chapter 15 Penny Wise, Pound Foolish

"Yes, I'm Jim Zhao. Who are you, and what do you want with me?"

Jim Zhao squinted his eyes at Han Tang, his demeanor brimming with disdain.

"Mr. Zhao, I'm Han Tang, the owner of Li's Secret Imperial Cuisine. I'm here today to ask you to settle the debt you owe us," Han Tang said.

"So, you're here to collect a debt from me?" asked Jim Zhao.

"Yes, I'm here to collect," Han Tang replied.

"Do you have a promissory note?"

"Yes." Han Tang handed over the promissory note and the bill to Jim Zhao.

Taking the note, Jim Zhao sneered as he glanced at it, then suddenly his expression changed, and he tore the note into pieces.

He arrogantly said to Han Tang, "Kid, didn't you ask around about who I am? Over the years, only I have collected debts from others; nobody dares to demand payment from me."

Han Tang frowned and said, "So you're refusing to pay?"

"Not only am I not paying," Jim Zhao declared, "I'm going to show you who you cannot afford to offend."

With a wave of his hand, a dozen security guards with batons ran over.

Jim Zhao pointed at Han Tang and ordered, "Beat him. Break his legs."

In his early years, Jim Zhao was a notorious gangster in Jiangnan City. He had a violent past and had been to prison. Later, he earned some money by collecting debts for others and gradually legitimized his business by starting the Dacheng Construction Company.

Jim Zhao was indeed savvy in business. Coupled with his social influence over the years, his company grew to become a second-tier construction company in Jiangnan City.

He had reformed and was conducting his business legitimately. However, today, an old friend named Fatty Zhou came asking for his help to teach a lesson to this kid named Han Tang. Hearing that Han Tang was just a poor student with no backing, Jim Zhao agreed.

Han Tang, facing the arrogant Jim Zhao, knew that he wouldn't get his money back without a fight.

The security guards, mostly Jim Zhao's former gang members, charged at Han Tang like wolves upon their master's command.

The first guard swung his baton at Han Tang's head, but Han Tang dodged, grabbed the baton, and struck the guard's head, knocking him to the ground.

Before the second guard could even swing, Han Tang slapped him. The guard, spitting blood, was sent flying, knocking down several others.

Han Tang swiftly took down the guards.

Jim Zhao was stunned, his cigarette hanging forgotten from his lips. His capable men were defeated so quickly. Hadn't Fatty Zhou said this kid would be easy to handle?

After dealing with the guards, Han Tang approached Jim Zhao, grabbed his cheek, and flicked the cigarette stub into his mouth.

"Ow!" Jim Zhao screamed as the cigarette stub fell into his throat, scalding it and causing a large blister.

Jim Zhao coughed out the cigarette stub and was about to make a fierce remark when Han Tang slapped him to the ground, knocking out several of his teeth mixed with blood.

"Are you going to repay the money or not?" Han Tang asked coldly.

"Kid, you dare to hit me, do you believe..."

Han Tang slapped him again, cutting him off mid-sentence, "Are you going to repay the money or not?"

"You're looking for trouble..."

After a few more slaps, Jim Zhao realized that the young man in front of him was not afraid of him at all. Any threats would only get him beaten, so he obediently shut his mouth.

"Are you going to repay the money or not?" Han Tang asked again.

At this moment, a convoy of luxury cars drove into the yard, led by a black Bentley. An elderly man got out of the car, followed by a butler and bodyguards.

"Mr. Yang, save me, Mr. Yang, save me!" Jim Zhao, seeing his savior, scrambled over to the elderly man while Han Tang was distracted.

"Mr. Yang, save me. This kid came to my place, beat up my people, and is trying to rob me."

Jim Zhao, true to his rogue nature, not only played the victim first but also twisted the story of Han Tang's debt collection into a robbery, especially since he had already torn up the promissory note.

He had planned to entertain his important guest, Henry Yang, today. Knowing that Henry Yang's bodyguards were elite ex-special forces, far better than his own thugs, he was sure they could handle Han Tang.

"What did you say?" Henry Yang asked sternly.

"This guy, Han Tang, he's a thug, he beat up my men and is trying to rob me..."

Before Jim Zhao could finish, Henry Yang slapped him across the face.

"Mr. Yang, why are you hitting me?"

Jim Zhao was utterly confused. He had just escaped Han Tang's clutches, thinking he had found a rescuer, but now he was getting beaten up again?

Before Henry Yang could speak, Han Tang said, "Grandpa, take care of your health. Let me handle the rough stuff."

Henry Yang turned to Jim Zhao, "See? This is my grandson. You say my grandson is a thug, robbing you?"

Jim Zhao, holding his cheek, said, "No... it's a misunderstanding, Mr. Yang, it's all a misunderstanding."

Henry Yang then asked Han Tang, "Grandson, why are you coming here?"

Han Tang replied, "Grandpa, Dacheng Construction Company owes a lot of money to our restaurant. I came to collect the debt, but Jim Zhao denied it, tore up my promissory note, and ordered his men to break my legs. That's why I taught him a lesson."

"Well done," Henry Yang said, turning back to Jim Zhao, "Jim Zhao, you've got some nerve, bullying my grandson?"

"I won't dare again. I really won't dare."

Jim Zhao thought to himself, "I'm already beaten up like this. Who's bullying whom? This old man is too biased."

Henry Yang asked Han Tang, "How much does he owe you?"

"Two million."

Han Tang thought, "You dare to tear up my promissory note? Let's see who can play dirtier. I promptly inflated the debt by a million."

Henry Yang asked Jim Zhao, "When will you repay?"

"I'll repay right now."

Jim Zhao had no choice but to swallow his pride. He regretted helping Fatty Zhou. He cursed Fatty Zhou's ancestors in his mind for not telling him Han Tang was backed by Henry Yang. Otherwise, he would never have dared to mess with Han Tang.

Now, not only was he beaten up, but he also lost an extra million in an instant.

Jim Zhao took out his checkbook and wrote a check for two million to Han Tang.

"Apologize to my grandson!" Henry Yang insisted.

Jim Zhao bowed deeply to Han Tang and said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Tang, it was all my fault."

He followed whatever Henry Yang said, hoping the old man would cool down soon. The Dacheng Construction Company was about to sign a contract worth several hundred million with Changkong Group. Missing it because of this incident would be a huge loss.

Han Tang generously waved it off, "Let it be." After all, he had just taken an extra million from him, so it didn't seem right to press further.