Courtyard House: My Wife is Xu Huizhen

Page 804

Half a day passed quietly, and there was still no movement or response from inside the house. The deathly silence was like an invisible net, completely enveloping the place and making people feel a deep sense of despair and helplessness.

Those who were unwilling to give up were like ants on a hot pan, their expressions anxious and their steps unsteady as they hurriedly ran towards the garage downstairs.

Their breathing became heavy from running, their eyes filled with urgency and resentment, hoping to find Lubadu's trail in the garage or the car he was driving.

Stepping into the garage, the dim lighting and cold cement floor exuded a chill, while the lights on the walls cast long shadows, adding to the sense of loneliness.

Several unfamiliar vehicles were parked in the garage, their bodies covered with a thin layer of dust, indicating that they had been parked there for a long time.

Everyone stared wide-eyed, searching every nook and cranny, but apart from the cold environment and the unfamiliar vehicle, they couldn't find any trace of Lubadu.

The empty garage was eerily quiet, like a bottomless black hole that mercilessly swallowed all their hopes, plunging them into endless despair and confusion.

Left with no other choice, the person who had been sent out returned hurriedly, his face filled with disappointment and anxiety, and quickly reported the situation to He Hongshen.

Upon hearing the report, He Hongshen's teacup trembled violently, spilling scalding tea onto his expensive suit. Oblivious to the spill, his eyes widened in shock and disbelief as he muttered to himself, "So... Lubadu has been kidnapped?"

The person beside him remained silent for a long time, his brows furrowed, as if weighing how to phrase his words. Then he slowly nodded and said, "That is indeed a possibility. Lubadu usually travels regularly and is well-protected, but now he has lost contact without any warning. Even his vehicle has disappeared, and we can't find a single clue anywhere. It's really hard to explain. After thinking about it, it seems that only a kidnapping, such a terrible situation, can make sense."

He Hongshen felt his mind was in complete chaos, and his temples were throbbing as if a million steel needles were piercing him, causing him so much pain that he almost suffocated.

He subconsciously raised his hand and rubbed his throbbing temples hard, his brows furrowed, every movement revealing his undisguised exhaustion, as if he would be crushed by the heavy pressure at any moment.

After a long pause, he sighed heavily, his voice filled with helplessness and anxiety: "This is really troublesome! For this tender, the Portuguese side requires that the documents be written in Portuguese, and the format requirements are even more complicated and specific. All the details are in the sample materials compiled by Lubadu. Now, Lubadu has disappeared, and those materials have also vanished. Changing lawyers at the last minute is simply not an option, and the other people know very little about the Portuguese tender format. Even if we find someone, it's like a skilled cook trying to cook without ingredients; they simply can't solve the problem!"

"Then what should we do?" A subordinate who was participating in the discussion asked, his brows furrowed, his forehead covered in fine beads of sweat, his voice filled with undisguised anxiety and uncontrollable trembling, almost in despair.

He Hong took a deep breath, her chest heaving violently, trying to forcefully suppress the turbulent emotions surging within her.

He closed his eyes, his brows furrowed, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. Waves of fear and unease washed over his reason.

After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes. The panic in his eyes was gradually replaced by determination. His lips trembled slightly as he finally spoke slowly, "Fortunately, there is still plenty of time. It's only 9 a.m. We must continue to search for Lubadu's whereabouts. This is the only way right now. Maybe we can get lucky and find him."

Although everyone was shrouded in a cloud of worry, and the atmosphere in the meeting room was so heavy it was almost suffocating, there was truly no other choice at this moment.

After a brief silence, someone nodded first, and then the others followed suit, their resolute eyes revealing their determination to complete the bidding task no matter how thorny the road ahead.

After a heated discussion, the room was filled with arguments and the crowd became increasingly excited. They finally agreed that this time they could not simply participate at the lowest price and play a supporting role, as they had done in the past.

They decided to go all out, even if it meant exhausting all their resources and paying exorbitant prices to win the bid. They were determined to fight a desperate battle, hoping to carve out a new path in this business war.

However, on this crucial final day, just as the entire team was gearing up and preparing to write the bid, a sudden turn of events, like a bombshell, shattered all their plans.

The lawyer, Lubadu, who was the only one proficient in drafting tender documents and shouldered the key mission of the project's success or failure, mysteriously disappeared as if he had vanished into thin air!

This tender document is no ordinary business document; its format is unique and specialized, like a mysterious ancient code, leaving most lawyers clueless.

The detailed terms and conditions are interwoven like a complex maze, requiring not only a deep understanding of Portuguese business norms but also extensive practical experience to accurately grasp their essence.

Even if an ordinary lawyer receives detailed requirements, they will only be confused and at a loss when faced with dense, obscure clauses.

