Chapter 250: Chapter 250: Surely He’s Not So Desperate as to Risk It All
Liu Qiang was afraid the prize almost in his grasp would just fly away. When he saw Shen Nian turn to leave, he moved to grab her and pull her back.
Shen Nian’s expression darkened when she sensed Liu Qiang reaching for her. She had no desire to be touched by such a man.
Besides, with Shen Nian’s current abilities, it would have been easy enough for her to avoid his touch.
But don’t forget, there was a dedicated bodyguard right by Shen Nian’s side.
When he’d seen Shen Nian talking with Manager Liu earlier, Shen Xiangdong hadn’t really understood any of it, so he had just watched her speak with Liu Qiang without offering any opinion.
When Shen Nian decided to leave, he naturally followed.
But who would have thought that the moment they turned, the man would actually try to get handsy with Shen Nian? As her big brother, how could he stand for that!
Without a second thought, Shen Xiangdong stepped directly in front of Shen Nian and shoved Liu Qiang.
"Don’t touch my sister!"
Caught completely off guard by the shove, Liu Qiang staggered back a few steps and almost fell to the ground.
But even though he didn’t fall, Liu Qiang was furious.
He had worked here for so long and had never been treated this way. Rage instantly flared up inside him.
"You... you people... you’re something else, you really are!"
Liu Qiang glared daggers at Shen Nian and Shen Xiangdong for a few moments. Then he looked around and started shouting.
"Assault! Someone’s causing trouble! Someone’s trying to start a fight in our supermarket!"
Supermarkets are generally bustling. Even if the produce section was quiet, the neighboring snack aisle was packed with people.
Liu Qiang’s shouts really did draw a crowd of curious onlookers. As more people walked over, the area around them became more and more packed.
Seeing the crowd that was gradually forming, Liu Qiang shot a triumphant glare at Shen Nian and Shen Xiangdong.
’This supermarket is my turf. How hard could it be to take care of a couple of out-of-towners!’
"Everyone, you be the judge! These two people came in and asked to see me, the manager. Then they said they wanted to become one of our supermarket’s suppliers. Our store is the biggest in the provincial capital, so obviously, not just anyone can become a supplier. I was just trying to reason with them! And what happens? They offer me a ’benefit’—a kickback—to help them get the contract. I’m a good manager; I would never do something like accept a bribe, so I turned them down flat. But I never expected this! Just because I wouldn’t agree, they tried to hit me, right then and there! They nearly pushed me to the ground! You tell me, how can people be so despicable!"
Liu Qiang rattled off this long speech without taking a single breath, his face contorting into all the appropriate expressions as he spoke.
Shen Nian watched Liu Qiang. ’With acting skills like these,’ she thought, ’why isn’t he an actor? What a waste!’
Shen Xiangdong’s face was flushed red with anger. "You’re spouting nonsense! That’s not what happened at all! You were the one who demanded a kickback from us, and when we refused, you tried to lay a hand on my sister! That’s why I pushed you!"
"What a joke! I’m the manager of this supermarket. You think I’d risk this great job to openly demand a kickback from you? I’m not crazy!"
"You..."
In this day and age, the word "bribery" was still a sensitive topic. And since Liu Qiang had the advantage of telling his side of the story first, many people in the crowd believed him, despite Shen Xiangdong’s protests. They started pointing at Shen Nian and Shen Xiangdong and whispering amongst themselves.
Indeed, Liu Qiang was the supermarket’s manager. Surely he wouldn’t be reckless enough to risk it all, would he?
