Zheng Changhong hung up the phone to go and coordinate with his superiors. After all, Zheng Zhengbin was his son. Even though he had messed up, it was only 'to that extent' and was hardly a serious issue. He certainly couldn't just sit back and ignore the situation because of a man like Jin Zhenglin. Most importantly, given his status, a mere Jin Zhenglin wasn't all that intimidating.

Poor Bureau Chief Zheng Changhong still didn't know that the person who had actually given the order was the top authority in Tongzhou, the provincial capital's city committee secretary, and one of the provincial committee's giants—Dong Wencheng. Otherwise, he wouldn't just be sweating bullets; his legs would probably be shaking and giving out from under him.

After Young Master Zheng Zhengbin called his father, he couldn't help but feel a great sense of relief, despite having received a severe scolding. It couldn't be helped; if his father, Zheng Changhong, personally stepped in, would Jin Zhenglin dare to refuse him? That's obviously impossible, so this should all be over soon. Hahaha… Young Master Zheng Zhengbin couldn't help but laugh inwardly, a smug arrogance spreading across his face.

"Young Master Zheng, what did Bureau Chief Zheng say? Is everything sorted out now?" Seeing the arrogant look on Young Master Zheng's face, Huang Kai exchanged a glance with Zhou Zhengxu and whispered, feeling much more at ease.

If Young Master Zheng Zhengbin can still laugh, then it must be fine, right!?

"Nonsense. I've already called my dad, so what could possibly happen?" Hearing Huang Kai's question, Young Master Zheng Zhengbin's face immediately turned cold and impatient. Are you kidding me? Do you have any idea who my dad is? I called him personally, so how could there still be a problem? No matter how powerful Jin Zhenglin is, would he really dare to disrespect my father and the Zheng Family?

"Of course, of course. With Bureau Chief Zheng's status, even Deputy Mayor Jin Zhenglin would have to show respect. As expected of Young Master Zheng, at critical moments, we really need you to take charge," Huang Kai said, not offended in the slightest. Instead, he began to fawn and flatter, slipping right back into his sycophantic demeanor.

"That's a given! Deputy Mayor Jin? So what if he's Jin Zhenglin? What can he possibly do to me, Young Master Zheng Zhengbin?" Hearing Huang Kai's flattery, Young Master Zheng Zhengbin's face swelled with pride and satisfaction, as if a powerful deputy mayor was truly powerless against them. His heart filled with an immense sense of smugness.

"However, Young Master Zheng, I think it would be best if we handled this matter privately first. That way, when your father speaks with Deputy Mayor Jin, the conversation will go more smoothly. What do you think?" At that moment, Zhou Zhengxu, the Dog Head Military Advisor, stroked his chin and spoke slowly.

He had considered the situation carefully. It's true that if Bureau Chief Zheng Changhong intervenes, even Deputy Mayor Jin Zhenglin will give him face. But at the end of the day, we were the ones in the wrong. So, if we can resolve this privately before Bureau Chief Zheng gets involved, perhaps we can get that Old Rascal Hua Ming, or even Deputy Mayor Jin, to back down a little. It would help everyone save face and would be the best of both worlds, wouldn't it?

"...Hmm, Young Master Zheng, Young Master Zhou has a point, don't you think?" Huang Kai, ever the slick operator, immediately nodded in agreement.

Indeed, we were in the wrong from the start. If we make a sincere gesture of goodwill, show them a good attitude, and give Deputy Mayor Jin enough respect, he probably won't keep pushing the issue, right!?

"Hmph! That Jin Zhenglin must have gotten his head caught in a door..."

Although Young Master Zheng Zhengbin understood the logic, the idea of bowing his head and admitting fault to that man still infuriated him.

However, he was smart enough to know what was best. After muttering a stream of curses under his breath, he finally relented. With a dark expression, he said, "Fine. That Old Rascal just left; he can't have gone far. Let's go after him."

"Alright, let's hurry." The three of them quickly left the Jade Carving Factory to chase after Hua Ming.

A few minutes later, Hua Ming, who was about to leave the factory area, was surprised to see Zheng Zhengbin and his group rushing, even jogging, toward him from behind, all of them sweating profusely.

"Boss Hua! Brother Hua! Wait, wait for us!"

The pot-bellied Huang Kai, panting heavily, jogged up to Hua Ming with a fawning smile and reached for his hand. "Boss Hua, my good man, why the rush? Look how tired you've made us. You must be tired too, right? Why don't we rest for a bit over here?"

