Chapter 89: The Storm Approaches

In a villa on the outskirts of Yanjing, Young Master Li rushed home in a panic and immediately began sobbing to his father. “Dad, what do I do? I have never even seen that girl in all my years in Yanjing. If she were truly one of the Lin family, I would definitely know her. But today Lin Yu from the Lin family personally stood up and admitted that she was one of them.”

Inside the villa, a middle-aged man glowered at his son, who was kneeling on the floor and pleading for help. If this had not been his only son, he would have stormed forward and beaten the wretch to death on the spot. Every day, the boy did nothing but stir up trouble in Yanjing.

Though he could not bring himself to strike too hard, the man still could not restrain himself from swinging his hand and slapping Young Master Li across the face, knocking him to the ground. Pointing at him, he shouted, “You useless fool! Do you really think Tigerhead Gang is invincible in Yanjing? Open your eyes and look at where you are. The family backing us is only a second-rate clan, while the Lin family is one of the true Four Great Families. If they want to deal with us, they can do it without even breaking a sweat!”

“Dad, you have to save me. I don’t want to die, Dad!” Though he had been slapped, Young Master Li understood his father’s temper well. As long as he pleaded enough, his father would never stand by and watch him die.

“Hmph, you little bastard. You just said you didn’t know that woman and that she didn’t seem like a Lin, didn’t you?” The middle-aged man thought it over and asked again to confirm.

“Yes, Dad. At first someone just told me she was the female president of some company, so I went over. If I had known she was from the Lin family, I would never have dared to act recklessly, even if you killed me!” Young Master Li said as he knelt there, clutching at his father’s trouser leg.

After hearing this, the middle-aged man gave a cold snort, turned away from him, and picked up a special phone. He pressed the only number stored in it and dialed.

“Patriarch Wang, it’s me,” he said hurriedly when the call connected.

“I know it’s you. Your son has done a fine job, daring even to provoke someone from the Lin family. Does Tigerhead Gang really think it is something great?” the voice on the other end snapped.

“Patriarch Wang, I am truly sorry. I have failed to discipline him properly. But is that woman really from the Lin family? When did the Lin family gain another unfamiliar member?” the middle-aged man asked in confusion.

“You needn’t doubt it. She is the woman betrothed to Lin Feng. The Lin family has already acknowledged it. Your son has caused a catastrophe this time!” the voice on the other end said loudly, clearly furious.

“Ah, Lin Feng? The one everyone in Yanjing has long spoken of as the finest of the third generation?” the middle-aged man cried out in shock.

“Yes, him!” came the confirmation from the other end.

“Then, then, Patriarch Wang, you have to help me this time. Our Tigerhead Gang may not have earned much glory over the years, but we have worked hard. You must help me!” Realizing the woman’s identity, the middle-aged man finally grew frightened and hastily begged the person on the line for help.

“All right, I know. We will think of something,” the person said before hanging up.

When the middle-aged man heard the dull click of the line disconnecting, he slammed the phone down in anger. Then he turned back and slapped Young Master Li again. In exasperation, he stormed back to his room; if he stayed in the hall any longer, he feared he would lose control and kill that disaster of a son.

In the study of the Wang family estate, Old Master Wang had only just put down the phone when Wang Boyi urgently said, “Dad, this matter will never end well. We already offended Lin Feng once before. This time, what Tigerhead Gang did offended Lin Feng and slapped the Lin family in the face. Every family in Yanjing knows Tigerhead Gang is backed by us. Now we either abandon Tigerhead Gang, or we go head-to-head with the Lin family and Lin Feng.”

Old Master Wang sat rigidly in place, saying nothing as he weighed the pros and cons.

“Old Master,” Wang Boyi continued, “I don’t think it matters whether we give up Tigerhead Gang or not. The Lin family will not cooperate with us anyway. Since cooperation is impossible, then they are our enemies. Our Wang family is the leader among Yanjing’s rising families, while the Four Great Families are all old and established powers. If it really comes to blows, it will be a struggle between the old families and the new. I believe they understand the limits and will not act rashly. This time, we should join forces with the other rising families and fight those old clans together. Maybe that will settle the matter.”

That idea clearly moved Old Master Wang. He finally asked, “What do you think, eldest son?”

“I reserve my judgment. If you are determined to do this, then I have no choice,” Wang Boyi replied, unconvinced.

Old Master Wang considered it for a moment, but in the end he still agreed with the younger son’s view. “There are three people in this room, and the vote is two to one. I will contact the rising families at once and try to bring in as many allies as possible. I do not believe the rising families would want to see the old clans’ economic power continue to grow.”

Wang Boyi let out a helpless sigh at the final decision.

Meanwhile, in the main hall of the Lin family estate, Xia Ruoxi had already sobered up. Lin Feng’s eldest uncle and the others had also returned to the Lin home. After hearing what had happened to Xia Ruoxi that day, they were all furious, cursing in the hall, with Lin Feng’s mother, Liu Runli, being the most heated of all.

“Lin Chuanyan, you are the mayor of Yanjing, for heaven’s sake. Just look at what kind of arrogant people are still running wild in Yanjing, what kind of arrogant gang this is!” Liu Runli was so enraged she had lost all restraint. She lashed out at anyone within reach, and Lin Chuanyan was caught in the crossfire.

