Chapter Seventy-Three: A Pause in the Journey

Song Liang’s mastery of social interaction was not merely in offering help when it was needed most or adding the finishing touch when things were going well; more importantly, he understood how to leverage every available resource to achieve his goals. Despite his high social standing, he was never stingy with giving others respect.

For example, halfway through the banquet, Song Liang suddenly said to Li Mu, “Let me take you to the neighboring private rooms so you can toast your brother Wan Jun’s men.”

Li Mu could hardly refuse, and as soon as Zhang Wanjun heard this, he quickly followed along. Thus, the two of them led Li Mu through the other three private rooms one by one.

At each room, Song Liang would first raise his glass and offer a toast to the whole table, speaking with great deference: “Brothers, I have to thank you all for what happened today. You’ve all worked hard. This toast is for everyone—bottoms up!”

With that, the group of street toughs, both flattered and surprised, felt a surge of pride, and their admiration for Song Liang only deepened.

Then, Song Liang would bring Li Mu forward: “This is my brother Li Mu. In the future, if you see him in Haizhou and he runs into trouble, please look after him. Also, my brother is opening a Metersbonwe store at the West Gate. It’ll be opening in about twenty days. When the time comes, I hope you’ll rally your friends and come support us.”

Hearing these words, Li Mu realized that Song Liang’s success was no accident. The man was incredibly shrewd, adept at putting everyone to use, and cared little for empty pride or status—he was a consummate pragmatist.

Li Mu followed suit, offering toasts to everyone, thanking them for their help, and politely inviting them to the store’s opening, promising discounts. The brotherhood among these toughs ran deep, and they all agreed enthusiastically.

On the way back to their own room, Song Liang said to Li Mu, “At the beginning of August, I’ll have a few building-sized ad spaces available—giant ones. Want me to set some aside for you?”

Li Mu hurried to reply, “No need to trouble yourself, Brother Liang.”

“It’s no trouble at all. I never lease out those ad spaces anyway. If I don’t use them myself, they just sit there.”

Li Mu tried to politely decline again, but Song Liang clapped him on the shoulder. “It’s settled.”

Li Mu had no choice but to nod. Seizing the chance to excuse himself to the restroom, he headed to the front desk, intending to settle the bill, only to be told that Song Liang had already said all expenses were to be charged to his account. Li Mu had no choice but to let it go.

On the way home, Li Mu learned from Song Liang that he was also a shareholder in this eco-park, together with a few locals from Haizhou. The main purpose wasn’t profit, but to have a convenient place for entertaining guests—a venue designed for social functions.

Song Liang dropped Li Mu and Zhao Kang at the entrance to the Xiling Coal Mine residential area. As Li Mu got out of the car, he thanked Song Liang again, but Song Liang waved it off indifferently. “This is nothing. No need to be so formal with your brother. Don’t make it sound like we’re strangers.”

With Song Liang so nonchalant, Li Mu dropped the pleasantries.

As they were leaving, Song Liang asked, “Tomorrow those boys are in the semifinals. Are you going to show your support?”

“I probably can’t make it. Too much to do. What about you, Brother Liang?”

“I can’t either. I have a dinner at the city government tomorrow night.”

“Then let’s just wish them luck from afar, here in Haizhou.”

“Haha, yes, let’s wish them luck from afar!”

After Song Liang left, Zhao Kang and Li Mu walked side by side into the complex. After a long silence, Zhao Kang suddenly blurted out, “Little Mu, how do you know so many incredible people? I was holding in my pee for the whole second half of dinner—I almost wet myself.”

Li Mu replied, “Why not just go? You’ll hurt your bladder like that.”

“I was scared. Those were some big shots—I didn’t dare move.”

Li Mu stuck his hands in his pockets and shook his head helplessly. “Today was just a minor episode. They may be a big deal in Haizhou, but our horizons shouldn’t be limited to such a small place. Once you get to Yanjing, you’ll see that there are plenty of people even more powerful than them. If we look up to everyone stronger than us, we’ll end up breaking our necks.”

Zhao Kang nodded in a daze.

The two parted ways at the entrance to the complex and headed home, drawing a close—at least for now—to the incident where they’d stood up to a spoiled rich kid.

...

At home, Li Mu didn’t mention any of this to his parents. Still, Haizhou was a small place, and news like this would spread quickly.

Fortunately, his parents were leaving for Wencheng the next day for a training session, gone for fifteen days—just long enough to avoid the aftermath.

He didn’t know if the matter was truly over. If Guo Lin refused to let it go, he’d have to keep dealing with him.

At that very moment, at the city hospital, Guo Yuhang’s parents had been waiting in the hospital room for some time.

In a fit of hysteria, Zou Hua had given Guo Yuhang a concussion, delivering punch after punch to his face. His nose was broken, several teeth knocked out—it was a ghastly sight.

Guo Lin had no idea what had happened. He’d only heard from the police that his son had been beaten up by a thug named Zou Hua, who was now in detention, awaiting interrogation.

His wife, Xue Guilan, was weeping uncontrollably. Their son’s face was a bloody, mangled mess, covered in thick bandages, lying unconscious in his hospital bed—a sight that made one’s heart ache. The doctor said he likely wouldn’t wake up until the next day at the earliest.

Guo Lin, torn between worry for his son and comforting his wife, was also busy calling in favors with contacts in the police department to find out what had happened.

But the more he tried to comfort his wife, the harder she cried, nearly causing a scene in the hospital room. Sobbing, she yelled at him, “You only have one son! You have to stand up for him! That bastard who hit him—I won’t rest until he pays! That son of a bitch dares lay a hand on my son—I’d chop his hands off and still not be satisfied!”

“You think I run the police station?” Guo Lin was growing irritated. Women could be so irrational—what good was all this bluster? He was just a state-owned enterprise leader. He’d embezzled plenty, but didn’t dare make too much noise for fear of attracting attention from above. How could he have the power to ruin someone else?

Xue Guilan stamped her foot in anger. “So what are we supposed to do? Just let the police detain him, charge him, and send him to prison for a couple of years? What about my son’s beating? Who’s going to get revenge for him?”

Guo Lin felt a headache coming on. “Can you calm down for a minute? This is a hospital, not our home. The facts aren’t even clear yet. I’ve asked Chief Chen at the Dongguan precinct to keep an eye on things. Right now, the guy who hit Yuhang is in custody. They’ll probably get his statement tomorrow. Chen will find out what happened and let me know.”

Xue Guilan burst into even louder wails. “I can’t wait until tomorrow! Guo Lin, you’re useless! Your son’s been beaten like this and you’re not doing anything—you want me to wait until tomorrow!”

Even though it was a private ward, her commotion drew curious glances from people passing by in the corridor. Guo Lin quickly pulled the curtains shut and caved in to her. “Enough, stop making a scene. Once we figure out what happened, I promise anyone involved won’t get off easy. Just stay here with Yuhang—let’s wait for him to wake up. All right?”

Xue Guilan was about to erupt again, so Guo Lin added, “Even though the one who did it has been detained, we can’t just take his word for what happened. We still need to wait for our son to wake up and tell us himself. Don’t you think?”

Her bloodshot eyes fixed on Guo Lin. “You said it—you’d better keep your word!”

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