’If you keep this up, I’m actually going to start feeling guilty.’
"You want me to apologize to him?!"
"Fine, don’t apologize. But from now on, don’t ever ask me to help you with anything again. I’m washing my hands of all your family’s business!"
"But..."
"It’s up to you."
Pan Yongbin gritted his teeth, clutching his leg as he stood up.
"Lin Jiang, I’m sorry about this. I was too impulsive."
Lin Jiang scratched his head.
’She’s really tricked him into being a complete moron.’
The designated driver thought, ’Is this what high-level corporate warfare looks like?’
"I’ll forgive you this time, but don’t let it happen again."
Lin Jiang shot a look at the designated driver, who folded up his little scooter, put it in the trunk, and got into the driver’s seat.
Lin Jiang opened the passenger door, but as he was getting in, he slapped Lin Qiangwei on the butt.
’Damn, that’s firm.’
AH—
Lin Qiangwei shrieked, not expecting Lin Jiang to do something like that so suddenly.
Inside, she felt both angry and thrilled.
"Your girlfriend’s butt bumped into my hand. You should have a good talk with her when you get back. That was way out of line. But then again..."
Lin Jiang said with a chuckle:
"Even if I did slap her butt, you wouldn’t misunderstand and think there’s something going on between us, right?"
As he spoke, the designated driver started the car, and it slowly pulled away from the Hilton Hotel.
Over half an hour later, they arrived at the underground garage of Century Triumph.
Lin Jiang took out his phone to pay.
"Bro, I can’t take your money."
"You’re not taking my money?"
"Consider it tuition. Just teach me a thing or two. That was so damn impressive."
"That’s not something you can easily learn. First, you need to drive a Maybach."
The designated driver: "..."
After paying, Lin Jiang went home.
BZZZT—
He had just gotten home when his phone buzzed. It was a message from Lin Qiangwei.
Lin Qiangwei: "You’re so bad, slapping my butt like that. So many people saw."
Lin Jiang: "You bumped into me. Don’t make false accusations."
Lin Qiangwei: "Did it feel good?"
Lin Jiang: "It was firm. Felt pretty good, actually."
Lin Jiang: "You’re a real sweet-talker. You’ve almost tricked Pan Yongbin into being a complete idiot."
Lin Qiangwei: "There are even better places. If you want to squeeze them, I’m ready anytime."
Lin Qiangwei: "Getting him under my thumb is a piece of cake."
Lin Qiangwei: "You slapped my butt and he didn’t even dare to say anything."
Lin Jiang: "We should show some compassion for the mentally challenged. It’s not easy for them."
Lin Qiangwei: "I want to go shopping at Berkeley tomorrow. Does President Lin have time to accompany me?"
Lin Jiang: "We’ll see."
Lin Qiangwei: "I want to buy some lingerie. After I buy it, I can give President Lin a private showing."
Lin Qiangwei: "President Lin, please come with me."
Lin Jiang: "We’ll talk tomorrow."
Lin Qiangwei: "Okay, I’m going to work out. Good night."
After replying, Lin Jiang tossed his phone aside.
The information Lin Qiangwei provided today wasn’t surprising.
His previous series of moves had all targeted Wang Xianping’s businesses. The impact on Wang Xianping himself wouldn’t be that great.
Wang Xianping and Pan Shengli already had a good relationship, so it seemed only logical that they would team up.
As for whether Pan Shengli would actually stick his neck out for him, that was hard to say.
’In any case, his son doesn’t seem very bright.’
The most direct point of attack they had was probably the Haojie Clubhouse.
’I’ll have to tighten up management there for the time being.’
Thinking of this, Lin Jiang called He Siyao and asked her to come over.
’I need to get things arranged on that front. And while I’m at it, I should feed her a little, so she doesn’t get hungry.’
At the Jinyu Hotel.
Pan Shengli and Wang Xianping were having dinner, discussing how to deal with Lin Jiang.
Compared to Wang Xianping, Pan Shengli was taller and more robust. He had short hair and a much stronger thuggish aura about him.
Pan Shengli was not from Zhonghai. He had come to the city over thirty years ago as a migrant worker, starting as a carpenter and working his way up step by step to where he was today.
"You should already know about Lin Jiang’s situation—three noodle shops and a clubhouse.
Wang Xianping said, a cigarette between his fingers:
"The noodle shops are legitimate businesses, so it’s not easy to make a move. Getting the recipe won’t be simple either. The best way is to go after the Haojie Clubhouse. A place like that is definitely not clean. We’re guaranteed to find something if we dig."
