Chapter Forty-Four: Level Fish Head Village?

Liu Meijia was somewhat surprised to receive a call from Young Master Rui, and even more puzzled as to why he would indirectly inquire about “Fishhead Village” from her.

At the Strong Source Group headquarters, pressure had mounted to such an extent that the company had ordered the Taoyuan county branch to temporarily abandon the “Liangou Hollow” breeding center. Moreover, until the auditors from the Securities Exchange left the main office, there was to be absolutely no conflict with the villagers of Fishhead Village.

The CEO himself had called Liu Meijia, reiterating the gravity of the situation. As one of the major shareholders of Strong Source, Liu Meijia naturally hoped that nothing would go wrong with the listed company. Thus, regardless of her personal feelings, the grudges between Fishhead Village and Tang Long had to be set aside for now.

Yet, today’s call from Young Master Rui sparked new thoughts. Originally, Liu Meijia had planned to use “Little Flower” to get rid of Tang Long, but fortune favored him; he left for the provincial capital before Little Flower arrived at Fishhead Village.

“Young Master Rui, are you interested in Fishhead Village?” Liu Meijia leaned back in her office chair, legs propped up on the enormous desk, her eyes glinting as her mind raced to analyze the situation.

Rui reclined against the smoky-eyed woman, Jiaqi, leaning back with a half-smile. “I do have some ideas. Thought it would be easy to handle, but as soon as I arrived, I stumbled right into a bandits’ den—nearly got shot.”

He paused, then continued, “By the way, Zhang Kang works for your company, right? He has a nephew named Hou Qiwen. I heard his uncle is quite a big shot around here. Oddly enough, the moment he mentioned his name, the villagers nearly beat him to death. Left me utterly baffled, Sister Liu, can you tell me what’s going on here?”

Zhang Kang’s nephew?

Liu Meijia’s lips curled into a bitter smile. To flaunt Zhang Kang’s name at Fishhead Village at this time—no wonder he got beaten. He was lucky to escape with his life.

Her eyes shifted, and she laughed delicately, “So, Young Master Rui, you’re still in Fishhead Village?”

With a sly grin, Rui replied, “Of course. They beat my men—I can’t just let that slide, can I, Sister Liu?”

“Exactly. We all have reputations to maintain. You can’t let them get away with it. You’re alright, I hope?” Liu Meijia was intrigued. Fishhead Village had assaulted Rui’s people. Strong Source wasn’t ready to deal with Tang Long, but if Rui took the lead?

“I’m fine!” Rui shook his head.

Liu Meijia rose from her chair and walked to the large window. “Fishhead Village used to be nothing special, but recently a soldier named Tang Long came back. He’s quite brash. Not only did he beat up our company’s staff, he also led the villagers to forcibly demolish Strong Source’s station there.”

“That bold?” Rui sat up, leaning forward with curiosity. “And you, Sister Liu, just let him have his way?”

Something’s not right. If any ordinary person dared do such things, how could he still be alive? Is Liu Meijia the type to let things slide? Hardly.

“The listed company’s facing some trouble. The Securities Exchange has sent auditors to check the books, so I can’t make any moves right now. I have to let him run wild for a while,” Liu Meijia said, then shifted her tone, laughing, “Now that you’re interested in Fishhead Village, surely you’re planning to deal with Tang Long?”

A glint of cunning flashed in Rui’s eyes as he sneered inwardly. He hadn’t even met Tang Long, yet Liu Meijia was already trying to use him as her pawn.

“I haven’t figured things out yet,” Rui replied with a wry smile.

Looking out the window, Liu Meijia said softly, “If you clash with Fishhead Village, Tang Long will definitely return.”

“Who says we’ve clashed?” Rui deflected with a laugh. “I’m just waiting for them to apologize for humiliating me.”

That simple?

Rui had gone to Fishhead Village and gotten into a conflict. Was he only after an apology?

Who would believe that! Rui was infamous for his ruthlessness, always seeking advantage and never losing face.

“Young Master Rui, you didn’t go there for that female college-graduate village official, did you?” Liu Meijia probed. Knowing his style, her first thought was that he’d set his sights on a woman.

There weren’t many women in Fishhead Village who could attract a man’s attention. Secretary Zhang Xiu’e, with her well-proportioned figure, was one.

Rui’s gaze flickered as he fell silent, not rushing to answer. Only after meeting Zhang Xiu’e in Fishhead Village had he developed an interest.

Liu Meijia, ever perceptive, deduced that Zhang Xiu’e rarely left Fishhead Village, and Rui usually operated in the city; their paths wouldn’t often cross. If it wasn’t about a woman, then… could it be “Ghost King Cave”?

