67: If you don't kneel and beg me within three days, I'll take your surname.

Downstairs at the administration building of Jiu Fu Glass Factory.

A brand-new black Audi 100 was parked by the flower bed.

The car was pitch black and shiny, its four-ring logo dazzling under the sunlight.

Back in '92, this thing was a synonym for power and a symbol of status, even more effective than a later-day Rolls-Royce.

Huang Qi, wearing that flashy floral shirt, circled the new car several times, his hands stroking the body of the vehicle as he nearly drooled.

"This is so cool!"

"If I drive this to pick up Yaoyao, with that kind of prestige, wouldn't I win her over instantly?"

As he was pondering, the building's glass doors pushed open.

Huang Xingguo walked out, a leather briefcase tucked under his arm, his face glowing with satisfaction.

"Hey! Dad!"

Huang Qi lunged forward, eagerly taking his father's bag.

"This new car is really something!"

"So, if you're not in a hurry, how about giving me the keys? I want to take it for a spin and get used to its performance."

Huang Xingguo looked at his good-for-nothing only child; although he knew the boy was up to no good, he couldn't help but spoil him.

"You little brat, I bet you want to go pick up girls, don't you?"

Huang Xingguo cursed with a smile, reached into his trouser pocket, pulled out a set of car keys in a leather case, and tossed them over.

"It just so happens I'm going to the city to have dinner with some leaders to discuss the acquisition of those two factories."

"You be my driver for once and drop me off."

"Then you can take the car. Have it back home by ten tonight, you hear me?"

"Got it! Dad! You really are my dear father!"

Huang Qi was overjoyed and scrambled into the driver's seat.

The Audi's leather seats were truly different; sitting in them felt like being on a sofa.

With a stomp on the gas, the pushback was intense... In the city, a casserole shop called 'Old Lady Li's' was the most famous old eatery in Harbin.

Although the environment was average and the floor was greasy, their casserole with pickled cabbage and pork belly, as well as their jarred meat, were unparalleled.

Most importantly, Zhang Yaoyao loved this food.

Yesterday's gathering had been ruined by Chu Tianbiao bringing people to fight.

Today's gathering was one Huang Qi had worked hard to organize, even inviting a few fair-weather friends to keep them company.

Zhang Yaoyao arrived.

She was wearing a light yellow floral dress with a white knitted cardigan over it, her hair tied in a ponytail.

A pair of rimless glasses sat on the bridge of her nose, and she held two books in her arms.

Even though she was illiterate.

That quiet, scholarly, and well-bred aura in this smoke-filled casserole shop was like a white lotus rising from the mud, untainted.

"Come, come, Yaoyao, have a seat!"

Huang Qi's eyes were practically glued to her as he eagerly pulled out a chair.

At this moment, Huang Xingguo, who hadn't left yet, also got out of the car.

Originally, he had planned to head off to take care of business once they arrived.

But when he looked up, he happened to see that light yellow silhouette.

That pure and elegant temperament instantly struck the old man's heart.

Over the years, he had become accustomed to the heavily made-up women in nightclubs or the loud-mouthed hags at the factory.

Suddenly seeing a female college student who looked like she had stepped out of a pictorial.

The stagnant pond of Huang Xingguo's heart actually rippled.

"Ahem!"

Huang Xingguo straightened his suit and tie. He was no longer in a hurry to leave; instead, he walked over with large strides.

"Xiao Qi, is this the classmate you were talking about?"

Huang Qi was stunned. "Dad, aren't you in a hurry?"

"What's the rush? Eating is more important."

Huang Xingguo sat down directly opposite Zhang Yaoyao, his old eyes squinting as he shamelessly sized her up.

"Oh, this girl is truly beautiful. You can tell she's educated; she'll definitely be a high-ranking official in the future."

"Come, child, order whatever you like. Today, Uncle is treating!"

Zhang Yaoyao felt uncomfortable being looked at with such a naked gaze. She instinctively shrank back and managed to force a slight smile.

"Thank you, Uncle."

Huang Qi was dim-witted and didn't notice anything wrong with his father's gaze at all. He thought his father was vetting her and helping him out, which made him even happier.

Little did he know, both father and son had set their sights on the same person... Meanwhile.

