“What if we just compensate them directly? Isn’t their protest all about money?”
Zhou Tong shook his head. “That won’t work either. Hu Han said that if we actually compensate them, it would confirm their factory’s responsibility, which would impact their company’s reputation. Moreover, the other party wants to use this to escalate the incident. If we really compensate them, we’d be falling into their trap.”
“But isn’t blocking the transaction also their objective?”
Zhou Tong sighed. “That’s why I asked you to come discuss it together and see if there are other methods. The deadline for the first batch of goods is the day after tomorrow. If we can’t get them into the warehouse by tomorrow, it will be too late.”
Li Chonglou finally understood Zhou Tong’s predicament.
At this moment, some security guards, unable to stand it any longer, rushed forward and tore down the banner. Before they could even start driving the protesters away, the people who had been standing there silently, like grieving relatives wearing masks, suddenly took out their phones and started snapping photos frantically.
Seeing this, the security guards could only retreat quickly, not daring to show any sign of violence under the cameras.
“You see. It’s not just that. They have reporters outside too. If we take any forceful measures, those reporters outside will immediately rush in. We’re really at a loss right now.”
Zhou Tong said with a deep sigh.
Li Chonglou’s brows furrowed tightly, but he couldn’t think of any good solution for the moment.
“Where are Hu Han and Yue Hai?”
“They’re inside. I’ll take you there.”
Zhou Tong then led Li Chonglou into the factory.
Although Hu Han’s warehouse was famous, it wasn’t very large. Even the road could only accommodate one large truck, which was why a group of people had managed to block the transport channel.
After entering the factory, Li Chonglou realized that Hu Han and Yue Hai didn’t know Zhou Tong had called him. Their expressions clearly showed surprise when they saw him.
“Senior Li.”
It wasn’t Hu Han who spoke, but Yue Hai. He had probably learned to call Li Chonglou ‘Senior Li’ from Hu Han, and at this moment, his face was full of embarrassment.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t complete the task you assigned me. Hu Han said we can’t use force against those people outside, and I don’t know what to do either.”
Li Chonglou patted his shoulder comfortingly. “It’s alright. You completed your mission by driving away those who were causing trouble before. This is an unexpected situation now.”
After speaking, Li Chonglou turned to Hu Han and asked, “Are there really no other methods?”
Hu Han sighed and shook his head. If there were methods, he wouldn’t just be sitting here.
Li Chonglou frowned even more tightly. At this moment, Zhou Tong also beckoned everyone to sit down and brainstorm.
“Don’t be too discouraged. Aren’t there still two days left? I believe we can eventually come up with a good solution. Perhaps they won’t be able to hold out until tomorrow, as they are ordinary people after all.”
Seeing that everyone’s spirits were a bit low, Zhou Tong couldn’t help but encourage them.
However, his last remark, “ordinary people after all,” suddenly gave Li Chonglou a flash of inspiration.
“Yes! Since they are ordinary people, perhaps we can start with them!”
“What do you mean?”
All three looked at Li Chonglou with puzzled expressions.
“We can basically conclude that they were hired by someone to cause trouble, right? Since someone else can hire them, why can’t we? It’s all about money or other benefits. As long as it’s something that can be leveraged, if others can do it, so can we.”
The eyes of the three suddenly lit up. Zhou Tong couldn’t help but clap his hands and say directly, “We can really try this! A counter-strategy, exactly! How did I not think of this before?”
As Zhou Tong spoke, he couldn’t help but get excited and stood up abruptly.
“Leave this to me. I’ll go out and talk to them now!”
The point Li Chonglou made wasn’t only recognized by Zhou Tong, but Hu Han also found it increasingly feasible the more he thought about it. He also knew that Zhou Tong was the most eloquent person present, making him the most suitable to handle this matter.
Therefore, looking at Zhou Tong’s striding back, Hu Han’s eyes were filled with anticipation.
As for Yue Hai, having never even read a book, he had no idea what a ‘counter-strategy’ was. He only vaguely understood that they were going to spend money to get the other party to leave.
But wasn’t it already said that spending money was not an option? Why was it suddenly acceptable now?
Yue Hai was the only one present with a confused and bewildered expression. Li Chonglou, who had just sat down, noticed his demeanor and explained it to him.
Only then did Yue Hai understand, and he also admired the shrewdness of these people.
“So that’s how it is. The martial world is indeed treacherous!”
Hu Han immediately looked at Li Chonglou with a puzzled gaze. In fact, he had wanted to ask for a long time. Ever since Yue Hai started following him, he had been like a curious baby, asking questions about everything he encountered along the way!
He really wanted to ask Li Chonglou directly where this person came from, as he seemed like someone who had just left home!
However, the person in question was sitting beside him, so Hu Han could only inquire with his eyes.
Li Chonglou naturally understood his meaning, but he had no intention of explaining. After all, Yue Hai was only temporarily here, and he would definitely be following him later. Explaining would only lead to more questions, so it was better not to explain.
The three sat there waiting for about ten minutes, and then they saw Zhou Tong walk back dejectedly from outside.
“What’s going on?”
Upon seeing his expression, both of them couldn’t help but frown slightly.
“Alas, only that old woman was willing to relent, but she also stated that this concerns her son’s future, and money cannot solve it.”
Li Chonglou suddenly asked, “Is the son she mentioned the person who had the accident? And you said before that several batches of people had been changed, but the situation remained the same?”
Zhou Tong nodded and said, “Yes.”
“Alas, it seems we still need to find another way. Now that we can’t even find the other party’s son, and they are unwilling to back down, it’s impossible to use a counter-strategy.”
Zhou Tong said with frustration and sat down. However, at this moment, Li Chonglou showed a smile.
“No need. We’ll still use the counter-strategy.”
“You have a way?”
Li Chonglou certainly had a way. The biggest difficulty in employing a counter-strategy at the moment was not being able to find the other party’s son. But for Li Chonglou, this was precisely the easiest part to solve. Whether it was his father-in-law, the Green Gang, or the Dragon Group, finding an ordinary person was as easy as pie for him.
However, not wanting to trouble certain people, Li Chonglou ultimately decided to seek help from the Green Gang.
After all, there was a vested interest relationship between the two. Seeking help from the Green Gang could be considered a transaction, but if he were to approach his father-in-law or the Dragon Group, the nature of the matter would be different.