"Guards!"
"Guards!"
"Break his limbs and let this good-for-nothing know the consequences of disobeying my father's orders!" Chen Fan roared.
In an instant.
A group of Chen family retainers, armed with clubs, swarmed in.
With mocking smiles on their faces, they surrounded Chen Nan.
"Chen Fan, I am here on official business. I hope you know what's good for you." Chen Nan said coldly. Although he wasn't wearing the constable uniform, he carried Han Zongyuan's token.
"Bah!"
Chen Fan sneered with disgust. "You're just a dog from the yamen, and you dare talk about official business? Take a look at yourself in the piss. When Yuan Zun was around, we would at least give you some face. Now, you're nothing to us."
"What are you waiting for? Cripple him!"
At Chen Fan's command.
All the retainers charged at Chen Nan, shouting.
Chen Nan dismounted and kicked away a retainer who rushed at him.
The immense force sent the retainer flying.
He then sent three of his companions flying behind him.
Just then.
A club appeared behind his head.
He raised his hand and grabbed.
He caught the club in his hand.
Wielding the club with one hand, he carved a bloody path.
In less than a minute.
All thirty-odd retainers lay on the ground.
Their heads were bloody, and they wailed in pain.
"This..."
"How is this possible? How can you be so strong?"
Chen Fan's scalp tingled, and his eyes were filled with terror as he stared at Chen Nan.
When Chen Nan first returned to the Chen family, he had someone deliberately provoke him and then beat him up.
Back then, two retainers had beaten Chen Nan to his knees begging for mercy.
Now.
He had, with his own strength, instantly overwhelmed more than thirty retainers.
This made him feel as if he had seen a ghost.
"You unfilial wretch, you dare return to the Chen family?"
With an angry roar.
Chen Bohan, his face contorted with rage, walked out. Upon seeing the fallen retainers, his heart surged with immense anger. "You ignored my words, returned to the Chen family, and even injured so many people from the Chen family."
"Today, I will uphold justice and eliminate this unfilial wretch!"
Chen Nan directly produced Han Zongyuan's token, his face cold. "Patriarch Chen, I am here on official business."
"This is County Magistrate Han's token. Seeing this token is like seeing County Magistrate Han himself."
Chen Bohan's expression changed drastically.
Damn it.
How did this guy gain the favor of Magistrate Han again?
He had investigated Han Zongyuan's background before.
It was said that Han Zongyuan came from another faction.
Because of this.
He dared to drive Chen Nan out of the family.
Because, under normal circumstances, Han Zongyuan would definitely target Chen Nan.
He would never reuse him.
But now.
Han Zongyuan was also reusing Chen Nan, which was something he hadn't expected.
Taking a deep breath, Chen Bohan suppressed his displeasure and asked humbly, "What are Lord Han's instructions?"
Chen Nan: "Tong City faces the danger of a flood. To deal with this unprecedented flood, the county yamen has decided to excavate a new river."
"But this requires money."
"Lord Han has sent me to borrow money."
"If that's the case, my Chen family is willing to donate two hundred thousand taels of silver." Chen Bohan was well aware of the flood situation. It was said that Dongning Prefecture had already suffered significant casualties.
Therefore.
Two hundred thousand taels was nothing to the Chen family.
"Two hundred thousand taels? Are you trying to send away a beggar?" Chen Nan snorted. "I'm here to borrow money, not for you to donate. Your words make it sound like Lord Han is bullying you with his power."
???
Chen Bohan's expression was incredulous.
With your tone and manner, if this isn't bullying with power, what is?
Chen Nan said impatiently, "Don't talk about two hundred thousand or five hundred thousand. I'll give you a number... five million taels."
Chen Fan's pupils widened, his eyes filled with disbelief. "How much? Holy hell, are you out of your mind for money? Why don't you just rob a bank?"
Chen Bohan's face also turned grim.
He could feel it.
Chen Nan was deliberately targeting the Chen family.
After all, among the five major wealthy families in Tong City, only a handful could afford five million.
Even if the Chen family could afford it, they would be severely weakened.
Chen Nan chuckled, "Robbing a bank wouldn't get me five million taels of silver."
"Chen Nan, are you deliberately targeting our Chen family?" Chen Bohan's voice was low.
Chen Nan scratched his head awkwardly. "Is it that obvious?"
"Chen Nan, I advise you not to go too far," Chen Bohan said, his anger burning. "Even if Magistrate Han has appointed you to borrow money, you shouldn't be so overbearing."
"When have I ever been overbearing?" Chen Nan said dismissively. "Rebuilding the river channel requires a significant sum of money. This money isn't just coming from your Chen family; the other four major families will also contribute. I just came from the Gongyang family, and they have also lent money to the yamen."
Chen Bohan frowned. "They also lent money?"
Chen Nan: "Yes, they lent one million taels."
Pfft!
Chen Bohan almost spat out a mouthful of blood. "The Gongyang family contributed one million taels, but why does our Chen family have to contribute five million taels?"
"Are we, the Chen family, richer than the Gongyang family?"
"Not necessarily," Chen Nan said. "It's mainly because I don't like the look of you, and I want you to contribute more money. It's as simple as that." As he spoke, a meaningful smile appeared on his face.
They say a gentleman's revenge is never too late.
But Chen Nan considered himself a petty man.
And a petty man's revenge, wouldn't he seize every opportunity, day and night?
This was his counterattack against the Chen family.
Chen Bohan's face contorted. "This is the behavior of a petty man who has gained power!"
Chen Nan shrugged unapologetically. "Even if you call me a dog riding on a person's power, it doesn't matter. Anyway, today, you must come up with these five million taels of silver."
Chen Bohan gritted his teeth and asked, "What if we don't lend it?"
Chen Nan snorted. "Tong City is in trouble, and all the wealthy families and magnates are generously contributing. Even the common people of the city have stepped forward. Your Chen family is one of the five major wealthy families of Tong City."
"Now that Tong City is in trouble, you turn a blind eye. If that's the case, then don't blame the county yamen for not tolerating you."
Chen Bohan's pupils trembled, and he said in a low voice, "Are these your words, or Magistrate Han's words?"
Chen Nan: "Naturally, they are Magistrate Han's words!"
Chen Bohan's eyes were bloodshot. "What's the difference between this and being robbed?"
Chen Nan lost his patience. "Lend it or not, give me a clear answer!"
Chen Bohan: "We won't lend it!"
Chen Nan said, "Oh. When I came, Magistrate Han instructed me to give a gentle reminder if anyone disobeyed. You are my biological father, so harming you would be a great act of rebellion."
Speaking of which, he looked at Chen Fan. "However, I can still make a move against him."
Feeling Chen Nan's icy gaze.
Chen Fan's face immediately turned ashen.
A sense of foreboding arose in his heart.
Just then.
A cold voice suddenly rang out. "Just you? You want to kill my nephew?"