Chapter 396: You’re Making Things Difficult for Us
Chapter 396: Chapter 396: You’re Making Things Difficult for Us
"What do you mean, ’I’m not dead’?" The question left Wang Daguo completely baffled.
"Weren’t you scratched by a mutant beast?" Xiao Si said, trying to recall. "I can’t remember who said it, but the boss kicked you out of the corpse-collecting team because he was afraid you’d mutate. He even had Ma Dao keep an eye on you."
"But I quit the team not long after, so I don’t know what happened next. I really thought you were dead."
Only then did Wang Daguo understand. So that was the reason Brother Wu had kicked him out.
’No wonder I ran into Ma Dao a few times after that. He was tailing me.’
"So where are you working now? Who do these guys work for?"
"You don’t know? The owner of Jiaoyao Garden. See that guy? That’s Zhuang Qiang, the owner’s son. He hired us to come make trouble for you."
Xiao Si curled his lip in disdain. "And he calls himself a Superpower User. You took him down with one slap. Total trash."
Wang Daguo committed his words to memory, planning to report back to Shen Lu later.
Xiao Si clicked his tongue. "You’re doing pretty well for yourself now. You’ve bulked up, your skin’s clearer, you shaved your beard, and combed your hair... I almost didn’t recognize you. Did you awaken a superpower? What Mercenary Corps are you with? Can you get me in?"
But there was no way Wang Daguo would help Xiao Si. While the guy wasn’t rotten to the core, he was no saint either.
He was a lazy opportunist who loved to take advantage of others. Back in the corpse-collecting team, a lot of people disliked him.
"If you ever try to mess with my boss again, I won’t be so polite." Having asked what he needed to, Wang Daguo delivered his threat without an ounce of pity and left.
"Hey, you’re just leaving like that? We’re old colleagues, you can’t even give me a hand?" Xiao Si stuck to him like a burr, shamelessly clinging on.
Before getting in the car, Wang Daguo gave him a swift kick, nearly breaking the ribs of Xiao Si, who had been trying to clamber in after him.
"OW! You son of a bitch, why are you so vicious?!"
Xiao Si plopped onto the ground, clutching his chest and crying out in pain.
Wang Daguo paid him no mind, shut the car door, and drove off.
Shen Lu, who had heard everything, nodded, indicating she understood.
’Some people just never learn. They’re still thinking about getting even and ruining my business.’
Shen Lu thought for a moment, then found President Pan’s contact information and made the call.
President Pan answered on the second ring.
"President Pan, good afternoon."
"Ah, Boss Shen. To what do I owe the pleasure of your call today?"
"There’s a matter I’d like to bring to your attention, President Pan."
In just a few words, Shen Lu explained how Old Zhuang from Jiaoyao Garden had hired people to attack them.
After listening, President Pan sighed. "Old Zhuang is a longtime businessman in the Lower City District. He’s run his shop in the Twelve Blocks for over twenty years. He’s very attached to Jiaoyao Garden."
Shen Lu narrowed her eyes. "Indeed. I can sympathize with that."
"Business is tough during the sandstorm season. In the entire Lower City District, only you, Boss Shen, can make long-distance deliveries. You can still turn a profit in Level 7 or 8 gales. Everyone else is barely scraping by, while you’re living large. As if that’s not enough, you insist on stealing his business. How could that not make someone angry?"
"So, are you implying I’m the one at fault, President Pan?"
"Ahem... not at all. Everyone has a different perspective, a different way of looking at things. I was just putting myself in Old Zhuang’s shoes."
"How about this, Boss Shen? I’ll set up a video conference in a bit. The three of us can have a good chat and clear the air. What do you think?"
Shen Lu considered it for a few seconds and agreed.
A few minutes later, President Pan sent a video conference link. Shen Lu accepted it. Inside a simulated AI conference room, three virtual avatars sat around a square table. You could see the others by rotating your point of view.
"Since everyone is here, let’s begin." President Pan cleared his throat. "I’ve been briefed on the situation. It’s nothing major. We’re all outstanding merchants in the Lower City District. There’s no need to bicker over such a small matter. As the saying goes, harmony brings wealth. Aren’t we all in business to make money?"
Shen Lu’s expression was as still as water. She lowered her gaze slightly, showing no intention of speaking.
Old Zhuang spoke up. "First, I’ll apologize on my son’s behalf. But Boss Shen, while my son was certainly in the wrong, are you completely blameless? Your shop is on Gold Street. If customers are willing to travel that far to eat at your place, I have nothing to say about it. But now you’re extending your delivery service into the Twelve Blocks. Isn’t that taking things too far?"
"Old Zhuang, I have to say something about that," President Pan interjected. "If you have something to say, just say it clearly. Your son shouting about beating and killing people was definitely not right."
"What can I do about Zhuang Qiang’s temper? I can’t control him, and he won’t listen to reason."
"Sigh... How about this? Let’s each take a step back. Boss Shen, Old Zhuang has apologized to you. Shouldn’t you also show some goodwill? Perhaps you could stop delivering to the Twelve Blocks from now on?"
Old Zhuang chimed in, "It would be even better if Boss Shen were willing to let everyone get rich together."
President Pan nodded. "Exactly. The merchants of our Lower City District must stick together if we want our businesses to grow bigger and stronger."
The two of them went back and forth, putting on a well-rehearsed play. They talked for over ten minutes, saying everything they had planned, but Shen Lu still showed no sign of speaking.
Old Zhuang was a man who couldn’t hold his temper. He called out to Shen Lu, "Boss Shen, what’s your position on this? You haven’t said a single word."
President Pan was also starting to lose his composure. "Boss Shen, let’s just lay our cards on the table. Your silence is making things very difficult for us."
"My elders always taught me that when adults are speaking, children should keep their mouths shut. Did you not expect me to wait for you both to finish before I spoke?" Shen Lu raised her eyes and smiled. "To be honest, I didn’t understand half of what you said. In this matter, am I not the victim? I thought I was here to receive an apology and compensation. How did it turn into me having to take a step back?"
"Compensation? You have the nerve to bring that up? Your employee nearly broke my son’s bones with a kick! You should be glad I’m not demanding you pay his medical bills!" Old Zhuang slammed the table. If not for the screen between them, his spittle would have likely landed on Shen Lu’s face.
"’I don’t start trouble, but I will finish it,’" Shen Lu said, her voice cold. "’If anyone messes with my business again, forget broken bones—I’ll take their life!’"
Old Zhuang laughed in anger. "You little brat, you’ve got a big mouth!"
President Pan’s face turned cold. "Boss Shen, you’ve gone too far."
Shen Lu swept her gaze over them. "I hate it when people plot against me behind my back. I see exactly what this little show is about. I’ll say it again: if you want the vehicles, figure it out yourselves."
With that, she left the video conference without waiting for their reaction.
President Pan hadn’t expected Shen Lu to be so disrespectful. His face immediately turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
Old Zhuang added with a sneer, "I told you so. That damn girl is sharp as a tack. See? She saw right through us and even called us out on it."
Extremely annoyed, President Pan also left the video conference. Back at home, he smashed a brand-new tea set.