Chapter 41: The Negotiations Break Down
Lin Ruoxi desperately wanted to slap Director Jiang, but she knew very well that if she dared to lay a hand on him, she could forget about ever opening this auction company.
Lin Ruoxi could hold back, but Cheng Yuan wouldn’t stand for this nonsense.
"Director Jiang, you’ve already taken the red envelope. Don’t push your luck, alright?"
"Red envelope? Heh, you really think I care about your stinking money? Take it back! Your name approval will have to go strictly by the book."
Cheng Yuan’s expression turned ugly. "So, you’re deliberately trying to make things difficult, Director Jiang? I refuse to believe we can’t get our company name approved without you!"
"Then go ahead and try. I’ll eat my hat if you can get it done within a year!"
Lin Xinghe and Hua Yao grew anxious. ’Why is Xiaoyuan so hot-headed?’
The two of them quickly tried to smooth things over.
"Xiaoyuan, that’s enough!"
"Isn’t it just a meal? Director Jiang, you keep the red envelope. My daughter is just ignorant of how things work. Is it alright if I treat you to dinner instead?"
As she spoke, Hua Yao pushed the red envelope back toward him.
Director Jiang looked up at Hua Yao. Although she was middle-aged, she had maintained her looks exceptionally well, resembling a woman in her thirties. She had a particular charm.
Director Jiang smiled. "Yes, of course! I’m free at eight tonight."
"I’ll treat you to Japanese food, Director Jiang."
"It’s a deal."
Lin Ruoxi gritted her teeth so hard they could have shattered. ’How could she, as a daughter, let her own mother go to dinner with this bastard?’
"Mom, this is my business. I’ll be the one to go to this dinner!"
The corners of Director Jiang’s mouth curled up slightly. "Then come along together. I don’t mind."
"Mind your ass! We’ll just register the company somewhere else! We don’t have to beg him!"
Cheng Yuan couldn’t hold back any longer. ’As a real man, how could he sacrifice his wife and mother-in-law just to get things done?’
With a sharp snatch, Cheng Yuan grabbed the red envelope and shoved it into his pocket.
As for Director Jiang, Cheng Yuan had a hundred different ways to deal with him from the shadows.
Director Jiang’s face turned cold. "I’ve already memorized your information. The moment you walk out that door, I’ll immediately put you on the blacklist! You won’t be able to register a company anywhere in the territory of Great Xia!"
"You dare!"
Director Jiang was fearless. "Don’t threaten me, I don’t scare easily. If you have the guts, why don’t you hit me?"
Lin Ruoxi knew Cheng Yuan’s temper. Worried he would actually hit the man, she quickly grabbed him. "Calm down! You have to calm down! Going to jail over someone like him isn’t worth it!"
In the midst of the argument, the office door was pushed open, and a staff member rushed in, looking flustered.
Director Jiang’s face darkened. He snorted coldly, "Xiaozhou, what are you doing, rushing in like this? Have you no sense of decorum?"
Xiaozhou quickly apologized. "Director Jiang, my apologies, I was out of line. The City Lord is here to inspect the Business Administration Bureau, and he’s about to reach our floor!"
The City Lord??
Director Jiang’s face changed dramatically. He shot to his feet with a nervous expression and looked outside. He had heard that the City Lord’s methods were incredibly harsh. ’I can’t afford to get on his bad side!’
’I have to keep these people quiet.’
Director Jiang forced a friendly smile.
"You know, you have a point. Capital verification is indeed the bank’s responsibility. How about this: leave your documents here for now, and I’ll review them carefully in a bit. Just wait here in the office peacefully. Don’t wander around and disturb the City Lord. If you do, even I won’t be able to save you."
After speaking, Director Jiang put on a sycophantic smile that was meant to look simple and honest. He led Xiaozhou out of the office to respectfully await the City Lord’s arrival.
Inside the office.
