Chapter 450

After Li Ye realized that Jin Peng and the others had become arrogant, he thought they needed another ideological lesson.

In his previous life, Li Ye had seen many heroes who crashed halfway—they all suddenly became rich and powerful, developed blind confidence in their own abilities, and forgot the solemnity of law and discipline.

But it was the New Year, and Li Ye wondered if berating his brothers so harshly right now might be inappropriate.

Fortunately, there was still a great deity at home, perfectly suited to give Jin Peng and the others their ideological lesson.

"Grandpa, Brother Jin says he wants to deal with Qi Dazhong and his son—do you think that's okay?"

Jin Peng turned his head dumbly, staring blankly at Li Ye, thinking: Brother, you don't have to screw me over like this, do you?

If Jin Peng had to name the one person he feared most in Qingshui County, it was unquestionably Li Zhongfa, the private secretary.

True to form, after hearing Li Ye's words, Li Zhongfa immediately frowned and summoned Jin Peng, Wang Jianqiang, Hao Jian, and several others into the main house.

"Sit down! You're all managers and factory directors now—I'm just an old man, so I won't scold you directly, but I have a few words to say. Whether you listen or not is up to you."

Li Zhongfa pulled out a cigarette pack and handed one to each of Jin Peng, Hao Jian, Ma Qianshan, and Wang Jianqiang. All four snatched them nervously but dared not light them, clutching them uncomfortably in their hands.

"But once I joined the army, I learned how terrifying rules truly are—no matter how skilled or capable you are, if you break the rules, there's no good outcome."

Li Ye sat aside, silently amused. Grandpa Li Zhongfa claimed he didn't want to scold them, but his demeanor was far more intimidating than outright yelling.

"Master, I understand the principle of obeying the law. Little Ye has warned us many times to read more books and study the law, but this time Qi's family has literally taken a shit on our necks—can we really just swallow this humiliation?"

Jin Peng, Hao Jian, and Ma Qianshan were stunned. They were smart men—they instantly understood: Li Zhongfa had no noble quality of "retreating for peace." He was just a vengeful old bastard.

"Since ancient times, families that get raided and exterminated are rarely poor ones—because if you're broke, there's nothing worth seizing, and it's not worth the effort."

Jin Peng asked Li Zhongfa in surprise: "Master, isn't the maximum sentence for damaging someone else's property only seven years?"

"If you break the law and nothing happens to you, there are only two possibilities: either the time hasn't come yet, or you're too insignificant—a little shrimp nobody bothers with."

Jin Peng and the others nodded quickly, clearly understanding—and now fully convinced.

Li Zhongfa sneered: "Qi Muyuan was so flamboyant at his workplace—now he's in ruins. Even receipts for a few yuan have been dug up, and dozens of unaccounted entries? Ten years is a light sentence."

Li Zhongfa looked at the three bewildered men and smiled faintly: "Did you understand what I said earlier? If it comes to fighting, I'm no weaker than you young ones—but as a manager, you need a manager's mindset, a manager's methods."

Could a reimbursement slip for a few yuan really become evidence of a crime? Was there no arrangement by Li Zhongfa behind this?

Grandpa, we know you're powerful, but don't treat us like children.

"Do you know what 'cumulative sentencing' means? Do you know what 'kicking someone when they're down' means?"

Jin Peng felt deeply embarrassed but still a little resentful—he had indeed whistled at female classmates, and he had indeed fought on the streets, knocking out someone's teeth.

But does having money and status now mean he must endure humiliation and let others walk all over him?

"Who said I'm swallowing this humiliation?"

"Ten years? That doesn't sound right, Master."

Li Zhongfa didn't smoke either—he spoke in a low, grave tone: "When I was your age, I was just like Jin Peng—causing trouble all over town."

"If the Qi father-and-son affair had happened back then, they'd be lying in a hospital now, with at least three broken ribs."

Li Zhongfa's hands were stained with the souls of over a dozen Japanese soldiers—if anyone claimed he didn't know how to fight, that was an insult to the term "battle-hardened veteran."

As for fighting, Hao Jian and Ma Qianshan might not fully grasp it, but Jin Peng and Wang Jianqiang knew exactly how dangerous Li Zhongfa was.

Li Zhongfa glanced sideways at Jin Peng: "Qi Muyuan will get at least ten years. His father Qi Dazhong has already retired early—what's the point of beating him again now?"

Li Zhongfa stared coldly at Jin Peng: "But if you're not a little shrimp, you'd better pay attention—the more glorious you appear on the surface, the more eyes are watching you, and the more people are hunting for your weaknesses."

"How many skeletons do you have in your closet? Didn't I pull you out of trouble after your street fights years ago? Don't think small things don't matter—eventually, they'll count even your whistling at female classmates against you."

At this point, Qi Dazhong and his son would probably rather be half-killed by Li Zhongfa than face this outcome.

Jin Peng said sincerely: "Master, I still have a lot to learn from you. These past few years have been too smooth—I now manage over a thousand people, and there's always something going on, giving me constant headaches."

