Chapter 2599 — The Hundred-Drunken Centipede
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
He was still turning it over in his mind when the phone rang. One glance told him it was Zhao Qibing, so Zhuang Niaodao picked it up at once. "Young Master Bing, what's the occasion?"
Zhuang Niaodao and Zhao Qibing were not especially close—mere acquaintances, without much depth of feeling between them. Still, it occurred to him that Zhao Qibing was the next head of the Hidden Zhao family, and sooner or later he would have to deal with the man, so he kept his tone courteous.
"Young Master Zhuang, here's the thing—I wanted to ask you about something. Your Hidden Zhuang family and Wei Zhao..." Zhao Qibing inquired cautiously.
"Oh?" Zhuang Niaodao's expression shifted at once. Remembering his grandfather's instructions, he answered flatly and without hesitation: "Young Master Bing, you're not thinking of making trouble for Wei Zhao, are you? Well, I can't get involved—not only can I not get involved, I'd have to side with Wei Zhao and lead the charge against you. The Hidden Zhuang family answers to Wei Zhao now; we're his juniors. So I hope you'll think it over carefully before you act!"
"Uh... no, no, I was just asking casually..." Zhao Qibing had not expected this to be true, and he was stunned. Yet he also knew, with a bitter pang, that with Wei Zhao's forceful intervention and the Hidden Zhuang family standing guard in person, the Songshan City territory was beyond their reach forever!
"Then there's no problem." Zhuang Niaodao breathed a sigh of relief and hung up.
As for Zhao Qibing, he dialed Li Cihua's number once more.
"Young Master Bing, how did it go? Any news?" Li Cihua asked cautiously.
"There's news. The Hidden Zhuang family really has thrown in with Wei Zhao!" Zhao Qibing said, unable to keep the indignation from his voice. "Come back. Pull out of Songshan City. I'm not there anymore, and Songshan City isn't a place our reach can cover. If Wei Zhao wants it, let him have it—for now I don't want to offend him."
"Understood. Then what are we to do once we're back in Donghai City?" Li Cihua asked.
"When you get back to Donghai City, go to Donghai Engineering University. In the university district near the campus, find a place and open another bar. But your main task is to see whether you can help me win Wei Zhao over." Zhao Qibing paused in thought, then went on: "If you run into Wei Zhao, help him however you can. That's all."
"Oh? Win Wei Zhao over?" Li Cihua was momentarily taken aback. "Young Master Bing, is the Hidden Zhao family changing tack too—currying favor with Wei Zhao so we can be his juniors?"
"Of course not!" Zhao Qibing shook his head. "I need his help with something. Once I... never mind, we won't speak of it now. Just remember what I've told you."
"All right." Li Cihua nodded and agreed.
And so Li Cihua, Su Jiaonang, Zhang Yuzhou and the others left in great haste. That very day they handed the Geli Fuyun Bar over to Zou Tiandi, along with all those dry shares in the various companies. Li Cihua's people were no longer in Songshan City; holding on to those shares would have done them no good. The businesses were all local builders and entertainment proprietors who had given Li Cihua dry shares in the hope that he would smooth over their troubles when they arose. From now on, those would be Zou Tiandi's affairs.
The bar, too, was formally renamed "Tiandi Bar." Wei Zhao could hardly put his own name on it, so it was best to let Zou Tiandi fly his own banner. To the outside world they announced that Zou Tiandi's patron was likewise the Hidden Zhuang family, and that he had not the slightest connection to Wei Zhao. Only those at the level of the hidden families knew that Wei Zhao was the power behind the Hidden Zhuang family.
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The Tomorrow-Upon-Tomorrow Sect.