How A Ride-Hailing Driver Comes To Dominate The World? [EN]: Chapter 471

The Tables Turn

“Mmm, these oysters are really good. The chef’s got some skills,” Li Xiuyan praised.

Yang Chen: “If you like them, eat more. Indulging once in a while won’t hurt.”

Li Xiuyan: “Hehe… no, my little tummy can’t hold too much. Chen-ge [older brother Chen, a term of endearment], should we get some to go and eat at the hotel?”

Yang Chen knew what Li Xiuyan meant. He smiled and comforted her, “No need to bother. Just relax and eat here. We’ll go back when you’re full.”

At that moment, other diners, emboldened by the landlady’s hospitality, started returning.

The diners at the next table kindly advised Yang Chen.

“Handsome, you should leave quickly. Those guys are trouble, notorious in this area. They have connections, and those connections have even more powerful connections. They’re very influential. You’re not from around here, so don’t try to fight them. You’ll suffer a great loss.”

“Yeah, they usually hang out around here. Many girls have been harassed by them. We can only endure it because we can’t afford to offend them. If you beat them up, they definitely won’t let it go. They’ll come back for revenge.”

“Judging from your accent, you’re not locals. I advise you to leave while you can. A mighty dragon can’t suppress a local snake [a powerful outsider can’t win against a local bully]. There’s no need to suffer this loss.”

“The main thing is that your girlfriend is so beautiful. If they have more people and you can’t beat them, they’ll definitely take advantage of her. Even for your girlfriend’s safety, you should leave quickly.”

…

Yang Chen smiled and said, “Thank you for your concern. I believe we shouldn’t avoid problems. If a problem is solved, it’s no longer a problem. If it’s not solved, it will always be a problem. If I run today, they might chase me to my home tomorrow. So, let’s just settle it here. Since I’m unlucky enough to encounter this, I can only face it bravely. If it’s really as you say, then I should stand up to them even more, to prevent them from continuing to bully other girls.”

Li Xiuyan immediately turned into a fangirl, clapping and praising, “Chen-ge is awesome! You’re the hero in my heart.”

Yang Chen: “Haha… hurry up and eat. We can order more when you’re done.”

Li Xiuyan nodded, picked up a large oyster, and slurped it down.

About half an hour later, Huang Xi and his gang arrived with their boss, Gao Hongle.

The diners in the restaurant quickly got up and ran out, not wanting to be involved.

The boss’s heart was breaking. He had already lost several orders, and now he was going to lose even more. He was afraid he would be working for nothing tonight.

More importantly, if they fought here, his restaurant would be ruined.

The worst part was that he didn’t dare to call the police and could only watch with heartache.

Huang Xi pointed at Yang Chen and said, “Le-ge [older brother Le, a sign of respect], that’s him.”

Gao Hongle came to the table next to Yang Chen and sat down, saying, “Brother, I’m happy you came to Jingcheng [Beijing] to have fun. But I’m very angry that you hurt my brother like this. Tell me, how are you going to settle this?”

Yang Chen ignored Gao Hongle and said to Huang Xi, “Didn’t I warn you that if you dared to take the chopsticks out within three days, I would stick chopsticks into both your feet and hands? Did I say that?”

Huang Xi felt a chill down his spine and quickly said to Gao Hongle, “Le-ge, did you see that? This kid is so arrogant!”

Gao Hongle picked up a wine bottle and smashed it on the ground, saying, “I, Gao Hongle, have been in the game for over twenty years, and I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t give me face like this. Who the hell is backing you? How dare you act so cocky in Jingcheng!”

Yang Chen: “I have the law behind me. As a legal citizen of Longguo [China], I dare to act cocky anywhere the law allows.”

Gao Hongle: “Damn! The law… hehe… Fine! Let’s see if the law behind you can save you tonight! Get them!”

As soon as Gao Hongle finished speaking, his head was slammed onto the table with a bang. His underlings immediately rushed forward, but after the bodyguards quickly took down a few, the rest didn’t dare to charge anymore.

Gao Hongle: “You’re asking for death! Try touching me, and I guarantee you won’t leave Jingcheng alive.”

Yang Chen: “I heard you have someone even more powerful behind you. Who is it? Call him over. I’d like to meet him.”

Gao Hongle: “I’m with the Huo family. If you dare to touch me, the Huo family will issue a Jianghu [the martial arts world] kill order, and you will be killed no matter where you go.”

The Jingcheng Huo family?

