Chen Jian briefly instructed Hu Pan to accompany the bosses on the rest of the tour, apologized to the bosses, and then walked toward the staircase.
Hu Pan was very smart. Guessing that something must have happened downstairs, she immediately led the bosses up to the third floor to visit the gym.
Chen Jian descended the first two steps at a deliberate pace before bursting into a sprint, essentially clearing each flight of stairs in two leaps.
Chen Dahu’s appearance on any day other than today wouldn’t have panicked him so much, but today was the grand opening of Dayin, and no trouble could be permitted.
Yet Chen Dahu had specifically picked today to show up—he was clearly here for trouble.
Chen Erhu probably didn’t even know his brother was coming today. Considering how hard Chen Erhu had been working these past few days—he, Sanbing, and the rest of his crew had put in a great deal of effort inside and out—if his brother had shown any sign of this beforehand, Chen Erhu wouldn’t have kept it a secret.
That bastard.
Chen Jian’s anger surged higher and higher as he charged down the stairs.
He had poured so much energy into this establishment, for the money, but also for a glimmer of hope that seemed tangible.
Zhao-jie, Hu Pan, and perhaps Sanbing shared that exact same feeling.
All the staff in the guesthouse were counting on this place.
I’d like to see who the fuck dares to cause trouble on such a happy day as our grand opening!
I’d like to see who the fuck wants to ruin this place.
Anyone who dares to stir up trouble today gets beaten up—and if the boss dares to stir up trouble, I’ll beat him up too!
By the time Chen Jian burst onto the first floor, the atmosphere was already extremely tense. The staff from several nearby shops were either sitting or standing, having backed off toward the dining area. Though none of them explicitly acted like spectators watching a show, they were all peering over in this direction.
Getting paid while watching someone else’s drama unfold—quite a good deal.
Chen Dahu had brought two thugs who looked like local town enforcers. He was sitting at the bar casually smoking a cigarette. This nonchalant air was slightly higher in grade than his younger brother’s mental card game in the courtyard back then.
At least he was actually smoking and blowing smoke rings.
However, compared to Shan Yu, who sat calmly in his wheelchair opposite him without a single unnecessary decorative gesture, Chen Dahu was still several levels behind.
“Why did you come down?” Seeing Chen Jian, Shan Yu asked.
“Just taking a look.” Chen Jian’s voice was deep and grim. Instead of walking over to Shan Yu, he stood directly in front of the bar counter, staring down Chen Dahu.
Chen Dahu blew a puff of smoke straight into his face: “Manager Chen, acting all grand and mighty now, are we?”
“Something on your mind?” Chen Jian didn’t budge.
“This is between me and Boss Shan,” Chen Dahu leaned against the bar counter. “Has nothing to do with you. I’m not looking for trouble with you, so don’t throw yourself into the line of fire.”
“What did you just call me?” Chen Jian asked.
“Manager Chen, what of it?” Chen Dahu looked at him.
“So I am the manager of this guesthouse,” Chen Jian said. “If you want to pick a fight with Shan Yu, don’t do it in my shop.”
Chen Dahu was momentarily stunned.
Even Shan Yu was caught off guard for a second. He rested his arm on the wheelchair armrest, propping his temple with his fingers, feeling a slight urge to laugh.
The manager had quite a domineering logic.
And quite a fierce heart.
“Chen Jian, cut the beat-around-the-bush crap with me. I’m not touching you today for my brother’s sake,” Chen Dahu said. “Don’t push your luck.”
“Get out,” Chen Jian said.
Is the manager really about to throw both Chen Dahu and the boss out?
Looking at Chen Jian’s back, Shan Yu couldn’t help raising an eyebrow—that back actually carried a hint of murderous intent.
Chen Dahu gave a cold laugh and didn’t move.
Chen Jian looked back toward Shan Yu. Chen Erhu, Sanbing, and the rest of their group were all standing beside Shan Yu.
Chen Erhu had lost his usual arrogant expression, looking anxious and tense. After all, he was facing Chen Dahu, who had whipped him like a spinning top since childhood; being able to stand firmly over there with his people at this moment already showed where his loyalty lay.
Chen Jian didn’t want to strike first, but Chen Dahu would never cooperate. Letting him drag things out here would most likely lead to the same outcome anyway.
