Chapter 492: What Is Your Status?
by xennovel“Boss, something bad happened. Xiao Liu got beaten up.”
Just then, a young man hurried over, panting as he spoke to Zhao Qing.
“What happened? How’s Xiao Liu?”
Zhao Qing’s expression changed dramatically. He quickly fired off two questions. After all, Xiao Liu had always been with him, so he was naturally concerned.
“He was beaten up by Huo Lao San’s men. They’ve taken him to the hospital for emergency treatment.”
“Bastards!” Zhao Qing gritted his teeth and spat out a curse. He then explained to Xu Shaochen, “Chairman Xu, Huo Lao San is the leader of those truck drivers. He’s always been causing trouble for me.”
“Explain the situation to Chairman Xu.” Zhao Qing ordered the young man.
The young man glanced at Xu Shaochen before hastily explaining, “The brothers from the hospital told me they went to negotiate with Huo Lao San. Huo refused to budge on his high price, and Xiao Liu lost his temper and made a threat. Then, he was outnumbered and beaten up, ending up in the hospital.”
“What nerve! Take me to see this Huo Lao San for myself.”
Xu Shaochen said coldly. Hitting someone was one thing, but inflating prices like that was something else entirely.
Zhao Qing was one of his people.
This project was something Xu Shaochen had worked to get for him.
If just a single Huo Lao San could hold up the entire demolition work indefinitely, how would others see Xu Shaochen in the future?
“Long San, call the city bureau and ask if they plan on handling this. If they don’t, I’ll call the provincial bureau directly.”
Xu Shaochen said in a chilly tone as he walked outside.
“Boss, they said they’re sending someone over to handle it immediately.”
Long San made a phone call nearby, then returned to report to Xu Shaochen.
A few minutes later, several cars stopped in front of a repair shop. Xu Shaochen and his entourage walked inside.
“Huo Lao San, get out here!”
Zhao Qing was clearly furious. He quickly walked past Xu Shaochen and roared with anger.
Immediately, more than ten tall and sturdy middle-aged men walked out.
“Oh, isn’t it Boss Zhao? What brings you here? Did you finally come around, ready to accept our price?”
Huo Lao San, looking over thirty years old with dark skin, exuded a tough and rugged presence.
“Huo Lao San, what do you mean by putting my man in the hospital? Shouldn’t you give me an explanation?” Zhao Qing asked coldly.
“Heh.” Huo Lao San scoffed. “That bastard had a filthy mouth. He should thank his stars I didn’t kill him on the spot.”
“Big talk. Anyone who didn’t know better might think you run things in Jiangzhou.”
Xu Shaochen stepped forward, gazing indifferently at Huo Lao San.
“And who the hell are you? Which idiot forgot to close his zipper and let you out?”
Huo Lao San frowned at Xu Shaochen, then turned to Zhao Qing and said, “What? Can’t handle me on your own, so now you’re getting help? Even if you bring the King of Heaven himself, it won’t matter.”
“Look at these guys in suits and ties, all dressed up like big shots. I could take on ten of you myself!”
“Is that so?” Xu Shaochen sneered and said to Long San, “In under a minute, I want him kneeling on the ground and talking to me.”
“Boss, a minute’s too generous. Twenty seconds will do.”
Long San smiled slightly, then took off his jacket and began walking toward Huo Lao San.
“Big words for someone so young. Today, I’ll teach you a lesson on how to behave.”
As Huo Lao San finished speaking, he roared and rushed at Long San with his fists swinging.
“Fool.”
Long San sidestepped effortlessly, dodging the punch. At the same time, he kicked Huo Lao San’s knee with a swift leg strike.
Huo Lao San had never trained in martial arts and usually relied on his size and brute force in fights. But facing a professional like Long San, he was completely outmatched.
In less than twenty seconds, Long San had Huo Lao San down on the ground, lying in front of Xu Shaochen.
“Big Brother.”
“Let go of our Big Brother!”
Huo Lao San’s men were enraged by the sight and took a step forward, but Long Si and some bodyguards responded by revealing the guns under their jackets.
The once angry crowd instantly fell silent, their faces turning pale as they began retreating.
“Now, repeat what you just said. Weren’t you going to take on ten guys? How come you didn’t even last ten seconds?”
Xu Shaochen looked down at Huo Lao San with a mocking smile, as if he were looking at a small child.
“Screw you! You didn’t beat me yourself; why are you acting so cocky? If you’re tough, have him let me go and fight me one-on-one. I guarantee you’ll be so beaten up that even your mother won’t recognize you!”
Pinned to the ground by Long San, Huo Lao San snarled at Xu Shaochen through clenched teeth.
Xu Shaochen looked at Huo Lao San with undisguised contempt and said dismissively:
“What is your status? And what is mine? Do you think you’re even in my league? You think you’re qualified to have me lower myself to fight you? Fool.”
“When you’re capable of sitting across from me and talking like an equal, then you might be worthy of facing me.”
“You…” Huo Lao San’s eyes were bloodshot. He glared at Xu Shaochen but found himself unable to argue back.
“Mighty~ Mighty~ Mighty~!”
The sound of sirens echoed, followed by several police cars stopping in front of the repair shop. A group of officers jumped out.
“Arrest everyone involved in the fight!”
The lead officer shouted angrily, and the others moved in, pinning Huo Lao San’s men to the ground.
“Let go of me! What are you doing? Let go!”
“Don’t move. You’re suspected of grievous assault. We need you to come with us for further investigation.”
“Resist, and I’ll charge you with assaulting a police officer.”
Huo Lao San was so enraged by the scene that he almost spat blood. He hadn’t expected Zhao Qing to call the cops, especially since it went against underworld rules.
In desperation, he shouted to the officers, “I want to report a crime! They attacked me! Can’t you see I’m pinned to the ground?”
“Officer, this guy here is the ringleader. I’ve already got him restrained for you. No need to thank me.”
With a signal from Xu Shaochen’s eyes, Long San lifted Huo Lao San and handed him over to the police.
“You… despicable! You scoundrel!”
Huo Lao San was practically choking with anger. He never expected Long San, with his broad, honest-looking face, to be so cunning.
What do you mean you helped them arrest me? Weren’t you the one who took me down?
“Now that the trucks are available, get things done quickly. Upper management keeps calling every other day, and it’s really irritating. Understand?”
As the police cars drove away, Xu Shaochen turned to Zhao Qing and said.
Huo Lao San’s stupidity lay in the fact that he shouldn’t have resorted to violence, especially not to the point of sending someone to the emergency room.
“Yes, Chairman Xu.”
Zhao Qing felt a bit ashamed. If it weren’t for Xu Shaochen today, he probably wouldn’t have thought of asking the police for help.
In the past, Zhao Qing had always operated in a legal gray area, which had confined his thinking. Faced with trouble, his instinct was to avoid the authorities.