1152 I Am Not Short of Money
He Ning had no clue either. Other than the He family and the Xia family, there were only the Gao family and the Chu family. The Gao family was in the tobacco and alcohol business and made a lot of money from it, but their family was also very principled and had a good reputation in the capital. The Gao family was friendly to everyone. Even a beggar would be able to get a lot of money from the Gao family if he could get to know them.

As for the Chu family, they were in the steel business and very ambitious. The He family was in the business of essential goods. Although it seemed very substantial, it was actually not as valuable as the steel or tobacco and alcohol business. He Ning was only able to gain a foothold in the capital through his wiliness.

“Who exactly did you offend? Even for me, I won’t be able to arrange for something to happen to everyone in your family at the same time. It’s impossible for an ordinary person to set up such a big trap. He must have received help from different places. The net being cast over your Xia family is really big,” He Ning analyzed calmly.

“Of course I know that. Otherwise, why am I here to look for you? Tell me something I don’t know.” Xia Wen rolled his eyes resignedly.

He Ning looked at Xia Wen and suddenly found the current situation quite funny. The two of them had not sat together and talked for a long time. At this moment, it felt as if they had returned to the time when they were in school. Both of them had not changed at all. They were still the same as before, getting into an argument after exchanging a few words.

He Ning did not like Xia Wen’s holier-than-thou attitude and Xia Wen did not like He Ning’s way of doing things. Otherwise, the two of them could have become very good friends.

“So why are you here to look for me? Are you looking for comfort or to scold me to vent your anger?” He Ning asked.

“I’m here to borrow money,” Xia Wen said frankly.

“How much? If you want to borrow money from me, you have to be mentally prepared. My interest rate is not low,” He Ning said as he looked at Xia Wen smugly.

It was rare for him to get a chance to take down Xia Wen once in his life, even rarer that Xia Wen was actually begging him. The probability of this happening was even lower than that of a volcanic eruption!

“500,000,” Xia Wen said.

“Both you and your sister-in-law really think I’m an ATM! Do you think my family runs a bank? Go and check how much you can sell me for! See if I’m worth 500,000 dollars! Your family can’t even save 5,000 dollars a year, but you’re asking me for 500,000 dollars! Xia Wen, did you get drunk before you came to my place?” He Ning stood up and pointed at Xia Wen.

“I-I’m very clear-headed. If it’s not because I’ve run into some trouble, do I need to come and look for you? Are you going to lend it to me or not? If not, I”m going to the Gao family and the Chu family,” Xia Wen said impatiently. He did not have that much time to waste with He Ning.

“The Gao family’s youngest daughter liked you when she was young. You rejected her so heartlessly and then married Tan Jing. Don’t you know the Gao family hates you to the core now? You’re lucky they didn’t skin you alive. As for the Chu family, you won’t get far with them. They would never get involved in these matters,” He Ning said.

“Then what do you think I should do?” Xia Wen asked.

“Tell me what exactly happened in your family. Let me make it clear first that I’m not going to help you for free. Qiao Mei is dead, but Qiao Qiang isn’t. Qiao Qiang is the one who knows how to dig up the ginseng. Qiao Mei still owed me one last 100-year-old ginseng. Go back and tell Qiao Qiang that I want three more 100-year-old ginsengs and to give them to me for free. Otherwise, I won’t help your family,” He Ning said.

The total value of three 100-year-old ginsengs would work out to about 1.8 million dollars. Even when Qiao Mei was alive, she would not give away so many ginsengs for free. It was too big a decision for Xia Wen to make. Furthermore, Qiao Qiang was still unconscious in the hospital. Even if he was awake, he would faint again from anger when he saw He Ning.

“You’re asking for too much. Change the condition and I might agree,” Xia Wen said as he looked at He Ning.

“Other than me, do you have any better choice now? Xia Wen, get this straight. You’re the one who’s begging me now, not the other way around. You don’t have the right to negotiate,” He Ning said with a smile.

“I can owe you money, but I don’t have any say when it comes to ginseng. If you’re so capable, you can talk to Uncle Qiao yourself,” Xia Wen said.

“Look at me. Do I look like someone who lacks money? What I want is ginseng. I’m not interested in anything else,” He Ning said.