"You, you're Mr. Song?"
After hesitating for a long time, Chen Yan finally mustered up his courage and stammered the question.
Song Qiao glanced at him with disdain and said dismissively, "What, you know who I am now? You were quite arrogant just now."
Song Qiao's merciless sarcasm made Chen Yan's face turn red. He wanted to get angry, but he had long lost his courage and stood there, stammering incoherently.
"I don't care who you are. What's so great about Xiang Piaopiao? I don't believe our Old Chen's processing plant won't operate without you."
Mrs. Chen, who had never seen her husband so pathetic, was furious and, biting the bullet, taunted Song Qiao.
She didn't understand what Xiang Piaopiao meant to the Da Chen processing plant, and her words instantly scared the pale-faced Chen Yan, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
He knew very well that his wife didn't understand business.
When Song Qiao called earlier, he had demanded that all distributors not take any goods from him, or they would be considered to be opposing Xiang Piaopiao.
This instruction, though seemingly simple, was enough to quickly shut down his processing plant.
After all, no distributor would dare to offend a giant like Xiang Piaopiao for his sake.
"Shut up. No one will think you're mute if you don't speak."
As Chen Yan spoke, he slapped his wife across the face.
"How dare you provoke Mr. Song? You prodigal woman! If you hadn't insisted on making a fuss about this last night, we wouldn't be in this predicament today."
After scolding his wife, he turned and cautiously glanced at Song Qiao, who was standing aside, watching coldly.
After a moment of hesitation, he fell to his knees before Song Qiao with a thud.
"Mr. Song, I was blind and offended you."
"Please show some mercy and give Da Chen a way out."
After speaking, Chen Yan slapped himself twice.
Seeing his reaction, Song Qiao frowned slightly and said calmly, "Stand up and talk first. What kind of example will this set for the children if they see this in public?"
Song Qiao didn't even mention letting the Da Chen processing plant off the hook, which made Chen Yan even more flustered. He quickly crawled a few more steps forward and grabbed Song Qiao's leg.
"Mr. Song, please, I truly know I was wrong. Please give Da Chen a way out, or my whole family will starve to death."
He had also invested a lot of money outside recently. If the processing plant failed, his family would truly go back to square one overnight.
"This is all my stupid child's fault. I will make him apologize to Jun Jun. Please, you must show mercy."
As he spoke, he repeatedly kowtowed to the ground.
This display completely stunned Mrs. Chen and the principal, Fang Xin, who were standing beside them.
"Alright, you stand up first. I will no longer ask the distributors to boycott your goods."
Seeing the man's pathetic state, Song Qiao frowned. Although he felt some contempt, he chose to be magnanimous and spared Chen Yan this time.
"Thank you, Mr. Song. Thank you, Mr. Song."
With Song Qiao's help, Chen Yan finally shakily stood up from the ground, bowing and scraping to Song Qiao repeatedly.
"While I've agreed not to block your goods anymore, it's not without conditions."
Song Qiao glanced at him indifferently. His tone was calm, but it struck Chen Yan like a thunderclap, almost making him fall to his knees again.
"Mr. Song, please tell me. As long as I can do it, I won't hesitate."
Chen Yan stammered.
"I am very dissatisfied with Principal Fang. I believe Mr. Chen knows what to do."
Song Qiao said, casting a half-smile at Fang Xin.
This woman was even more detestable than the Chen couple. As a teacher and a principal, she shamelessly showed favoritism in broad daylight, which was a disgrace to the teaching profession.
If this principal continued to hold her position, Song Qiao wouldn't feel safe entrusting his two children to her.
Chen Yan immediately understood Song Qiao's intention. He shot Fang Xin a fierce look and said in a low voice to Song Qiao,
"Mr. Song, don't worry. My friend has a stake in this kindergarten. I will have them replace the principal when I go back today."
As soon as he said this, Fang Xin, who had been watching from the sidelines, changed color. She never expected that Chen Yan, who had praised her earlier, would turn his back on her so quickly.
"Mr. Chen, I, you can't..."
Fang Xin tried to explain, but Chen Yan's ferocious glare stopped her. She stood aside, looking ashen and afraid to speak.
Even a boss of Chen Yan's caliber was groveling before Song Qiao, so she, a mere kindergarten principal, was insignificant in his eyes.
The reason for this situation was entirely her fault for not being fair earlier, violating the moral code of a teacher.
...
The rest of the events proceeded smoothly. Mr. Chen and Mrs. Chen, along with their child, approached Gao Min and Jun Jun.
Following Song Qiao's instructions, they didn't engage in any theatrical kowtowing or apologies. They were simply asked to bow and apologize sincerely.
Initially, the brat Chen Chengcheng was extremely unwilling, screaming that he would never bow and apologize even if killed. It was only after receiving two slaps from his father, Chen Yan, that he became obedient.
Mrs. Chen dared not even breathe heavily during this process. She had finally realized the enormity of the disaster she had caused.
After racking her memory, she had just recalled that her husband had mentioned the name Song Qiao many times before, and that he was a prominent figure who had appeared on television several times.
She had always been one to bully the weak and fawn over the strong. When faced with someone stronger than herself, she was even more adept at bowing and scraping than her husband.
Seeing their demeanor, Song Qiao didn't dwell on it further. After a few warnings, he allowed Xiang Piaopiao to resume its cooperation with him, albeit at half the original volume.
This decision moved Mr. Chen to tears of gratitude, making him want to worship Song Qiao as an ancestor.
"Brother-in-law, what method did you use to make these two people apologize to us so obediently?"
On the way back, Gao Min asked incredulously from the side.
She still couldn't believe that Mr. Chen, who had been so arrogant, had ultimately displayed such a subservient attitude.
"Of course, I reasoned with them, appealing to their emotions and logic."
Song Qiao waved his hand dismissively, offering a casual excuse. He didn't want to bring up such worldly matters in front of Jun Jun, so as not to corrupt the child.
When they returned home, Xia Yuqing, who was supposed to come back for lunch, had not yet returned, nor had she called. A sudden alarm went off in Song Qiao's heart.