Li Zhongfa said cheerfully: "If you hit a wall, come ask me. I'll give you advice—but how far you go depends entirely on your own ability."

"And also on luck. Sometimes, even with all your talent, if you miss your luck, you'll accomplish nothing your whole life."

"Hehe, don't worry about luck, Master. Ever since I followed Little Ye, my luck's been great—and it keeps getting better!"

Hao Jian couldn't help but look at Jin Peng, deeply impressed by his cleverness—just that one sentence tied him to Li Zhongfa as family.

After Jin Peng, Hao Jian, and the others left, Li Ye asked Li Zhongfa: "Grandpa, will Qi Muyuan really get ten years?"

Li Zhongfa gave a sly smile: "According to my calculation, he'll get at least ten. But if someone wants to curry favor with me… well, who knows?"

Even Li Ye was stunned.

Too ruthless.

You get the methods befitting your level.

Back then, Dragon Brother waved a knife to scare people—and got killed in return. That was low-level thinking.

Li Zhongfa had already discovered that Qi Muyuan was the one who smashed the car first. If he'd gone straight to Qi Muyuan and beaten him then, he'd have just vented his anger.

But Li Zhongfa held back—and now this was the result.

Li Zhong

fa had walked through decades of storms and had fully grasped the joy of "fighting people is endlessly entertaining."

As Li Ye admired his grandfather's skill, he suddenly heard arguing coming from the west wing—his two sisters, Li Juan and Li Ying.

"Hand it over. You've hidden money. Give it up right now."

"I didn't hide anything. You took the red envelopes the moment I got them—when would I have had time to hide money?"

"You're still lying! Last time, Mom noticed the two red envelopes weren't the same size. This time I'm watching you closely—don't tell me you won't let me search you."

"What are you doing? Why are you so unfair?"

Li Ye rushed over to break it up and learned that Hao Jian had given the two sisters red envelopes for the New Year, but Han Chunmei opened them and found one contained 100 yuan and the other 80.

Then Li Juan accused her sister Li Ying of stealing part of the money from the envelope.

Li Ying naturally denied it—whoever steals money ever gives it back? She burst into tears.

And of course, her crying brought her brother Li Ye running.

"Li Ying's a young lady now—how can you search her? Let it go this time!"

Li Ye's authority was strong enough—Han Chunmei and Li Juan had no choice but to glare at Li Ying as she followed Li Ye out of the courtyard.

Outside the gate, Li Ye held out his hand: "Xiao Ying, you know the rules—split it fifty-fifty."

Li Ying blinked, then obediently pulled out two hundred-yuan notes and handed one to Li Ye.

"Sigh~"

Li Ye sighed and said to Li Ying: "For twenty yuan, you sneak around—is it worth it?"

Li Ying lowered her head, kicking the ground with her little leather boots, her face filled with grievance.

"Others give one or two yuan, maybe five at most—that's not worth stealing!"

Li Ye was truly impressed—five yuan and you still want to skim? How desperate for money are you?

"Then why do you think Hao Jian is so generous?"

"Because he's rich!" Li Ying said matter-of-factly: "Everyone says Hao Jian's a big boss now—he makes enough to buy several big color TVs every year."

"You're underestimating," Li Ye said coolly: "How could Hao Jian make only a few color TVs a year?"

Li Ying froze, then immediately asked: "Brother, how much does Hao Jian make every year?"

Li Ye answered without hesitation: "Hard to say exactly, but he makes enough for hundreds of color TVs."

"Hundreds of color TVs???"

Li Ying gasped, her eyes wide open, her pupils seeming to turn into coins.

Then she started counting on her fingers.

"One hundred times three thousand five is three hundred fifty thousand… two hundred times three thousand five is…"

Li Ye smiled and leaned down, speaking in a tempting tone: "Xiao Ying, do you know how to make hundreds of color TVs a year?"

Li Ying stopped counting, slowly raised her head, and whispered weakly: "Brother… you're not going to say I need to study hard to earn that much, are you? I know Hao Jian only graduated from junior high!"

Li Ye blinked, suppressing a laugh: "You only know half the story. Hao Jian used to be a junior high student, but now in Pengcheng, he hires private tutors every day—he has to keep up with the times or he can't manage ten thousand workers."

"Xiao Ying, when you drive a big truck around selling clothes, you're earning money yourself. But Hao Jian manages tens of thousands—he has tens of thousands earning money for him!"

Li Ying's mouth twisted upward: "But… but managing tens of thousands—what does that have to do with studying?"

Li Ye didn't want to explain further—this little girl thought too clearly to be treated like a junior high student.

Hard to trick? Then goad her.

So Li Ye said directly: "Ask me this question after you get into college. Just decide now: do you want to be like Hao Jian—or like your little aunt? Little Juan will definitely follow Hao Jian's path. You can choose however you like."

Li Ying's expression finally changed.

If her sister Li Juan became a big boss like Hao Jian, but she herself ended up as a small boss like her little aunt… would her life still be bearable?

Wouldn't even her hidden pocket money under the bed get searched out?