Chapter Ninety-nine: Wretch!

"Hmph! These young people nowadays, they've got no idea how high the sky is and how deep the earth is—absolutely lawless!"

Qian Yuqiang also darkened his face and followed up with a cold scolding, "I really wonder what kind of parents could raise such a fool!"

President Jiang, his assistant, and Chen Jianguo all froze at his words, staring at Qian Yuqiang in stunned bewilderment, their faces full of... astonishment.

Wait... why was this man cursing himself?!

"What's the matter, President Jiang?" Qian Yuqiang asked, puzzled by their stares. "Did I say something wrong? You... you should be on the side of the girl inside, right?"

Clearly, he hadn't recognized the voice inside as his son's—after all, there was a private room between them, and Qian Liang inside was speaking so heatedly that his voice sounded somewhat different from usual.

The reason he joined in fiercely cursing Qian Liang was to curry favor with President Jiang. He guessed that President Jiang was on Chen Muxue's side, since Chen Muxue had been in a disadvantaged position throughout. Otherwise, President Jiang wouldn't have bothered to call him over for help.

Especially since that bastard inside dared to call President Jiang "Old Man Jiang"—wasn't that just asking for death?!

"Yes, yes—the one inside is my niece!" President Jiang immediately nodded in agreement. By now he had realized that Qian Yuqiang hadn't recognized his own son's voice, and couldn't help but grin.

The assistant and Chen Jianguo beside him couldn't hold back their quiet laughter either.

Seeing this, Qian Yuqiang was utterly bewildered, even more confused. "President Jiang, what on earth is going on? Didn't you call me here to help?"

"Indeed!" President Jiang quickly stifled his laughter and said gravely to Qian Yuqiang, "Old Qian, you heard that clearly now, didn't you? This young man inside, relying on his family's background, is threatening my niece into giving up her profits for nothing. Isn't that going too far? His father is in the chamber of commerce—you need to handle this properly!"

"Too far? Hmph! It's sheer recklessness! This isn't just a threat—this is outright extortion!" Qian Yuqiang's expression hardened. Hearing that the boy's father was also in the chamber of commerce only emboldened him further, since he was the second-in-command there after President Jiang. He continued coldly, "Don't worry. I'd like to see just who the hell his old man thinks he is!"

With that, Qian Yuqiang dashed forward in a single stride, kicked open the private room door, and charged in.

He was about to unleash a torrent of curses when he saw clearly who it was standing by the table—one foot on a stool, arms flailing, spouting nonsense at the top of his lungs. It was his own son. His mind went blank, and he froze on the spot.

Meanwhile, Qian Liang had been startled by the sudden intruder and was about to start cursing, but when he recognized his own father, he was equally shocked. Confused, he asked, "Dad, what are you doing here?!"

"Old Qian—so this is your son?!" President Jiang followed him in, sweeping a dark gaze over Qian Liang before turning to Qian Yuqiang with a grim face. "No wonder he dares to disrespect an old man like me, and even claims he's the one who calls the shots in this patch of Qingyang. But for you to say such things from your current position is still a bit of an exaggeration. How about I report this to the higher-ups and let them hand over your seat to you instead?"

Qian Yuqiang trembled in fright at President Jiang's words, nearly collapsing to the ground.

He knew full well that President Jiang was the actual head of the chamber of commerce—a position higher than his own. If President Jiang, in a fit of anger, dismissed him from his post as secretary-general, his career would be over, just like that!

"You vile wretch!" Qian Yuqiang's face turned grim. He lunged forward in a sudden stride and swung his palm viciously across Qian Liang's face.

"Ow... ah, Dad! Dad! What are you doing?!" Qian Liang was stunned by the slap, clutching his head with both hands as he dodged and shouted at his father.

"What am I doing? I'll beat you to death, you useless piece of trash!" Qian Yuqiang roared furiously, chasing after Qian Liang and striking with immense force, showing no mercy whatsoever—clearly doing this to appease President Jiang's anger.

"Secretary Qian, if you don't hit hard enough, he won't learn his lesson!" President Jiang's assistant chimed in with a flat, indifferent "reminder."

Qian Yuqiang's face darkened at the remark. Gritting his teeth, he grabbed a chair and swung it at Qian Liang.

Qian Liang, caught off guard, failed to dodge. The chair slammed into his back, and his head cracked against the wall beside him. He tumbled to the ground in a heap, his brain reeling, stars flashing before his eyes. He muttered dazedly, "Crazy... crazy... this old man has gone crazy..."

After all, on ordinary days, his father wouldn't even so much as scold him!

"You unfilial brat! I'll beat you to death today!" Qian Yuqiang's eyes were bloodshot as he raised the chair, making as if to smash it down on his son again.

President Jiang casually shot a glance at his assistant.

The assistant hurried over to Qian Yuqiang, wrapping his arms around him and grabbing the chair from his hands. "Old Qian, that's enough, that's enough. The kid doesn't know any better—a couple of hits is plenty!"

"Get out of my way! I must discipline my own household today!" Qian Yuqiang, however, felt a wave of relief the moment he saw President Jiang's assistant step in to stop him—he'd been afraid he might actually beat his son to death. Still, he kept up a furious front while secretly stealing a glance at President Jiang.

"Alright, Old Qian, that's about enough!" President Jiang sighed leisurely at this point. "Consider today as if nothing ever happened. When you get home, make sure to discipline him properly, lest he stir up even bigger trouble next time!"

"Ahh, what a disgrace to the family!" Qian Yuqiang tossed the chair aside, sighing deeply. "I truly never imagined this unfilial brat would be running around outside causing chaos under my name. When I get home, I swear I'll break one of his legs!"

President Jiang gave a faint, thin smile and said nothing more. As for whether Qian Yuqiang truly knew what his son had been doing outside, only Qian Yuqiang himself knew the answer.

"Apologize to President Jiang this instant!" Qian Yuqiang snapped coldly at Qian Liang.

"Pres... President Jiang?!" Qian Liang shuddered violently. Though he didn't know Jiang Shaoxiong personally, he'd heard his father mention that Jiang Shaoxiong was the true president of the chamber of commerce—a position even higher than his father's. No wonder the old man at home had come down on him so hard.

Qian Liang gritted his teeth against the pain in his back and scrambled to his feet, speaking to Jiang Shaoxiong with fearful deference, "President Jiang, I... I'm sorry..."

"No need to apologize to me. The person you tried to extort is my niece!" Jiang Shaoxiong said flatly, once again using the term "niece" to emphasize his connection to Chen Muxue.

Niece?!

Qian Liang's heart lurched at the word, and bitterness flooded through him. Chen Muxue had such a formidable connection—why hadn't she said so earlier?!