Chapter 38: The Ploy of Deception?

  Just a few minutes after Aunt Meng issued the ultimatum, footsteps and voices were heard in the corridor: "Master Su, slow down."

  The private room door opened, and Wang Ercai supported an old man with a frail appearance to walk in slowly. Behind them was a short and stout middle-aged man with a smile on his face, who was Xu Huaiyu. Although he looked gentle, he was actually the giant of our catering industry. Wang Ercai and his son Wang Erdan were both big donkeys, while the old man he supported had white hair all over his head, age spots on his face, wore a thin cotton-padded jacket in the hot summer, and held a dragon-head cane in his hand.

  Everyone in the house got up hastily and politely said, "Master Su."

  This old man I also know, called Su Ji Lin, is a real old Jianghu, his family has been mixed in the Tao for generations. At that time, Shanghai had Qing Hong Gang, but here was the Su family's dominance. It is said that when Old Master Su celebrated his birthday, Du Yuesheng even sent him an invitation card. After liberation, the Su family naturally could not escape being rectified, but their Jianghu status remained. Whenever there were conflicts and disputes between the big bosses, they would often ask Su Ji Lin to come out and make a public testimony. My dad also had to call him "Master Su" when he saw him.

  "Look at this, young people quarreling and making a scene, it's worth getting you to come over, who is so unreasonable?" With one sentence, she scolded Wang Ercai along with them.

  An old man was supported by two people, one on each side, but in fact he was still very agile and only needed support to show his status. He sat on the sofa, leaning on a dragon-head cane, and said slowly: "I've long since stopped wanting to get involved in your affairs. I'm an old man who should be getting ready for my coffin, and yet I'm still coming out to point fingers and give advice - that's really not understanding the situation. But let's just say it's all right, today I won't interfere, but since you two still have me, this old codger, in your eyes, I'll just come out and take a stroll."

  "Look what you're saying," said Meng's wife with a smile, "I was still hoping you'd preside over justice for us."

  Su Kejin waved his hand: "Don't, you young people's affairs are not understood by me, an old fool. I'm just here to drink tea today. Besides, aren't there many rising stars like this?" Duan Hu and Feng Baxia hurriedly smiled apologetically.

  Everyone gathered together, the scene was bustling and lively. They inquired about each other's well-being and introduced their businesses. Those who didn't know would have thought it was a joyful reunion after a long separation. In reality, people in this line of work are more likely to collide with each other than mutually benefit. This kind of scene is just a polite gathering that no one wants to break the illusion of.

  After reading the letter, Aunt Meng glared at Wang Ercai and said, "If you have something to say, spit it out; I don't have time to waste with you."

  Wang Ercai then walked into the private room and, with an air of being the host, said: "Uncle Suo, everyone, I invited you all here today not only because it's been a long time since we've gotten together, but also because I had a bit of a disagreement with Ms. Meng Lijun, so I'd like to ask you all to bear witness. So for now, there won't be any wine or 'sisters' to keep us company, don't think that I, Wang Ercai, am being stingy. If you're interested, after we've finished discussing things, I'll naturally bring out the best of my household to treat everyone."

  Su Xianlin waved his hand and said: "Forget it, those younger sisters of yours are even younger than my granddaughters. Don't let people say I'm not decent in my old age." Everyone burst out laughing.

  "Here's what happened: not long ago, my son and Meng Lao Da's daughter went out drinking together. They're just kids, so it's hard to avoid a fight when they don't get along. But Meng Lao Da's daughter did something really unscrupulous - she kicked my son's testicle into pieces! What do you think should be done about this?"

  The big guys looked at me and I looked at them, but no one showed any surprise. It's clear that this news has been circulating in the jianghu for a long time and is no longer anything new.

  "Kids' squabbles," Aunt Meng chuckled. "You make it sound so easy, but there are some things that even I, as a woman, can't bring myself to say. Think about it, when a young girl is driven to the point of kicking a man's groin, what kind of situation must she be in? Clearly, your son just wanted to take advantage of her!"

  "Is your little daughter still a young girl? What good thing can she be doing going out drinking with men in the middle of the night, becoming a prostitute and setting up a brothel!"

  "That's still better than your son, no ability but wants to play with women, how about it, has he become a cuckold? Aunt Meng waved her hand impatiently: "Less nonsense, the egg has been kicked, what do you want to do?"

  Wang Ercai turned his face to Su Jiulin and said, "See that, Master Su? This old woman is so arrogant!"

  Su Xian shook his head and said: "I said I don't care about your affairs - but you can say what you want, what do you have to ask for?"

  Everyone perked up their ears, and everyone understood that this was just entering the crucial part.

  Wang Ercai changed his expression to a sly smile and said, "Simple, Old Man Meng's family is big and powerful. As far as I know, your Bao Hua Group has set up a mixing station in each of the four cities, what a grand style! I have no other requirements, the one in West City is new, right? Change it to Wang Ercai's name!"

