Yang Xun nodded, telling his wife to go back to sleep while he thought things through a bit more. But Yang Xun could sense that his wife understood him perfectly—she just hadn’t exposed it, merely throwing all the words at him. More effective than Yang Li’s approach. So, could the same method be applied to resolving the so-called foreign-related issues? Liu Jun’s foreign nationality was a surprise that Yang Xun hadn’t anticipated. What heights foreign-related cases might escalate to was a new problem this old revolutionary faced.

While Yang Xun tossed and turned through the long night, Liu Jun’s anesthesia wore off, and he awakened in pain. When the white haze before his eyes cleared, he saw two heads in front of him. This sight made him forget his physical pain, surprised to see two people who normally wouldn’t meet in the same hospital room. Amid Liu Shitang’s excited, indignant, relieved, and regretful emotional outbursts, Liu Jun’s consciousness gradually became clear. He believed it was Qian Hongming who had called his father. From his father’s barbed rambling, Liu Jun finally understood his current situation. Everything else was manageable, except for his finger—this was part of his body, now incomplete. Even if reattached and appearing whole in shape, it would still be incomplete.

But facing his father’s relentless anger, facing his father’s fury as a local snake wanting to battle the invading dragon, Liu Jun found he didn’t have that much anger, nor did he want to see his father throw eggs at rocks. Having him collide once was enough—he feared his father would bring about even greater, unbearable disasters. He now clearly understood that Yang Xun was someone who disregarded rules.

“Dad, it’s just accepting defeat gracefully. You can’t shout ‘friendship first’ when your son wins, then cry ‘foul play’ when your son loses.”

“If it’s not foul play, what is it? That Yang character should have the guts to fight you one-on-one, not call a bunch of migrant workers to gang up with clubs…”

“Dad, no matter how angry you are, you can’t compete with someone like Yang Xun to see who’s more rotten—competing gleefully with rotten apples. I’ve said it: accept defeat gracefully. I failed to consider things thoroughly and fell into a trap—there’s nothing to complain about.”

Liu Shitang was coaxed and persuaded by his son to go home, leaving behind Qian Hongming, who had remained silent throughout. Only then did Liu Jun let his facade crumble, showing all his emotions on his face—groaning and whimpering in pain, never pretending to be a hero. Because of his injured ribs, Liu Jun couldn’t lie flat and needed to recline in a half-sitting position. No matter how he lay, it hurt. Qian Hongming adjusted the bed for a long time before finding a slightly better angle, working up a sweat on his forehead.

Even the well-tempered Qian Hongming cursed, “Damn it, if I don’t make Yang Xun bleed, I swear I’m not human.”

“I’ll never let Yang Xun off even if I die, but we can’t fight a mud battle—he’s someone who wallows in mud. We’re no match for him in a brawl…”

“I’ve made an issue of your German citizenship and already passed the information along.” Seeing Liu Jun’s puzzled expression, Qian Hongming explained: “Domestically, to optimize the investment environment, foreign nationals receive extra care. We also have a saying here: ‘There are no small matters in diplomacy.’ If we escalate your beating, it becomes a foreign-related incident. The Public Security Bureau can’t possibly suppress it and ignore it.”

Liu Jun was shocked, almost forgetting his pain again. His mind turned several corners before he said: “How sad—patent issues are resolved abroad, and criminal cases still need foreign status to be resolved. If I weren’t foreign-related, then from the patent infringement onward, would I have had to endure being bullied by those stronger than me? Is this also the reason Yang Xun has been so unscrupulous in dealing with me? Because he’s used to domestic disorderly competition?”

“You can’t say it’s disorderly domestically, but it’s not the order you think it is.”

“Yes, you’re right again. You also said before that using patents to cut off foreign buyers from Shi Yiji’s goods was too rash. Fine, consider it another time I’ve hit the south wall. So what happens next? Can the case be solved? Can those attackers be caught and made to reveal the mastermind behind it?”

Qian Hongming hesitated before saying, “Whether the case can be solved depends entirely on your attitude. But whether the mastermind can be exposed is beyond our control. This matter… I hope what you told your father truly reflects your real thoughts.”

“Retreat?”

“No, endure.”

