The Underground Emperor: Starting with Running Away with His Sister-in-Law

"I've already told you..."

Secretary Cui tried to retort with a cold face, but was interrupted by the horse-faced man in a sharp voice: "We don't understand these things, and we don't want to hear you say them!"

We only know one thing...

We've been working for your company all along!

"It's one thing to stop us from continuing our business for no reason, but to keep refusing to pay the several months' worth of outstanding payments—what kind of business is this?"

The other two protesters also glared angrily!

"ah!"

Secretary Cui's voice suddenly rose, and she snapped, "How can you be so unreasonable? Didn't you hear what I just said..."

"Hey, Secretary Cui, calm down!"

Zhao Taiwu, who had been observing coldly, suddenly spoke up to stop him, gently patting his shoulder to signal him to be mindful of his behavior.

Then he turned to the three protesting men, a warm smile on his face, pointed to the coffee in front of them, and said with a smile, "Gentlemen, there's no need to get too agitated. Have some coffee and relax. Since I'm here, there's always a solution. You can rest assured!"

however.

At this moment, none of the three were in the mood for coffee; they all fixed their gazes on Zhao Taiwu.

but...

His words were indeed very well said...

The three people, who were in a state of heightened emotion, calmed down a little, though their eyes still held a hint of anger and resentment.

"Representative, I can tell you're a reasonable person..."

The one who spoke was still the man with the long face; it seems he was the most respected among the three.

He took a deep breath, his voice filled with both resentment and pleading: "I swear to God we didn't lie, we really have been working for your company diligently and without complaint..."

However, every time the payment deadline arrives, your company withholds the money and doesn't release it...

It dragged on for a month after a month...

Right now, we're so hungry we can't even afford to eat, and it looks like we really can't survive..."

"I understand, I understand..."

Zhao Taiwu nodded slightly, then leaned forward slightly and gently placed his hand on the horse-faced man's shoulder, his eyes filled with pity and empathy: "The current environment is indeed very difficult, it's normal for everyone to have difficulties..."

But isn't the most important thing between people mutual understanding?

The thing I've heard most often since I was a child is...

Phrases like "Business is very bad this year," "This year is so tough," "The losses this year are also very serious," and "We have to tighten our belts to make ends meet"...

I kept listening, I kept listening...

Speaking of this...

Zhao Taiwu looked around at everyone present, shrugged, and said in a slightly "mischievous" manner, "But do I not have a reason to live?"

no?

"Look at me, I'm alive and well now, aren't I?"

Everywhere you looked, whether it was the bodyguards or Secretary Cui, everyone was forcing out an awkward smile.

Apart from the three protesters.

At this moment, they couldn't even force a smile...

What Zhao Taiwu considered humorous, sounded jarring to the three of them.

The reason is very simple...

The so-called "empathy"...

It can only happen between people of the same class!

Just like the fable of "Did the emperor use a golden hoe?"...

The "empathy" between two vastly different classes is devoid of any "putting oneself in others' shoes," and is only filled with endless "irony"!

At this moment...

Even if Cho Tae-oh appears very approachable...

In the eyes of the three...

All that's left is hypocrisy and affectation!

Zhao Taiwu seemed oblivious to the change in the three men's emotions...

Or...

It should be that they don't care at all!

Let me tell you one thing...

He was quite satisfied with the reasoning he had just articulated, and felt a sense of pleasure.

So it's rare...

His smile revealed a hint of sincerity, and he asked in a relaxed tone, "Alright, you three, let's get straight to the point. How much of the final payment is owed to you in total?"

"Oh, okay..."

The horse-faced man snapped out of his daze, pulled out his notebook, and opened to the first page: "Then I'll explain in order..."

"Aigoo, sir..."

Zhao Taiwu shook his head, speaking up to stop him, and laughed, "I already said, let's be straightforward, no need for all that trouble, just give us the total!"

"Okay, representative, please wait a moment..."

The horse-faced man replied without looking up, muttering under his breath as he flipped through his notebook, "My number is 350... Park... 280... An... 330..."

Forehead...

The amount is not small...

The three of us together make a total of nine hundred and sixty...

"Nine hundred..."

Zhao Taiwu's smile faded slightly, his eyes widened, and he asked with a hint of surprise, "Nine hundred and sixty billion?"

......

Chapter 565 Prove it to me

"Forehead..."

The horse-faced man seemed startled by the number, glanced at Zhao Taiwu, and shook his head somewhat awkwardly: "No...no..."

"Don't tell me it's nine million six hundred thousand?"

Zhao Taiwu asked again.

This time, his expression carried a hint of disbelief, and his tone lowered slightly.

Anyone could hear the contempt and disdain in his voice.

The horse-faced man nodded slightly.

There was no sound.

"Ah..."

After receiving his confirmation, Zhao Taiwu looked like he'd been screwed over, chuckled, and looked at Secretary Cui standing to the side.

"To suffer!"

Secretary Cui's heart skipped a beat. She subconsciously raised her hand to push up her glasses and lowered her head to avoid his gaze.

"Nine million six hundred thousand..."

Zhao Taiwu leaned back, crossed his legs again, and smiled even more broadly as he looked at the three of them and asked, "So, your demand, which is why you went to such lengths to protest in front of our company, is just 9.6 million won?"

His tone carried a hint of ill intent.

The three of them looked at each other.

After a long pause, the horse-faced man gritted his teeth and said, "Representative, this money may not mean much to you, but it's a lifeline for the three of us!"

Our whole family depends on this money to make a living. Please have mercy and give us the money!

We've truly reached a dead end!

"Have mercy? Heh..."

Zhao Taiwu chuckled nervously twice: "Gentlemen, I might as well tell you something. You three are the second group of people asking me for money today..."

Just this morning...

There's this guy I really dislike who managed to steal a sum of money from me!

Can you guess how much it is?