Chapter 1606 - 1658: Mother-in-Law’s Scam
The two children also look very much alike; if you take them out, people might believe they’re twins. They both have big eyes, double eyelids, and similar hair texture and face shape. The difference is that the son has dimples while the daughter does not, but this is perfect – the boy looks very charming with dimples.
Li Yifei pushed the two children, and Song Lianyao asked softly, "Honey, if you have something to take care of, go ahead. It’s okay."
"It’s nothing." Li Yifei shook his head. It’s just Li Xinyue’s stepmother; it’s really not a big deal, though it’s quite disgusting.
Things have been clarified. After meeting a few people yesterday, Li Yifei knew something was wrong. Mile City is no stranger to underground gambling establishments. It’s possible they move around, but here’s the thing – no matter how much these organizations bet, it wouldn’t easily reach tens of millions. Yes, huge amounts may occur in places like Las Vegas or Macau, but in general across the country, they hardly surface.
Given Wang Xiaohong’s character, how could she gamble away so much money? Without money, how can one bet so big? Which professional gambler would play against you? Even if you ride the coattails of the Li family, it might not work.
That’s one point. Secondly, their attire looked fine, but their demeanor and speech weren’t right. Once security verified the information, it confirmed that these folks were con artists, even rather amateur ones.
This group had one woman who had seen a bit more money, and then there was Shen Qianhai, who had seen more money. But how could they possibly be so calm and poised to bet their entire fortune and then win so much? It’s fundamentally impossible.
So, what’s really going on? After all, the IOUs they hold are genuinely written by Wang Xiaohong, with her signature and fingerprint.
This is the foundation of these seven creditors’ confidence. They could righteously demand repayment from Li Yifei precisely because of this IOU.
The seven explained that the IOU was personally penned and signed by Wang Xiaohong; the amount written was decided by her too. Basically, this was a show directed and performed by Wang Xiaohong, and these seven people were actors she recruited. Calling them actors would be too flattering; they’re basically troublemakers.
Originally, Wang Xiaohong didn’t plan to acquire such a large sum. Combined, the seven had an IOU for just under ten million, averaging one to two million per person, which she felt was already plenty. For her, it really was enough. Adding the money from selling the company, it totaled thirty million. Wang Xiaohong felt like she could live worry-free for the rest of her life. Even if she moved abroad, it’d be enough for her to splurge.
Wang Xiaohong knew a woman who handled immigration procedures. Just having several million in assets allowed relocation to small countries in Europe, living in villas with gardens, swimming pools, the sea in front, docks, the clouds rolling in, the scenery ever-changing, picturesque and stunning – Wang Xiaohong was immensely envious and decided she must live that way.
So, Wang Xiaohong tried hard to snatch the company from Li Xinyue. Just then, someone approached, proactively contacting her to discuss purchasing. Upon hearing that such a shabby company was worth that much, Wang Xiaohong readily agreed to sell it, without asking Li Xinyue, secretly selling the company on her own.
With money in hand, Wang Xiaohong’s life changed. She immediately bought an Audi and purchased a car for Li Xuehai, Li Xinyue’s brother, waiting for him to return from his military service to drive it.
She had never seen so much money in her life. Though Li Xinyue would give her and the family some money, at most tens of thousands, or hundreds of thousands, Li Xinyue wouldn’t provide so much at once. Wang Xiaohong mistakenly thought she’d understand things better and manage the company well. Especially after Wang Xiaohong told her that the company’s legal representative would be Li Xinyue’s father, Li An, earn money for some years, save for retirement, and get a wife for Li Xuehai, Li Xinyue found it hard to refuse.
But Wang Xiaohong believed Li family money was easy to make. When the company was sold, she hid for a while, realizing neither Li Xinyue nor the Li family called her or came for trouble, so after returning from a trip to Sanya, Wang Xiaohong got a bold idea – why not strike big while the Li family hasn’t reacted?
Perhaps, while Li Yifei remains forgiving to Li Xinyue, she could get a bit more money out. After all, reportedly the Li family has assets nearing tens of billions now, so taking a few million shouldn’t be a concern, right? She is Li Xinyue’s stepmother, after all.
