Chapter 68: Quite Interesting

All afternoon, Zhao Kang had been urging Li Mu to leave first, but Li Mu insisted on staying at the driving school.

The school's rule was that classes ended promptly at six o'clock, at which time every instructor's car had to be parked in its designated spot for registration. Around five o'clock, Zhao Kang, visibly anxious, went outside for a long walk and returned, panting, to tell Li Mu, "There are two groups of people at the school gate and across the street, about a dozen each. They look like street thugs. You should climb over the wall and leave now."

Su Yingxue, upon hearing this, immediately said to Li Mu, "I'll call the police. I don't believe they'll dare do anything to you once the police arrive."

Li Mu waved her off. "Even if the police scare them away today, they’ll be back tomorrow. They haven’t done anything illegal yet, so the police can’t do much."

"But damn it, we can’t just wait until they actually make a move!" Zhao Kang was getting frantic.

Li Mu smiled slightly, took out his phone, and said to the two of them, "Let me make a phone call first."

He walked to the side and dialed Song Liang.

At that moment, Li Mu had completely abandoned the values of his previous life; seeking Song Liang’s help now seemed the best course, offering multiple benefits: not only could he solve the problem with Guo Yuhang once and for all, but he could also strengthen his relationship with Song Liang. Before leaving, he wanted to deepen this bond, leaving his parents a hidden but powerful safeguard in Haizhou.

Song Liang, ever since he brought Li Mu back to Haizhou last time, had been waiting for Li Mu to reach out. Their previous conversation had piqued his interest in Li Mu’s precocious maturity, and he’d been hoping for a chance to get closer. Coincidentally, he also hoped Li Mu would have something for him to help with.

When Li Mu called, Song Liang’s voice was tinged with delight. "Li, little brother, you finally remembered to call your big brother."

Li Mu’s tone carried apology. "Brother Liang, I’m really sorry. I’ve been busy lately."

Song Liang laughed. "I heard about it. Tianming said you started a music website. I don’t really understand, but it sounds quite trendy."

Li Mu hadn’t expected Song Liang to have talked to Ye Tianming about him, so he responded with a smile, "The website is one thing. I also opened a shop in Haizhou; it’s currently being renovated."

"Oh? What kind of shop? Is there anything you need help with?" Song Liang was immediately intrigued. Opening a shop was no small matter—an eighteen-year-old not only finding a project online but also having the courage to start a physical store made Song Liang look at Li Mu in a new light.

Li Mu laughed, "I’ve franchised a clothing brand store—Metersbonwe. I wonder if you’ve heard of it?"

"I have. Where is it? How big is it?"

"At the west gate, about 170 square meters."

Song Liang was stunned.

He knew Metersbonwe well, along with many other clothing brands. Though he was currently working in residential real estate in Haizhou, he had spent years in commercial real estate in Jinling, following Ye Youdao. Opening a 170-square-meter brand store at the west gate would cost a tidy sum, and he could easily estimate how much.

Li Mu’s parents were employees at the Xiling Coal Mine. Song Liang instantly deduced that the money for the store must be Li Mu’s own earnings. He didn’t know how Li Mu had made it, but he trusted his own judgment and insight.

"I have over a hundred bus stop ads and several billboards in the city center. If you need it, I can help you with free publicity."

In real estate, besides holding land, holding advertising resources was essential, and Song Liang was happy to offer this to Li Mu as a gesture of support.

Li Mu thanked him but said, "Actually, I called you today because I have a small issue I need your help with."

"Just say the word."

"Well, today I got into a fight with someone..."

Li Mu briefly explained: he’d had a conflict at the driving school with a spoiled rich kid, had beaten him, and now the other party wanted a brawl at the school gate at six o’clock.

Song Liang didn’t hesitate. "I’ll come right away. Before I get there, if anyone wants to make a move, just mention my name."

"Thank you, Brother Liang."