When he looked back, he wasn’t looking at Shan Yu—he was looking at Chen Erhu and Sanbing.
Sanbing moved before Chen Erhu, walking over toward him.
Chen Erhu hesitated for half a second before stepping forward as well.
Just as Lao Si, Lao Wu, and the others were about to follow, Shan Yu sighed, raised his hand, and poked the folded crutch against Chen Erhu’s back.
Chen Erhu stopped and glanced back.
“Chen Dahu, right?” Shan Yu looked at Chen Dahu, uttering what was probably his first words since Chen Dahu walked in.
“Don’t play dumb,” Chen Dahu turned his body to face Shan Yu as well. “I don’t like beating around the bush. You know damn well why I came today.”
“Since you don’t like beating around the bush,” Shan Yu said, “don’t demonstrate it yourself. Just say it straight.”
The corner of Chen Dahu’s mouth twitched.
The very next second, he grabbed a glass off the bar counter, raised his hand, and smashed it toward the floor.
Chen Jian knew this man well enough. From the moment Chen Dahu’s mouth twitched, he had been watching his hand. The moment his arm swung up, Chen Jian reached out to intercept it from below.
The downward momentum of Chen Dahu’s hand was cut short as his wrist collided with Chen Jian’s forearm. The glass slipped from his grip, hit the floor, was cushioned by Chen Jian’s foot, and rolled to the side.
“Mind your own fucking business!” Chen Dahu instantly blew his top, his finger practically poking into Chen Jian’s face.
Chen Jian didn’t say a word. He bent down, picked up the glass, and instead of putting it back on the counter, he gripped it in his hand with the heavy base facing forward.
As a street thug with actual combat experience, Chen Dahu knew that the base of that glass could land on his head at any moment before he could react, so he didn’t attack immediately.
“Hey, hey,” Shan Yu raised his chin toward Chen Dahu. “Get to the point.”
“Fine, fine,” Chen Dahu nodded. “I was going to save you some face today, but since you want me to speak directly, then I will…”
“How about… going to the conference room…” Chen Jian caught the nuance—this matter had room for negotiation.
Chen Dahu might have realized he underestimated the cripple in front of him, or perhaps he hadn’t expected Chen Jian, who usually avoided direct confrontation with him, to give him so little face. More than anything, he probably hadn’t expected his own brother to stand on the opposing side.
He had brought too few people.
Boss, watch your words. There’s room for negotiation.
However, the sharp-minded Shan Yu didn’t play along with him at all and cut him off directly: “Speak.”
“What are you going to do about the money you owe me!” Chen Dahu bellowed at the top of his lungs.
Fuck.
“What money?” Shan Yu asked, though his gaze shifted to Chen Jian as he spoke.
As expected, it’s about the dispute with Qian Yu.
But I don’t know the full details either!
Chen Jian looked at Shan Yu, clearly feeling the surprise and displeasure in Shan Yu’s eyes.
“The money Qian Yu owes me, the money this guesthouse owes me,” Chen Dahu glared at Shan Yu. “Give me an explanation today. I’m not an unreasonable person.”
Shan Yu was silent for a brief moment, then leaned back, looking at Chen Dahu: “Qian Yu owes you money, and you’re asking me for it? Are you face-blind or illiterate?”
Before Chen Dahu could speak, he added another line: “Also, stop calling yourself ‘bro’ with me. Say ‘bro’ one more time, and I’m your father.”
Chen Dahu glared at him for two seconds before roaring: “Smash the place!”
“I dare anyone to try!” Chen Jian roared as well.
“Bro!” Chen Erhu charged forward, wrapping his arms around Chen Dahu to drag him outside. “Bro, give me some face; let’s pick another time…”
Chen Dahu slammed an elbow straight into Chen Erhu’s face: “Get the fuck off me!”
Then, as if making a point, he locked his arm around Chen Erhu’s neck in a chokehold while hammering his other elbow into Chen Erhu’s face repeatedly.
Within two hits, blood began to ooze from the corner of Chen Erhu’s eye.
“Erhu-ge!” Sanbing panicked and pounced forward. Lao Si and the rest of the crew swarmed over as well, trying to pull Chen Erhu out of his grip.
Taking advantage of the chaos, the two thugs Chen Dahu brought along started trying to sweep items off the bar counter onto the floor.
