Chapter 44 (1/2)
Someone Beat His Face
When Fu Chuan-Fu said he was the butler of the Shentu clan, Xia Lei guessed right away that the equipment on the cargo bed was from Shentu Tian-Yin. He was ordering equipment on Alibaba but the ones Shentu Tian-Yin had sent were the latest CNC lathes which cost a fair amount - equipment that Thunder Horse Workshop needed very much. If he accepted the equipment from Shentu Tian-Yin, he could still cancel the order and get his money back, then use it on other things, like buying a better car. However, he decided on something different.
“Thank you, Mr Fu. Please convey my thanks to Miss Shentu but I cannot accept these things. Please take them back,” said Xia Lei.
“May I ask why?” Fu Chuan-Fu looked at Xia Lei in bafflement. He had not expected Xia Lei to refuse.
“There’s no particular reason,” said Xia Lei.
Men should have manly integrity - he’ll not accept this donation-like offer!
“Ah, I recall now. You said that if our lady would like to repay you, she should donate a million to any old folks’ home or orphanage. Don’t worry, we have already done that.” Fu Chuan-Fu smiled, then produced a receipt and handed it to Xia Lei. “This is the receipt for the donation of a million yuan in your name.”
Xia Lei held the receipt in his hands and his name, ‘Xia Lei’ was written as benefactor. He felt at a loss.
“Our lady has honoured her promise. The equipment on the lorry is just a token of our lady’s appreciation. Please accept it, Mr Xia.” Fu Chuan-Fu was very sincere.
Xia Lei shook his head still, “I’ll accept this donation receipt as a souvenir. You should take back the equipment on the lorry. I won’t accept.”
“Mr Xia, you…” Fu Chuan-Fu looked troubled but he was not one bit upset.
Ren Wen-Qiang sneered, “Senior Fu, these sort of people are natural-born miserable wretches. He refuses good meat when you offer it to him and prefers to scavenge in rubbish heaps. Just forget it.”
Fu Chuan-Fu suddenly lifted his head and fixed Ren Wen-Qiang with a glare, “What is this blabbing, you? How dare you speak to Mr Xia like that!”
“I…” Ren Wen-Qiang was hit with the realisation that he had made a blunder. He could not understand it - he was obviously helping Fu Chuan-Fu speak out but he suddenly flared up at him without sparing him any dignity!
Xia Lei laughed then, “Mr Fu, you heard it. I’m just a rubbish heap scavenger, a beggar. How can I accept the expensive gifts of a noble lady like Miss Shentu? It’s better if you take them back.”
“Please do not be mistaken, Mr Xia. Our lady would never look down on anyone. She has no intention whatsoever of disrespect towards you.”
Xia Lei shrugged, “Mr Fu, there’s no need to say more. I’ve made it clear - I do not want the things on the lorry. Please take them back.”
Fu Chuan-Fu looked at Ren Wen-Qiang again, “What are you standing there for? Apologise to Mr Xia, now!”
“I…” Ren Wen-Qiang couldn’t say it. His face turned green, then red, and he was extremely humiliated. He had just described Xia Lei as a beggar digging through rubbish heaps and was now being reprimanded for it - he had to apologise to the beggar!
Xia Lei was still thinking of how to refuse the equipment Shentu Tian-Yin had sent when Ma Xiao-An intercepted, “Dear sir, this guy here lacks proper teaching and was being very arrogant. If you make him apologise to us, we will accept the equipment outside.”
Xia Lei was going to stop Ma Xiao-An but Ma Xiao-An’s mouth was quick and his words were thrown out in a flash.
Fu Chuan-Fu seemed to see an opportunity for an exchange. He said to Ren Wen-Qiang, “ Wen-Qiang, you heard. Apologise to Mr Xia, now!”
Ren Wen-Qiang flushed red. He opened his mouth but no words came out for quite a while.
Ma Xiao-An added fuel to the flames, “I think some people think they are number one under the sky and didn’t expect to have to do something so terrifying. Hahaha! Interesting, interesting.”
“You-” Ren Wen-Qiang glared at Ma Xiao-An. If Fu Chuan-Fu were not around, he would have sent a kick his way.
“You wanna fight? Come on!” Ma Xiao-An tried to stir up trouble deliberately.
“Stop it, Xiao-An,” said Xia Lei.
Ma Xiao-An quieted down. He wouldn’t listen to others but he did listen to Xia Lei.
Fu Chuan-Fu’s face was getting stormier, “Ren Wen-Qiang. Do you want me to go back and tell the lady that Mr Xia refused her gift because of you?”
When he heard that, Ren Wen-Qiang turned white as a sheet. He looked at Xia Lei and though he was extremely unwilling, he could only bow his head and say formally, “Mr Xia, I apologise. I was wrong earlier and I beg your forgiveness.”
Xia Lei spoke indifferently, “You’ll have to learn some manners in the future. It’s one of the basic ways of being human.”
Ren Wen-Qiang gritted his teeth and spoke bitterly, “Understood.”
“What about me?” said Ma Xiao-An, “He hasn’t apologised to me.”
Ren Wen-Qiang’s eyes were so icy they could kill.
“Ren Wen-Qiang, quick!” said Fu Chuan-Fu.
Ren Wen-Qiang faced Ma Xiao-An and spoke coldly, “Sorry!”
“Hahaha!” Ma Xiao-An laughed happily.