Chapter 58: Enumerating the Crimes

“Boss, I... I didn’t know he was your elder brother. It’s all just a misunderstanding.”

Wu De stammered, completely panicked, his legs weak and trembling.

“You’re sure it’s a misunderstanding? Just now, you were shouting for me to pay compensation, apologize, even demanding I kneel and beg for mercy. Your boss heard it all.”

As he spoke, Ye Tianci turned to Tang Ying: “Should I kneel and beg for mercy then?”

Tang Ying shuddered in fright.

Ye Tianci was the most respected person by his grandfather, and the master of his elder sister Tang Qiong. Let alone kneeling, even if Ye Tianci merely bowed to him, Tang Ying wouldn’t dare accept it! Even if he had a thousand times the courage, he couldn’t dream of letting Ye Tianci kneel before him.

“Big brother, please don’t joke like that. I can’t possibly bear it!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you’re satisfied with how this is handled,” Tang Ying said gravely.

He turned to Wu De, eyes blazing: “Wu De, explain yourself clearly! Or I’ll skin you alive!”

Cold sweat poured from Wu De’s shiny forehead. He hunched like a shrimp, stammering, “Boss, I... I don’t even know what just happened.”

His face was twisted in misery, all arrogance drained away.

“If you know nothing, why were you so aggressive, demanding compensation and apologies?”

“We had a minor dispute with this Manager Zhu. When you arrived, you didn’t ask what happened—you just forced us to pay, and even threatened Tianci with jail,” Lin Qingqian spoke up.

With just two sentences, Tang Ying understood everything.

“So this is how you manage my commercial street, Wu De!”

“I’ve long heard you took plenty of kickbacks, letting unsavory merchants move in and causing endless customer disputes and online complaints.”

“I never believed it, but now it’s clear—all of it is true!”

“If I don’t deal with you today, I’ll forfeit my family name!”

With a thud, Wu De dropped to his knees in terror.

“Boss, I know I was wrong. Please, give me another chance—I’ll change, I swear!”

Wu De knelt, knocking his head on the floor, begging incessantly.

Tang Ying ignored him, grabbing his walkie-talkie and barking a command.

Soon, more than ten security guards rushed into the store, followed by a woman in professional attire, likely from the finance department.

“Everyone listen! I hereby revoke Wu De’s position as General Manager of Guli Commercial Street!”

“Whatever kickbacks he’s taken, whatever harm he’s caused to the commercial street—if you know anything, speak up! Name every offense!”

“Anyone who lists a charge against Wu De gets five thousand as a reward. Ten charges, fifty thousand! I’ll pay on the spot!” Tang Ying’s gaze was icy.

Everyone’s eyes lit up.

It was as though they were witnessing a scene straight from a drama—like a prince purging corrupt ministers and collecting their crimes.

“Wu De demanded entrance fees from merchants moving in. I heard he pocketed millions just from those!”

“He withheld our holiday benefits as security guards!”

“He placed relatives and friends in positions, but they didn’t work—just drew salaries for nothing!”

“He colluded with shady merchants, selling counterfeit goods and profiting. Rumor has it he made over a million from that too!”

Security guards scrambled to list Wu De’s misdeeds.

The woman in business attire reported that Wu De threatened and bribed her, forcing her to falsify accounts, and anyone who didn’t obey would be fired.

Even Zhu Yan stepped forward: “Mr. Tang, I can confirm Wu De demanded an entrance fee—I paid him fifty thousand just to get in!”

“Zhu Yan, you idiot!” Wu De couldn’t help cursing.

Smack!

Tang Ying slapped him across the face.

Wu De collapsed, his face pale as death.

He knew he was finished.

Zhu Yan put on a fawning smile: “Mr. Tang, my reporting counts as a contribution, right? My shop used to be three stars. Since I reported Wu De, can you upgrade me to four?”

Tang Ying smiled slyly: “Don’t worry, Manager Zhu. Once Wu De’s dealt with, I’ll make sure you get the ‘death penalty.’”

He turned to Wu De, voice cold: “Wu De, do you have anything left to say?”

“Boss, I...” Wu De slumped on the floor, his mouth dry, feeling utterly drained.

“If you’ve nothing more to say, go inside and reflect properly!”

“You’ve embezzled so much, committed so many offenses. However long the Tang family decides to keep you in jail, that’s how long you’ll stay!”

Tang Ying looked at Ye Tianci, respectfully: “Big brother, how long do you think this old scoundrel should stay locked up?”

Ye Tianci replied calmly, “You’re the owner here—it’s your decision.”

“Big brother, the Celestial Pavilion takes my word, but I take yours!” Tang Ying said flatteringly.

Despite his youth, he knew how to seize the moment, eager to draw closer to Ye Tianci.

Ye Tianci looked at Wu De: “For someone like him, ten years in prison wouldn’t be excessive, would it?”

“Not at all!”

“If you say ten years, big brother, I’ll inform the Celestial Pavilion—they’ll keep him locked up for ten years!” Tang Ying declared, his authority radiating.

Wu De was petrified, finally realizing who truly held power. Crawling forward, he knelt and kowtowed repeatedly before Ye Tianci.

“Mr. Ye! I was blind to your greatness. I acted recklessly, not knowing right from wrong. I was completely at fault!”

“Please, spare me! I have an eighty-year-old mother and a three-year-old child—I can’t go to jail!”

“I beg you! Ask Mr. Tang for leniency!”

Wu De knelt, banging his head on the floor, tears and snot streaming, his dignity as a manager gone, reduced to a wretched, defeated dog.

Ye Tianci’s expression remained calm: “Manager Wu, why are you crying?”

“I much preferred your arrogant attitude from earlier.”

Smack!

Smack, smack, smack!

Wu De slapped himself repeatedly, begging as he did: “I truly know I was wrong! Please, Mr. Ye, say a word for me!”

Ye Tianci stayed silent, Wu De kept slapping himself.

Soon, his cheeks were swollen and bruised, blood streaming from his nose and mouth.

“Manager Wu, I warned you earlier—if you didn’t turn back, you’d be lost. But you ignored me.”

“Now that you’re finally repentant, it’s too late.”

“Tang Ying, handle him as you see fit. I don’t like people kneeling in front of me.”

Ye Tianci waved his hand lightly.

His temperament had been tempered to calm maturity; he rarely lost his temper, but that didn’t mean he was lenient.

On the contrary, he paid back every slight in full.

He would never let Wu De off just because he begged.

Tang Ying barked coldly, “Escort Wu De to the Celestial Pavilion!”

Several security guards surged forward, dragging Wu De away like a dead dog, his wails echoing.

Turning around, Tang Ying faced Zhu Yan, expressionless.

Zhu Yan hurried forward, smiling obsequiously: “Mr. Tang, dealing with someone as immoral and unscrupulous as Wu De was exactly the right thing to do!”

“You’ve truly rid our commercial street of a menace!”

Zhu Yan gave a thumbs up, full of flattery.

Tang Ying smiled faintly: “Manager Zhu, now it’s time to discuss your own business.”