Chapter 397

Once you say something, it's like spilled water—you can't take it back.

Literal: "Words spoken are like spilled water; cannot be retrieved." We'll translate: "Spoken words are like spilled water; you can't take them back."

You really won't take it back?

"Really not take it back?" We'll translate: "You really won't take it back?"

Sorry, my foster father won't let me be such a coward.

"Sorry, my foster father doesn't allow me to be so cowardly." We'll translate: "Sorry, my foster father won't let me be such a coward."

That's not cowardice; it's being savvy. Think about it again. You don't want to blow ten million on antiques and still not make it out alive—I'd feel awful.

"This isn't cowardice, it's knowing the times makes a hero; think again. Don't end up spending ten million to compensate for antiques and still not being able to walk out alive—I'd feel bad." We'll translate: "This isn't cowardice; it's knowing the times makes a hero. Think again. Don't end up spending ten million to compensate for antiques and still not be able to walk out alive—I'd feel terrible."

I've thought it over—I want to take everything.

"Having thought it through, I want to take all." We'll translate: "I've thought it through—I want to take everything."

When Lin Dongfan said "take all" again, the fight ignited instantly.

"When Lin Dongfan uttered the two words 'take all' again, the battle on site instantly ignited." We'll translate: "When Lin Dongfan again uttered the two words 'take all', the battle on site instantly ignited."

The side door of the conference center was kicked open.

"The side door of the conference center was kicked open." We'll translate: "The side door of the conference center was kicked open."

Zheng Sanshui stormed in with a dozen knife-wielding thugs, shouting, "Screw your mother! You think you can save face? You really think I can't take you down?"

"Zheng Sanshui brought over a dozen lackeys wielding knives, charging in like fiends: 'Damn your mother! You give face or not, you really think I can't handle you?'" We'll translate: "Zheng Sanshui brought over a dozen knife-wielding lackeys, charging in like fiends: 'Damn your mother! Give face or don't—you really think I can't handle you?'"

Han Zhang sat still in his chair, looking helpless.

"Han Zhang sat motionless in his chair, looking helpless." We'll translate: "Han Zhang sat motionless in his chair, looking helpless."

Lin Dongfan, sitting opposite, smiled but said nothing.

"Lin Dongfan, sitting opposite, smiled without speaking." We'll translate: "Lin Dongfan, sitting opposite, smiled without speaking."

Everything went as expected.

"Everything was as expected." We'll translate: "Everything went as expected."

Liu Wei and Liu Wu quickly took positions on either side of Lin Dongfan, while Lao Ba stepped forward two steps, hammer pointed at the raging Zheng Sanshui, asking, "Is your head solid or not?"

"Liu Wei and Liu Wu quickly flanked Lin Dongfan, while Lao Ba stepped forward two steps, pointing his hammer at the raging Zheng Sanshui: 'Is your head tough or not?'" We'll translate: "Liu Wei and Liu Wu quickly flanked Lin Dongfan, while Lao Ba stepped forward two points, pointing his hammer at the raging Zheng Sanshui: 'Is your head tough or not?'"

Screw your mother! Chop that bastard to death!

"Damn your mother! Chop this bastard to death!" We'll translate: "Damn your mother! Chop this bastard to death!"

Zheng Sanshui pointed his knife, and the dozen thugs behind him swarmed toward Lao Ba.

"Zheng Sanshui pointed his knife, and the dozen lackeys behind him swarmed toward Lao Ba." We'll translate: "Zheng Sanshui pointed his knife, and the dozen lackeys behind him swarmed toward Lao Ba."

As the saying goes, a lone tiger can't hold off a pack of wolves; in this chaotic knife‑slashing melee, Lao Ba wouldn't last more than a few seconds before being cut to ribbons.

"According to the principle that a lone tiger can't withstand a pack of wolves, in this chaotic knife‑swinging melee Lao Ba shouldn't last more than a few seconds before being hacked all over." We'll translate: "According to the principle that a lone tiger can't withstand a pack of wolves, in this chaotic knife‑swinging melee Lao Ba shouldn't last more than a few seconds before being hacked all over."

The result was shocking.

"The result was shocking." We'll translate: "The result was shocking."

The first attacker had just raised his knife, but before he could strike Lao Ba, Lao Ba kicked him hard in the chest, sending him flying like a broken kite.

"The first guy who rushed up had just raised his knife, hadn't had time to slash at Lao Ba, when Lao Ba kicked him hard in the chest, sending him flying like a broken‑kite." We'll translate: "The first guy who rushed up had just raised his knife, hadn't had time to slash at Lao Ba, when Lao Ba kicked him hard in the chest, sending him flying like a broken kite."

He knocked over the brothers behind him.

"He knocked over the brothers behind him." We'll translate: "He knocked over the brothers behind him."

Speed is king!

