Chapter 48: President, Get Ready for Me President, you'd better wash your neck and wait for me!

Chen Yang stepped forward, moving steadily toward the square-faced man holding a knife. As he walked, his tone remained calm and detached: “Put the knife down first, or I guarantee you’ll regret it.”

The square-faced man sneered, “Oh? You’re saying I’ll regret it? Let’s see you make me regret it, then.”

“That’s your word,” Chen Yang said coldly.

As soon as the words left his lips, he shot forward like an arrow loosed from its bow. In a blink, he was in front of the square-faced man, grabbed his wrist, and twisted it forcefully—breaking it in one swift motion.

The man let out a scream of agony.

Chen Yang grabbed his collar, his voice icy: “I told you, you’d regret it.”

The man howled in pain, begging, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know who I was dealing with.”

“You really didn’t,” Chen Yang replied with scorn.

Without wasting another word, Chen Yang cut straight to the point: “Tell me, why did the Southwest Chamber of Commerce send you to sneak into my home late at night? What do they want?”

The man, his face twisted with pain, answered, “It was our president. He’s angry you took the land in the northern outskirts. He had a few drinks and ordered us to come, to take you back—he wants to ‘deal with you.’”

“Deal with me?”

Chen Yang burst out in laughter. It was the most absurd thing he’d heard in a long time. Since he’d come into his fortune of twenty billion, he no longer concealed his strength—no one could so much as touch him.

Eyes narrowed, his expression cold, Chen Yang considered that he likely wouldn’t get anything concrete from the mouths of these two hired thugs from the Southwest Chamber. He’d do better to ask Shen Donghua; Shen knew the ins and outs of the Linhai business world and had handled the purchase of the northern outskirts land. He must know the Southwest Chamber well.

With that, Chen Yang’s lips curled into a chilling smile. He addressed the square-faced man, “It was your misfortune to cross me. Time to die.”

He swung his fist, striking the man squarely on the forehead. The man collapsed, unconscious.

Chen Yang then knocked out the other man as well, pulled out his phone, and called Shen Donghua.

It was late. Chen Yang had assumed Shen Donghua would be fast asleep—perhaps unreachable. But to his surprise, Shen answered after only two rings: “President Chen.”

“I thought you’d be asleep and hard to reach,” Chen Yang said, laughing as soon as he heard Shen’s voice.

On the other end, Shen Donghua was sitting upright at his bedside, his expression serious. “Yes, as soon as I heard the phone ring, I got up. When I saw it was you calling, I didn’t dare delay. President Chen, is something wrong?”

“Do you know about the Southwest Chamber of Commerce?” Chen Yang asked directly, without a hint of preamble.

“Southwest Chamber?” Shen’s brows instantly knitted together.

He knew the Southwest Chamber all too well. Back when his Huading Company was vying for the northern outskirts land, the fiercest competitor had been the Southwest Chamber. It was an alliance of seven real estate tycoons, each with their own company. Whenever a lucrative plot was up for grabs, they’d band together, pooling resources for mutual benefit.

The Chamber’s president was Cui Shangkai, a seasoned real estate mogul in Linhai, probably in his forties. After graduating high school at seventeen, he’d been out on the streets, exuding a rough, streetwise air, and had recruited a sizeable crew—many were thugs trained by him, used to settle scores in construction disputes.

The land in the northern outskirts was a golden opportunity—both Huading and the Southwest Chamber wanted it desperately. In the end, Huading proved stronger, willing to pay more, and secured the deal. Naturally, this left Cui Shangkai and his associates bitter.

After all, if the business succeeded on the northern outskirts land, it could yield tens of billions in profit. What real estate developer wouldn’t want a piece of that?

Cui Shangkai had even threatened to “take care of” Shen Donghua, but Shen hadn’t thought much of it. Now, hearing Chen Yang mention the Southwest Chamber, Shen realized things were more serious than he’d imagined.

Without hesitation, Shen asked, “President Chen, how did you hear about the Southwest Chamber?”

Chen Yang gave a cold laugh. “Tonight, the Chamber sent two thugs to sneak into my house. They said they were to take me back so their president could ‘deal with me.’ I subdued them, but one mentioned the northern outskirts land. So I wanted to ask you—what’s really going on?”

Shen’s face twisted in anger. “Those bastards from the Southwest Chamber—so brazen!”