After hanging up, Song Liang stared at his phone and muttered, "The son of the Xiling Mine chief—interesting."

Li Mu returned to his class, where the other trainees were lining up to get familiar with the gearshift, throttle, and clutch in the cars. As soon as he approached, Zhao Kang and Su Yingxue hurriedly asked about his plans.

Li Mu checked the time. "I called a friend. Let’s wait for his call."

Zhao Kang looked worried. "What kind of friend? How many people can he bring?"

Li Mu shrugged. "I don’t know how many he’ll bring."

"But that’s not enough—the other side has at least a dozen people..."

Li Mu remained calm. "Let’s wait and see. No point worrying about it now."

---

Guo Yuhang sat in Zou Hua’s sixth-generation Accord, keeping an eye on his watch.

Fifteen minutes remained until six o’clock. Guo Yuhang was growing restless and asked Zou Hua, "Brother Hua, if that kid comes out, what are you planning to do?"

Zou Hua replied calmly, "My men will control him and give you the chance to get your revenge. Once you’ve finished, my guys will cripple his arm."

Guo Yuhang nodded, his expression full of malice. "Damn it. In all my life, he’s the first to hit me, and in front of so many people, he struck my face. The more I think about it, the angrier I get!"

Zou Hua patted his shoulder. "Once we have him surrounded, go ahead and beat him to your heart’s content."

"I want to make him kneel and apologize to me in public!" Guo Yuhang gritted his teeth, eager for the chance to redeem himself.

Zou Hua’s mind was fixed on those five thousand tons of coal tickets. He lowered the window, lit a cigarette, and said to Guo Yuhang, "If he refuses to kneel, I’ll break his legs!"

Guo Yuhang trembled with excitement at those words.

Zou Hua flicked his cigarette ash outside, his face brimming with smugness.

Just then, a brand-new Audi A6 drove past the Accord, suddenly stopping beside it. The rear window of the Audi rolled down, revealing a man in his thirties who glanced at Zou Hua with a faint smile. "Hey, Hua, is that you? What are you doing here?"

Zou Hua turned his head, saw the man in the Audi’s back seat, and immediately sat up straight, calling out respectfully, "Brother Jun." He quickly discarded his cigarette, got out of the car, and bent over at the Audi’s window with a fawning expression. "Brother Jun, what brings you here?"

"Just passing by. And you?"

Zou Hua replied quickly, "A little brother got into a conflict with someone. I’m here to help sort it out."

"Oh, not bad." The man known as Brother Jun nodded with a forced smile, then pointed at Zou Hua’s Accord. "Hua, is this a new car?"

Zou Hua rubbed his hands and smiled, "Yes, Brother Jun. Just picked it up."

"Alright, carry on." With that, Brother Jun raised the window and instructed his driver to leave. Zou Hua waved after the departing car, shouting, "Take care, Brother Jun!"

Back in his Accord, Guo Yuhang asked in awe, "Brother Hua, was that Zhang Wanjun?"

"That’s right." Zou Hua nodded, his face full of longing.

Guo Yuhang was shocked. Zhang Wanjun was the acknowledged number one figure in Haizhou’s underworld, his reputation immense. Though Guo Yuhang had never met him, he’d heard plenty.

"Brother Hua, you even know Zhang Wanjun?"

Zou Hua was slightly smug. "I know him. I often hang out at Brother Jun’s place. We’re quite familiar."

Guo Yuhang knew the place Zou Hua referred to was an illegal casino. Hearing Zou Hua say he was close to Zhang Wanjun, Guo Yuhang looked at him with newfound admiration.

"Brother Hua, when will you take me to Brother Jun’s place to see the world?"

"Once this is done, bring me the coal tickets, and I’ll host a dinner for Brother Jun, and I’ll take you along."

Zou Hua spoke offhandedly, but Guo Yuhang believed him without question, nodding eagerly, full of anticipation.

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