Chapter 22: The Gold Shop Owner’s Identity

Jewelry Store.

Chu Feng followed Xuanxuan into Ma Long's shop. Once Ma Long learned everything that had transpired, he immediately hung a "Closed for Business" sign on the door.

"Brother Chu, perhaps we are cut from the same cloth." Ma Long poured Chu Feng a cup of tea. "Are you bleeding?"

"That is their blood." Chu Feng took a towel from Xuanxuan and wiped the blood from his face.

He looked up at Ma Long. "It seems that Xuanxuan's surveillance of me these past few days was at your behest?"

"You discovered it?" Xuanxuan was astonished.

Trained by veterans in prison, Chu Feng had mastered the art of counter-surveillance quite thoroughly.

Chu Feng took a sip of tea. "How could I not? I noticed you held no hostility toward me, so I chose not to confront you."

"When did you realize?"

"Back at the roadside stall. When you saw me talking with Zhang Fuqiang, you left. Ever since then, your eyes have been filled with hatred whenever you look at me. If I am not mistaken, you must have a history with Zhang Fuqiang." Chu Feng glanced at the thinning crowd outside the window.

"To show my sincerity, I will tell you." Ma Long handed Chu Feng a cigarette.

Chu Feng remained silent, listening intently.

"Back then, we were competitors with the Sun family. To prove himself to his father-in-law, Zhang Fuqiang had his thugs burn down our family’s factory. Many people died that day." A look of hatred flickered in Ma Long's eyes.

Chu Feng suddenly recalled something. "I’ve heard of that—fifteen years ago, a fire at a paint factory. Over a hundred people died."

"My father was the manager of that paint factory. The fire was massive. After he saved me, he realized my mother hadn't made it out, so he ran back into the flames, but... he never came back." Xuanxuan’s eyes turned red as she spoke.

"My brother-in-law was a good man. He hired many disabled people at the factory; I was one of them." As Ma Long spoke, he removed one of his eyes. It was a high-end prosthetic, so realistic that even Chu Feng hadn't noticed.

"Who says good people are rewarded? My brother-in-law did so much, only to die in the fire with my sister. The blaze was too intense, and the paint was highly flammable. By the time it was extinguished, the bodies had fused together... I can never forget that scene." Ma Long clenched his fists.

"To get revenge, I tried several times to ram Zhang Fuqiang with a dump truck, but he always had too many bodyguards. I even considered blackmailing him or kidnapping his wife or daughter, but I realized... it was useless. Zhang Fuqiang only cares about himself."

Chu Feng suddenly felt the depth of Ma Long’s frustration. The enemy was right in front of them, yet they were powerless to strike back.

"Why tell me all this? Aren't you worried that I might tell him about you?" Chu Feng lowered his voice.

"Because a while ago... I found a recording." Ma Long handed Chu Feng a handheld camcorder containing security footage. It showed Chu Feng outside the bar, making a phone call to a newspaper office.

Chu Feng was shocked.

"Don't worry, there are no backups of this footage! I had Xuanxuan follow you because I thought you had powerful backing. I wanted to recruit you—I would have paid any price to have your connections help us take our revenge!" Ma Long explained, locking eyes with Chu Feng.

Chu Feng understood that Ma Long was asking why he was targeting Zhang Fuqiang. He found himself in a dilemma. He couldn't exactly say it was because of the tragedy of his past life. If he spoke of rebirth, they would surely take it as a joke. After all, reality is rarely as absurd as fiction.

He thought for a moment and said, "I had a brother who was framed by Zhang Fuqiang and sentenced to life imprisonment... all because he tried to save Zhang Fuqiang's wife and accidentally killed someone..."

Chu Feng framed his past life experience as a story about a "friend."

Ma Long nodded. "That sounds like him. In Zhang Fuqiang's eyes, only his business empire matters! Neither his wife nor his daughter is as important as his ambition. For the sake of his reputation, he is certainly capable of such things."

Chu Feng exhaled, relieved that Ma Long believed him. He decided to press further: "I am currently investigating the cause of Sun Jin's death. Do you know how she died?"

"Are you planning to dismantle them from within?" Xuanxuan asked.

Chu Feng nodded.

"The sudden passing of the mistress of Dingsheng Group caused quite a stir in Jiangcheng. I heard about it, too. They said she died of an illness," Ma Long explained.

Chu Feng was puzzled. "But I heard that Zhang Fuqiang’s first wife was in excellent health. She was even a provincial-level athlete when she was young!"

"That's right. After Sun Jin passed away, all the power in the group fell into Zhang Fuqiang's hands. If he had been held back by the Sun family before, her death was the turning point—it marked the moment he took total control of their wealth," Ma Long said. He paused, then added, "Oh, I seem to recall that after Sun Jin died, her private doctor also mysteriously disappeared."

"A private doctor?" Chu Feng frowned, a thought striking him. "If Sun Jin was murdered, that doctor might be the only person who knows the truth!"

"Silenced," Xuanxuan said. "But if that doctor is still alive, he is our trump card!"

Chu Feng’s eyes widened. He hadn't expected to find such a crucial piece of information here.

Just then, his phone rang. It was a call from Zhang Yanran.

Ma Long looked at him. "If you have other matters to attend to, Brother Chu, feel free to go."

"Chu Feng! You've been raising so much capital lately—are you planning a hostile takeover of Dingsheng Group?" Xuanxuan stood up.

Chu Feng was stunned. "Is that not possible?"

"A strategic acquisition through various means could indeed defeat Dingsheng, but the capital required is likely a drop in the ocean for you right now. Dingsheng Group has a market value of fifty billion. How do you intend to fight that?" Xuanxuan asked.

In reality, such a strategic acquisition is a legal tactic—a surprise raid launched without the approval of the target company's board. It involves moving with lightning speed to secure a controlling interest and become the majority shareholder.

"Then I shall suppress them while I raise the funds," Chu Feng said, looking at them before walking away with a flourish.

Watching his retreating figure, Ma Long frowned. Though Chu Feng was just a college student, he carried himself like a battle-hardened veteran.