Chapter 277: The Moving Banknotes

Pei Wencong guessed correctly: the moment the two partners of Joe Ben Law Firm arrived, the families of the seven victims injured by Li Dayong demanded a settlement.

Two Rolls-Royces arrived one after the other; out stepped two white lawyers, each leading a legal team—one handling bail, the other gathering evidence for prosecution.

Those present were stunned, wondering: wasn't this just a street racing and brawling case? Had these people come to the wrong door?

Luo Runbo gritted his teeth and said to Jamie: "Did you really need both your bosses to show up? Even making money has its limits."

Jamie chuckled: "Didn't you budget one million U. . dollars? We have standard rates—we'll make you feel it's worth every penny, never overcharge."

Luo Runbo understood Jamie's meaning: in a case like this, one million dollars would never be enough—even half wouldn't suffice.

So those two white lawyers, billing by the second, became background statues for "performance metrics."

They merely stood there, showed their faces, opened their mouths—everything else was handled by their assistants, radiating an air of: "I'm too above you to speak, but don't pretend I'm not here."

The cops who had ignored Li Ye and Pei Wencong being surrounded earlier now moved with astonishing efficiency.

Because the first thing both legal teams did upon entering was to demand: why hadn't Li Dayong been given a medical examination? Why had the police allowed a crowd to shout and harass Pei Wenhui while she was being interrogated?

Before the families of the ten injured could react, they were accused of malicious intimidation and defamation of Pei Wenhui; each would receive a lawyer's letter, and further actions were already being planned.

Half an hour later, Li Ye met Li Dayong.

His shirt and pants were torn, faint bloodstains visible; his walk was slightly uneven, one leg dragging.

Pei Wenhui, who had already cried several times, helped Li Dayong over, tears welling again.

When Li Dayong saw Li Ye, he awkwardly pulled his arm away from Pei Wenhui's grip.

"Bro, I didn't mean to—I just yelled, and then they…"

Given their relationship, Li Dayong wouldn't say "sorry" in a situation like this—he'd say "it's not my fault."

But after saying it, he looked embarrassed and regretful: his brother had brought him to Hong Kong for fun, yet he ended up in jail—and dragged Pei Wenhui down with him.

But Li Ye smiled: "So what if you meant to? One against seven? That's not shameful."

Wang Qiang chuckled beside him: "Yeah, not shameful."

Pei Wenhui stared at Li Ye with her mouth open, utterly astonished.

Her elder brother's benefactor had always seemed gentle and refined—she never expected him to say something like that.

Pei Wencong quietly raised his estimation of Li Dayong's importance to Li Ye by a significant margin.

"Let's go. First, take you to the hospital."

"Why go to the hospital? I just twisted my ankle—it's nothing, bro. The blood on me is theirs."

"No excuses. Go now."

"I won't go. That'd be too embarrassing. I'm not going."

Li Dayong ducked into the Mercedes like a stubborn child throwing a tantrum.

Li Ye was about to kick him when Pei Wenhui stepped softly over and said gently: "Let's change clothes first, then check if any bones are broken. No one will know it was from a fight, okay?"

"Umm… I don't think I need to. I know my own condition."

"You're so tall and strong—don't be so timid. It'll be quick."

Li Dayong stammered, stealing glances toward Li Ye.

Li Ye turned his head away, pretending not to see.

"Hey, gentlemen, we've discussed it—our son's been beaten badly. You can't treat us like this…"

"Let's talk reasonably! Don't make things so harsh!"

The group that had earlier been aggressive now approached Li Ye and the others, resentful but helpless, surrendering.

But as soon as they got close and spoke a few words, Jamie and several colleagues sprinted over from afar.

"Madam, sir, you have harassed and threatened our client. We now issue a formal warning."

"."

The group, watching the lawyers scribble furiously in their notebooks, instantly understood: they were being treated as walking wallets.

At this point, they were filled with endless regret—why had they underestimated these two Ah Can?

But spending ten million Hong Kong dollars on a brawl case? That's just unethical!

……

By the time they left the hospital after confirming no serious injuries, it was late. Everyone was starving, grabbed a quick meal, then returned to the Taiping Mountain residence.

Upon arriving home, Pei Wencong's mother fussed over them, prepared pomelo leaf water for Li Dayong to cleanse away bad luck—this gesture warmed Li Dayong deeply.

Qiang, who had once been a gang member, kept pressing Li Dayong for details of the one-vs-seven fight, making Li Ye feel awkward and embarrassed.

But Pei Wenhui, recovered now, vividly recounted: "My car stalled, and Yong jumped out and yelled, 'Don't let anyone leave!'"