Jiu Fu Glass Factory, Sales Department Manager's Office.

Manager Liu, whose name was Liu Defa, had his feet propped up on his desk, holding a purple clay teapot and humming a local Errenzhuan tune.

"The first month brings the New Year, the first day of the first month~"

Knock, knock, knock!

The door was knocked.

Before he could call out for them to enter, the door was pushed open directly.

An elite-looking man in a professional suit, clearly in the style of the south, stood politely at the door.

It was Chen Jiacheng.

"Hello, are you Manager Liu?"

"I am the representative of Lins Canned Food Factory. This person beside me is our owner, Mr. Lin."

Chen Jiacheng spoke in standard Hong Kong-style Mandarin. Although he was polite, that condescending elite vibe still put people under pressure.

The moment Manager Liu heard the words 'Lins Canned Food Factory', the relaxed expression on his face vanished.

He took his feet off the desk and didn't even look up.

"Who let you in?"

"Did no one tell you that I don't receive random people here?"

"Out, out! I'm busy!"

He was playing hard to get, thinking of the task Young Master Huang had assigned him—he had to give these people a proper show of authority.

Slam!

The door was closed.

Lin Chuan stood behind Chen Jiacheng.

"Wow, a cold shoulder right as we arrive."

"Long Wu, open the door."

"Yes!"

Beside him, Long Wu's deadpan face showed no expression.

He took a step forward.

The solid wood door, specifically closed to demonstrate the manager's status, stood right in front of him.

Long Wu didn't even use his hand to push.

Instead, he extended two fingers and pinched the brass spherical doorknob.

Creak—

A tooth-aching sound of metal twisting rang out.

The solid brass lock deformed and twisted between Long Wu's fingers like a piece of tofu.

Then.

Snap!

The latch was actually snapped off by force!

The entire lock head fell to the floor like a rotten persimmon and rolled twice.

The room instantly fell silent.

Even the air seemed to freeze.

Manager Liu, who had just sat back down, almost dropped his purple clay teapot. His fleshy face turned pale instantly, and his eyes stared fixedly at the scrap metal on the floor.

Is that a freaking hand?

That's more like a hydraulic pincer!

Creak!

The door opened again.

"Now, can we talk?"

Lin Chuan walked in with his hands behind his back, as if strolling through his own backyard, and sat down on the sofa of his own accord.

Long Wu stood behind him like an iron tower, his shadow completely enveloping Manager Liu.

"Uh... this..."

Manager Liu felt his throat go dry, and his legs began to tremble.

He wasn't afraid of Lin Chuan, this small-time boss.

But he was terrified of this death god who pinched brass locks like they were clay!

Furthermore, that man with the Hong Kong accent was wearing a suit that looked expensive, and that aura... this didn't look like an ordinary small workshop.

Could they really have some kind of background?

"Well, gentlemen, it's not that I'm not giving you face."

Manager Liu's eyes darted around, and cold sweat began to pour down his forehead.

"The thing is, I can't make the decision on this."

"Those are rules set by the big boss above."

"Uh, I need to use the restroom, my stomach hurts! I'll be right back!"

With that, he didn't care about dignity anymore and scurried out with his head down.

After running away.

Manager Liu's hands shook as he dialed Huang Qi's number.

"Hello? Young Master Huang! Something's happened!"

"Those people have come to the door!"

"They even brought a Hong Kong Businessman hired from who-knows-where! He looks quite intimidating!"

"And there's a bodyguard who can really fight; he crushed our door lock!"

"If they get aggressive, I'm afraid I won't be able to hold them off!"

Meanwhile, in the casserole shop.

Huang Qi was putting pickled cabbage into Zhang Yaoyao's bowl.

He had embellished Zhang Yaoyao's story and told it to Huang Xingguo.

At this moment, when Huang Qi heard that the other party had come to the door, his anger flared up.

"What?!"

"They're revolting! They dare to run wild on my turf?"

Huang Xingguo, who was nearby, also heard.

He was just looking for a chance to demonstrate a man's dominance and authority in front of this scholarly beauty, Zhang Yaoyao.

Wasn't this the perfect opportunity?

He snatched the phone and barked a reprimand into it:

"Old Liu! You're a veteran who's been with me for several years!"

