Chapter 374: My Reason

I took a puff of cigarette,

"Mr. Wen, my reason is simple; I just want to get to know you."

"That simple?" Wen Han asked.

"Mr. Wen, it's just that simple. I want to follow you and become your person." I said, looking at Wen Han.

"Oh, becoming my person, I see you're not short of money; your comings and goings are big gestures." Wen Han also took a puff of cigarette.

"Mr. Wen, let me be frank: in today's society, what's money? In Sijiucheng, who doesn't have money."

Over these years, I've earned quite a bit of money.

But the more money I earn, the less secure I feel.

The minerals I've invested in could be seized at any time.

In some people's eyes, money isn't even a thing.

Just having money really doesn't work in society.

I have money, but can I settle Li Tian, Qiao San, and them?

I've already offended them,

In their eyes, I'm easy to manipulate.

After I beat Qiao San last time and left the amusement hall,

Li Tian directly retaliated against me; he sent people to ram me with a vehicle.

I was almost killed by the hit.

Mr. He can corroborate this.

They can lay hands on me in broad daylight.

No matter how much money I have, what good is it?

You'd agree, right, Mr. Wen?

Now I've beaten Qiao San again, which means I've forged a new grudge with Li Tian.

There's no way around it; I must find a new backer.

After weighing it for a while, I decided to seek refuge under you, Mr. Wen, and only then can I be safe.

This is my reason; I don't know, Mr. Wen, am I right?

After I finished speaking,

Wen Han's eyes remained narrowed,

After a moment, Wen Han nodded,

"This reason is not bad; it's the truth."

What I need is the truth.

In these times, it's too hard to hear honest words from anyone. Zhao Laoban, thank you for your honesty.

Thanks for my honesty, what does that mean? It seems this Mr. Wen is no ordinary person.

They were just deliberately testing me.

I must now firmly state my position,

"Mr. Wen, as your subordinate, I guarantee to speak the truth, act on facts, and for any matter, you just directly tell me to do it.

I guarantee to complete the task.

"Haha, I'm not some leader; I don't have any tasks.

Our chat today was not bad.

This jar, I'll keep it.

Zhao Laoban, I hear your accent; you don't seem like someone from Sijiucheng." Wen Han said, looking at me.

You noticed.

This guy is really sharp.

"Mr. Wen, you noticed; I'm truly not a native of Sijiucheng; I'm from Qilu. When I was over ten, I left my hometown and came to Sijiucheng to make a living selling vegetables."

In Sijiucheng, selling vegetables earned me a little money, which I used to buy a house; later, our area was demolished.

I received a huge sum.

I invested that huge sum entirely in western coal.

Then I got rich." I explained to Wen Han.

"Oh, so Zhao Laoban is from Qilu. Good, really good; I was saying, you're so down-to-earth. Zhao Laoban, what's your name?" Wen Han continued asking.

"Zhao Jianqiang." I said.

Wen Han glanced at me and said nothing.

I thought he had figured something out.

Even if he figured it out, I'm not afraid; if he asks, "Are you the Zhao Jianqiang from Zaocheng?"

I would answer him truthfully.

Anyway, I'm already like this; there's no turning back.

Wen Han then took a puff of cigarette,

"Zhao Jianqiang, right? You want to play with me."

"Yes, Mr. Wen, I like this, and I just want to follow you."

"Good, good, we'll just hang out together. I don't have any special talents; I just like fighting crickets, raising birds, growing flowers, etc."

Since you like these things, that's what I'll say.

Zhao Jianqiang, when you have nothing to do, just go to the amusement hall; right, bring your cricket-raising expert.

Hongguo Li's level is still not as good as his.

"Mr. Wen, you have a place where you need me, it's just a matter of one sentence. From now on, whatever it is, I'll listen to you."

Wen Han waved his hand,

"\"Zhao Jianqiang, you don't have to say that; you're a few years older than me. We're just playing together. No need to overthink it, \" Wen Han said, then stood up.

I also quickly stood up,

then hurriedly opened the door,

Wen Han strode out.

I followed behind.

My token of good faith succeeded.

I now have a backing in Sijiucheng.

Seeing me follow Wen Han out from inside,

Qiu Xi's expression turned sour.

It was clear I had already bypassed him and contacted Wen Han directly.

But I ignored Qiu Xi's gaze.

Wen Han then said to Qiu Xi, "Qiu Xi, in a moment bring that cricket jar to the Douchu Hall. It will become our hall's prized treasure.

Liu, let's go."

Qiu Xi hurriedly stood up,

"Second Master Wen, okay, I'll deliver it in a moment."

Wen Han left with Liu.

At that moment, only I, Qiu Xi, and He Zuming remained in the room.

Qiu Xi hurriedly asked me, "Brother, how did Second Master Wen negotiate with you? This cricket jar, how much did he pay you for it?"

I smiled,

"Qiu brother, money or not, isn't it just a matter of mentioning it to Mr. Wen?"

"You mean it's a free gift," Qiu Xi asked further.

"Mr. Qiu, Zhao Laoban is a businessman. How could he possibly give something away for free? You've been in the antiques trade so long; the price negotiated between two parties is usually not disclosed. Let's not ask about it.

Zhao Laoban, your treasure is also being sold, we should leave now," He Zuming said from beside, deliberately interjecting.

Qiu Xi laughed, "What He Zuming said is correct; I was being nosy. Then I won't keep you two any longer. In this Douchu Hall, I still hope brothers will come often to play."

"Don't worry, Qiu brother. Of course I'll come often. We still have drinks to share. Then He Zuming and I will take our leave first. Farewell," I said, bowing my hands to Qiu Xi.

"Farewell, brother. Farewell, Mr. He," Qiu Xi said.

He Zuming and I then opened the room's door and descended the stairs, one after the other.

When we reached the ground floor,

the boss saw He Zuming and me coming down,

and hurried forward,

"Zhao Laoban, I have prepared all the cash you asked for.

Just tell me when to take it away."

I glanced at the bag on the floor,

"Thanks, boss, have all the fees been deducted?"

"Of course they've been deducted. You made a fortune in the cricket duel, and we're all envious. Mr. Zhao, come a bit closer to talk," the boss indicated.

I walked up to the boss, close to his stout body,

He whispered in my ear, "Zhao Laoban, let me ask, is your Mingde Xuan De Emperor's cricket jar the one Li Tian owns?"

I didn't know why the boss asked that; perhaps Wen Han told him to?

I immediately replied, "That boss has seen Li Tian's cricket jar."

The boss laughed, "Seen it; Second Master Wen, Liu, Qiu Xi and the others have all seen it, because Li Tian once flaunted the cricket jar at the Douchu Hall."

"Oh, you're overthinking it. The world's Xuan De Emperor's cricket jar isn't unique,

many have been passed down through the ages; who knows when another will surface.

I just happened to obtain it.

Mr. Wen also saw it, and I told him the jar's provenance.

As long as it's genuine and Mr. Wen likes it, that's all that matters.

We needn't worry about anything else.

"Indeed, Zhao Laoban is right; as long as Mr. Wen likes it and the old man is pleased, that's enough. Let's not fret unnecessarily," the boss's plump face was beaming with a wide smile.