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nJust as Fu Zhongli finished speaking, a young man who looked less than twenty shot his mouth off. He had just been kicked violently by Yan Wangchuan. “Just because you said so?! Who the f*ck are you?”

nBefore the person could finish speaking, a man beside him slapped him. “Shut up! What nonsense are you spouting?!”

nCheng Hu was so frightened that his face turned pale on the spot. “Second Master, don’t take it to heart. This person is new and has never seen you before.” As he spoke, he glared fiercely at the person behind him. “If you spout another word of nonsense, I’ll tear your mouth apart!”

nFu Zhongli chuckled. “Cheng Hu, what do you plan to do about this issue?”

n“I…” Cheng Hu scratched his head. “Second Master, tell me what to do. I’ll listen to you.”

n“The money Song Jingren owes is his personal liability. It’s wrong of you to demand the mother and daughter to pay the debt. And extortion too? You’re already breaking the law.”

nCheng Hu coughed twice, unexpectedly feeling a little embarrassed.

n“Your man was hit by her car, but you know very well whether he needs to be hospitalized or not too. You even need medical compensation?” Fu Zhongli raised his eyebrows.

n“If you want compensation for the medical expenses, you can figure it out with my assistant. I’ll give you this sum of money. If you still want any nutritional costs or anything else, you can also calculate them with me. I’ll give it all to you.”

n“Second Master, aren’t you slapping my face? How would I dare to ask you for money?” Cheng Hu smiled.

n“If you’re really injured, I’ll naturally have to pay. You don’t have to be polite about this.”

n“Actually, it’s nothing much. It’s just a small injury…” Cheng Hu smiled exceptionally obsequiously.

nThey were people who specialized in helping others collect salaries and retrieve debts. They relied on others to live. Fu Zhongli could cut off their livelihood with a word, so he naturally didn’t dare to offend him.

nQiao Aiyun stood at the side and laughed sarcastically. A bunch of scumbags.

nThey curried favor with the powerful, bullied the weak, and feared the strong.

n“If you want money, look for me directly. If you make things difficult for them again, I may not have as many tricks as you do, but I do have some connections in Yuncheng,” Fu Zhongli warned.

n“I understand.”

n“Since there’s no problem, apologize to them. You’ve caused such a huge commotion. A group of grown men making things difficult for a woman, yet you’re not even embarrassed.” Fu Zhongli chuckled lightly.

n“How did we make things difficult for them? Look at my brothers…” Cheng Hu complained endlessly.

nWho knew that the older man in the suit was so good at fighting? The group of them hadn’t gained the slightest bit of advantage over him. At this moment, they were all sporting bloody noses and swollen faces while howling away miserably.

n“You said that others hurt you, but I think you’ve also hurt them quite badly.” Fu Zhongli pointed at Lawyer Little Liang. “If you keep pestering them, I’m afraid you won’t be able to get any benefits from it either.”

nThere were injuries on both sides. If this matter was calculated carefully, the line between right and wrong was completely blurred.

nCheng Hu had no choice. Fu Zhongli was here, so he could only get his men to apologize to Qiao Aiyun and also promise that he would never find trouble with them in the future.

nQiao Aiyun knew that she should quit while she was ahead. She knew that these people were despicable. But on account of Fu Zhongli, she agreed not to sue them anymore. This could be regarded as settling the matter.

n“Ms. Qiao, let’s go out and talk.” Fu Zhongli was more than polite in his speech.

nQiao Aiyun nodded.

nAfter the group left, Cheng Hu was so pissed that he kicked the table over. “F*ck, what is this Sun family doing? Second Master obviously didn’t know about this. If it wasn’t for Second Master, who would give him face?

n“Great. Now that I’ve offended Second Master, I’m afraid I won’t be able to survive in Yuncheng in the future.

n“I thought that after succeeding in this matter, I would be able to get into Second Master’s good books. I didn’t get any money but got myself into trouble instead.”

n“Brother Hu, are we really not going to calculate the medical fees with Second Master? We spent more than ten thousand yuan…” the married woman muttered softly.

n“If you dare to, go and get it then.” Cheng Hu cursed.

n“Then, should we tell Mr. Sun?”

nSong Jingren had indeed borrowed money from them. They also wanted the money, but Song Jingren had gone to jail. They knew very well that this money was probably going to go down the drain. They had also been hesitating about whether to look for Qiao Aiyun. But at that moment, Sun Gongda had found them…

nHe was Fu Zhongli’s brother-in-law, so they naturally thought that Fu Zhongli had allowed it. Only with someone supporting them had they dared to make such a fuss.

nBut who would have thought that they would lose money instead of being paid? And not only were the brothers beaten up, but they were also in deep trouble?

n“Since he wanted to exploit us, why should we think for him? When Second Master goes back, he’ll definitely settle scores with him. What does this have to do with us?” Cheng Hu wasn’t a good person.

nHe couldn’t find trouble with Sun Gongda, but he could still set him up.

