Chapter 43: Falling Out

Lu Ming watched as Wei Wenbai stood up, and spoke slowly, “Sir, do you have some business here?”

“Gentlemen, I’m just here to have a meal. This has nothing to do with me. I have some matters to attend to, so I’ll be leaving now.”

At first, Wei Wenbai had been content to stand aside and watch the spectacle unfold—two young men, one of them disabled, daring to make trouble for Meng Changjiang. But with Chen Lei present, Wei Wenbai didn’t believe these three could stir up any real trouble. Yet in the blink of an eye, after a single phone call, Chen Lei suddenly turned against Meng Changjiang.

All of this struck him as highly unusual.

He knew Chen Lei’s character; for someone to make this man move from arrogance to deference, there had to be a formidable figure behind the scenes.

As an old hand in such matters, Wei Wenbai immediately sensed that he should get himself out of this mess before he got dragged in. As for the two hundred million Meng Changjiang wanted to borrow, he gave up the idea. In his eyes, Meng was now a dangerously reckless man; lending him that money would only invite trouble later.

Seeing Wei Wenbai preparing to leave, Lu Ming said, “Until this matter is resolved, no one is allowed to go.”

Wei Wenbai frowned. This young man seemed formidable—he’d gotten Chen Lei to submit in a matter of moments. But Wei Wenbai was a man within the system, quite different from Chen Lei.

Just because Chen Lei feared him didn’t mean Wei Wenbai had to.

Wei Wenbai spoke slowly, “Your quarrel has nothing to do with me. If you want to fight in front of me, I won’t interfere. But if you think you can restrict my freedom, isn’t that a bit too arrogant?”

Before Lu Ming could answer, Chen Lei interjected, “Manager Wei, if Mr. Lu says you stay, you stay. Don’t make things difficult for me.”

Shock flashed across Wei Wenbai’s face. He could understand Chen Lei turning on Meng Changjiang, but for Chen Lei to turn on him—he had not expected that at all.

He was the branch manager of one of the five major state-owned banks, a director at the city level, and a full division cadre. With his connections and position, even if Chen Lei was a powerful figure in Baofeng, he would never dare speak to him like this. But now, Chen Lei was openly defying him, simply because of a word from a stranger. That wounded his pride deeply.

“I was willing to let things go, but you people clearly don’t take me seriously,” he said coldly. “Very well, I’ll call Director Zhang from the municipal bureau and have him come. I hope you’ll still dare talk to me this way when he arrives.”

With that, he pulled out his phone.

Lu Ming merely said, “As you wish.”

Then, turning his gaze to Meng Changjiang, who was still howling in pain, he asked, “Meng Changjiang, do you have anything to say about the six million?”

At this point, Meng Changjiang was in agony, staring at his ruined leg, overwhelmed by pain and despair.

He had been ready to confess everything, but when he heard that Wei Wenbai was calling the bureau chief, he gritted his teeth and held back. If he told the truth, all would be lost. The six million was long spent; even if he wanted to repay it, he couldn’t. The two hundred million loan would be out of reach, and everything would be destroyed. For now, if he could just hold out and deny everything, once the director arrived, these people—even if they were fierce—wouldn’t dare lay a hand on him in front of such an official. Perhaps he could even charge them with assault, and his predicament might turn around.

With these thoughts, Meng Changjiang endured the pain and shouted, “There’s no such thing! How dare you treat me like this—you’d better be careful, or you’ll all end up in jail!”

“Very well,” Lu Ming said expressionlessly. “Chen Lei, break his other leg.”

Without a word, Chen Lei stepped forward and kicked. Instantly, Meng Changjiang’s right leg joined his left in misery, both snapped at the knee; amputation seemed the only option left.

A shriek of agony tore from Meng Changjiang’s lips.

The hostesses screamed, some so terrified they vomited.

Wang Xiaoyu covered her eyes, trembling uncontrollably.

All this time, Wei Wenbai had dialed his call, squinting as he watched the scene. These people had no regard for him at all. Now, he would make them understand his power—especially Chen Lei, who dared to defy him openly. If he didn’t put his foot down, they’d believe they truly ruled Baofeng, untouchable in both the underworld and the officialdom.

