"..."
Wang Yu subtly stepped back, avoiding the approaching middle-aged woman.
"Auntie... I mean, Madam." Glancing at Aunt Li, Wang Yu shook his head slightly. "Your daughter-in-law and I have no relationship whatsoever. Please don't make baseless accusations."
"No relationship? Then why did you give her money? Who just hands out money for no reason? Do you think I've lived for decades for nothing?"
Aunt Li gestured wildly at Wang Yu, appearing ferocious, as if he had committed a heinous crime.
"Heh, whether you've lived for decades for nothing, I don't know. Thank you, Master Chen... no need to help."
Wang Yu held up his hand to stop Old Master Chen, who had been about to intervene. Old Chen had quietly told him that this Aunt Li was a notorious shrew in the neighborhood, known for being unreasonable and troublesome.
Standing his ground in the center, Wang Yu faced her directly.
"Let's talk like adults, Auntie," Wang Yu said calmly.
"Pah! Who wants to talk to you! You shameless scoundrel!" The aunt spat a glob of phlegm. "Using your few measly bucks to hook up with a married woman, why don't you get drowned in a pig cage!"
"What did you say?" Lin Jianguo, who had accompanied Wang Yu, was displeased. He had just been brought out of the police station by Wang Yu, and seeing Aunt Li's demeanor reminded him of the fat landlady who had deliberately slandered and framed him.
Both were equally unreasonable and detestable!
Lin Jianguo stepped forward. His square, dignified face exuded authority, causing Aunt Li to flinch violently, retreat a couple of steps, and then begin to wail.
"Help! Help! The scoundrel and his accomplice are attacking me! This old woman can't go on living!"
She immediately sat on the ground, crying and lamenting to the heavens.
The surrounding onlookers were speechless. Stepping forward was considered an attack? If he got any closer, would he blow her away with a single breath?
Wang Yu was also exasperated. Such people, in later generations, would undoubtedly be the prime candidates for staged accidents and public square dancing. Don't ask him how he knew; his heart ached!
"Auntie, let's talk things through properly."
Wang Yu stopped Lin Jianguo and instructed him, "This has nothing to do with you. Go back and be with your wife and children."
"But..."
"No 'buts.' There are so many people here."
Wang Yu smiled and shook his head, casually placing two ten-yuan bills into Lin Jianguo's hand. "Go back and get the kids something nice to eat."
"No, Little Factory Director, I can't accept this!"
Lin Jianguo was shocked and quickly refused. He had just received such a high salary today.
"Don't be so hesitant, big man. This is a gift for your wife and children, not for you. The money is for you to spend on the children, not on yourself! Think carefully about what I said today!"
Hearing Wang Yu's words, Lin Jianguo was stunned. He fell silent, quietly accepted the money Wang Yu gave him, nodded, and turned to leave.
Aunt Li, who had stopped wailing,'s sharp eyes fixated on the twenty yuan Wang Yu had given Lin Jianguo. When she saw Wang Yu turn to look at her, she abruptly changed her expression and resumed her "performance" of howling and lamenting.
"Alright, alright, stop wailing," Wang Yu said with a smile, stepping forward again.
Old Master Chen, with keen insight, brought over a chair and placed it in front of Wang Yu.
The elderly are wise. He could see clearly that Wang Yu was not only a major investor but also someone that Factory Director Yang Song feared. Naturally, he wouldn't miss an opportunity to curry favor.
Nodding in thanks to Old Master Chen, Wang Yu boldly sat down.
He settled onto the seat, an old-fashioned, large bamboo chair, common and popular in this era, but practically extinct in later generations.
Leaning back comfortably, Wang Yu adjusted his posture before slowly and deliberately turning his gaze to the middle-aged woman.
Leaning back, he met Aunt Li's gaze as she slumped on the ground. He clearly saw the greedy and shrewd glint in her eyes.
"Alright, stop this pointless drama. Everyone is tired at this hour. Just tell me what you want."
Wang Yu asked directly and without politeness, only to be met with another round of wailing from the aunt.
"You people are bullying this old woman, I can't go on living! Oh heavens..."
"Enough!" Wang Yu's voice suddenly rose, his tone stern, cutting her off. The onlookers were also startled.
No one expected the usually amiable and smiling man to suddenly become so severe.
"You've shouted and made a scene. If you still don't know what's good for you, don't blame me for being impolite," Wang Yu said with a cold snort. "Since you mentioned I'm relying on my few measly bucks, let's just settle this with money."
As he spoke, Wang Yu took out the remaining bills from his pocket, forming a wad that he placed on the table.
"There are about a few hundred yuan here, I haven't counted the exact amount. It's here now. You can either take it and never cause trouble again, or we can call it quits.
I'll directly report to the Public Security Bureau, and we'll go there. You won't escape administrative detention for disturbing public order.
Alternatively, I can offer this money as a reward. I'm sure there are plenty of people who would help me shut you up! For example... a sticky plaster."
Wang Yu's words choked Aunt Li. Her gaze greedily swept over the money in his hand, then she hesitated, struggling. "Liu Lu wronged my son, you can't just let it go like this, you have to add a bit more..."
Her tone had softened, clearly wanting more.
Seeing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
It was best to resolve this peacefully. Aunt Li was notoriously stubborn, and her troublemaking inconvenienced everyone. Getting her to be quiet was a good thing. It was just a shame that this young Factory Director Wang had to suffer, being unfairly branded as a scoundrel and having to fork out a large sum.
Yes, several hundred yuan was indeed a large sum!
"Is that so?" Wang Yu smiled faintly and put the money away under everyone's gaze.
"Since you're ungrateful, then consider everything I've said as if it were unsaid. Factory Director Yang?" Wang Yu's gaze shifted to Yang Song beside him. "Is this considered an internal matter of your Steel Rolling Plant? If you can't even resolve internal issues, how can we discuss the acquisition? This puts me in a difficult position!"
Wang Yu leaned back in his chair, prolonging his tone as he slowly picked at his fingernails, his voice conveying a professional, business-like demeanor.