Big Data Cultivation

Chapter 493: Chapter 493 Late Support

Facing Dou Jiahui’s intimidation, Captain Zhang was stunned for quite a while before he forced a dry laugh, “Little Dou, you can’t just joke about this.”

“Who am I joking with, you think your face is big?” Dou Jiahui sneered disdainfully, “I told you, five hundred thousand!”

Captain Zhang was stunned again and started to get angry, “I really don’t have five hundred thousand. Just kill me then, I’ve worked with your dad… can you let my family go?”

Yunyuan City is located at the border of two provinces, a remote and impoverished area. Many men there have some hot-bloodedness. Isn’t it just a life?

Dou Jiahui let out another cold chuckle, “Do you think my dad considers you a colleague? You bully me and still expect me to give you face?”

Once again speechless, Captain Zhang thought… logically, that’s not wrong, even though he believed he hadn’t done anything wrong either.

After thinking for a bit, he turned around to leave, “I’m not dealing with this. If you want money, I don’t have any. If you want my life, come and take it.”

To be honest, he was so angry his teeth itched. He had never been bullied like this before—open your mouth and ask for five hundred thousand, who the hell do you think you are?

But really, there was nothing he could do. The threats from the Dou family were far more serious than those from desperados. Against desperados, he could strike first, but against the Dou family, he had no chance to make the first move.

Even if his temper flared up and he got rid of Chief Dou and his son… the Dou family had other members!

He certainly couldn’t round up the entire Dou clan.

Since he couldn’t provoke them, Captain Zhang decided to hide for now, especially since his arrival hadn’t really caused any substantial harm to the Dou family. It was actually him who wanted to ask for a favor, but was slapped in the face by Chief Dou, who broke someone’s leg bone right in front of him.

So he figured that he really didn’t owe the Dou family anything. However, if the dumb kid wanted to seek justice, he would still have to find someone to mediate with the Dou family, hoping they would give him face and handle the conflict discreetly.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Ɲονǥօ.сο

As for the five hundred thousand? He did have it, but he absolutely wouldn’t give it!

There’s an old saying that it’s hard to part with one’s wealth. Captain Zhang didn’t earn his money easily and thought that if the other party kept harassing him, provoking his anger, he would just kill Dou father and son—damn it, don’t think your Dou family is the only one desperate enough to take action.

After all, he just believed that his own money was hard-earned, while he didn’t care a bit about the money others saved for doing business.

When Captain Zhang attempted to leave with his men, Dou Jiahui was not willing to comply, and ended up disregarding the police car, charging out of the crowd and striding away.

At this moment, Chief Dou regained some of his shrewdness, called out to stop his son, “I’ll take the people back for interrogation first. We’ll talk about the instigator later—don’t worry, no one will get away. Today is your big day… don’t hold things up.”

Old Dou left with a minibus full of people, while young Dou still had to manage the opening of his new store.

It was past eleven o’clock now, and because Chaoyang people had forcefully subdued the gangsters, the crowd of onlookers had greatly increased, many of whom were fellow merchants on the same street.

However, the blessings from fellow merchants were few and far between. To most of them, the crisis facing this newly opened store was far from over, and how it would develop in the future was still uncertain.

And even if this store did manage to establish itself, having an extremely strong competitor was not exactly good news for everyone—anything Lan Shan could do, this store could do as well.

Only the woman who came to report was delighted to present a basket of flowers—her family’s conflict with Lan Shan had become irreconcilable, so worsening the relationship a bit more didn’t matter to her.

However, when she came to deliver the flower basket, she suddenly noticed that people were gathered around another basket of flowers. When she went over to look, she couldn’t help but twitch the corners of her mouth, “A flower basket from the Yunyuan Military Division Area?”

Besides the Military Division Area, there were two other surprising baskets of flowers: one from the provincial mobile company and another from a certain construction bureau. The names on these flower baskets really baffled everyone—wasn’t this relationship too far-fetched? They couldn’t be fakes, could they?

In reality, they weren’t fakes. The basket from the military was arranged by Xu Leigang, who made some connections. After all, sending a basket of flowers didn’t cost much, and it was a good way to show harmony between military and civilians.

The one from the construction bureau was a gesture from Yuan Huapeng, who had learned about the event through Gao Qiang. Knowing Feng Jun’s childhood friend was opening a store, he casually offered a favor—just to show support.

The flower basket from the provincial mobile company was sent by Yunyuan City’s mobile company, which additionally included one from the city branch. To the onlookers, this was the most credible.

But Dou Jiahui was the most perplexed about this basket; he had no idea whose relationship had sent it.

Unnoticed by anyone, a mature and attractive woman was standing in a corner making a phone call, “Why hasn’t the flower basket arrived yet?”

Just as she hung up the phone, there was another stir at the entrance, and a middle-aged man made his way through the crowd, followed by a young person carrying an over one meter long transparent box, which contained a wooden model sailboat.

The sailboat wasn’t worth much, perhaps just a thousand or so, but it symbolized a good omen—”smooth sailing.”

What caught everyone’s attention was that the gift-giver had come in Yunyuan’s number one car.

In fact, some recognized the middle-aged man—he was the top secretary of Yunyuan City.

