All in the Stick

"Grandpa, I want to as well, but I already offended Young Master Qin once before, and now I've run into him again..."

Listening to his grandfather's scolding over the phone, Liu Silin couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Was it that he didn't want to suck up to him?

"If you want to, then do it. Being scared of this and that, you won't even be able to kiss a single hair on his head. Before, Wang Er, Cai Cheng, and the others—which one of them didn't manage to curry favor with him precisely because they offended Qin Ning and Xiao Fei? If others can do it, why can't you?" Elder Liu was so furious he wished he could reach through the phone and smack his grandson.

"Alright, I'll listen to you, Grandpa. But first, we need to resolve this current matter."

Elder Liu said, "I'll give Ding Guoguang a call right now."

After saying that, he hung up directly.

Meanwhile, in an office building in Tianfu City.

Ding Guoguang, the top leader of Shu Province, was signing some important documents.

Suddenly, his private phone rang, making him freeze for a moment.

After all, only a handful of people knew his private number.

Glancing at the caller ID, Ding Guoguang was immediately startled. He quickly answered, "Elder Liu, why the sudden call? Is something the matter?"

"There is."

Elder Liu's voice was deep and carried a serious tone, causing Ding Guoguang to feel a bit uneasy.

"Your son, Ding Hui, has offended a very important person."

Then, he explained the entire sequence of events over the phone exactly as it happened. Finally, he didn't forget to add, "This Qin Ning—it's not just me; even Elder Zeng has to be polite when he sees him. Figure out what to do yourself."

Hearing this, Ding Guoguang was scared silly, and his forehead began to sweat.

Naturally, he wouldn't think Elder Liu was joking.

Given the other party's status, how could he possibly have the free time to play such a joke on him?

But just who was this Young Master Qin?

He was, after all, the top leader of Shu Province, a true high-ranking regional official. When did such an incredibly powerful young man appear in the country without him knowing a thing about it?

Although curious, after hanging up with Elder Liu, Ding Guoguang hurriedly found his son Ding Hui's number and called him.

"Dad?"

Ding Hui's somewhat confused voice came from the phone.

"Who the hell did you offend today? Elder Liu even called me personally!"

"Damn you, hurry up and send me your address. If I don't come over there right now and beat the crap out of you, I'll take your last name!"

Ding Guoguang unleashed a furious tirade into the phone, his face turning green with rage.

"Dad, I... I'm at the Splendid Manor..."

Ding Hui was scared out of his wits. When Liu Silin made his call earlier, he deliberately avoided them, so Ding Hui naturally hadn't heard anything and had no idea that Liu Silin's call was actually to Elder Liu.

After giving the address, the other end of the line hung up in a hurry.

Hearing the dial tone from his phone, Ding Hui finally looked at Liu Silin with a miserable expression. "Young Master Liu, what exactly is going on? How did you end up alarming your grandfather? He even called my dad, and now my dad is on his way over. I'm definitely doomed!"

Hearing this, everyone was greatly shocked.

Did Liu Silin actually tell Elder Liu about what happened here?

But even so, with Elder Liu's status and position, why would he care about these trivial squabbles among the younger generation?

It made no sense.

"Let me tell you the truth. Later, when your dad hits you, you'd better hope he strikes hard. The more miserably you're beaten, the better your chances of earning Young Master Qin's forgiveness. Don't think I'm joking. The terror of Young Master Qin has far exceeded your comprehension. Not just my grandfather, but even Elder Zeng is polite when he sees him."

Liu Silin's words nearly made Ding Hui wet his pants in fear.

He took a cigarette from his pocket, wanting to calm his nerves, but found his hands shaking so much that he couldn't light it. His mind was in complete chaos.

Meanwhile, at the office building.

After hanging up on his son, Ding Guoguang hurried out of his office, running all the way from the second floor down to the first.

At the stairs, he suddenly bumped into someone who also seemed to be in a panic, running downstairs.

"Secretary Ding?"

This person was none other than Bai Yongjian.

He had just received a call from his own son, Bai Xuelin, and learned about what was happening at the Splendid Manor.

"What are you doing?" Ding Guoguang was curious, not understanding why the other man was also in such a rush.

Bai Yongjian replied, "I've already heard about the situation. I need to take a trip to the Splendid Manor as well. Secretary Ding, shall we go together?"

"You heard about it too?"

Hearing this, Ding Guoguang was slightly taken aback but quickly realized that Bai Xuelin was also at the Splendid Manor; Bai Yongjian most likely got the news from his son.

But even so, there was no reason for Bai Yongjian to be this panicked, right?

Unless he had known about a figure like Qin Ning from the very beginning?

Soon, the two got into the same car and ordered the driver to head toward the Splendid Manor at top speed.

In the car, Ding Guoguang couldn't help but ask, "Lao Bai, do you know Young Master Qin?"

"Naturally." Bai Yongjian nodded seriously.

His old man had been saved by the other party from late-stage cancer, and his entire person had even become ten or twenty years younger.

This was a great benefactor to their Bai family; how could Bai Yongjian not know?

"What exactly is this Young Master Qin's background? Elder Liu personally called me just now and said that even Elder Zeng is polite when he sees him?" Ding Guoguang still found it somewhat unbelievable.

"I'm not too clear on the specifics either, and I couldn't tell you even if I were. However, when we get to the Splendid Manor later, just remember not to hold back. Hit him hard. Perhaps Young Master Qin will let this matter go on account of you being a strict father."

Bai Yongjian spoke earnestly, "Although I haven't interacted with Young Master Qin much, I can tell that he is easygoing and quite reasonable to talk to."

"I understand." Ding Guoguang nodded heavily.

Soon, the car stopped at the entrance of the manor. After the two got out, they immediately found the private room where Liu Silin, Ding Hui, and the others were.

As soon as he entered the door and looked at his son, Ding Guoguang's anger flared up, but he didn't strike immediately. Instead, he asked Liu Silin, who was standing to the side, "Young Master Qin and the others should still be here, right?"

"Yes, they haven't come out of their private room yet, though they might soon," Liu Silin replied.

"Good."

Ding Guoguang nodded. Then, grabbing his son Ding Hui, he looked at Bai Yongjian beside him and said, "Lao Bai, you know Young Master Qin. Could I trouble you to go over and knock on the door for me..."

"Sure." Bai Yongjian agreed, then took the lead in leaving their private room.

Liu Silin followed them out as well.

Meanwhile, the others were scared silly and didn't dare to move, obediently staying where they were.

Soon, after knocking on the door of Qin Ning's private room and getting a response, Bai Yongjian, Ding Hui, Liu Silin, and Ding Guoguang walked in.

Ding Guoguang suddenly appeared holding a wooden stick, though it was unclear when or where he had found it. He cautiously turned to Qin Ning and said, "Young Master Qin, my worthless son Ding Hui has deeply offended you today. It is my fault as a father for failing to discipline him properly. Any further apologies would just be empty words, so I will let this stick speak for me."

With that said, he raised the stick and, without a moment's hesitation, ruthlessly brought it down hard on his son.