Chapter 11 – Didn’t Your Mom Tell You?
“Ning Chen, I suggest you open your eyes.”
Liu Qingxue snuggled close to Zhang Hao, curling her lips in disdain as she said to Ning Chen, “With just you, trying to compete with Young Master Zhang? In your next life, maybe!”
Ning Chen clasped his hands behind his back, ignoring the two, and made another bid.
“Five million!”
Such a lavish move instantly made the crowd draw in sharp breaths!
“He actually went straight to five million!”
“That’s outrageous—Zixing Leaf is precious, but it’s not worth that much!”
Zhang Hao froze for a moment, then without hesitation continued bidding.
“I’ll add another million!”
With a smug face, Zhang Hao glanced mockingly at Ning Chen. “A useless freeloader trying to match my wealth? Take a piss and look at yourself—do you deserve it?”
“If you’ve got the guts, keep bidding!”
Ning Chen looked at Zhang Hao calmly, his tone firm: “Eight million.”
Zhang Hao said casually, “I’ll add another million—nine million!”
…
The two went back and forth, bidding higher and higher.
Before long, Ning Chen had already bid twelve million.
As the price climbed, the room fell into dead silence.
“Old Master.”
Xiao Longhai’s breathing grew heavy, his chest heaving, as he urgently whispered to Xiao Zhenbang, “We agreed to buy medicine for Ning Chen, but not like this!”
“Twelve million—this is way beyond what we expected!”
Xiao Zhenbang kept a stern face, saying nothing, but his eyes held faint disapproval.
Seeing his words were working, Xiao Longhai decided to add more fuel to the fire. “Could it be this kid is doing it on purpose? Raising the price recklessly, not caring at all!”
“Zixing Leaf isn’t worth this much—stop him quickly.”
Hearing this, Xiao Zhenbang frowned and slowly nodded.
“Longhai, go stop him.”
After a pause, Xiao Zhenbang said in a deep voice, “Tell Ning Chen the Xiao family will get Zixing Leaf through other channels—this time, let it go.”
With Xiao Zhenbang’s approval, Xiao Longhai’s face lit up with joy. He hurried to Ning Chen’s side.
“Wait!”
Clearing his throat, Xiao Longhai swept a glance at the crowd.
“Sorry, but we’ll pass on this Zixing Leaf.”
With a polite tone, he said, “Young Master Zhang, if you like it, please take it—the Xiao family is withdrawing.”
Ning Chen shook his head lightly. “No. The Zixing Leaf is mine.”
Hearing this, Xiao Longhai’s eyes darkened with anger.
So this money isn’t yours, and you really don’t care about wasting it.
It’s the Xiao family’s money—you can’t just squander it like this!
With that thought, Xiao Longhai’s expression turned cold, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes.
“The Old Master has spoken—we’re dropping out of the bidding.”
His voice carried a warning: “The Xiao family will buy Zixing Leaf for you from another source. Enough—come back now, stop making a fool of yourself.”
Ning Chen remained unmoved, expressionless. “I don’t agree.”
“You…”
Seeing Ning Chen unmoved by either persuasion or threats, Xiao Longhai’s face turned iron-blue. He gritted his teeth. “Don’t be shameless!”
“Without the Xiao family’s money, how will you buy Zixing Leaf?”
At this, Zhang Hao laughed heartily, full of delight. “Ning Chen, the Xiao family won’t even pay for you—how can you still compete with me?”
“When did I ever say I needed the Xiao family’s money?”
Ning Chen said coldly, “Either keep bidding, or get lost!”
The words made Xiao Longhai’s expression instantly change.
“You’re still pretending, aren’t you?”
“Without the Xiao family, where will you get twelve million?”
Xiao Longhai glared fiercely at him, then turned back with a sycophantic smile to Zhang Hao.
“Young Master Zhang, if you want this herb, just take it. No need to waste time on Ning Chen—without the Xiao family’s support, he’s not worthy to compete with you.”
Zhang Hao smirked arrogantly. “Well said—Ning Chen really isn’t qualified to fight me.”
“Now, I’ve changed my mind.”
Zhang Hao turned to the Zixing Leaf’s owner. “I’ll give you one yuan for it.”
“What did you say?!”
The middle-aged man could hardly believe his ears.
“O-one yuan?!”
The man forced a strained smile. “This is a century-old Zixing Leaf, Young Master Zhang—surely you’re joking?”
Zhang Hao’s face darkened. “I’m not in the mood for jokes. You think I actually need this lousy herb?”
“One yuan is already me giving you face—don’t push your luck!”
The middle-aged man’s face went pale, torn between fear and unwillingness.
The Zhang family’s power was immense—he couldn’t afford to offend them.