At this point, hastily seeking other lawyers to step in is undoubtedly a gamble, as there is no guarantee that the other party can meticulously craft a qualified tender document within the limited timeframe, strictly adhering to all the stringent requirements stipulated in the tender document.

In this desperate situation, the only hope is to race against time and do everything possible to find Lubadu and get the project back on track.

He Yuzhu and Huo Yingdong stood there dumbfounded, looking at each other with deep helplessness and disbelief in their eyes.

They had weathered many storms and narrowly escaped death on numerous occasions, but they never expected that Fu Laorong and Gao Kening's gang would be so treacherous and cunning, resorting to this vicious scheme to undermine their cause.

They had narrowly escaped the previous assassination attempt thanks to their extraordinary courage and luck. They thought the enemy would give up or change to other conventional methods. However, this time the enemy took an unconventional approach and used such a special method to strike at the vitals.

They precisely seized upon He Yuzhu and his group's fatal weakness—the lawyer Lu Badu, who had absolutely no martial arts background.

Before this, everyone was on edge, constantly facing attacks from both the open and the hidden, and all their energy was focused on dealing with various life-or-death crises.

Living in constant fear and sleepless nights, he was preoccupied with ensuring his own safety and had no time to think about anything else. He never even considered taking appropriate protective measures for the seemingly insignificant Lubadu.

After all, in their eyes, Lubadu was just a weak scholar in charge of legal affairs, far removed from the conflicts of the martial world. Who would have thought that someone would be so vicious as to target someone who seemed to pose no threat?

The current situation is like being surrounded by thorns, extremely difficult to handle.

Lubadu was a pillar of the team in writing bid proposals. Without him, the team would be like a bird with broken wings, finding it difficult to find someone else who could meticulously craft their bid proposals.

In the ever-changing arena of gambling bidding, the standard bid documents required for submission are like the key to unlocking the door to victory.

The Governor of Macao, Ma Jishi, was extremely strict about the issuance of gambling licenses, and he placed particular emphasis on the standardization of the bid documents. In his view, the standardization of the bid documents was by no means a trivial matter, but one of the key thresholds that determined whether a gambling license could be obtained, and it could even be said to be of paramount importance.

Losing Lubadu, a skilled bidder, means losing the ability to create bids that meet Majid's requirements. As a result, the crucial betting license may be hard to come by.

At this moment, the atmosphere inside the restaurant was heavy, and everyone was on guard as they slowly filed out of the restaurant.

The group even included the four prisoners, who looked ashen-faced and walked unsteadily under the close watch of the crowd.

At this moment, the situation was like a bowstring stretched to its limit, and no one dared to let their guard down.

Chapter 577

After all, the business world is full of unpredictable and treacherous battles, and everyone is worried that the other side will use a feint attack to take advantage of the chaos and seize these four key prisoners.

The group quickly gathered together and began a tense and cautious discussion.

They lowered their voices, their expressions were solemn, and their eyes revealed their concern and caution about the situation.

After a heated discussion, they finally decided to split up and act separately.

The group boarded different vehicles in an orderly fashion, and the four prisoners were evenly distributed between the two vehicles.

Two of the prisoners were handed over to Huo Yingdong for guarding. Huo Yingdong was steady and had sharp eyes. He strode towards the vehicle and took over the guarding task with an unquestionable attitude, like an indestructible gatekeeper.

The other two were escorted by He Yuzhu and Du Guanghe respectively. He Yuzhu had sharp eyes, staring intently at the prisoners about to be escorted, exuding an aura of competence and decisiveness. Du Guanghe, on the other hand, had a cold expression and methodically carried out the preparations before the escort, with a calm and composed aura that made him someone not to be underestimated.

And so, the two cars, like black beasts, pierced the oppressive air, carrying a heavy atmosphere and people burdened with heavy responsibilities, speeding down the street towards Lubadu's residence.

Along the way, the air currents created by the vehicles made the leaves on the roadside rustle, as if they too were uneasy about this unknown mission.

When the vehicle finally came to a smooth stop near Lubadu's residence, the door was suddenly flung open with a bang, and a group of figures dressed in dark clothing, like fierce demons emerging from the darkness, leaped out nimbly and swiftly.

Their faces were cold and stern, their sharp eyes seemed to see through everything. As soon as they got off the car, they couldn't wait to scatter and start questioning the residents around them.

The residents on the street were quite frightened by this sudden scene. Some hurriedly lowered their heads and quickened their pace to leave, while others stood at a distance, casting curious yet fearful glances.

Before long, a newspaper vendor selling newspapers on the street corner came into their view.

The vendor was thin and small, wearing a faded old shirt. He was nervously clutching a newspaper in his hand, his knuckles white from the force.

