Chapter 7 (1/2)
Kneel, Even if You Don’t Want To
“I can put aside the matter regarding my eyes. I won’t bother him and he won’t bother me either. However, my friend’s serious injuries cannot be overlooked. I want Chen Chuan-Hu to apologise to my friend. Tell him to go to the hospital now and kneel to my friend, and have a photo of it sent to me. Additionally, he should pay fees for my friend’s nutrition, mental health, loss of income and medical fees, which add up to 50,000. Ask your dear nephew to prepare 50,000 in cash and bring it to the hospital. If you do this, we’re even,” said Xia Lei.
Li Qing-Hua laughed coldly. “Boy, you’re still young – you don’t understand the workings of society well. I advise you to be less vicious and leave some wiggle room. Haven’t you heard of the phrase ‘leave a man a way out and you shall meet again on good terms’?”
“I’ve heard of it but I don’t want to see you again.” Xia Lei said, “If you don’t agree, I’ll post the video I just recorded on internet forums.”
“Don’t…” Li Qing-Hua became nervous. “How about this, boy? Money is no problem but can you do without the kneeling? Chuan-Hu has a reputation and image to maintain. He is unlikely to agree to you making him kneel in a place such as a hospital and sending the picture to you.”
“I’ll post it on the forums, then,” Xia Lei unlocked his phone and added, “Oh, I can also call the anti-corruption hotline tomorrow.”
“You fuc–” Li Qing-Hua forced back his curse again. He got to his feet and tried to negotiate. “Don’t be hasty, young man. I’ll call that bastard now and get him to prepare 50,000, kneel before your friend and send the picture to you. Satisfied now?”
Li Qing-Hua’s voice contained barely-controlled hate but Xia Lei was not bothered by it at all. He knew very well that even if Chen Chuan-Hu did not have to kneel before Ma Xiao-An and if he did not ask for 50,000, Li Qing-Hua would not let him off. A vengeful person like Li Qing-Hua could not stand to have someone offend him.
Xia Lei was not a fool either. While Li Qing-Hua was retrieving his phone to call Chen Chuan-Hu, Xia Lei swiftly uploaded the video to the Cloud Drive on his Baidu account. With this backup copy in his possession, he had nothing to fear from Li Qing-Hua!
Li Qing-Hua pressed the digits of Chen Chuan-Hu’s phone number.
Xia Lei spoke. “Put it on speaker mode.”
Li Qing-Hua looked back at Xia Lei with flames in his eyes but he still did as Xia Lei said.
Chen Chuan-Hu’s voice could be heard over the phone. “What is it? Speak, dammit!”
“I am your uncle! You bastard!” Li Qing-Hua’s anger flared and he cursed when he opened his mouth.
“Huh? Uncle… It’s you! I’m driving now so I didn’t see the incoming call screen. What’s up, Uncle?” Chen Chuan-Hu’s attitude quickly took a 180-degree turn.
“Did a worker at your construction site injure his eye from an electric arc?”
“Yeah. Why are you asking me about small matters like this, Uncle?” Chen Chuan-Hu’s voice continued, “That worker’s name is Xia Lei, and he’s an idiot. What – did he run to you to report me?”
It’d have been great if it was just a report.
“Report, my foot!” Li Qing-Hua unleashed his anger on Chen Chuan-Hu. “Did you also beat up his friend, and is that friend now in hospital?”
“I say, Uncle… What’s up with you today? You never used to bother with small things like this before.”
“Bastard! Did you or didn’t you?”
“I did.” Chen Chuan-Hu seemed to sense Li Qing-Hua’s anger and found the situation a little fishy.
“I’ll give you 20 minutes now. Bring 50,000 in cash to the hospital and kneel in apology!”
“Uncle, this…” Chen Chuan-Hu was quite obviously not willing to do so.
“Do as I say if you want to keep doing what you’re doing!” Li Qing-Hua’s words carried a threat, “And send a picture of you kneeling. I want to see it.”
There was silence for about ten seconds on the other end, then Chen Chuan-Hu spoke again, “Did I offend the child of some bigwig, Uncle? Did that guy come to my construction site to work on purpose, to experience normal life?”
“Experience, your ass! Hurry! Twenty minutes!” Li Qing-Hua shouted at the phone.
“I’ll go now, I’ll go now.” Chen Chuan-Hu hung up.
Li Qing-Hua turned to look at Xia Lei, then held out a hand, “Satisfied? Give me your phone.”
Xia Lei gave a short laugh, “Chief Li, I can’t trust you. Let’s just wait till your dear nephew has finished what he should do, then we can talk.”
“You…! Think carefully about what you’re doing!” Li Qing-Hua had never been so angry in his life. Xia Lei was the first to have dared to provoke him like this!
Xia Lei shrugged casually. “I think you should put some clothes on first. I’m not used to seeing naked men.”
Li Qing-Hua stared at Xia Lei icily, his eyes cold as a snake staring at prey.
The woman hid in the blankets with a complicated expression on her face.
Twenty minutes later, Chen Chuan-Hu’s phone rang and he picked up. This time, Li Qing-Hua turned on speaker mode without Xia Lei’s prompting.
“Uncle, I’m at the hospital. I gave the 50,000 to that guy’s friend already, but…,” Chen Chuan-Hu spoke uncertainly, “Do I really have to kneel in apology, Uncle?”
“You think I’m joking around?” Li Qing-Hua roared at the phone, “DO AS I SAY!”