The secretary approached and had a brief conversation with Dou Jiahui, the gist being that the city leaders placed a high value on the economic development of the city and also encouraged Yunyuan people to introduce more well-known brands to strive for the prosperity of Yunyuan.

What was most surprising was that the secretary indicated that in the latter half of the year, the city would have several centralized procurement projects and, although his store was newly opened, it represented some good brands and hoped they would actively participate.

Dou Jiahui became even more bewildered, responded absent-mindedly a few times, and then pulled the secretary aside to ask in a low voice, “What is this… I’m not familiar with the city leaders.”

The secretary was a cautious person and quite skilled at revealing hints, “The leaders have studied in the capital before, including the provincial leaders, who are also quite concerned about President Dou’s growth… Let’s all work hard together.”

“Provincial leaders?” Dou Jiahui frowned and asked again, “Who?”

“This…” The secretary hesitated before finally speaking, “It’s always better when Eldest Gu is satisfied.”

“Tsk, her, huh,” Dou Jiahui understood, glancing sideways at Yang Yuxin, whether he meant to or not.

When he left Luohua Manor for the second time, Yang Yuxin hadn’t arrived yet. But what was her relationship with Feng Jun? When Er Pang inquired who Yang Yuxin was, Da Pang told him without reservations.

Who was the secretary? Someone particularly adept at observing words and expressions; following his gaze, he memorized Yang Yuxin and Gu Jiahui.

He knew that the leadership at home sent this flower basket on the command of the provincial leaders and was also aware that Gu Family people had communicated with the provincial leaders. But for more inside information, it wasn’t convenient for him to inquire—he couldn’t let people think he was short-circuiting the provincial leaders.

However, Yang Yuxin had no idea who her in-laws might send to offer congratulations. In fact, she hadn’t intended to play the Gu Family card at all until she encountered trouble at the opening celebration. Even Feng Jun had to step in before she reluctantly called her eldest brother-in-law.

Frankly speaking, the most influential person in the Gu Family wasn’t her father-in-law but her eldest brother-in-law. Her father-in-law and his two brothers had all made significant achievements in different fields, the latter two even more famous, but unfortunately, both had passed away.

When the secretary said “Eldest Gu is satisfied,” he actually meant pleasing Eldest Gu.

Regardless, her impromptu call to her eldest brother-in-law was also meant to help Feng Jun intimidate the petty criminals.

She believed that the visit of the secretary of the city’s number one official must be her brother’s doing. But it wasn’t until Dou Jiahui glanced over that she was truly certain.

The city’s number one car coming to congratulate immediately set this modest lighting street ablaze with excitement.

The secretary had arrived at eleven and was supposed to stay for about ten minutes or so. His visit was just a gesture to show the city’s regard and should have been sufficient. Dou Jiahui graciously invited him to lunch, asking him to join the midday banquet, but he absolutely refused, saying that would violate the rules.

Dou Jiahui wanted to discuss the chaos on the street, but in the end, he consulted Feng Jun first.

Feng Jun suggested that if he asked about the business environment, Dou Jiahui should speak up; if the secretary didn’t ask, he should not bring it up first.

After all, this was under Yunyuan’s administration, and it wasn’t good to complain casually to the top official.

However, Dou Jiahui didn’t have to agonize for long because the woman who had made the complaints stepped forward, volunteering information.

The woman had some understanding of social etiquette as well; she didn’t start with her own experiences but instead mentioned that on this auspicious day, someone had come to cause trouble and extorted 50,000 yuan from President Dou.

Just as Feng Jun had predicted, the secretary looked uncomfortable; he came to deliver warmth, not to play the role of Bao Qingtian (an ancient Chinese judge known for his integrity).

Even if he wanted to be Bao Qingtian, he couldn’t be; he was not the governing official, just a secretary, an assistant to the governing official.

Yet in front of so many people, he still stated that he understood the situation and the city wouldn’t turn a blind eye; President Dou, such an outstanding young entrepreneur, deserved their support, a good business environment.

With his statement, others immediately followed, especially two businesses that had been squeezed out by Lan Shan Lighting. Having heard that today there would be a fearsome force here, they specifically came to watch the excitement and immediately accused Lan Shan.

The secretary’s face began to show his inability to hang on; couldn’t you all be a bit more tactful? I came to deliver warmth!

But at this moment, he couldn’t just walk away, since Dou Jiahui had also been harassed today. If he left, any slight complaint from Dou or Gu Family might invalidate today’s sentiment, and worse, he might unwittingly create enemies for the leadership.

Gritting his teeth, he listened for about ten minutes, then had a brainwave, “Well… President Dou, why don’t you compile an outline of everyone’s circumstances, and write a textual report, then pass it onto me later.”

I’m truly quick-witted, he praised himself inwardly, handing over the decision-making power to President Dou. That saved him trouble; if President Dou really submitted the report, perhaps… the leadership might get in touch with the Gu Family.

Dou Jiahui wasn’t dumb, but he blinked for quite a while before it finally dawned on him that Feng Jun’s guess had been right: their enthusiasm for him depended on the situation.

Just then, another group arrived, banging gongs and drums and bringing flower baskets; they were some of the big businesses from the street.

(Updated to here, calling for monthly tickets.)