But to hand over something he’d worked so hard to acquire for nothing—that was unbearable.
“Sell it to me—twelve million.”
Ning Chen spoke up.
The middle-aged man glanced at him, hesitating.
“You’re afraid Zhang Hao will cause you trouble?”
Ning Chen’s gaze locked on the man, as if seeing right through him.
“Do you dare to sell it to him?”
Zhang Hao, seeing Ning Chen still not giving up, became intrigued and strolled over.
“Go ahead—try selling it to him!”
At that, the middle-aged man involuntarily lowered his head.
A flash of cold light burst from Ning Chen’s eyes.
“When I’m speaking, you’d better not interrupt.”
Before Zhang Hao could react—
Slap!
Ning Chen swung his hand back and struck Zhang Hao squarely across the face!
The blow was so hard it knocked Zhang Hao to the ground, half his face swelling instantly, with a clear five-finger mark imprinted on it!
Five fingers—distinct!
Zhang Hao scrambled to his feet, clutching his burning cheek, staring at Ning Chen in disbelief and rage.
“Ning Chen! You dare hit me? You must be tired of living!”
Ning Chen narrowed his dark eyes, speaking coldly. “Yesterday I broke one of your arms—seems you still haven’t learned your lesson.”
At this, Zhang Hao’s pupils contracted sharply.
The freshly healed arm injury began to throb again. He instinctively stepped back a few paces, swallowing hard, momentarily speechless.
Seeing this, the crowd was shocked, whispering among themselves.
“The Xiao family’s son-in-law—has he gone mad? He actually hit Young Master Zhang?!”
“He must be tired of living!”
“He’s doomed now—Zhang Hao will never let this go!”
…
Hearing the murmurs, Zhang Hao’s eyes turned razor-sharp, his rage boiling over. He was about to order his bodyguards to deal with Ning Chen—
When, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a tall, black-clad figure entering the banquet hall.
Zhang Hao turned to look—
It was Xiao Yunfei, son of the Black Shaman Hall’s feared leader, King Yama Xiao!
The two were on good terms.
Most importantly, the Ning family estate had already been sold to Xiao Yunfei.
Xiao Yunfei was not someone to cross. If Zhang Hao ordered his bodyguards to attack Ning Chen here, it might incur the Xu family’s displeasure.
After all, the Xu family was hosting this medicine fair—and Zhang Hao didn’t want to offend them unless necessary.
But Xiao Yunfei had no such scruples.
The Black Shaman Hall’s King Yama was a famous and feared figure in the underworld!
Zhang Hao’s eyes lit up. He quickly turned and jogged over, greeting him warmly.
“Young Master Xiao, what brings you here?”
Xiao Yunfei frowned. “In a bad mood—just taking a walk.”
As he spoke, his gaze fell on Zhang Hao’s swollen, impossible-to-ignore cheek.
Surprise flickered in Xiao Yunfei’s eyes.
The mighty Young Master Zhang—slapped in the face?
“What happened to your face?”
Mentioning it made Zhang Hao’s anger surge again. He pointed at Ning Chen in the center of the hall, gritting his teeth. “That guy hit me!”
Following his finger, Xiao Yunfei narrowed his eyes.
“Who is he?”
Zhang Hao snorted. “His name’s Ning Chen—son-in-law of the Liu family’s idiot. Young Master Xiao, could you do me a favor?”
At Ning Chen’s name, Xiao Yunfei’s face darkened, his eyes growing cold.
“So it’s him!”
Yesterday, the Black Shaman Hall’s men had gone to take over the Ning family estate.
That night, they’d come back in disgrace—not only failing to take the house, but with several of them crippled.
As the son of the Black Shaman Hall’s leader, Xiao Yunfei had never suffered such humiliation!
“So, you’re Ning Chen. What a small world!” Xiao Yunfei said coldly.
Zhang Hao raised his brows in surprise. “You have a grudge against him too?”
“Yesterday, he crippled several of my men—what do you think?”
Xiao Yunfei’s tone dripped with icy intent.
“What?”
Zhang Hao was first shocked, then a smile spread across his lips.
He had been planning to ask Xiao Yunfei to deal with Ning Chen—only to find out they were already enemies!
This was a death wish waiting to happen!
“Then you must not let him go—he’s also the one who crippled my arm!”
Xiao Yunfei nodded, striding toward Ning Chen with the air of a predator.
“Kid, you injured my men yesterday.”
Ning Chen glanced at him indifferently. “So? What do you want?”
“I’m Xiao Yunfei. Do you know who my father is?”
Ning Chen replied casually, “Didn’t your mom tell you?”
At that, Xiao Yunfei’s face turned black as thunder.
“Kid—you’re asking for death!”
