Free Web NovelChapter 164: Chapter 127: The Big Boss Behind the Scenes_2
"That’s why I said he’s targeting me," Lin Jiang said.
"Wang Chunmin didn’t get to his position by being an idiot. He knows the situation with my shop, and he knows how he should be treating me."
Lin Jiang toyed with his cup and continued,
"Yesterday, I sent him two cartons of cigarettes as a gesture of goodwill, but he refused them and sent them back. He’s definitely determined to fight me to the bitter end."
Lin Jiang’s judgment wasn’t based solely on Wang Chunmin’s actions. There was also the game notification.
On opening day, the game had notified him that he had entered a brand-new dungeon.
And since the game listed Wang Chunmin as a mob, not just a wild monster, it meant he was a mob within this dungeon.
Based on his past gaming experience, there was bound to be a big boss later on.
On top of that, there was Liu Hongquan, the "Vanguard Officer." He had already been revived, and the person who revived him was, in all likelihood, his sister.
That meant his sister could be the dungeon’s boss.
But that was just a possibility. There might be an even more powerful figure behind the scenes.
"The only possibility I can think of is that the mall got a new vice president. A new broom sweeps clean, and she decided to make an example out of you."
"That makes even less sense. I just run a noodle shop. No matter how you look at it, that fire shouldn’t be directed at me," Lin Jiang said.
"I was brought in by the mall’s investment team, and I’ve increased foot traffic. They have nothing to gain by offending me."
"It is a bit strange. I went back and thought about it for a long time but couldn’t figure it out," He Jing said.
"But you brought in such a professional, and Wang Chunmin has no legitimate reason to bother you. He probably won’t be back anytime soon. Give me some time, and I’ll go ask around about this."
"Okay."
With the serious discussion over, the two chatted about other things. The atmosphere of the meal relaxed, and they finished after about an hour.
After the meal, Lin Jiang took He Jing home. He didn’t go anywhere else, just stayed at his shop.
RING RING RING—
Just as he returned to the shop, Lin Jiang’s phone rang. It was a call from Xu Lin.
"My staff told me you got into an argument with the fire control people this morning?"
"Yeah, it’s all resolved. Don’t worry about it."
"Wait there. I’m coming to see you now."
"You’re busy at your shop. Why don’t I come to you? Have you had lunch?"
"I have. Just come on over."
After hanging up, Lin Jiang headed to the basement level.
At the elevator, however, he ran into the woman who had eaten at his shop earlier. She was holding a cup of his plum juice and talking on her phone.
"I got here really early, but the shop owner got into an argument with someone, so I didn’t get to eat until noon. Got to watch a bit of drama, though."
"Your recommendation was great this time. The noodles at this shop are delicious. I’m planning to come back tonight to try the pan-fried steak with rice."
"Forget about the noodles. They’d get all clumpy by the time I brought them to Beijing. If you want some, you’ll have to come yourself. Anyway, I’ll be here for another two days before I leave."
Just then, the woman noticed someone looking at her and saw it was the noodle shop’s owner.
Their eyes met mid-air. Lin Jiang smiled and nodded. The woman nodded back in response, and they passed each other.
Arriving on the basement level, he saw Xu Lin waiting for him behind the counter.
"I heard you had a big fight this morning?"
"I didn’t argue with them. I had a professional handle it, so I didn’t need to get involved."
Lin Jiang briefly recounted the morning’s events. After hearing the full story, Xu Lin was quite calm.
"You have the capital to back you up now, so you really don’t have to deal with them," Xu Lin said.
"The only other possibility is that your shop is too popular. You’ve cut into someone else’s slice of the pie, and they’re trying to drive you out this way."
"I’ve considered that possibility too, but it doesn’t matter. I’ll deal with whatever they throw at me. I’m just waiting for their next move."
"You need to keep your temper in check. Whatever you do, don’t get physical with them. If you do, we’ll lose the moral high ground."
"Don’t worry, I know what to do," Lin Jiang said with a smile.
