Chapter 65

"Brother Ding, you're on duty today, right? How about I take your shift for you?"

At the company entrance, a young man in a brand new security uniform, with a sycophantic smile, looked at Ding Li and said.

"Don't even think about it, don't think I don't know what you're up to... Go to the gym and train, don't be lazy!"

Ding Li looked at the young man and said with a sneer.

Ever since a new batch of security guards was hired, Ding Li, who used to be bullied in the security department, is now called "Brother Ding" by the new recruits, making him seem like the second-in-command, second only to Xiao Chen!

Even Gao Ping, the supervisor, who is not often in the company, is not as familiar as Ding Li!

This made many of the old security guards envious. Just because Ding Li is close to Minister Xiao, look at him now, he's so impressive!

In the past, anyone could shout, "Dingzi, go buy me a pack of cigarettes," but who dares to do that now?

"Brother Ding, let me take a break, okay? Come, have a cigarette, it's the soft Zhonghua I just bought..." The young security guard, with a pained expression, took out a cigarette.

"Wow, you're smoking soft Zhonghua? That's quite luxurious." Ding Li took it, lit it, and took a satisfying puff.

"Hehe, my dad bought it. He said when you start a new job, you should always have two packs of good cigarettes in your pocket to show respect to the leaders..."

"I'm not a leader."

"No, Brother Ding is our leader..."

"Alright, stop flattering me. Do you want me to call Brother Chen and tell him you're here?"

"No, I'll go, I'll go right away!" The young security guard put away the cigarette and walked away with a pained expression.

Ding Li watched his back and muttered, "Brother Chen is doing you a favor, and you still complain... You really don't understand Brother Chen's intentions!"

Just as he finished muttering, his phone rang. He took it out and answered quickly, "Hello, Brother Chen, what's the instruction?"

"Dingzi, starting today, you'll also join the gym training... You want to get stronger, right? I'll give you the chance!" Xiao Chen's voice came through the receiver.

"Huh?"

Ding Li was stunned.

"What are you saying? I'll give you one minute to get here! If you're late, 300 push-ups!" Xiao Chen hung up after saying that.

Ding Li stood there, dumbfounded. Over the past two days, he had seen how Xiao Chen trained the new recruits—it was brutal!

Even the new recruits with excellent physical fitness were trained to the point of screaming. The sight made him shudder!

After a few seconds of shock, he suddenly came to his senses and ran to the gym. If he was late, 300 push-ups would exhaust him!

"Brother Ding, where are you rushing off to?" The young security guard who had just offered him a cigarette, seeing Ding Li rush by like a gust of wind, couldn't help but ask.

"Gym... Training!"

Ding Li didn't stop, and rushed into the elevator.

In the gym, Xiao Chen sat in a chair, smoking, watching the security guards train on various machines!

"Number One, add more weight, faster!"

"Number Two, lean back, use your waist!"

"Number Three..."

Over the past two days, Xiao Chen didn't call them by their names, which was too troublesome, and instead used numbers!

At first, the security guards were not used to it, but after a few punishments, they had engraved these numbers into their bones... They even responded better to the numbers than to their own names!

Bang!

The gym door opened, and Ding Li rushed in, panting heavily.

"Brother Chen, Brother Chen, am I late?"

Xiao Chen glanced at his wristwatch: "You're seven seconds late, go do 50 push-ups!"

"Huh?"

"Do you want to get stronger? If you want to get stronger, start with the push-ups!" Xiao Chen's tone was cold and firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

"Yes, Brother Chen!"

Ding Li nodded, then obediently lay down and started doing push-ups, gritting his teeth.

Xiao Chen's eyes showed a hint of satisfaction, then he scanned the room: "Number Eleven, your form is wrong, come down, 50 push-ups!"

"Yes, Brother Chen!"

"Number One and Number Two, come down and spar!"

"Yes!"

Number One and Number Two let go of the machines, stood still, and then looked at each other, almost simultaneously attacking.

Bang bang bang.

The two started fighting, while the others continued their training without watching them!

Bang bang bang.

The sound of fists hitting flesh echoed, but Xiao Chen was not satisfied, frowning slightly.

"Did you not eat enough today? Hit harder, draw blood!"

Hearing Xiao Chen's cold voice, Number One and Number Two hit each other even harder, as if they had a deep grudge, aiming for vital points!

Bang!

Number One exposed a weakness and was punched away by Number Two, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"Swallowed!"

Xiao Chen stood up, came to Number One, took out a pill, and handed it to him.

Number One didn't hesitate, opened his mouth, and swallowed it. This wasn't the first time he had taken this pill; it had a miraculous effect after injuries, quickly alleviating pain!

"Number One, you should have raised your right leg higher just now. When you attack, don't hesitate; you need to be bold and decisive! Don't consider the outcome of the move, or you'll be caught off guard by the enemy. Understand?"

"Yes, Brother Chen!"

"Alright, continue training. Number Three and Number Four, you spar!"

