"Swindler!?"

Upon hearing the words from Director Huang of the Tongzhou City Bureau of Industry and Commerce, Hua Ming almost shattered his teeth from clenching them so hard. His fists were squeezed so tightly that his nails left deep white marks in his palms.

He now understood perfectly. These people from the Bureau of Industry and Commerce were undoubtedly in cahoots with that Young Master Zheng Zhengbin! That was why they were abusing their power so outrageously and spewing malicious slander. Not only had they shut down his Jinnan Jewelry branch in Tongzhou, but they had also falsely accused the jewelry in his store of being counterfeit, dangerous products!

This was outright slander! Does he not know if there are problems with the jewelry in his own store?

"Old Rascal, I gave you a 'kind' warning before. In Tongzhou, there aren't many who have the guts to refuse me, Zheng Zhengbin, as you did! Understand what that means? Hmph!" At that moment, Young Master Zheng looked utterly arrogant. With a cigarette in one hand, he stylishly exhaled rings of smoke; with the other, he pointed at Hua Ming's nose, his tone dripping with disdain.

Old fool, now you see how formidable I, Young Master Zheng, am, don't you!? Truly courting death and overestimating your own strength!

"Young Master Zheng, you abuse your power and collude for personal gain. Aren't you afraid of the consequences when all this comes to light?" Hua Ming's expression was ghastly, and he trembled with anger as he spoke.

"Abuse of power? Collude for personal gain!? Ha ha ha!"

Young Master Zheng laughed as if he'd heard the funniest joke in the world. His eyes, filled with ridicule and contempt, stared at Hua Ming as he shook his head. "Old fool, it seems you're still asleep and dreaming! Do you know who I am? Do you know who my father is? And do you have any idea what the two words 'Zheng Family' behind my name mean?"

As he spoke, his mocking, disdainful gaze landed comically on Hua Ming. He stylishly blew another ring of smoke, then flicked the cigarette butt with a snap, sending it bouncing in front of Hua Ming. A brazenly cold smirk spread across his lips as he roared with laughter. "Old fool, let me tell you clearly! Here in Tongzhou, even in all of Jiangnan, if the Zheng Family claims to be second, then absolutely no one dares to claim they're third!"

He paused for emphasis before continuing his scornful tirade. "I admit, here in Jiangnan, the Xiao Family can still hold sway over our Zheng Family. But, Old Rascal, is your surname Xiao? Or is that cowardly turtle hiding behind you surnamed Xiao? Oh, look at my memory… I forgot to tell you, I, Zheng Zhengbin, don't even take an ordinary person with the surname Xiao seriously!"

"That's right! Young Master Zheng, what is your status and position? You are absolutely one of the top figures in the Inner Circle of Jiangnan Province. Who would dare act presumptuously in front of you!?" Hearing this, Zhou Zhengxu, the Dog Head Military Advisor, immediately started fawning, his face a mask of sycophantic flattery.

After all, for someone of his level, a top-tier Government Official's Son like Young Master Zheng was an incredibly powerful figure—a super backer to cling to! Otherwise, Zhou Zhengxu wouldn't be trying so desperately to please him and climb onto this high branch.

At the same time, Deputy Director Huang Kai of the Bureau of Industry and Commerce also gave Young Master Zheng a fawning, eager-to-please look. Although he didn't speak, the nauseating adulation on his face was all too obvious. Compared to Zhou Zhengxu, as a Deputy Director, he was even more desperate to flatter the son of the provincial Deputy Bureau Director. If he could just serve this young master well, wouldn't his future career, a further promotion in the Bureau, be a simple matter? As the saying goes, having friends in high places makes things easy! This was a perfect example of that principle!

"You... I..." Seeing this scene and hearing Young Master Zheng's arrogant words, beads of sweat trickled down Hua Ming's forehead and his lips trembled.

Although he had already resolved to fight to the bitter end rather than compromise, he couldn't suppress a wave of apprehension. The two words, "Zheng Family," carried an immense weight.

"Old Rasc— oh, no, Boss Hua, how about I give you one last chance right now?" Just then, Young Master Zheng suddenly spoke again with a proud smile, his expression showing he had Hua Ming completely at his mercy.

Hearing this, Hua Ming's face twitched, but he remained silent.

"Hmph! Old Rascal, still refusing to appreciate my kindness? What is this attitude!? Let me tell you, a swindler like you should be thrown in prison, don't you think, Director Huang?" Seeing Hua Ming's defiance, Zhou Zhengxu jumped out again, scolding him angrily while pulling Deputy Director Huang Kai into the act to play the bad cop.

"Of course! Over the years, I've sent at least seven or eight swindlers, if not ten, to prison! The one with the longest sentence got thirty years, I hear. His hair will be white by the time he gets out! Ha ha..." the pot-bellied Director Huang sneered dramatically, acting as if he were a big shot.

Hearing Zhou Zhengxu and Huang Kai playing their parts, Hua Ming felt a pang of panic, even though his mind was already made up.

