Chapter 208: Willing To Bet Or Not
Duomen flipped through the case file, expanding his thoughts:
“Not only these homeless people, but those captured women, if they are willing, can also participate.”
“After all, they have been captured for some time, and no one knows what their family members will think or if they will still recognize them.”
As the saying goes, public opinion is formidable. Although this era has been influenced by Western trends entering China, it mostly circulates among the upper class.
The common people at the bottom are still more conservative.
Although some women, due to family poverty, are forced to leave home and work in factories, breaking the single model of ‘men outside, women inside,’ this is compelled by survival, not active ideological awakening.
Therefore, for these captured women, regardless of whether they have been violated, their families’ acceptance is still unknown.
Cao Weida also considered this point. To be honest, even in modern society, how many people can truly accept such things calmly when they happen?
Even if oneself and family can think it through, the surrounding gossip can also kill!
“For this matter, Master Duo, you handle it. You are more steady than me and will surely arrange everything properly.”
Duomen: “.”
So I’m steady, and this matter falls on my head?
“No, you’re not handling this?”
“Look what you’re saying, Master Duo. With you in charge, what do I have to worry about? So this matter is settled. I have something else, so I’ll withdraw first.”
After delegating the matter, Cao Weida no longer delayed and immediately slipped away.
“No…”
Looking at the back that had already run out of the office, Duomen opened his mouth but ultimately could only close it helplessly.
Then he laughed and cursed: “This kid really knows how to find trouble for others while being good at avoiding it himself.”
After leaving the office door, Cao Weida was stopped by someone. Upon hearing, it turned out Sister Du Dan wanted to see him.
With nothing else to do, Cao Weida headed straight to the detention area.
In a room, Sister Du Dan, handcuffed and shackled, sat on a stool, looking at Cao Weida with a calm expression across from her, her face complex.
One second ago, she was the high-and-mighty Mingyue Dance Hall manager, respectfully called Sister Du Dan by everyone.
The next second, she became a prisoner at the mercy of others.
And the root of all this was the man in front of her!
Seeing her silent for a long time, Cao Weida showed an impatient expression. “You called me over but say nothing. Are you playing with me?”
Sister Du Dan looked at him with a complex expression. “I didn’t expect that in this era, there would still be someone like you, Cao Ye, who hates evil so much.”
“You called me here, surely not to say this nonsense.” Cao Weida looked at her indifferently. He had to admit, Sister Du Dan was indeed quite attractive. After this ordeal, her somewhat haggard face surprisingly added a touch of pitiable charm.
“If you have something to say, say it quickly. I don’t have time to chat with you about useless nonsense.”
“Speak, what exactly do you want from me.”
Sister Du Dan sighed inwardly. “Cao Ye, I called you over to make a transaction with you.”
She was a smart person; otherwise, she wouldn’t have managed Mingyue Dance Hall so smoothly, thriving everywhere.
For a woman to sit in the manager’s position, it’s not just about being pretty!
Without ability, a woman, especially a beautiful one, can only become a man’s plaything!
Therefore, she could see that Cao Weida had no pity for her at all.
If she couldn’t provide her own value, she believed Cao Weida would not show her any mercy.
“Oh? A transaction?” Cao Weida showed an interested expression. “You speak first, what kind of transaction?”
He naturally saw she was smart, and he was quite interested in what price she could offer to move his heart.
“I want to use the wealth Shao Yongming has hidden away to exchange for a chance at life for Du Dan.”
“Oh? The wealth Shao Yongming has hidden?” Cao Weida stroked his chin with interest and smiled faintly. “Even if you don’t say it, I can still get the information from his wife. Why do you think this condition can buy your life?”
Sister Du Dan said confidently: “Because his wife doesn’t know where this money is.”
“Shao Yongming doesn’t trust anyone, not even his wife who shares his bed!”
“This batch of money is what he kept for his future self-preservation in case of mishap. He doesn’t trust anyone; only he himself knows!”
Cao Weida thought thoughtfully. This was quite reasonable, just like him: although he somewhat trusted a few concubines, he would absolutely not expose his trump cards.
People always need to leave a way out for themselves, keep some trump cards.
However…
“Since you said only he knows, how do you know?”
“I learned of this news by chance. I can confirm that, aside from Shao Yongming whom you have already killed, no third person knows this secret.”
Seeing her confident appearance, Cao Weida felt she didn’t seem to be lying.
He leaned back in the chair smoking until one cigarette was finished before finally speaking: “That’s true, but how do I know the wealth he hid is enough to buy your life?”