"I’ve been to the Haojie Clubhouse. It won’t be easy to find any dirt on them there." Pan Shengli tapped the ash from his cigarette.
"Government regulations are so strict. They won’t offer those kinds of services."
"The club might not offer them, but the people working there will. As long as you offer enough money, those girls will definitely be willing. The government is in the middle of a major crackdown right now. As long as we catch them, it’ll be handled severely, and he’ll be implicated as well." Wang Xianping smirked and said:
"After we take care of the clubhouse, we’ll find a chance to smash up his noodle shops. After a few hits, he’ll have to back down. Then, Beiqiao Street will be ours."
Pan Shengli smoked his cigarette, silent for a few seconds.
"How about this: you handle the clubhouse, and I’ll handle the noodle shops."
"No problem. It’s settled then."
Mr. Wang raised his wine glass. The two men clinked their glasses and downed the contents in one go.
Once they were both tipsy, the two men went their separate ways.
Pan Shengli got into his car, returned home, and had his wife brew a pot of tea.
"Wang Xianping invited you to dinner because he wanted to ask for your help, didn’t he?" said Pan Shengli’s wife, Miao Fengxia.
"Yeah. He wants me to find some people to smash up his noodle shops."
"You need to be careful about this," Miao Fengxia said.
"I heard from our son that one of Wang Xianping’s men went to smash up their shop and got his leg broken. I don’t think you need to get involved in this."
Pan Shengli didn’t speak, sipping his tea as he thought in silence.
’Wang Xianping’s businesses are facing obstacles on all fronts, and his online reputation is terrible.’
’With Lin Jiang’s noodle shops opening one after another, his room for survival will be squeezed even further. He’s definitely the most anxious one right now.’
’But it won’t have much of an impact on my own businesses, nor will it stop me from making money.’
’And during dinner, Wang Xianping didn’t promise me anything substantial. If I really do this, I’ll just be doing his dirty work for him.’
"Why are you so quiet? Do you also think I have a point?"
"But I still need to be on guard against this Lin Jiang, or rather, make a move on him," Pan Shengli said.
"Lin Jiansheng has retired. Once our son wins over Lin Qiangwei, her family’s businesses will all be ours. And if I want to make a move on the other businesses on Beiqiao Street, I’ll definitely have to get past Lin Jiang."
"There’s no need to rush. Let’s just watch the situation for now. Don’t act rashly."
"No, I have to act as soon as possible," Pan Shengli said.
"Berkeley Mall is going to be renovated. I heard it’s a project worth tens of millions. I have to find a way to secure it. I’m afraid someone else will snatch it away."
"A tens-of-millions project!" Miao Fengxia’s voice rose.
"Ten million is a conservative estimate; it could be even more. A deal this big, I absolutely can’t let someone else steal it."
"If you really want to do it, then you need to start making moves now."
"I’ve contacted the general manager of Berkeley. I’ll talk to him about it tomorrow and see if I can win it."
"Mm."
CLICK—
Just then, the sound of a key in the lock was heard.
The two of them looked toward the door and saw their son had returned.
"Weren’t you picking up Weiwei? How are you back so early?"
"Don’t even ask."
Pan Yongbin came limping in, holding his leg.
"What happened to your leg? Why are you limping?"
Seeing that something was wrong with her son, Miao Fengxia hurried over, helped Pan Yongbin inside, and guided him to the sofa.
"What happened? Did you get into a fight?"
Pan Shengli also stood up and went to help Pan Yongbin.
"Lin Jiang beat me up."
"He beat you up?!"
Upon learning the reason, both their expressions changed, showing varying degrees of fury.
"How did you two even get into a conflict?"
Over the next few minutes, Pan Yongbin recounted the whole story to them.
"You foolish boy, they tricked you!"
Pan Yongbin didn’t say anything.
On the way back, the more he thought about it, the more something felt off.
’It seemed reasonable on the surface, but it also felt unreasonable.’
’And from beginning to end, Lin Qiangwei never explained why she came back a day early.’
’There was absolutely no reason to hide something like that from me.’
"I think so too."
Pan Shengli and Miao Fengxia’s faces were grim.
Without a doubt, Lin Qiangwei must have gotten together with Lin Jiang.
If word of this got out, it wouldn’t just be their son who would lose face; the couple wouldn’t be able to hold their heads high either.
"Damn it!"
Furious, Pan Shengli kicked the coffee table, sending the heavy piece of furniture flying.
"I’ll kill him!"

Comments

Loading...