Chen Jin Zhao!
These three words seemed to hold a natural magic for the father and son, earning their reverence.
Even fervent adoration.
As for He Xiaohu, he was already stunned, thinking his ears were playing tricks on him.
Had he heard correctly?
Before He Xiaohu could recover, Chen Jin Zhao said with a faint smile, "That name doesn't sound like much. Is the person you're talking about very powerful?"
When He Zhendong mentioned the name, he felt a sense of pride. For people like them, the closer they were to power, the greater the illusion that they had already grasped it.
He Haixiong held Chen Jin Zhao in high esteem and spoke with great animation, "Young man, you still don't understand. Since you haven't heard of this name, you should show some respect instead of mocking. The great figure I'm referring to is less than thirty years old this year, yet he is already the de facto ruler of Jiangnan."
The father and son wanted to see shock on Chen Jin Zhao's face.
Reality disappointed them.
Chen Jin Zhao's expression remained calm, as if he hadn't heard what they said.
He Zhendong asked in confusion, "Are you mentally ill? Can't you understand what my father is saying? I'm not afraid to tell you, that great figure is on his way. If you still don't repent, he will make you suffer immensely."
Chen Jin Zhao couldn't help but chuckle.
The He father and son grew more enraged at the sight, wishing that the great figure would appear immediately to teach this person a lesson.
He Xiaohu stood there foolishly, his gaze toward Chen Jin Zhao becoming extremely complex.
"Xiaohu, tell them my name," Chen Jin Zhao said.
This remark made the He father and son exchange glances. He Zhendong even said, "We're not interested in your name. Get lost immediately."
He Haixiong, however, showed hesitation, as if he had thought of something.
He Xiaohu stammered, looking at Chen Jin Zhao and asking, "Do I really have to say it?"
Chen Jin Zhao gave a hum.
"What's there to say? We're not listening," He Zhendong scoffed.
He Xiaohu's body trembled slightly, seemingly fearful. Hearing He Zhendong's words, he took a deep breath and said with a strange expression, "I think you'd better listen, or you might regret it."
He Zhendong remained disdainful, slandering Chen Jin Zhao relentlessly.
He Xiaohu shook his head, and with a sudden surge of courage, he directly interrupted He Zhendong, "I'll tell you directly, his name is—"
"Chen Jin Zhao!"
He Zhendong instinctively scoffed, "Tch, I thought he was called Chen Jin Zhao."
A moment later, He Zhendong belatedly realized, his eyes snapping open and staring intently at Chen Jin Zhao and He Xiaohu.
"Wait!"
"You, what did you just say? What's his name?"
He Xiaohu gained some confidence and said unhurriedly, "I'll say it again, his name is Chen Jin Zhao."
He Zhendong heard it clearly and then turned to look at He Haixiong.
He Haixiong's gaze was already filled with extreme shock, his body trembling. Now, both father and son heard it clearly.
Chen, Jin, Zhao!
Wasn't this precisely the great figure they were waiting for?
He Zhendong swallowed hard, then shook his head frantically, "No, that's impossible. How could the great figure we are waiting for be dining with an ant like He Xiaohu? Dragons do not associate with snakes, let alone He Xiaohu, who isn't even a snake."
He Haixiong stared at Chen Jin Zhao, "Who exactly are you?"
Chen Jin Zhao smiled, "Didn't you just say it quite clearly? Even I didn't know I was so powerful."
"Thank you for your praise."
"What?!" He Haixiong exclaimed in shock.
He Zhendong still refused to believe it, his face ashen, "Impossible, how can you be Chen Jin Zhao? Impersonating a high-ranking military official is illegal."
Chen Jin Zhao smiled without speaking.
He Haixiong did the same, refusing to believe any of it.
Ring ring!
He Haixiong's phone rang, and he looked as if he had been granted amnesty. He quickly took it out to answer, "Secretary Zheng, this is He Haixiong. May I ask what your instructions are?"
Secretary Zheng was Li Qiutao's secretary, someone He Haixiong considered far beyond his reach.
Secretary Zheng said, "Have you seen Mr. Chen?"
He Haixiong quickly replied, "Not yet, and we've encountered some trouble. I wonder when Mr. Chen will arrive?"
Secretary Zheng replied, "I forgot to tell you, Mr. Chen has been waiting at the restaurant for a while now. He is drinking and dining with a friend. If I remember correctly, his friend is named He Xiaohu, and he has a physical characteristic of a disabled right leg."
He Haixiong was instantly dumbfounded.
Secretary Zheng had said it all. How could he not realize that the person before him was the great figure he was waiting for?
"Mr. He, are you listening to me?" Secretary Zheng inquired.
He Haixiong seemed to wake from a dream and quickly said, "I'm listening, I'm listening. Perhaps I have already seen Mr. Chen."
Secretary Zheng was merely performing his duties and was unaware of the animosity between the two parties. Upon hearing this, he nodded, "Then I am relieved. I wish you a pleasant cooperation."
Before He Haixiong could speak, Secretary Zheng hung up the phone.