"Yes, Brother Chen!"

A few minutes passed, and Ding Li got up from the ground, panting: "Brother Chen, I'm done."

"Number Seven, help Dingzi with the barbell bench press..."

"Yes!"

"Brother Chen, can I rest a bit?" Ding Li asked with a pained expression.

"No, resting will make you more tired. Keep going."

Xiao Chen shook his head and said calmly.

"Alright."

An hour passed, two hours passed...

Ding Li finally collapsed on the ground. Now he understood why the guy had wanted to take his shift earlier!

He turned his head and suddenly noticed the guy who had offered him a cigarette, looking at him with a smug smile!

"Alright, that's it for today... Tomorrow is a rest day."

Xiao Chen looked at the time, saw it was about right, stood up, and announced.

"Yes!"

The security guards were overjoyed to hear they could rest the next day, almost cheering, more excited than students hearing about a holiday!

Although the training period was short, just two days, the intensity was immense!

However, after each training session, Xiao Chen gave them a herbal soup to drink. After drinking it, their fatigue would disappear, and they would feel incredibly light... truly a mix of pain and pleasure!

"Dingzi, how do you feel?"

Xiao Chen looked at the collapsed Ding Li and asked with a smile.

"Completely drained... I don't even want to move my fingers."

"Severely lacking in training. A few days of basic training will help adjust your body, and you'll feel much better."

"Ah? This is just basic training?"

"Of course. Real experts aren't trained in the gym!" Xiao Chen took out a cigarette and threw one to him: "I have something to do tomorrow and won't be at the company. Keep an eye on things here!"

"Okay."

"Especially strangers, don't let them in easily, understand?"

"Uh-huh."

"I'll also have Dahan come to the company tomorrow. If anything happens, call him."

"Uh-huh."

"Alright, rest a bit, then go home... I'll leave first."

"I'll rest a bit more..."

"Ha ha."

Xiao Chen chuckled, left the gym, and headed towards the office.

Before he reached the office, his phone rang. He took it out and saw it was an unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Is this Minister Xiao?" A woman's voice came through the receiver.

"Yes, it's me. Who are you?" Xiao Chen was puzzled. Calling him Minister Xiao? Could she be from the company?

"I'm your mother-in-law!"

"Huh?"

Xiao Chen's eyes widened. Mother-in-law? What the heck?

"Ha ha, you ungrateful one, I'm Xiao Yan's mother. We've met before!"

Xiao Chen's forehead flashed with a few black lines. Xiao Yan's mother? She's calling herself my mother-in-law? What's going on?

"Minister Xiao... no, Xiao, why haven't you come to our house these past few days? I asked Xiao Yan, and she always says you're busy..."

"Cough, well, Auntie, how did you get my phone number?"

Xiao Chen looked at the nearby office and stopped.

"Oh, I secretly looked at Xiao Yan's phone."

Xiao Chen looked around and found a place where no one was: "So, Xiao Yan doesn't know you're calling me?"

"Right, she doesn't know. I'm calling to ask when you'll come to our house... Also, Auntie wants to discuss something with you."

"Um, I'm quite busy recently. What's the matter? We can talk on the phone."

"It's nothing much, just asking how far you and Xiao Yan have progressed. You need to hurry up! If you don't have time to get married, you can skip the wedding and just get the marriage certificate..."

"..."

Xiao Chen was completely stunned. Wedding? Marriage certificate? What's this all about?

"See, when can we set a time to meet your parents and discuss the dowry? How about that?"

Dowry?

Xiao Chen realized this call was probably about the dowry!

"Um, Auntie, shouldn't you discuss this with Xiao Yan first?"

"I'm her mother, I say what I want. Why should I discuss it with her? Xiao, Xiao Yan is a good girl. Since she was in school, the number of boys chasing her could form a reinforced division. You should cherish her!"

"..."

Xiao Chen was speechless again. Reinforced division? What, is that too exaggerated? Does she know how many people are in a reinforced division?

"Xiao, if you're really busy, I can come to your company and talk to you in person. How about that?" Xiao Yan's mother said, seeing Xiao Chen's silence.

"Huh? No, no, Auntie, let's do this: I'll discuss it with Xiao Yan and then visit you. How about that?" Xiao Chen wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

"Okay, but that girl is shy. You need to take the initiative, got it?"

"Yes, yes, I'll take the initiative!"

"Right, women say they don't want it, but they actually do... Hurry up and do something serious... Or, you can tell Xiao Yan that she doesn't need to go home tonight and can go on a date with you..."

"..."

Xiao Chen was completely defeated. Is she encouraging me to take advantage of her daughter?

Today, I planned to add an extra chapter for 'Old Master Yun,' but I had some things to do and didn't finish writing... It's past eleven, so I won't write anymore. I'll add it tomorrow. I think Old Master Yun won't mind. Other readers, don't be angry; Old Master Yun will understand. Those who truly like my work will advise me to take care of my health and not stay up late!