After a long hesitation, he asked, "What last chance?"

"It seems Boss Hua has finally come to his senses! Good, then listen carefully!" A triumphant smile spread across Young Master Zheng's face as he announced loudly, "One million, and your Jinnan Jewelry is mine as of tonight! As for you, you have some skill, so you can stay on and help me manage the stores. I'll give you an annual salary of three hundred thousand."

"You... Young Master Zheng, are you joking?" Hua Ming's face twitched violently, his expression turning incredibly ugly in an instant.

"Joking? Of course I'm not joking. I am being completely serious," Young Master Zheng snorted coldly.

"Completely serious?" Hearing this, Hua Ming could no longer contain his rage and shouted, "Young Master Zheng, do you think that's possible? I didn't even agree when you offered one million for seventy percent of Jinnan Jewelry's shares! Now you want to buy all the shares for the same amount? If this isn't a joke, what is?"

"That's because I, Young Master Zheng, was being magnanimous and giving you a chance. But who asked you to be an old fool who doesn't know how to cherish an opportunity?" Young Master Zheng sneered, taking out another cigarette and lighting it with a flourish. He tilted his head back arrogantly, blew a cloud of smoke, and said, "Old fool, I'll tell you plainly! If you don't sell this broken-down jewelry store to me, I, Zheng Zhengbin, guarantee that every single one of your branches in Jiangnan Province will immediately run into problems, and might even be shut down!"

At this, Young Master Zheng paused dramatically, then let out another cold, arrogant laugh. "Boss Hua, I assume you're a smart man; after all, you went to university. The name 'Zheng Family' alone is enough to explain the kind of power and influence I, Zheng Zhengbin, command!"

Zhou Zhengxu immediately chimed in, "The inspection and closure of your Tongzhou branch was just a warning from me. If you know what's good for you, Boss Hua, one million is more than enough for you to retire on! Otherwise, hehe..."

"Otherwise, what?"

But at that moment, Hua Ming suddenly let out a cold laugh. "Young Master Zheng, some things are better left unsaid. Tongzhou is the capital of Jiangnan Province; the waters here run deep. No one can cover the sky with one hand, not even your Zheng Family. Do you really think a wastrel like you has the right to represent the entire Zheng Family? You're just borrowing their power to intimidate people!"

"What did you say!? Old Rascal, you dare mock me?" Young Master Zheng's face twisted in fury. He couldn't believe this old rascal, this country bumpkin, would dare to mock him and say he couldn't represent the entire Zheng Family.

"Old fool, are you fucking looking for death!? Does our Young Master need a bumpkin like you to critique his every move? You piece of shit..." The Dog Head Military Advisor, seeing his master being insulted, leaped out like a loyal dog, pointing at Hua Ming's nose and cursing furiously.

This time, however, Hua Ming ignored him completely, his cold gaze fixed on Young Master Zheng and Deputy Director Huang Kai. "Our Jinnan Jewelry has all the required legal permits to operate, and I can guarantee there is absolutely nothing wrong with the goods in our store! But now you two are colluding, twisting the truth, and forcibly shutting down our branch! Someone will eventually take notice of these shady dealings and sort them out. When that time comes, we'll see who truly gets the last laugh!"

"Oh, listen to you, are you threatening us now? Do you know who I am? Do you have any idea what Young Master Zheng's status is?" Seeing Hua Ming's audacity, Deputy Director Huang Kai became furious, his fat, ugly face contorted with mockery. "You, with the surname Hua, let me tell you something! Whether there's a problem with your store's goods is not up to you, and it's not up to the customers. Only we, the Bureau of Industry and Commerce, have the final say! Hmph! Who do you think you are? For our City Bureau, shutting down a tiny jewelry store like yours is a piece of cake!"

He then turned his gaze to Young Master Zheng, his mocking tone instantly replaced with fawning praise. "Young Master Zheng, in my opinion, we should stop wasting our breath on this ungrateful fellow. Let's just shut down his jewelry store and his Jade Carving Factory! Then we'll see how tough he can talk!"

"Exactly, Young Master Zheng! This old rascal really thinks he's something!" Zhou Zhengxu jumped in, eager to direct the proceedings. "Pah! He should take a piss and look at his own reflection! I say we make him understand the consequences of daring to refuse us, of daring to offend you, Young Master Zheng!"

"Very well. Director Huang, seal this Jade Carving Factory for me immediately!" Young Master Zheng waved his hand magnanimously, ordering the factory to be sealed.

"What are you morons still standing around for? Didn't you hear Young Master Zheng's order? Go! Seal this dump up!" the portly Deputy Director Huang Kai barked. The men in Bureau uniforms behind him sprang into action, moving forward to seal the Jinnan Jewelry Jade Carving Factory. Victorious, arrogant sneers spread across the faces of Young Master Zheng and his lackeys.

Damn it, old fool. Now you see how powerful I am, don't you? How dare you oppose me, Zheng Zhengbin?

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