He Haixiong was left in a daze.
He Zhendong had not heard the conversation between Secretary Zheng and his father. Seeing He Haixiong hang up the phone, he immediately leaned forward and asked, "Dad, what did Mr. Li's people say?"
He Haixiong did not answer.
He Zhendong sensed something was wrong and quickly pressed, "Dad, say something! What's wrong?"
He Haixiong still did not answer He Zhendong's question, but instead turned to look at Chen Jin Zhao. Chen Jin Zhao's smile in He Haixiong's eyes seemed like a great mockery. After a long period of blankness, he finally said, "You are that Mr. Chen."
He Zhendong was greatly shocked, his throat constricting, not knowing what to say.
Chen Jin Zhao smiled, "What do you think?"
He Haixiong's heart trembled, and he finally accepted the fact that the person before him was indeed the Chen Jin Zhao he was waiting for.
That is, the great figure of legend.
He Haixiong's first thought was – he is too young. He had imagined Chen Jin Zhao to be young, but he never expected him to be this young.
"A misunderstanding..."
"This is just a misunderstanding. How about we sit down and talk? I'll propose a toast to Mr. Chen to express my apologies."
"What does Mr. Chen think?"
Chen Jin Zhao remained silent, a hint of mockery in his smile.
Large beads of cold sweat appeared on He Haixiong's forehead, and he felt immense pressure. He forced a smile again, "Mr. Chen, this is truly just a misunderstanding. Please let me explain."
"Misunderstanding?" Chen Jin Zhao laughed.
"I don't recall He Zhendong shouting that my friend should kneel and lick his shoes, and also that he would break one of my arms?"
He Haixiong's face turned even paler, not knowing how to explain.
Finding no other way, he turned and slapped He Zhendong across the face, roaring, "You dog! Do you know that the person in front of you is the Mr. Chen we are waiting for? Kneel down immediately and apologize to Mr. Chen. If you cannot gain Mr. Chen's forgiveness, you will await death!"
He Zhendong was terrified and did not dare to utter a word of protest.
Thump—
He stopped being stubborn and immediately knelt down.
In addition, He Zhendong frantically slapped himself, saying in repentance, "Mr. Chen, I was blind and offended you. I apologize now. If you still feel unappeased, you may deal with me as you see fit."
Chen Jin Zhao said with a half-smile, "How dare I deal with the He father and son? After all, you are the emperors of Leyang County. I am merely a dragon crossing the river, unable to suppress the local snakes."
He Haixiong trembled in fear. These words were like a slap in his face.
He Xiaohu watched all this, already stunned by the scene. He glanced at the He father and son, then at Chen Jin Zhao. He found it hard to connect this young man, who could make the He father and son bow their heads, with the sickly classmate from his childhood.
"Mr. Chen..."
He Haixiong spoke again.
Seeing that Chen Jin Zhao had not relented, He Haixiong immediately knelt down. The He father and son knelt in perfect alignment, like schoolchildren standing at attention.
"Mr. Chen, please give us a clear indication of what we must do for you to forgive us?" He Haixiong asked under pressure.
Chen Jin Zhao pulled over a chair and sat down. After leaving the He father and son hanging for half a minute, he flicked his fingers and said, "I also wish to forgive you, but what you did was too excessive. My friend's leg, wasn't it broken by He Zhendong?"
He Haixiong immediately said, "All the mistakes are ours, the He family's. I do not deny this. To express our apologies, I can find the best medical team to treat your friend's leg and heal it. What do you think?"
He Xiaohu choked up upon hearing this.
Because of this broken leg, he had endured much coldness and ridicule.
Was a turning point finally coming?
Chen Jin Zhao shook his head again, "It's not enough. My friend's future was ruined because of this broken leg over the years. This cannot be measured by money."
He Haixiong vaguely guessed what Chen Jin Zhao intended to do but dared not speak.
The two fell into silence.
Chen Jin Zhao kicked He Zhendong's chair over, then stood up and stomped on his leg. The sound of bones breaking echoed through the restaurant. He Zhendong let out a pig-like scream, then looked down at his knee. His kneecap had been completely crushed by Chen Jin Zhao!
Even the most advanced medical treatment could not fix it.
He Haixiong was still lost in shock and did not realize Chen Jin Zhao was already focusing on him. Just as he was about to speak again, Chen Jin Zhao, in the same manner, crushed He Haixiong's kneecap, causing the father and son to let out equally piercing screams.
After doing this, Chen Jin Zhao turned to look at He Xiaohu.
He Xiaohu trembled when he met Chen Jin Zhao's gaze. Before he could speak, Chen Jin Zhao smiled and asked, "Xiaohu, are you satisfied with how I've dealt with them?"
"Satisfied, of course, I'm satisfied..."
He Xiaohu nodded repeatedly, afraid that if he was too slow, Chen Jin Zhao might kill the He father and son.
Chen Jin Zhao gave a hum, nodded, and then looked at the He father and son, "As the saying goes, a life for a life. You broke my friend's leg, and now I've broken one of yours. It's even."
"Do you accept?"