Chapter Twenty-Four: He Is My Savior

"Today, a young man came to my company, claiming he was here to collect a debt. In the end, he knocked out all my subordinates, and I nearly lost my life as well. Just like that, I was forced to hand over more than four million!"

"Sister Lan, I can't swallow this humiliation. Please, help me!"

Shen Qingqiang wore a mournful expression, his earlier arrogance in front of Su Zheng nowhere to be found.

"Useless fool!"

Qiao Lan scolded, then impatiently waved her hand. "Go find Old Six, have him go with you."

"By the way, who is this person?"

Shen Qingqiang was just about to turn around when he heard Qiao Lan’s question and quickly thought aloud, "No particular background, not one of our old enemies. He’s from a small family you probably haven’t even heard of, Sister Lan. I think his name is... right, Su Zheng. He looks quite young."

"Sister Lan? Sister Lan?"

Shen Qingqiang suddenly noticed that Qiao Lan’s expression had changed.

"You said the man’s name is Su Zheng? Is he the Chen family’s son-in-law?"

Qiao Lan’s face turned cold as she fixed her gaze on Shen Qingqiang.

"Yes, his name is Su Zheng, and he was sent by the Chen family. But whether he’s their son-in-law, I’m not sure."

"Sister Lan, why are you concerned about some insignificant little family?"

Seeing Qiao Lan’s face grow even colder, Shen Qingqiang’s voice faltered with unease. Deep down, he suddenly felt that something was amiss.

With a sharp motion, Qiao Lan pressed her cue stick against Shen Qingqiang’s throat. "You really are blind, daring to offend the one who saved my life!"

"W-what? Sister Lan, I... I... I was wrong, I swear, I didn’t know!"

Shen Qingqiang felt the world spin around him. He never imagined he’d be this unlucky. He’d come to ask Qiao Lan for help, but now it seemed she might chop off his head instead. Regret gnawed at his insides.

"Tell me everything that happened," Qiao Lan ordered coldly.

Shen Qingqiang dared not delay. He recounted in detail everything that had happened when Su Zheng came to Hongxin Tower, including the truth about his dealings with the Chen family. He left nothing out.

"You should be glad you didn't make an irreparable enemy of him. As for Chen Xiong from the Chen family, what do you plan to do with him?"

Qiao Lan, having heard everything, was no longer angry. Instead, she asked casually about his conflict with Chen Xiong.

Shen Qingqiang secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly replied,

"Of course I'll make him pay! He lured me into cooperation with promises of profit, and now the project is riddled with problems. I can't just let it go!"

"Fine. Have Old Six go with you. Remember, on top of the original compensation, double it. Tell him I said so, and let him decide what to do."

Qiao Lan waved him off.

Delighted, Shen Qingqiang left. With Old Six at his side, if Chen Xiong dared refuse to pay, he'd regret it for the rest of his life.

...

At the Chen family ancestral home, Chen Xiong was serving tea to the old matriarch.

"In five days, our family will finally be rid of that useless fellow’s influence. Mother, you made the right decision this time!"

Chen Xiong’s eyes gleamed with excitement and satisfaction.

In his generation, the Chen family had two sons and two daughters—besides Chen Jianguo, there was an elder sister and a younger one. As long as Chen Jianguo’s family was expelled, most of the family’s fortune would fall into his hands.

Moreover, his daughter’s boyfriend was a relative of the Li family. With that connection, and the Chen family's foundation, his own branch would soar to new heights.

"I am old now. In the future, the family will depend on your line. Seize the opportunity well, do you understand?"

The old lady spoke with solemn gravity.

"Don’t worry, Mother. I won’t let you down."

Chen Xiong respectfully poured her more tea.

For now, the family’s finances remained in the old matriarch’s control, so he had to endure a few more years.

Just then, heavy footsteps sounded outside. A heavyset figure strode in, exuding a fierce aura, trailed by over a dozen henchmen, each with a dangerous look on his face.

The household servants tried to intervene but were quickly subdued.

"Mr. Shen? What is the meaning of this? Why resort to violence?"

Chen Xiong rose to greet him.

"The meaning? I’m here to collect my money!"

Shen Qingqiang looked aggressive, showing no regard for Chen Xiong’s dignity.

They had dealings before, dirty transactions best kept secret.

Seeing Shen Qingqiang storm in, Chen Xiong felt a pang of guilt, but still forced himself to speak loudly,

"Mr. Shen, if you’re owed, you should go to Chen Muxue’s Haoyuan Company. Why come to the ancestral home for money? We haven’t even collected our payment from you! Can’t we just talk this out?"

"Talk? Spare me! Don’t make me expose your dirty deeds. You’d better pay up—two hundred eighty thousand, not a penny less!"

"What? Two hundred eighty thousand? Why so much?"

The old lady’s face was full of disbelief. The whole project was only four hundred thousand; how could compensation be so high?

"Ask your good son, Chen Xiong. He took plenty from our project—"

"Mr. Shen!"

Before Shen Qingqiang could finish, Chen Xiong shuddered. He’d pocketed a lot back then, and if his mother found out, she’d never forgive him. He quickly interrupted,

"Mr. Shen, we can discuss compensation. Why not sit and have some tea first?"

He shot Shen Qingqiang a look and gestured for him to sit.

"Two hundred eighty thousand is too much. I can’t accept it," the old lady said coldly.

"Can’t accept it? Fine. Now it’s doubled—five hundred sixty thousand. Satisfied?"

Shen Qingqiang’s eyes gleamed with dominance and arrogance.

"What nonsense is this? How can you just raise the price at will?"

Seeing his mother’s breath quicken with anger, Chen Xiong couldn’t help but scold him.

With a sharp smack, Shen Qingqiang slapped him across the face. "At will? That’s right! For someone as sly as you, this is exactly how you should be dealt with!"

"You dare hit me? Are you looking to start a war?"

Chen Xiong clutched his numb cheek, his own anger rising.

Shen Qingqiang was influential, but Chen Xiong was no pushover. For Shen to barge in and slap him—how could he endure such humiliation?

"Someone! Get in here!" he shouted toward the door.

Shen Qingqiang stood unafraid, calmly waiting for Chen Xiong to summon his men.

But several minutes passed, Chen Xiong called out repeatedly, and not a single person appeared.

Enraged, Chen Xiong pulled out his phone, ready to call for reinforcements.

Just then, a figure radiating murderous intent slowly entered from outside.