Faced with this menacing group, the vendor stammered, "I...I saw Mr. Lubadu get into a black sedan. The car was parked at the intersection over there. After the door opened, Mr. Lubadu seemed to struggle a bit, as if he wanted to roll down the window and get out. But then a tall, burly man stretched out his thick arm and punched him hard in the head. I heard the sound clearly. Then, the man quickly pulled him back in, closed the door, and the car drove away."

Upon hearing this, everyone present felt as if they had been struck by a heavy hammer, their mood becoming increasingly heavy, and the atmosphere dropping to freezing point.

Previously, although everyone had some doubts, they still had a sliver of hope because they had not yet obtained conclusive evidence.

But now, faced with such a clear and obvious situation, it is almost 100% certain that Lubadu has indeed been kidnapped!

At this critical and extremely urgent moment, even if one were to immediately call the police, it would probably be of no use.

Everyone knows how inefficient the police station is. After reporting a case, there is a long process of taking statements, followed by layers of reporting and approval. By the time police forces are actually deployed to carry out the operation, a lot of time has already been wasted in the long run.

At this moment, every minute and every second is as precious as gold. They must race against time and engage in a thrilling race where every second counts!

Given the current situation, they must find Lubadu before noon at the earliest; otherwise, if it drags on into the afternoon, they will have very little time left to prepare a new tender.

It is important to understand that preparing a tender document is by no means an easy task. It requires collecting a massive amount of information, repeatedly verifying data, and carefully arranging the format. Every step must be flawless.

If even the tender documents cannot be completed on time, then the crucial bidding process will naturally be out of the question, and all their hard work and effort during this period will be in vain.

Ye Han frowned, weighing the situation repeatedly in his mind, knowing that the situation was already critical and there was no time to lose.

He gritted his teeth, without the slightest hesitation, and his fingers quickly spun on the dial pad, dialing He Xian's number.

The beeping tone from the receiver felt like a heavy hammer, striking his taut heartstrings. At that moment, he was filled with hope that he could find the key to turning things around from his dear friend, who had extensive connections and good relationships in the Macau area.

He Xian has been deeply rooted in Macau for many years, and has connections with everyone from high-ranking officials to ordinary citizens. This extensive network of connections may provide a crucial breakthrough in this critical moment.

At that moment, He Xian was in his study, reviewing recent business accounts, when the phone suddenly rang in the quiet atmosphere.

He picked up the receiver casually, and Ye Han's somewhat urgent voice came from the other end, which really surprised He Xian.

Having known each other for many years, Ye Han was always calm and rarely so anxious to ask for help. He immediately realized the seriousness of the matter.

After Ye Han hurriedly explained the whole story, He Xian agreed without hesitation, his voice booming, "Old Ye, don't worry! I'll immediately instruct my men to search for Lu Badu's whereabouts with all their might, without wasting a moment. As for communication and coordination between the two sides, I'm happy to act as a go-between and make sure the message gets through."

At this point, He Xian paused, his tone suddenly becoming serious as he earnestly advised, "Old Ye, I need to make this clear to you. No matter how this matter develops, I hope both of you will remain calm and absolutely refrain from any extreme actions. Think about it, if we start using despicable methods like assassination or kidnapping, the consequences will be unimaginable. Not only will the harmony you've built up over the years vanish instantly, making it difficult to repair, but more importantly, it could trigger a series of vicious chain reactions. If everyone follows suit and resorts to any means to achieve their goals, wouldn't the entire social order be thrown into complete chaos? At that point, none of us will be able to escape unscathed!"

For Ye Han, the current situation is extremely urgent, like an arrow on a bowstring that must be released.

In his mind, finding Lubadu as soon as possible and preparing the tender documents in full swing to obtain the gambling license he had been dreaming of had become the most important thing that overshadowed everything else.

It should be noted that this bid was his third attempt on this long journey.

The bitter taste of his two previous defeats still haunts him.

This time, he felt he had the advantage of timing, location, and popular support.

In terms of timing, the gaming industry in Macau is undergoing a quiet transformation, with the old order loosening and new opportunities emerging. In terms of location, he has been working in Macau for many years and has a thorough understanding of the local customs, political and business relationships, and a wide network of connections. In terms of human resources, he has gathered a group of loyal and capable subordinates, and various forces are also secretly cheering him on.

If he fails to obtain the license again this time, he will face an abyss of no return.

The land of Haojiang is already fiercely competitive and a dog-eat-dog world. If this golden opportunity is missed, it may be difficult to find a place to live in the future.

His former rivals will undoubtedly intensify their efforts to suppress him, completely squeezing him out of the gambling industry and making it even harder for him to hope for another chance to participate in bidding.

Thinking about all this, Ye Han felt a chill run down his spine and broke out in a cold sweat.

Therefore, no matter how many thorns lie ahead or what difficulties and obstacles we encounter, this time we must succeed and not fail!

With this in mind, he did not hesitate at all, nodding firmly in agreement, indicating his willingness to fully cooperate and spare no effort to resolve the matter.