Chapter Sixty-Seven: This Person Has Quite a Background

The tall henchman hurriedly scrambled up from the ground and rushed into the chambers of the Commerce Guild’s estate. Before long, Cui Shangkai, having likely been informed of Chen Yang’s arrival, came out through the main gate with seven companions in tow.

Knowing there was no hope of cooperating with Chen Yang, Cui Shangkai wore a sour expression and said, “What are you doing here?”

Chen Yang ignored Cui Shangkai entirely, his gaze instead falling on the middle-aged man behind him, who had a mole at the right corner of his mouth. Narrowing his eyes, Chen Yang asked, “Your name is Wan Laiming, isn’t it?”

Wan Laiming was a sly character. Seeing Chen Yang come calling, he could more or less guess it was about having someone shadow Shen Donghua, yet he maintained a calm smile and replied, “Yes, that’s me. What can I do for you?”

“Was it you who sent someone to follow Shen Donghua?” Chen Yang questioned.

Wan Laiming blurted out, “No, why would you think that?”

“You deny it?” A cold smile flickered across Chen Yang’s face. Since Lin Qianyao’s investigation was never wrong, it had to be Wan Laiming who had Shen Donghua followed; his denial could mean only one thing—he was lying.

And nothing irked Chen Yang more than lies.

Wan Laiming shrugged. “What should I admit? I truly haven’t done anything.”

“If you did nothing, why did your words betray you just now?” Chen Yang pressed.

Clearly unwilling to argue further, Wan Laiming retorted with a sneer, “If you have evidence, show it. Otherwise, I could accuse you of slander.”

Just as Wan Laiming finished speaking, Chen Yang suddenly lunged forward like an arrow, seized Wan Laiming by the collar, and said coldly, “I don’t care whether you admit it or not—it’s irrelevant to me. I’m here to give you a stern warning: don’t play with fire, or you’ll get burned. I don’t care what your intentions are, but you’d best stop tailing Shen Donghua immediately, and don’t ever try it again. Otherwise, I’ll make you regret it.”

Being gripped by the collar like that, Wan Laiming’s face burned with humiliation, and he snapped, “Let go of me.”

“Did you hear what I said?” Chen Yang asked, his eyes narrowed.

Witnessing this scene, Cui Shangkai felt far from comfortable, but he was well aware of Chen Yang’s strength. This time, Wan Laiming had acted on his own, sending people to shadow Shen Donghua and scheming behind their backs—he was clearly in the wrong. Cui Shangkai spoke up fairly, “President Wan, you were a bit reckless this time. But President Chen, I hope you can be magnanimous; perhaps President Wan just lost his head for a moment.”

Cui Shangkai’s words naturally pleased Chen Yang—he was not one to overplay his hand when in the right. Releasing Wan Laiming’s collar, he chuckled, “See? President Cui’s attitude is far better than yours.”

Frowning, Wan Laiming replied, “Even if I made a mistake, you shouldn’t treat me this way.”

Chen Yang replied coolly, “I’ve said before: the Southwest Guild must never meddle in the land at the northern outskirts again. Remember that well. This time, I’ll let it go, but if there’s a next time, I’ll have nothing more to say.”

With those cold words, Chen Yang turned and walked away.

Watching Chen Yang’s retreating figure, Cui Shangkai frowned and looked at Wan Laiming. “Old Wan, just what were you thinking?”

Wan Laiming scowled. “I just can’t swallow this.”

“No matter how much you can’t accept it, you should’ve talked it over with the brothers before acting,” Cui Shangkai admonished.

Wan Laiming sighed helplessly. “If I’d asked, you all would’ve disagreed. I don’t know what’s become of the Guild now. Back then, we brothers dared to fight and take risks—that’s why the Guild stands as it does today. But now, just one Chen and all of you are terrified.”

At this, Cui Shangkai stepped closer and said, “Old Wan, don’t think that way.”

Wan Laiming’s brow remained knotted. “I just can’t let it go.”

Cui Shangkai sighed again. “If you say I haven’t tried, you wrong me. Didn’t I go to Boss Liu? But even Boss Liu was helpless against him. What does that say? That kid is truly not to be trifled with.”

