"Damn it, you old fart, do you even have a clue who you're talking to!? Don't push your luck, or believe me, Young Master Zheng can have your raggedy old self thrown in jail!" Seeing Hua Ming dare to speak to Young Master Zheng Zhengbin with such an insolent tone, Zhou Zhengxu instantly flew into a rage. He leaped to his feet, pointed at Hua Ming, and began cursing.

One had to remember that the man backing him, Young Master Zheng Zhengbin, was the son of the deputy director of the Jiangnan Province Bureau of Industry and Commerce. Behind him stood the colossal Zheng Family of Jiangnan Province! And now? Some old coot from a rundown jewelry store like Hua Ming actually dared to kick them out—to kick *Young Master Zheng* out? If word of this got out, where would they ever show their faces again?

Not to mention, since he, Young Master Zhou, had latched onto Young Master Zheng's coattails, when had anyone ever had the gall to throw him out so brazenly? A searing sense of humiliation and fury surged through him.

He then jabbed a finger toward Hua Ming's nose, his face a livid, grim mask, and bellowed, "You old fool, you Old Rascal, have you forgotten my kind reminder from before!? Do you know where you are? This is Tongzhou! The currents here run far deeper than you can imagine! Countless people who come here ignorant of the rules end up slinking away with their tails between their legs! You really won't give up until you're at a dead end, thinking our Young Master Zheng can't deal with you, is that it!?"

"Enough."

At that moment, an expressionless Zheng Zhengbin cut him off. His cold, dark eyes stared daggers at Hua Ming. A slight curve touched his lips as he flicked his cigarette butt to the ground, crushed it viciously under his leather shoe, and said, "Boss Hua, I'm sure you're a smart man. You should understand that wealth is meant to be shared."

"I, Zheng Zhengbin, have jewelry stores of my own. Here in Tongzhou City, you could say my stores hold a monopoly. So, if you're truly smart, you'll understand what the right choice is. Otherwise…"

He paused, his lips twisting into a naked sneer. "Otherwise, I can have you thrown out of Tongzhou City without a stitch on your back! Believe it, Old Rascal?"

"You…"

Hearing this, Hua Ming was so enraged his neck flushed crimson. His fingernails dug into his palms, leaving white crescents as he gritted his teeth.

These bastards… they're simply going too far! This is blatant suppression, a naked threat! Just because they have some status, they think they can act so lawlessly?

Hua Ming's heart burned with indignation. At worst, his Jinnan Jewelry would just close up shop in Tongzhou! He refused to believe that without this provincial capital, their family's business would fail.

With that thought, the fear and apprehension that had gripped him began to fade. He let out a cold laugh and stared back at Zheng Zhengbin. "Young Master Zheng, don't you think you've gone a bit too far? You speak as if your Zheng Family controls all of Tongzhou. I admit the Zheng Family is powerful, but on what grounds does a spoiled playboy like you, who's still wet behind the ears, have the right to make such boasts!?"

"You… you, what did you say!?"

Zheng Zhengbin's face instantly turned beet red. His handsome features twisted into a ferocious snarl of fury.

He truly hadn't expected it. Had this Old Rascal suddenly eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard? He wasn't afraid anymore!?

A flicker of uncertainty crossed Zheng Zhengbin's face, but he quickly suppressed it. He pulled out a contract and slammed it on the table with a BANG. "Old Rascal, I'm giving you one last chance! One million, for seventy percent of Jinnan Jewelry's shares! Don't you dare be ungrateful again, or you will suffer the consequences!"

"Suffer the consequences?"

This time, Hua Ming didn't even pause to consider. He looked at Young Master Zheng as if he were an idiot and scoffed, "One million? Young Master Zheng, I hear you own a ten-percent stake in a Five-Star Level hotel in the city. How about you sell me that ten percent? I'll offer two million!"

"You Old Rascal…!" Zheng Zhengbin's eyes went bloodshot, and he nearly exploded with rage. Beside him, his Dog Head Military Advisor, Zhou Zhengxu, couldn't help but leap to his feet, his face a mask of fury.

Everyone knew that Young Master Zheng's ten-percent stake in that hotel was worth at least eight figures! Two million to acquire it? Putting aside who this old coot even was, even if he had some powerful background, why would Young Master Zheng ever sell a goose that lays golden eggs? He wasn't an idiot!

"Fine. Fine! Very good! Old man, it seems you're determined to oppose me, Zheng Zhengbin," Young Master Zheng seethed, trembling with anger.

Hua Ming snorted with indignation. "Young Master Zheng, I may be old, but I did attend university. In terms of substance, I'd wager I'm more educated than you are. Let's be frank. It's not me being ungrateful; it's the two of you who are pushing your luck and going too far!