Liu Jun fell silent for a long time without speaking. Qian Hongming was very patient and, not afraid of offending his friend, analyzed everything systematically. Qian Hongming knew the local situation like the back of his hand, and he spoke very logically. After his thorough analysis, Liu Jun had nothing to say. When he picked up the conversation again, it was about something completely unrelated to his injuries. Liu Jun told Qian Hongming that on a certain date, he had seen Qian Hongming at a certain KTV but hadn’t found it convenient to go in and say hello. Qian Hongming explained that a friend was about to escape bachelor life, and everyone doing foreign trade together was following some foreign custom to accompany the friend in an all-night celebration—no marijuana, no hallucinogens, everyone very disciplined. Liu Jun still didn’t understand.

Liu Jun was too pained to sleep, so Qian Hongming stayed to talk with him. Unknowingly, dawn light seeped through the uncurtained window, making the room gradually brighter. A night-shift nurse came in to check blood pressure and temperature, and the corridor gradually became lively with people coming and going.

A person no one expected appeared in Liu Jun’s hospital room. When Yang Xun entered carrying flowers and fruit, not only was Liu Jun stunned, but Qian Hongming also couldn’t react immediately.

Yang Xun got straight to the point: “I came to apologize. After learning about the situation last night, I couldn’t sleep, suspecting my brothers were involved. I investigated all night and confirmed it. Since my brothers did this for me, I must come forward and take full responsibility. I’ve come early to surrender myself—kill me or cut me up as you wish.”

Liu Jun was almost speechless. Qian Hongming stepped back to the window, appearing not to participate or interfere. Yang Xun took a chair and faced Liu Jun directly. He didn’t ask about Liu Jun’s condition, just looked at him with eyes deeply sunken in their sockets. Liu Jun said, “The police will come to take my statement shortly. I’ll relay the situation to them.”

“Fine, honest people don’t do shady things. I heard your father’s factory plans to sell. I know something about several companies’ offers. I also have ideas—let me give you a quote. A’Min Big Eyes’ offer is the highest, and I’ll match A’Min Big Eyes’ price, but I have two advantages: first, I’ll take all your workers—probably only I in the whole city can absorb all your workers. Second, full cash payment at once. How about it? Will you consider it?”

A’Min was originally a fisherman who later made a fortune smuggling goods on fishing boats. Now he ran a three-star hotel with all sorts of characters coming and going. When A’Min inspected the Forward Factory, his followers crowded around calling him “Brother Ma”—who dared dig up A’Min’s humble origins and call him “A’Min Big Eyes”? After A’Min left, his father had told Liu Jun that probably only a few people in the whole city dared disrespect A’Min and compete for the goods A’Min had his eye on. Yang Xun, before him, was one of those few.

Moreover, Liu Jun’s new factory equipment was already planned, with basically no use for the original workers. Even if used, those workers wouldn’t want to commute to the distant suburbs. Dealing with the original workers was a big burden—at minimum, severance pay calculated by years of service was no small sum. Adding a full cash payment, Yang Xun’s offer was substantial. But Liu Jun knew well what he needed to exchange for this offer.

“If you decide, we’ll start the transfer procedures first thing this morning. I’ll write you a check for a one-million deposit first.”

Liu Jun closed his eyes for a long time before managing to utter two words: “Deal.” Yang Xun smiled, made no pleasantries, and left immediately. Liu Jun opened his eyes again, struggling to lift his bandaged hand, sighing: “Not a bad price for half a German finger.” Seeing Qian Hongming’s pained expression, he forced a smile: “Look, when I extend this hand, will people think I’m a drug addict or a gambling addict?”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“You know, this finger will never change for the rest of my life. A person’s life has so many irreversible things—scars, wrinkles, gray hair—making one unable not to miss youth.”

“Hey, how old are you? You still have a long life ahead. What are you thinking? Don’t think nonsense.”

“I want to use my long life to praise life.”

“Get lost, you scared me.” But Qian Hongming thought for a moment and said, “If you’re unhappy, just tell me. Feel free to talk to me.”

Liu Jun was bewildered for a long time: “After Yang Xun’s disruption, I have no anger left, and I don’t know what unhappiness needs expressing.”

“Young master, enduring isn’t humiliation—it’s a skill.”

Liu Jun didn’t answer. After a while, claiming sleepiness, he called his father to explain the situation, then fell asleep again.

Liu Shitang came after a short nap to relieve Qian Hongming. But Liu Shitang was soon taken away by Yang Xun’s lawyer to handle procedures, leaving Aunt Fu in the hospital room.