"Speed is king!" We'll translate: "Speed is king!"

Strength is the support!

"Strength is the aid!" We'll translate: "Strength is the aid!"

Damn, you losers dare to fight me? What nonsense! Even if Wang Minjuan saw me, she'd have to weigh her own strength.

"Damn, you few losers dare to fight me? What nonsense! Even if Wang Minjuan saw me, she'd have to weigh her own strength." We'll translate: "Damn, you few losers dare to fight me? What nonsense! Even if Wang Minjuan saw me, she'd have to weigh her own strength."

Lao Ba is Lao Ba—he fights and brags equally well, smashing a petty thug with one hammer blow.

"Lao Ba is Lao Ba—fighting and boasting both on point, one smash and a petty thug is down." We'll translate: "Lao Ba is Lao Ba—fighting and boasting both on point, one smash and a petty thug is down."

Just enough time to catch a breath.

"In the time it takes to catch a breath." We'll translate: "In the time it takes to catch a breath."

Then over half of Zheng Sanshui's thugs went down.

"Zheng Sanshui's lackeys then fell in large numbers." We'll translate: "Zheng Sanshui's lackeys then fell in large numbers."

Who is Wang Minjuan?

"Who is Wang Minjuan?" We'll translate: "Who is Wang Minjuan?"

From the name, it sounds like a woman—pretty badass, huh?

"From the name it sounds like a woman, pretty awesome?" We'll translate: "From the name it sounds like a woman, pretty awesome?"

Before Zheng Sanshui could sort out these questions, a brother who'd just been kicked hard in the butt lost control and lunged at him.

"Before Zheng Sanshui could work out this series of questions, a brother who'd been kicked hard in the butt lost control and lunged at him." We'll translate: "Before Zheng Sanshui could work out this series of questions, a brother who'd been kicked hard in the butt lost control and lunged at him."

The other guy is a clumsy big fat guy, 1.9 meters tall, even fatter than Chief Han.

"The other party was a clumsy big fat guy, 1.9 meters tall, fatter than Bureau Chief Han." We'll translate: "The other party was a clumsy big fat guy, 1.9 meters tall, fatter than Bureau Chief Han."

He was still holding a military dagger.

"He also held a military dagger." We'll translate: "He also held a military dagger."

Don't come over!!!

"Don't come over!!!" We'll translate: "Don't come over!!!"

People who aren't quick to adapt, when extremely tense, panic and freeze, standing there like idiots awaiting a huge disaster.

"People with poor adaptability, in extreme tension, panic and become helpless, then stand there like fools awaiting an epic disaster." We'll translate: "People with poor adaptability, in extreme tension, panic and become helpless, then stand there like fools awaiting an epic disaster."

Zheng Sanshui is that kind of person.

"Zheng Sanshui is just such a person." We'll translate: "Zheng Sanshui is just such a person."

After shouting, the next second the big fat guy tackled him to the ground and stabbed him in the waist, chillingly.

"After shouting, the next second he was tackled to the ground by the big fat guy, who stabbed him in the waist, a chilling sensation." We'll translate: "After shouting, the next second he was tackled to the ground by the big fat guy, who stabbed him in the waist, a chilling sensation."

Yeah… sorry, Brother Shui, I didn't mean to…

"Sorry…… sorry, Brother Shui, I didn't mean to……" We'll translate: "Sorry…… sorry, Brother Shui, I didn't mean to……"

The fat guy scrambled to his feet.

"The fat guy scrambled to his feet." We'll translate: "The fat guy scrambled to his feet."

Just as he was about to reach out to pull Brother Shui up, he saw blood on the dagger in his hand and gasped, "Huh? Did I just stab someone?"

"Just as he reached to pull Brother Shui up, he suddenly saw blood on the dagger in his hand and the fat guy stared, bewildered: 'Huh? Did I just stab someone?'" We'll translate: "Just as he reached to pull Brother Shui up, he suddenly saw blood on the dagger in his hand and the fat guy stared, bewildered: 'Huh? Did I just stab someone?'"

He turned and looked at the terrifyingly strong Lao Ba, growing more confused.

"He turned to look at the terrifyingly strong Lao Ba, and the more he looked, the more confused he became." We'll translate: "He turned to look at the terrifyingly strong Lao Ba, and the more he looked, the more confused he became."

He was fighting three opponents alone, his strength akin to a war god—no one could get near him—so where did the blood on this knife come from?

"He was fighting three against one, his strength comparable to a war god legend—no one could get near him—so where did the blood on this knife come from?" We'll translate: "He was fighting three against one, his strength comparable to a war god legend—no one could get near him—so where did the blood on this knife come from?"

You dead fatso, where are you looking? Over here!

"Dead fatty, where are you looking? Over here!" We'll translate: "Dead fatty, where are you looking? Over here!"

