"Uncle Zheng, shouldn't Sister Yue be busy managing your business and have no time?" Li Yurou wanted to persuade Zheng Xingchao to change his mind.
"Can she really afford not to?" Zheng Xingchao's face darkened. "She's already twenty-seven or twenty-eight and not married yet. She always uses contributing to the family as an excuse. Fine, this is a perfect opportunity for her to go on this trip."
"It's decided then," Zheng Xingchao added.
Although Li Yurou was anxious, seeing Zheng Xingchao's firm decision, she could only helplessness.
"Yurou, why are you just standing there?" Zheng Xingchao urged.
"Oh." Li Yurou nodded, dejected.
Soon, Lin Fan received the message.
"Really? Thank you so much!" Lin Fan breathed a sigh of relief.
"Don't get happy too soon." Li Yurou pondered for a long time, unable to figure out why Zheng Yue's trip would be dangerous. Lin Fan wouldn't harm anyone without reason, so where was the problem?
Li Yurou cautioned, "The person coming is not easy to deal with. You should be mentally prepared. She might make things difficult for you."
"Ah?" Lin Fan's heart sank. "I can't go back on my word, can I?"
"That shouldn't be the case." Li Yurou thought that it was just a nominal thing, of no consequence to the Zheng family. She figured Zheng Yue wouldn't say much.
"That's good then." The call ended.
Lin Fan hurried back to his room, "Uncle Zhou, the other party has agreed to send someone over."
"Oh?" Zhou Weiguo's eyes lit up. "Do you know who is coming?"
Lin Fan shook his head. "I don't know either."
Zhou Weiguo was slightly disappointed but then thought that no matter who came, they would be a distinguished guest to him.
"Xiao Wang, please settle the bill for everyone else." Lin Fan's heart leaped with joy. "Uncle Zhou, you mean..."
Zhou Weiguo smiled, "I think there's no need to choose anymore."
"Thank you, Secretary Zhou." Su Yurou stood up excitedly, her voice trembling slightly.
Just when he thought all hope was lost, a new path opened up.
Outside the hotel.
A black, extended Mercedes-Benz was parked quietly by the roadside not far away. Beside it was a van plastered with reflective film, and inside sat a few ruffians.
"They're coming out." Seeing Lin Fan exit the hotel, Yuan Yixiu immediately signaled to the van, "Make your move."
The driver of the van, a ruffian wearing sunglasses, started the engine and sped towards the hotel.
"Damn it, aren't you arrogant?" Yuan Yixiu sneered, picturing Lin Fan being stuffed into the van, beaten up inside, and then dumped on the roadside.
"Secretary Zhou." Just then, a figure emerged from the hotel and quickly caught up with Lin Fan.
Seeing this, Yuan Yixiu's heart lurched. "This is bad! Why did he come out?"
Zhou Weiguo had asked Wang Qing to settle the bill, but there was a small misunderstanding because the drinks and cigarettes consumed didn't match the front desk's records. Wang Qing, being young and hot-headed, refused to be taken advantage of and argued with the receptionist. Zhou Weiguo had no choice but to go over and tell Wang Qing to pay and leave. Although it could be reimbursed, was his money so easily fooled? He had a hundred ways to deal with the hotel owner later, so why make a scene? How embarrassing. He quickly left after resolving the issue.
"Xiao Fan, be sure to inform me in advance when the person arrives. I'll host a banquet to welcome them."
"Okay." Lin Fan nodded with a smile.
Su Yurou's face was beaming, and she instinctively reached out to take Lin Fan's arm. But halfway through, she suddenly remembered something and quickly retracted her hand. In a flash, she pretended to stumble, swaying her body, seamlessly blending the movement with her attempted gesture. Zhou Weiguo glanced at her but thought nothing of it.
"Xiao Fan, about the county..."
Screech!
A sharp braking sound. The van stopped in front of them, and seven or eight ruffians jumped out.
"Are you Lin Fan?" The leader of the ruffians was a young man.
"I am, what's wrong?" Lin Fan was taken aback. He glanced at Zhou Weiguo beside him. Who dared to pull this stunt in front of a leader?
"Let's go, we have something to discuss with you." The ruffian leader grinned sinisterly and pointed to the van door. His subordinates surrounded Lin Fan.
Wang Qing, still fuming from his argument with the hotel reception, became furious at the sight. "Which unit are you from? Do you know who we are?"
"Little punk, this is no place for you to speak!" The ruffian leader tossed his cigarette butt on the ground. "Get lost, or we'll deal with you too!"
"You guys..." Wang Qing's face turned red, and he rolled up his sleeves, ready to fight.
"After following me for so long, how can you still be so impatient?" Zhou Weiguo glared at him, and Wang Qing immediately backed down, his head lowered.
"Uncle Zhou, please step back. I can handle them." Lin Fan stepped forward, worried that these ruffians might harm Zhou Weiguo.
"Fighting and killing won't solve problems." Zhou Weiguo gently pushed Lin Fan aside and stood at the forefront. "Call your boss over."
"Who do you think you are? Quite full of yourself." The ruffian leader seemed a bit unnerved but maintained a steady voice.
"Tell your boss that Zhou Weiguo summoned him." Zhou Weiguo held up three fingers. "I'll give him three minutes. If he doesn't come, he'll face the consequences."
"Secretary Zhou!" Yuan Yixiu, after a brief internal struggle, figured out what to do. Running was out of the question. He only intended to rough up Lin Fan, not commit murder. Rather than face Zhou Weiguo's interrogation, it was better to admit his mistake proactively, perhaps there was still a glimmer of hope.
"Boss." The ruffian leader turned around and was stunned to see his boss rushing over.
"Get lost!" Yuan Yixiu roared, wiping sweat from his forehead as he approached Zhou Weiguo. "It's a misunderstanding! A complete misunderstanding!" Yuan Yixiu said with a bitter face, full of regret. Who could have imagined that Zhou Weiguo would come down with Lin Fan? With his status, which businessman in Shimeng County would receive such an honor? Bai Lu also ran over in a panic, realizing the magnitude of the trouble.
"A misunderstanding? I don't think it's a misunderstanding at all," Zhou Weiguo said coldly. He looked up and saw the ruffians exchanging glances and quietly retreating backward. He beckoned, "Don't go, I'm talking to you. None of you are allowed to leave." The ruffian leader turned pale, realizing he might have stirred up serious trouble by offending the wrong person.
"Get over here! Didn't you hear me?" Yuan Yixiu yelled in exasperation. His scolding only made the ruffians more fearful, and they shuffled back slowly like deflated balloons.
"What are you standing around for? Kneel!" Yuan Yixiu slapped the lead ruffian hard, knocking him to the ground, and then angrily kicked the others down. Fools! Dumber than pigs! You're going to get me killed! Yuan Yixiu was seething with rage. Don't you understand how to play it by ear? What kind of person is he, and you still charge in recklessly?