1Laughing and talking, the two entered a boutique restaurant specializing in Shandong cuisine and sat down in a private room.
Lighting a cigarette for Xiao Ming, Shen Siyi said apologetically, "This matter today, it's all because I've been irresponsible before, only knowing how to eat, drink, and be merry, and still troubling you to make a special trip here for such a trivial amount of money.
But, Ming, believe me, every word you said to me that night, I've remembered in my heart.
From now on, I will definitely work hard to sort myself out and make something of myself following your lead. If I mess around again, you won't even need to kick me out, I'll roll far away myself!
So... so..."
"So, if your brother has a bad attitude later on, I should be more tolerant, right?"
"No need to tolerate, no need to tolerate," Shen Siyi quickly gestured with his hands, "If Ming could be... slightly more patient, that would be enough."
Seeing the awkward and embarrassed expression on this young master's face, Xiao Ming laughed.
"Actually, I don't think there's anything wrong with enjoying oneself. As long as it doesn't impact what's important and doesn't hurt others, you should enjoy life as you wish. It's your right and your freedom.
Equating playfulness with unreliability is a traditional view of the older generation. I didn't expect your brother to be so conservative.
Don't worry! Your brother's 'weight' is far from enough to make me angry."
"That puts me at ease then."
Shen Siyi chuckled awkwardly, and it was unclear whether he was truly at ease or just forcibly calm.
Before long, the door of the private room was pushed open, and two men walked in.
The one in the lead was of medium height, with a seven to eight resemblance to Shen Siyi, his hair meticulously combed and wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, looking very bookish.
Just from the appearance, the eldest son of the Shen Family, Shen Siqi, indeed seemed much more reliable than the irresponsible Shen Siyi.
"Big brother, you've arrived!" Shen Siyi stood up.
"Let me introduce you. This is my big brother, Shen Siqi.
Big brother, this is the 'God' I told you about, Xiao Ming, Ming."
Shen Siyi quickly introduced both parties in a single breath, but Shen Siqi just brushed past him as if he didn't exist.
"Hello, Mr. Shen, pleased to meet you."
To save face for Shen Siyi, Xiao Ming reached out his hand to greet him first.
Shen Siqi didn't even look at his hand and swept his gaze over him arrogantly before waving to someone behind him.
The secretary following him stepped forward and tossed a plastic bag onto the dining table.
The bag was not tied, exposing the bright red banknotes inside, totaling five stacks, fifty thousand yuan.
"Big brother, what... what do you mean by this?" Shen Siyi asked, bewildered.
Without looking at him, Shen Siqi said indifferently, "I have another meeting soon and don't have time to dine with riffraff. This money is both for the drink fee and a warning, I hope Mr. Xiao knows what's good for him."
After finishing his words, he turned and left. Shen Siyi grabbed him, eyes glaring, and said, "Shen Siqi, you better clarify your words to me!"
"It's clear, Mr. Shen sees me as a street swindler," Xiao Ming spoke up, "This fifty thousand yuan is a fee for 'buying your freedom,' also known as a courtesy payment, or road money.
By the rules, if I take the money, any scam I've set up on you must cease immediately.
Unexpectedly, the distinguished eldest son of the Shen Family is also so familiar with the ways of the underworld. Just on this point alone, Siyi, you're quite lacking!"
Shen Siqi turned back with a cold glance, "Since Mr. Xiao understands, then he should also know that the only reason I'm giving you this money is because I find it bothersome and don't want to waste the effort."
Xiao Ming nodded with a smile, "Indeed. For a 'nobleman' like you who counts money by the minute, the time cost of dealing with a swindler is far greater than fifty thousand yuan.
Mr. Shen know how to do business well. In this sense, Siyi seems to fall short."
Shen Siqi snorted, "Good! Mr. Xiao is a smart man, you..."
"Shen Siqi!"
Suddenly, Shen Siyi raised his voice, "Ming is my brother, and even if you are my real brother, you have no right and no qualification to humiliate him!"
Shen Siqi chuckled, looking at him as one would look at a yapping Chihuahua, filled with disdain.
"You're wrong. Precisely because he's your brother, I want to humiliate him.
Because, anyone you associate with, you included, are nothing but garbage that wastes food in my eyes!"
Shen Siyi's face turned red, his eyes full of humiliation and anger, his fists clenched tightly, as if he would pounce on Shen Siqi and fight him at any moment.
"Siyi," Xiao Ming called out to him and asked, "how many shares do you own in Qianshan Group?"
Puzzled, Shen Siyi answered, "Seven percent."
Xiao Ming did some mental calculations and then asked, "How much money are you planning to ask for this time?"
"Five million."
"Do you trust me?"
"I trust!"
"Good!"
Xiao Ming's gaze turned back to Shen Siqi, "Mr. Shen, although you know a lot and can do business, you really fall short of Siyi by more than just a tiny bit when it comes to being a person.
Previously, I even boasted to Siyi that someone of your level didn't have the qualifications to anger me.
Now, I must take back those words. Not because of your insults towards me, but because the things you said as a brother to your own little brother were way too beastly.
And a beast needs to be whipped a few times to learn to behave."
Shen Siqi was taken aback, then burst into laughter, "Now that would be something to see. I'm curious, Mr. Xiao, what do you plan to use to whip me with?"