96: Chapter 96 is rolled up.

Good grief.

The competition.

Just pure competition!

Han Jingyang clicked his tongue inwardly and nodded, "You can start anytime, but you must watch it the whole time. Not a single item in the room can go missing. I've already finished the blueprints; I'll send them to your phone in a bit, and you can print them out for the foreman."

Liu Jing glanced proudly at Shi Xiaoya and said loudly, "I understand, Boss."

Han Jingyang continued, "Come with me to Xu Xin's place in a bit to say thank you. Since he saved your life, it's necessary to go and express your gratitude in person."

"Okay, I'll buy some gifts."

"Just buy some fresh fruit."

"Wouldn't that be too casual?"

"There's no need to stand on ceremony between friends. Besides, I helped him too, so it's mutual. It's the thought that counts."

"Okay."

At this moment, Shi Xiaoya whispered, "Boss, that Xu Xin is no simple person."

"How so?"

"He Dingkun once tried to recruit him. His skills are above Liu San's. He's a Taiji disciple and was a fierce fighter when he was young. It was only after he started a family and established his career that he gradually faded from the martial arts world."

"There's such a backstory?"

"Back when He Dingkun first entered the business world, Xu Xin was just starting out in the martial arts world, and his reputation was far greater than He Dingkun's. Later, the state tightened regulations, and these martial arts practitioners had to tone it down. He Dingkun, on the other hand, seized the opportunity to catch up and surpass him. After founding the Dingshen Group, he's invited Xu Xin almost every year, but Xu Xin has always refused."

"What's Xu Xin's situation now?"

"He opened a hot pot restaurant, that Kuaiyi Hot Pot Restaurant on the Eleventh Road. It now has three or four chain stores and the business is quite good. Other than that, he's no different from an ordinary person. By the way, Xu Xin only has one daughter, named Xu Jingyun, who is attending university at the Capital Normal University, and she is in her second year of high school this year."

"That's true retirement."

"Just about. But saying 'retirement' isn't that easy. When fellow martial arts practitioners come to Quancheng, Xu Xin still has to host them. The Kuaiyi Hot Pot Restaurant is actually a gathering spot for martial arts people in Quancheng. It's just that there's less fighting and killing now; it's much more peaceful. Twenty years ago, they would have already been beating each other's brains out."

"He still has dealings with people from the martial arts world?"

"Of course," Shi Xiaoya chuckled. "Boss, you don't think you can truly cut ties with the martial arts world just by saying a few words about quitting, do you? It's not that simple. Even novelists wouldn't dare write it that way. Forget retirement; even in death, you might not find peace. The martial arts world is exactly the same as this society—a huge arena of fame and fortune. He either shouldn't have gotten involved in the rights and wrongs of the martial arts world from the start, or once he took a step in, he could never get out, unless he hid somewhere no one would ever find him."

Han Jingyang nodded slightly, indicating he understood.

It's just that this martial arts world is a bit different from the one he learned about in novels and movies.

But thinking about it, he felt this was the real martial arts world.

Where there are people, there is a martial arts world.

Wherever there are people, that is the martial arts world.

Everyone is a person of the martial arts world; it's just that the world they are in is different.

The industry and circles are different, but human nature is the same everywhere.

As long as human nature doesn't change, the martial arts world will never die.

However, this doesn't mean Xu Xin isn't a good person, or that there's no need to be grateful for Xu Xin saving his life, and it certainly won't stop him from associating with him because of his past.

That makes no sense. As long as it's not someone as heinous as He Dingkun, everything else is negotiable.

Han Jingyang asked Shi Xiaoya for more information about Xu Xin, then called Xu Xin, "Old Xu, where are you?"

"At the shop, brother. Anything up?"

"I'm bringing my little shop assistant to your place in a bit. I only found out today that Kuaiyi Hot Pot is your business. I went there quite a bit when I was in school."

"Haha, welcome, welcome! I'll wait for you at the shop. When you get here, we'll have a good drink. The beer I have here is all sourced from the Dao City First Factory. Hehe, thanks to an old buddy of mine who works at the First Factory."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, the First Factory's beer has the best flavor, but the production is a bit low. The Second Factory's beer gives you a headache easily. The Fifth Factory's is not bad, but the production is high, so it's lacking something. Everyone in Dao City knows this. But now, the First Factory's beer is getting harder and harder to get. The grade is getting higher and higher; it's either exported or sold at a high price."

"I can't wait. I'll be there in twenty minutes."

Kuaiyi Hot Pot Restaurant.

Xu Xin hung up the phone. His expression wasn't very happy, but he glanced at his daughter working at the front desk, sighed, put on a smile, and called out, "Jingyun, clean up private room number two."

"Did someone book a table?"

"Little Han is coming over."

"Him? What is he coming for?"

"Go do your work. Also, have the kitchen slice up some fresh beef and lamb. Slice plenty."

"Oh."

After giving the instructions, Xu Xin called Wang Zhiwei, "Old Wang, want to come have a drink?"

"Inviting me to drink for no reason? There must be something up. Tell me what it is first."

"Just keep me company for a while."

"Which big shot is it? You, Boss Xu, actually care so much?"

"Han Jingyang."

"What's he doing going to your place?"

"You'll know when you get here."

"Wait for me, I'll be there soon."

Twenty minutes later.

Han Jingyang led Liu Jing to the Kuaiyi Hot Pot Restaurant. Before getting out of the car, he saw Xu Xin and Wang Zhiwei standing at the entrance. He tilted his head toward Liu Jing, "See that? Their way of receiving guests and their etiquette are impeccable."

Liu Jing pouted, "I can do that too."

"In the future, you'll also be a person of the martial arts world. You need to learn how to receive guests. If you don't do it well, it's easy for people to find fault with you, and even if you're in the right, you'll be in the wrong. These martial arts people care most about face. Often, they'd rather have less tangible profit than lose face."

He got out of the car and led the slightly reserved Liu Jing over, waving from a distance, "This shop is really nice. Every time I come, I feel quite touched."

Xu Xin and Wang Zhiwei also walked forward about ten steps to meet them.

They met.

Handshakes.

They were all acquaintances, so there was no need for formalities.

In the lobby, Xu Jingyun saw the fruit in Liu Jing's hand and immediately understood the purpose of Han Jingyang and Liu Jing's visit. She quickly took the fruit, "Sister, come with me. Let those stinky men smoke and drink. Let's find a quiet place to eat fruit."

Liu Jing turned to look at Han Jingyang.

Han Jingyang nodded, "Don't look at her young age; she has more experience in the martial arts world than you. Learn from her."

Liu Jing was pulled away by Xu Jingyun.

The three men entered the private room and sat down. Xu Xin said seriously, "Brother, there was no need to make a special trip."

"It's a small gesture from my little shop assistant. If I hadn't insisted, she would have spent a lot of money on gifts."

"Really no need, really no need. I've also benefited from it. To put it bluntly, it's an honor for me that you, brother, thought of me, Old Xu, when you had something come up."

At this point, Wang Zhiwei chimed in, "You two, stop being so polite. Seriously, it's normal to help each other out. Why calculate things so clearly? It's not like you're doing business and have to haggle over every detail."

Han Jingyang and Xu Xin both nodded.

Wang Zhiwei then continued to ask, "Brother, have you found the culprit? If not, Old Xu and I can help. Although we aren't big shots, we are both born and raised in Quancheng. We know quite a few people in various areas, so finding someone shouldn't be difficult."