Qin Ming was entrusted by Xiang Xiongfei to investigate Yang Jian. He was very surprised to hear that Bai Zheng had opened a large casino in Xintai Entertainment City, and he had not known about such a big event. Therefore, he readily agreed to the Xiang family's request.
Through Fang Zhicheng's explanation, Qin Ming basically confirmed that Yang Wu was the person in charge of the casino and the mastermind behind the detention of Xiang Nan.
"Little Fang, do you know where Yang Wu lives now, what car he drives, what his preferences are, or who his close associates are?"
Remembering that Yang Wu had not given him face at the tea house that day, Qin Ming also harbored resentment towards Yang Wu. Since he had become Bai Zheng's capable subordinate, it was exactly what Qin Ming wanted to use the Xiang family to get rid of him.
Fang Zhicheng felt something was wrong, as this was clearly a move to deal with Yang Wu. He stammered, "I don't know where they live. After they moved out from my place, I rarely contacted them. Although Fang Hai works under him, he doesn't live with them.
Yang Wu used to drive a Cayenne, but I don't know if he has changed it now.
As for his preferences, he doesn't seem to have any special ones. This person is very disciplined. When he was in Liuqiao Village, he didn't look for women, go to nightclubs, or even eat out much.
His close associates should only be a few friends from his hometown; I don't know anyone else."
Fang Zhicheng held Yang Wu in awe and had never thought of becoming his enemy. Therefore, he intentionally concealed Yang Wu's relationship with Ma Yuan and his son, because Ma Yuan lived with Yang Wu. If he wanted to know where they lived, he could find out by interrogating Ma Yuan.
Qin Ming was not satisfied with this information, feeling like he had asked for nothing.
Zheng Jingfa quickly offered a suggestion: "Mr. Qin, it's not difficult to find out where Yang Wu lives. Why don't we send someone to Xintai to track him?"
"It's not easy to track. I have some understanding of Xintai. Xintai's internal executives have dedicated channels and parking lots for commuting. Middle and lower-level management personnel cannot enter, so it's difficult to find out who drives what car in a short period."
"Then let's find a way to lure Yang Wu out?"
"What way?"
Zheng Jingfa looked at Fang Zhicheng: "Little Fang, your youngest son is almost one year old, right? When are you holding the banquet?"
Fang Zhicheng was a little surprised: "It's still early, my son is only eight months old."
"Then hold a birthday banquet in advance and send Yang Wu an invitation. With your relationship with him, he will definitely come to give gifts and attend the wedding."
"Brother Fa, are you planning to use my son's birthday banquet to make a move on Yang Wu?"
Fang Zhicheng, being an old hand, immediately guessed Zheng Jingfa's malicious intent.
"Little Fang, you've been operating on Phoenix Street for half a year. Don't you feel bad watching the beverage business rake in money every day? That's our territory, yet we've let others take the most profitable business. Don't you want to get the beverage business back?"
"Brother Fa, strictly speaking, Phoenix Street was conquered by Yang Wu. It's normal for him to monopolize the beverage business. I'm not envious."
What a joke! Asking him to harm Yang Wu would be suicidal.
Fang Zhicheng knew Yang Wu's strength too well; it wouldn't be easy to kill him. Even if he did manage to kill him, there were his few loyal brothers, whose combat power was equally terrifying. He would definitely be the first target of their revenge, and with his strength, he couldn't withstand their attacks at all.
Qin Ming clearly agreed with Zheng Jingfa's idea: "Little Fang, luring Yang Wu out doesn't mean we have to make a move at your son's birthday banquet. We just want to track him. It won't affect you."
"But my son is only eight months old, and many people know that. If I suddenly hold a birthday banquet, Yang Wu will definitely be suspicious."
"As long as Yang Wu doesn't know your son's birthday."
"But."
"No buts. The birthday banquet will be held at the Prince Hotel in three days. If Yang Wu doesn't appear at the banquet, you don't need to stay in Dongjiang anymore."
