Chapter 1216 The Deceptive Driver
"At that time, the Vermilion Bird lineage will likely suffer as well."
Su Yongnian and Tian Haidan exchanged glances, both offering wry smiles.
Their silence caused Su Pingchao to frown slightly.
"Brother Yongnian, what's wrong?" Su Pingchao asked.
"Pingchao, to be honest, we understand the implications. We've even tried to contact Xuan Yun Group, but they are unwilling to cooperate with us. Therefore, this matter requires careful consideration."
Su Yongnian sighed helplessly.
He knew the stakes involved, but Xuan Yun Group simply wouldn't engage with them.
Su Pingchao chuckled, "Brother Yongnian, I've also considered this. I heard that the CEO of Xuan Yun Group will be hosting distinguished guests at the Seven Star Grand Hotel."
"I know someone who is very close to the young master of the Seven Star Grand Hotel. He can sneak into the top floor, and perhaps then he can meet the CEO of Xuan Yun Group."
"Since we're talking about cooperation, it must be that the interests haven't been properly discussed. I believe that as long as we show sincerity, we can definitely impress Xuan Yun Group."
"Who is this person you're referring to?"
Su Yongnian felt that this approach might indeed offer an opportunity and asked out of curiosity.
"Su Chenglong!"
Su Pingchao uttered a name.
"That genius from the Tiger lineage? Isn't he already on the candidate list for the clan leader?"
Su Yongnian frowned.
"This Su Chenglong, only twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, is already a sixth-rank Martial Dao Venerable, and also a business genius. He's skilled at networking and entered the clan leader candidate list last year."
"However, he has an unaccomplished younger brother, Su Moxiong, who indulges in revelry and causes trouble. But this Su Chenglong dotes on his brother immensely and truly hopes his brother can also make it onto the clan leader candidate list!"
"If the brothers both make it onto the list, it would absolutely be a matter of bringing glory to their ancestors!"
"This Su Chenglong has also set a condition: if he helps finalize the cooperation, he hopes to receive the support of our two lineages."
"That's why Su Chenglong is willing to help."
Su Pingchao explained slowly.
Making it onto the candidate list didn't guarantee becoming the clan leader, as there were five spots on the list. Ultimately, it would depend on strength, and also on the backing of one's network.
"Alright, I agree! If he can successfully negotiate the cooperation, our Lion lineage is willing to lend him a hand!" Su Yongnian hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement.
Currently, Su Yongnian's two sons were finished. The list held no particular significance for him anymore. All he thought about now was revenge; he no longer considered other matters.
"Since Brother Yongnian supports it, I will naturally support it as well. All I want now is for Chen Xuan to die and the Vermilion Bird lineage to be expelled from the capital!" Su Pingchao gritted his teeth.
"Good, let's hope for success!" Su Yongnian's hope reignited, and he nodded slightly.
Tian Haidan's eyes also glinted with a different kind of light.
...
In the evening, Chen Xuan exited the Su family mansion in the capital, hailed a taxi, and headed straight for the Seven Star Grand Hotel, Jiang Shang Ming Yue.
"Little brother, where are you going?"
The driver was a middle-aged man with a square face and a full figure, his smile beaming.
Chen Xuan replied with a smile, "The Seven Star Grand Hotel, Jiang Shang Ming Yue."
The driver blinked and glanced at Chen Xuan in the rearview mirror. "Sir, did you just arrive in the capital?"
Chen Xuan looked at the driver. "You can tell I'm not from around here."
"Listening to your accent, sir, of course, I can tell. Not only do I know you're not from around here, but I also know why you're going to the Seven Star Grand Hotel," the driver said with a smile.
As a taxi driver, he had seen many people. Based on their accents and demeanor, he could often tell if a passenger was local, and even deduce what they were doing in the capital.
The Seven Star Grand Hotel, just to enter, was not for ordinary people of status. Even common families in the capital might not be able to get in.
Judging by Chen Xuan's attire, he didn't look like he was going for a meal. That left only one other possibility.
Sightseeing!
"Then guess what I'm going to the Seven Star Grand Hotel, Jiang Shang Ming Yue for?" Chen Xuan chuckled and asked indifferently.
"To visit the Seven Star Grand Hotel. I heard the Seven Star Grand Hotel has opened an exhibition deck. As long as you buy a ticket, you can take an elevator up to the twelfth floor for sightseeing and overlook the scenery of the river." The driver said with a grin.
"However, according to my information, it's currently peak tourist season, and there are too many people visiting. The exhibition tickets are already sold out. If you go now, you probably won't be able to buy tickets."
"Fortunately, you met me. I know someone who specializes in selling tickets. The price isn't expensive, only a thousand per ticket. If you want to buy, I can call my friend."
Chen Xuan understood immediately after hearing this. It turned out the driver was planning to sell him tickets.
This situation was quite common in some tourist spots. Usually, drivers would have connections with attractions and scalpers, earning commissions in the process.
If you checked online, you might find tickets for much cheaper than what these people were selling.
"A thousand? I saw online it was only two hundred? And there are still tickets available?"
Chen Xuan smiled and took out his phone, showing the screen to the driver.
The driver's face immediately turned uglier than if he had eaten a fly.
He now deeply resented the convenience of online information and the availability of good quality, inexpensive items. It made it difficult for those who relied on ripping people off offline.
"Heh heh heh... perhaps I made a mistake!"
The driver awkwardly scratched his head.
Chen Xuan didn't say anything more. He leaned against the window, admiring the beautiful night view of the capital.
The overpasses in the capital seemed to soar in the sky, truly a marvel of craftsmanship, making one feel quite awestruck.
He vaguely recalled an article describing the overpasses in the capital. Now, seeing them, they were even more magnificent than depicted in the article.
A dozen minutes passed in the blink of an eye. Chen Xuan looked at the familiar scenery outside the window and frowned. "Driver, did you get lost? We seem to be going in circles."
The driver's face remained unchanged, his heart unstirred. "I've been a driver for over ten years, how could I get lost? The overpasses here all look similar. You must be mistaken."
Chen Xuan shook his head helplessly.
This driver was clearly taking advantage of him being an outsider who didn't know the way, deliberately trying to cheat him.
"Then, after we get off the overpass, stop up ahead." Chen Xuan said calmly.
The driver drove off the overpass and pulled over to the side, saying, "That will be three hundred yuan."
"Three hundred yuan? Are you crazy?" Chen Xuan frowned.
"Young man, what did you just say? Do you know how high the cost of living is in our capital? If you're poor and have no money, don't come to the capital; stay in your small town!"
The driver had completely changed, abandoning his previously kind demeanor and becoming fierce and menacing, like a thug.
Chen Xuan shook his head helplessly, too lazy to argue with the driver. He threw twenty yuan onto the seat and jumped out of the car.
The driver, still unwilling to let it go, also pulled open his door and rushed out, glaring at Chen Xuan and shouting angrily, "Kid, you dare not pay me my fare? Do you know the consequences of offending me?"