I’ve never heard of such a big family.

But whatever.

Back then, the Ye family of the War God Ye Xuan was so powerful, but Yang Chen still managed to dismantle it.

Yang Chen took four chopsticks and placed them in front of Gao Hongle, saying, “If you want to be okay, you should know what to do.”

Huang Xi was immediately terrified, and his legs involuntarily moved backward.

But there were too many people behind him, and he had nowhere to retreat.

Gao Hongle: “Don’t dream. I won’t hurt my brother.”

Yang Chen: “I respect your loyalty, but since you brought so many people to find me today, this matter cannot be resolved peacefully. We are law-abiding citizens and won’t do anything to you. However, I can’t guarantee what might happen to you on the street one day. Boss, the bill.”

The boss was so frightened that he didn’t dare to ask for money.

“Boss, no need. This meal is on me. Thank you, thank you.”

Yang Chen: “No, you have to pay for food. Charge whatever you need to.”

Boss: “Then just give me 100 yuan [about $15 USD].”

Yang Chen scanned the code and paid 100 yuan, then said to the bodyguards, “Let him go. I’ve given you the conditions. Think carefully about your choice. Of course, you can also choose to ask the Huo family you mentioned for help, but your punishment will be even more severe then.”

The bodyguards escorted Yang Chen and Li Xiuyan back to the hotel.

Yang Chen sent a message to Qiu Hongqiang, asking him to investigate the background of the Jingcheng Huo family.

Soon, Qiu Hongqiang replied.

“Mr. Yang, which Huo family are you talking about?”

Yang Chen: “I don’t know. Gao Hongle said that the Huo family is behind him.”

Qiu Hongqiang: “Okay, it’s easier with a specific lead. I’ll have them find out the Huo family’s information as soon as possible and report to you immediately.”

Li Xiuyan came out after taking a shower and said, “Oppa [Korean for older brother, used by females], hurry up and take a shower. It’s getting late, and we should go to sleep.”

Yang Chen: “Okay, I’ll shower right away.”

On the other side, Gao Hongle took Huang Xi to a courtyard house [traditional Chinese house] in the western suburbs and was stopped by two guards.

Gao Hongle quickly handed each of them a pack of Huazi cigarettes [a popular brand], saying, “Brothers, please help me report that Gao Hongle is seeking an audience with Master Huo.”

The guards accepted the cigarettes and said, “Wait here.”

Gao Hongle: “Okay, okay. Thank you, big brother.”

Gao Hongle pulled Huang Xi aside and whispered, “When you see Master Huo, you must act as miserable as possible. If you screw it up for me, I’ll kill you.”

Huang Xi nodded hurriedly, saying, “Le-ge, don’t worry. I’m best at acting.”

Of course, if he hadn’t acted so well, Gao Hongle wouldn’t have taken people to find Yang Chen in the middle of the night, and things wouldn’t have turned out this way.

After a while, the guard returned and said, “Master Huo wants you to go in and wait in the living room.”

Gao Hongle: “Okay, okay. Thank you, brother.”

The two quickly went inside and stood quietly in the living room.

About five or six minutes later, a middle-aged man with a mustache walked out.

Gao Hongle immediately went up, knelt down, and cried, “Master Huo, save me.”

Huang Xi quickly followed suit, kneeling down and crying, “Please save us, Master Huo!”

Master Huo’s name was Huo Enze, the current head of the Huo family.

Huo Enze: “What’s wrong? Why are you crying like this? Get up and talk.”

Gao Hongle: “No! If Master Huo doesn’t agree to save us, we’ll kneel here until we die. It’s better than being beaten to death.”

Huo Enze knew that these two had offended someone important and quickly asked, “Who did you offend? Why are you so scared? Tell me about it.”

Huo Enze: “I don’t recognize him. He’s from Haicheng, brought five bodyguards, and just went to the Pangu Seven Star Hotel. Huang Xi, quickly tell Master Huo what happened. Be detailed and don’t lie. If you dare to tell even half a lie, I’ll kill you!”

Huang Xi: “I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare. How could I lie to Master Huo? I guarantee that every word I say next is true.”

Huo Enze: “Alright, stop talking nonsense and hurry up and tell me.”

Huang Xi then embellished the story, adding and subtracting details, and fabricated a story that was favorable to him and unfavorable to Yang Chen for Huo Enze to hear.

Huo Enze was furious and said, “There’s such an arrogant young man? He’ll beat you just for looking at him?”