Sister Du Dan gritted her teeth: “I’m not certain, but I guess it’s a considerable amount of money.”
“Shao Yongming was used to debauchery; the money he hid couldn’t be a small sum. Of course, I’m not too sure about this point.”
“Whether to make this transaction depends on whether Cao Ye is willing to bet!”
“Moreover, my life is worthless to you, but if you bet, regardless of whether the final result satisfies you, you will profit anyway!”
“I have to say, you’re a smart person. This transaction does move my heart.” After a moment of silence, Cao Weida couldn’t help laughing. He truly didn’t care about Sister Du Dan’s life; he wasn’t incapable of ruthlessly destroying a flower.
But killing a powerless woman versus exchanging for an unknown amount of money, Cao Weida naturally preferred the latter.
Of course, most importantly, although Sister Du Dan could be said to aid and abet evil, her crime wasn’t worthy of death.
According to the confessions of those criminals, Sister Du Dan was mainly responsible for the management of Mingyue Dance Hall and did not participate in the trafficking of women.
If forced to say she participated, it was providing cover for the trafficking women gang.
Moreover, these actions weren’t something she could control but orders from Shao Yongming; even if she didn’t want to, she had to execute them.
Having thought this through, Cao Weida nodded: “I accept your condition. Speak, where is the wealth Shao Yongming hid.”
Now it was Sister Du Dan’s turn to be curious. “You won’t ask how I know this secret?”
She didn’t expect Cao Weida to have no intention of asking how she knew the secret; this was somewhat beyond her expectations.
Cao Weida sneered disdainfully: “I only need to know the information I want.”
“As for how you know, that’s none of my business.”
“…” What a reasonable point; Sister Du Dan was speechless.
Taking a deep breath, she said: “He hid some money in a safe deposit box at Citibank. I don’t know specifically if it’s gold bars, silver dollars, or what.”
“The retrieval voucher is in the third row, fourth shelf on the left, fourth book from the study room on the second floor of Mingyue Dance Hall. You can get it yourself.”
“Also, there is a house in East Little Market, registered under his cousin named Qiao Shanyou, which also hides some money.”
“That’s all I know.”
After noting down both addresses completely, Cao Weida looked at her curiously: “You’ve handed over your last life-saving secret to me; aren’t you afraid I’ll kill the donkey after unloading the mill?”
“If I kill you now, no one will know this secret.”
Sister Du Dan smiled miserably: “You are the knife and board; I am mere fish meat on the chopping block. Even if you go back on your word, so what?”
“I’m not a tough woman who can withstand torture. If you agree, I will naturally be grateful.”
“If you renege, I also avoid a beating. Either way, I don’t lose.”
Clap clap clap~~
Cao Weida couldn’t help applauding, his eyes showing admiration.
Not to mention women, even among men, how many have Sister Du Dan’s resolute mindset?
Knowing full well this was her last life-saving talisman, she still handed it over without hesitation—this was equivalent to placing her life in someone else’s hands with no room to resist!
With this decisiveness and magnanimity, who says women are inferior to men?
“You’re good. I remember you.”
“Rest assured, I, Cao Weida, am not one to kill the donkey after unloading the mill. I have that much tolerance.”
“As long as what you provide is real, I, Cao Weida, guarantee not only not to kill you but also to shelter you within reasonable limits!”
Sister Du Dan’s eyes lit up instantly, excited yet incredulous. “Cao Ye, you… you mean it?”
Cao Weida smiled: “Of course. I, Cao Weida, don’t dare boast much, but in front of compatriots, I rarely exaggerate.”
“Thank you, thank you Cao Ye!” Sister Du Dan wept with joy. It was originally a death sentence; just from Cao Weida’s attitude toward the trafficking women gang, one could see his hatred for these people.
Later, having a life-saving trump card was already very good just to preserve her life.
But now, the return far exceeded her expectations; how could she not be ecstatic?
“Don’t thank me yet. Everything depends on confirming these two pieces of news are accurate; then we can discuss in detail.”
After saying this, Cao Weida left the room and found Little Ear, telling him to handle these two matters immediately.
Strictly speaking, these matters occurred in Si Jicai’s jurisdiction and should be handed to Si Jicai. His loyalty to Cao Weida was also decent.
However, compared to Si Jicai, Cao Weida still trusted Little Ear more.
Still that saying, wealth moves people’s hearts; human hearts are the thing that cannot be tested!
After an hour and a half, Little Ear returned again.
“Big Brother Cao, both pieces of news are true. The money has all been retrieved, totaling thirteen thousand silver dollars.”
