Chapter 3

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Squeak—

At that moment, a harsh screech of brakes came from outside the car wash!

The sound was so sharp that many people looked out through the plastic canopy.

"Fourth Brother is here!" Boss Ergazi stubbed out his cigarette and hurried out to greet him.

Zhao Zhiqiang felt something odd about the way Ergazi rushed out.

At this moment, the wife of the village chief of Chang'an Village, Su Fengrong, dressed in mink, walked over.

She was a leisurely person, spending her days either shopping at luxury malls or playing mahjong, exercising, and getting beauty treatments. However, she was quite attentive to the studies of the girl, Zhao Yunxiang. She also understood the girl's thoughts, knowing that Zhao Yunxiang liked Zhao Zhigang. She herself was particularly fond of the well-rounded Zhao Zhigang, and every time she saw him, she felt like a mother-in-law looking at her future son-in-law. Not only was he tall and handsome, but he was also smart and studious. The future...

As she walked, she approached the two brothers.

"Xiaogang, and his brother, Dajiang, this is the wife of the boss of Jinda Construction and Building Materials Company in our Lingnan District. She's a good person but has a sharp tongue. She's a good player but a bad gambler. Just call her Aunt Chen, don't call her 'Old Lady,' that sounds too old. She's a flower at forty-one, isn't she?"

Su Fengrong, seeing Zhao Zhiqiang's calm expression, suddenly had a thought. Could these two brothers be setting up a fishing scheme? Well, it would be perfect to let the rich but bored Chen Dapao be the fall guy.

Flattered by her mahjong friend, the woman named Chen chuckled, revealing a gold tooth, which added another point of interest to her pig-kidney-shaped face.

"Yes, yes, even with my gold tooth, I can't say nice things. Don't mind me, boys. Aunt Chen is just used to being loud, hehe! By the way, I'm really interested in your sea bamboo. Two hundred yuan, it's a bit low, but the market for sea bamboo isn't good right now. Two hundred yuan is actually reasonable. The problem is its quality. How can you be so confident to bet with me? Do you have a plant? Are you fishing here? Haha!"

"Who's fishing here!" A loud voice came from the door.

Four or five people entered.

The leader was a burly man, nearly two meters tall, with short hair, wearing a woolen overcoat and military boots. A thick gold chain around his neck was about as wide as a chopstick, and it looked heavy. On his left index finger was a large signet ring, and on his right thumb was a green stone ring. He was taking off a pair of sunglasses that covered half his face, and his nostrils flared like a bull's.

"It's you!"

"Zhao Tiejun?"

Zhao Zhiqiang almost didn't recognize him by his appearance.

But when the man took off his sunglasses and Zhao Zhiqiang's gaze focused on the prominent scar, he immediately recognized who it was.

That scar was his doing.

Because of that scar, he didn't even finish high school. His father spent money to get him sent to the western border to serve in the military, and he was away for three years...

Zhao Tiejun was an only child, the fourth in his clan. He was a distant nephew to the village chief, Zhao Guangming.

However, he and Zhao Zhiqiang from Guomugou were just namesakes, with no real connection.

They were in the same grade in junior high, in classes one and two. A conflict and rivalry had started during a sports meet and continued until they both pursued the school beauty, Dong Wanqiu. One morning, they agreed to a one-on-one fight. Zhao Zhiqiang was ruthless, breaking Zhao Tiejun's face with an iron ruler... Both were expelled, and the school beauty had to transfer to another school to resolve the issue.

Zhao Tiejun coldly stared at Zhao Zhiqiang for a few moments, habitually touched his scar, and then smiled sardonically, "Haha, I heard you went to the military and even signed up as a non-commissioned officer. How did you come back so quickly? Two years as a private and one year on contract? That's not right—hey, Zhiqiang, were you discharged?"

In fact, he had seen Zhao Zhiqiang's discharge papers at the township armed forces department. Meeting Zhao Zhiqiang today confirmed his suspicions. Although they were from the same administrative village, one lived in the mountains and the other in the valley, in different village groups. They had no contact after dropping out of school, and this was their first formal meeting.