  "Damn it, you've been blinded by greed! I can see that your sinister intentions didn't develop overnight. The Xicheng mixing station alone has an investment of nearly 200 million, the largest scale. Even if your son's egg was made of gold, it wouldn't be worth that much!"

  Xu Huaiyu and Duan Hu exchanged a glance, both slightly shaking their heads. They also thought that Wang Ercai was indeed being too greedy. The most profitable businesses of the Bao Hua Group were real estate development and concrete mixing stations. If they really let go of the West City mixing station, it would be like undermining the foundation of Bao Hua. This logic was understood by everyone present.

  "Everyone, this is why I called you all here. You be the judge. My family, the Wangs, have a thousand hectares of land and not a single sapling to our name. After my son has his three children and two grandchildren, the Wang lineage will come to an end. Is it too much for me to ask for just one mixing station?"

  Feng Ba Zu put on a pretentious air and said: "I think it's still fair."

  Duan Hu and Xu Huaizhu were silent.

  Wang Ercai said to Su Jiulin: "Su Ye, you have to speak up."

  Su Jiaolong hesitated and said, "This... I think it's not like that, Er Cai. Don't be too greedy. You've taken a liking to the mixing station, haven't you? Just give them the right amount of money, and even if you're buying it, would you guys agree?" The old man didn't say anything at first but finally chimed in with a very heavy tone.

  "Master Meng, aren't you trying to pick a fight with us? The West City mixing station has become their family's business. From now on, when people build houses and need mortar, will they go to their house or ours? It seems that the business I worked so hard to develop has become a thorn in my own eye."

  I also think the old man is really muddled, it's just like asking Duan Hu to sell their family car to help others deliver goods, the car itself is not worth much money, what's most valuable is the relationships and hidden resources accumulated over the years through hard work, but I've heard my dad evaluate the old man before, this old man is always like a sly fox, wherever he goes, he's a master of being ambiguous, not offending either side, his ideas are either crooked or useless, anyway, none of them can be used.

  Su Ke Lin was rebuked and coughed awkwardly twice, saying: "I just said it casually, after all, you two families have to discuss it yourselves."

  Wang Ercai's neck stiffened as he said, "I think what Master Su said is a good idea, but I don't have that much money. At most, I can offer 10 million, and the West City mixing station will be mine afterwards."

  Madam Meng suddenly stopped talking back and suddenly pointed at me, saying: "Wang, I've said it doesn't count, the Bao Hua Group belongs to the Long family, there's a man from the Long family here, you ask him, whatever he says is what goes."

  When Aunt Meng said this, Wang Ercai finally noticed me. The gazes of Su Ji and Xu Huaizhu also turned to me. I first greeted the two of them before saying: "Regarding the matter of Wang's egg, I deeply regret it. Although both parties were at fault, from the outcome, Wang suffered a greater loss. Let's discuss this matter fairly; I think compensation is necessary."

  Wang Ercai seemed to have seen a glimmer of hope and asked with a slanted gaze: "What kind of compensation?"

  "I'd rather lose money, how can that pile of junk at the mixing station be worthy of Wang brother's eggs?"

  "So how much do you plan to compensate?"

  I clenched a fist and said: "I calculated it out, excluding medical expenses, it's still this amount."

  Wang Ercai stared at my fist and said, "How much is that?"

  "One million." I said.

  Wang Ercai was taken aback for a moment, then looked up at the sky and laughed loudly: "Dragon Prince, you have a big handwriting!"

  Duan Hu and Xu Huaizhu also couldn't help but smile secretly.

  "I said seriously, 'I've calculated this carefully and looked up many relevant books. You know, Second Uncle, eggs are different from eyes and ears. One eye or one ear can affect the visual and auditory effects, but if an egg is broken, there's still another one. When your son and his wife are being intimate, they won't fail to capture a 3D image or experience weak hearing just because of one egg. One egg can still concentrate firepower.' The 100,000 yuan is mainly for Wang Brother's spiritual damages."

  Duan Hu and Xu Huaizhu finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  Although I'm not a person of the Tao, there are some principles that I've understood since childhood. In this line of work, you'll never be able to avoid having enemies. Wang Er Cai is not only not our friend now but also won't be in the future. For someone like him, you don't need to bend over backwards to consider his feelings. Moreover, I'm currently representing the Long family.

  Wang Ercai's face turned iron-green as he shouted at Meng Niang: "You're deliberately letting this little brat disgust me!"

  "His meaning is that he's a man of the Long family, and I can only follow suit," said Meng gently.

  Wang Ercai shouted: "I've made up my mind to go to the mixing station, if you don't give me a ride, I'll take people to Xicheng. After so many years of mixing with Wang Ercai, am I still afraid of fighting with others?"

  Meng's aunt smiled and said: "Good, our Dragon family is not afraid either."