"Rest? There's no need. I'm sorry, Director Huang, but I'm in a bit of a hurry. Please, step aside." Hua Ming, however, had just gotten off the phone with Chen Fei, Young Master Chen, and knew exactly what his stance was. There was no need to be subservient any longer. He replied coldly, his tone distant and formal.

At this, not only did Huang Kai's chubby face fall, but the expressions of Zhou Zhengxu and Young Master Zheng, who had just caught up, also turned grim and ugly.

It was infuriating. In our eyes, a country bumpkin like Hua Ming from a backwater place like Northern Mountain would normally have to beg for a chance to speak with us, and even then, we'd only grant it if we were in a good mood. We would have to deign to speak to someone of such a lower class. But now? This hick, this worthless jewelry store owner, dares to put on airs in front of us again and again? Who the hell do you think you are? If it weren't for Deputy Mayor Jin Zhenglin backing you, you wouldn't even be worthy of licking our boots! What a piece of trash.

Though Young Master Zheng Zhengbin and the Dog Head Military Advisor Zhou Zhengxu were seething internally, they managed to force their anger down. Zhou Zhengxu squeezed out a smile, walked up to Hua Ming, and gave a slight bow. "Boss Hua, what happened before was all a misunderstanding. Please forgive us if we caused any offense. This is a small token of our sincerity. Please do us the honor of accepting it."

As he spoke, he discreetly pulled a check from his sleeve and offered it to Hua Ming.

The amount on the check was a dazzling one followed by six zeroes... one million!

"That's right, Boss Hua. We deeply regret the previous misunderstanding. So please, accept this small token of our sincerity," Huang Kai chimed in.

Clearly, they thought the only reason this Old Rascal Hua Ming was making such a fuss was that his most profitable Jinnan Jewelry branch had been shut down. That would surely cost him a lot of money and damage his reputation. Well, if that's the case, we'll just compensate him. It's just one branch. How much could the losses be? One million should be more than enough, right!?

"That won't be necessary. I couldn't possibly accept something so valuable. Please, just move aside." To their utter astonishment, Old Rascal Hua Ming actually refused.

He then reached out, pushed the rotund Huang Kai out of his way, and began to walk off.

Instantly, the faces of Zheng Zhengbin and the others turned pale.

"Boss Hua, you'd better look carefully. This is one million!" Zhou Zhengxu, the Dog Head Military Advisor, said coldly, his expression darkening.

He couldn't believe it. How dare this Old Rascal Hua Ming be so unappreciative? Does he really want to keep this fight going!?

"So what if it's one million? Do you think I, Hua Ming, am short of one million!?" Hua Ming retorted icily. Admittedly, for ninety-nine percent of the people in the Republic, one million was an enormous sum of money. The problem was, he, Hua Ming, genuinely didn't need it.

Putting everything else aside, my Jinnan Jewelry is an enterprise worth at least one hundred million! More importantly, my son's incredibly powerful brother has personally weighed in on this matter. He wants these lawless, arrogant young masters who bully others and break the law to face the consequences they deserve! He wants to restore justice and order to society! So, one million... Of course I don't care about it! Forget one million; even if it were ten million, or a hundred million—even if Young Master Zheng Zhengbin and his friends were willing and able to offer it—I might be tempted, but I wouldn't dare accept it! From the incident with the Hex Family of Macau to this, I've seen it clearly. The power that my son's brother, Chen Fei, possesses is on a level I can't even begin to imagine! That being the case, how could I possibly dare to say 'no' to his wishes now?

"You old rascal, you..."

Seeing that they had come all this way to personally offer money and an apology—a check for one million, no less—only for this damn Old Rascal Hua Ming to refuse it and look down on the money, enraged them. Zhou Zhengxu's hand, holding the check, froze in mid-air. Shock and fury surged through them.

Damn it! In our eyes, he's just a hick from a dump like Northern Mountain, yet he has the gall to be this stubborn and act so high and mighty!? We are distinguished figures—a Deputy Director of the Municipal Bureau of Industry and Commerce and the son of the Deputy Chief of the Provincial Bureau of Industry and Commerce! We condescended to come here ourselves to offer money and an apology, but this old rascal remains relentless, taking a mile after being given an inch and showing us zero respect. How could they possibly comprehend this? How could they accept it!?

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