"No, Little Chen, this… are you really sure? I-I'm not doubting you, it's just that Zheng Zhengbin's family has too much influence! Here in Jiangnan, I'm afraid only the provincial authorities or the Xiao Family aren't afraid of them." Hua Ming, feeling genuinely uneasy, couldn't help but hesitate. It wasn't that he didn't trust Chen Fei, but the main issue was that Zheng Zhengbin had a really powerful background!

The Zheng Family.

Just those two words weighed a ton.

"Uncle Hua, rest assured! Forget the Zheng Family. Even if the Xiao Family shows up, you can still ignore them and just tell them to get lost! In any case, if you have any more problems, or if those guys aren't ready to let it go, just call me. I'll handle it," Chen Fei's voice came through the handset without the slightest hesitation.

The Zheng Family? He'd never even heard of them, but so what if he had!?

Upon hearing Chen Fei's words, Hua Ming's heart leaped into his throat, and beads of sweat uncontrollably broke out on his forehead.

This kid… isn't he being a little too arrogant!? Forget the Zheng Family, he said to tell even the Xiao Family to get lost without a second thought!? If that's really the case, just how terrifyingly immense is the power of this brother of his son?

The mere thought made Hua Ming tremble slightly.

But in any case, although our Young Master Chen's tone was certainly 'a bit much', the incident with the Hee Family of Macau was still fresh in his mind, so Hua Ming didn't completely disbelieve him. He gritted his teeth and said, "Then, then okay, Little Chen. I'll tell them what you said."

"Uncle Hua, don't worry. The Zheng Family is nothing to fuss over. I'm currently in Capital City and preparing to return to Jiangnan! If that guy is really so blind, then I don't mind playing along with him," came Chen Fei's incredibly convincing voice from the phone.

It couldn't be helped. With his current status and strength, he really didn't need to pay any mind to so-called local influential clans. Besides, this just seemed to be a case of some rich punk riding on his family's coattails.

"Alright then, Little Chen, thank you. I'm going to hang up now. Really, thank you." After thanking Chen Fei several more times, Hua Ming finally ended the call.

However, after hanging up, he couldn't help but break into a cold sweat, his fists clenched tightly. He surreptitiously glanced at the arrogant Zheng Zhengbin, who was nonetheless brimming with confidence. Then he snuck a peek at Zhou Zhengxu, who stood beside him like a sycophantic Dog Head Military Advisor, his face a mask of disdain. After struggling internally for a long moment, Hua Ming finally bit the bullet.

With an apologetic smile, he once again walked up to Young Master Zheng and Young Master Zhou. "Ahem, my apologies, Young Master Zheng, Young Master Zhou," he said with an embarrassed laugh. "The other shareholder of Jinnan Jewelry feels it's unnecessary to trouble you both. Our Jinnan Jewelry is just a small business, not fit for the big leagues."

"Boss Hua, are you saying you're refusing us!?"

Although Hua Ming's refusal was polite enough, Young Master Zheng's expression instantly turned frigid. He threw his cigarette to the ground and viciously stomped it out with the toe of his large leather shoe, as if crushing a helpless ant. "Good, very good!" he said grimly. "It seems our Boss Hua has found a new backer and grown a spine, is that it? How interesting. An old hick like you dares to refuse me, Zheng Zhengbin!? Heh, you've got guts!"

He suddenly let out a sneer, a sound so chilling it was eerie.

"Fuck! You old bastard, you really have some nerve, being so ungrateful! Do you know where you are? This is Tongzhou City! The capital of Jiangnan Province! You think you can just waltz in here and make a fortune without knowing the rules? Who the hell do you think you are!?"

Compared to Young Master Zheng, Zhou Zhengxu was far more direct. He jumped up and pointed at Hua Ming's nose, cursing, "Shit! Old man, let me tell you, Young Master Zheng only offered to help because he thought your shitty jewelry store had some potential! What the hell is this supposed to mean? You're being ungrateful and pushing your luck, is that it!? Fine! We'll have some fun this time. Let's see how many days your pathetic store can last in Tongzhou, in Jiangnan!"

"And don't say I didn't warn you, we have connections in the Provincial Administration for Industry and Commerce! Just you wait until you're bankrupt and have to scurry away with your tail between your legs!" Zhou Zhengxu finished, pointing threateningly at Hua Ming's nose.

Seeing Zheng Zhengbin and Zhou Zhengxu drop all pretense and start cursing, Hua Ming's neck flushed red with restrained anger. His hands were clenched so tightly his knuckles were white, but he didn't dare lash out. He could only force a placating smile. "No, no, I... Young Master Zheng, Young Master Zhou, I know you mean well, but our Jinnan Jewelry is really just a small family business. Please, be magnanimous."

There was nothing he could do. He truly couldn't afford to provoke these two rich thugs. Hadn't they just said it themselves? They had connections in the Provincial Administration for Industry and Commerce.

