A Dish Best Served Cold (The Man In Rage)
Chapter 1038 Shocking News

"Oh my god, have you heard? Mufan Group's gone down."

"What? Mufan Group? Are you talking about the company that was established by Mr Chu? How is that possible? You must be joking. Mr Chu's invincible. He thrashed everyone at Mount Tai. When he held a feast at the Haiyuan Restaurant, everyone turned up to extend their well wishes."

"Have you been living under a rock? Mr Chu's dead. It was all over the news yesterday. His wife was driven out of their mansion on Mount Yunding last night like some loser. They've even taken down the company signboard on their headquarters."

Everyone was talking about Mr Chu's death and the fall of Mufan Group.

Most of them felt sorry for what had happened.

"Good fortunes never last. No one can guarantee a lifetime of fame and wealth. The wheels of fortune are always turning." Folks shook their heads and sighed as they chatted amongst themselves in restaurants and cafes.

Meanwhile, in Li Er's residence in Yunzhou, Jin Bao and Yin Bao had fallen to their knees before Li Er.

"Master Er, Mr Chu treated us with nothing but kindness. Are you really going to do nothing and watch Mufan Group be brought down? Mufan Group was Mr Chu's life work. Besides, look at what Lu Ming-Feng and Xur Shao-Hua tried to do to Mr Chu's wife! They're absolute cads! They chased her out of the mansion! Master Er, please do something and teach those scoundrels a lesson!" pleaded Jin Bao and Yin Bao tirelessly. Their cries filled the room.

The two brothers had served Li Er for a long time and had seen much.

Ho

Mr Chu had been one of the few men they had known who had shown such loyalty and kindness to his men.

They had caused Ye Fan trouble numerous times because of their thoughtless behavior but Ye Fan had never reprimanded them. In fact, he had spoken to them patiently and taught them the right thing to do. Jin Bao and Yin Bao would never forget his kindness.

They didn't care that Ye Fan was dead. They didn't want anyone to trample on Mr Chu's life work or insult the honor of his family.

"Shut up!"

Li Er sent the two brothers sprawling across the floor with two hard kicks.

"Do you think you're the only ones who remember Mr Chu's kindness? I wouldn't be where I am today without Mr Chu! Do you think that I don't want to save Mufan Group? Or protect his surviving kin? How I wish I could grab a cleaver, head for Mount Yunding and fight those two scoundrels!

But how is that going to help? I'll probably be cut down by their men before I can even reach them!" roared Li Er. His eyes had gone red with fury.

You could hear the anger in his words, as well as a deep and terrible sense of helplessness.

Li Er's gratitude towards Ye Fan was greater than anyone else's.

If he hadn't met Mr Chu, he wouldn't have become the Li Er that he was today.

It broke Li Er's heart to see Lu Ming-Feng and Xur Shao-Hua tear down the empire that Ye Fan had built.

But what would his anger do? How would it help?

The families that were backing them were too powerful.

Li Er couldn't possibly fight them on his own.

In fact, you would find few men in the whole of China who would dare stand against these two powerful families in Yanjing.

"But I'll still fight them even if it kills me!" A steely determination shone in Li Er's eyes as he curled his fingers into fists. Laid before him was an invitation. An intricate pattern was embossed in gold and decorated the otherwise plain black card. Lu Ming-Feng had gotten someone to deliver this to him.

They were going to host a feast at the Haiyuan Restaurant three days later. The rich and powerful were all invited to join them.

Everyone knew that the feast was simply a pretext for Lu Ming-Feng to gather everyone and have them recognize his authority as the master of Jiangdong. Meanwhile, Lei Ao-Ting had just returned from his vacation overseas and had just learned of the upheaval in Jiangdong. He hurried back home instantly.

"Dad, is it true? Is Brother Fan...really dead? Has Mufan Group really gone under? I heard that Brother Fan's wife was chased out of her house. Is Jiangdong really changing hands?" Lei Ao-Ting's eyes were bright with fear as he blurted out a flurry of questions.

Lei San didn't say a word and simply poured himself another drink. After a long moment, he finally sighed heavily.

"Good men always die young. They always do," sighed Lei San.

Lei Ao-Ting froze. His eyes widened in horror.

"It's true then. But...how can it be possible? Brother Fan and I had drinks at restaurant just a few months ago. How could he die so suddenly?"

Lei Ao-Ting couldn't believe it. Everything seemed so sudden and surreal.

A few months ago, Ye Fan still been around. He had returned home to celebrate the new year.

He had hung out with Ye Fan and got up to all kinds of crazy stuff with him.

Who could have expected the man whom he had seen a few months ago to be dead and that he would never see him again?

"Ao-Ting, stay out of this. Listen to me, leave Jiangdong tonight. I've made arrangements. Head south. I've acquired a piece of land for you. Take this card. It'll give you access to a billion dollars. Head south and start a new life for yourself."

"Ao-Ting, I know I've scolded you and punished you a lot in the past and that you've always resented me forthat. But you must understand why I did it. I wanted you to be a better man. You know the saying, the wealth and fame a man brings to his family clan last no longer than five generations. You're that fifth generation. I didn't want my own son to destroy the family business that we've worked so hard to build. I used to think that I still have time. I could take my time and teach you all I know. That appears to be out of the question now. You'll have to make your own path in life."

Lei San spoke very slowly. He spoke like an old man putting his affairs in order before his inevitable passing.

His words alarmed Lei Ao-Ting. "Dad, what's wrong with you? Why are you telling me this? Are you in danger?"

Lei San didn't say a word. Instead, he handed an invitation card to Lei Ao-Ting.

"Lu Ming-Feng sent this. They're trying to replicate what Mr Chu's done by holding another Feast of the Sea and Sky. There's a great likelihood that Lu Ming-Feng will try to exterminate the last of Mr Chu's men at the feast and consolidate their power in Jiangdong. He's going to come after me, Li Er and Chen Ao first. I have no idea if I'll come back alive from this feast. I have to prepare for the worst," said Lei San. He seemed extremely calm. There was no hint of panic or fear in his voice.

Lei Ao-Ting's eyes reddened when he

heard that.

He had always thought of his father as the most powerful man in the world. Nothing could destroy him.

He had not thought that a day would come when he would lose his father, his pillar of strength for the past 25 years.

"Ao-Ting, I tell you this because I need you to learn how to be strong. Mr Chu made a name for himself in Jiangdong when he was only 20 years old. You're 25 years old this year. It's time for you to learn independence. Go."

Lei San waved his hand and turned away, leaving Lei Ao-Ting a view of his back. The man looked alone and so very old as he gazed out the window.