Cheng Yuan said in a low voice, "Director Jiang is probably just trying to placate us for now. Once the City Lord leaves, he’ll definitely change his tune. I suggest we go out and report the situation to the City Lord."
Cheng Yuan was very confident about this, since he had, after all, saved Shen Jiangnan’s life.
Lin Ruoxi smiled. "I almost forgot! Uncle Shen is the Luo City Lord, and he and Dad have a great relationship. We can just ask Uncle Shen to solve this!"
Originally, Lin Xinghe had planned to ask Shen Jiangnan for a favor, but after experiencing the fickleness of human relationships last night, he didn’t want to set himself up for humiliation.
Lin Xinghe’s expression became a little unnatural.
"Your Uncle Shen is very busy every day. We shouldn’t bother him with such a small matter."
"If Uncle Shen were busy with work, it really would be inconvenient to bother him. But he’s here on an inspection. If we report the problems at the Business Administration Bureau to him, we’d actually be helping him!"
Lin Xinghe sighed and said nothing. Beside him, Hua Yao’s tone was dejected.
"Ruoxi, this world is a cruel place. When you’re doing well, you’re surrounded by good people. But when you’ve fallen on hard times, you become untouchable. All those friends and relatives from the past will keep their distance."
Lin Ruoxi was taken aback. "You contacted Uncle Shen?"
"Not him, no. But we contacted over twenty friends last night and couldn’t even find a job."
Lin Ruoxi: "..."
"Alright then, let’s not bother Uncle Shen. I don’t want to lose Manwen as my best friend. The house we’re living in is one she lent us, after all."
Cheng Yuan grinned. He actually wanted to tell them that Shen Manwen’s villa now belonged to him.
However, the deed hadn’t been transferred yet, so Cheng Yuan didn’t explain.
’Since my father-in-law and mother-in-law feel it would be awkward to meet with Uncle Shen, I’ll just find him privately and ask for help myself.’
Outside.
Surrounded by his staff, Shen Jiangnan listened to reports while conducting his inspection, nodding frequently.
When his gaze swept past Director Jiang’s office, he paused for a moment. ’Why have I run into Lin Xinghe and Hua Yao?’
’Those two are pariahs right now. I should just avoid them if I can!’
Shen Jiangnan was about to turn away when he suddenly froze. ’Why is Divine Doctor Cheng with Lin Xinghe?’
’Since that’s the case, I can’t just ignore this matter.’
’Yes, I’ll finish the inspection first, then ask Divine Doctor Cheng about it.’
Shen Jiangnan gave Cheng Yuan a slight nod, then, surrounded by his staff, he left the floor and headed straight for the top level.
Lin Xinghe and Hua Yao exchanged a bitter smile. It was just as they’d expected. Shen Jiangnan had truly drawn a line between them. He had clearly seen them but couldn’t even be bothered to offer a simple greeting.
Lin Ruoxi was also very disappointed. ’Uncle Shen is being so heartless. He used to be so fond of me when I was a child.’
Only Cheng Yuan remained calm. ’Since I made eye contact with Shen Jiangnan, this matter is as good as settled.’
Director Jiang was not qualified to accompany Shen Jiangnan on his inspection. After respectfully watching Shen Jiangnan leave, he put his arrogant airs back on and returned to his office.
Just as Cheng Yuan had predicted, Director Jiang’s expression changed instantly. "What are you still doing here? Waiting for me to invite you to dinner? Hurry up and get out!"
Lin Xinghe and Hua Yao sighed. ’Without the Lin Family, we’re nothing.’ They were being stumped by a minor department director!
Lin Ruoxi also clenched her jaw tightly. ’So, this world is far crueler than I ever imagined.’ All this time, her life had been smooth sailing only because she was under the protection of the great tree that was the Lin Family.
Without that great tree, it was difficult to take even a single step.
Only Cheng Yuan remained calm. He looked at Director Jiang with a mocking gaze. "Are you sure you want to kick us out? If we leave, it won’t be so easy to invite us back."