Chapter 1243 - 1243: Bai Huanyu's Speculation

"Tie Niu, do you feel something's not quite right?"

Jiangcheng, in Bai Huanyu's small courtyard.

An old and a young man sit opposite each other, with a cup of fragrant tea each placed in front of them on the tea table.

"What do you mean by 'not quite right'?" Bai Tieniu asks humbly as he gets up to pour tea.

If Xiao Feng were present, he would have noticed that Bai Tieniu's demeanor was much more composed now than when he was seen in the 4S store earlier.

However, this composure was closer to "sinister," like a venomous snake in the desert.

Still as can be, and once it moves, it takes a life!

"Xiao Feng's side has been too calm lately, which isn't his nature." Bai Huanyu sips some tea and explains.

Upon hearing Xiao Feng's name, a sharp glint flashes in Bai Tieniu's eyes, and he says menacingly, "He hasn't been showing any moves lately, but there's nothing to be surprised about."

"Share your thoughts."

"The atmosphere in Jiangcheng is very tense and subtle right now; everyone knows that forces from Kyoto have entered the fray.

But how many forces and exactly who they are, no one can say for sure until now.

Xiao Feng isn't an idiot; acting like before now would only make him a target for everyone."

"Hmm... what you said makes sense." Bai Huanyu nods slowly, then changes the subject, "However, I feel Xiao Feng wouldn't be this compliant.

How are the businesses supporting us doing?"

Bai Tieniu curses angrily, "One-fifth joined He Qizheng's business alliance; these opportunistic bastards will regret their choice one day!"

"Haha, no need to get angry, businessmen always chase profits, so it's normal to run where the money is," Bai Huanyu says calmly.

After a pause, Bai Huanyu asks, "What about Xiao Feng's side?"

"Even our Bai Family is facing challenges, let alone him. Two-thirds of his supporters have left, leaving only a few stubborn ones sticking around."

"Don't underestimate these diehards. The Du Family and Du Qingyun, the Chang Family and Chang Wenhua, as well as Wang Lubo from Kyoto, these people still have influence."

"They merely have influence!" Bai Tieniu dismissively says, "If they were truly formidable, they wouldn't be restricted everywhere now."

Bai Huanyu sighs, "Tie Niu, it's fine to enjoy the spectacle, but you must realize, if Xiao Feng falls now, it's not good for us.

Remember the saying, 'When the rabbit dies, the fox mourns.'

His situation today may be ours tomorrow."

Bai Tieniu remains silent; he prefers to see Xiao Feng's downfall rather than worry about things like 'mourning the rabbit.'

However, these thoughts clearly aren't suitable to be voiced now.

After a moment of silence, Bai Huanyu suddenly says, "Tomorrow morning, personally invite Xiao Feng on my behalf, tell him we invite him to discuss important matters at the Bai Family's house as a guest."

"Invite Xiao Feng?" Bai Tieniu furrows his brow.

"Don't be surprised; it's just a ruse. I want to verify a suspicion.

If I'm correct, you're unlikely to meet Xiao Feng on this trip."

"Why?"

Bai Huanyu smiles, "Currently, we and Xiao Feng face similar predicaments. To break out of our respective situations, we need both inner strength and external strength.

We have it a bit better because of our deep roots, but he can't rely solely on the Du Family and the Chang Family.

Therefore, the only way to turn the game around is to go outside, to open channels. Even if it can't completely break out of the predicament, it can at least sustain for a while longer.

And once confirmed he's not in Jiangcheng..."

Bai Huanyu doesn't finish the sentence, but his intentions are already clear.

Bai Tieniu, delighted, says, "All right, I'll go early tomorrow!"

...

Meanwhile;

Xiao Feng takes Lin Bingqiao to a roadside noodle shop.

The noodle shop is small, with a leather curtain and a cotton curtain hanging at the door.

The interior is smoky, like being in clouds, with steam from the kitchen and smoke from customers drinking and smoking, the smell very pungent.

"Cough cough cough cough cough..."

As soon as she steps inside, Lin Bingqiao can't stop coughing fiercely, running outside to catch her breath.

"Can we eat outside?" Lin Bingqiao points to the tables under the nearby shed.

Xiao Feng laughs, "Sure."

Then, he goes inside to order two bowls of spring noodles.

The two stand at the end of the square table, neither showing any intention to sit down.

No wonder, the benches are too cold, standing feels better.

After a moment of silent face-off, Lin Bingqiao speaks first, "Your skills..."

However, just getting started, she catches sight of a figure appearing.

The person looks six or seventy years old, disheveled, wearing tattered clothes, giving off a vagrant vibe.

Xiao Feng's attention shifts too, he sizes up the person, his gaze becoming playful.

In front of this seasoned actor, the old man resembling a vagrant has slightly better acting skills than trendy young actors.

With just one glance, there are no less than three obvious flaws.

The person enters the noodle shop, and within two minutes is chased out by the boss.

"Get out, get out, what are you eating if you don't have money?"

"Can I help you wash dishes?"

"I don't need dishwashers, plus you're covered in oil and dirt, if people see you washing dishes, who will come here to eat?"

"Then, then..."

"Don't dawdle, I'm busy, no time to deal with you!"

After speaking, the noodle shop boss lifts the curtain and goes back inside to work.

The old man stands on the steps, looking up at the drifting snowflakes, tears slip from the corners of his eyes, which only makes people feel more heartbroken.

Of course, that's relative to Lin Bingqiao.

Xiao Feng, having noticed something was off, scores the old man a nine for this "crying scene" in his mind...with the full score being one hundred.

"This boss is too much!" Lin Bingqiao angrily says, "Just a bowl of noodles, is there a need to be so petty?"

Hearing this, Xiao Feng frowns, more resolved to steer Lin Bingqiao away.

Objectively, the old man's plight of having no money to eat doesn't have a direct relation to the noodle shop boss.

The two are neither related nor obligated to help.

In such a situation, wouldn't it be right to say, helping means kindness, and not helping isn't wrong?

There's no need to morally condemn, it doesn't hold ground!

"Sigh..."

The old man sighs, wipes away tears and snot with his greasy, twisted sleeves, and braces the snow to look for another place.

Lin Bingqiao finally can't take it anymore and shouts, "Mister, get a bowl of noodles, tell the boss I'll pay!"

The old man immediately becomes overwhelmed with emotion, falls to his knees with a thud, and keeps bowing to Lin Bingqiao.

"Don't, don't, it's just a bowl of noodles, no need for this."