Lin Chuanyan had no words to answer her. In truth, being the mayor of Yanjing was a miserable position. In other provinces and cities, a mayor wielded considerable power and could handle many matters, but in a place like Yanjing, where families stood shoulder to shoulder in great numbers, the mayor had very little authority and could only survive in the cracks.

Seeing Liu Runli grow more and more excessive, Lin Chuanzhi quickly tugged at her, signaling her to stop.

“Dad, they have gone too far. Our Lin family must act in this matter. If we do nothing, who knows how many families outside will laugh at us?” Lin Chuanming said firmly to Old Master Lin.

“Hmph. The Wang family is acting far too arrogantly. Since this happened, they still haven’t given our Lin family even a single explanation. And they even had the nerve to call and ask for reconciliation with Lin Feng before! Now they want to make enemies of us?” Old Master Lin said indignantly from the side.

“Talk among yourselves. I’m going to the study to make arrangements,” Old Master Lin said as he stood up and addressed everyone in the room. Then he left for the study alone.

After Old Master Lin left the hall, silence fell over the room. Fortunately, he was gone for less than ten minutes before he returned, though he came back with a dark expression.

“Old Master, what happened?” Seeing the black look on Old Master Lin’s face and the fury in his manner, Lin Chuanming stood up in surprise and asked.

“Damn it! I just called some old acquaintances, hoping to put pressure on the Wang family and Tigerhead Gang. But I never expected the Wang family to have already laid their plans. They have contacted the rising families in Yanjing and joined hands to suppress this matter. Now it is our old families against their rising families. I’m afraid this is going to be difficult,” Old Master Lin said with a resigned sigh.

Just as his words fell, the telephone in the hall rang. Lin Chuanming answered it, and after saying a few words, he covered the receiver and called out to Old Master Lin, “Dad, it’s Premier Zhu. He wants to speak with you!”

When Old Master Lin heard that Premier Zhu was on the line, he immediately took the receiver from Lin Chuanming. “Premier Zhu, are you looking for me?”

“Old Master Lin, I know all about what happened today. The higher-ups do not want to see your families causing a disturbance, which is why I am calling to relay their position. I hope you can understand us. If you truly let this blow up, the one who will ultimately suffer the losses is the nation. We also know the Lin family has been wronged, and that Lin Feng has been wronged. The country will remember this. We will make it up to the Lin family in the future.”

“Premier Zhu, we understand. We know our limits. I will restrain the Lin family,” Old Master Lin replied, understanding that this matter had already reached the highest level.

“Then that is good. I still need to speak with the other families. Let us leave it here for now, Old Master Lin. Another day, I’ll come to the Lin family for a cup of tea,” Premier Zhu said with satisfaction when he heard Old Master Lin was willing to cooperate.

Old Master Lin exchanged a few more polite words with Premier Zhu before finally hanging up.

“Old Master, even the higher-ups have stepped in?” Lin Chuanming asked anxiously as soon as the call ended.

“Yes. This matter involves too many interests, so those above do not dare allow it to spiral out of control. If the rising families truly end up in a fight with the old families, the nation will be the one to lose. Lin Feng, it seems your grandfather has gone back on his word and cannot step forward on your behalf,” Old Master Lin explained to Lin Chuanming and the others, his face full of shame as he looked at Lin Feng.

Lin Feng had remained silent the whole time. Seeing that he was unhappy, Xia Ruoxi took his hand and gently tried to comfort him. “Lin Feng, why not just let this one go? I didn’t suffer any real loss anyway.”

Unfortunately, none of them knew what Lin Feng was planning. Ever since arriving in Yanjing, he had already set his sights on the underground forces here. Now that such a good opportunity had fallen into his lap, he certainly would not let it slip away.

“Old Master, if the family cannot make a move, that does not mean I cannot. You can all just sit back and watch. I am determined to wipe out Tigerhead Gang, and I’ll count it as doing Second Uncle a favor,” Lin Feng said suddenly, lifting his head with murderous intent in his eyes.

“What? You still want to make a move?” Old Master Lin asked in astonishment.

“Yes. I’ve taken a fancy to Tigerhead Gang. Just as we took control of Dragon Soaring Gang in Zhanhai City back then, I will take control of Tigerhead Gang now,” Lin Feng said with certainty.

“You mean...?” Old Master Lin’s expression shifted as he understood, and his face lit with some excitement and some worry. “Very well, Grandfather will not interfere. You handle it yourself. You are right: the family cannot move, but that does not mean you cannot. If Tigerhead Gang cannot hold on and the Wang family steps in, then they will be the ones who violated the rules first. By then, once our family acts, the higher-ups will stand on our side. But you alone...” He stopped, still uneasy. If Tigerhead Gang could fall into Lin Feng’s hands, it would undoubtedly be a tremendous asset.

“Don’t worry, Old Master. A mere Tigerhead Gang is not something I take seriously,” Lin Feng said with complete confidence.

As he spoke, he patted the arm of Xia Ruoxi, who was anxiously seated beside him, and also offered comfort to Lin Chuanming and Liu Runli, who were worried for him.