Never mock youth's poverty

"Rich avoid the poor, poor shun the rich—how true." Huo Xuan chuckled bitterly, hailing a taxi back to the hotel.

Lu Jianjun glared at Yizhu. "Satisfied now? Couldn't you hold your venom? Must you salt old wounds?"

Yizhu shrieked: "Blame me again? Last time you struck me over them! Go on—hit me!"

"Petty arrogance!" Lu Jianjun's chest heaved. "Our money makes you superior? At least Xiao Xuan graduated from Jiangzhou University!"

"College degrees mean squat!" Yizhu sneered. "Still jobless! Still paupers! I spit on their poverty!"

"Never mock youth's poverty," Lu Jianjun muttered, storming out.

"Where are you going?" Yizhu's screech echoed.

"None of your business!"

"Leave now, never return!"

Lu Jianjun strode into the night, dialing Huo Xuan's number.

"Third Uncle." Calm tones answered.

"Xiao Xuan... that woman's poison. You know my heart remains true."

"You're blood," Huo Xuan smiled. "No anger touches our bond."

"Where are you? I'm coming."

Thirty minutes later, they reunited at the hotel lobby. Huo Xuan had ordered Wuliangye liquor and braised abalone to the suite.

"Such extravagance!" Lu Jianjun eyed the spread. "Save your funds wisely."

Huo Xuan shrugged. "It's free."

Knuckles rapped the suite door. Shang Yang stood framed in the doorway, his wife clutching their drowsy child.

"Apologies for intruding," Shang Yang smiled. "Might we impose?"

Huo Xuan stepped aside. "By all means."

Noticing Lu Jianjun, Shang Yang's eyebrows arched. "And this gentleman is...?"

"My uncle, Lu Jianjun." Huo Xuan gestured. Lu Jianjun's chopsticks clattered. "The Chenyang Group's Shang Yang? In the flesh?"

A corporate princeling's nod confirmed it.

Lu Jianjun's pulse quickened. Chenyang Group dominated Dongling's economy—real estate titan, logistics overlord, responsible for 20% of the city's GDP.

"An honor." Lu Jianjun's palms grew clammy. "Your construction subsidiary once purchased materials from my humble company."

Shang Yang dabbed his lips with a linen napkin. "Is that so?"

"The... outstanding payment..." Lu Jianjun's collar tightened. "Seems there was a delay."

Shang Yang's smile chilled. "This oversight shall be rectified within the hour."

"Let's eat before it cools." Huo Xuan gestured to the Peking duck platter.

"We gratefully impose." The tycoon settled into gilded chairs.

Since when does my nephew move in these circles? Lu Jianjun marveled. Three years' unpaid invoices might vanish before dessert.

Madame Shang hovered near Huo Xuan, desperate to keep the child within his protective radius. The memory of his ghost-quelling glare still raised goosebumps.

Lu Jianjun's toasts flowed like the Yangtze. As Wuliangye bottles emptied, Shang Yang summoned an aide. Twenty-three minutes later, a sweaty contractor barged in, checkbook in hand.

The moment the man entered, Lu Jianjun recognized him as the manager of Chenyang Group's construction subsidiary—the very person who had approved the building materials contract. The manager paled upon seeing Shang Yang and Lu Jianjun seated together.

"Mr. Shang, you requested me?" The manager's forehead glistened with sweat droplets.

"I'm informed our subsidiary owes Mr. Lu payment," Shang Yang's tone could frost glass. "Explain."

Had Lu Jianjun asked, he'd have cited cash flow issues. Now, the manager stammered: "Sir... delaying supplier payments to earn deposit interest—it's standard industry practice."

"Bullshit!" Shang Yang's fist slammed the table. "Who partners with faithless enterprises?"

"Payment will be transferred within the hour!" The manager's neck nearly snapped from bowing.

"No urgency," Lu Jianjun waved magnanimously, though his accounts receivable ledger burned in memory.

Dismissing the trembling manager, Shang Yang turned contrite: "Mr. Lu, Chenyang Group deeply regrets this misconduct."

"The debtor holds the power nowadays," Lu Jianjun sighed. "This rot pervades the industry."

Shang Yang's silence confirmed the unspoken rule—corporate cash flow trumped supplier rights.

Three rounds of Wuliangye later, Shang Yang pledged future contracts. Lu Jianjun's toast to Huo Xuan nearly spilled the liquor: "To my nephew—the bridge to miracles!"

Alcohol-flushed and emboldened, Lu Jianjun vowed: "Tomorrow, that shrew will kowtow to you! I'll drag her to apologize to your mother!"

"Uncle," Huo Xuan smirked, "Aren't you the one trembling when Auntie glares?"

Lu Jianjun thumped his chest. "Just wait—you'll witness a marital revolution!"

The afternoon revealed a miracle—Shang Yang's child slept peacefully in Huo Xuan's arms, no phantom-induced screams.

Back home, Lu Jianjun chain-smoked by the bay window. Yizhu finally snapped: "Who's that funeral face for?"

Lu Jianjun snorted heavily: "Because of your foolish meddling, we lost a ten million RMB deal. How could I not be heartbroken?"

Yizhu paled. Having managed the business, she knew the huge profits involved. "How did I ruin it? Explain clearly!"

Lu Jianjun sighed: "Huo Xuan knows Mr. Shang, chairman of Chenyang Group. Their construction subsidiary has massive demand for building materials."

"How does he know him?" Yizhu's heart sank, recalling how she had insulted Huo Xuan earlier.

"I told you not to look down on him!" Lu Jianjun exaggerated. "Shang's child was gravely ill—only Huo Xuan could cure it."

"But he didn't study medicine..." Yizhu muttered in shock.

"He's a self-taught genius! Shang addresses him as 'Mr. Huo'. If he helped us, our company could earn tens of millions extra yearly. But now he resents me because of you!"

Yizhu whispered frantically: "Tens of millions... we can't lose this chance!"

Lu Jianjun feigned grief: "He brought tens of thousands in gifts, yet you accused him of bringing fakes!"

Yizhu sobbed: "I regret it! I just spoke without thinking."

Lu Jianjun sighed: "Sow evil, reap evil—this is retribution."

Yizhu widened her eyes: "If I apologize, will he forgive me?"

"If I were him, I wouldn't," Lu Jianjun said indifferently.

"I'll beg his mother first!" Yizhu clenched her teeth.

"Tomorrow we'll visit eldest sister," Lu Jianjun said. "Bring all your stored liquor and cigarettes as gifts."

Yizhu trembled: "I'll kneel if needed! We must seize this opportunity!"