Chapter 354 - 244: Youthful Righteousness, Youthful Cunning

Chapter 354: Chapter 244: Youthful Righteousness, Youthful Cunning

Zhuang Yingcheng took a deep breath, his face flushing as he spoke.

It’s said you shouldn’t air your family’s dirty laundry in public, but he was now doing the exact opposite, making a big show of telling everything to these men who were like uncles to him. He was partly venting his grievances and partly seeing if he could drum up some support.

At his words, the atmosphere in the tea room grew a little awkward.

’This kid... he really doesn’t think before he speaks.’

He was just here to pay a Mid-Autumn Festival visit and have a cup of tea. Jackie Chan had only asked a casual question, but who would’ve thought he’d drop such a bombshell.

’He’s acting like a sniveling little girl.’

Jackie Chan rubbed his nose, his expression unchanging. He smiled nonchalantly. "They say every family has its own Hard-to-Recite Scripture. It’s not my place to get involved in your family’s business. If I stick my nose in, it’ll only make things more complicated. Your two uncles are still around, after all. Family matters should be resolved within the family. The moment an outsider gets involved, you’ll be the one caught in the middle, unable to please anyone."

"For now, just focus on taking care of your mother. Where is she in the hospital? Is it serious? It’s her old ailment, isn’t it? I know a few excellent doctors. I can give you their contacts later."

He was just touching on the subject lightly, intending to move past it and let it go.

"Uncle, I want to borrow some money from you. I need to raise capital to see if I can pull our family back together. You and my dad were brothers for decades. You wouldn’t want to see my family just fall to pieces, would you?"

"When I was little, my dad always wanted me to have you as my godfather. I was young and foolish back then, and something else came up so it never happened. But now... I’m still willing to have you as my godfather."

Zhuang Yingcheng’s tone was dead serious.

Lin Chu: ?

’Whoa, what the fuck?’

’This young master’s game is seriously weak.’

’Was he really that spoiled rotten?’

’There’s nothing wrong with wanting a godfather, especially since his family is in trouble and he needs to latch onto someone powerful. But... who the hell goes about it like this?’

’Putting Jackie Chan on the spot like this in front of everyone... It’s almost like a palace coup. He’s completely shameless.’

’So pathetic.’

’Fucking pathetic.’

’Even Zhu Yizhen is better than him!’

’Then again, it takes all sorts to make a world. You really do see all kinds of people.’

"Ha..."

"Drink your tea."

Jackie Chan casually refilled his cup.

An old friend to his left couldn’t help but chime in, saying with a grin, "These are two separate matters. Let’s take them one by one. Are you looking for a godfather, or are you looking to borrow money? If a godfather gives you money, that’s not borrowing. Between a father and son, why talk about ’borrowing’?"

’Cunning as an old fox.’

The old man was an interesting character, his words laced with a subtle, mischievous cruelty.

Zhuang Yingcheng glanced in his direction, his eyes darting about for a moment. Then, his eyes reddened, and tears instantly welled up. He suddenly stood, his knees buckled, and he dropped to the floor, kneeling forcefully in Jackie Chan’s direction.

THUD!

It was a resounding kowtow.

His forehead hit the wooden floor. THWACK!

The sight left everyone in the tea room, including Jackie Chan himself, completely stunned.

No one had expected Zhuang Yingcheng to be so decisive, to suddenly resort to such a drastic gesture.

Lin Chu glanced at him nonchalantly. His prominent Adam’s apple bobbed. He wanted to laugh but forced himself to hold it back. He even felt a flicker of admiration.

’A ruthless man.’

’Badass.’

’Oscar-worthy.’

’Just for this ability to cry and kneel on cue, he’s a living example of the saying: a shameless man is an invincible one.’

’And who knows? Maybe he could kneel his way to a golden future.’

’Zhuang Yingcheng... maybe he wasn’t just a spoiled rich kid after all.’

Jackie Chan’s face was still wreathed in smiles. Even though the pressure had been cranked up, he remained calm and composed. "Alright, alright, what is this? Get up. Here’s what we’ll do. I’m having a party here in a couple of days. You call over your second and third brothers, and your two uncles. Bring your lawyers, and you can all talk it out in front of me. Handle your family business behind closed doors. I’ll just be a witness."

It seemed he was quite experienced at handling this sort of thing.

’It takes two to tango.’

’Taking a side would be a bad move. The best he could do was stay neutral, act as a mediator and a witness.’

Hearing this, Zhuang Yingcheng immediately scrambled to his feet. Tears still glistening in his eyes, he looked at Jackie Chan with profound gratitude.

