Wu Laizi was a core member of the Hong Xing Group. Once released, he would inevitably contact Brother Mao or Bao Guo. The most effective way to get to Brother Mao was to bribe him to get close to Bao Guo.
Wu Laizi, who thought he had passed the test, was told there were conditions and knew things weren't that simple, but he still forced himself to promise.
"Mr. Yang, tell me. As long as I can do it, I guarantee I'll handle it for you."
"I need you to get close to Bao Guo or Brother Mao, provide their whereabouts, or gather evidence of their drug trafficking. This shouldn't be difficult for you."
"Mr. Yang, this is actually quite difficult. According to the information provided by the brother outside, Brother Mao is likely not in Hancheng. He is a meticulous person, and I can't contact him. Bao Guo might be in Hancheng, but he didn't come to pick me up today, which means he doesn't want to deal with me anymore. If I try to find him proactively, he might become suspicious. Moreover, he carries firearms, and betraying him is very dangerous."
In the underworld, betraying brothers was the most taboo thing. Although Wu Laizi was shameless, he understood the basic bottom line.
Seeing him refuse, Feng Wu kicked him in the back. "Damn it, are you getting too big for your britches? You dare to make excuses. Believe it or not, I'll cripple you right now."
Wu Laizi was caught off guard and fell forward, his face hitting the ground. His nose was broken and bleeding, making him look extremely pathetic.
Yang Jian did not stop Feng Wu's actions. It was already merciful of him not to cripple someone like Wu Laizi.
After another round of beating, Wu Laizi couldn't take it anymore. "Mr. Yang, stop hitting me. I'll go back and contact Bao Guo, and try to find his whereabouts."
Yang Jian waved for Feng Wu to stop. "I know you want to play for time. Let me tell you, I can make you disappear at any moment, unless you leave Xinhe forever. Also, now that you're out, there's no place for you in Xinhe's underworld. Even in the lake district, you won't be able to make any waves. You won't get any projects, and no brother will dare to follow you. Either you leave Xinhe and never return, or you follow my instructions and help me find Bao Guo. I'll give you a large sum of money. Think carefully about your choice. You can go. I'll give you three days to make a decision. If you don't reply after three days, killers will come to your door. Whether you can escape depends on your luck."
"No need to consider. I'll contact Bao Guo when I get back."
Wu Laizi was truly terrified. The deaths of Shen Hua and Hong Xing had instilled in him extreme fear of Yang Jian. If he didn't agree to his demands, this man would really send killers to kill him.
Yang Jian stood up and wrote a phone number on his desk, handing it to him. "This is Manager Feng's number. Contact him if you need anything. You can go now."
Wu Laizi glanced at the paper, stuffed it into his pocket, and hurried out the door, getting into the car.
Shen Bing was not surprised to see him with a bloody face. She handed him a few tissues and started the car.
"Brother Wu, besides your nose bleeding, are you injured anywhere else?"
After the car left Yang Li Village, Shen Bing began to ask.
Wu Laizi wiped the blood from his face and patted the dust off his clothes. He shook his head. "It's nothing. Just got beaten up a bit, it's not a big deal. Bingbing, who is the most influential person in Chengguan now?"
"After Bao Guo withdrew, many new powers have emerged in Chengguan, but the biggest power is still Zhou Tao. There are rumors that Brother Xing was killed by the combined efforts of Zhou Tao and Yang Jian, because Zhou Tao gambled at Yang Jian's casino. Many bosses in Xinhe were brought to Dongjiang to gamble by Zhou Tao."
After Shen Bing returned, there were various versions of Hong Xing's death. Later, rumors spread that Yang Jian was a shareholder of the casino after the Xin Tai Casino in Dongjiang was destroyed. Then, Hong Xing's death was also linked to him. Zhou Tao's gambling at the casino was no longer a secret, so most people believed that the two of them had colluded to take down Hong Xing. Although the authenticity of this rumor could not be confirmed, Shen Bing believed it. However, the power of these two men was too great, and he had no intention of seeking revenge.
Wu Laizi wanted to confirm Yang Jian's words. "Bingbing, so Chengguan is also within Yang Jian's sphere of influence?"
"Yes, Yang Jian and Zhou Tao are on the same boat. No one in Chengguan dares to provoke Zhou Tao, nor dare to offend Yang Jian. Brother Wu, has Yang Jian forgiven you?"
"No, he beat me up and said he wouldn't let me operate in Xinhe anymore. If I stay home and farm, based on what you're saying, I won't be able to operate in Chengguan. What about the lake district? No new powers have emerged, right?"
Shen Bing looked at him. "If Yang Jian doesn't let you operate in Xinhe, you really won't be able to. The lake district has also been divided by Lao Liu and Hou Zi, who were recently released from prison. They are both former brothers of Zhou Tao. There is no market for you in the lake district anymore."
"Then what should I do? I can't really go home and farm, can I?"
After hearing Shen Bing's words, Wu Laizi knew that Yang Jian was not bluffing. There was no place for him, Wu Laizi, in Xinhe anymore. If he wanted to stay in his hometown, his only option was to cooperate with Yang Jian.
"Brother Wu, I opened a KTV in Chengguan. If you don't mind, you can come and work as a waiter there. The salary isn't high, at most two thousand, which is better than farming."
"Bingbing, I, Wu Laizi, am someone in Chengguan. When others are released from prison, they are doing well, but I have to be a waiter. Isn't that too demeaning? It would be a joke if it got out."
"Then what can we do? Who told you to offend Yang Jian? He is worth over a hundred million. No big shot in Chengguan doesn't buy his account. Even in the underworld of Hancheng, he is a notable figure. It's too easy for him to make you disappear in Xinhe."
Wu Laizi fell silent, his mind rapidly weighing his current situation. The possibility of overthrowing or killing Yang Jian was almost zero, so his only path was cooperation.
"Bingbing, can you contact Bao Guo? I can't stay in Xinhe anymore. I want to join him and make some money to buy a house in Hancheng."
"Bao Guo is selling drugs. The risk is very high if you follow him. If you get caught, you'll be executed. This path is irreversible. You must think carefully."
As a core member of the Hong Xing Group, Shen Bing had a strong relationship with Bao Guo and they had been in contact. The drugs used in the KTV were supplied by Bao Guo.
"I can't care about that anymore. Yang Jian has pushed me to a dead end. I can only take a risk. Although drug trafficking is risky, the profits are huge. When I have money, the first thing I'll do is hire killers to get rid of Yang Jian, otherwise, I'll never have a chance to rise."
This statement was both Wu Laizi's heartfelt confession and a way to gain the trust of Shen Bing and Bao Guo. Only with this reason could he possibly be accepted by Bao Guo.
Shen Bing did not doubt his motives after seeing Wu Laizi beaten like this. "Alright, you go home and rest for a few days. I'll see if I can contact Bao Guo and tell him about your situation."
"Do it as soon as possible. Yang Jian is too dangerous. Just as you predicted, I came to apologize today, and he wouldn't openly kill me. But once I leave Xinqiao, he could take my life at any moment. So I can't stay home for too long. I have to leave here by the day after tomorrow at the latest."
"Okay, I'll arrange it as soon as possible."
Shen Bing still needed to get Bao Guo's opinion, and whether he would take Wu Laizi in was not yet guaranteed.