"Did this little thing scare you to death?"

"What Hong Kong Businessman? That's just an actor hired with money! It's for show!"

"Which truly powerful Hong Kong Businessman doesn't go to the provincial or municipal levels? Would they hang around with a puny little Canned Food Factory?"

"You tell them!"

Huang Xingguo straightened his back and spoke with a booming voice, intentionally letting everyone at the table hear.

"I, Huang Xingguo, despise nothing more than these upstarts who don't know their place just because they have a little money!"

"That whatever Lin Chuan!"

"Tell him! Our Jiu Fu Glass Factory doesn't lack his single piece of business!"

"I don't deign to cooperate with such people!"

"Tell him to get lost!"

"Want to get goods? Not a chance! Unless he does as my son says!"

After speaking, he slapped the phone onto the table with a look of arrogance.

"Dad, you're so dominant!" Huang Qi gave a thumbs up.

Opposite them, although Zhang Yaoyao didn't know what had happened, seeing the fierce looks on this father and son's faces made her even more afraid. She could only lower her head and pretend to eat.

Back at the office, after hearing his big boss's reassurance, Manager Liu's back instantly straightened.

With this authority, what did he have to fear?

He straightened his collar and walked back into the office with measured steps.

The smugness of a petty man was written all over his face.

"Ahem!"

Manager Liu plopped back into his executive chair and even wanted to prop his feet up again, but after a glance at Long Wu, he put them back down.

"Well, I just asked for instructions."

"Since you insist on shamelessly asking, I'll be blunt."

"Our Factory Director Huang has spoken."

"A small factory like yours isn't qualified to cooperate with us."

"We don't deign to do business with you!"

"That contract? Void!"

"Want to sue? Go ahead! When the time comes, I'll let you know what it means to be invincible in Harbin, hahahaha!"

At this point, Manager Liu glanced at Lin Chuan and revealed a mocking, wicked smile.

"Of course, it's not completely without a chance."

"Unless our Boss Lin can show some sincerity."

"Go to our Young Master's girlfriend, that girl named Zhang Yaoyao, and kowtow, kneel, and apologize!"

"As long as those kowtows are done properly, maybe our boss will be happy and reward you with a few truckloads of old broken glass!"

Chen Jiacheng's face turned blue with anger, and he was about to speak about the law and the contract.

But Lin Chuan raised his hand to stop him.

Lin Chuan stood up and straightened his suit, which had no wrinkles.

He wasn't angry.

There was even a trace of pity on his face, as if he were looking at an idiot.

"Kowtow and kneel?"

Lin Chuan smiled softly.

He walked to the desk, braced his hands on the surface, and looked down at Manager Liu.

"Relay a message to your Factory Director Huang for me."

"Within three days, if he doesn't crawl to me on his knees..."

"...I'll take his last name."

After saying that, Lin Chuan turned and left.

"Long Wu, let's go. It's too smelly in this room."

Long Wu and Chen Jiacheng followed closely behind.

Once they were far away.

Only then did Manager Liu feel the pressure disappear, and he spat forcefully.

"Bah! Stop acting like a big shot!"

"Do you think you're the Heavenly King or something?"

He quickly called Huang Xingguo again and embellished the original words as he repeated them.

In the casserole shop.

After hearing this, Huang Xingguo couldn't help but laugh out loud, the fat on his stomach quivering.

"Hahahaha! This is hilarious!"

"Did this kid drink too much fake alcohol yesterday and hasn't woken up yet?"

"Doesn't he ask around about who the boss is in Harbin's construction materials industry?!"

"Never mind a puny factory director like him."

"Even if it's that Mr. Lin who's been rumored to be god-like in the underworld recently?"

"So what?"

"A powerful dragon cannot suppress a local snake!"

"What does a Hong Kong Businessman count for? In this little glass industry of mine, as long as I, Huang Xingguo, don't nod, even if a true immortal comes, they'll have to stay coiled up!"

Huang Xingguo looked dismissive as he grabbed a large piece of fatty meat and stuffed it into his mouth.

In his view, Lin Chuan's threat was a joke.

It was just the deathbed wail of an ant destined to be crushed by him in the business world.