"Alright, Boss Hua, spare me the nonsense. Since Jinnan Jewelry looks down on me, Zheng Zhengbin, fine. We'll wait and see. The world is a small place. When our paths cross again, don't you come crawling and begging to me. Seriously, I'm actually a soft-hearted person. When that time comes, you just have to sell me ninety percent of Jinnan Jewelry's shares for one hundred thousand yuan, and I'll consider the matter settled, understand?" Young Master Zheng then humiliatingly patted Hua Ming's cheek. "SLAP! SLAP! Hahaha!" With a wild laugh, he turned and stalked away, his face grim.

Clearly, he never imagined that a nobody like Hua Ming, a country bumpkin from a backwater place like Northern Mountain, would dare to refuse his, Young Master Zheng Zhengbin's, kind offer.

If that's how it is, then let's have a proper game… An old fool who doesn't know his own limits, hmph!

"You old fool, just you wait! How dare you act so insolent in front of Young Master Zheng! Who do you think you are!? If I don't ruin you this time, if I don't bankrupt this pathetic jewelry store of yours, I, Zhou Zhengxu, will write my name backward! Hmph!" Seeing his chance, Zhou Zhengxu also strutted away with his nose in the air, making sure to toss out one last vicious threat. His arrogance knew no bounds.

"Young Master Zheng…" Hua Ming opened his mouth as he watched them swagger out of his Jade Carving Factory, but ultimately, he just shook his head and said nothing more.

It couldn't be helped. Things had already reached this point. Maybe they were just talking big out of anger?

「Meanwhile」

Chen Fei's flight, which had been delayed for several hours, was finally boarding. After a moment's hesitation, our Young Master Chen decided to call Dong Wencheng.

"Hello, Mr. Chen? It's been a while. When are you free to visit Tongzhou City? For some reason, my back has been feeling a bit uncomfortable these last few days. I kept meaning to ask you to take a look, but I felt bad about calling and bothering you," Dong Wencheng's hearty voice boomed through the phone as soon as the call connected.

It was true; they hadn't been in contact for a long time. Our Young Master Chen had been quite busy recently, running all over the place.

"Uncle Dong, you're being too polite. You should have called me sooner if you weren't feeling well! I guarantee I'll have you fixed up in no time. As it happens, I'm just about to head back from Capital City. How about we have dinner together?" Chen Fei replied with a laugh.

"You're coming back to Jiangnan? That's great! How about tonight, then? By the way, was there something you needed?" Dong Wencheng first sounded excited, then his tone became slightly more serious.

"Alright, tonight it is." Chen Fei nodded, then added with a smile, "There is a small matter, but it's nothing major. I just wanted to ask you something. Uncle Dong, do you know of the Zheng Family?"

"The Zheng Family? You mean Zheng Dongyi's Zheng Family?" Dong Wencheng asked, a hint of confusion in his voice.

"I'm not sure which one specifically, but they seem to carry a lot of weight here in Jiangnan," Chen Fei chuckled over the phone.

"Then it must be Zheng Dongyi's family. In Jiangnan, they're the most powerful, aside from the Xiao Family." Dong Wencheng seemed to have reached a conclusion. He then asked curiously, "Mr. Chen, why do you suddenly ask about them? Don't tell me some short-sighted member of the Zheng Family crossed you?"

"This time it wasn't me they crossed, but my friend's father… You know my friend, Uncle Dong, right? Hua Zhinan. His family owns a jewelry store. They've been doing well recently, and it seems they've attracted the attention of some jealous people."

Chen Fei paused, his tone growing cold. "I can understand jealousy and envy; that's just human nature. But this guy is being outrageously greedy. My friend's jewelry store is worth at least one hundred million, but guess what their offer was? One million yuan for seventy percent of the shares. That's not a deal, that's daylight robbery!"

"Something like that happened? Mr. Chen, do you want me to call the Zheng Family and have a word with them?" Dong Wencheng's expression changed as he listened, and he posed the question to Chen Fei. A jewelry store worth one hundred million, and they wanted to buy a seventy percent stake for a mere one million? It was utterly brazen.

"No need. If you call them, then how will those guys dare to keep making trouble?" Chen Fei, however, surprisingly refused. This stunned Dong Wencheng for a moment, then a knowing, wry smile appeared on his face.

It seems Mr. Chen is planning to play the long game, just like those other times… Looks like the Zheng Family is in for big trouble. One of their own was blind enough to provoke someone they shouldn't have.

With this thought, Dong Wencheng continued, "I understand. Should I start making preparations on my end?" He had finally grasped the purpose of Chen Fei's call. If the Zheng Family failed to realize the problem, to sense the impending crisis, then preparations would indeed be necessary.

After all, when a man like Mr. Chen got angry and decided to act, it was no laughing matter.

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