  Wang Ercai was instantly disheartened, and if he were to fight, he was probably not a match for him. He had no choice but to say to Su Jiulian again, "Master Su, you have to give me justice."

  The old innkeeper had already said as much, and now he was banging his crutch on the ground repeatedly, saying: "Nowadays in the martial arts world, there's no justice at all. Whoever has the harder fist is the one who gets to decide what's right!" He seemed to be deeply grieved, but actually he didn't want to say anything more.

  Wang Er's expression changed, and he coldly said: "Since that's the case, I'm not to blame either—" As soon as he finished saying this, he suddenly grabbed the teapot on the table and smashed it heavily to the ground.

  With a loud crash, the private room door swung open and more than 50 burly men with ferocious faces rushed in from outside, silently surrounding us.

  At this scene, Duan Hu first changed his face and said: "Wang Ercai, what are you doing?" Xu Huaizhu was frightened and shrank into the sofa, while Su Jiulian looked at these people in surprise, unable to speak. Only Feng Bacai drank tea calmly.

  "Old Wang, are you trying to play this trick on me?"

  Wang Ercai rubbed his foot and said: "You forced me!" He had just scalded his foot with the teapot...

  "Uncle Suo was shocked and uneasy, saying: 'Er Cai, what do you mean by this?'"

  Wang Ercai said with a gloomy face: "Su Ye, I have no choice either. The Long family is wealthy and powerful. In order to get justice for my son, I had to resort to this trick. If I startled you, Su Ye, I'll come to your place another day to apologize."

  Duan Hu furiously said: "Wang Lao Er, you told us not to bring bodyguards just for this kind of performance?"

  Wang Ercai hummed twice and didn't speak, then his eyes stared at the crowd and said, "I still want to ask you all, was my previous request excessive?"

  The old man tapped his cane on the ground and said, "I told you before, I'm getting old and muddle-headed. You all settle your own affairs!" The old fox wanted to slip away again.

  Duan Hu said coldly, "I won't comment on whether the Long family was fair to you or not, but I know how you treated me. Another day, I'll invite Second Master to my place and we'll have a good talk."

  Feng Ba Zu sucked on his tea foam and said: "Not excessive at all, I think it's just right."

  Wang Ercai looked at Xu Huaizhu and said: "What did Old Xu say?"

  Xu Huaiyu's face changed color as he said: "I'm just a small peddler, why are you all making things difficult for me?"

  The situation is gradually becoming clear: the old fox Su Lao has given up; Duan Hu has a kind heart but no power, and it's already at this point, so it's not bad that he said something for us, after all, my relationship with him hasn't reached the point where I can expect him to risk his life for us; Xu Huaizhen says that what he said is correct, although he has money from running a restaurant, in reality, he doesn't have much power and isn't considered anyone on the street, so it's normal for him to stay out of this; as for Feng Bapiao, everyone knows that he was bought off by Wang Ercai long ago. This time, Wang Ercai is going all-in against the Long family, willing to offend everyone and risk his own life and reputation to play a despicable role...

  Wang Ercai looked at Meng Ni and said: "Meng Lijun, one sentence, will you give me what I want?"

  "Old Lady Meng pointed at me and said: 'You ask him first, if he wants to tell us then we'll hand over the procedures.'"

  Wang Ercai slowly turned his head and sneered: "Long Shao, say something."

  I covered my mouth with my hand and coughed a few times, saying: "You see how much trouble you've caused over such a small matter..."

  "Come on, will you give it or not?"

  "My attitude is very clear, one word —"

  "What?" Wang Ercai's eyes suddenly shone with greed:

  "Hmm, guess it's not... or should I..." I muttered nonsense to stall for time while sneaking a peek at Aunt Meng, thinking to myself how much I wished something dramatic like on TV would happen - Aunt Meng smashing a cup, suddenly more people appearing, or even ripping off her face to reveal a steel-plated skeleton and calmly saying: "Actually, I'm from 2030... or even pulling out two small handguns from her pants..."

  However, Meng's expression was calm and collected, but she didn't take any action, apparently willing to sacrifice herself for the Long family. But, I don't seem to be ready yet...

  At this moment, I suddenly miss Su Jing a bit.

  Time waits for no man, more than 50 thugs staring at me fiercely, for the sake of the Long family, I closed my eyes, gritted my teeth and shouted: "Give you Ma Lai Go Bei!"

  Wang Ercai sneered and waved his hand behind him: "Catch them!"

  At this time, Aunt Meng suddenly sneered and said: "Why don't you take a look downstairs before taking action?"

  At first everyone thought it was a trick, but Wang Ercai, who had already won the game, couldn't help but be curious and leaned on the window to take a look downstairs. Then his face changed and he exclaimed: "Damn!"

  ……

  Division line

  You're all wrong, I'll give you another chance. Now that it's come to this point, the answer is almost out - but it's not as stupid as saying there are more people downstairs.