Huang Xi: “Yes! I just looked at him, and he slammed my head on the table so I couldn’t move. My friends couldn’t just sit by and watch me get bullied. As soon as they tried to help me, that kid’s bodyguards rushed out and beat them all down. Master Huo, please look, just because I struggled a few times, he stabbed my hand with chopsticks. He even threatened me not to take them out within three days, or he’d stab both my hands and feet. Of course, I was scared, so I asked Le-ge for help. But he beat Le-ge up too. Le-ge mentioned the Huo family, but he said he didn’t care about any Huo family and told us to come to the Huo family for help. Master Huo, I think he might be deliberately causing trouble, aiming to lure out Le-ge through me, and then lure out the Huo family through Le-ge. His ultimate goal is actually the Huo family.”

Huo Enze frowned and muttered, “Our Huo family has been very low-key for the past twenty years and hasn’t offended anyone. Who exactly wants to deal with us? You’re not lying to me, are you? I warn you, if I find out you’re lying in the future, I’ll make you regret being a man!”

Gao Hongle: “Master Huo, don’t worry, we’re definitely not lying. We can swear to heaven that if anyone is lying, they’ll be struck by lightning.”

Huang Xi looked at Gao Hongle with a surprised expression, thinking, “You’re so noble, you’re so great. You asked me to make up a story, and you dare to make such a poisonous oath. If I really get struck by lightning, I’ll definitely take you with me!”

Huo Enze nodded and said, “Are you sure he’s staying at the Pangu Seven Star Hotel?”

Gao Hongle: “Reporting to Master Huo, I sent someone to follow them and confirmed that they went to the Pangu Seven Star Hotel.”

Huo Enze: “Okay! That makes things easier. I’ll call Ge Zhengkang and ask him about that person’s background.”

Gao Hongle: “Okay, Master Huo.”

At this time, at the Pangu Seven Star Hotel.

Manager Ge Zhengkang had just finished explaining the work instructions for the night and returned to the休息室 [xiū xī shì – rest area] to prepare for sleep when Huo Enze called.

Huo Enze: “Manager Ge, sorry to bother you so late.”

Ge Zhengkang: “Haha… Master Huo, you’re joking. You can call me anytime. Just tell me what you need, Master Huo.”

Huo Enze: “It’s like this, I want to ask Manager Ge about someone. Judging from his accent, he should be from the Haicheng-Jiangzhe area, with a girl from Bangzi country [derogatory term for Korean] and five bodyguards. He’s staying at your Pangu Seven Star Hotel. I’d like Manager Ge to tell me which room he’s staying in.”

Haicheng-Jiangzhe area, with a girl from Bangzi country, and five bodyguards… isn’t that President Yang?

“President Yang said someone would ask me about him. So this person is Huo Enze,” Ge Zhengkang thought to himself.

Yang Chen had already noticed that someone was following him and anticipated that the person behind Gao Hongle would definitely ask Ge Zhengkang about him. When Li Xiuyan was taking a shower, he had already explained to Ge Zhengkang how to respond.

Ge Zhengkang: “Master Huo, why are you looking for such a person? He’s our guest after all. I hope Master Huo can honestly tell me your intentions so I can decide whether I can tell you.”

Huo Enze: “Hehe… oh, he helped my brother, and I want to thank him in person.”

Ge Zhengkang: “Oh, is that so? If I’m not mistaken, you’re talking about the guest in room 2003. He is indeed from Haicheng, with a girl from Bangzi country and five bodyguards.”

Huo Enze: “Good. I’m bringing people over now. I hope Manager Ge can do me a favor and just pretend you don’t know anything and get a good night’s sleep.”

Ge Zhengkang: “Master Huo, what do you mean by this?”

Huo Enze: “To be honest with you, he beat my people. Four were hit in the head, and one had his hand pierced with chopsticks. If I don’t get an explanation from him, how will I lead my people in the future? Manager Ge, turn off your phone and go to sleep. I’ll take responsibility for any consequences.”

Ge Zhengkang: “This…”

Huo Enze: “I’ll definitely thank you handsomely afterward.”

Ge Zhengkang: “Sigh… alright then. Master Huo, be careful and don’t cause too much trouble for us.”

Huo Enze: “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”

Hanging up the phone, Huo Enze immediately took people to the Pangu Seven Star Hotel.

Ge Zhengkang came to Yang Chen’s room and reported, “President Yang, the person asking about you is Huo Enze.”