nThey had no obligation to tell him anything in the first place.

n***

nFu Zhongli brought Qiao Aiyun and the others to a tea room near the hospital and sat down.

n“Second Master Fu, it’s truly all thanks to you this time.” Qiao Aiyun was very grateful to him. Otherwise, she really wouldn’t have known how to deal with these hooligans.

n“Perhaps I’m the one who needs to apologize to you. Someone borrowed my name to do evil. If I didn’t come back this time, I’m afraid I would have caused you huge trouble.” Fu Zhongli raised his hand and served Qiao Aiyun a cup of tea.

nEveryone present was smart. Other than Geng Ying, who didn’t know about the Sun family, everyone knew what was going on.

nOther than the Sun family, they really couldn’t think of anyone else who could use Fu Zhongli’s name to do evil.

n“I didn’t expect Song Jingren to borrow money in private either and leave this mess behind.” As soon as this incident had happened, Qiao Aiyun had gone to the detention center to confront Song Jingren.

nThis shameless person didn’t deny it.

n“Nowadays, many corporations borrow from unlicensed moneylenders in private. The procedures for bank loans are complicated. If you urgently need money, the bank’s money won’t arrive in time. Although the interest is high, it won’t be much of a problem to use it for a few days to tide the company over,” Fu Zhongli explained.

n“Sometimes, corporations will also lend to each other, like a form of bridge loan. This kind of situation is very common.”

nQiao Aiyun nodded.

n“I’ll deal with this matter. I will definitely give you an explanation.” Fu Zhongli rubbed the purple clay cup with his fingertips, his eyes unreadable.

nWhat did Yan Wangchuan hear from him just now? How could he still be dissatisfied? When Fu Zhongli came to find them, he knew that someone was behind it.

nAt this moment, seeing his sincere attitude, even if it was the Sun family who had done it, he shouldn’t take it out on Fu Zhongli. Every injustice had its perpetrator. Even though the Sun family had been using his name, Fu Zhongli really didn’t know.

n“I’ll treat you to a meal someday when you’re free.” Yan Wangchuan handed his business card to Fu Zhongli.

nFu Zhongli guessed his identity. When he saw the business card, his eyes still flickered. “You’re welcome.”

nThe group sat in the tea room for a while before Fu Zhongli and Fu Chen left.

nQiao Aiyun watched them leave and heaved a long sigh of relief. “Second Master Fu must have been called over by Fu Chen. I owe him a favor again. I can’t repay him clearly anymore.”

n“Can’t repay him?” Yan Wangchuan’s face was cold. “What’s there to repay?”

n“You…” Qiao Aiyun was furious. “One should repay what one owes others. Don’t you know the customary ways of the world?”

nYan Wangchuan raised his eyebrows. She says I don’t know the ways of the world?

nWhat kind of plan is that little bastard concocting? He wants to kidnap your daughter. Shouldn’t he help?

nThis brat really knows how to put on a show.

n***

nFu Zhongli and Fu Chen didn’t go home directly but instead found a restaurant and ate first before heading home slowly.

nSun Gongda couldn’t contact Cheng Hu and the others. He called Fu Zhongli, but the latter didn’t answer, so he felt a little uneasy.

n“Dad, stop pacing around. It’s affecting me watching TV.” Sun Rui was sitting in the living room, eating. She waved at him impatiently to move farther from her.

n“Hurry up and tidy up the table. It’s a mess. Your uncle is coming back.” Sun Gongda held his phone and had a bad premonition.

nAfter Sun Rui’s accident, she had been discharged early, and Sun Zhen was fine too. He was not his biological son to begin with, so he was sent back to his hometown after being discharged.

nIt was already the 28th of the twelfth lunar month on the day of the incident. The Sun family didn’t return to the capital but took up residence in the Fu residence.

n“Uncle has such a good temper. He’s not like you, shouting and kicking up a huge fuss.” Sun Rui was also sullen. She had tried to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice used to lure it1. Moreover, she couldn’t leave the house. She had been cooped up at home the whole time during Lunar New Year.

n“Heh—Your uncle has a good temper?” He had a constant stick in his throat over the matter of the Sun family getting in trouble and him not helping.

nWhile they were talking, the sound of a car came from outside. Sun Gongda hurriedly patted Sun Rui. “Hurry up and clean up a little. Your uncle must be back.”

nOnly then did Sun Rui jump up from the sofa and tidy up the coffee table slightly.

nWhen Sun Gongda went out to welcome him, Fu Zhongli was already at the door. “Zhongli, I heard that you were coming back, but I didn’t know what time you would arrive. I called you, but you didn’t answer.”

n“I didn’t notice.” Fu Zhongli hadn’t been back for more than half a year. He took a look at the house. The Sun family had come to stay for the time being, but they didn’t hire any servants. They only occasionally called for an hourly cleaner to tidy up the place. After the new year, there was no one to do the cleaning, so it looked dirty and messy.

n“Uncle.” Sun Rui greeted him with a smile.