"Even at a conservative estimate, Jinnan Jewelry is worth at least a hundred million. And now, for a paltry one million, you two want seventy percent of our shares? Are you stupid? Or do you take me for a fool?"

"Old man, are you really trying to start a mutually destructive fight!?" Zheng Zhengbin's expression was ghastly as he delivered his ultimatum. "I'll say it one last time: sign this contract, and I, Zheng Zhengbin, will be magnanimous enough to let bygones be bygones. But if you insist on being so unappreciative, then Jinnan Jewelry can get ready to be run out of Tongzhou City!"

"Apologies, Young Master Zheng, Young Master Zhou. Please see yourselves out. Do not disturb our work." Hua Ming's response was even more direct, an undisguised order to leave. It seemed he had truly cast aside all his fears.

"Good. Very good. Excellent!"

Hearing this, Zheng Zhengbin felt a scorching pain across his face, his dignity utterly shredded.

"You personally threw away your last chance! Don't blame me for being merciless!" His eyes, dark with malice, locked onto Hua Ming before a mocking, derisive smile spread across his face.

He took out his phone, dialed a number, and commanded with an air of authority, "Hello, Director Huang? It's me, Zhengbin… Yes, that's right, the Old Rascal is still being a damned fool and refusing to see reason. Director Huang, if you would, please bring your men in now."

"Director Huang!?" Hua Ming's heart leaped into his throat, and panic flared across his face once more. He truly hadn't expected them to have this move prepared in advance. A director from the Bureau of Industry and Commerce, whether from the city or the province, wielded immense power—especially since they were the very body that regulated his business.

"Heh, old man, scared now? Let me tell you, it's too late! Your shabby little store can just wait to be shut down!" Seeing the undeniable panic on Hua Ming's face, Zhou Zhengxu exchanged a look with Zheng Zhengbin and immediately began to taunt him.

In his eyes, this old fool was just asking for it. So he's finally scared? Too bad, it's too late! Hmph!

A short while later, several cars rumbled to a stop outside the Jade Carving Factory. A group of men in the uniforms of the Bureau of Industry and Commerce emerged, their faces set in cold sneers.

The men swaggered in, oozing authority. One of them, a particularly pot-bellied man, exchanged a subtle glance with Zheng Zhengbin, their eyes meeting in a shared, knowing smirk.

The pot-bellied man then barked imperiously, "Who is the owner here!?"

"I am," Hua Ming said. Though his expression was grim, he had no choice but to step forward with a forced smile. "Gentlemen… may I ask the purpose of your visit?"

"Purpose? Shut this place down!" the pot-bellied man bellowed, his face stern. At his command, several uniformed officers behind him started to move forward.

"Wait!"

Hua Ming's expression shifted, and his voice quavered slightly. "Gentlemen, Jinnan Jewelry has all the required permits and documentation. On what grounds are you shutting down my store!?"

"On what grounds!? On the grounds that we have discovered a large number of counterfeit and shoddy products among the jewelry you sell! There are even instances of passing off inferior goods as high-quality ones! Therefore, the Tongzhou City Bureau of Industry and Commerce will now conduct an investigation of your business in accordance with regulations. Please cooperate!" the pot-bellied Director Huang declared with an air of righteous authority, a cold smirk playing on his lips.

Just as Young Master Zheng had thought, the inner workings of the jewelry industry and its regulation were far murkier than any outsider could imagine. Once the Bureau of Industry and Commerce decided to take someone down, it was a ridiculously simple matter. With their professional access, they could conduct a so-called investigation, and if they didn't find any problems, what was to stop them from *creating* some? Even if they found nothing, couldn't they just shut the store down first and *then* investigate?

Rules were fixed, but people were flexible. They were the experts in this field. For the Bureau to crush a small jewelry store with no powerful backing was an effortless, minute-to-minute affair.

"You… You're slandering us!" Hua Ming felt his vision swim with rage.

How could he not understand by now? These people were targeting his store specifically! The claim about counterfeit products was nothing but malicious slander!

"Slander?"

The pot-bellied director sneered, his disdainful gaze sweeping over Hua Ming. "The Bureau will investigate and be the judge of what's right and wrong! When the results are out, we'll see if your dishonest store gets shut down for good, or if its owner gets to serve time in prison!

"Remember, the nets of heaven are wide, but they let nothing slip through! Do business without a conscience, and you will surely face the scorn of society and the severe punishment of the law!"

The pot-bellied man, Huang Kai, spoke with self-righteous conviction, then his tone turned mocking again. He glared at Hua Ming, his face dripping with scorn. "I've seen plenty of money-grubbing crooks like you over the years. You think you can get away now that you've fallen into my hands?"

What an idiot, daring to provoke Young Master Zheng Zhengbin? He's simply courting death! Doesn't he know Young Master Zheng is the son of Deputy Director Zheng from the provincial bureau? Utterly blind!

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