372: Chapter 366: Tenth Brother 372: Chapter 366: Tenth Brother Nearly an hour later, there was a knock on the door of the suite where Chen Hai was staying.
Bai Xiaohang hurriedly got up and walked to the door in a few steps, opening it.
Outside the door stood a middle-aged man with short hair, about forty, looking very capable.
This man stood at the entrance, followed by several burly men with tattoos all over, unclear if they were bodyguards or thugs.
Seeing the door open, the middle-aged man was expressionless.
He glanced at Bai Xiaohang by the door and then stepped directly into the room.
The luxury suite Chen Hai was staying in, although it had a dedicated living room, the living area was only so big.
Originally, there were already five or six of Chen Hai’s people here.
The middle-aged man was Xiang Laoshi.
Once he and the muscular men following him stepped in, the space inside became instantly crowded.
“This must be Tenth Brother Xiang, please have a seat!”
“Just for such a little thing, to have you personally step in…” Standing up, Chen Hai greeted Xiang Laoshi with a smile.
In business, it was always best to keep things amicable.
Regardless of what background Xiang Laoshi had,
Chen Hai didn’t have any deep-seated hatred with him.
Since he had already come over here personally, Chen Hai felt it was necessary to be courteous and give him some face!
Unfortunately, his good intentions seemed to have been wasted!
Before he could finish speaking, Xiang Laoshi across from him already interrupted him.
“Since you know I am Xiang Laoshi, you should already be clear about what status and background I have.”
“I’m giving you all a chance, release Fatty Wang and let him hurry off to shoot the film for me.”
“Otherwise, I can’t guarantee whether you’ll be able to leave Xiangjiang safely!”
…
Scanning over the few individuals in the room, Xiang Laoshi’s gaze finally settled on Chen Hai.
Perhaps because he didn’t see any familiar faces, he seemed to regard Chen Hai and the others as small fry from who knows where.
From the moment he spoke, he was discourteous, and his words even carried a thick threat.
The originally smiling Chen Hai, hearing these words, saw his smile instantly freeze on his face.
He didn’t say much, just snorted lightly, and then sat down again on the sofa.
“F**k your mother, dare to threaten us?”
“A second-class citizen under foreign rule, you can only stir up trouble in this palm-sized place.”
“My boss talks to you nicely, and that’s your good fortune; damn it, you really think you’re somebody…”
Bai Xiaohang, who had just closed the room door and was following behind Xiang Laoshi and his men, was the first to strike.
Cursing, he shouted and raised his hand as big as a fan to slap Xiang Laoshi.
Xiang Laoshi, although a movie company boss, was actually pretty capable in a fight.
Seeing Bai Xiaohang charging, he reacted instantly, backing up several steps.
Unfortunately, although his reaction was quick, Bai Xiaohang was even faster.
“Slap…slap…”
In the suite’s living room, which was only so spacious, Xiang Laoshi was cornered with no escape.
He raised his arms, hoping to block Bai Xiaohang’s strikes.
But due to the absolute difference in strength, Bai Xiaohang pushed his two arms aside with one hand.
Then, with his other hand, he delivered quick left and right slaps to Xiang Laoshi’s face.
With his strength and ferocity, the two slaps not only left clear fingerprints on Xiang Laoshi’s face but also caused it to swell up like a steamed bun at a visibly rapid pace.
“Mainland bastard, dare to lay hands on Tenth Brother, you’re seeking death!”
“In Xiangjiang, daring to oppose us at Xinji, no matter who you are, you’re definitely dead!”
“We at Xinji have over a hundred thousand members; I guarantee you won’t make it out of Xiangjiang!”
…
The muscular men who came with Tenth Brother Xiang were originally there to ensure his safety.
When Bai Xiaohang started the assault, they were too late to react because of his speed.
Seeing Xiang Laoshi slapped into such a state by Bai Xiaohang, their eyes turned red, and they became frantic.
However, the next moment, those who were about to pounce on Bai Xiaohang stopped dead in their tracks, not daring to take another step.
Because by now, Tian Mingjian and Bai Baoshan had stood up.
With the dark muzzles of their guns pointed at them, no matter how furious they were inside, they had to restrain themselves for the time being.
After all, the Big Circle Guys known for mingling in Xiangjiang were infamous for their brutality and disregard for rules.
These people here, clearly from the Mainland and able to whip out guns so easily?
Tenth Brother Xiang’s underlings immediately connected Chen Hai and his people with the Big Circle Gang.
As for before, why hadn’t Xiang Laoshi and his people considered this?
Simply because, from Fatty Wang’s mouth, they knew these folks came to help shoot an advertisement?
If they were conducting legitimate business, then they shouldn’t possibly be from the Big Circle Gang!
Whether that was really the case, Xiang Laoshi wasn’t clear, but that’s what he believed.
“Alright, Uncle Baoshan, Mingjian, put away the guns!”
“I know you’re all excellent marksmen, but what’s with pulling out guns at the drop of a hat?”
“I’ve said it before, we are legitimate businessmen.
Aren’t you afraid of frightening others and delaying my business negotiations?” Chen Hai commanded a few of his subordinates casually as his gaze, a bit peculiar, fell back on Tenth Brother Xiang.
“A drink, a peck, all is predestined by Heaven.
