One million a year!
This figure was certainly not small, showing that Qian Deshui had spared no expense.
If it were anyone else, Qian Deshui would not have been willing to pay this sum.
However, Chen Jinzhao’s expression remained calm, completely unfazed by the ten million. Seeing this, Qian Deshui raised his offer again: "If that's not enough, I'll add another million, up to whatever Mr. Chen agrees to."
This made him appear exceptionally generous.
In reality, Qian Deshui’s bottom line was thirty million. If he could recruit Chen Jinzhao for less than thirty million, it would be a great gain for him.
In the coming years, his conflict with the Yu family would intensify, and he couldn’t guarantee that the Yu family wouldn't resort to underhanded tactics.
Recruiting Chen Jinzhao would be akin to gaining a guardian deity.
Thirty million, compared to his own life, what was it?
To Qian Deshui’s surprise, Chen Jinzhao suddenly shook his head. "Water Master, you've misunderstood. I don't place much importance on money. To me, gold and silver are worldly possessions. The hundred million I won from your establishment previously was also due to an urgent matter."
This put Qian Deshui in an extremely difficult predicament.
If Chen Jinzhao wanted money, he could simply offer a hefty sum to recruit him. But the problem was that Chen Jinzhao was not interested in money.
If anyone else had said this, Qian Deshui wouldn't have believed them.
But Chen Jinzhao's honest gaze was undeniable.
The situation had become thorny!
At this moment.
Chen Jinzhao suddenly said, "However, I am quite interested in a collaboration."
Qian Deshui, still sighing, hadn't expected Chen Jinzhao to proactively propose a collaboration, which caught him off guard. He looked at Chen Jinzhao in surprise, waiting for him to continue.
Chen Jinzhao had thought it through.
Previously, he had been unwilling to cooperate with powerful figures like Qian Deshui who operated in the gray areas, as he couldn't overcome his own moral reservations.
But if collaboration could help him achieve his goals faster?
"How would Mr. Chen like to collaborate?" Qian Deshui instinctively straightened his posture, a gesture of respect for Chen Jinzhao.
Chen Jinzhao said calmly, "I need you to help me investigate some people. These individuals are very likely operating in the gray areas. If you can help me find them, I can agree to help you in return, but on the condition that I do not engage in any illegal activities."
This was Chen Jinzhao's bottom line.
Qian Deshui didn't immediately agree. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, "What characteristics do the people Mr. Chen wants to investigate have?"
"Three characteristics: first, they are illegal immigrants; second, they possess high combat ability; and third, they deliberately conceal their whereabouts."
Qian Deshui immediately made a connection and looked deeply at Chen Jinzhao.
This Mr. Chen’s background was likely more mysterious than he had imagined. Collaborating with Chen Jinzhao was akin to "seeking a tiger for its skin." Should he proceed?
The risks were high, but so were the potential rewards!
Chen Jinzhao was also waiting for Qian Deshui's response. In fact, he was quite interested in the collaboration.
Qian Deshui was the king of the gray areas in the Jiangnan region, controlling over half of the entertainment venues in Jiangnan Province, with tens of thousands of employees. If he could mobilize them, it would be a formidable force.
It might even bring Chen Jinzhao pleasant surprises.
Even if the deal fell through, Chen Jinzhao would have nothing to lose.
Silence filled the private room for three minutes.
Qian Deshui gritted his teeth and said to Chen Jinzhao, "Alright, I dare to strike this deal with Mr. Chen. I hope I can be of assistance."
Chen Jinzhao smiled.
"Then I wish us a pleasant collaboration."
After the two reached an agreement, Chen Jinzhao, before leaving, said to Qian Deshui with earnestness, "Water Master, I hope you will restrain yourself. I don't want to see you in jail the next time we meet."
Qian Deshui appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was already in turmoil.
This one sentence was enough for him to confirm that Chen Jinzhao had a significant background, possessing power that could be openly wielded.
He quickly responded, "Mr. Chen, I have already instructed my subordinates not to engage in wicked deeds for several years now. Currently, my remaining gray industries are limited to establishments of pleasure and underground fighting rings."
Chen Jinzhao shook his head. "It's still not enough."
People like Shi Chengzhi had long been arrogant and overbearing, completely disregarding ordinary people.
He was merely offering a kind reminder to Qian Deshui, out of consideration for his honesty. If Qian Deshui were to be brought down by Tao Qiyue in the future, he could only blame himself for his poor management.
Qian Deshui, unusually, personally escorted Chen Jinzhao to the hotel entrance, much to the astonishment of his subordinates.
On the way home, Qian Deshui's brow was furrowed.
He had been trying to guess Chen Jinzhao's identity but had found no clues. In the end, he decided to stop overthinking. As long as he kept himself clean and held onto Chen Jinzhao's strong support, he wouldn't be destroyed by the Yu family in the future.
Hoo…
Qian Deshui exhaled, looking out at the night scenery.
He murmured, "I hope my intuition is correct, and I hope I've made the right gamble this time…"
At that time.
At the City People's Hospital.
After Zhen Hai was admitted to the hospital, he immediately underwent surgery, which was successful.
When the anesthesia wore off, Zhen Hai awoke to see his subordinates. His first question was whether Chen Jinzhao had met with any misfortune. All six shook their heads awkwardly.
They couldn't contact Chen Jinzhao at all.
"Director Zhen, why don't we call the police? Chen Jinzhao is no match for Water Master. Water Master is the king of Jiangnan Province's underworld!" one of them said worriedly, sweating for Chen Jinzhao.
"Perhaps we should wait until tomorrow morning?"
"Little Chen is so skilled, he shouldn't be in trouble, right?"
Although they said this.
Everyone knew that Water Master was an unreasonable person and unlikely to let Chen Jinzhao off easily.
As everyone was feeling anxious, one of them said in a low voice, "I'm going out for a cigarette."
Less than half a minute after that person went out, he rushed back in in a panic.
The six looked at him, as if asking what had happened.
The person's face was unusually pale, and he spoke breathlessly, "I just saw Shi Chengzhi outside! He was with several men, and they seemed to be carrying weapons. They're probably coming for us!"
Whoosh!
Zhen Hai and the others' faces turned ashen. Several of them were trembling.
It was obvious to anyone that Chen Jinzhao must have run into trouble, which was why Shi Chengzhi dared to brazenly come to the hospital to harass them.
"Director, what should we do?" someone asked weakly.
Zhen Hai gritted his teeth and pretended to be calm, saying, "This is a public place. I don't believe Shi Chengzhi would dare to cause trouble here. Find someone to hide in the restroom, and call the police immediately if anything happens!"
As soon as he finished speaking.
Shi Chengzhi and Wang Xiaoli arrived at the ward with a fruit basket. Before Zhen Hai could speak, Shi Chengzhi spoke first, "With a heavy heart, I come to apologize to you. I hope you will be magnanimous and not hold it against my woman. This bank card contains fifty thousand, consider it compensation for your emotional distress and lost wages. Please accept it!"
Wang Xiaoli, no longer defiant, sincerely apologized to Zhen Hai at Shi Chengzhi's behest.
Zhen Hai was dumbfounded.
Looking left and right, he didn't seem to be dreaming.