I followed the group to the staff, who smiled at me, "Principal 10% rebate plus reinvestment, do you want to withdraw your principal?"
"No, I want to reinvest."
"Thank you for your trust in our company."
"Can I say a few words to Mr. Zhang?"
The staff member was surprised, and Zhang Mao walked over and said to me, "Customer, hello, let's talk aside, don't delay the elderly from collecting their money."
...
As the others continued, Zhang Mao and I went to the side. I spoke first, "Brother Mao, something's not right. I think there's a problem within your company, and you want to use this excuse to break this situation."
Zhang Mao frowned, "It is indeed a bit unusual. These greedy old folks are actually demanding their principal back."
"Should we stop?"
"How can we stop? The reporters are all here, can I stop? There's no reason for it!"
Hearing this, I secretly laughed, but complained verbally, "I told you to create momentum, who told you to call the reporters."
Zhang Mao was very displeased, "Is this the time for complaints?"
"No complaints, honestly, I really think something is wrong. Brother, why don't you transfer the company's funds?"
"Okay!"
Zhang Mao said a few words to the staff and hurried back. I didn't follow, because I knew Zhang Mao wouldn't have a chance to transfer the funds. I had already contacted Yu Xiaoluo, and once the distribution meeting began, the account of Tiantang Art Collection Investment Company would be frozen. They wouldn't be able to transfer a single cent of the money they scammed from those elderly people.
At this moment, everyone had finished collecting their money, and Huang Aiguo also started, shouting loudly, "Reporter comrades, I will expose this scam."
"Scam?"
The elderly people were stunned. Wasn't this making money? How could it still be a scam?
The reporters were also confused...
But it didn't matter. The fact that everyone could unite today and get their money back was enough to explain one thing: Grandpa still had control over this small group. Today's press conference, which was supposed to be themed "Elderly People Are Blessed," had turned into "Elderly People Are in Distress." After the reporters understood the situation, the local leaders notified by Yu Xiaoluo would likely appear to officially confirm the authenticity of the fraud case.
This scam targeting the elderly was broken, and the elderly knew about this kind of scam, and their money would not be transferred by the criminals. Overall, this method of breaking the scheme was acceptable. However, I wouldn't be complacent because it was acceptable, because my cooperative scheme had just begun. Since Zhang Mao was the X driver, I naturally had to catch him and make him tear a huge rift in the structure of the "Logical Paradox" organization.
...
Zhang Mao returned at my suggestion. He couldn't take the cash, but he could take the Qianlong thumb ring set stored in Tiantang Art Collection Company.
A few days later, Zhang Mao contacted me through Laotie, and we met in the square near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. There were many tourists, and Zhang Mao, wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses, attracted no attention.
When I saw him, I sat by the fountain, looking distressed, and said, "Brother Mao, let's cancel our deal with Lin Zhiyuan first. You should lie low."
"It's fine. The police just sealed off Tiantang. It's fine. Actually, things have been tight for the past two years. Master doesn't allow us to operate too freely. Tiantang has only just started making money, less than ten million."
"Have you run this kind of scheme before?"
"Of course. My senior brother ran a resort scam, and he made over forty million for the company that time."
Senior brother? I only knew that X driver had a master, how come there was a senior brother now? Capturing this word, I smiled slightly, "What's senior brother's name? The road of life is narrow. If we meet again, don't let it be a misunderstanding, we are all part of the same family."
"X driver."
I was truly surprised, "Aren't you X driver?"
Zhang Mao smiled proudly, "X is an unknown variable. My identity is, to be precise, a quarter driver. My senior brother is a half driver. X also represents Master's recognition of our abilities. In the big family of 'Logical Paradox,' not just anyone can become an X driver."
So, this Zhang Mao and his senior brother were not X drivers, they were just temporarily given this nickname. It seemed that the so-called quarter and half were evaluated based on the capabilities of the real X drivers.
At this moment, Zhang Mao telling me this was probably to prevent me from backing out at the last minute. If so, I would play along. I couldn't ask too many questions about this topic, lest he become suspicious. I glanced around the environment and deliberately changed the subject, asking, "Why isn't Laotie here?"
"Tiantang's scheme was exposed, there must be an insider in the company?"
"Are you suspecting Laotie?"
"Don't you suspect him?"
"I don't think it's him, but I don't trust him either. Laotie tricked me. If it wasn't him, I wouldn't have to flatter Lin Han so miserably now, I would already be vacationing in Hawaii. But honestly, Laotie doesn't have the ability."
No matter what Laotie had done, I couldn't push him into the fire now for my own scheme. He had made mistakes, but that didn't mean he wasn't my brother. I had experienced the methods of the people in "Logical Paradox," they were ruthless killers!