"Yes! Thank you, Uncle! I knew you still cared about me. Honestly, the biggest problem is my second and third brothers. I’m really worried they’re going to start backstabbing each other. If that kind of thing happens, the Zhuang Family will become a total laughingstock."

Jackie Chan just smiled and nodded.

Now that he had Jackie Chan’s promise, his mission for the day was complete. Zhuang Yingcheng sat for a little while longer, drank a few more cups of tea, and then cheerfully took his leave.

Kang Hao glanced back at Lin Chu one last time. His lips moved, but he didn’t say anything more and just left with his head lowered.

He, too, found Zhuang Yingcheng’s behavior today both surprising and shocking.

He even felt like he’d been used as a pawn.

They had just been hanging out, having a good time, when he suddenly insisted on dragging them all along to pay Jackie Chan a Mid-Autumn Festival visit. And then they had to witness that whole spectacle.

’Unbelievable!’

’Sigh... Eldest Young Master Zhuang.’

「Once they were outside.」

Zhuang Yingcheng looked at the two men beside him, a hint of arrogance and pride in his eyes. He asked with a smile, "Who was that guy drinking tea with us just now? Do you guys know him? Couldn’t be another one of my uncle’s illegitimate sons, could he? The big nose looks a lot like his."

Kang Hao gave him a slightly exasperated look. "No, definitely not. I know him. His name is Lin Chu, from Peng City. He’s the one who applied to join the United Youth Association a couple of days ago—the one you rejected. I just have no idea how he got mixed up with Jackie Chan."

Hm?

When Zhuang Yingcheng heard that, he froze for a second.

"The loser who failed to get Xiaoluan?"

Kang Hao sighed and nodded.

’Failed to get her? What a joke.’

’He was still skeptical about that rumor. He was pretty sure it was all just a game between Lin Chu and Zhou Luan, and they were just playing all the netizens for fools.’

’But, of course, that wasn’t something he could just say to others.’

’Whatever. It’s not my business anyway.’

Zhuang Yingcheng’s eyes flickered, and his smile returned. "Look into him, then. If he’s really got something going for him, let him join. It’s always good to have another friend, opens up another path."

Kang Hao: ...

"Then you tell him. Don’t make me be the messenger. I was the one who relayed your rejection, and now you want me to relay your approval? It puts me in a really awkward spot. I look like a total pushover."

He was speechless.

’Young Master Zhuang’s ability to switch sides with the wind was truly unparalleled.’

’Being his friend was exhausting.’

Zhuang Yingcheng let out a loud laugh, slinging an arm around Kang Hao’s shoulder. "Hey, what’s the big deal?" he said breezily. "You don’t trouble two people with one task. You knew him first, so you should be the one to talk to him. He definitely still wants in, right? This is an easy favor to grant, what’s so awkward about it? I’m letting you be the one to do him the favor, get it? You dummy. You’ve been following me for so long, how have you not learned a thing?"

Kang Hao: ...

He gave him a somewhat helpless look, already used to being manipulated by him.

’He knew what was happening. This was just the kind of game Zhuang Yingcheng loved to play. But they’d been friends since they were kids, and it wasn’t a matter of principle anyway. He had a softer personality, while Yingcheng was domineering and cunning. He just had to accept that this was how their relationship worked.’

"Fine, fine, fine, I’ll go."

"Lin Chu lives right here, doesn’t he... I just saw him yesterday. He said he was going to buy a place, so I guess he must have?"

...

「The Tea Room.」

After the three of them had left, Lin Chu couldn’t help but let out a couple of chuckles. "That Eldest Young Master Zhuang," he said casually, "he’s really something... a master of persuasion, and obviously a hell of an actor."

The others couldn’t help but laugh.

Jackie Chan smiled, then let out a long sigh. "They were all spoiled rotten since they were kids... He had them late in life, all three sons, and doted on them endlessly. Back when he was studying abroad, he shot a classmate through the palm with a gun. If his old man didn’t have a bit of clout..."

As he spoke, his tone grew somber, and his eyes seemed to dim.

’He must be thinking of his own son,’ Lin Chu guessed. ’It really is true. Every family has its own Hard-to-Recite Scripture.’

"What kind of business is the Zhuang Family in?"

Lin Chu casually changed the subject, not wanting to dwell on someone else’s painful memories.

The old man beside them heard this, lit a cigarette, and said with a wide grin, "Oh, now they’re a big deal. Twenty years ago, they were already calling him ’Zhuang Ten-Billion.’ The Rubber King. Of all the rubber in Southeast Asia, their family might not have a full ten percent, but they’ve definitely got five. They have four publicly listed companies... Impressive as hell. It’s a shame, though. A hero for a father, a coward for a son."

Lin Chu: ...

Uh.

’Okay, that actually is pretty damn impressive.’

...

...