What was going on?
Everyone in the banquet hall was stunned.
Jiang Chuan's subordinates, all in black suits and holding handguns, had been exuding an intimidating aura.
But compared to the fully armed soldiers with live ammunition, they looked utterly ridiculous.
Now, their faces were pale with fear, and they quickly retreated, daring not to provoke any conflict.
It was a joke to clash with these people; they wouldn't even know how they died. No one was foolish enough to confront such a heavily armed force head-on.
Jiang Chuan only paid them a meager sum each month, not worth risking their lives for.
"Damn it, what the hell is going on?"
Jiang Chuan couldn't help but curse.
These fully armed soldiers weren't arranged by Young Master Tao, but were called by Song Qiao...
He felt like heaven was playing a trick on him!
How could this Song Qiao have such a powerful background? Where did he get the authority to summon so many people?
"You, what exactly do you want to do?"
Now it was his turn to be intimidated.
Song Qiao chuckled and straightened his suit.
"I don't want to do anything."
"Heh, you want me to compensate you for your losses, and I did. But ten million yuan is enough to buy the entire hotel, and I don't think it's worth it."
"So, I had to ask the Security Department to help 'renovate' it for you to make it worthwhile."
His words left Jiang Chuan somewhat dazed.
"Renovate?"
"Yes, that is, smash the entire hotel and 'renovate' it. I reckon with that, my ten million yuan will be almost spent."
"Smash, smash it all?"
Jiang Chuan's eyes widened like saucers, resembling copper bells.
This hotel was the result of his hard work and dedication.
"No, this... we can talk, we can talk things through."
The scene before him had completely dumbfounded him. He had initially thought Song Qiao was alone and could be bullied easily.
Who would have thought that the other party would summon hundreds of fully armed soldiers in the blink of an eye? Compared to the small weapons his subordinates were holding, his men were like a joke.
In an instant, he secretly glanced at Tao Yingcai, hoping for help, but saw that the latter's face was pale, and he sat there without a word, clearly still suffering from his earlier injuries.
Seeking help from Tao Yingcai at this moment seemed useless. What could be done?
Did he really have to watch his painstakingly managed hotel being smashed?
No, absolutely not.
"Song Qiao, this, this is all a misunderstanding between us. If there's anything, we can discuss it properly."
Song Qiao looked at him as if he were a clown, completely unfazed.
"Discuss? What's there to discuss? You extorted ten million from me, and I'm helping you 'renovate.' Isn't that fair?"
Saying that, he waved his hand.
"Everyone, begin."
"Stop! Stop!"
Jiang Chuan was frantic and quickly shouted.
"Song Qiao, what right do you have to command these security guards?"
"I suspect you're impersonating an official. If you don't give me an explanation today, I..."
Before he could finish, he was slapped across the face with a 'slap'.
The person who struck him was the adjutant who had reported earlier. The blow was solid, leaving Jiang Chuan disoriented.
"Song Qiao is an officer in our Security Department. How dare you slander him? Do you want to spend the rest of your life in prison!"
After speaking, he directly pulled out his badge and showed it to Jiang Chuan.
Song Qiao was a formally enlisted member of the Security Department, appointed by the provincial governor himself, hence holding a very high position.
But Jiang Chuan, watching his life's work about to be destroyed, covered his face and gritted his teeth.
"So what? You're illegally deploying armed forces. I'll sue you, I'll sue all of you!"
"Not a single one of you will escape!"
He was unwilling to accept it, no matter what, he didn't want to see his hotel smashed like this.
But Song Qiao appeared indifferent.
"Alright, go ahead and sue. I'll be waiting."
With that, he waved his hand, and the soldiers who were ready for action began to 'renovate' Jiang Chuan's hotel.
Almost no one dared to speak at the scene, nor did they find anything wrong with it.
After all, Jiang Chuan had extorted first. Ten million yuan was a crime serious enough to warrant a significant prison sentence.
Jiang Chuan watched as the hotel's windows and chairs were smashed, his lips trembling with heartache.
He didn't dare to sue. Not to mention the extortion, even if the other party had initiated the conflict, he wouldn't dare to sue.
After all, if it came to an investigation, his complex relationships with various powers and his clandestine dealings would be exposed, and then he, with a pile of problems, would likely be imprisoned for life.
There was nothing he could do.
After a moment of struggle in his mind, Jiang Chuan's spine seemed to have gone limp. He slumped down and quickly took out the check he had received earlier from his pocket.
This thing felt like burning hot coals now...
"Song Qiao, I beg you, I beg you. This hotel is something I worked so hard to build. I put so much effort into it. Please don't let them smash it. I'll return the money to you, okay?"
Song Qiao sneered, took the check without hesitation, and put it back in his pocket.
But even after getting the money back, he didn't immediately order the soldiers to stop their 'renovation.'
Jiang Chuan's face was ashen, as if he had seen a ghost. He couldn't defeat Song Qiao in a one-on-one fight, and in terms of power, he was completely crushed by the other party.
Why had he offended such a person...
Seeing this, everyone finally understood. Someone was indeed begging for mercy, but it wasn't Song Qiao who was doing the begging; it was Jiang Chuan.
Xia Xueqing watched this scene, feeling incredibly vindicated. Her fair face was filled with pride.
Yes, how could she have forgotten? Her Song Qiao had an identity in the Security Department and worked there.
Earlier, she had just been too panicked.
"Song Qiao, you're truly amazing."
Overcome with emotion, she linked her arm through Song Qiao's, her face full of admiration.
Xia Yuqing, who was following behind, looked at the scene with disbelief.
So... so Song Qiao was this capable?
How foolish had she been in the past to make the decision to divorce him?
Thinking of this, her regret over her past decision intensified. But sometimes, a mistake is a mistake, and there might not be a chance to regret it.
"Alright, everyone, let's stop for now."
Only when the entire banquet hall had been 'renovated' to a considerable extent did Song Qiao wave his hand, signaling the soldiers to stop. He then turned to look at the anxious and flustered Jiang Chuan.
"Jiang Chuan, consider this a warning. Next time you try to extort someone, remember to think carefully if I'm so easily bullied. Otherwise, I won't be taking the money back next time."
These words were like a knife twisting in Jiang Chuan's heart, making his face turn pale.
Not taking it back... meaning ten million to destroy his property, and even his life...
He dared not ponder further and quickly retreated, not daring to say anything more.
Someone was indeed begging for mercy today, but no one expected it to be Jiang Chuan.
Seeing this, Song Qiao swaggered out of the hotel with the two women.