Qin Ming's tone suddenly became stern. His decisions were not to be questioned, forcing Fang Zhicheng to accept this plan.
Fang Zhicheng was stunned. He felt Qin Ming's killing intent. If he didn't cooperate, it wouldn't be as simple as leaving Dongjiang.
Zheng Jingfa stood up and patted his shoulder: "Hurry up and prepare the invitations. You don't have to pay for the banquet. All the gifts received are yours. We will also give you a big gift. Don't disappoint us."
After saying this, they left the office without looking back.
What should I do? Fang Zhicheng was in a dilemma. It wouldn't be difficult to trick Yang Wu. With Yang Wu's generous and righteous nature, a phone call would be enough for him to attend the banquet without needing an invitation.
However, the consequences of doing so would clearly put Yang Wu in danger. Combined with Qin Ming's previous words, he was likely colluding with the Xiang family to deal with Yang Wu together.
Open attacks are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are difficult to guard against. Yang Wu, without any preparation, might not be able to escape the pursuit of these two families working together.
In this case, he would become an accomplice. Not only would Yang Wu's brothers not let him go, but even Bai Zheng might make a move against him.
But if he didn't cooperate with Qin Ming, he would not only lose everything in Dongjiang but also possibly lose his life, as he knew their secret plan to deal with Yang Wu.
After considering for a full hour, Fang Zhicheng finally decided to call Yang Jian. His wife, children, and elderly parents were all in Dongjiang. If he left, he would have nothing.
"Brother Cheng, why are you calling me? Do you have any instructions?"
Yang Jian's hearty laughter came from the other end of the phone.
"Little Yang, the day after tomorrow, June 8th, is my youngest son's first birthday. I'm inviting you for a drink. I'll have Ma Yuan bring you the invitation tonight."
Too much talk leads to mistakes. Fang Zhicheng got straight to the point.
"Really? Congratulations, congratulations! Where is the banquet? I will definitely be there!"
"At the Prince Hotel, at eleven-thirty in the morning."
"Okay, no need for an invitation. I'll definitely come."
"It's fine, it's the rule. We'll talk when we meet."
After hanging up the phone, Fang Zhicheng suddenly realized he was sweating. He was too nervous just now.
He couldn't care about anything else. Time was tight, and he had to hurry to prepare for the banquet. Since he had decided to cooperate with Qin Ming, he couldn't reveal any flaws. All the customary procedures for a child's first birthday should be followed.
When he returned home from work that evening, Ma Yuan did indeed bring back a gold-embossed invitation, addressed only to Yang Jian, not to Afeng and others.
"Brother Yang, this is an invitation from Brother Cheng for you. I haven't looked at it yet. Is there any good news?"
Ma Yuan was honest. The invitation was given to him by Fang Zhicheng himself, and he didn't dare to ask or look at it.
"Brother Cheng's son is celebrating his first birthday. He's inviting me for a drink."
Yang Jian opened the invitation and glanced at it. It still addressed him as Yang Wu. Not many people knew the name Yang Jian, which was a good thing.
Ma Yuan, however, was stunned. After a while, he said, "Brother Yang, that's not right. I remember Brother Cheng's child was born in October, and I went to his full moon banquet with Fang Hai. How is it his first birthday now?"
"Is that so? I don't know. There must be some reason for holding it in advance."
"First birthdays are very important in our region. It's impossible to hold it in advance. Why don't I ask Fang Hai?"
"What's there to ask? Since he sent an invitation, he's definitely not inviting just me. Anyway, I have to give a gift at some point, so it doesn't matter when. By the way, I don't understand your local customs. How much should the gift money be for such a banquet?"
"It's not fixed. It's your first time giving a gift, so any amount is fine."
Ma Yuan replied absentmindedly. He was filled with doubt. This birthday banquet was too strange. According to the customs of their hometown in Xichuan, the "zhuazhou" ceremony could not be held in advance. Even if there were special circumstances, it would only be a few days in advance, not months.