Wan Laiming considered this and, not wishing to continue, shook his head with a sigh. “Well… it’s come to this; there’s nothing more to say.”

With a heavy heart, Cui Shangkai patted Wan Laiming’s shoulder. “Enough, let’s go back. As for the land in the northern outskirts, forget about it.”

Wan Laiming heaved a deep sigh and replied, “Alright.”

…

Meanwhile, after leaving the Southwest Commerce Guild, Chen Yang returned to Huading Corporation.

Back at the office, he immediately summoned Shen Donghua and detailed everything about the surveillance incident.

Shen Donghua listened carefully, a chill flashing in his eyes. “So it was the Southwest Commerce Guild behind it. Since you’ve handled it, President Chen, I won’t pursue it further.”

“Exactly. It’s a trivial matter—focus on your work,” Chen Yang replied mildly.

Shen Donghua nodded. “Understood.”

“Go on, then,” Chen Yang said with a gentle smile.

Shen Donghua nodded again and left the office.

After this episode, two days passed in the blink of an eye. Nothing of significance occurred during this time, and Chen Yang enjoyed two rare days of ease and leisure.

But two days later, one evening after work, Chen Yang returned home to find Qin Guoshan sitting on the sofa, regarding him with curiosity. “Chen Yang, do you know a President Yang—Yang Tiecheng?”

“Yang Tiecheng? Never heard of him. Why do you ask?” Chen Yang replied with a faint smile.

Qin Guoshan explained, “This Yang Tiecheng said he knew you, claimed you were a big boss. He somehow found me on Antique Street and even brought me a Ming dynasty vase as a meeting gift. But I didn’t accept it—I don’t know him, so how could I take such a valuable present?”

“Is that so?” Chen Yang answered, his tone light, but his heart skipped a beat.

He had never expected someone named Yang Tiecheng to seek out Qin Guoshan, bearing a Ming dynasty vase and revealing his identity as a company president. Clearly, this was no ordinary man.

His sudden appearance was obviously targeted at Chen Yang.

Furthermore, presenting a vase at their first meeting betrayed ulterior motives.

Chen Yang’s wariness of Yang Tiecheng grew, and he began to take a particular interest in him.

Nevertheless, no matter what, Chen Yang had no intention of revealing his position as president of Huading Corporation. Whatever Yang Tiecheng said to Qin Guoshan, he would never admit to being the company’s president.

With this in mind, Chen Yang’s lips curled into a slight smile. “Really? Sounds like another con artist. There are so many scammers these days, Dad. Don’t believe a word they say.”

“Exactly,” Qin Guoshan replied quietly. “I was polite for a bit then left—I didn’t say much to him.”

“You did the right thing, Dad,” Chen Yang said with a laugh.

“But…” Qin Guoshan frowned again. “He kept insisting you were the boss of Huading Corporation. I told him that was impossible—the boss is President Shen Donghua. But he insisted it was you. He seemed like a swindler, so I just made small talk and left.”

“Ah, that scammer sure has a high opinion of me. If I were Huading’s boss, that’d be something,” Chen Yang joked.

Shaking his head, Qin Guoshan said, “There are too many tricks these days.”

“You’re absolutely right,” Chen Yang agreed. He didn’t want to dwell on the matter any further and said, “Dad, just don’t trust people like that if you meet them again. Leave right away. I’m going upstairs.”

Qin Guoshan nodded and said nothing more.

Chen Yang quickly went upstairs to his bedroom, pulled out his phone, and called Lin Qianyao.

The abrupt appearance of this Yang Tiecheng left Chen Yang uneasy—he needed to find out exactly who this man was, and he was certain Lin Qianyao could uncover the truth.

Soon, the call connected and Lin Qianyao’s cheerful voice came through: “President Chen, what can I do for you?”

“I need you to investigate a businessman named Yang Tiecheng immediately. He suddenly showed up in Linhai, seems to have researched my background thoroughly, and even tracked down my father-in-law. At their first meeting, he tried to present a valuable Ming dynasty vase. There’s no way his intentions are innocent. Look into him for me,” Chen Yang said, his tone grave.