Chapter 259: How Is This Any Different from Calling a Thief Your Father?
Chapter 259: Chapter 259: How Is This Any Different from Calling a Thief Your Father?
Shen Lu had no interest in negotiating. Right now, she just wanted to know his motive, why he was doing this, and who he was.
The man let out a couple of loud, fake laughs. "Miss Shen, you’re as straightforward as they say. My surname is Jin. Most people do me the favor of calling me Boss."
’Boss Jin?’
Shen Lu’s mind immediately jumped to something.
She didn’t know much about the Lower City District Chamber of Commerce, but she had heard that its president’s surname was Jin.
Like the Jin Dalang that Xue Can had mentioned just yesterday.
’So this pot-bellied, bald man is Jin Dalang?’
’The name fits the man. Both are ugly.’
"So, this is how you treat people who don’t follow your rules?" Shen Lu asked with a frown.
Boss Jin replied, "Rules exist so that everyone can develop better and for the long term. Your methods, Miss Shen, have put a lot of pressure on your peers in the restaurant industry. The Commerce Association has received numerous complaints about you."
"Of course, I personally understand your methods completely." Boss Jin’s tone suddenly shifted. "As long as you cooperate with me, Miss Shen, and have me as your backer, the Commerce Association will naturally stop giving you trouble."
’Bullshit,’ Shen Lu cursed inwardly.
’The Commerce Association’s attempts to make things difficult for me haven’t been very effective, have they?’
’First, they cut off my supplies, but I still managed to get my ingredients through other channels. Then they copied me, starting a price war and even teaming up with other Commerce Association businesses to run a lottery event.’
’In the end, it all fizzled out in less than a month.’
’My shop is still doing just fine, even better than before. Why on earth would I need a backer?’
’And taking a step back, even if I did want a backer, why would I choose the Lower City District Chamber of Commerce, which has been attacking me relentlessly? Aren’t the Bai Family Siblings a much better option?’
’They’re good to me, and they’re powerful.’
’I’d have to have a hole in my head to cooperate with someone who clearly has ill intentions toward me.’
"Thank you for the high praise, Boss Jin, but I’m just running a small business, earning enough to get by. What I make now is already enough for me."
"You shouldn’t see it that way. Miss Shen, you’re young and promising; you just lack an experienced person to guide you. I may not be the most brilliant man, but I happen to have some decent insights when it comes to business."
"What you say makes sense, of course, Boss Jin, but to each their own. Right now, I just want to focus on my own little shop."
Rejected again, Boss Jin could no longer maintain his fake smile. His face fell.
"Miss Shen, don’t force me to do this the hard way!"
"Shen Lu, hurry up and agree with Boss Jin!" Seeing Boss Jin make a threat, Liu Yaozu couldn’t help but interject. "Who do you think you are, putting on airs like this! You’re just a little girl, what do you know about business? For Boss Jin to think so highly of you and be willing to give you a hand, that’s your honor!"
Having listened for a while, Liu Yaozu now knew who the man who had captured them was.
He might be a good-for-nothing loafer, but he’d heard the name of Boss Jin, the president of the Commerce Association, plenty of times.
Boss Jin owned several high-end clubs, and the people who went in and out were all individuals of status and power.
A low-life punk like Liu Yaozu, who could never grace such a stage, could only stand at the entrance and watch others go inside.
Back then, Liu Yaozu was always thinking that if he could just get some dumb luck and find a way to work for Boss Jin, it would be amazing.
Following Boss Jin, he’d surely be able to enter such high-end places. That would be a huge boost to his reputation.
Unfortunately, he had no connections to get close to Boss Jin.
He was finally meeting Boss Jin today, but under these circumstances... Liu Yaozu had a naive thought: if he helped Boss Jin secure the cooperation with Shen Lu, he could definitely get on Boss Jin’s radar.
If he played his cards right and sucked up a little, wouldn’t becoming one of Boss Jin’s men be just around the corner?
Shen Lu shot Liu Yaozu a look you’d give to a complete idiot.
’She really couldn’t understand where Liu Yaozu got his confidence. What gave him the right, and from what position, to order her around?’
’Has he forgotten that Boss Jin kidnapped them to threaten her?’
’Now he’s jumping out to speak on Boss Jin’s behalf. How is that any different from fawning over the enemy?’
Liu Yaozu’s outburst even stunned Boss Jin for a moment.
He glanced at Liu Yaozu, then at Shen Lu, and a thousand thoughts flashed through his mind.
"This little brother here has quite the insight and vision." He had seen far too many people try to suck up to him; he knew exactly what Liu Yaozu wanted. "Miss Shen, you should learn a thing or two from your brother."
’A stream of "motherfuckers" was on the tip of her tongue.’
Shen Lu scoffed. "If that’s the case, then let Liu Yaozu cooperate with you. It looks like you two are birds of a feather."
With that, Shen Lu turned to leave.
’She never should have come. An idiot like Liu Yaozu might as well be dead; it would be a contribution to society. And as for Liu Qiang and Yang Jing, who spoiled him into the person he is today...’
’Doesn’t the saying go, "A son’s misdeeds are the father’s fault"?’
’Since they are at fault, it’s only natural they should be punished.’
"Did I say you could leave?" Boss Jin’s voice was laced with anger. A henchman immediately stepped forward to block Shen Lu. "Miss Shen, my patience is limited. Don’t force me to do something... unpleasant."
Shen Lu turned back. "What? Are you going to kill someone?"
Boss Jin gestured toward the three members of the Liu Family. "Even though you didn’t grow up with them, the grace of birth is greater than heaven. If they hadn’t brought you into this world, you wouldn’t be qualified to stand here. Miss Shen, you’d better think carefully before you decide. One wrong word, and your family will lose their lives."
Shen Lu bit her lip and sneered, "Why don’t we stop beating around the bush? I don’t believe you went to all this trouble, Boss Jin, just to talk about a partnership."
She didn’t deny that some people were ruthless, but Boss Jin clearly had ulterior motives. His constant beating around the bush, never getting to the point, and playing mysterious was disgusting.
Boss Jin stared at Shen Lu with a profound look for a few seconds. "Fine. Let’s stop beating around the bush. I want the contact information for your ingredient supplier, Miss Shen."
"Zhao Qian. He has his own plantation and farm south of the Upper City District. I can give you his contact information."
’As for whether Boss Jin could actually add him as a contact or meet him in person, that would depend on his own skills.’
Boss Jin smiled. "Miss Shen, you’re still not being sincere."
Before his words had even faded, Liu Qiang let out a sudden, pained roar. Shen Lu looked over and saw the henchman standing next to Liu Qiang stab a knife into his thigh.
"Husband!" Yang Jing shrieked in terror. Liu Yaozu froze at first, then forced himself to remain calm, but he couldn’t hide the panic on his face.
"Sh-Shen Lu, are you trying to get us all killed?!" Liu Yaozu’s voice grew louder and louder, as if only shouting could give him enough courage. "Hurry up and tell Boss Jin the truth!"
Shen Lu clenched her jaw, her brow seemingly frosted over. "Boss Jin, what is the meaning of this?"
"Did you think you could pull the wool over my eyes just by purchasing some local ingredients from the Imperial City?" Boss Jin sneered contemptuously. "There are some things I don’t want to spell out completely. You’re a smart woman, Miss Shen. You understand what I’m saying, don’t you?"
There were other henchmen here, and Boss Jin didn’t want too many people to know about *that* matter.
’Who could guarantee that they would remain loyal when faced with such enormous profits?’