“Useless waste, damn that Zheng Haoyuan.”
In Fu Yanxiong’s temporary residence, Fu Yanxiong received news of Zheng Haoyuan first thing. However, by the time he got the message, Zheng Haoyuan was already dead, killed by his own lackey, and he had died a miserable death.
Fu Yanxiong did not care whether Zheng Haoyuan lived or died. What concerned him was that batch of chemical machinery, which was crucial to whether his grand plan could proceed. But now, with Zheng Haoyuan’s blunder, obtaining that batch of chemical machinery from the Fengyuan Group had become exceedingly difficult.
Fu Yanxiong had never expected Zheng Haoyuan to be such an oddity. He had tasked him with acquiring the machinery from the Fengyuan Group, yet Zheng Haoyuan, relying on his status from the Zheng family of the Central Plains Province, had resorted to coercion. Did he truly believe the entire world feared the Zheng family?
To say nothing else, neither Hu Yuanyuan nor Li Feng from the Fengyuan Group was someone Zheng Haoyuan could afford to provoke. Though the Hu family, to which Hu Yuanyuan belonged, was inferior to the Zheng family, Hu Wen Hai was not one the Zheng family could trifle with. As for Li Feng, though a wastrel, he had the Li family behind him. The prestige of a top-tier family was not to be slighted.
Before this, Fu Yanxiong had repeatedly cautioned Zheng Haoyuan with utmost care. Yet Zheng Haoyuan could not shed his arrogant nature.
In truth, Fu Yanxiong never considered that if not for the Tianhai Customs incident he had orchestrated, that batch of machinery might already be in his hands.
But Fu Yanxiong could hardly admit his own mistake. After venting his fury over Zheng Haoyuan’s death, he pondered how to resolve the matter.
“What do you think? How should we handle this now?” Fu Yanxiong asked, looking at the two seated before him.
Of the two, one was a woman of similar age to Fu Yanxiong. She was tall and strikingly beautiful, with a curvaceous figure, ample where it should be and slender where it ought to be, utterly voluptuous. She wore a round-neck short-sleeved T-shirt and denim shorts so brief they could not be shorter, dressed in a most provocative manner.
The other was a sixty-something elder, ruddy-faced, with bulging temples and piercing eyes.
They were none other than Fu Yanxiong’s confidants. The woman was Mu Jiajia, his strategist. The elder was Ding Xiaohan, his bodyguard.
“Young Master, to be frank, this matter was a blunder from the start.” Mu Jiajia said bluntly to Fu Yanxiong. “At that time, the Fengyuan Group had no inkling of the machinery’s purpose. Had you followed normal procedures, would they have obstructed you?”
Fu Yanxiong felt somewhat awkward, but he was accustomed to Mu Jiajia’s forthrightness. Hearing her criticism, he could only say flatly, “I acted with caution. After all, Hu Yuanyuan and Li Feng from the Fengyuan Group represent the Hu and Li families. Should they suspect anything, it would not bode well for us.”
“A mere woman and a wastrel, what could they discern?” Mu Jiajia said without restraint, as if she were not a woman herself.
Glancing at Fu Yanxiong, Mu Jiajia continued, “Young Master, your caution is wise, but whom did you choose for the task? That Xu Supervisor of all people, accusing the Fengyuan Group of smuggling arms. Is such a charge to be flung about lightly? Had it been you, would you let it slide? Whether Xu Supervisor succeeded or failed, the Fengyuan Group would not rest easy.”
“And Zheng Haoyuan, I warned you long ago that he treads crooked paths. You insisted on keeping him despite my advice. Who does he think he is? Is the Zheng family of the Central Plains Province so formidable? Threatening them outright, is that not courting death?”
Fu Yanxiong, growing irritated, said, “These words are useless now. What I need is a solution, a way to get that batch of machinery from the Fengyuan Group.”
“How can one find a solution without analysing the reasons?” Mu Jiajia looked at Fu Yanxiong without mercy. “Now that Zheng Haoyuan is dead, Young Master, do you truly believe he was killed by his own lackey?”
