Director Zhang unexpectedly cracked a major case and was in high spirits.
These wealthy tycoons, relying on their riches, bribed their way through connections and each paid a substantial bail to gain release. Han Baisheng had the worst luck—he had given Mayor Qiao a gift worth thirty million. Mayor Qiao, citing the importance of maintaining stability in the business community and promising Director Zhang a promotion of three ranks, finally convinced Zhang to release Han.
Driven by various interests, today’s events were ultimately swept under the rug, minimized and dismissed.
After midnight, these tycoons gathered again at the Sanya Grand Hotel.
Inside a luxurious villa within the hotel compound, members of the Zhonghai Business Association—over thirty wealthy tycoons—arrived.
Each of these thirty-plus individuals was worth over a billion.
The five wealthiest old-school tycoons belonged to the Li, Sun, Qian, Jiang, and Jiang families.
The president of the business association was Li Jiazheng, head of the Li family. In his fifties, neither fat nor thin, with a large head and wearing glasses, Li usually didn’t speak much. He never acted unless he decided to, but once he did, he was extremely ruthless and cunning. The other four families maintained close ties with the Lis because the Lis were protected by a powerful figure, making the four families follow the Lis’ lead.
As for someone like Han Baisheng, his wealth still wasn’t enough to place him among the top five.
However, Han had the closest relationship with the Qians among the top five, and his fortune was largely due to the Qians’ patronage.
Everyone was murmuring and whispering, exchanging information.
After a while, Han Baisheng couldn’t contain himself anymore. He stood up angrily and shouted at the group, “That kid has gone too far! He totally disrespects us, even had us arrested! That Zhang fellow—I think he doesn’t want to live anymore!”
“Enough!”
Qian Wanke, the old-school patriarch of Qian Group, impatiently shouted at Han. “You’re the one who started this mess! Just because you’ve got some money, do you think you’re invincible? At your age, fighting with a kid—do you think that’s something to be proud of? Now you’ve dragged so many of us into this trouble. If news of today gets out, do you realize how much damage we’ll suffer? And you still don’t reflect on yourself? With that temper and bad habits, who would take you seriously? And Zhang not wanting to live anymore? I think you just don’t want to stay in the business association anymore!”
Qian Wanke grew increasingly furious. Everyone knew Han was under his protection, and now such a major incident had occurred, making Qian Wanke himself heavily implicated.
Normally, whenever something happened, Qian Wanke would scold Han, and someone would step in to mediate.
But today, no one spoke up.
Seeing that no one responded, Qian Wanke realized everyone was unhappy. A few words of scolding Han wouldn’t be enough to quell the collective anger. He frowned and continued, “Han Baisheng, you’ll take responsibility for everyone’s losses tonight, and additionally, you’ll hand over ten supermarkets as compensation for the rest of us.”
Ten supermarkets worth nearly seven or eight billion.
Qian Wanke was ruthless enough. He did this entirely to sacrifice a pawn to protect the king—to prevent the Lis from criticizing him.
Unexpectedly, Han Baisheng immediately refused, shouting furiously, “Forget it! What kind of nonsense is this! A little punk bullies me, and now you all gang up on me too! I’m done—I’m quitting the Zhonghai Business Association!”
“Get out! And don’t come to me next time something happens!”
Qian Wanke was furious, never expecting Han to defy him so openly.
Han Baisheng, too, was blinded by rage. He immediately turned and stormed out, and no one could stop him.
After Han left, the villa fell silent.
The Sun, Jiang, and Jiang families secretly relished the moment—this embarrassment was a blow to Qian’s faction, nothing to do with them, so they kept quiet and simply enjoyed the spectacle.
Li Jiazheng looked around and suddenly asked, “Does anyone know where this Chen Shuimiao came from?”
Upon hearing this, Qian Wanke immediately pointed to a wealthy businessman who made his fortune in gutter oil business, “Liu Liu, I asked you to investigate—how did it go?”
A thin, monkey-like man stood up, first bowing to each of the five elders, then grinning as he said, “Although time was a bit tight, through my utmost efforts and the assistance of my subordinates…”
“Enough! Get to the point! Get to the point!” Qian Wanke impatiently knocked on the table. He was in a bad mood—why were all his protégés so damn weird-looking!?
Liu Liu was taken aback, quickly straightening his face and speaking rapidly, “This kid is called Chen Shuimiao, originally a waiter from Huanghai City. A month ago, he was still a penniless nobody. After returning from his hometown, he supposedly won several ten-thousands gambling, then gained the trust of Lin Qing’er, the owner of Linhai Hotel. Later, through Huang Yazi from the Sanzhu Gang in Taiwan, he bought a piece of land in Jing Shui Village and is now building a factory. Also, I found out he has a connection with Chen Meiling, the owner of the shopping mall opposite our Zhonghai Business Association. Today at the hotel, Chen Meiling was always by his side. That’s all I found.”
“Lin family, Old Master Lin!”
Li Jiazheng’s eyes turned, “No wonder he dares to act so audaciously! The Lins are not easy to provoke, nor is the Sanzhu Gang.”
“Chen Meiling—Isn’t she the daughter of Chen Yiren?” Qian Wanke thought for a moment, suddenly realizing something, and quickly said, “He’s called Chen Shuimiao—could he be Chen Yiren’s illegitimate son from years ago? Are they teaming up now to come back and take revenge for Chen Yiren?”
“How could that be possible?”
Sun Hao, the old-school patriarch, shook his head and countered Qian Wanke, “If you were Chen Yiren’s illegitimate son, would you be so foolish as to seek revenge openly? Challenging Han Baisheng openly like that—unless he’s mentally ill, he wouldn’t do such a thing.”
This analogy from Sun Hao made Qian Wanke feel particularly annoyed.
Jiang Zhihao nodded and said, “It’s indeed unlikely. With Chen Meiling’s sharpness, she would definitely never do such a thing. Besides, Old Master Lin from Taiwan has always had no conflict with us. Given his character, he would absolutely never support a mere waiter.”
Jiang Tao blinked his eyes, “I think it’s possible that Chen Meiling is using this waiter to strike back. That shopping mall is under Qian’s control. When you tried to raise the rent, she didn’t want to sit idle and wait for destruction, so she used this method to retaliate.”
“Hmm! I agree.”
“I think that’s the case too.”
“That makes sense. Chen Meiling’s personality does fit that!”
The three old-school patriarchs nodded in agreement.
“Hmph!”
Li Jiazheng suddenly stood up, coldly walking straight out while saying, “Stop guessing. Let’s first arrange a gambling match between Han Baisheng and him. I want to see exactly what this arrogance of his is based on.”
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