Zheng Sanshui, lying on the ground clutching his waist, felt as wronged as Dou E.

"Zheng Sanshui lay on the ground clutching his waist, feeling like Dou E, aggrieved by his wound." We'll translate: "Zheng Sanshui lay on the ground clutching his waist, feeling like Dou E, aggrieved by his wound."

The fat guy turned at the sound, seeing Zheng Sanshui tightly clutching his waist with blood seeping through his fingers, his heart jumped.

"The fat guy turned at the sound, and seeing Zheng Sanshui desperately clutching his waist with blood seeping through his fingers, his heart skipped a beat." We'll translate: "The fat guy turned at the sound, and seeing Zheng Sanshui desperately clutching his waist with blood seeping through his fingers, his heart skipped a beat."

He instinctively glanced at the bloody dagger in his hand.

"He instinctively glanced at the blood‑stained dagger in his hand." We'll translate: "He instinctively glanced at the blood‑stained dagger in his hand."

Then he looked at Zheng Sanshui's waist.

"He then glanced at Zheng Sanshui's waist." We'll translate: "He then glanced at Zheng Sanshui's waist."

He weakly asked, "Brother Shui… are your kidneys okay?"

"Weakly he asked: 'Brother…… Brother Shui…… are your kidneys okay?'" We'll translate: "Weakly he asked: 'Brother…… Brother Shui…… are your kidneys okay?'"

Screw your mother! Let me stab you to see if you're okay! Zheng Sanshui collapsed on the ground, yelling: "If you don't stab Fan Donglin to death today, I'll stab you to death—your choice!"

"Damn your mother! Let me stab you to test—see if you're okay!" Zheng Sanshui collapsed on the ground, roaring: "If you don't stab Fan Donglin to death today, I'll stab you to death—you choose!" We'll translate: "Damn your mother! Let me stab you to test—see if you're okay!" Zheng Sanshui collapsed on the ground, roaring: "If you don't stab Fan Donglin to death today, I'll stab you to death—you choose!"

I choose to stab Fan Donglin to death.

"I choose to stab Fan Donglin to death." We'll translate: "I choose to stab Fan Donglin to death."

The fat guy turned and locked his gaze on Lin Dongfan, his eyes seeming to shine with wisdom.

"The fat guy turned and locked his gaze on Lin Dongfan, his eyes seeming to shine with wisdom." We'll translate: "The fat guy turned and locked his gaze on Lin Dongfan, his eyes seeming to shine with wisdom."

He silently thought to himself:

"He thought to himself:" We'll translate: "He thought to himself:"

I can't beat your underling Lao Ba, but taking you out would be easy—while Lao Ba is tied up by other brothers, I'll take you out first, then I'll be the match's MVP.

"I can't beat your underling Lao Ba, but taking you on is easy—while Lao Ba is tied up by the other brothers, I'll take you out first, then I'll be the match's MVP." We'll translate: "I can't beat your underling Lao Ba, but taking you on is easy—while Lao Ba is tied up by the other brothers, I'll take you out first, then I'll be the match's MVP."

Thinking this.

"Thinking that," We'll translate: "Thinking that,"

The fat guy bellowed, "Die!" and sprinted at Lin Dongfan at 100‑meter dash speed, intending to repeat the accidental stab that wounded Zheng Sanshui.

"The fat guy bellowed, 'Die!!!' and charged at Lin Dongfan at a hundred‑meter sprint speed, hoping to repeat the accidental stabbing of Zheng Sanshui." We'll translate: "The fat guy bellowed, 'Die!!!' and charged at Lin Dongfan at a hundred‑meter sprint speed, hoping to repeat the accidental stabbing of Zheng Sanshui."

Stop!!!

"Stop!!!" We'll translate: "Stop!!!"

Suddenly a shout came from the gate—the hastily arriving plaid‑shirt uncle is Cai Yang, boss of Haishan Guest House and one of the three founders of the Hai Long Society.

"A shout suddenly came from the main gate; the hastily arriving flower‑shirt uncle was Cai Yang, owner of Haishan Guesthouse and one of the three founders of the Sea Dragon Society." We'll translate: "A shout suddenly came from the main gate; the hastily arriving flower‑shirt uncle was Cai Yang, owner of Haishan Guesthouse and one of the three founders of the Sea Dragon Society."

His shout startled the fat guy who aspired to be the match's MVP.

"His shout startled the fat guy who had aspired to be the match's MVP." We'll translate: "His shout startled the fat guy who had aspired to be the match's MVP."

The big boss spoke, and the fat guy could only emergency‑brake, but his huge mass and inertia meant he couldn't stop in time.

"The big boss spoke, and the fat guy could only emergency‑brake, but his huge mass and strong inertia meant he couldn't stop his steps at once." We'll translate: "The big boss spoke, and the fat guy could only emergency‑brake, but his huge mass and strong inertia meant he couldn't stop his steps at once."

