Chapter 143: The wool comes off the sheep's back

With the rumble of an engine, Robert drove his sports car into the Adams Manor in the White Mountain Forest. He casually parked his car on the expensive lawn and got out, heading straight for Christo's study.

As a frequent visitor to the manor, Robert knew his father's routine at this time of day very well, but this time he was wrong. On the way, he ran into Christo, but that wasn't a problem. He immediately said, 'Mr. Christo, I heard that at the previous meeting of the Brighton Federal Reserve Bank, you lost the adult of our Adams family and actually made the rescue move to withdraw from Brook Investment.'

Christo's face fell. In fact, when he first saw Robert, he could guess what the other person would say, so he was not surprised. He was then able to reply, 'This matter is not as simple as you think... 

But Robert had no intention of listening to the reasons Christo had to say. He interrupted Christo directly and said, 'What do you mean it's not as simple as I think? Didn't you withdraw from the rescue of Brook Investment Company, Christo? Did you not humiliate your own family by abandoning the company to an outsider like Zhou Ming? At this time, you are still making such excuses in front of me, and you are still the head of the Adams family, I am ashamed of you!'

'I told you that you don't understand the situation. At that time, the three families of the Kennedys, the Lawrences and the Lowells were behind the Chinese, and I had to make some concessions for the sake of the family,' said Christo.

'Only a cheeky guy like you, Christo, could say something like that, a concession that you had to make for the sake of the family.' Robert said disdainfully, then spread his hands, 'Okay, I can believe what you say, I can even believe that you didn't lose your temper in front of that Chinese guy and didn't lose the contest with him, but you still need to explain your thoughts, don't you?'

'Only you, Robert, can make me tolerate you,' said Christo, pointing at Robert with suppressed anger. "I think you must also be aware of the news about the Ponzi scheme of Brook Investment Company. In this incident, the $600 million worth of collateral assets of Brook Investment Company were all bought for less than $3 million by taking subscriptions from customers..."

Before Christo finished speaking, Robert said with a sneer, 'This Brook Investment Company really is a bunch of idiots, something like this can happen.'

Christo ignored Robert's mockery and continued, 'In other words, Brook Investment has lost another $600 million on top of what it had previously lost. This figure is already the bottom line that the family can accept. Although it is not impossible to save Brook, the cost is too high. Now that the Chinese man is willing to accept it, the price is just to release his partners. I think this deal is very cost-effective no matter how you calculate it.'

Robert sneered and asked, 'Mr. Christo, do you really think so? Or you can check whether the Chinese man's money has actually been transferred to Brooke's account.'

'Robert, don't you think you're being too hasty? If I remember correctly, the Chinese man's account was unfrozen two days ago, and it's only natural that he needs time to mobilise the funds,' said Christo.

Robert couldn't help but burst out laughing: 'I say, Mr. Christo, can you first ask yourself sincerely whether you believe it or not?'

Robert finished speaking and turned to leave, while Christo looked at Robert's back thoughtfully. Then he turned around too, went back to his study, picked up the phone and dialed Zhou Ming's number. He asked Zhou Ming, 'Chinese, your partners have already returned to Brighton, and the problems with your accounts have also been resolved, so now is it time to fulfil your promise?'

Zhou Ming said, 'That's true, but I think you understand, Mr. Christo, that I need time to raise the funds. I don't have the ability to raise 10 billion yuan right away like you.'

Christo sneered, 'Chinese, you might as well save that for a three-year-old. You know it doesn't fool me! I can tell you that I'm in a very bad mood right now. If I find out that I've been deceived, I'll be very angry, and the consequences of my anger are more than you can bear. I hope you can listen to what I have to say carefully.'

Zhou Ming said helplessly, 'Okay, I can admit that these are all excuses, but if Mr. Christo, you want me to confirm that I can't do it now.'

'How long will it take? You know that this Brighton Investment Company is already a very large loss-making enterprise, and it won't work if it's not done within a limited time,' Christo asked immediately.

'I can't say for sure, but I conservatively estimate that it will take at least two or three days,' Zhou Ming replied.

'I'll give you three days. If I find out you've deceived me after three days, prepare to bear the wrath of my anger."

After saying this, Christo hung up the phone. On the other end of the line, Zhou Ming was with Lin Muqing, giving Tong Gang, Li Cheng and Irbekov a meeting together. They heard Zhou Ming's phone call and immediately asked worriedly, 'Zhou Ming, are you okay? If you can't come up with this much money at once, we can definitely figure something out together. After all, this money is related to our freedom, and we are all willing to take it!'

