Chapter 234: Chapter 234: Won’t Cry Until They See the Coffin _1
At this point, Zhang Lijun had completely lost face, and stopped pretending altogether.
He wanted to deny everything as a way to deal with Ye Ming.
Ye Ming sneered and said, "Zhang Lijun, don’t you feel ashamed when you say these things? The first time I came to your house, I didn’t come to make trouble, but just to annul the engagement."
"But you looked down on me, made things difficult at every turn, and even demanded compensation for your so-called loss of reputation. Such shamelessness was indeed a rare sight!"
"Now that things have come to this point, it’s all your own doing. The reason I have to deal with you this way is because you forced my hand."
"Do you really think I don’t dare to kill? Even if I were to kill your entire family, within the whole Ningjiang City, would anyone dare to utter a word against me?"
Upon hearing this, the Zhang family no longer had any bluster left.
What Ye Ming said wasn’t unreasonable. He had now conquered all the masters in Ningjiang City, with even the number one fighter Long Zaitian submitting to him. What death-fearing master would dare to stand up for them? And why would they?
Just for the sake of the Zhang sisters? Absolutely not.
Beautiful though the Zhang sisters were, no one would be foolish enough to pay with their life for such beauty.
Zhang Lijun had dared to shout at Ye Ming because he had completely forgotten that Ye Ming was capable of killing.
All the assassins who tried to kill Ye Ming the day before had met with violent deaths. The one behind their demise was naturally Ye Ming himself. Having already killed so many, what difference would a few more from the Zhang family make?
Zhang Lijun felt a chill down his spine, but still stammered, "You... you have no evidence. When you and I made the bet, I never gave you a written promise. Moreover, there were only the two of us present. What right do you have to take the Zhang family’s property?"
"If you want to seize our property by force, there will naturally be people who will deal with you!"
Ye Ming did not get angry, but laughed instead, "Let’s just wait and see, I don’t believe you can continue to be so arrogant."
"You..." Zhang Lijun cursed furiously, "I dare you to try!"
"Is there no law left in Ningjiang City now?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a shout suddenly came from not far away, "Why wouldn’t he dare?"
All eyes turned as one, a murmur running through the crowd.
Nobody expected that this skirmish would attract the personal attention of the Ningjiang Mayor.
He came to Ye Ming and Zhang Lijun with a stern expression, and said authoritatively, "I have come here today to serve as a witness. Since the Zhang family proposed the bet, you should accept the loss willingly. With me as witness, your family must hand over the property!"
Zhang Lijun was deflated, looking at the Mayor somewhat incredulously.
"Mayor, you... why have you taken his side?"
The Ningjiang Mayor looked coldly at Zhang Lijun and said, "Zhang Lijun, you’re really asking for trouble without seeing the coffin. I’ve warned you before not to provoke him, but you did not listen and disregarded my words!"
"Now that things have reached this point and you still don’t repent, you’re trying to deny everything. You’ve got some nerve. Aren’t you afraid of bringing destruction upon the entire Zhang family?"
"I..." Zhang Lijun was left speechless and at a loss for words.
The Mayor had made his stance clear; the rest was up to him to understand.
He no longer paid attention to Zhang Lijun but instead turned to look at Ye Ming, speaking respectfully, "Mr. Ye, I came here today for this moment. With me here, I will ensure that Zhang Lijun fulfills the rest of the bet. All properties of the Zhang family will be transferred to your name, and I will handle all the procedures."
The Mayor had nearly offended Xia Ningning and Ye Ming previously because of Zhang Lijun’s actions and was determined to salvage the situation at all costs to maintain his position.
Upon seeing the Mayor’s attitude towards Ye Ming, those present at the scene immediately fell silent. No one dared to speak another word.
Zhang Lijun’s face was filled with despair.
He thought Ye Ming wouldn’t dare to kill someone in public, he thought the Ningjiang Mayor would have his back; at the very least, the Mayor would ensure the lives of the Zhang family members. That’s why he tried to use shifty means to keep the family’s assets.
Although this method was shameless, it would at least preserve their family’s business.
But now, all possibilities were gone.
The Mayor had already taken sides with Ye Ming; they were in complete agreement. What right did he have to defy Ye Ming?
"I admit defeat!" Zhang Lijun’s face was ashen.
Once the foremost influential family in Ningjiang City, thus it utterly collapsed.
Having uttered these words, his body seemed to be drained of all energy, slumping directly to the ground.
Regardless of the calls from the others, he ignored them.
To prevent him from reneging, the Mayor had already sent someone with a contract, placing it in front of Zhang Lijun.
At that moment, he had essentially become Ye Ming’s steward.
Zhang Lijun was extremely troubled, yet he had no choice but to submit. The principle of the victor being king was all too clear to him.
All he felt now was regret. If he had accepted Ye Ming’s request back then, if he hadn’t looked down on Ye Ming, perhaps he wouldn’t have ended up with his family in ruins.
At most, he would have only lost a daughter.
But now, what he had lost was the entirety of the Zhang family’s assets.
Utterly defeated, with possibly no chance of ever turning things around.
The Zhang family’s empire, built by the hands of the old Master Zhang, had now been squandered in Zhang Lijun’s hands. If the old master were to awaken, how could he even begin to explain?
Indeed, upon learning of this, the old master could very well die of rage.
The previous cold pride no longer existed on Zhang Ruoyu’s face, only an expression of disbelief.
She shakily approached her father and asked, "Father, is that marriage contract real?"
Zhang Lijun, no longer able to contain himself, shouted, "Yes, it’s real!"
"It was me who didn’t take him seriously. Your marriage to him was arranged by the old master. Initially, I deemed him nothing but a simple peasant and couldn’t be bothered to inform you!"
"I had intended to send him away, but never expected it to lead to such consequences."
Zhang Ruoyu’s eyes brimmed with tears as she too, trembling, looked at Zhang Ruoxue, "Does that mean the debt acknowledgement is also real?"
Zhang Ruoxue had long been crying, reduced to a weeping figure huddled on the ground, helplessly nodding her head.
Zhang Ruoyu, enraged to the point of turning pale, felt her legs give way and collapsed onto the floor.
Seeing this, Zhang Ruoxue hurriedly rushed over to catch Zhang Ruoyu, and the two sisters wept together.
Everyone in the Zhang family was filled with sorrow; they had lost everything they could rely on, and some didn’t even know how to carry on living.
They had lived lives of luxury and never experienced hardships. This battle had now thrown them into the abyss. Were they expected to go out and labor, to provide for their family?
After taking over all of the Zhang family’s assets, Ye Ming was preparing to leave with several girls.
However, when he heard the cries of the Zhang sisters, Ye Ming ultimately found himself unable to remain indifferent and advised, "Zhang Ruoxue, now that you have paid the money, there are some things I can tell you. The Herbal Pill that you took from me before, you must not have used it correctly, right?"
