Chapter 605: Having evil intentions
Chapter 605: A hidden agenda
Wang Jianguo's words were sincere and heartfelt, and the loneliness and helplessness on his face seemed to penetrate into people's hearts.
The sadness in his eyes made the miserable atmosphere even more intense. Zhao Dakuo stood aside and listened, his face turning pale and red.
When Wang Jianguo revealed this, the eagerness for money in my heart suddenly deflated like a balloon that had been punctured, leaving only embarrassment.
He opened his mouth slightly, as if he wanted to explain something, but he felt as if his throat was blocked and he couldn't make a sound for a while.
But Zhao Dakuo is a businessman who has been working in this city for many years. His obsession with profit and shrewdness cannot be easily suppressed by guilt in a short time.
After a brief hesitation, he slowly stretched out his hand. His hand trembled slightly in the air, as if he was making a final struggle with the entanglement in his heart.
In the end, he still reached out for the two yuan that Wang Jianguo handed over without hesitation, and with a light pinch of his fingers, he held the money firmly in his palm.
As soon as he got the money, Zhao Dakuo began to explain in a flurry, as if he was afraid that Wang Jianguo would misunderstand him:
"Hey, brother Jianguo, what are you thinking? Am I, Zhao Dakuo, the kind of person who is short-sighted and greedy for money? I really don't mean to ask you for money."
"Think about it, we've been here all this time. Although this black market looks messy, petty thefts are not uncommon."
"I was just worried that you would lose the little money you worked so hard to earn, so I kindly reminded you to keep it safe."
"Besides, how can I be afraid that you will default on your debt? We are brothers, and I know what kind of person you are."
As he spoke, Zhao Dakuo deliberately patted Wang Jianguo on the shoulder and forced a slightly stiff smile on his face, trying to ease the awkward atmosphere at the moment:
"Don't be so depressed. Things have already come to this, so we have to think on the bright side. Look, you call me Brother Zhao, right? We have a deep bond."
"I can't just watch you get into trouble, so let me let you stay in your guesthouse room for one more day."
"I don't charge you any money, how about that? Is that good enough? This is just a little bit of care from my brother. Just live here peacefully and don't feel any psychological burden."
As Zhao Dakuo spoke, he secretly observed Wang Jianguo's expression, but in his heart he was secretly thinking:
Although these two dollars are not much, a little bit of money is still meat, and the cost of staying in the guesthouse for one more day is not high.
In this way, you can appear magnanimous without suffering a big loss. It is a best of both worlds.
As for Wang Jianguo, looking at Zhao Dakuo's series of actions and words, he knew clearly what the other party was planning.
Wang Jianguo listened quietly to Zhao Dakuo's words, which seemed warm but actually contained hidden thoughts, and an expression of surprise and joy instantly appeared on his face.
His mouth started to move quickly as if it was wound up, and he said with a grateful tone:
"Oh, thank you so much, Brother Zhao. You really are a timely help. It's really thoughtful of you!"
The voice was so loud and the tone was so high, as if he wanted everyone around him to hear his gratitude to Zhao Dakuo.
However, beneath this enthusiastic smile, Wang Jianguo's heart was like a deep pool of cold water, cold and quiet. He thought to himself:
This Zhao Dakuo seems to be generous and righteous, but in fact he is full of shrewd calculations. You'd better stay away from him in the future. Don't provoke him if you can, so as to avoid trouble.
To be fair, Wang Jianguo also understood that Zhao Dakuo's behavior was not completely unreasonable.
After all, the two had made the matter of giving bribes very clear and explicit before they set out, and now that the job was done, Zhao Dakuo asked for the reward as agreed, and from the perspective of the spirit of the contract, there was nothing wrong with that.
But for some reason, Wang Jianguo felt that Zhao Dakuo was too utilitarian. He always took his own interests as the starting point and seemed to only see money.
He couldn't help but silently recall every moment he had spent with Zhao Dakuo:
From the very beginning when he was looking for the black market, Zhao Dakuo hinted from time to time that he was short of money and life was not easy, laying the groundwork for asking for kickbacks later.
After arriving at the black market, every time Zhao Dakuo encountered a potentially profitable opportunity, his eyes would light up instantly. His eager look to make a fortune was really disgusting.
Moreover, just now, I was only delayed for a short while, and Zhao Dakuo began to ask impatiently about the sale of the jewelry, fearing that he would not get the commission.
The more Wang Jianguo thought about it, the more disheartened he felt. He knew very well that even if he tried his best to make friends with someone like Zhao Dakuo, it would be difficult for him to do so.
If I really get into trouble and need help in the future, I'm afraid he will just stand by and watch, weigh the pros and cons and choose to protect himself, and will never lend a helping hand.
As for pretending to be poor and miserable in front of Zhao Dakuo just now, Wang Jianguo had also thought it over carefully.
He knew very well that he had the money he earned from buying medicine for his friend. If Zhao Dakuo found out that he had enough money, given his personality, he might have some bad intentions.
They will either try to increase the kickbacks by any means possible, or they will pester me with all kinds of reasons, trying to gain more benefits from me, which will only add to my troubles.
Therefore, it would be better to describe one's situation as difficult from the beginning so that Zhao Dakuo would give up the idea, rather than getting entangled in the future.
After thinking it through, Wang Jianguo still maintained a grateful smile on his face, but he had already made up his mind in his heart:
You must keep your distance from Zhao Dakuo and stay away from this person who only cares about interests.
The bright moonlight was like diluted paint, lightly painted on the winding country road, casting a hazy and warm glow on everything around.
Wang Jianguo and Zhao Dakuo walked side by side on this dusty dirt road. Their shadows were stretched out and projected on the ground, but they seemed to come from two completely different worlds.
Zhao Dakuo held the two hard-earned banknotes tightly between the thumb and index finger of his right hand, as if he was holding the most precious treasure in the world.
From time to time, he would hold the money in front of his eyes and look at it carefully against the light. After confirming that it was correct, a smile that was so bright that it was almost exaggerated would appear on his face.
In that smile, there was the satisfaction of harvest, the greed for money, and a hint of pride after the task was accomplished.
His pace became particularly brisk, and every step seemed to be elastic. His toes lightly tapped the ground, raising tiny handfuls of dust.
It seems as if the whole person is floating with this excitement, immersed in his own little world, feeling contented.