Chapter Thirty-Seven: How Much Can a Nursery Rhyme Sell For?

Chapter Thirty-Seven: How Much Can a Nursery Rhyme Sell For?

The newcomer was the owner of this club, and it was clear that the man who had just fought with Zhang Le was one of his people. To run such a large club in the outskirts of Beijing and attract so many so-called upper-class individuals, one would need considerable influence—even the beggars on the street wouldn’t believe otherwise. It was no surprise that such a person would have skilled fighters at his side.

“Brother Xiang, sorry about this.” Wu Xiaoyong hurried forward with a smile. “Even though we weren’t the first to start the fight, any damages here can be put on my tab. I’ll make it up to you with a banquet some other day.”

“Xiaoyong, who did you get into it with this time?” Brother Xiang chuckled, glancing at Lin Xiaofan lying unconscious on the floor nearby, suddenly understanding.

Both Wu Xiaoyong and Lin Xiaofan were old acquaintances of his club. The issues between them were well-known—not just among the regulars here, but probably even among the general public. Still, Brother Xiang was puzzled. Previously, the two had merely exchanged barbed words, sarcasm, and underhanded tricks, always maintaining a certain limit. At their level, to resort to actual violence was rather unbecoming.

“Are you alright?” Feng Lei asked with concern, sporting a black eye.

“I’m fine, but you look like you’re the one in trouble.” Zhang Le grinned. “Next time, try not to be so impulsive. That bottle of yours dragged everyone else into it.”

“How could I just stand by and watch you get beaten up? If you lost an arm or a leg, how could I live with myself?” Feng Lei rubbed his swollen eye and shot Zhang Le a look. “I wasn’t being impulsive; I was helping a brother. If you’re not moved, fine, but to scold me instead? You deserved a beating.”

“Those rotten eggs and spoiled potatoes? As if they could hurt me.” Zhang Le scoffed.

“Alright, you’re tough. Next time something like this happens, I’ll just grab a beer and watch from the sidelines. At most, for old time’s sake, I’ll cheer you on.” Feng Lei replied.

As they spoke, Zhang Le and Feng Lei walked over to Wu Xiaoyong. Zhang Le glanced at Brother Xiang and apologized to Wu Xiaoyong. “Sorry, did we cause you trouble?”

Zhang Le was a bit surprised that Wu Xiaoyong had gotten involved physically. Though they hadn’t known each other long, Wu Xiaoyong had always struck Zhang Le as rather refined—a cultured man resorting to violence was rare enough, let alone beating someone so badly.

“Heh, trouble? I’ve wanted to hit that guy for a long time. In the end, I dragged you into this mess.” Wu Xiaoyong laughed, then introduced them. “Brother Xiang, these are my friends Zhang Le and Feng Lei. This is Li Xiang, the owner of this club—just call him Brother Xiang.”

There was no doubt about the outcome of the brawl—Wu Xiaoyong’s side had won handily. Although almost everyone besides Zhang Le was sporting minor injuries, compared to Lin Xiaofan’s group, who were all laid out on the floor, these small wounds were badges of victory.

The group laughed and joked as they headed to the hospital, while Lin Xiaofan and his companions were carried there by the club staff.

After Zhang Le and his friends had left, Yang Mingwei entered the club. Seeing the chaotic scene, he looked at Li Xiang in surprise and then laughed. “Hey, Xiang, what happened here? Planning on a complete renovation?”

“Renovation?” Li Xiang was taken aback but then smiled. “You missed quite the show.”

“Oh, really?” Yang Mingwei smiled, unconcerned.

“Do you know who was just fighting here? Zhang Le—Xin’er’s boyfriend.” Li Xiang smiled. “Ah Biao even sparred with him for a while. Who would’ve thought the guy was so skilled? Don’t believe it? You know how good Ah Biao is, and he couldn’t get the better of him. Ah Biao said the guy’s kung fu is deeper than his own—just lacks real combat experience.”

“Anyone who can use inner force and pressure points isn’t weak.” Yang Mingwei shook his head. “So what happened? Why was he here fighting?”

“I got the whole story. That guy is quite something.” Li Xiang grinned, then recounted the events to Yang Mingwei.

Wu Xiaoyong and Lin Xiaofan were both top heirs in the country and constantly in the media spotlight. They often stirred up trouble, providing endless entertainment. They were regulars in entertainment news.

Besides his penchant for changing young model girlfriends, Wu Xiaoyong often lambasted celebrities on social media, attracting countless onlookers each time.

In contrast, Lin Xiaofan’s reputation as a scoundrel was well-deserved. His involvement in show business was nothing but a string of scandals, affairs, and disputes with numerous actresses.

When two such high-profile figures got into a fight—ending up in the hospital, with one reportedly seriously injured—it was explosive news, a godsend for the media.

Moreover, this brawl between two rich heirs also involved Feng Lei, a child of a celebrity, and Zhang Le, who was currently a hot topic. The news naturally attracted a media frenzy.

After a round of investigation, reporters were beside themselves with excitement.

“A Song That Sparked a Brawl!”

“Half a Million for an Insult!”

“Lin Xiaofan Calls Singer a Street Performer!”

“Zhang Le’s Song a Thinly Veiled Attack on Lin Xiaofan!”

“Heirs Settle Scores with Their Fists!”

“Inside the Feud: Wanxing Group and Wanbang Group!”

The media spared no effort in sensationalizing the incident, and the internet was abuzz with heated discussion.

There are no secrets that will not be revealed. The whole story was soon laid bare: the two wealthy heirs ran into each other at a club and clashed; Wu Xiaoyong humiliated Lin Xiaofan with Zhang Le’s online jibes, leaving him in tatters. Unable to get the better of Wu Xiaoyong, Lin Xiaofan thought Zhang Le was an easy target and tried to vent his anger on him by calling him a street performer, pouring on the insults. Little did he know he’d stepped on a landmine.

Zhang Le was clearly no pushover.

Spending half a million to be insulted—truly unprecedented.

And to think, for that sum, Lin Xiaofan got himself a song so “utterly lacking in conscience” that no wonder he lost his temper and struck out. The issue wasn’t that Zhang Le donated the half million to charity, but that the song made Lin Xiaofan a laughingstock.

Face is everything!

Public opinion was overwhelmingly against Lin Xiaofan. He already had a terrible reputation, and in this incident, he was the one who provoked things, insulted first, and threw the first punch! He was beaten up as a result of his own actions.

Throughout it all, Zhang Le was an innocent bystander. The only reason he sang such a song was because he was provoked by Lin Xiaofan’s insults—completely understandable.

More importantly, the song showcased Zhang Le’s musical talent. Not everyone could improvise such a piece. Countless people were now curious: what kind of song could drive Lin Xiaofan to such rage?

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Zhang Le asked Yang Xiner.

“He didn’t just insult you; he insulted all singers!” Yang Xiner replied. “I’m a singer too!”

Zhang Le chuckled. “Go ahead and upload it. It’s really just a simple children’s song.”

Yang Xiner smiled and posted a video of herself singing “The Pig Song,” adding the caption: I am a singer, I perform for a living—how much can a nursery rhyme sell for?

What Yang Xiner didn’t expect was that her post was soon shared by countless other singers.