Chapter 193: He Might Have Misunderstood

“You don’t have to trouble yourself with that. That group of outsiders has already been arrested.”

Zhao Guozhong also pretended not to see through Sanzhi’s act, saying with a smile, “This group of people has been bullying and dominating the market in Yuelou Town. They are a criminal organization with gangster-like characteristics. They even ganged up on me, a law-abiding citizen, and beat me up, putting me in the hospital. Their actions are heinous, and they will definitely be severely punished by the law this time.”

Zhao Guozhong’s serious tone made Sanzhi very uncomfortable. He gave an awkward smile and said, “That’s good. This group of outsiders is really no good. They ganged up on Shorty Ba back in the day. Originally, Shorty Ba’s car wash only cost 15 yuan, but later, under their pressure, he had to raise the price to 20 yuan. Right, Shorty Ba?”

“Yes, yes, that’s right,” Shorty Ba nodded repeatedly. “Back then, I was forced to raise the price with a knife to my neck. If you need me to testify against them, I can go and identify them.”

“Good. I’ll call you if I need you.”

Zhao Guozhong readily agreed, which made Shorty Ba feel a little pained. If he could, he certainly didn’t want to go to the Public Security Bureau.

However, since he had already said it, he couldn’t go back on his word. But thinking about it, he had a deep-seated grudge against that group of outsiders, so he was actually quite happy to see them in trouble now.

Zhao Guozhong then continued to exchange pleasantries with Sanzhi for a while. Then, Shorty Ba came forward with a barrage of flattery and praise, and then brought up the matter of partnering with him to open a new car detailing shop, saying that they could split the capital fifty-fifty, and he would only take a 40% stake.

Zhao Guozhong was immediately tempted. Shorty Ba’s proposal was clearly a sign of submission, a way to buy peace and seek cooperation with money.

However, he didn’t have much money at the moment, and besides, this matter definitely required Chen Feng’s approval.

So, Zhao Guozhong was also very frank, saying that he couldn’t make the decision on this matter, and it required his nephew’s consent.

Sanzhi took the opportunity to say, “A-Zhong, I’ve heard you mention your nephew several times, but I haven’t met him yet. How about when you’re discharged from the hospital, you arrange for us old brothers to meet him?”

Zhao Guozhong chuckled twice and said, “What a coincidence. He just left before you arrived. You just missed him. Besides, my nephew is also very busy. He might be going back to Xiuzhou tomorrow.”

“Ah, he’s going back to Xiuzhou already?” Sanzhi was very disappointed. To be honest, he really wanted to get to know this capable junior, Chen Feng. In his eyes, Chen Feng was undoubtedly a person with extraordinary connections, which had always been his weakness.

Although he was now a well-known entrepreneur and had some money, he had a gangster background and had been to prison, so it was really difficult for him to get to know any powerful people. He had no official status because of his criminal record, which made him even less presentable.

It was only by relying on his reputation for being ruthless and fierce in his younger days that he could still command some respect locally. He also relied on his old, unsavory connections to avoid being looked down upon.

For someone of his current status, it was actually quite awkward. He was stuck in the middle. Ordinary people envied him, but he envied other entrepreneurs who had official status and could appear on TV to give reports.

In terms of social class and status, those other entrepreneurs were clearly a level above him.

Sanzhi knew that he had a bad record and would never be able to advance further in his life. So, he could only hope to get to know someone with deep connections on the right side of the law, who could be his guide or even his direct backer.

This was the instinct and survival principle of private entrepreneurs like them to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages.

And right now, Chen Feng was undoubtedly the kind of target he was very interested in.

Zhao Guozhong didn’t know Sanzhi’s thoughts, but he also didn’t want to introduce his nephew to someone like Sanzhi.

Zhao Guozhong just smiled with a hint of pride and said, “There will be opportunities in the future.”

Sanzhi could only temporarily give up his plan to get to know Chen Feng. However, now that he was sure Chen Feng was a powerful figure, he definitely had to start maintaining a good relationship with Zhao Guozhong.

So, Sanzhi began to say things that Zhao Guozhong liked to hear. After all, they had known each other for decades and were sworn brothers. They knew each other well, and Sanzhi was also a good talker. He quickly closed the distance with Zhao Guozhong, and the two of them seemed to be chatting and laughing, looking like close brothers.

However, their brotherly affection hadn’t had much time to warm up before the other sworn brothers also arrived one after another. The hospital room suddenly became very lively.

Apparently, this group of people had also received the news and had rushed over again to suck up to Zhao Guozhong.

It was just that Zhao Guozhong’s hospital room had poor business today; he was the only patient in the three-bed room.