In desperation, the fat guy shouted, "Get out of the way, anyone who doesn't want to die!!!"

"In desperation, the fat guy yelled again: 'Anyone who doesn't want to die, get out of the way!!!'" We'll translate: "In desperation, the fat guy yelled again: 'Anyone who doesn't want to die, get out of the way!!!'"

Yet Lin Dongfan remained seated, unmoving.

"But Lin Dongfan remained seated, unmoving." We'll translate: "But Lin Dongfan remained seated, unmoving."

Just as the fat guy panicked, thinking Lin Dongfan would surely die under his blade, Liu Wei, guarding Lin Dongfan, grabbed a nearby chair and swung it over.

"Just as the fat guy panicked, thinking Lin Dongfan would surely die under his blade, Liu Wei, guarding Lin Dongfan's side, grabbed a nearby chair and swung it over." We'll translate: "Just as the fat guy panicked, thinking Lin Dongfan would surely die under his blade, Liu Wei, guarding Lin Dongfan's side, grabbed a nearby chair and swung it over."

Bang!!!

"Bang!!!" We'll translate: "Bang!!!"

The fat man's military dagger in his hand was only half a chi away from Lin Dongfan. At that moment, his 1.9-meter-tall bulky frame was slapped to the ground by the chair.

The sturdy wooden chair was smashed on the spot.

Pangzi fell to the ground, the pain on his body seeming irrelevant, he let out Along sigh: "Damn, I was scared to death, good thing I didn't stab him to death…"

Haishan Guesthouse is Cai Yang's turf; no one dares to go against Cai Yang's wishes here.

Including Zheng Sanshui.

Zheng Sanshui clutched his bleeding waist and stood up, angrily questioning Cai Yang: "Uncle Cai, this Fan bastard wants to swallow the whole cake! If you don't let us deal with him, what's the meaning of this?"

"I'll explain this matter to your father."

Cai Yang couldn't be bothered to waste words with Zheng Sanshui.

He dragged out a chair, sat opposite Lin Dongfan to negotiate: "General Manager Fan, give me some face; let's just drop this today. As long as you don't interfere with the Fisherport New City project, I'll let you go."

"Boss Cai, do you have any misunderstanding about the willpower of the state-owned enterprises?" Lin Dongfan stared coldly at Cai Yang across the table, exerting pressure from the state-owned enterprises.

Cai Yang's face darkened slightly: "So you mean you're not going to give me this face?"

"Of course I'll give Boss Cai face."

Lin Dongfan smiled faintly.

He continued: "I can compensate tenfold for the things smashed here today. But regarding the Fisherport New City matter, I'm sorry, I cannot simply hand it over."

Cai Yang said: "The Fisherport New City project had already been tendered months ago; the winner was the Dragon King, who had poured a lot of preliminary funds into it. Now you come out of nowhere, relying on your state-owned background to force people out of the project—how is that any different from graft and plunder?"

"The term graft and plunder, I've heard it many times in the fishing village." In the midst of talking and laughing, Lin Dongfan glanced at Zheng Sanshui, who is adept at graft and plunder.

Zheng Sanshui painfully clutching his waist: "Damn your mother! What are you looking at me for…"

"Shut up!"

Cai Yang gave a cold shout, forcefully ordering Zheng Sanshui to swallow his words.

Wait for the scene to quiet down.

Cai Yang again said to Lin Dongfan: "This is your matter with the Dragon King; I originally didn't want to get involved. But I must remind you: the city will absolutely not re-tender just because you have a state-owned background."

"I've heard that the previous bidding involved backroom dealings, with many victimized units having nowhere to complain." Lin Dongfan spoke frankly: "If the city doesn't re-tender, the Fisherport New City project probably won't be able to proceed."

"What do you mean by that?" Cai Yang chuckled dismissively: "What does 'unable to proceed' mean? I just recalled that not long ago you convened a meeting of the fishing village villagers. You wouldn't really think that a few stinking fish and rotten shrimp from the village could stop the Fisherport New City project's progress, would you?"

"You're right, I am that naive." Lin Dongfan smiled faintly.

Cai Yang smiled meaningfully: "Let's wait and see; if merely relying on those few stinking fish and rotten shrimp could block this big project's progress, then the Dragon King of our Sea Dragon Society ought to be replaced."

Dragon King to be replaced!

This remark was obviously meant for Zheng Sanshui, after all, the two words 'Dragon King' directly point to his father, Zheng Canghai.

Lin Dongfan glanced at the dark-faced, angry Zheng Sanshui.

And then glanced at the deep-minded Cai Yang.

What a strange atmosphere; it feels that this Cai's ambition is not small, seemingly intending to borrow Lin Dongfan's strength to topple Zheng Canghai from his pedestal and make himself the Dragon King.