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Novel Catalog
Chapter 38
The tension in the air thickened as the workers stood frozen, unsure of what to do. They had hoped that Hei Hu’s arrival meant their freedom or at least some recognition for the work they had done. Instead, they were met with disdain and anger.
Hei Hu’s voice cut through the silence like a blade. “You’re all a disgrace to me!” he roared, stepping forward with the full force of his fury. His subordinates followed him, surrounding the workers, their expressions unreadable but certainly not sympathetic.
Jiang Ning, still in his car, overheard the commotion. He hadn’t expected Hei Hu to show up, let alone with such a display of rage. His lips curled into a slight smile. Everything was going according to plan. The sight of Hei Hu, once the feared “Black Tiger” of Donghai, now reduced to a blustering fool, was almost amusing.
“How the mighty have fallen,” Jiang Ning muttered to himself, adjusting his seat as he watched the scene unfold through the rearview mirror. Hei Hu had made a tactical mistake by letting his pride overrule common sense. The workers who had once followed him with blind loyalty now saw his true nature.
Lin Yuzhen had been right. The way Hei Hu had treated his men—sacrificing their well-being for the sake of a few million—had turned them against him. They weren’t just fighting for their pay anymore; they were fighting for their dignity.
One of the workers, a man with a scar running down his cheek, stepped forward cautiously. “Brother Hei,” he began, his voice shaking with a mix of fear and defiance, “We worked hard. You’ve seen the results. But you—” He paused, collecting his courage. “You left us to rot and now you’re here, yelling at us? We’re not dogs.”
The words struck Hei Hu like a slap in the face. His mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. For a moment, he stood there, completely stunned by the defiance in the worker’s voice. Then, without warning, his rage bubbled over.
“You ungrateful bastards!” Hei Hu bellowed, his face turning a shade of crimson. “I brought you here, gave you food, and now you’re talking back to me?” His hands balled into fists, and he stepped forward, ready to strike the worker.
But before he could make a move, Jiang Ning was already out of the car, approaching the scene with his usual calm demeanor. He moved through the crowd of workers as if they were invisible, his eyes locked on Hei Hu.
“Brother Hu,” Jiang Ning said softly, his voice cutting through the chaos like a sharp knife. “Is this really the way you handle things? Shouting at your own men?”
Hei Hu froze, his fist still suspended in the air. He turned slowly, his eyes narrowing as he saw Jiang Ning approach. The reality of the situation seemed to hit him all at once.
“Jiang Ning?” Hei Hu sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. “What are you doing here?”
Jiang Ning smiled, a smile that was both courteous and condescending. “I’m just here to make sure everything goes smoothly. After all, I’m the one who arranged for these workers to be here, and I’ve been keeping them well-fed and motivated. Perhaps you could learn a thing or two from me about how to manage people.”
The insult was subtle, but it cut deep. Hei Hu’s face twisted with fury, but he held back, knowing full well that confronting Jiang Ning head-on wasn’t in his best interest.
“I don’t need your advice, Jiang Ning,” Hei Hu muttered, his pride bruised but still stubborn. “I’ve been running this show far longer than you.”
Jiang Ning tilted his head, as though considering Hei Hu’s words. “Oh, I’m sure you have,” he said coolly, “But you see, Brother Hu, a real leader doesn’t just command out of fear. A real leader earns the respect of his men, not through intimidation, but through trust.”
His words struck like a quiet thunderclap. The workers who had been standing in stunned silence began to exchange glances. They weren’t afraid anymore. They had seen the truth: Jiang Ning had treated them with respect, while Hei Hu had abandoned them when they needed him most.
“Get back to work,” Hei Hu spat, trying to regain some semblance of authority. But his words fell flat, the workers unmoving.
Jiang Ning gave him a slight nod, a gesture that spoke volumes. “Why don’t you go and reflect on your leadership, Brother Hu? I’ll take care of things here.”
Hei Hu stood there, humiliated, but Jiang Ning’s gaze made it clear that there was no place for his prideful tantrums. Hei Hu had lost the respect of his men, and even his own subordinates seemed uncomfortable with his outburst.
“Alright,” Jiang Ning said after a moment, his tone softening slightly. “Let’s get back to work, everyone. We’ve got a lot to do, and I’m sure none of you want to waste any more time here.”
The workers, now emboldened, nodded and returned to their tasks. The tension that had hung in the air began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of quiet resolution. Jiang Ning had done what needed to be done without raising his voice. He had proven, once again, that his power lay in his control over the situation, not brute force.
As for Hei Hu, he stood off to the side, his anger bubbling under the surface. He had been bested, humiliated, and he knew it. But in that moment, he was also powerless to do anything about it. Jiang Ning had the upper hand, and there was nothing he could do to take it back.
In the distance, Lin Yuzhen, watching from the factory office, couldn’t help but smile. She had known Jiang Ning would handle things. His calm and calculated approach always made him seem like a step ahead of everyone else.
As the workers continued with their tasks, it was clear that this battle—though it had started as a simple clash of egos—had turned into something much larger. The dynamic at the construction site had shifted, and with it, the balance of power between Jiang Ning and Hei Hu.
