Chapter 9

"Xiaoming, a student in the Chinese Department of Linji University, is a talented student skilled in writing poetry, prose, and novels! His grandfather was a famous Sinology professor who passed away, and his parents died in a shipwreck accident when he was in his second year of high school, leaving him a deposit and a house." Hou Liguo looked at the information in his hand and said with a taste, "You seem to be quite optimistic, to have come through such a severe blow!"

"Life is always full of surprises. I'm not a cursed star, so why can't I get through it!" Xiaoming mocked himself.

"Good! You're a smart guy, so let's be straightforward. Your friends did a great job, not involving Hou Lixuan. As long as you say it was all a misunderstanding when you give your statement, you can go out!" Hou Liguo closed the file and said.

'Hou Lixuan,' huh? Alright, I'll remember you!

Xiaoming took a deep drag on his cigarette and said, "Alright! But someone has to take responsibility for this. Yang Yang will take the blame, and I want his college career to end here! I want him to go to jail!"

"Are you negotiating with me?" This was the way Hou Liguo planned to handle it, but hearing Xiaoming say it made him very uncomfortable, feeling threatened. He sneered, "What makes you think you can?"

"What makes me think I can? My trump card! Do you really think those files can explain everything?" Xiaoming sneered at Hou Liguo.

Hou Liguo said with a taste, "Call for help? Use connections? Who can you get to stand up for you? Not to belittle you, but no one in Chunzhang City would dare to refuse me!"

"Is that so!" Xiaoming stood up, threw the cigarette butt to the ground, and stomped on it twice, "I want to make a call! Will you let me?"

Hou Liguo looked at Xiaoming in silence, then took out his phone and handed it to him, sneering, "Go ahead, I want to see what you can do!"

Xiaoming took the phone and looked at Hou Liguo with a taste. He really had a trump card that no one knew about.

Xiaoming's grandfather, Wang Zhijiang, was a famous Sinology professor and literary figure. During the chaotic era, he once saved an elderly man who was persecuted. This elderly man was a famous general of the Republic, and the two had a very good relationship until the man resumed his work, after which their contact gradually decreased.

In the previous life, a few years later, this elderly man sent someone to Northeast China. At that time, Xiaoming was in a state of decline, spending his days reading, drinking, and playing games to alleviate his inner pain. Seeing this, the person arranged a job for Xiaoming at a newspaper and never appeared again.

In this life, Xiaoming would not let this connection slip away. Hou Liguo had given him a legitimate chance to contact the man!

"Hello, this is the Cao residence!" The phone was answered as soon as it rang.

Xiaoming asked, "Hello, is Grandpa Cao resting?"

"Who is this?" the maid asked.

"Please tell him that Wang Zhijiang's grandson, Wang Ming, needs to speak with him!" Xiaoming said.

"Please wait a moment!"

Hou Liguo, who was originally confident, involuntarily sat up straight. The other party wasn't just putting on an act. Cao Lao, which Cao Lao? Suddenly, a name flashed in Hou Liguo's mind. He stood up abruptly, looking at Xiaoming in disbelief. Could it be him? How could that be possible? One in the south and one in the north, two completely unrelated people. Hou Liguo's brows furrowed, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

After about two or three minutes, a loud voice came from the phone, "Are you Old Wang's grandson? How is Old Wang?"

Xiaoming suppressed his inner excitement and said, "Grandpa Cao, hello! I'm Wang Ming. Grandpa passed away two years ago."

"He's gone too?" The old man was silent for a few seconds, his voice becoming low, "When did it happen? Why didn't you call me until now?!"

"Grandpa passed away two years ago. He didn't want me to inform you before he died. He said you were busy with work and had too many things to worry about, so he didn't want to trouble you." Xiaoming, recalling his grandfather's instructions, felt a pang of sadness, "He told me not to contact you casually and to handle things on my own if I could. Today, I had no choice but to call you!"

Cao Lao sighed, "That's just like Old Wang, never asking for help. How are your parents?"

Xiaoming said softly, "They passed away a few years ago."

"Xiaohai is gone too?" Despite being used to life and death, the old man was deeply saddened to hear that his old friend's family was no more, especially Wang Xiaoming's father, Wang Hai, whom he had watched grow up.

In a simple courtyard in the south, the old man holding the phone felt a sudden sympathy for the boy on the other end. He could almost see a scene where his old friend tearfully bid farewell to his son and daughter-in-law, collapsing to the ground, leaving only a lonely child behind.

"Wang Ming, right? Tell Grandpa Cao what happened!" The old man's voice was filled with anger.

Hou Liguo had already stood up, his eyes flashing with anger, hating Hou Lixuan for causing him this trouble. He was more wary now, looking at the young man in front of him with newfound respect. To have such a trump card and only reveal it now, this person was not just a little shrewd!

