Chapter 44: Just a Dog

During the meal, Zhou Danzhuang, right in front of Ye Fei, scolded her disappointing fourth uncle, Huang Duocai, and then sent him home. Though her words weren’t particularly emotional, Ye Fei could sense that his ninth senior sister cared deeply about Huang Duocai.

“After this lesson, I doubt Fourth Uncle will continue gambling,” Zhou Danzhuang sighed in relief and muttered to herself, “But that was five hundred thousand! Just like that, gone! How many days would I have to work to earn it back?”

“Ninth Sister, why are you doing so much worse than Second Sister?” Ye Fei asked curiously. “Didn’t our master teach you any tricks to make money?”

“What nonsense are you saying! You little rascal!” Zhou Danzhuang reached out and twisted Ye Fei’s ear, fuming, “Tell me! Did you learn your gambling skills from Master? Do you know that organizing gambling is illegal?”

“Ouch, ouch, it hurts!” Ye Fei cried out miserably.

“Hmph!” Zhou Danzhuang snorted, took a sip of soup, and smiled with squinted eyes. “Thanks, little brother! Tonight, I’ll say a few good words for you to Second Sister. I guarantee you’ll have somewhere to sleep!”

“No way, Second Sister won’t forgive me that easily. How about this—” Ye Fei grinned, “Tonight, I’ll sleep in your room!”

“Go to hell!” Zhou Danzhuang blushed and then became serious. “Little brother, let me tell you about the situation with the jade pendant you asked me to investigate.”

“Alright.” Ye Fei straightened up as well.

“When you gave me the jade pendant that day, I had a colleague check it out. It turned out to be connected to a child trafficking ring!”

“Child trafficking?” Ye Fei was taken aback and asked curiously, “Then what?”

“Then, I followed the trail and eventually uncovered a human trafficking syndicate. There was even a shootout! If I hadn’t reacted quickly and shot the leader dead, you probably wouldn’t be seeing me today!”

Zhou Danzhuang lifted her chin proudly.

Ye Fei looked helpless. “Sister, can you get to the point?”

“What’s the rush!” Zhou Danzhuang glared at him and continued in a softer voice, “Though the case is closed, the connections behind it are very complicated. The chief didn’t let me continue investigating, but I secretly dug a little deeper and found it’s related to someone called Uncle Qin. This person’s background in Hangzhou seems especially significant.”

“Uncle Qin?” Ye Fei frowned. “Sister, how did your investigation lead to him?”

“Why? Is that not allowed?” Zhou Danzhuang was momentarily confused, then detected something in Ye Fei’s tone. “Do you know ‘Uncle Qin’?”

“I don’t.” Ye Fei thought for a moment and said nothing more.

Zhou Danzhuang had lived with Lin Qiqing for so long, and the latter hadn’t mentioned the Four Great Families. There must be a reason, so Ye Fei didn’t want to say too much. After all, Ninth Sister seemed so innocent and naive, completely different from the worldly and experienced Second Sister.

“Oh.” Zhou Danzhuang didn’t ask further and continued, “I stopped the investigation there and took another approach, checking the information about the children trafficked by that syndicate in recent years.”

As she spoke, she took out Ye Fei’s black jade pendant and placed it on the table.

“The pattern engraved on this black jade pendant is very similar to the logo of an orphanage on the outskirts of Hangzhou.”

“And, in the span of ten years, that orphanage had more than twenty children named Ye Fei at the same time.”

“What?” Ye Fei was stunned.

More than twenty children named Ye Fei at the same time?

How could that be possible?

“Right? Surprised, aren’t you?” Zhou Danzhuang raised her beautiful eyes and said, “I was shocked when I first heard it from my colleague, but after comparing the data, it turned out to be true!”

“Where is that orphanage? Take me there now!”

Ye Fei said decisively.

…

Meanwhile.

Hangzhou, Qin Family Villa.

A middle-aged man dressed in a traditional tunic suit, dignified in appearance, with slicked-back hair, was gazing at the many ancient paintings hanging on the living room wall.

These paintings, if displayed outside, would each be worth nearly a million.

And their owner was—

Qin Yongfeng, head of the Qin Family.

He also had a prominent title in Hangzhou.

Uncle Qin.

The spacious living room was enveloped in silence, absolute stillness.

On the sofa sat another person.

Qin Yongfeng’s son, Qin Feiyang.

His face was gloomy, and he kept his head down, looking apologetic. Since he entered the house, he hadn’t uttered a single word.

Beside him stood two silent figures.

Qin Yongfeng took a puff from his pipe, turned toward the bandaged A Gui, and calmly questioned, “A Gui, I told you to come see me as soon as you returned to the country. You didn’t listen. Where have you been these past two days?”

A Gui hung his head in silence, his eyes filled with resentment and shame.

“Qin…Uncle Qin…” Zhou Hu, dressed in a floral shirt, forced a bitter smile and hurriedly said, “It was my fault. I arranged for A Gui to handle something. If you want to punish someone, punish me. It’s got nothing to do with the young master.”

“Punish you?” Qin Yongfeng sneered, “You’re just a dog at my side. Punish you? Do you even have the right?”

“Yes, Uncle Qin is right.” Zhou Hu broke out in cold sweat, his body trembling, not daring to say another word.

Having followed the Qin Family for nearly eight years, he knew Qin Yongfeng’s temperament all too well.

His word was law.

He detested anyone overstepping their bounds.

Beside him, Qin Feiyang braced himself and said, “Dad, I called Huzi and asked him to help. Please don’t be angry. If you want to blame someone, blame me. I was being immature—I just wanted to teach that kid a lesson. I didn’t expect A Gui to get so badly hurt, even breaking his hand.”

Qin Yongfeng’s face was grim and he remained silent.

As the sole heir of the Qin Family, Qin Feiyang had been pampered since birth, never scolded, and whenever trouble arose, Qin Yongfeng would immediately send someone to handle it.

This had made Qin Feiyang arrogant and heedless, even contemptuous of others.

In this regard, he was almost a perfect reflection of Qin Yongfeng.

But Qin Feiyang never understood one simple truth: there is always someone stronger, always another mountain beyond, always another person greater.

“Huzi, from today onward, Feiyang will work under you. When he learns to manage my businesses, only then will he be allowed to return!” Qin Yongfeng glanced at Qin Feiyang coldly and said, “If he dares not to listen, discipline him for me!”