Zhang Cheng took a hot shower at the guesthouse before booking a room.
The night was deep, and he lay in bed, tossing and turning.
Without Shi Yangyang by my side, I always feel like I don't know where to put my hands.
...
Meanwhile, in Shanghu Village, at Hu Baima's house.
A piercing scream shattered the tranquility of the village.
"Brother! I was wrong! Stop hitting me! Stop hitting me!"
Hu Tianan's eyes were bloodshot, and he looked like a madman. He lashed Hu Chaoyang with the carrying pole, each blow delivered with all his might.
Wood chips flew everywhere, and bloodstains were scattered all over the place.
"I'll teach you to be arrogant! I'll teach you to be blind!"
Hu Baima tried to step in to break up the fight, but was firmly blocked by his two other sons who had also lost their jobs. The anger in their eyes was so intense that they seemed ready to devour Hu Chaoyang alive.
"Dad, don't interfere! If we don't beat this idiot to death today, our entire Hu family is finished!"
After being struck more than a dozen times with a carrying pole, Hu Chaoyang was completely limp and knelt on the ground, only able to cry and beg for mercy.
Hu Tianan was panting heavily, his chest heaving violently, but the blood-stained carrying pole did not fall again.
"Bang!"
He slammed the carrying pole to the ground, grabbed Hu Chaoyang by the collar, and lifted him up from the ground.
"Hu Chaoyang!" Hu Tianan's low growl was hoarse and desperate. "How many times have I told you, Zhang Ergouzi isn't the same Zhang Ergouzi anymore! His influence in the county is something we can't afford to mess with! Are you just taking my words for granted?"
"Now! I've lost my job! Your second and third brothers have lost their jobs too! Tell me, what are we going to do?!"
Hu Chaoyang was so terrified by that murderous gaze that he was trembling all over.
"Brother... I... I really didn't know he was so amazing..."
In his eyes, Zhang Cheng had just gotten lucky and managed to curry favor with Zhao Daming.
His older brother is a real police officer!
How could Zhao Daming fire his subordinate for an outsider?
But reality is cruel.
My older brother got fired.
My second and third brothers also packed their bags and left.
Hu Tianan slammed him to the ground, then collapsed onto the ground as if all his strength had been drained, his face ashen.
Seeing the despair on his three older brothers' faces, Hu Chaoyang's eyes flashed with a fierce light. He gritted his teeth and said, "Brothers, we can't beat him in the county, but what about Shanghu Village?"
"Isn't he offering to install telephone poles for someone? Let's use that to our advantage!"
"If he doesn't help you get back to work, don't even think about putting a single utility pole back up! No amount of money will help!"
A glint of light flashed in Hu Tianan's eyes.
This was like a lifeline.
Although he knew in his heart that threatening Zhang Cheng with such means was tantamount to playing with fire.
But now, he has no other choice.
...
The sky was just beginning to brighten.
Zhang Cheng got up and meticulously completed a set of powerful and fierce military boxing in the empty room of the guesthouse.
As he felt a surge of heat coursing through his body, he realized that the irritability of the previous night had vanished.
After having breakfast at a roadside stall, Zhang Cheng casually bought a newspaper.
The front page of the Funing County Daily prominently reported on the Jincun toxic gas leak incident, but was vague about the casualty figures, only saying that relevant experts had intervened.
It seems that Director Yu and his team have already begun to guide public opinion.
Zhang Cheng's gaze, however, was completely drawn to another page.
"The first Martial Arts Tournament will be held in Hangzhou, the provincial capital!"
Below the large title are event details and sponsorship information.
Zhang Cheng's breath hitched.
He remembers it all too clearly.
In his previous life, his chief instructor, a true iron-blooded soldier who had come from the battlefield, was one of the judges of that conference.
That incident became a lifelong regret for the head instructor.
More than once, drunk and with red eyes, he pounded the table and roared, "The authorities shouldn't have organized that conference! That wasn't a martial arts competition, it was a massacre!"
"The weapons group is fine, but the hand-to-hand combat group is a matter of life and death!"
"Of the sixty-eight top players in the finals, thirty-one died and twenty-six were seriously injured or disabled!"
"One war! It wiped out almost all of the most capable martial artists of our generation!"
The head instructor's mournful roar still echoed in my ears.
Zhang Cheng's fingers, which were gripping the newspaper, turned slightly white.
Those martial arts masters are national treasures and the backbone of the country. They must not be wasted in the meaningless arena of fame and fortune!
He is now of little influence and cannot stop the conference.
But he had to do something!
Zhang Cheng's eyes narrowed, and he had already made up his mind.
He strode quickly towards the Treasury Bond Recycling Center on South Street.
"Old Liu, can I borrow your phone?"
Zhang Cheng picked up the phone on the counter and dialed directly.
After ringing more than a dozen times, Jiang Yuhong's heavily annoyed voice, filled with the grumpiness of someone just woke up, finally came from the other end of the phone: "Who is it! So early in the morning, don't you know that disturbing someone's sleep is a serious crime!"
"It's me, Zhang Cheng."
“…Zhang Cheng?” Jiang Yuhong’s voice instantly cleared, even carrying a hint of surprise. “You’re looking for me, it must be something good!”
"Mr. Jiang, do me a favor and help me acquire a batch of top-of-the-line protective equipment."
"Protective equipment? What do you mean?"
"Hangzhou is hosting a martial arts tournament, and I plan to sponsor a batch of protective gear under the name of [Yangcheng Clothing]." Zhang Cheng's voice was steady and powerful. "As you know, fists and feet have no eyes, and I don't want to see heroes bleed."
“Okay! Leave it to me!” Jiang Yuhong agreed immediately.
"Remember, money is not an issue, the quality must be top-notch, the kind that can save lives!"
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