So, with more than a dozen people squeezing in, it wasn’t too crowded. After closing the door, they didn’t disturb the other patients.

Undoubtedly, Zhao Guozhong was now the object of their old brothers’ eager flattery. If they had been reserved before, the two consecutive major official actions this time had really shown these old brothers how powerful Zhao Guozhong’s nephew was.

Their behavior became even more blatant. Several of them almost got into a fight over who would go to the boiler room to get hot water for him.

More than half of them also offered to stay the night to keep him company.

Since Zhao Guozhong really had such a powerful nephew, they all naturally wanted to get on good terms with him. That way, if they or their close ones encountered any difficulties in the future, they would have the face to ask Zhao Guozhong for help, to have him ask his nephew.

This was human nature and the way of the world.

And in fact, Zhao Guozhong was also enjoying the flattery and eager care of this large group of old brothers at this moment.

Chen Feng had no idea how lively his uncle’s hospital room would be after he left.

He was originally supposed to stay the night to keep his uncle company, as per his mother’s orders, but Zhao Guozhong was tactful enough to quickly decline his sister’s arrangement.

Chen Feng was able to go home smoothly from the hospital.

These past two days had been really busy, with long-distance travel, buying a shop, and dealing with his uncle’s affairs.

When he got home, it was just in time for dinner. He told his family about his uncle’s situation while they ate.

Of course, to avoid unnecessary trouble and worry, Chen Feng didn’t mention that he had asked for help. He only said that the group of outsiders who had beaten his uncle had been arrested, and both car washes had been shut down.

Chen Rui knew some of Chen Feng’s abilities and asked with a smile, “So, our new car wash can monopolize the car wash business in Yuelou Town again?”

That seemed to be the case.

Chen Feng suddenly felt like he was some kind of local tyrant.

“Is that so?” his mother also asked with concern.

Chen Feng nodded awkwardly, “It seems so at the moment.”

“Haha, then our new shop is also a monopoly. Uncle didn’t get beaten for nothing,” Chen Rui said happily.

Li Guihong also had a look of joy on her face. She had originally disagreed with her husband investing in this new shop because they had planned to use the money to buy a house. If they invested, the plan to buy a house would have to be postponed.

But this car detailing shop was indeed profitable, and Chen Feng was backing it. Moreover, it involved her mother-in-law’s beloved younger brother, so she could only complain about her husband behind his back and didn’t dare to object.

Now, hearing such good news, she certainly had a reason to be happy.

However, seeing her eldest son’s brilliant smile, Zhao Xiaolan was a little unhappy. She said with a stern face, “Your uncle was beaten, and you’re still smiling so happily? Can you live with yourself? Tomorrow morning, you find some time to go see your uncle.”

Hearing this, Chen Rui quickly wiped the smile off his face and nodded obediently, “Okay, Mom.”

Years of bloody lessons had taught Chen Rui not to dare say anything about being too busy at the shop to get away.

Li Guihong also quickly wiped the joy off her face and put on a serious expression.

Chen Feng, watching from the side, found it amusing. In the family, it was still his mother, the old empress dowager, who held the fort.

After dinner, Chen Feng returned to his room and finally had time to check his unread messages.

Guo Mengyao: [Why didn’t you answer my call??]

Guo Mengyao had called him more than three hours ago. He was talking to Qin Zhen and the others at the time, so he just hung up without answering. Later, he forgot about it. When he remembered later, he didn’t rush to contact her.

Chen Feng felt that Guo Mengyao seemed to be developing feelings for him again, which was not a good sign. So, there was no need to spoil her, and even less to be at her beck and call, replying to her messages in seconds.

Besides, Guo Mengyao was contacting him now, and it was obvious it was about her divorce from her husband. Chen Feng really didn’t want to get too involved.

So, after reading her message, Chen Feng didn’t reply immediately.

Instead, he went to read the other unread messages.

Wu Mengting: [My dad is fine, just high blood pressure, an old problem. Let me know when you’re going back to Xiuzhou, we’ll go together.]

Wu Mengting and Lin Yujiao were originally going to accompany Chen Feng to the hospital to visit his uncle, but before they even got to the hospital in Linnan, she was called back by an urgent call from her mother, saying that her father was suddenly feeling unwell and needed to be rushed to the hospital.

Wu Mengting, of course, immediately rushed back to the city of Lushi. Seeing this, Chen Feng didn’t take Lin Yujiao to the hospital to see his uncle alone. Otherwise, his uncle would definitely misunderstand.