Zhao Zhiqiang remained unmoved, his expression unchanged, his face still pale, "Zhao Lao Si, do I need to ask your permission to join the military or not? I do what I want. What's it to you?"

"Ideas? I do have some. I heard your family is in a bit of trouble. I happen to need some help at my company. You've been in the military and have some skills. How about working for me? Three thousand a month, with room and board!" Zhao Tiejun extended his hand, making a pinching gesture.

Immediately, one of his subordinates took out a black, thick cigar, and another carefully lit it.

What a show of power!

Zhao Zhiqiang watched coldly, "Thanks, but I'm not interested."

Seeing that his old classmate, whom he had never been able to get the better of, was ignoring him, Zhao Tiejun felt frustrated. Even though he now had the power to beat the pale-faced guy, he had no excuse. Looking around, he saw Su Fengrong sitting on the sofa in the rest area. Dealing with this guy was just a matter of time, so he turned to Su Fengrong.

"Aunt, are you here to wash your car?"

"Yes."

"What was that about fishing?" Zhao Tiejun looked around. If it wasn't Aunt, it must have been Chen Dapao, "Did you say that, Boss Chen? Who would dare to fish in my territory? Is someone trying to fool you, Boss Chen?"

Chen Liqin recognized the man as a local bully, a well-known young "big brother" in the southern part of the city. He ran a company and was worth millions at the age of twenty-something, with dozens of followers. She had dealt with him before, but her impression of him was average.

So she smiled, "Not at all, just joking around. I was about to make a bet with this young man."

Su Fengrong recounted what had happened and then smiled, "Tiejun, the bet hasn't been finalized yet."

Zhao Zhiqiang tightened his military overcoat, ignoring the fat man's insults and the arrogant Zhao Tiejun sitting on the sofa smoking a cigar. He said calmly, "Aunt Chen, do I look like someone who would set up a fishing scheme? Let's not waste time. If the buyer offers more than two hundred yuan, I win. If it's less, you win. How about that?"

"Fine! I don't believe you can sell this piece of junk for a fortune. My father is an expert in sea bamboo carving, and I've been playing with this stuff since I was a kid. How could I be wrong?"

The gambler's nature showed, and she stood in front of Zhao Zhiqiang, her eyes gleaming.

"If I lose, I'll bet ten times the price he offers. If you lose—"

Looking at Zhao Zhiqiang, who didn't seem to have any money, what could he bet?

Her eyes scanned Zhao Zhiqiang, but he looked sickly, and her gaze shifted to the pure-looking Zhao Zhigang. What could she get from these two brothers?

"Chen Dapao, they might not have anything you're interested in. But how about this: I'll be the judge, and you can have that limited edition LV bag I bought in France in exchange for Xiaogang tutoring Yunxiang for a month. How about it, Dajiang, do you agree?"

Chen Dapao, hearing about the limited edition bag he couldn't buy, immediately perked up and agreed with a smile.

Zhao Zhiqiang nodded.

Zhao Zhigang muttered quietly, why wasn't he asked?

How did he suddenly become the bet? Brother, I want my rights...

Zhao Tiejun stood up and looked at the broken piece of wood on the old bicycle.

"Zhao Zhiqiang, you bastard, trying to sell a piece of junk for over two hundred yuan? You must be desperate! I'll use this opportunity to settle old scores! You broke my face back then, and today I'll break yours!"

Thinking about it, Zhao Tiejun laughed and turned to the three people making the bet, "Aunt, Boss Chen, old classmate, how about I join the bet? I'll be on Boss Chen's side since we're partners. If Boss Chen wins, Zhiqiang, look at this scar on my face. I haven't found you for three years! I want to give you the same. If you win, I'll pay ten times the price of the wood!"

Zhao Zhiqiang's pale face slowly turned rosy. Feeling better, his blood circulation improved, and he smiled.

Why not take advantage of this opportunity to get more from this easy target?

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