“Hey, don’t touch those things!” Zhao Fangfang, who had been stunned behind the counter, panicked and rushed forward to block them.
One of the thugs raised his hand, aiming to strike Zhao Fangfang’s head.
“Fuck off!” Chen Jian swung his arm, smashing the glass in his hand onto the man’s knuckles.
The scene was chaotic, but with superior numbers, they weren’t at a disadvantage. However, Chen Dahu possessed terrifying physical strength, and several people couldn’t free Chen Erhu from his arm.
If he choked him any harder, they might as well call an undertaker.
Chen Jian felt a massive headache coming on. While waving his hand to make Zhao Fangfang fall back, he glanced back at Shan Yu.
Unbeknownst to anyone, Shan Yu had already stood up from his wheelchair and walked over to the edge of the brawl, holding his unopened crutch in his hand.
“Don’t add to the chaos!” Chen Jian kept his voice low while grabbing a thug’s collar and dragging him out of the crowd.
He didn’t dare yell too loudly, but amidst the utter chaos, his words were completely drowned out anyway.
“Hey!” Shan Yu shouted, standing beside the chaotic crowd.
Nobody stopped.
Shan Yu reached into his pocket and pulled out a lighter and a small red object.
A firecracker?
Where did that come from?!
Did he pick it up in the yard?
Chen Jian slammed the thug in his grip violently onto the floor, kicked the fallen man, turned around, and rushed toward Shan Yu.
“What are you do—”
Before he could finish his sentence, Shan Yu lit the firecracker, flicked his wrist, and sent the sparking fuse flying right into the middle of the crowd. It exploded with a deafening bang right next to their ears.
The grand opening firecrackers Chen Erhu bought were extra loud; even just a single one exploding indoors left everyone stunned and disoriented. Every single person froze in that instant.
Chen Jian reacted immediately. Taking advantage of everyone’s momentary stupor, he rushed over and grabbed Chen Dahu’s arm.
At the exact same moment, Shan Yu moved as well.
With his back turned, Chen Jian didn’t even see clearly how Shan Yu had walked over without his crutch.
All he saw was the crutch in Shan Yu’s hand sweeping past his vision and chopping down hard against the side of Chen Dahu’s neck.
The next second, Chen Jian felt the grip Chen Dahu had on his brother slacken completely. When he looked over, Chen Dahu was already collapsing sideways, stiff as a board.
Still holding Chen Dahu’s arm, Chen Jian couldn’t catch him in time and could only guide him gently onto the floor.
Everyone stared together in silent shock at Chen Dahu—who had just been trying to strangle Chen Erhu to death moments ago—now lying completely motionless.
“You…” His face flushed bright red from being choked, Chen Erhu stared in disbelief for a long time before turning his head toward Shan Yu. “Did you kill my brother?”
“Just fainted,” Shan Yu flicked the crutch in his hand, propped himself up, and slowly retreated back to sit in his wheelchair. “Carry him into a room.”
Seeing this display, the two thugs immediately backed off two steps toward the door.
“You two,” Chen Jian immediately pointed at them. “Carry him.”
The two thugs looked thoroughly displeased, but they could only walk over, grab Chen Dahu’s arms, and drag him behind Chen Jian into a first-floor guest room.
Chen Erhu and Sanbing frantically scrambled behind, lifting Chen Dahu’s legs, and followed them into the room.
Shan Yu nudged the wheelchair joystick, slowly driving it to the doorway of the guest room. He turned his head, glanced toward the dining area, and said, “Sorry about that; everyone keep enjoying yourselves. Lao Si, Lao Wu, take care of our guests.”
“Alright.” Lao Si and Lao Wu hadn’t fully recovered from the shock, but they immediately responded and walked over to the dining area.
“Would you like something to drink?” Lao Wu even asked politely.
Shan Yu entered the guest room, where Chen Dahu had already been laid on the bed.
Chen Jian walked over and closed the door.
“Boss, things have turned out like this. How are we wrapping this up now?” a thug asked Shan Yu, pointing at Chen Dahu on the bed.
“Wrapping up before the show even started?” Shan Yu said. “Is he dead?”
“You…” the thug wanted to say more.
“Wait for him to wake up,” Chen Jian cut him off.
This scene was truly… Chen Jian couldn’t help glancing at Shan Yu.
