coldly said, "No need to ask. Stammer already told me. But I still think you're exaggerating. You're clearly extorting money and unwilling to solve problems for others. If you handle things like this, who would dare to hire you or help you in the future?"
Hu San, groveling, explained, "Boss, I really did my best. It was only after Stammer conveyed your instructions over the phone that I dared to act. Otherwise, no matter how poor I am, I wouldn't have the guts."
Xiong Feng's expression suddenly changed, his eyes turning sharp as he barked, "Stammer! Did I ever say it was my instruction to Hu San?"
Stammer blinked in fear and stammered back, "Hu... Hu San, you're lying! I said 'boss,' but... but never mentioned it was you. He... he..." He trembled and couldn't finish his sentence.
Xiong Feng shifted his chilling gaze back to Hu San and slyly asked, "Am I the only boss in the world?"
Then, his tone turned fierce, "I think you're losing your mind. I knew nothing about this, but you're trying to pin it on me?"
As he spoke, Xiong Feng stepped away from his desk and walked up to Hu San.
"Slap!"
Xiong Feng suddenly and viciously slapped Hu San across the face, snarling, "Tired of living, are you?"
Hu San clutched his face, not daring to resist. He tasted blood in his mouth but swallowed it down and replied, "I wouldn't dare."
Xiong Feng frowned slightly and continued, "I've never heard anything clean about your work from Stammer. I cursed him out and immediately transferred you back to headquarters to protect you. Today, I even called you from the hospital to mediate your dispute with Stammer, yet you repay kindness with ingratitude? Trying to frame me?"
"I wouldn't dare. I misunderstood you," Hu San quickly explained.
"Slap!"
Xiong Feng backhanded him, leaving Hu San dazed.
"Misunderstood!"
"You were trying to set me up! You get that?"
Hu San hurriedly answered, "I wouldn't dare. Really, I wouldn't dare. I'm a worthless person. I... I misunderstood you."
"Slap!"
Xiong Feng delivered another slap, "Do you have a brain? If I don't teach you a lesson, when the cops start asking questions, this mad dog here will bite whoever, and you'll really accuse me then!"
Stammer watched with glee as Hu San was slapped three times, knowing that the boss favored him, and secretly reveled in it.
Hu San knew he had gone too far and shouldn't have mentioned Xiong Feng. He could only swallow his pride and said, "Boss Xiong, you're right."
Xiong Feng, feeling that was enough, returned to his desk and sat down in his swivel chair.
He pulled out a pack of cigarettes, handed one each to Hu San and Stammer, and lit one for himself. Stammer eagerly lit it for him.
After a few puffs, Xiong Feng mediated, "Stammer was just trying to help you out of kindness. Don't be ungrateful. You took the money, but since you couldn't solve the problem, by the rules of the underworld, you need to return the money double. Don't make things difficult for Stammer."
Hu San said reluctantly, "Boss Xiong, it's not that I don't want to return it, but most of the money is already spent."
Stammer, still relentless, said, "Then go back to the hospital and find a way to finish off that kid. Otherwise, I can't explain it to the client."
Hu San, dejected, said, "The hospital is too difficult, and that kid's skills are strange. If the police find out, investigate, I might end up in jail."
Stammer, not backing down, suddenly had an idea, "It's not that hard. Simple. Just put some deadly poison in an apple and have your child give it to that kid to eat. That'll solve everything."
Hu San, enraged, gritted his teeth and said, "Damn you, Stammer! You want to risk my daughter's life? If you've got the guts, kill me right now!"
Stammer threatened, "That's not my problem. If you can't do it, you have to return the money. Don't make things difficult for me as the middleman."
Xiong Feng, seeing the two were at an impasse, furrowed his brow, realizing this couldn't be rushed. He said, "Hu San, if you can't finish the job, you still have to return the money double. That's the industry rule and integrity. I see you're in real trouble right now, so I'll temporarily cover the money for you. Consider it a loan, and I'll slowly deduct it from your salary."
He then shifted his gaze to Stammer, commanding, "Stammer, the Xiong Feng Building is almost complete. Keep a close eye on the construction site. Don't let the contractors cut corners."
Stammer quickly replied, "They're all afraid of you. They wouldn't dare! Unless they don't want their pay."
Hu San, surprised by the usually stingy Xiong Feng's sudden generosity, thanked him profusely, "Thank you, boss. My kid's still in the hospital, so I need to head back right away."
Xiong Feng, with a concerned look, nodded and said sarcastically, "If you can't do it, let it go. But if you do it, make sure it's thorough and clean. You decide how to handle it."
Hu San understood the underlying meaning in Xiong Feng's words. After working for these two for a long time, he knew them well. To repay the money quickly, he realized they were pushing him into the fire. He could only nod and say, "I'll head back to the hospital right away and see what I can do."
As he walked out, he thought to himself, "Xiong Feng denies being the mastermind, trying to fool me! If I continue the assassination, who will protect me if something goes wrong?
Could Stammer have been referring to Director Li as the mastermind, the one who wanted to kill?
The day it happened, he went abroad. That cunning old fox! Does he think I'll do whatever he says? What if something goes wrong? Can he protect me?
These two are really messing with me, playing me for a fool. How did I not ask clearly before? I'm such an idiot...
How long will it take me to pay back double that money? 'Sigh'... I'll see what I can do when I get to the hospital."