Fortunately, the matter of Laotie's lack of ability resonated with Zhang Mao. Zhang Mao also felt that what I said made sense. Although he no longer suspected Laotie, he still advised me to interact less with Laotie in the future, as he thought Laotie was unreliable. I nodded in agreement and asked Zhang Mao earnestly, "Can I contact Lin Zhiyuan now?"
"Yes, but our plan needs to change."
The plan needs to change? I looked at Zhang Mao, not understanding what he meant.
"According to the plan, we first sell this set of thumb rings to Lin Zhiyuan, then cooperate with Lin Han to get the cyan jade thumb ring in Lin Han's hand. When Lin Zhiyuan discovers that one of the Qianlong thumb rings he bought is fake, then we force Lin Zhiyuan into a secondary transaction. Is that right?"
"Yes, are there any flaws in the plan?"
"The plan remains unchanged, but the rhythm needs to change."
"How do we change it?"
"Before we trade with Lin Zhiyuan, we need to trade with Lin Hao first, and buy the cyan jade thumb ring in her hand at a sincere price."
The so-called sincere price was a total of thirty million, divided by seven for the price of a set, buying the cyan jade thumb ring in Lin Han's hand for over four million.
I pondered, "Brother Mao, this might not be good. Since the plan is set, let's stick to it. It will be more stable."
"Brother, as an experienced schemer, I have some experience to impart to you. A true schemer's plan must adapt to changes. As long as the core remains unchanged, we can win. What is the core of this scheme? The core is that one of the Qianlong thumb rings purchased by Lin Zhiyuan is fake. As long as we ensure this, it's enough. It doesn't matter who holds the real Qianlong thumb ring."
At this point, I understood. Zhang Mao no longer trusted me. The sealing of Tiantang Art Collection Investment Company had made Zhang Mao suspicious. If I insisted on my plan now, Zhang Mao would definitely change his mind and disappear with the incomplete set of Qianlong thumb rings.
"I understand, thank you for your guidance, brother. I will contact Lin Han. I'll let you know when the time and place are set."
"I've already set the time and place. There's no better time than now. Call Lin Han right now."
"Now?"
"Why, can't I?"
If one wants to perfectly break a scheme, besides the fixed methods of recognizing, designing, and breaking the scheme, the best way is to change its rhythm of operation, thus creating abrupt trends.
When I was in Beijing, I used this method to break Lina's scheme in one fell swoop. Now, Zhang Mao was using this method against me, and I had no good way to deal with it.
In a scheme, I am in control when I set the layout. But if the opponent seizes the initiative, I will go from an active position to a passive one. In terms of the content of this scheme, if I controlled the time and place, I would be in my element. If Zhang Mao controlled the time and place, it would be like I handed over the scheme to him, and I would be passive.
At this moment, the best thing I should do is refuse. But if I refuse, will Zhang Mao suspect me? I never thought Zhang Mao was an opponent, I underestimated him, I was careless.
Is Zhang Mao not that stupid? He understands schemers better than I do. Moreover, he is achieving two goals at once. If I agree, everything will be under his control. If I don't agree, he can reasonably suspect me.
...
As expected, my contemplation aroused Zhang Mao's vigilance. Zhang Mao smiled and asked me, "What's wrong, brother, do you think I'm wrong?"
"Ah, no. I'll contact Lin Han right now."
I couldn't refuse, but if Lin Han refused, I would have an excuse to step down. As I picked up the phone, Zhang Mao added, "Use the speakerphone. Something happened at Tiantang, I need to be careful."
"Okay!"
I called Lin Han on speakerphone, "Lin Han, I'm with a friend. Can you come over?"
"What friend?"
"It's Brother Zhang Mao, the one I told you about the other day."
"Then I understand. I'll be right there. Where are you guys?"
I hung up the phone and, facing Zhang Mao's smile, I grinned. I had never mentioned Zhang Mao's name to Lin Han. I thought that by saying Zhang Mao's name, Lin Han would be more cautious, but I didn't expect Lin Han to agree so readily.
This situation made me a little uneasy.
The place we met was a newly renovated stewed noodle restaurant near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. It had just opened and there weren't many people. Zhang Mao and I chatted while waiting for Lin Han. About an hour later, Lin Han arrived, her long hair flowing, wearing a tasteful trench coat. She nodded at Zhang Mao with a smile and then naturally sat beside me.
"Did you order?"
Lin Han asked me.
"Lamb and bean stewed noodles."
Lin Han pouted, "Why didn't you find a better restaurant? This place smells of renovation and is pungent."
"We're here to talk business, not to enjoy food."
I pretended to be angry, hoping Lin Han would make a scene. But Lin Han didn't seem to grasp my intention and said to Zhang Mao, "This Mr. Zhang is our business partner, right?"
"I am. And you are?"
"Lin Han, Lin Zhiyuan's daughter. If you don't even know my identity, then there's no point in talking."