Chapter Eight: This Mr. Chen is truly remarkable.

Chen Yang knew immediately that the scar-faced bald man was none other than Li Sanyi. From Li Sanyi’s expression, Chen Yang could tell that this man possessed some strength—otherwise, his demeanor wouldn’t be so arrogantly self-assured.

As soon as Chen Yang arrived, Wu Guangde quickly rose from his chair, walked over with a smile, and greeted him respectfully, “Brother Chen, you’re here.”

Chen Yang nodded at Wu Guangde and took a seat beside where Wu Guangde had been sitting. He turned to Li Sanyi, asking, “So you’re Li Sanyi?”

Before Chen Yang finished speaking, a young man with a cropped haircut behind Li Sanyi sneered at him contemptuously. “Damn it, idiot! Who are you to call Master Li’s name?”

Chen Yang shot the young man a cold look, a faint smirk curling his lips. “You do realize that speaking to me like this could have serious consequences?”

“Serious consequences, my ass! Who the hell do you think you are?” the young man scoffed, full of disdain.

Wu Guangde could no longer tolerate it. He suddenly stood up and angrily confronted Li Sanyi, “Li Sanyi, are all your subordinates rabid dogs? Don’t you control them?”

Li Sanyi laughed coldly. “Wu Guangde, I came here today to meet your so-called big shot. Where is he? Don’t tell me this idiot is the big shot?”

Wu Guangde frowned, “Li Sanyi, watch your mouth. Is that how you speak to Mr. Chen?”

“Mr. Chen? What company is he president of? Let me tell you, Wu Guangde, it doesn’t matter who you bring today. In Linhai, anyone running a bathhouse business has to listen to me. If you don’t, I’ll beat you, I’ll deal with you,” Li Sanyi boasted arrogantly.

“You think I’m afraid of you?” Wu Guangde shot up, unwilling to back down.

Chen Yang quickly gestured for calm. “What’s this? Are we here to fight today? I don’t think so.”

Wu Guangde glared at Li Sanyi, then slowly sat back down, giving Chen Yang face—otherwise, nothing anyone said would matter.

Seeing Wu Guangde sit down, Li Sanyi snickered disdainfully and pulled a cigarette from his pocket, placing it between his lips.

Chen Yang now fixed his gaze on Li Sanyi, his tone icy. “You really don’t care to give me any respect?”

Li Sanyi smirked coldly, not even bothering to respond.

Again, the young man behind him jeered, “Who do you think you are? Master Li doesn’t care about anyone in Linhai!”

Wu Guangde’s fists clenched, his face burning with anger. If not for Chen Yang’s presence, he would have already started a fight with Li Sanyi.

Chen Yang shrugged. “So, there’s nothing to discuss, then.”

Suddenly, Li Sanyi spat a thick glob of phlegm onto the floor, his eyes filled with malicious intent as he looked at Chen Yang. “Find a tissue and wipe up my spit. Then we might have something to talk about.”

“Are you sure about that?” Chen Yang’s expression grew even colder.

Li Sanyi laughed darkly, his gaze malicious.

The young man behind him sneered, “Come on, idiot, wipe it up!”

Wu Guangde, furious, threatened, “Li Sanyi, you’re looking for trouble.”

Li Sanyi suddenly slammed the table, shouting, “Today, one of you wipes up my spit, and the other drinks it. Otherwise, none of you are leaving this room.”

As soon as he finished, eight burly subordinates rushed to the doorway, lining up to block the exit.

Bang!

Li Sanyi's face twisted in a wicked smile, but just then, the door was kicked open from outside with tremendous force, knocking down two of Li Sanyi’s men.

Everyone turned to look at the entrance.

In strode a burly man with a thick beard, weighing nearly two hundred pounds and standing six foot one—a veritable iron tower.

Li Sanyi’s eyes flashed with surprise and he quickly stood up. “Brother Tiger!”

The bearded man smiled coldly. “Li Sanyi, things are lively here.”

Li Sanyi forced a smile. “Brother Tiger, why are you here?”

This Brother Tiger was none other than the boss of a powerful faction from the provincial capital. However arrogant Li Sanyi was, his influence only extended within Linhai; he wouldn’t dare provoke the provincial capital’s forces. Brother Tiger was a major player there, known as one of the underground ‘Three Kings.’

Li Sanyi hurried over, grinning obsequiously. “Brother Tiger, you should’ve told me you were coming to Linhai. If I’d known, I would have driven out to meet you.”

Suddenly, Brother Tiger grabbed Li Sanyi by the collar, sneering, “Li Sanyi, you’re still as slick as when I first met you two years ago.”

“Brother Tiger, stop wasting time with him. Shouldn’t you say why you’re here?” Chen Yang interjected.

Li Sanyi’s heart skipped a beat. Damn it, could Brother Tiger be here for Wu Guangde and this young man named Chen?