Her heart stirred, and she laughed, “Young Master Rui, Zhang Xiu’e belongs to Tang Long. If you want her, you’ll have to bring that big soldier down. Even if you’re not after the woman, seeing her must have tempted you. As for ‘Ghost King Cave,’ the villagers won’t give it up easily. So whether it’s for the cave or for beauty, you and Tang Long are destined not to be friends!”

“What if?” Rui’s laughter drifted over.

Liu Meijia shook her head. “No what if. With Tang Long’s brash, protective nature, either you flatten him, or he’ll skin you alive.”

“…”

Rui looked up at the bustling Fishhead Village, then noticed the graceful figure walking toward him, his brow furrowing slightly, his tone turning colder.

“Sister Liu, you mean I should take the lead?”

Liu Meijia paused, then laughed sweetly, “It must be you, Young Master Rui. Strong Source is being held back. But I can support you with manpower—like Zhang Kang’s old crew.”

“There are hundreds in Fishhead Village,” Rui said softly.

Liu Meijia was unconcerned. “Take away the elderly, women, and children—how many are left? Just a bunch of unruly villagers, not martial arts experts. If two hundred can’t handle it, three hundred surely can. We’ll split the costs—when Fishhead Village is conquered, Ghost King Cave is yours, I only want Liangou Hollow.”

Conquer Fishhead Village? Liu Meijia was truly vicious—planning to wipe out the village entirely?

“What about afterward?” Rui wasn’t afraid, but wondered how to settle things.

Liu Meijia considered, then smiled, “With your connections, it should be easy to cover up. I’ll throw in ten million as ‘medical expenses’ afterward.”

“Ten million isn’t enough. Fifty million,” Rui said with a wicked grin.

Liu Meijia burst out laughing. “Young Master Rui, are you treating me as a bank?”

“Fixing Fishhead Village will mean significant casualties. Greasing palms, medical expenses, compensation—I doubt ten million will suffice,” Rui shook his head.

Liu Meijia saw that Rui was tempted. Manpower and money were no problem—what was lacking was someone to take the lead, and Rui had volunteered himself.

With his network, even if things got out of hand, it wouldn’t touch her.

“Fine, if you really want to do this, I’ll put up thirty million, you put twenty million—ten million each. With fifty million, we could crush those unruly villagers to death!” Liu Meijia’s smile deepened.

Fifty million? Level Fishhead Village?

Rui’s eyes gleamed with excitement and malice. If this worked, both the woman and the Ghost King Cave would be his.

With fifty million, who couldn’t flatten Fishhead Village? On a dark, moonless night, it would be enough to bury the whole village.

“How about I meet with you for dinner, Sister Liu, and we discuss this face-to-face?” Rui was tempted, but didn’t immediately agree.

“Wonderful! I’ll host, and find a few girls to accompany you!” Liu Meijia laughed.

“Alright!”

Rui hung up.

He stared at Fishhead Village, his eyes flickering.

“Xiaoyu, do you know the going rate for mercenaries?” Rui suddenly asked his personal bodyguard, Xiaoyu.

Yubinglu was startled, tilting her head. “I know a bit, but mercenaries aren’t exactly ‘popular’ here in the country.”

Rui shook his head, gazing at Fishhead Village. “Never mind about that. If we bury this village, what would it cost to hire mercenaries?”

Bury Fishhead Village? Rui’s words made Jiaqi shudder involuntarily.

This was a mountain village with hundreds—bury all of them? What about the people—bury them alive?

Yubinglu frowned, giving Rui a long look. If he truly did this, she couldn’t stay by his side anymore—not even in the country.

She had thought he was just a pretender, but hadn’t expected such ruthlessness.

“Demolishing the village is one price. Killing people is another,” Yubinglu thought to herself, but her expression remained unchanged.

“Leave none alive,” Rui said, reclining against Jiaqi, his tone casual.

Yubinglu considered, then lowered her voice, “A bunch of unarmed villagers won’t cost much. But with so many, it would likely run between thirty and fifty million.”

“Thirty to fifty million?” Rui repeated, glancing at her, grinning wickedly. “Would your company take this job?”

Yubinglu shook her head. “That’s not up to me. If you’re serious, I can call headquarters and ask. Of course, you’ll have to decide—if they take the job, they’ll negotiate the price directly with you.”

“Alright.” Rui nodded, saying no more. He was only considering it—perhaps such ruthless means wouldn’t be necessary.

“We’ll see how things go.”