Lin Fan picked up the phone and checked, then said: "It doesnât really matter who I am. Donât forget, we live in a world governed by laws. According to the law, fabricating facts to defame others, if serious, can result in up to three years of detention. Little Sheng couldnât bear the pressure and committed suicide. I think your actions are serious enough. Iâll have my lawyer work hard to ensure you get the maximum sentence and spend three years reflecting on your actions. What do you think?"
Zheng Jintao was furious: "You punk, trying to scare me? Think Iâll be afraid of you?"
Lin Fan smiled and said: "I think youâre a bit scared."
A person often gets angry when they feel threatened; itâs a stress-induced reaction commonly known as âashamed then angry.â
Lin Fan wasnât wrong. Zheng Jintao indeed felt an inexplicable fear. Lin Fan pointed it out, angering Zheng Jintao since he shouldnât be scared of this kid. He looked like a broke young man, not threatening at all!
Moreover, people around were watching. If he backed down publicly, wouldnât that be embarrassing?
Zheng Jintao said coldly: "Bullshit! How could I, Zheng Jintao, be afraid of you? Youâre just a punk, thinking youâre important!"
Lin Fan said: "Ah-Tao, is there really nothing you care about in this world? Little Sheng, do you know what Brother Tao cares about?"
Zou Xiaosheng said: "His family used to be very poor, often involved in petty thefts. Otherwise, he wouldnât have stolen the old hen I raised for my grandma. At thirty, he still couldnât get a wife. Then he worked in construction in the city, became a small foreman, and with money, got married and had a son. He boasted in the village that his son attends some international kindergarten, bragging about his connections and face, claiming ordinary people canât get into that school, and the tuition costs tens of thousands each year. I didnât specifically ask; he just boasted when he came back for the New Year, and everyone knew."
Lin Fan nodded: "So, Brother Tao does have things he cares about. Brother Tao, think about it. If youâre jailed for defamation, wonât you lose your job? Wonât your son be unable to attend the international kindergarten? Will your wife divorce you?"
Zheng Jintaoâs face darkened, and he shouted: "Youâre threatening me with my wife and kids? Youâve got guts! Do you believe I could beat you so badly youâd be unable to take care of yourself?"
Lin Fan smiled: "If you dare to hit me, thatâs another crime added. Iâm not bluffing. If I wouldnât mind some things, then let them pass. But if it comes down to it, you wonât get any advantage!"
Zheng Jintao was furious: "Who do you think you are? You think youâre important? I, Zheng Jintao, want to see what you can do to me!"
Lin Fan shook his head and said: "Brother Tao, is it necessary? Little Sheng is an innocent girl. Because she exposed your theft, you retaliated against her, and harmed her like this? Can your conscience live with that? Imagine if it were your son, would you do the same? Iâm a person of reason. Little Sheng is a kind girl. As long as you admit your mistake and apologize to Little Sheng, I believe she will forgive you, and it would save me some effort too."
Zheng Jintao sneered: "Admit what mistake? Everything I said is true, Zou Xiaosheng is just trash!"
Zou Xiaosheng was trembling with anger. Lin Fan was earnest, but Zheng Jintao was unrepentant. What could they do?
Lin Fan shook his head and said: "Okay then, Iâve said both nice and harsh words. Everyone here has seen, itâs Zheng Jintao who refuses to repent. Iâve been pushed to my limits. Brother Tao, can you tell us where you work?"
Zheng Jintao glared: "Why should I tell you?"
Lin Fan smiled: "Are you afraid to tell me? That doesnât seem like you, Brother Tao, have you backed down?"
Everyone was watching Zheng Jintao. With Lin Fanâs question, it seemed as if every face asked him the same thing: Have you backed down?
This made Zheng Jintao feel very humiliated, under great pressure.
How could he back down in front of this punk? Impossible!
"So what if I tell you? Iâm with Yunjian Second Company! Letâs see what you can do, you punk!" Zheng Jintao said.
Lin Fan laughed: "Yunjian Second Company? If it were another company, I might have to spend some time. I know Yunjian Second Company."
As he spoke, Lin Fan picked up his phone and made a call, "Itâs me. I remember our headquarters has a project, isnât Yunjian Second Company bidding too? Hmm, call Yunjianâs boss now and tell them they are out, the reason being a small foreman named Zheng Jintao."
Lin Fan hung up the phone and looked at Zheng Jintao: "Sorry, Brother Tao, youâre about to be out of a job."
Lin Fan made a call, claiming Zheng Jintao would be unemployed. How could Zheng Jintao believe that?
"Kid, youâre trying to scare me, do you think you are? Can a single call from you make me unemployed? Thatâs not how you act tough. Iâm not admitting any mistakes, letâs see what else youâve got!" Zheng Jintao shouted.
The crowd also thought Lin Fan must be bluffing, trying to scare Zheng Jintao into admitting and apologizing.
To be fair, Lin Fan did a good job convincing them, but on second thought, it was easy to see through. Anyone who could make Zheng Jintao unemployed with one call must be a powerful figure. Would such a person dine at a street stall like this?
Lin Fan smiled: "You wonât admit it, meaning you know youâre wrong but just wonât own up to it, right?"
Zheng Jintao sneered: "You punk, is this your trick to get me to talk?"
Zheng Jintao felt reassured. Admittedly, he was bluffed by Lin Fan at first, but now it seemed this guy was merely putting on a show!
How could one call make him unemployed? What a joke!
Ring ring ring...
Just as everyone thought it was impossible and Zheng Jintao felt at ease, Zheng Jintaoâs phone suddenly rang.
Immediately, everyoneâs attention turned to Zheng Jintao.
Zheng Jintao took out his phone and, upon seeing who was calling, his facial expression changed instantly. It was his Big Boss. Why would the Big Boss call at this time?
Zheng Jintao didnât have time to think. He didnât dare to ignore the Big Bossâs call, quickly answered it, displaying a fawning smile, just about to speak.
However, before he could say anything, he was bombarded by a series of scoldings from the other end.
"Zheng Jintao, what the hell did you do? I could kill you!" the Big Boss shouted, his tone suggesting he was beyond furious.
Zheng Jintao was frightened, why was the Big Boss so angry?
"Big Boss, I-I didnât do anything?" Zheng Jintao stammered.
The Big Boss shouted: "Didnât do anything? Why would Mortal Group directly kick us out? The reason they gave was you!"
"Ah?"
Upon hearing this, Zheng Jintao suddenly realized something. His face changed drastically, looking at Lin Fan in utter shock.