“Er…” Fu Yanxiong paused, then realised. “You mean…”
“It seems your intellect has not dulled during your days in Tianhai City.” Mu Jiajia glanced at Fu Yanxiong and said, “Though Zheng Haoyuan walked crooked paths, his strength was considerable. Could his two lackeys have killed him? Think, Young Master: before his death, what did Zheng Haoyuan intend? He aimed to deal with Hu Yuanyuan, even capturing Xu Qing’s father and luring Xu Qing to the Fengyuan Hotel.”
“You mean Zheng Haoyuan’s death is connected to Hu Yuanyuan?” Fu Yanxiong’s expression shifted as he said gravely.
“Though no direct link, it is nine out of ten chances related to Hu Yuanyuan. Hu Wen Hai left Hu Yuanyuan in Tianhai City; how could there be no experts protecting her? Moreover, there is Li Feng by her side.” Mu Jiajia said calmly.
“That wastrel Li Feng?” Fu Yanxiong’s lips curled in disdain. As direct descendants of the eight great top families, which of them was not a genius? Li Feng, that wastrel, was scorned by all in the eight great top families.
“Whether Li Feng is a wastrel matters not. He is the Li family’s first heir and Hu Yuanyuan’s husband. That alone suffices.” Mu Jiajia said.
“Wait, you said Li Feng is Hu Yuanyuan’s husband? What is this about? Is he not her fiancé?” Fu Yanxiong interrupted Mu Jiajia.
Mu Jiajia gave Fu Yanxiong a meaningful look and said, “When I went to Yan Jing this time, I investigated and found that Li Feng and Hu Yuanyuan have already obtained their marriage certificate from the civil affairs bureau.”
“How is that possible?” Fu Yanxiong looked utterly incredulous. How could a wastrel like Li Feng deserve a beauty like Hu Yuanyuan?
“Nothing is impossible. Hu Yuanyuan is now the Li family’s young madam. It seems you have no hope, Young Master.” Mu Jiajia smiled.
“Nonsense. What does this have to do with me? Continue.” Fu Yanxiong said, somewhat embarrassed and angry.
“Li Feng may be a fool, but Hu Yuanyuan is not. With the Hu and Li families’ experts by her side, Zheng Haoyuan’s attempt on her was suicide.”
Pausing, Mu Jiajia sighed. “It seems Li Chuanwei and Mu Chunfeng went to great lengths to make Li Feng the Li family heir. With Hu Yuanyuan, plus the support of the Hu family, Li Chuanwei, and Mu Chunfeng, Li Feng stands a good chance of becoming the Li family successor.”
Fu Yanxiong was no fool. From Mu Jiajia’s words, he gleaned the implication, a glint flashing in his eyes.
Mu Jiajia continued, “In my view, Zheng Haoyuan’s death this time was Hu Yuanyuan killing the chicken to warn the monkeys.”
“Rubbish. What killing the chicken to warn the monkeys?” Fu Yanxiong glared at Mu Jiajia. If it was that, would he not be one of the monkeys?
“Of course, this is mere speculation on our part. But with Zheng Haoyuan’s mess, obtaining that batch of machinery from the Fengyuan Group seems nearly impossible.” Mu Jiajia said.
“No, we must have that batch of machinery.” A glint flashed in Fu Yanxiong’s eyes as he said resolutely.
To him, that machinery was too vital. No matter the cost, he had to acquire it.
“If so, there is only one way now.” Mu Jiajia thought for a moment and said.
“What way?” Fu Yanxiong asked hastily.
Mu Jiajia uttered two words softly. “Li Feng.”
Fu Yanxiong paused, then realised. “You mean to target Li Feng?”
“This is the only way. If Li Feng truly is the legendary wastrel, we might well obtain the machinery from him.” Mu Jiajia nodded.
“Haha, Li Feng is the acknowledged wastrel. How could there be any mistake?” Fu Yanxiong laughed, his face alight with excitement. “You are right. This time, we shall target Li Feng. I refuse to believe I cannot deal with a mere wastrel.”