"Then they came at me aggressively, and Yong, barehanded… they were so fragile! Couldn't take a single punch, and in the end, they whined that we were causing trouble…"

"."

Li Ye glanced quietly at Li Dayong and saw a faint blush on his awkward smile.

………

That night, Li Dayong and Wang Qiang didn't return to their rooms; they squeezed into Li Ye's, gazing out at the night view, reluctant to leave.

With his emotions finally calm, Li Dayong grew increasingly melancholy.

"Bro, I just don't get it—we're both Hua people. I just shouted in Mandarin, and they charged at me like they'd been drugged, fighting harder the more I fought back."

"Didn't they see how big I am? I knocked them all down, yet they still cursed me."

"Even at the police station—they looked at my visa, and their eyes made me furious. If this were in Qingshui County, I'd beat them again."

"But when those foreign lawyers showed up, their attitude flipped 180 degrees—they bowed and cowered. I wondered: have they forgotten our ancestors? Do they really look down on mainlanders?"

"They can't forget. Maybe they pretend to forget on their lips, but never in their hearts."

Li Ye lay on his bed, hands behind his head, smiling: "Did you notice the Pei family? How are they different from us mainlanders?"

"."

Li Dayong and Wang Qiang fell silent. After a long pause, Li Dayong said: "Bro, this Mr. Pei doesn't seem like the capitalists we're told about back home?"

Li Ye rolled over, looking down at Li Dayong and asked: "How so?"

"I can't quite explain," Li Dayong thought a moment. "It's sincerity—too sincere. Especially his mother. I don't understand Cantonese, but her expression… she treated us like family."

"That's not what I meant."

Li Ye chuckled: "Have you noticed that ordinary people here live just like us mainlanders—in habits, customs, everything?"

"The British ruled Hong Kong for over eighty years, yet they still use chopsticks, worship Buddhas. Even if they speak English, every festival they burn paper for ancestors."

"Their entire lifestyle is deeply shaped by Hua civilization—they carry the 'roots' of Hua culture in their hearts. So do you think Great Britain considers them British?"

Li Dayong finally understood, puzzled: "But I asked Pei Wenhui—she holds a British passport."

"You're wrong, Dayong. They'll never become British. They'll always be Hua people."

Li Ye shook his head, pulled the blanket over, and went to sleep.

Because of events in the future, Li Ye understood this well.

As long as your life is shaped by Hua civilization, those Western masters will never accept you as one of their own.

In Li Ye's sweet dream, he went to find Wen Leyu, but Li Dayong tossed and turned for a long time, unable to sleep, lost in thought.

"Sigh~"

………

The next morning, Luo Runbo came to Pei Wencong's home and handed Li Ye a five-page list of legal fees.

Each line was packed with glittering U. . dollars.

Li Ye studied it carefully, thinking these people were like a raiding party—no monster too small, every possible spot to squeeze for gold coins.

But since it was a minor case, the total came to less than two hundred thousand U. . dollars.

Li Ye blinked and asked Luo Runbo: "That's it?"

Luo Runbo's throat went dry—he wanted to say: that's two luxury homes already! What more do you want to waste?

But the client had money and could be arbitrary—he could only say: "Mr. Li, the goal is for Mr. Li Dayong to leave Hong Kong quietly, so we must control the impact."

"Even so, three of them will face jail; the rest will suffer consequences. For the next two years, they'll be haunted by this case."

"Since last night, they've called me countless times trying to settle. Mr. Li, punishments here are severe—they'll ruin their futures."

"Then let it be," Li Ye signed the invoice and said: "I'm leaving Hong Kong tomorrow. Contact me by phone for anything else—but I refuse any settlement."

Luo Runbo replied: "Understood, Mr. Li. But for Mr. Li Dayong to leave Hong Kong, he'll need at least two to three weeks."

"Huh?"

Li Ye frowned. All three brothers came together—why couldn't they leave together?

Luo Runbo hurried to explain: "Mr. Li, since settlement's impossible, this is unavoidable. But I guarantee Mr. Li Dayong can leave within three weeks."

Li Ye had no choice but to deliver this "bad news" to Li Dayong—but Li Dayong shrugged cheerfully: "No problem, bro. I eat well, sleep well here, and I've learned a lot about advanced machinery."

"Plus, the sewing machine we took apart hasn't been fully studied yet—I might as well reassemble it."

Li Ye eyed Li Dayong's dark circles, wondering how he could claim he "ate well and slept well."

The Pei family assured him they'd take excellent care of Li Dayong.

But Li Ye still asked Pei Wencong to issue several invitations, sending a few retired soldiers from Pengcheng to keep Li Dayong company—no matter how strong one is, caution is always wise.

(End of Chapter)