Yang Chen: “What’s Huo Enze’s background?”

Ge Zhengkang: “The Huo family are antique dealers, but they also have tomb robbers and 文物贩子 [wén wù fàn zi – antique smugglers] secretly. In short, their power is very complex, and they’re not easy to mess with. Otherwise, his henchmen wouldn’t dare to be so arrogant and show off every day.”

Yang Chen: “I see. Alright, that’s all. Go to sleep.”

Ge Zhengkang: “I’m not sleepy. I’ll stay and chat with President Yang.”

Yang Chen: “Haha… okay. Then you sit here, and I’ll go next door and tell Xiuyan.”

Ge Zhengkang nodded.

Yang Chen came to the next room, and Li Xiuyan threw herself into his arms, hanging on him and acting coquettishly, “Chen-ge, can we go to sleep now?”

Yang Chen: “No, the people we offended tonight have brought people to take revenge. I have to deal with them. You sleep well here and don’t come out no matter what you hear. Understand?”

Li Xiuyan: “Ah? Will you be in danger?”

Yang Chen: “My people are all waiting in room 2002, just waiting for them to come. Don’t worry, I’ll come over to sleep after I’ve dealt with them.”

Li Xiuyan kissed Yang Chen and said, “Okay then. Be careful.”

Yang Chen smiled and nodded, closed the door, and returned to room 2003.

About half an hour later, someone knocked on the door.

Ge Zhengkang quickly went to open the door. Huo Enze and his daughter were standing at the door with a dozen people.

Huo Enze: “Manager Ge, what are you doing here? Didn’t I tell you to go back to sleep?”

Ge Zhengkang: “Master Huo, Miss Huo, come in and talk.”

Huo Enze stepped aside.

Huo Enze and Huo Xiangxiu walked in. His underlings wanted to come in too, but Ge Zhengkang stopped them.

Huo Enze was confident that he could handle Yang Chen and said, “You guys guard the door and don’t let anyone near.”

The underlings retreated and guarded the hallway.

Ge Zhengkang closed the door and invited the Huo family to sit on the sofa in front of Yang Chen.

Huo Xiangxiu had a bob haircut and looked very cool.

Huo Enze: “Young man, what’s your name?”

Yang Chen: “Yang Chen. What about you?”

Huo Enze: “Huo Enze.”

Yang Chen: “I heard your family is involved in tomb robbing and smuggling antiques?”

Huo Enze’s expression changed drastically, and he quickly denied, “What nonsense are you talking about? We are legitimate antique and art merchants, and all our business is compliant and legal.”

Yang Chen: “If I hadn’t seen how terrible your henchmen are, I might have believed your lies. I heard people say that your underlings bully girls every day, and people can only swallow their anger because they’re afraid of you. And you’re telling me you’re a legitimate antique merchant?”

Huo Xiangxiu got up, walked over, opened the door, and said coldly, “Gao Hongle, Huang Xi, come in.”

Gao Hongle and Huang Xi thought they were going to get revenge and quickly ran in excitedly.

Huo Xiangxiu pointed at Yang Chen and said to the two, “He said you bully girls outside, and people are afraid of you and can only swallow their anger. Is that true?”

Gao Hongle: “No! I swear to heaven, no! Miss Huo, don’t listen to his nonsense. He’s obviously trying to quibble and sow discord. Don’t fall for his tricks. If we bully girls outside, may we be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!”

Huang Xi looked at Gao Hongle with a helpless expression, thinking, “Damn, can you stop making random oaths? I’ve done all these things, why are you making oaths!”

Gao Hongle turned his head and glared at Huang Xi, scaring Huang Xi into quickly saying, “Yes, yes, we swear to heaven we haven’t done it. Miss Huo, don’t let him sow discord.”

Huo Xiangxiu walked up to Yang Chen and said, “You heard them, they swore they haven’t done it. What else do you have to say?”

Yang Chen shook his head.

Huo Xiangxiu: “So you’re admitting to hitting our people for no reason?”

Yang Chen: “I can’t reason with a rogue like you. I don’t want to waste my breath.”

Huo Xiangxiu immediately kicked Yang Chen’s chin. If she had hit him, he probably would have fainted.

Yang Chen didn’t dodge and punched her ankle.

Huo Xiangxiu didn’t expect Yang Chen to be so strong. She only felt a huge impact on her ankle, and then her right foot swung backward, but her body leaned forward and fell into Yang Chen’s arms.