He wasn’t dead, but how long would it take for him to wake up?
A ring of people standing around looked as if they were paying their final respects to a corpse.
Shan Yu leaned back leisurely, shooting him a glance as well.
However, the look in Shan Yu’s eyes right now was somewhat different from his usual calm composure—Chen Jian could sense it.
Shan Yu was angry.
Chen Dahu on the bed woke up shortly after, having been knocked out for only two or three minutes.
When he opened his eyes, he practically leaped up, though he immediately slumped back onto the bed.
“Have some water,” Shan Yu said.
Sanbing grabbed a bottle of water from the nearby table, unscrewed the cap, and handed it to Chen Dahu.
Somewhat dazed, Chen Dahu took the water and chugged a few gulps before coming to his senses. Standing up, he glared at Shan Yu: “Not bad, hitting so brutally!”
“Let’s talk about the money,” Shan Yu said, looking at him.
“I don’t care whether you really don’t know or are playing dumb,” Chen Dahu said. “Back then, Qian Yu promised me a ten-percent share in this establishment. How much effort did I fucking spend seizing territory for his trashy shop in the old town? And what did he do? He ran away! I only recognize this guesthouse now!”
“I didn’t know about this,” Shan Yu said. “I need to get to the bottom of it first.”
Chen Dahu looked at him without speaking.
“Once I clarify things, I’ll find you,” Shan Yu continued unhurriedly. “Before that, don’t let me see you again. If I catch you coming near this place or touching anyone in my shop again, I don’t mind going back inside for another three years. Don’t pick trouble you can’t handle.”
These words caused a subtle shift in Chen Dahu’s expression. He glanced toward Chen Erhu, seemingly looking for confirmation.
However, Chen Erhu kept his head down and didn’t look at him.
“Also, coming here to make trouble on my grand opening day,” Shan Yu flicked a speck of dust off his pants. “I’m keeping score of this debt. We’ll settle it later.”
Chen Dahu gave a cold sneer, not daring to take the bait easily.
“Boss Chen, Sanbing, show Mr. Chen out.” Shan Yu turned his wheelchair around.
Chen Jian walked over, opened the guest room door, and followed behind his wheelchair.
There was no one left in the dining area now; it seemed Lao Si and the others had ushered everyone into the garden to “browse and relax.”
Zhao Fangfang was near the bar counter clearing up the chairs and tables that had been knocked over during the melee.
“Zhao-jie,” Shan Yu called out to her. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, I’m fine,” Zhao Fangfang waved her hand, glancing toward the guest room. Seeing Chen Dahu walking out from inside, she breathed a sigh of relief. “It’s nothing, I’ll clean up.”
“Mm,” Shan Yu responded, driving his wheelchair to the elevator. “Chen Jian, come up with me.”
“Oh,” Chen Jian responded.
Judging by the sound, the bosses were on the fourth-floor viewing balcony. Chen Jian followed Shan Yu into the office and closed the door.
After entering the office, Shan Yu didn’t move; his wheelchair stopped right in the center of the room.
Chen Jian didn’t move either. The office was well soundproofed; at this moment, no outside noise could be heard, yet his ears were still ringing with the chaotic buzzing from earlier.
“Would you like a Cola?” Chen Jian asked. “Zhao-jie put a few cans in your mini-fridge.”
Shan Yu didn’t speak or move.
After a moment, he slowly turned around and looked at him: “Did you know about this?”
“…I didn’t know the details.” Chen Jian frowned. “I only knew they seemed to have some financial dispute.”
“That’s not detailed enough?” Shan Yu’s voice was still steady, but anger was palpable.
“I told you they had friction.” Chen Jian spoke in a muffled tone. He felt extremely frustrated today as well—such a scene ruining what should have been a great opening day.
“Why didn’t you mention it was about money?” Shan Yu said. “Don’t you know how troublesome it is when people like that get involved in money matters?”
You didn’t ask either.
Chen Jian stayed silent.
“Get me a can of Cola,” Shan Yu said.
Chen Jian walked over, opened the mini-fridge, grabbed a can of Cola, and handed it to Shan Yu’s hand.
“You can go now,” Shan Yu popped open the Cola. “Tend to the wound on your hand.”
“Need a glass?” Chen Jian asked.
“Get out,” Shan Yu said.
Chen Jian turned and walked out of the office.