Xiaohang’s slaps were destined to end up on Xiang Laoshi’s face…” Chen Hai mused to himself with a tone of emotion.
When he first met Bai Xiaohang, he had seen a natural-born warrior in him.
Had it not been for his interference, Bai Xiaohang would have gotten into conflict with a gang lord over a few slaps, would have pursued the gang lord for thousands of miles, and would have ultimately met an untimely death.
Chen Hai had never seen Tenth Brother Xiang before today.
Before today, he hadn’t even heard the name Tenth Brother Xiang.
But when he saw Bai Xiaohang’s slaps land on Tenth Brother Xiang’s face, a sudden epiphany emerged in his heart.
At this moment, Chen Hai finally understood that Tenth Brother Xiang before him was the gang lord who had had a major conflict with Bai Xiaohang before his downfall.
Followed by him, Bai Xiaohang’s current path was completely different from his original one.
Even so, it seemed that certain events destined to happen would still find a way.
Just like now, his slaps had landed, and although Tenth Brother Xiang was merely staring at him without any other reaction, murder was undoubtedly in his heart.
Given the chance, he would certainly want Bai Xiaohang dead.
“Tenth Brother, please sit.
It’s just a small misunderstanding.
I think we can have a proper talk.
Once things are said out loud, it’ll be much better,” Chen Hai invited, frowning in contemplation, as he pointed to the sofa next to them with a smile.
“You’ve not only slapped the face of Xiang Laoshi but also the face of our Xiang Family, our Xinji!”
“After things have come to this point, do you think there’s room for easing the tension between us?”
“Have a good talk?
How do you propose we do this?
Each of you leaves an arm, would you agree?”
Tenth Brother Xiang did sit down, but his expression did not soften in the slightest.
His face darkening, he stared at Chen Hai, huffed lightly, and said.
He prided himself on being merely a legitimate businessman without gang affiliations and was absolutely a lord in the entertainment field.
Now-famous Big Brother Dragon, at Tenth Brother Xiang’s bidding, could only kneel obediently before him.
But now, some Mainland guys who appeared out of nowhere slapped his face swollen with a few slaps the moment they met?
If Tenth Brother Xiang could tolerate such treatment, then he wouldn’t be himself!
“Tenth Brother, you claim repeatedly that you have no gang affiliations and are a legitimate businessman.
I believe you must be conscious of the need to whitewash your background.”
“Now, with only a little over two years left until 1997, wouldn’t it be better for you to do business honestly and focus on your movies?”
“Invoking your gang’s power in a conflict against us, you’re trying to affirm your criminal background?”
“Xiangjiang is just a palm-sized place.
If you sit in the well, you’ll never know how wide the world is outside.”
“Don’t think we’re easy to bully just because we are from the Mainland?”
“After 1997, you will find that people like you with a murky background are the ones who really can’t afford to offend many Mainlanders!”
…
Chen Hai chuckled meaningfully, speaking unhurriedly.
With his capabilities, killing Tenth Brother Xiang and his people right in front of him would be a breeze.
However, the aftermath would be very troublesome.
After all, the Xinji led by the Xiang Family had significant influence, and escalating the conflict would definitely be more harm than good for Chen Hai.
Compared to using forceful measures, Chen Hai still felt that speaking factually and reasoning with this Tenth Brother Xiang would be far more appropriate.
Seeing that Tenth Brother Xiang had fallen silent after his words, Chen Hai continued at a measured pace: “As someone of modest achievements in Capital City, I suppose I also have a small reputation there.”
“If you have some connections in Capital City, you could inquire with some powerful scions about me and see if you, Xiang Laoshi, can really afford to offend me!”
“We’re all out here looking for wealth; those two slaps were just a loss of face for you.”
“If a moment’s pride leads the entire Xiang Family into crisis, do you think that’s appropriate?”
…
Tapping his fingers lightly on the coffee table, Chen Hai’s logic was well-structured and persuasive.
Listening to these arguments, Tenth Brother Xiang remained quiet, appearing somewhat convinced by Chen Hai.
“I do indeed have some friends over in Capital City.
Please allow me to make a few calls,” Tenth Brother Xiang said to Chen Hai after a long silence.
“Feel free, and if you find the living room uncomfortable, you’re welcome to make your calls from the bedroom,” Chen Hai responded with a smile.
Did Tenth Brother Xiang really listen to his reasoning and decide to call Capital City to check on his background?
This was all within Chen Hai’s expectations, and he wasn’t concerned at all.
Although he rarely engaged with the circle of powerful scions in Capital City, his name was certainly known to many.
After all, his engagement with Ye Qingqing was a public affair, not secretive at all.
Incidents within a top family like the Ye Family were always a favorite topic of discussion among lesser elites.
Besides the Ye Family, Chen Hai also had a good relationship with Uncle Ban.
With such a background, if Tenth Brother Xiang managed to learn something about him, would he still dare to make outrageous statements in front of Chen Hai?
Of course, Tenth Brother Xiang’s retreat to the bedroom to make a call could also be to seek help from Xinji.
But Chen Hai felt that was unlikely.
If he intended to, no matter how far away Tenth Brother Xiang ran to speak on the phone, Chen Hai could hear everything crystal clear.
Besides, with his capabilities, even if hordes of gang thugs came after him, they posed no significant threat to him.
However, unless absolutely necessary, he also didn’t want to escalate the situation too much.