Yang Chen grabbed Huo Xiangxiu’s hands and used his legs to clamp her legs, making her unable to move.

“Let go of me!” Huo Xiangxiu shouted while struggling.

Huo Enze was furious and got up to attack.

Although Ge Zhengkang didn’t know martial arts, he couldn’t watch Huo Enze and his daughter bully Yang Chen, so he quickly stood in front of Huo Enze and said, “Master Huo, calm down, don’t fight here.”

Huo Enze: “Get out of the way! I’m going to fight here today, what can you do to me?”

“Then you might not be able to leave here,” Ge Zhengkang said with a smile, then picked up the walkie-talkie and said, “Move!”

There was a commotion in the hallway, but it quickly quieted down.

Then Ge Zhengkang walked over and opened the door. Qiu Hongqiang walked in with several bodyguards.

“Yo, Master Huo, you’re not sleeping at night, but coming here to exercise. Yo, isn’t this the Ice Princess Huo Xiangxiu, Miss Huo. When did you get together with our Mr. Yang? With so many people here, you can’t wait to show your love with Mr. Yang,” Qiu Hongqiang teased.

Huo Xiangxiu’s cold face flashed a hint of red, and she struggled and said, “Let go of me! Hurry up! If you don’t let go of me, I’ll kill you!”

Qiu Hongqiang: “Everyone says Miss Huo has a bad temper, an ice princess, and it’s true. She wants to kill people at the drop of a hat. Mr. Yang, you can’t let go, or she’ll really kill you.”

Yang Chen: “Of course I can’t let go. I have to let Miss Huo experience what it’s like to be taken advantage of by a stranger, just like those girls who were bullied by her underlings. Miss Huo, do you think it feels good to be taken advantage of by a stranger?”

Huo Xiangxiu was furious and shouted, “Someone come! Everyone come in and tear this bastard to pieces!”

Qiu Hongqiang smiled and said, “Miss Huo, you don’t need to shout. It’s no use even if you shout yourself hoarse. They’re all pinned to the floor.”

Seeing his daughter being taken advantage of by Yang Chen, Huo Enze pushed Ge Zhengkang away and was about to go up to rescue her.

Qiu Hongqiang grabbed Huo Enze and said, “Master Huo, why are you getting involved in this? Is it related to you?”

Huo Enze: “Mr. Qiu, why are you wading into these troubled waters? Is it related to you?”

Qiu Hongqiang: “Mr. Yang is the boss of our Starlight Defense, do you think it’s related to me?”

Huo Enze instantly calmed down. This young man in front of him was actually the boss of Starlight Defense Group. No wonder he dared to treat Huang Xi and the others like that.

When Huo Xiangxiu heard that Yang Chen was the boss of Starlight Defense Group, she immediately stopped struggling, turned her head, and looked seriously into Yang Chen’s eyes, making Yang Chen feel shy.

“You’re Yang Chen?” Huo Xiangxiu asked.

Yang Chen: “Yes! What can I do for you, Miss Huo?”

Huo Xiangxiu chuckled and said, “You’re Yang Chen! You’re even better looking than I imagined. Forget it, since you’re Yang Chen, then I won’t struggle anymore. Come on, do whatever you want.”

Yang Chen: “……”

Isn’t your persona supposed to be an ice princess?

How did you suddenly become a nymphomaniac?

Yang Chen quickly let go and pushed her away, saying, “Miss Huo, please respect yourself. I’m not a casual person.”

Huo Xiangxiu: “Tch, it’s not like I’m a casual person. Weren’t you the one holding on and not letting go?”

After saying that, Huo Xiangxiu pulled her father aside and whispered, “He’s the boss of Starlight Defense Group, he shouldn’t be lying. Maybe Huang Xi and his gang were really messing around outside and just happened to run into Yang Chen.”

Huo Enze: “The truth doesn’t matter anymore. I brought people here with such fanfare. If this matter doesn’t have a result that benefits us, how will I explain it to my subordinates? They already have the intention of setting up their own shop, but they just haven’t found an opportunity. This time, it might give them an excuse to say that I’m weak and incompetent and not fit to lead the Huo family, so they can legitimately set up their own shop.”

Huo Xiangxiu nodded and said, “You go back first. I’ll talk to Yang Chen. Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing and I have a sense of propriety.”

Huo Enze: “Are you sure you can do it? You’re staring at him with such lust in your eyes. If I leave you here to talk to him, he’ll become my son-in-law by tomorrow morning.”