A stepmother is still a mother. If there’s a formal wedding, wouldn’t you still call me mom?
This idea wasn’t Wang Xiaohong’s alone. It came from that woman she knew, who apparently is quite capable. She earns one to two million a month as a provincial agent for some product. She previously persuaded Wang Xiaohong to get involved, stock up on products. But Wang Xiaohong, a rural woman, had no circle and couldn’t sell them, ending up using most for her family.
If it were before, Wang Xiaohong surely would have pondered hard about spending a few thousand, but now sitting on over twenty million, she didn’t care; it was just forming good relations with this woman – she is quite capable. In the future, immigrating abroad and living the foreign life would rely on this woman to achieve.
This plan, Wang Xiaohong hadn’t even known much until she spoke enthusiastically at a dinner after returning from her trip with the woman. Hearing Wang Xiaohong’s boastful tale, the woman thought this rural woman has connections? No wonder she’s making such generous purchases; the few thousand yuan she spent on stock wasn’t even worrying her. On further inquiry, she learned the Li family mentioned was the renowned Li family, so her thoughts turned and suggested why not find a way to get more money from them? Once abroad, they wouldn’t even need to work – just spend.
Wang Xiaohong was tempted but didn’t know how to swindle, so the woman suggested ideas, like faking a kidnapping, asking the daughter to pay ransom, evolving this plan into pretending to owe giant gambling debts. These creditors were hired by Wang Xiaohong for ten thousand yuan per person, guaranteed professionalism provided by the woman. Wang Xiaohong thought, if she really scammed a few million, giving fifty thousand to the woman wasn’t a problem.
The woman initially declined but later ’reluctantly’ accepted.
Thus, after huge gambling losses, Wang Xiaohong owed almost ten million. The seven creditors drove the cars Wang Xiaohong bought and the woman’s car, starting their debt collection at the Li family.
Among these seven people, some were knowledgeable, others clueless but bold. Initially afraid of the Li family’s might, they later found it was no big deal once in, for the Li family’s attitude was quite nice.
Following the script, these people would take their nearly one million and leave. But yesterday, the man who claimed a stomachache wasn’t ill; seeing Li Yifei’s agreeable nature, he thought of asking for more. He pretended a stomach ache, went to the restroom, and actually called Wang Xiaohong and the woman, which was why they hadn’t presented the IOUs yesterday, even though they had them, aggregating nearly a million.
Upon returning at night, Wang Xiaohong heard from them Li Yifei’s responses and words. For once, she believed her son-in-law was generous – the mere million wasn’t a concern at all. It seemed Li Xinyue held a decent position in the family, and with that thought... why not gather more funds?
After repeatedly questioning the seven for Li Yifei’s reactions, Wang Xiaohong rashly considered snatching a lot more money and immediately immigrating, as Li Yifei wouldn’t be too harsh with Li Xinyue’s clout. Even if found, it might just blow over.
Hence, at the barbecue table, Wang Xiaohong tore up the previous IOUs, rewriting seven new ones, raising the amount tenfold, totaling over eighty-five million, adding the company sale money, and reaching a hundred million.
From having assets worth ten million to reaching for billionaire status, Wang Xiaohong was so thrilled she couldn’t sleep all night, fantasizing about transforming into a billionaire, indulging in earthly riches, eating and wearing whatever she desired. She heard items abroad were quite cheap. With a billion yuan, she could splurge endlessly.
When Li Xinyue’s father passed, wouldn’t all that money become hers? Even now, if Li An were alive, she controlled that money – he was essentially a nobody, though he cared for Li Xinyue.
An older husband with a young wife easily evokes such situations, especially since Li An is currently unaware.
Thus, what was originally less than ten million had swelled to over eighty-five million, a leap to a whole new level.
For momentum, Wang Xiaohong went to the job market to hire some young men, outfitting them as bodyguards to protect the seven fake creditors.
Wang Xiaohong felt her plan was excellent. She hadn’t disappeared, merely hid in the provincial capital awaiting news. Once the money arrived, she’d promptly depart for another province, staying away, and once the woman completed the exit procedures, Wang Xiaohong would take Li An abroad. Even if Li An didn’t go, she’d leave first.