After all, Lin Yujiao was just a mistress he was keeping, not his girlfriend. Lin Yujiao didn’t say anything and went back to Qingpu by herself.

After reading Wu Mengting’s message, Chen Feng replied to her: [Then I’m relieved. Tell your father to pay more attention to his health, eat a reasonable diet, and get some proper exercise.]

Wu Mengting replied with a “thank you” in seconds.

In fact, Wu Mengting had been tricked into going home by her parents. The reason was simple: they didn’t want Wu Mengting to go to Linnan anymore, to have any more contact with Chen Feng.

Last time Wu Mengting went to Linnan, she said she was going to see an old classmate and would be staying at their place, but in fact, she stayed at Chen Feng’s house.

This time, Wu Mengting tried the same trick, but her parents firmly objected, saying that she could have her classmate come to their house to play. In the end, they couldn’t persuade her, so they reluctantly agreed to let her stay there for one day and then come back.

But Wu Mengting stayed for three days and didn’t come back. In the end, they had to resort to this trick to get her back.

Wu Mengting was of course very angry, but her parents begged her not to get in any deeper, not to fall in love with someone who had a terminal illness and didn’t have long to live. Her mother was even about to kneel down to her, so she could only temporarily compromise and stay at home.

Chen Feng didn’t know the inside story. Even if he did, he would advise her to listen to her parents.

Wu Mengting might have thought of this, so she simply didn’t tell Chen Feng.

The message Lin Yujiao sent to Chen Feng was from about ten minutes ago.

[Are you coming over tonight?]

Chen Feng thought for a moment. He had been quite tired these past two days, so he quickly replied with two words: [Not coming.]

Lin Yujiao replied with an “oh” in seconds.

Chen Feng had no interest in studying the inner meaning of her “oh.” He put down his phone, took off his clothes, and went to take a shower.

After his shower, just as he came out of the bathroom, a call came in. Seeing the number was Guo Mengyao’s, he hesitated for a moment before answering.

“Mengyao, what’s up?”

Chen Feng asked in a casual tone.

“I called you earlier and you didn’t answer. I sent you a WeChat message and you didn’t reply,” Guo Mengyao said with a hint of resentment.

Chen Feng said in a very natural tone, “I was busy with something at the time, and I forgot about it later. I haven’t even checked my WeChat yet. I’ve been too busy today.”

“What were you busy with? So busy that you only have time to answer my call now.”

“My uncle was beaten and hospitalized. I just got back from the hospital.”

“Ah, is that so? How are your uncle’s injuries?” Guo Mengyao’s tone immediately softened.

“It’s not a serious injury, but it’s enough to be considered a minor injury. He might have to stay in the hospital for a few days.”

“Oh, that’s good.” Guo Mengyao paused for a moment before getting back to the point. She said in a complicated tone, “I went to the detention center this afternoon. My ex-husband has already signed. I’m single now.”

Chen Feng was stunned for a moment and couldn’t help but ask, “Your husband, no, your ex-husband accepted the conditions you mentioned before?”

“Of course. He just glanced at the agreement and signed it immediately. But when I saw him, he looked a bit miserable, bruised and swollen, and he was limping. When he saw me, his eyes were full of hatred and fear. Tell me, what did you do to him?”

Chen Feng was speechless. He thought to himself, I really didn’t do anything.

But from Guo Mengyao’s words, it seemed her ex-husband had been severely beaten in the detention center, and it wasn’t just a minor beating. He had then blamed it on her and him, otherwise he wouldn’t have signed the divorce agreement so readily.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Feng still said truthfully, “I didn’t do anything to him. He might have misunderstood.”

“Why are you still keeping secrets from me?” Guo Mengyao complained, then lowered her voice and said, “Did you get someone to rough him up inside? He looked really miserable. Since he’s already signed the divorce agreement with me, you don’t have to have people treat him like that anymore.”

Chen Feng said in a somewhat helpless and indignant tone, “It really wasn’t me. I didn’t get anyone to rough him up.”

“Then who did it? And it’s such a coincidence that he misunderstood that we were the ones who did it? How can there be such a coincidence?” Guo Mengyao didn’t believe it.

Chen Feng guessed, “It could be the victim whose head he smashed, or those injured in the car accident. It’s all possible.”

Guo Mengyao thought for a moment and said, “That’s possible, but why does he think we were the ones who did it? And… I’ve already implicitly promised him that no one will rough him up anymore. If it wasn’t you, then doesn’t that mean… he’s still going to be roughed up?”

As she spoke, and thought of her ex-husband’s miserable appearance, Guo Mengyao couldn’t help but feel a little soft-hearted.

(End of chapter)