Chapter 679 - Preparing the Ransom
Chapter 679: Preparing the Ransom
The Wen Family members had sunk into a somber mood.
Old Mr. Wen seemed to have lost his rigor and energy after receiving the call.
The sounds of Wen Xinya being abused and beaten up repeatedly ran through Old Mr. Mo’s mind and he felt extremely agonized.
At this moment, Xiao Huang walked towards them and said, “Old Mr. Wen, Old Mr. Mo, Major has already brought his men to the bomb shelter where the abductors were hiding in. However, there was no one there. Hence, we deduced that the abductors have moved to another hiding spot while taking the hostage with them. Our first attempt at rescuing has failed, and we’ve yet to obtain the abductors’ current location.”
Xiao Huang’s words were like a bolt out of the blue that made both Old Mr. Wen and Old Mr. Mo shudder. Their lips trembled and they were at a complete loss for words.
Old Mr. Mo asked in a shaky voice, “What… what about Xinya’s safety?”
Shaking his head, Xiao Huang answered, “We can’t confirm that yet.”
Old Mr. Wen staggered and asked, “You mean, we don’t know if Xinya is dead or alive now?”
Xinya is the granddaughter whom we’ve gone through painstaking means to find. She’s the only flesh and blood of the Wen Family. Is Heaven out to cease our family’s bloodline? Just what sins did I commit to deserve this!?!
Dumbfounded, Old Mr. Wen sat on the couch in dejection.
This is retribution, retribution…
If I weren’t so ruthless and shrewd to others and caused the wreckage of several families, the Wen Family wouldn’t have ended up with only one heir whose life is uncertain now.
Wen Zhihang had never believed in destiny, not even when Mo Yunyao passed away and Wen Xinya went missing. However, he had no choice but to do so now.
Wen Haowen was overjoyed to hear that the first rescue operation had failed and that Wen Xinya’s whereabouts were now unknown. He was certain that Wen Xinya would not make it back alive.
With a heavy heart, Xiao Huang said, “Don’t be so pessimistic. For now, no news is good news. However, we have to hurry and get the ransom ready, lest they go back on their word and shorten the time we have to hand the ransom over. It’d be easier for us to carry out the operation.”
Old Mr. Wen and Old Mr. Mo nodded.
Xiao Huang instructed solemnly. “There are changes in the situation and our rescue operation has failed. I’m guessing that the abductors are going to kill the hostage even if they get the ransom. You guys must stay firm and not lose your direction. Do your best to stall for time. The more time we have, the more hope there is in rescuing Miss Wen successfully.”
Old Mr. Wen answered in a shaky voice, “Rest assured, Officer Huang, we’ll definitely do our best to cooperate with you guys.”
Old Mr. Mo had a grim expression on his face as he wondered how things were on Si Yiyan’s side. Now that things had come to this, he dared not reveal Si Yiyan’s plan to rescue Wen Xinya, for fear that he would arouse unnecessary trouble.
At this moment, Old Mr. Wen’s mobile phone rang, the vibration making him drop it.
Old Mr. Wen was filled with panic and worry, and his cold sweat had drenched his clothes, sticking tightly against his back. He was afraid that it would be a call from the abductors. If the mobile phone got damaged and the abductors could not reach him, they’d definitely be infuriated, thus posing a threat to Wen Xinya’s life.
Old Mr. Mo had also broken out into cold sweat. He held his breath immediately.
Fortunately, the mobile phone fell onto the coffee table with a loud thud before landing on the ground. To everyone’s relief, it was still intact and ringing.
Old Mr. Wen hurriedly grabbed the mobile phone to see that it was a call from Secretary Cao. Thinking that it should be regarding the funds, he quickly answered, “Secretary Cao, how much have we raised so far?”
Secretary Cao answered, “Old Mr. Wen, we’ve transferred some of the disposable funds, but they’re not enough to make up 300 million yuan. We’ve only managed to raise half the ransom…”
Old Mr. Wen was dumbfounded. Half… only half. Although he had plenty of bonds, securities, stocks, real estate properties, and expensive jewelry, there was not enough time to convert those assets into cash.
He began to panic. 300 million yuan was not a small sum. Although they were tycoons, it was impossible to raise so much money in such a short time.
Qiu Yifan suddenly came to Old Mr. Mo’s mind and his eyes glistened up. “Xinya has made some investments in the past few years. There should be some disposable cash.”
Old Mr. Wen was greatly taken aback and was slightly unable to recover from the shock.
About twenty minutes later, Qiu Yifan and Ouyang Feng arrived at the Wen Family, looking disheveled and unkempt. The military personnel then screened and searched them.
All of their communication devices were confiscated.
Qiu Yifan and Ouyang Feng were then permitted to proceed.
Qiu Yifan frantically said, “Old Mr. Mo, how did Xinya get kidnapped?”
Old Mr. Mo described the situation to them and continued, “Those abductors were really greedy. They asked for a ransom of 100 million US dollars. How much disposable funds does Xinya have now? Can you convert them to cash?”
Feeling rather apologetic, Qiu Yifan said, “Xinya does have lots of disposable funds, but we can’t release them without her in-person approval. However, I can request for a mortgage from the bank. They might amount to 100 million yuan.”
Old Mr. Mo said, “We won’t be able to make it in time. The abductors want us to hand over the ransom before daybreak.”
Shaking his head, Qiu Yifan said, “We’re too pressed for time.”
He also was extremely anxious and did not expect for Wen Xinya to be abducted again. This time, it was worse than the previous abduction.
At this moment, Ouyang Feng said frantically, “Xinya has given me a sum of money for investments. I think we should be able to get some money from that. However, my laptop has been confiscated…”
Upon hearing his words, Old Mr. Mo hurriedly informed Xiao Huang about it, after which Xiao Huang turned on the surveillance option on the computer. He then allowed Ouyang Feng to use it.
After switching on the laptop, Ouyang Feng typed furiously on the keyboard, the loud sounds of his fingers clicking on the keyboard filling the air in the living room.
Time passed by, second after second.
Old Mr. Wen stared at Ouyang Feng and recognized him to be the owner of the Lanxin Investments company which was involved in a money laundering case two years ago. He was a financial prodigy and had propelled Lanxin into the global market. He was highly respected and esteemed in the industry, and had become a financial giant whom many looked up to.
Old Mr. Wen did not expect that Wen Xinya would be acquainted with such a talent.
It seemed to him that Wen Xinya was far more outstanding than she appeared to be on the surface.
At the thought of it, he became even more resolute to save her.
Ouyang Feng’s expression gradually turned sullen and he said, “The maximum amount of funds that we can transfer now is 100 million yuan.”
300 million yuan would not be a problem at all if they were to follow the standard procedures.
Old Mr. Wen and Old Mr. Mo both looked extremely awful.
Ring…
The shrilling ringtone sounded, making them panic.
Old Mr. Wen immediately grabbed the mobile phone, only to realize that it was not his mobile phone that was ringing.
Xiao Huang grabbed Old Mr. Mo’s mobile phone and said, “Old Mr. Mo, it’s your mobile phone.”
Old Mr. Mo unlocked his mobile phone to see that it was a notification from the bank which informed him that a sum of 600 million yuan was transferred to his account. He knew instantly that it was from Si Yiyan.