"Don't know him, why would he come looking for me?"
Old Master Shao slammed his cane down and scolded, "Are you going to talk or not?"
"I really don't!"
Shao Moqing stubbornly insisted.
The Shao family members were also murmuring amongst themselves.
Old Master Shao frowned and looked at Chen Fan, saying, "Gentlemen, this unfilial grandson refuses to confess. If he has committed a crime outside, please tell us directly, and I will not spare him."
His tone was rather displeased.
On his eightieth birthday, to have people barge in looking for trouble, no one would be happy.
If it were a typical domineering person, they would have already asked the visitors to leave.
Chen Fan nodded and said, "Since the Old Master asks, I will speak frankly. Your grandson has committed the crime of bullying young girls."
Old Master Shao was still a little confused, but Shao Baihua and several other second-generation Shao family members' expressions changed drastically.
They had heard whispers about the Silver City Club changing ownership the night before yesterday, and the deaths of Young Master Wu and Young Master Cao.
Although everyone involved that night had been sworn to secrecy, the Shao family was not an ill-informed family, and they had managed to hear some things.
They had also investigated the reasons behind the events and learned that the cause of everything was He Yifeng of the Silver City Club, who had committed grave sins by abducting and coercing children, and abusing young girls.
However, they had not expected Shao Moqing to be implicated.
Chen Fan said with his hands behind his back, "Old Master, I've eaten your buffet. I'll give you some face and let you give an explanation first."
This statement caused an uproar.
The second and third-generation Shao family members showed anger.
"What kind of impudent brat is this, not even bothering to find out who we are, barging into the Shao family to cause trouble? Does the Shao family have no one?"
"Such big talk, who do you think you are?"
"Believe it or not, I'll make you crawl out of the Shao family!"
"..."
Censures erupted.
Chen Fan's expression was calm; he ignored them.
Having eaten Old Master Shao's buffet, he was giving the Old Master some face. Otherwise, why would he bother with so many pleasantries?
The Old Master's gaze fell on Shao Moqing, who was already sweating profusely.
It was impossible for this eldest young master of the Shao family not to know about the Silver City Club incident.
As a regular at the Silver City Club, his friends must have informed him the night before yesterday?
Precisely because he knew better than anyone else in the Shao family what had happened at the Silver City Club, he was so nervous.
He had hesitated and wavered, but ultimately, a侥幸心理 (wishful thinking) had gotten the better of him.
After all, he had only spent money for entertainment at the Silver City Club. Regarding young girls, he thought Chen Fan wouldn't be able to trace it back to him.
Moreover, for such matters, the punishment would not be too severe if he surrendered, but it would still be a stain on his life.
And Old Master Shao's family had strict rules, so he dared not speak of it.
He never expected to be unable to escape.
Shao Baihua leaned in and explained a few words in the Old Master's ear.
The Old Master's face darkened, and he brought his cane down heavily, striking Shao Moqing squarely on the head, causing him to yelp in pain, his face covered in blood.
"Father, please don't be angry. It's not worth getting sick over. Moqing made a mistake, scold him and punish him, why resort to violence?"
A middle-aged woman quickly stepped forward, her face full of concern.
"Drag her away!"
Old Master Shao snorted coldly and struck Shao Moqing's head again with his cane.
Shao Moqing, with a bleeding head, pleaded, "Grandfather, it's not my fault. I paid for it and played. I couldn't help myself, it's not a big crime!"
The other members of the Shao family now understood what was going on and looked at Chen Fan with cold smiles and disdain.
"Just spending money for fun, making a fuss over nothing!"
"What does it have to do with Brother Moqing? If you want to find someone, find the main culprit."
"Even in court, it would only be detention and a fine!"
"..."
Chen Fan merely looked at Old Master Shao.
"You unfilial wretch, is this about eating and drinking and having fun?"
Old Master Shao cursed, his expression grave, and said to Chen Fan, "Gentlemen, this wretch's sins are not small. What outcome do you desire?"
Chen Fan said, "The Old Master has a venerable reputation. I will see how you handle it. If I am satisfied, then I will give the Old Master some face!"
He didn't say the rest, which was that if he was not satisfied, then he would not be polite.
In fact, it was because Old Master Shao had a decent reputation and had behaved with propriety upon meeting them that Chen Fan was giving him a chance to handle it himself.
This meant he was leaving some room, not necessarily intending to take Shao Moqing's life.
But that depended on how Old Master Shao punished Shao Moqing, the eldest young master of the Shao family!
Old Master Shao had already stood up and, staring at Chen Fan, asked, "May I know Mr. Chen's name?"
"Why does the Old Master need to ask?"
Chen Fan said lightly, "If you make a mistake, you must stand up and take your punishment. It has always been so since ancient times."