"Instead of worrying about me, you should think about your own future. If you want to open a traditional Chinese medicine clinic, I’ll support you completely. If you don’t, just living like this is fine too."
Lin Jiang didn’t have strong feelings about Xu Lin starting a second business.
’She might be the most suitable candidate right now, but there are plenty of other NPCs waiting for my investment. No need to focus everything on her.’
"Alright, I get it."
After chatting with Xu Lin for a while, Lin Jiang left.
’Xu Lin’s theory is possible,’ Lin Jiang thought, ’but not very likely.’
’Even if other shop owners were jealous of his business, Wang Chunmin’s actions couldn’t really do him any significant harm.’
’The worst-case scenario would be getting shut down for a few days. They couldn’t keep harassing him forever.’
’So, there had to be something else going on here.’
’He’d just have to see if He Jing could dig up any information.’
Back in his shop, Lin Jiang used the Attribute Card, adding one point to his Martial Force.
[Name: Lin Jiang]
[Skills: Culinary Skill (Basic), Fighting Technique (Basic), Swimming (Beginner)]
[Attributes: Physique 19, Comprehension 28, Charm 22]
[Martial Force: 20]
[Item: 200g of Fat]
[Treasure Chest: 20/100]
’Looking at his attribute panel, a Martial Force of 20 was definitely enough to handle ordinary people.’
’Now it was just a matter of seeing what kind of mobs would appear in this Berkeley dungeon.’
...
「General Manager’s Office.」
A woman was sitting at the desk. She was slender, around forty years old, with her hair in a bun, giving her a sharp and capable appearance.
The woman’s name was Liu Jinting, the new deputy general manager of Berkeley Mall.
At the moment, she was meticulously reading a document in her hands, her expression serious.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK—
"Come in."
Liu Jinting answered, and Wang Chunmin walked in from outside.
"President Liu."
"Mhm."
Seeing it was Wang Chunmin, Liu Jinting nodded without looking up. "What is it?"
"I just paid a visit to Xiaojiang Noodle Shop. It didn’t go very smoothly. In the end, even a lawyer showed up."
Hearing the name "Xiaojiang Noodle Shop," Liu Jinting put down the document in her hands.
"What were you doing there?"
"Well..."
Wang Chunmin forced a smile to ease the tension in the office.
"Yesterday, I spoke with your..."
"Just say it. Don’t stutter."
"Yesterday, I spoke with Manager Liu and we decided to give him a show of force. Today, I took some men and went..."
For the next ten-odd minutes, Wang Chunmin recounted the entire incident to Liu Jinting.
"He was clearly prepared," Liu Jinting said nonchalantly.
’The key parts of the shop’s renovation hadn’t been altered at all, so naturally, there was nothing they could do to him.’
"I really didn’t expect him to be able to find a lawyer."
The thought of Qin Yangyang’s powerful presence made Wang Chunmin feel uneasy.
’A grown man like me getting intimidated by a woman... It’s humiliating just thinking about it.’
"Alright, I understand. You can go now."
Liu Jinting cut the conversation short. Wang Chunmin didn’t dare to linger and politely got up and left.
Hearing the door close, Liu Jinting made a phone call.
"Come to my office."
A few minutes later, the office door was pushed open, and a man in a uniform walked in from outside.
If Lin Jiang and Liang Shuhuo were here, they would have recognized this man in an instant!
It was Liu Hongquan, the man who had tried to scam them before!
"Sis, what’s up?"
"Did you go looking for trouble at the noodle shop?!"
"I wouldn’t call it ’looking for trouble.’ More like knocking him down a peg," Liu Hongquan said, crossing his legs.
"If you hadn’t come back when you did, I would’ve been sent to jail. I can’t just let that go without getting back at him a little."
"Messing with him a little is fine, but don’t overdo it. I still have to cooperate with this person."
"This guy is arrogant, the kind of dog that barks a lot. If you don’t come at him hard from the start, he’ll just keep yapping. Now that we’ve messed with him, he’ll know who’s the grandpa and who’s the grandson."