nBut when the father and daughter saw Fu Chen following behind him, their expressions turned sour. They had both suffered at his hands.

n“What are you waiting for? Hurry up and pour a cup of tea for your uncle and…” Sun Gongda was still furious when he saw Fu Chen. “Get a cup of tea for Third Master.”

n“Okay.” Sun Rui turned around and walked to the kitchen.

n“There’s no need to pour tea. Little Rui, go back to your room first. I have something to tell your father,” Fu Zhongli said.

nSun Rui was stunned for a moment. “Uncle… is there anything I can’t listen to?”

n“That’s right. What could it be that you have to send her away?” An ominous premonition flashed across Sun Gongda’s heart, but he hoped for the best. He had just arrived in Yuncheng, so he couldn’t possibly know everything so quickly.

n“You’re not leaving?” Fu Zhongli chuckled. “Alright, then, I’ll be straightforward. Gongda, did you use my name to find loan sharks to harass Qiao Aiyun and her daughter?”

nSun Gongda’s heart trembled, but his expression remained unchanged. “Zhongli, what do you mean by that? When did I…”

n“Would I spout nonsense about this kind of thing? This isn’t the capital. No one will help you like this. Do you need me to call those people over to confront you?

n“How did the mother and daughter provoke you? Do you need to be so ruthless to people without support and protection? Those hoodlums have criminal records and can do anything. If this matter had continued, I’m afraid Song Fengwan would have been implicated.

n“You even used my name. Sun Gongda, when did I give you permission to do this?”

nEver since Fu Zhongli married Sun Qionghua, he had never gotten angry with the Sun family. This was the first time he was showing his wrath.

nSun Gongda didn’t expect him to flare up because of this. “There’s more than meets the eye to this matter. You don’t know what exactly happened, what this family did to Little Rui.”

n“Song Fengwan isn’t a good person!”

nFu Zhongli chuckled. “I’ve known Wanwan longer than you. When she interacted with Little Rui in the past, it was mostly Little Rui who bullied her. That girl didn’t say anything either. Even if she did something, she was probably pushed to the brink.”

nAfter all, he knew Song Fengwan’s and Sun Rui’s personalities too well.

n“Uncle!” Sun Rui panicked.

n“Zhongli, you don’t know what happened. That girl isn’t a pushover! She even dared to yell right at me.”

nFu Chen chuckled. “Why didn’t you mention that you rushed to her house, kicked up a fuss, and even hit Wanwan? You’re not young anymore. You’re an elder, yet you attacked a child. You sure have the nerve.”

n“Third Brother!” Fu Zhongli frowned. “There’s even such a matter too?”

n“He even tried to find someone to slander Wanwan. Sun Rui deserved it for that incident. Instead of educating his daughter properly, he went to someone else’s house to make threats. The upbringing of the Sun family has truly broadened my horizons,” Fu Chen said.

n“Fu Chen!” Sun Gongda was furious.

n“What did I say wrong? It’s a fact that you hit Wanwan. The whole family is well-mannered, so they didn’t do anything to you. But aren’t you great? You sent someone to do such disgusting things in private. How dirty.”

n“You…” Sun Gongda was furious. He clenched his fists and walked toward Fu Chen. Fu Zhongli turned around and stood in front of Fu Chen.

n“You want to hit my younger brother in my house?”

n“I wasn’t…” Sun Gongda was mad with anger, but he hadn’t lost his brain. He just wanted to step forward and argue with him.

n“I originally agreed to let you people stay for a few days during the new year. Now that the seventh day of the new year has passed, it’s time for you to leave.” Fu Zhongli directly showed them the door.

n“Uncle.” Sun Rui was flabbergasted. Fu Zhongli had a good temperament and had never spoken so harshly to her.

n“Zhongli, are you trying to stand up for that family and chase us out?” Sun Gongda didn’t expect Fu Zhongli to do this.

n“You shouldn’t have found someone to cause trouble deliberately in the first place, and you even used my name. You want me to turn a blind eye? You just happened to step on my bottom line this time.

n“I gave you face and told Little Rui to go upstairs, but you refused.

n“Then, you can’t blame me for not giving you face anymore. Do you want to leave yourself, or should I get someone to help you pack your luggage and throw you out?”

nFu Zhongli stood there and spoke in a refined yet domineering manner.

nHis tone was unyielding, not giving the Sun family any good attitude.

n“Okay, okay—” Sun Gongda sneered. “I don’t think we can be in-laws anymore.”

nFu Zhongli glanced at him. “Do you think I’m happy to be in-laws with you right now?”

nSun Gongda’s face stiffened. He didn’t give him any face at all.

nFu Chen snorted lightly. Using this to threaten Second Brother? He must have miscalculated. This will only worsen their relationship as husband and wife.

n…

nAn hour later, the news of the Sun family being chased out of the house by Fu Zhongli spread throughout the city.

n1 A Chinese idiom about trying to gain an advantage only to end up worse off.

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