Brother Tiger turned to Chen Yang, addressing him respectfully, “Mr. Chen, I apologize for being late.”

“No need. Coming from the provincial capital, it’s natural to take some time,” Chen Yang replied coolly.

Brother Tiger smiled gratefully, then turned and barked at Li Sanyi, “Now you know why I’m here. Get over here!”

Li Sanyi was stunned, as was the young man who had just insulted Chen Yang.

A chill ran through Li Sanyi’s heart. He nervously approached Brother Tiger, asking, “Brother Tiger, you know Mr. Chen?”

Brother Tiger tightened his grip on Li Sanyi’s collar, growling, “What do you think?”

“Brother Tiger, let’s talk this out,” Li Sanyi pleaded.

Chen Yang sneered, “Not long ago, you wanted me to drink your spit, didn’t you?”

Li Sanyi began to tremble all over. However tough he was, he wouldn’t dare cross someone like Brother Tiger, one of the provincial capital’s underground kings. If he tried, Brother Tiger could destroy him instantly.

Sweat poured from Li Sanyi’s body. “Mr. Chen, I... I didn’t know you and Brother Tiger were connected. If I’d known, I would never have dared treat you with such disrespect.”

Chen Yang merely sneered, saying nothing.

Brother Tiger understood Chen Yang’s meaning. He gathered a mouthful of phlegm and said to Li Sanyi, “Open your mouth.”

Li Sanyi begged, “Brother Tiger, please don’t.”

Brother Tiger, phlegm in his mouth, repeated, “Open your mouth.”

Li Sanyi’s face darkened like charcoal. He opened his mouth, and Brother Tiger spat into it.

Li Sanyi bent over, retching violently.

Now, Chen Yang turned to the young man who had so brazenly insulted him. “Come here.”

The young man knew exactly what Chen Yang intended. Terrified, he dropped to his knees, knocking his forehead repeatedly against the floor, begging, “Mr. Chen, I didn’t know who you were. I was blind. I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Please have mercy, spare me!”

Chen Yang kept sneering in silence.

Brother Tiger understood again. He strode over, grabbed the young man by the collar, and squinted coldly. “With your pathetic attitude, you dared disrespect Mr. Chen?”

Slap!

The young man, desperate, struck himself hard across the face, crying, “Damn it, I was blind! I’m sorry, Brother Tiger, Mr. Chen, please—be magnanimous and forgive me just this once!”

“Damn you,” Brother Tiger chuckled, exasperated.

He turned to Chen Yang. “Mr. Chen, how should I deal with these people?”

“Beat them. At least enough that they need two weeks in the hospital,” Chen Yang replied coldly.

Brother Tiger smiled and signaled to his four subordinates. “What are you waiting for? Get to work.”

A brutal beating ensued in the private room, with Li Sanyi and his men at the receiving end. The pummeling lasted a full half hour; Li Sanyi lost two teeth, his nose bled, and his appearance was ghastly.

Chen Yang finally called a halt, and Brother Tiger’s men stopped beating Li Sanyi.

Chen Yang leisurely approached Li Sanyi, squatted down, and looked at his bruised and swollen face. “Now you know who I am?”

Li Sanyi nodded emphatically.

“From now on, stick to your circle and mind your business. Don’t cause trouble for me again—can you manage that?” Chen Yang asked quietly.

Li Sanyi nodded again, even more vigorously.

Satisfied, Chen Yang smiled, patted Li Sanyi’s face, then stood up and turned to Wu Guangde. “Are you satisfied with this outcome?”

Wu Guangde was more than satisfied, his face beaming. “Very satisfied, Brother Chen. How could I not be?”

Chen Yang turned to Brother Tiger. “Don’t leave just yet. There’s no mood for dinner here. I’ll make arrangements—we’ll eat at another hotel.”

Brother Tiger smiled politely. “Mr. Chen, no need. We’ve already eaten.”

“Who says you can’t eat twice? Tonight, you follow my lead,” Chen Yang said firmly.

Seeing this, Brother Tiger didn’t refuse. He smiled, “All right, I’ll defer to you.”

Chen Yang smiled, then instructed Wu Guangde, “Have the staff clean up the mess here. You drive and take Brother Tiger out for dinner.”

Wu Guangde quickly nodded. “Okay, got it.”

Under Chen Yang’s arrangements, he, Brother Tiger, and Wu Guangde dined together until ten o’clock that night.

During dinner, Qin Muxue called to ask why Chen Yang hadn’t come home yet. He lied, saying he was out with colleagues for a company dinner. Qin Muxue didn’t suspect anything, only told him to come home early and drink less, then hung up.

It was eleven by the time Chen Yang returned home, only to find his mother-in-law, Han Qin, sitting on the sofa, silently weeping—she hadn’t gone to bed.

Han Qin was a strong-willed woman. For her to shed tears meant she had suffered a great grievance.

Seeing this, Chen Yang couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Mom, you’re still up? Why are you crying?”