Chapter 93: The Choice

Sometimes, the most improbable things happen, such as today.

Zhang Baode, a security guard assigned to miscellaneous tasks, had witnessed Wang Hu’s arrogance and felt deeply unsettled. He liked this company; the boss was kind. Occasionally, when Zhang Baode, who cleaned the premises, crossed paths with the billionaire owner, the boss would kindly inquire about his family’s well-being. Last year, upon learning that his children were all in school and that his wife’s job was less than ideal, the boss even arranged a generous bonus for him through the finance department.

People are like this: some only remember others’ faults, while others recall their kindness. Zhang Baode belonged to the latter. Though a humble man, he was grateful.

In a sour mood, he returned home and looked at the small faces of his two children. He felt burdened and crouched in the courtyard smoking a cigarette. His family rented a small courtyard house in a narrow alleyway, shared by seven or eight families. The living conditions were modest, and his monthly salary of five or six thousand yuan was barely enough to make ends meet in Jiangzhou, a sprawling metropolis.

His robust wife, busy cooking, curiously asked if he had been mistreated again by the security team.

Zhang Baode felt he should discuss something important with her.

“You know, today I saw the new leader who was the only one capable of intimidating Wang Hu and his gang. That leader has resigned after a dispute with the boss. Could this be a deliberate ruse?” Zhang Baode whispered, helping her wash vegetables. “That leader dealt a heavy blow to Wang Hu today. The more I think about it, the more it seems like a sacrificial strategy. The boss must be planning to deal with those people. Do you think I should hand over all the evidence I’ve gathered to the boss?”

His wife was a virtuous woman, a native of Jiangzhou. When she married Zhang Baode, her family had strongly opposed the match. But the reality now proved that an honest man was truly a good choice. While her younger sister had secretly married a man with a house, hoping for stability, their marriage was now failing, causing both families great distress. Though Zhang Baode’s income was modest, he gave all he earned to his wife and children without hesitation, never keeping a penny for himself. Even buying a simple tube of toothpaste required days of deliberation. Such a man was a true pillar of strength.

Sadly, Zhang Baode’s heart had been broken deeply. He hadn’t even entered his own home recently. The monthly allowance of five hundred yuan had remained unchanged for years, never begrudged. But human hearts are delicate; how could the two elders remain unmoved?

In recent days, the two elders had been considering visiting to talk to Zhang Baode, to apologize. After all, with their youngest daughter’s situation, the family needed a sturdy pillar.

But Zhang Baode avoided them. The elders owned a small but valuable courtyard worth several million yuan. Zhang Baode was cautious and never dreamed of money falling from the sky. He also feared being accused of coveting their property.

As his wife pondered how to persuade Zhang Baode, torn between her husband and her parents, she was surprised when Zhang Baode brought up the matter again. She stopped chopping vegetables and turned to ask solemnly, “Do you really think it’s a sacrificial strategy?”

Zhang Baode blinked thoughtfully, then nodded firmly. “I think so. That leader played such a crucial role, and the boss isn’t foolish. He must have noticed. I believe it’s a tactic. The company is now talking about transformation; perhaps they want to get rid of those people quickly.”

He hesitated and added, “But what if I’m wrong? And if I give the evidence now, will the boss think I’m trying to take advantage?”

“Don’t overthink it,” his wife said. “How could that be opportunism? General Manager Chen is a good man. Remember last time when I came to see you? He even shook my hand. Such a big boss, far bigger than our little company, yet so approachable. He can’t be all bad. Besides, he must know what’s going on in your company. Giving him the evidence now could be considered a meritorious act. Otherwise, if you wait until everything is done, it’ll be useless — a pointless effort.”

Zhang Baode considered this and asked, “Do you think I can trust him?”

“Why not? You’re not aiming to be a leader. We don’t expect much from them, so there’s no need to worry.” His wife picked through the vegetables thoughtfully, then added, “But you should give the evidence to your leader first.”

Zhang Baode smiled. “I don’t even know how to contact the boss; I only have the leader’s number. Alright, I’ll call tonight. If they really are playing a sacrificial game, when they get back to the company tonight, they’ll have both the people and the evidence in their grasp. That leader can’t be one of that gang; their conflicts are severe.”

Having agreed, Zhang Baode wasted no time. Just before midnight, he stood under the eaves and dialed Yang Changfeng’s number, which he had taken from the office.

He had no idea that, at this very moment, Yang Changfeng was locked in a fierce race, tailing his rival’s car by only five or six meters, inches from overtaking but unable to do so.

The crowd in the stands held their breath, their very breaths seeming to freeze. Since this foreigner had arrived in Jiangzhou, no one had ever matched his intensity like this.

He was truly a master!

Blindfolded, relying solely on the wind and sound to navigate, he clung tightly behind the foreign driver. What immense skill must that require?

Everyone harbored the same thought: “If he’s this good with his eyes closed, what about in a normal race?”

This shared realization left the spectators awestruck.

Maswei’s mouth fell open in surprise. Could there really be a racer more skilled than her idol?

That was Andre — a benchmark for tough, hardcore drivers!

The onboard monitors simultaneously transmitted both racers’ statuses. Andre was giving his all, every bump, every corner, every narrow stretch controlled with precision just shy of a second in advance. His face was taut and serious.

Yet Yang, the self-proclaimed master, moved with ease. Less than half a second after Andre adjusted, Yang almost perfectly mirrored his movements, issuing control commands at exactly the moments when speed needed to be tamed.

And this was a man unfamiliar with this track?

The female manager gaped, stunned beyond words. She had thought he was a joke, but now it was clear the joke was on them. This was a master, a god among drivers.