Xiaoming's next words made his face even more grim.

"Grandpa Cao, I hit someone to save a classmate!" Xiaoming said calmly, "Hitting someone was wrong, and I will take responsibility. But they are twisting the facts and pushing all the blame onto me, saying that Chunzhang City is their territory and no one can help me. I had no choice but to call you!"

Cao Lao suddenly laughed, "You're quite slick, not quite like Old Wang. What do you want me to do?"

Xiaoming said, "Grandpa Cao, I can handle this myself! But their influence is very strong, and I'm worried they will use their power to pressure me. I only have one request: let the younger generation handle their own affairs!"

Cao Lao nodded in satisfaction, "You have a big mouth and a strong backbone, just like Old Wang! Where are you? I'll send someone to pick you up!"

"Grandpa Cao, no need to trouble you, I can get out myself!" Xiaoming said hurriedly.

"Alright, they are with you, right? Give them the phone!" Cao Lao asked.

"Thank you, Grandpa Cao!" Xiaoming said, handing the phone to Hou Liguo, looking at him with a sneer. Now, let's see how much confidence you have left.

"I am Cao Kangjun!" Cao Lao said.

"Grandpa Cao, hello! I apologize, this was all a misunderstanding. My brother had a misunderstanding with Wang Ming. I will investigate and release him immediately!" Hou Liguo said with a look of confirmation.

"Who are you?" Cao Lao asked indifferently.

"My name is Hou Liguo, I am Hou Jianjun's grandson!" Hou Liguo said helplessly.

"Hou Jianjun's grandson, no wonder you have such a big mouth!" Cao Lao's voice was gentle.

The immense pressure was overwhelming, and Hou Liguo's throat was dry, "This was indeed a misunderstanding!"

"No need, if he broke the law, let the law take its course. If not, I won't let anyone bully him, even in the northeast! Do you understand me?" Cao Lao said.

"Yes, Grandpa Cao!" Hou Liguo said reluctantly, "Rest assured, I will have it investigated and handled fairly!"

"Good, I'll wait for your news!" Cao Lao said.

Putting down the phone, Cao Lao shook his head, "What a smart young man!"

A middle-aged man sitting in front of him asked, puzzled, "Dad, what's wrong?"

Cao Lao sighed, "Do you remember Uncle Wang? He's gone, and so is your cousin Xiaohai. The young man just called for help, with the same strong spirit as his grandfather!"

The middle-aged man lowered his head and said nothing.

Seeing his reaction, the old man became angry, "Did you know about this?"

The middle-aged man smiled bitterly, "Dad, your health has been poor these past two years. If you knew, you would have gone to the northeast, so I kept it from you!"

The old man, furious, slapped the table and pointed at the middle-aged man, unable to speak for a while. Finally, he sighed, "Forget it, what's the point of talking about it now? But Wang Zhijiang's grandson can't have any more trouble!"

The middle-aged man nodded, "I understand. I'll send someone to investigate immediately!"

The old man said indifferently, "Call Xiao Zhuang to me!"

Soon, a man in his thirties, a soldier, walked into the living room and saluted the old man, "Hello, Commander!"

If Xiaoming were here, he would recognize this soldier as the person who came to the northeast a few years later to see him!

After giving the soldier some instructions, the old man let him leave.

The middle-aged man smiled bitterly, "Dad, I've asked for Xiao Zhuang a few times, but you never gave him to me!"

"You don't understand! Sending Xiao Zhuang is also a way for him to repay a debt. His father was my bodyguard and endured a lot of hardship. It was Old Wang who saved our lives!" Cao Lao said.

The middle-aged man didn't say anything more but said with displeasure, "The Hou family has become more and more arrogant in recent years. I heard Hou Liguo was a talented person, rising quickly, but it seems he hasn't escaped the Hou family's habits!"

The old man was silent, now highly interested in the young boy on the phone. Even after being arrested, he refused help, insisting he could handle it himself. Not bad, very impressive!

In the small, dark room, an eerie silence fell. Neither of them spoke, just staring at each other.

Hou Liguo's eyes were no longer condescending but filled with resentment and frustration. He was an extremely arrogant person. Tonight, he had faced several setbacks with Xiaoming, and just now, he had to act like a grandson on the phone. It had been years since he had experienced such a situation, and he couldn't even remember the last time.

"I admit I underestimated you!" Hou Liguo said calmly.

Xiaoming was taken aback. This person was not simple, able to suppress such anger. No wonder he rose to power in the previous life, enduring what others could not, "Flattery, everyone has a few poor relatives. It just so happens that I am one of Grandpa Cao's poor relatives!"

"Yang Yang will be expelled from school, and the prosecutor will charge him with attempted rape!" Hou Liguo said.

Xiaoming's face darkened, "There's no need to mention rape!"