However, Zhou Ming shook his head and said, 'In fact, I never intended to pay Brook Investment Company from the beginning. Although forcing a company into bankruptcy and then acquiring it is a very good investment method, I have no intention of doing so.'

Zhou Ming's answer surprised Tong Gang, Li Cheng and Yerbedov. None of them understood what Zhou Ming meant, and what did he mean by saying that this was a good way to invest but he had no intention of doing it? Was he deliberately trying to deceive Christo? But doing so would serve no practical purpose other than to really anger him. Could it be that Zhou Ming's intention was to anger Christo and that he had another plan?

Zhou Ming could see what was going on in the minds of the three people, and told them, 'If Mr. Christo has a weak psychological constitution, he may be angered, but I have no intention of deceiving him.'

Saying this, Zhou Ming took out a document and placed it on the table, saying, 'For the funds of Brook Investment Company, I think we should go to Brighton Bank together tomorrow. As the saying goes, the fleece comes off the sheep's back. The sheep is already so fat now, we should not be merciful.'

Tong Gang, Li Cheng and Yerbedov subconsciously looked through Zhou Ming's documents. They were dumbfounded. They could never have imagined that Zhou Ming could come up with such an idea. They could even imagine how furious Christo would be if he knew. But on second thought, it seems that no one has really stipulated that this is not allowed, including Christo.

...

The next morning, Zhou Ming, Lin Muqing, Tong Gang, Li Cheng, Yerbeldiev and their lawyer Alan all arrived at Brighton Bank together. Lawyer Alan presented Brighton Bank's loan application agreement.

"My client wishes to borrow 700 million US dollars from Brighton Bank using the 3,000 properties he owns as collateral.'

In the face of Lawyer Alan's statement, the manager of Brighton Bank was stunned. First, the figure of $700 million was too huge. The manager of Brighton Bank had basically never seen such a large loan before, and he was infinitely nervous. Second, the manager looked through the property mortgages provided by Zhou Ming, and these were actually the properties that Brook Investment Company had mortgaged to the bank to borrow money.

This can't be Zhou Ming cheating all those mortgaged properties from Brook Investment Company and then using the money to inject capital into Brook Investment Company in turn.

I'm afraid that even on Wall Street, not many people would be able to pull off such a financial feat.

The bank manager was shocked, but he just took a short breath and smiled as he said to Zhou Ming, 'I'm very sorry, Mr. Zhou Ming...'

Before he could finish, Zhou Ming said to him, 'You are going to report this situation to someone, aren't you?'

The bank manager was startled and immediately replied that he had not. Zhou Ming then said, 'But I can't stop you from reporting it, but you must first complete my loan application, right?'

"Very... I feel very sorry, because... because my powers are limited, so... I'm afraid it will be delayed...'

Hearing the stuttering way the bank manager spoke, Zhou Ming still helplessly waved him out. In response, Tong Gang, Li Chenghe and Il'bedov were a little worried and said, 'Mr. Zhou Ming, what if the head of the Adams family really finds out about this now?'

This is the way things work in this world: the more you fear something, the more likely it is to happen.

Just as Tong Gang, Li Cheng and Ildebald were talking, Zhou Ming's phone rang. Without a doubt, it was Christo. As soon as Zhou Ming answered, he heard Christo's expletive-laden tirade: 'Zhou Ming, you are the world's most disgusting scoundrel! You actually want to use the collateral assets of Brook Investment to purchase the equity of Brook Investment. This condition you came up with is really excellent!'

Zhou Ming laughed heartily, 'Thank you very much for Mr. Christo's praise. I also think this method is very good, I just hope Mr. Christo can be more supportive.'

'Supportive? I know that you Chinese are a people who like to dream, but I think you are definitely dreaming too much about this dream today!' Christo said.

"I don't think I'm dreaming too much, but on the contrary, Mr. Christo, you are thinking a lot...'

Before Zhou Ming could finish his sentence, the manager of Brighton Bank walked in and said, 'Mr Zhou Ming, the loan you need has been approved, and the bank will transfer the money to your account as soon as possible.'

The bank manager did not deliberately lower his voice, so Christo heard it all on the other end of the line. This news instantly petrified him, because this was a result he never would have expected no matter what. But more importantly, the other three families had completely sided with Zhou Ming. Christo really hoped that this was a nightmare, but the truth told him that this was real.

'Zhou Ming, you son of a bitch, I will get you sooner or later, I swear!' said Christo.

Zhou Ming was very relaxed: "But you will have to wait until that day, Christo."