“Let’s talk about the situation between us and them,” Chen Yang said coolly.

“Alright,” Shen replied.

He then recounted in detail how the Southwest Chamber had maliciously competed and bid up the price during the purchase of the northern outskirts land, only for Huading to win in the end. Chen Yang listened attentively and gained a clear understanding of the conflict between Huading and the Southwest Chamber.

After a moment’s thought, he made a decision. “Tomorrow morning, you and I will pay a visit to the Southwest Chamber headquarters.”

“You want to go there? For what?” Shen Donghua asked, bewildered.

“To settle accounts, of course. Not for tea,” Chen Yang replied with a faint smile.

Shen hesitated, concern creeping in. “President Chen, Cui Shangkai has a lot of thugs under him. There’ll be plenty at the headquarters—I’m worried if you go, it might…”

“No need to worry. Tomorrow, I’m definitely going,” Chen Yang said firmly.

Hearing the determination in Chen Yang’s voice, Shen Donghua no longer tried to dissuade him. Instead, he softly said, “Alright, I’ll make arrangements early tomorrow.”

“Good. It’s late. I’ll hang up—get some rest,” Chen Yang said.

Shen Donghua nodded, ending the call with a heavy heart. Even after hanging up, his anger toward the Southwest Chamber simmered. Normally cultured and refined, he couldn’t help but curse, “Damn those bastards from the Southwest Chamber—how dare they oppose Huading Company? They’re asking for trouble.”

Meanwhile, after ending the call, Chen Yang dialed Wu Guangde, instructing him to bring some men and clean up the mess. It was unseemly to leave two Chamber thugs lying at his doorstep. Wu Guangde could handle them however he saw fit—Chen Yang didn’t need to concern himself with that.

The night passed swiftly. By early morning, Chen Yang arrived at Huading Company. He soon summoned Shen Donghua to his office, smiling, “Are we ready to go?”

Shen Donghua replied promptly, “I borrowed two men from Hedao Martial Arts Hall this morning to ensure your safety.”

“No need,” Chen Yang said with a calm smile. “Just you and me—I don’t want outsiders involved in this.”

Shen Donghua immediately understood and frowned, “So, shall I send them back?”

“Yes,” Chen Yang nodded.

After a brief consideration, Shen Donghua steeled himself. “Alright, I’ll send them back now.”

At nine in the morning, Chen Yang and Shen Donghua climbed into a black Mercedes, heading for the Southwest Chamber headquarters.

Their base was located on a broad road in the southern outskirts of Linhai. The Chamber comprised seven wealthy real estate tycoons, and together they’d rented a large plot beside the road, building a clubhouse equipped with restaurant, hotel, spa, golf course—everything one could want for leisure and entertainment.

By ten o’clock, their Mercedes rolled to a stop at the clubhouse entrance. There, Cui Shangkai had stationed two tall, burly guards.

As soon as Chen Yang and Shen Donghua stepped out, the two guards approached, faces cold and indifferent.

One, with slicked-back hair, asked curtly, “Who are you looking for?”

“Cui Shangkai,” Chen Yang replied quietly.

Hearing this, the guard’s brows furrowed. He could tell from Chen Yang’s tone that he wasn’t here for friendly reasons.

Suspicion flashed in the guard’s eyes as he demanded, “Why do you want to see President Cui?”

“I have business. I’m from Huading Company—my name’s Chen,” Chen Yang answered coolly.

At this, the guard instantly realized Chen Yang was here to stir up trouble. He grabbed Chen Yang by the collar and, taking matters into his own hands, barked, “Huading Company isn’t welcome here. Get lost.”

Seeing the guard’s disrespect toward Chen Yang, Shen Donghua was furious. “How dare you! Let President Chen go this instant!”

“Old man, this has nothing to do with you. You and him—get out,” the guard retorted bluntly.

But before he could finish, Chen Yang punched him in the gut like a cannonball. The guard spat blood.

The other guard, seeing his companion attacked, rushed at Chen Yang with a fist. Chen Yang met him head-on, their fists colliding with a heavy thud.

A dull crack sounded—the guard’s knuckles fractured.

Both guards cried out in pain.

Chen Yang then kicked each of them, sending them sprawling. He squinted disdainfully, “So this is the Southwest Chamber’s standard? Cui Shangkai, better wash your neck and wait for me.”