After a long moment, the call connected.

“Hello, Director Zhang?”

“This is he. Manager Wei, what’s so urgent at this hour?” came the voice of Zhang Weiming, Director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau.

“It’s like this, Old Zhang—I’m at the Xinghui Hotel, and I’ve run into some trouble. Could you bring some men over to handle it?” Wei Wenbai said confidently.

They had helped each other many times before, both being establishment men. To Wei Wenbai, this was a minor favor; even if he owed Zhang a debt for it, Zhang would surely agree without hesitation.

But after a brief silence, Zhang Weiming replied, “Manager Wei, I just received orders from Secretary Zhang—I’m right downstairs at Xinghui now. The area is already under lockdown. Secretary Zhang said an important figure is here on official business, and we’re on high alert for any emergencies, with the top priority being that person’s safety. Secretary Zhang is personally directing this operation from a patrol car outside. I had to make an excuse to step out and take your call. If you’re inside Xinghui, be careful.”

With that, Zhang Weiming hung up.

Wei Wenbai was utterly stupefied. Zhang Weiming’s words struck him like a bolt of lightning.

“A very important person, at Xinghui, lockdown, Secretary Zhang personally commanding.”

Stringing these together, they filled him with a deep terror. Instinctively, he realized he’d gotten himself into serious trouble—trouble of the highest order.

For Secretary Zhang to come in person, the guest must be someone of immense significance—at least higher than Secretary Zhang himself.

He glanced fearfully at Lu Ming and his companions. He now understood: the important figure was among these three.

He didn’t know exactly which one, but he knew he could not afford to offend any of them. With a single word from that person, his own career could end in an instant.

“G-gentlemen, this really has nothing to do with me. Please, carry on.”

With that, Wei Wenbai meekly sat back on the sofa, his bravado gone.

Seeing him back down, Lu Ming and Yun Ketian ignored him and turned instead to Meng Changjiang, who lay groaning on the floor.

Now, hearing Wei Wenbai’s abrupt change in attitude, Meng Changjiang finally understood that these visitors wielded a power far beyond his own. If he persisted any longer, he might very well lose his life here.

At once, Meng Changjiang cried out, “I’ll talk—I confess! I swindled six million from Chen Bing. I admit my guilt!”

Lu Ming sneered, “So that’s all the backbone you have? You surrender this easily? Hand over the money and I’ll spare your life.”

Drenched in sweat and wracked with pain, Meng Changjiang whimpered, “The money’s all gone, but I’ll find a way to repay it. Please, spare me!”

He had spent that money trying to secure the contract, then more trying to secure the loan, then hiring Wang Liu and others for forced evictions, plus various compensations—the sum was long gone. His only hope now was the bank loan; he had nothing left.

Hearing the money was gone, Lu Ming’s expression didn’t change. “Very well. I don’t intend to ask for the money. Chen Lei, cripple both his arms.”

Without hesitation, Chen Lei stepped forward and stomped down, breaking both of Meng Changjiang’s arms at the elbow.

Meng Changjiang shrieked again.

The hostesses screamed and huddled together in terror.

Wei Wenbai could only watch, his eyelids twitching.

“Chen Lei, keep him under watch. He’s not to leave Baofeng City. From now on, he’ll live by begging,” Lu Ming said coldly.

Chen Lei responded at once, “Don’t worry, Mr. Lu, I’ll see to it.”

At that moment, Wang Xiaoyu, finding a sudden burst of courage, stood and pointed at Meng Changjiang.

“I knew something was wrong when you suddenly had so much money! So you’re just a conman—now I finally see you for what you are!”

Seeing the turn of events, Wang Xiaoyu immediately distanced herself from Meng Changjiang.

Unable to bear the humiliation and pain, Meng Changjiang coughed up a mouthful of blood and finally fainted.

Lu Ming glanced at Wang Xiaoyu, shook his head, and said to Chen Bing, “Let’s go.”

Chen Bing nodded, and the three of them left the private room and stepped outside the Xinghui Hotel.

There, police cars lined the road, and a squad of armed officers had cordoned off the area.

When Lu Ming and his companions emerged, Secretary Zhang hurried forward to greet them. “Are you all alright?” he asked.

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