“Are you trying to settle a bill?” Li Se said with a hint of disdain. “My clinic is worth over forty million, plus your Hongmen Hotel’s apology banquet. You want the best wine and to treat everyone in your Hongmen? Who knows how many people are in your Hongmen, but conservatively, it’s probably over ten million. So, you're saying you want me to pay over fifty million?”
Hong Jiancheng chuckled. “This is already the best outcome for you. Do you know what happens when you offend our Hongmen? Moreover, you hit my nephew. Instead of retaliating directly, I’m settling this with you in this manner, which is already quite magnanimous. Of course, you can refuse, but you’ll have to bear the consequences yourself!”
“What, you think there’s a problem with this? Fifty million for an apology, and we’re being very merciful!” Hong Shi scoffed. Did this brat think their Hongmen was easy to bully?
Li Se leaned back and said calmly, “You should know I have a feud with Ye Bowen. Ye Bowen has used many tactics, yet I’m still fine. Do you think your Hongmen can do anything to me?”
“I won’t deny that you have some abilities, but Young Master Ye is Young Master Ye. He’s a prominent figure, and he doesn’t pay much attention to you. Plus, there are some tactics he’s reluctant to use. But we Hongmen are different. We’re quite happy to use some dirty tactics, like making your clinic unable to operate, or one day you arrive at your clinic and find shit all over the entrance, or perhaps your woman suddenly disappears, only to be played with by a dozen men…”
These threatening words came from Hong Jiancheng’s mouth so casually, as if he were talking about something trivial. But coming from such a person, in such a tone, it meant he wouldn’t just talk; he would act.
“Are you threatening me?” Li Se’s eyes turned cold. He could tolerate threats directed at him, but what he hated most was threats against his woman.
“You can consider it a threat. In this territory, I’d really like to see how you’ll fight back,” Hong Jiancheng said with a smile.
“My uncle always handles things this way. Li Se, I advise you to pay to resolve this peacefully. Otherwise, it will bring you no good. You cannot afford to offend the Hongmen,” Hong Shi said triumphantly, inwardly admiring his uncle even more. This was how one handled important matters. If someone hit him, he could retaliate, but using other means. With just these few simple words, Li Se would have to fork out over fifty million, which felt much better than simply hitting back.
Li Se said, “Instead of that, how about we make a deal?”
“Oh, what kind of deal?” Hong Jiancheng asked with interest.
“It’s about your physical condition. You don’t have any children yet, do you?” Li Se had already identified Hong Jiancheng’s problem.
Hong Jiancheng’s expression changed slightly upon hearing this. “How… how did you know?”
“I’m a doctor. Why do you think I know?” Li Se retorted.
“Uncle, don’t listen to his nonsense. I’ve looked into it. He runs a traditional Chinese medicine clinic. At his age, can his medical skills really be that great?” Hong Shi said dismissively.
Hong Jiancheng took a deep breath, calming down, and said in a low voice, “I don’t know how you found out, but don’t think you can use this method to get what you want!” His condition was practically incurable. He had seen many doctors over the years, and none had been able to help.
“I can cure it!” Li Se said directly.
“You can cure it?” Hong Jiancheng couldn’t help but feel a flicker of excitement. He had been troubled by this for many years. After all, he had been married to his wife for so many years, yet they still hadn’t had a child. Medical examinations confirmed it was his problem, which made him extremely distressed.
“Of course. Western medicine can’t cure it, but for traditional Chinese medicine, it’s very simple. However, if you want me to treat you, it’ll be fifty million!” Li Se held out his palm and said calmly.
Fifty million!
“You dare to ask us for fifty million?” Hong Shi was getting anxious. “We asked you to apologize, and it was over fifty million. And here you are, asking us for fifty million too. Who do you think you are, a reincarnation of Hua Tuo?”
Hong Jiancheng waved his hand and said, “If you can truly cure me, then all our grudges will be settled. What do you think?”
“I don’t think so,” Li Se shook his head. “I mean, you have to pay the fifty million. If you can pay this money, I’ll treat you. And there’s an additional condition: you’d best not appear before me again, and you need to apologize for the threats you just made!”
“You dare?!” Hong Shi was furious. This demand was utterly outrageous.
Hong Jiancheng’s expression also turned somewhat grim. “I am the second-in-command of the Hongmen. You want me to apologize to you?”
“Think about it yourself. Is having a child more important, or is that fifty million more important?” Li Se shrugged, not seeming to care too much.
“Are you that confident you can cure me?” Hong Jiancheng quickly regained his composure, asking with apparent interest.
“I’m a doctor. If you believe, I can cure you. If you don’t believe, then there’s nothing I can do. You can continue to threaten me, but those people outside of you don’t really work on me. Is the Hongmen very strong? Have you ever thought about being replaced one day?” Li Se said lightly.
Arrogant, this was extraordinarily arrogant!
Hong Jiancheng completely ignored Li Se’s words and said, “Alright, I agree. As long as you can cure me, I’ll give you fifty million and won’t have anyone bother you again.”
“Deal!” Li Se didn’t waste any more words with Hong Jiancheng and got up to leave immediately.
“Uncle, are we just letting this go?” Hong Shi was unwilling to accept it.
“Little Shi, you’re too impatient,” Hong Jiancheng shook his head, watching Li Se’s retreating figure. “For some reason, I feel this person is not simple. Think about it, he’s opposing Young Master Ye, yet he’s completely fine up until now. Doesn’t that strike you as strange?”
“Isn’t that because Young Master Ye doesn’t take him seriously?” Hong Shi said.
Hong Jiancheng shook his head. “That’s not necessarily true. In the entire capital, who can offend Young Master Ye and still be unharmed, besides those top families? This kid might not be as simple as we think. Moreover, when he faced me just now, he was incredibly calm from beginning to end, even relaxed. It felt as if he had never taken us seriously…”
“No, it should be that he hasn’t taken the entire Hongmen seriously at all!”