Chapter 0424: Zhao Fusheng's Calculations

For someone like Zhang Qian, he was used to solving obstacles in his way with his fists. If one day someone's actions crossed Zhang Qian's bottom line, he would use his fists to seek justice for himself and his family.

A commoner's rage can spill blood five steps away.

Zhao Fusheng knew very well that with Zhang Qian's temper, he might one day actually do something like that.

"Don't worry, that Zhou guy won't find it so easy to steal our fruits," Zhao Fusheng instructed Zhang Qian. "Don't bother with his petty tricks. You and your men just do what you need to do."

Zhang Qian hesitated, looking at Zhao Fusheng. "Really?"

Zhao Fusheng smiled. "I'm your boss. Do what your boss tells you, and don't overthink things."

He meant it. Zhao Fusheng was truly afraid that Zhang Qian, in his eagerness to open the arcade, might go after Zhou Wei again, leading to unpredictable consequences.

After all, Zhao Fusheng was now one hundred percent certain that Zhang Qian had served in the military, or rather, that he and Qian Dongliu had served in a unit that had seen combat and killed people.

When we were children, we cried and then laughed; as adults, we laugh and then cry. In those years when the future seemed invisible, some people strove to find faint hope, silently bid farewell to comrades, and wept when reunited.

Even in times of peace, it is not truly calm.

There has never been a time of peace and quiet; it's just that someone is carrying the burden for us.

Zhao Fusheng would never allow a soldier like that to stain his hands with the blood of a scumbag like Zhou Wei.

Therefore, he planned to solve this problem on his own.

Of course, when Zhao Fusheng said solving the problem, he naturally couldn't rely on family connections.

The Zhao family was not a prominent household. From his grandfather's grandfather onward, they had been ordinary farmers. His own father was now the most accomplished person in the old Zhao family.

It is often said that China has no aristocracy, and this statement holds some truth. In ancient times, aristocrats were judged by three generations for eating, four for clothing, and five for writing.

Since the founding of the nation, after successive movements, the so-called aristocracy has long been thoroughly brought down to the dust. The so-called great families in novels are pure nonsense. How could anyone have escaped unscathed during that nationwide movement?

Even in places like Hong Kong and Taiwan, the so-called wealthy and prestigious families are at most landlords, or else upstarts who have risen in just a few decades.

Don't forget, even someone as powerful as Huo Lao rose to prominence through the Korean War, and he himself was once one of the big shots of the Triad.

In poverty, hold fast to integrity; in wealth, know when to let go.

Zhao Fusheng always believed that people should live this way, not like in some novels where they suddenly gain great power and start acting recklessly.

"Zhang Qian, you're older than me, but I still want to remind you: kindness is harder than cleverness, because cleverness is a gift, but kindness is a choice."

Before leaving, Zhao Fusheng said to Zhang Qian with profound meaning.

He could see that Zhang Qian was not entirely convinced by what he had said earlier. After all, Zhang Qian believed that any problem that could be solved with fists was not a problem.

In his view, Zhou Wei deserved punishment for daring to extort him.

But in Zhao Fusheng's view, Zhou Wei was just a petty man. Sacrificing a good person for a petty man was not worth it.

Leaving the fifth floor, Zhao Fusheng went directly to his father's office.

"Dad, do you know a man named Zhou Wei?" Zhao Fusheng asked his father directly.

Zhao's father was startled and frowned. "The one from Xiangyang Industrial and Commercial Bureau?"

The Wanda Mall was naturally under the jurisdiction of the Xiangyang Industrial and Commercial Bureau, and Zhao's father had indeed heard of this man.

Zhao Fusheng nodded. "Yes, that's him."

"This guy's nickname is 'Plucking Feathers from a Passing Goose.' They say he's corrupt and takes a cut from anyone who comes to him for business," Zhao's father said solemnly.

"So greedy," Zhao Fusheng laughed. He hadn't expected Zhou Wei to have such a big reputation, but his father's description of 'plucking feathers from a passing goose' was quite apt.

Zhao's father nodded. "Yeah, he took a cut from our family back then too, but later I found someone, and he didn't dare to ask again."

In this day and age, the only thing that can make power fear is greater power.

"I see," Zhao Fusheng rubbed his chin, thoughtful.

Zhao's father looked at him curiously. "What, did he cause you trouble?"

Zhao Fusheng didn't beat around the bush. He recounted what Zhou Wei had done, and finally laughed. "To be honest, I didn't expect him to be so greedy. If he just wanted a few gifts, that would be one thing, but daring to ask for so much money—he's not afraid of choking to death!"

He meant it. As a seasoned operator, if Zhou Wei had only asked for gifts or a few thousand yuan in kickbacks, Zhao Fusheng might have given in to avoid trouble.

But the problem was that Zhou Wei had the audacity to treat him like an ATM, which made Zhao Fusheng furious.

"This guy must be crazy," Zhao's father said, shaking his head after hearing Zhao Fusheng's story. "He probably thinks you have no backing, so he plans to squeeze you."

The logic was simple. Zhang Qian and Qian Dongliu didn't look like sharp operators, nor did they seem to have connections. It was normal for them to be seen as fat sheep.

If someone like Zhao's father or Chen Hai had gone, even without saying a word, Zhou Wei wouldn't have dared to make such outrageous demands.

Officials are undoubtedly the best at judging people and adjusting their behavior accordingly.

There was no doubt about that.

"Yeah, he probably thinks we're easy marks," Zhao Fusheng laughed, but there was a cold glint in his eyes.

"What do you plan to do? Do you need my help?" Zhao's father asked his son.

After all, although in their understanding Zhao Fusheng was now working for Zheng Yao, he was still their son. If he was bullied, his father had no reason to stand by and watch.

Moreover, Zhou Wei was just a section-level cadre. Zhao's father, now a successful businessman with deep pockets, considered himself to have some connections in Ninghai and thought it wouldn't be difficult to deal with Zhou Wei.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Fusheng smiled and shook his head. "No need for that trouble. Later, just introduce me to the leaders of the Municipal Party Committee's Armed Forces Department."

Huh?

Zhao's father frowned, looking at Zhao Fusheng in surprise, not understanding what he meant. The leaders of the Armed Forces Department—could this kid have other plans?