"Too arrogant, kid, are you looking for a beating?"
A young man from the Shao family could no longer stand it, rolled up his sleeves, and reached out to grab Chen Fan's collar.
But before his hand could fall, a hand like an iron clamp had already seized his wrist, stopping him.
It was Qin Tianyou who had intervened.
"Damn it..."
"Are you tired of living? Who do you think you are, coming to the Shao family to demand an explanation? Who gave you the guts?"
Another young man stepped forward to make a move.
*Slap!* Qin Tianyou slapped him, sending him sprawling to the ground.
"Clean your mouth, and you might live a little longer!"
Qin Tianyou said in a chilling tone, "Don't push your luck!"
His iron-blooded, murderous aura sent tremors through everyone's hearts.
Chen Fan remained calm and waited for Old Master Shao's response.
All the Shao family members were agitated, and some had already grabbed weapons and rushed forward.
"All of you, back down!"
The Old Master banged his cane on the table and roared.
In the Shao family, the Old Master's word was clearly law. Seeing his anger, the Shao family members retreated unwillingly.
"Grandfather, are we just going to let them ride all over us and cause trouble?"
"Father, times have changed. It's not the rules of the older generation. Just teach these two unknown fellows a lesson first!"
"..."
"Insolence!"
Old Master Shao rebuked, "Do you all think I'm dead, and my words no longer have any authority?"
The Shao family members were indignant but dared not say more.
"Gentlemen, how about this!"
Old Master Shao's gaze returned to Chen Fan, and he said in a deep voice, "Family law, twenty lashes, one year's confinement, and compensation of one million as atonement. What do you say?"
As soon as he said this, the expressions of the Shao family members changed.
"Not enough!" Chen Fan said with a sneer and shook his head. "What I say, I always mean. Your handling of this, Old Master, is too lenient!"
"Are you giving me too much face?"
A middle-aged man yelled at Chen Fan.
Before he could finish speaking, a cane struck him.
Old Master Shao said, "All of you, shut up! Anyone who speaks out of turn again, I'll throw them out first."
After scolding, he took a deep breath and said, "Break both his legs, three years of confinement, and three million in compensation!"
"Grandfather?"
Shao Moqing shivered and pleaded, "I am your eldest grandson! How can you not protect me?"
The expressions of the other Shao family members also changed.
"Besides breaking both his legs, expel him from the Shao family and hand him over to the police for legal proceedings."
Chen Fan looked at the Old Master and said calmly, "As for compensation, there's no need to mention it further."
This wasn't a marketplace for buying vegetables; he was too lazy to keep haggling.
Of course, it was also because Old Master Shao was a somewhat decent person that he had left some room. Otherwise, he would have already taken Shao Moqing's life.
The Old Master was taken aback, his face looking somewhat displeased.
Shao Moqing was his eldest grandson and the future heir of the Shao family. Although he was indeed not very capable, he was still slightly better than other third-generation disciples.
Expelling him from the Shao family was one thing; he could always return later.
But handing him over to the police for legal proceedings was something he was unwilling to see.
He had lived his life valuing rules and was most concerned about his reputation. If his eldest grandson and heir were convicted by the police, it would be seen as a failure in managing the family, a public disgrace, and would damage the Shao family's reputation.
This was also the traditional way of thinking for many elders, with its admirable aspects, but also appearing stubborn and inflexible.
"No, Grandfather! I'm your own grandson, how can you send me to jail?"
"You'd rather believe outsiders than your own grandson?"
Shao Moqing cried and begged.
"Father, what Moqing did is not an unforgivable mistake. Why must the punishment be so severe?"
"Exactly, Father. You watched Moqing grow up. Although he likes to play a bit, he's not a wicked villain!"
"..."
Old Master Shao seemed to waver.
He slowly said, "Except for sending him to the police station, everything else can be discussed."
Chen Fan said, "Old Master, if that's your decision, then don't blame me for being rude and ruining your birthday banquet."
"No room for negotiation?"
The Old Master asked, squinting.
"No room for negotiation!"
Chen Fan said lightly, "I told you, I'm giving you some face, so I'm letting you handle it yourself. This is not a negotiation!"
"I'm very sorry!"
With that said, Chen Fan strode towards Shao Moqing.
With each step, it was like the drumbeat on a battlefield, a surge of killing intent, and an overwhelming aura suddenly appeared.
He looked ordinary, yet it made people's hearts palpate and filled them with dread.
The Old Master's expression changed drastically and he said in a deep voice, "Alright, I will personally send him to the police station."
Chen Fan's expression was indifferent. He glanced at the Old Master and said, "It's too late!"
"Old Master, this isn't a marketplace for buying vegetables. At this point, if your grandson doesn't die, wouldn't the deaths of Young Master Cao and Young Master Wu be in vain?"