Han Shifei's brows furrowed as he looked at the young man's characteristic gentle smile. Already unrested, his blood qi fluctuated violently, causing him to feel dizzy and his vision to blur for a moment.
Fortunately, he managed to push through it with sheer willpower.
He knew Qin Chuan was staying at this hotel and had imagined countless scenarios of their meeting, never expecting to run into him so soon after stepping out of his room.
People often said enemies see red upon meeting. Looking at Qin Chuan's hypocritical smile, and recalling his own twelve hours stuck in the police station yesterday without a drop of water or a bite of food, feeling both exhausted and hungry, Han Shifei felt a surge of anger from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
He utterly loathed this insidious and hypocritical fellow before him.
"Damn it, I must have not checked the almanac before leaving today. Stepped on a pile of dog shit the moment I put my foot out! What rotten luck!"
Han Shifei grumbled, but he didn't choose to avoid the encounter. Doing so would tarnish his reputation as "King Han."
After cursing, Han Shifei walked towards the water room, unwilling to engage with that detestable mouth, lest his blood pressure rise again.
In this era, the service quality of small-town hotels was truly poor. You had to go to the water room to get hot water, just like in school.
"Fuck!!"
Seeing Han Shifei curse and walk away, Qin Chuan couldn't help but utter a short expletive at his retreating back. At his age, still spewing obscenities, so uncivilized.
Since you dislike me, then I'll deliberately annoy you, Qin Chuan thought with malice as he followed.
The two arrived at the water room one after another and were surprised to find quite a few people queuing up early in the morning to fetch water. These were travelers staying at the hotel.
The queue formed two lines. Qin Chuan could have chosen a different line from Han Shifei, but to annoy him, he deliberately stood behind Han Shifei, his eyes fixed on the back of his head.
If the environment were more suitable, he really wanted to reach out and slap that fat back of his head a few times. It would surely be satisfying.
Ahead, Han Shifei seemed to sense the malice behind him and felt uneasy, as if being stared at by a venomous snake. He wanted to turn his head multiple times but managed to restrain himself.
Finally, after enduring the discomfort and getting his hot water, Han Shifei shot Qin Chuan a fierce glare as he left.
"Old man, with half your body already in the grave, you should learn to practice qi and cultivate health!"
"Don't get angry at the drop of a hat, or you might just drop dead one day!"
Qin Chuan said softly.
Han Shifei, who had already one foot out of the water room, almost couldn't resist splashing the basin of hot water onto that scoundrel upon hearing Qin Chuan's words.
What did he just hear?!
That scoundrel didn't even call him "Boss Han" anymore, but directly addressed him as "Old man." He was only fifty-four years old and, thanks to good maintenance, looked no older than forty.
No one had ever called him "Old man," let alone the curse Qin Chuan had just uttered, wishing him a sudden death.
"You little bastard, you just wait. If I don't make you kneel before me and call me Grandpa today, I'll walk three feet around you whenever I see you!"
Han Shifei threatened sinisterly before leaving in a huff.
It was seven thirty in the morning, with less than half an hour left until the supermarket opened.
Qin Chuan, staying in his hotel room, received a continuous stream of phone calls.
From his parents, the security team, other supermarket employees, and the police station…
To counter Han Shifei's schemes, Qin Chuan had called Captain Xiao Guodong early in the morning, asking him to help maintain order at the supermarket during his absence.
In return, Qin Chuan promised Xiao Guodong the most favorable price for the upcoming property development.
This price would be valid for a long time, whether Xiao Guodong bought it himself or for relatives and friends.
Xiao Guodong was actually a decent person. Although he was a bit passive and tended to shirk difficult tasks, Qin Chuan believed he could be reliable if given enough incentive.
Additionally, Qin Chuan had called Ye Qingping and Wang Ping'an, briefly explaining the recent feud with Han Shifei.
This left Ye Qingping and Wang Ping'an dumbfounded, having not expected such significant developments in just a few days.
"Qin Chuan, what do you need us to do for you now?" Ye Qingping asked.
"County Mayor, could you perhaps award my supermarket a prize, and then have Brother Wang deliver it and hang it at the main entrance of my supermarket!" Qin Chuan said with a smile.
"Award? What kind of award?" Ye Qingping was a bit slow to grasp Qin Chuan's train of thought.
"We're building houses, running a supermarket, and opening a clothing store in the county. We're contributing to our county's economy, so we deserve an Outstanding Entrepreneur award, don't you think!"
"You absolutely deserve it!" Ye Qingping readily agreed. "To be honest, I've been considering this recently. I want to promote you as a role model for the younger generation in our county, and Ping'an has already prepared the necessary materials."
Qin Chuan was delighted. "Is that true? Thank you so much, County Mayor!"
"However… I need this award today. Can it be made?"
Ye Qingping sounded confused. "Why the rush? Do you want everyone to see it during the opening ceremony for some publicity?"
"Of course not, am I that superficial!" Qin Chuan smiled, then no longer concealed his thoughts. He explained his suspicion that Han Shifei might use his connections and influence to disrupt the supermarket's opening.
Upon hearing this, Ye Qingping became furious and shouted, "How dare he!!"
Even over the phone, one could feel the anger in Ye Qingping's roar.
To make the usually refined and composed County Mayor Ye yell like this showed how truly enraged he was. It was unclear whether he was angry at Han Shifei's far-reaching influence or at the complicity and lack of self-discipline within certain official circles.
"Qin Chuan, don't say anything else. Rest assured, the supermarket's opening is my responsibility. I'll see who dares to be so audacious!" Ye Qingping stated decisively.
After ending the call, Qin Chuan in the hotel room finally let out a sigh of relief, a look of immense relief on his face.
Li Ya, standing beside him, anxiously inquired about the outcome. Qin Chuan happily pecked Li Ya's rosy lips, his face beaming. "Everything is settled!"
"County Mayor Ye said the supermarket's opening is his responsibility and that no accidents will occur."
Hearing this news, Li Ya also became excited.
"Xiao Chuan, you've truly become the most favored person by Mayor Ye now. He's even willing to make such a promise for you!"
"Heh heh!!" Qin Chuan chuckled. "We are a community of shared interests. We rise and fall together. If something happens to me, Mayor Ye will only suffer losses and gain nothing."
"And if I develop well, building, running a supermarket, and opening a clothing store in our county will be great achievements for Mayor Ye."
...
As Qin Chuan was unburdening himself with relief, Han Shifei was making a phone call in another hotel room.
"Director Jia, it's been a long time since we brothers had a gathering. What have you been busy with lately?"
"Me? Just busy with all sorts of things. I'm out of town on some errands and can't return, so I wanted to ask Director Jia to help me with a small matter! I'll treat you to a meal when I get back!"
"...That won't do, I must treat you to a meal!"
"Do you know that a supermarket called Meitehao is opening in our county today? I'd like you to lead your industry and commerce team to pay them a visit..."
"Alright! Okay, okay, thank you, Director Jia! We'll have dinner together when I return!"