From Yang Jian's rented apartment, Fang Zhicheng did not return to his own home. Instead, he drove with his two brothers to the Longwan Haoxu residential area on the outskirts of the city. This was a villa district, and his boss, Zheng Jingfa, lived in Villa Number 15.
"Xiao Fang, what brings you here? Have things in Liuqiao Village been sorted out?"
Zheng Jingfa received him on the sun terrace on the second floor.
Zheng Jingfa, in his early forties, was burly with a square face and a buzz cut. His sword-like eyebrows and stern gaze exuded an imposing aura, while his white casual wear gave him an air of scholarly elegance.
"Liuqiao Village and the bus station industries are basically sorted out, but I have too few men. I'm worried about Buddha's counterattack."
Fang Zhicheng took a seat at the tea-making area and reported while brewing tea.
"It's alright. Our attacks during this period have severely weakened Buddha. Cheng Guang and A Liang are both crippled, and he has few men left who dare to charge. He won't dare to make a move in the short term. The New Year is coming soon. After the New Year, I'll bring a group of people from my hometown, and the manpower issue will be resolved."
"That's my plan, Brother Fa. I'm here today to report on Yang Wu's situation."
"Oh, how is it? Is he willing to work with us?"
"Buddha has pushed him to a dead end, and he came to me. I've already rented him an apartment in the same complex."
Fang Zhicheng then detailed the incident where Yang Jian was surrounded by Buddha's men earlier that day.
Zheng Jingfa laughed heartily, "Excellent! Buddha has done us a great favor. Otherwise, it would have been difficult to win over Yang Wu. With his joining, you can completely stabilize the Liuqiao Village area."
Fang Zhicheng, however, gave a wry smile, "Brother Fa, I'm afraid I can't control this Yang Wu."
"What's wrong? Is he leaving?"
"Not at all. This Yang Wu is not only skilled in martial arts and decisive in killing but also a major figure. He ran here to seek refuge after being wanted for running a casino in his hometown."
"Is that so? That's rather interesting. To be wanted for running a casino, that casino must not be small."
"Not just not small. According to him, his casino handles at least ten million yuan in cash daily, and his personal income is two to three hundred thousand yuan a day, even after splitting half the shares with his brothers. Such strength is already on par with yours and Buddha's. How can I control such a person?"
"Damn, that's impressive. I heard he's only twenty-four or twenty-five years old. To achieve such success at such a young age is truly remarkable."
Zheng Jingfa was somewhat surprised. He had been involved in the underworld for decades. Before the age of thirty, he was still someone else's subordinate. When he couldn't make it in his hometown in Xichuan, he came to Dongjiang. With the support of the local boss, he struggled for nearly ten years to secure his current position. This Yang Wu had clearly started at the peak.
"Brother Fa, that's not the most impressive part. This Yang Wu intends to deal with Buddha and has asked me to help him gather information on Buddha."
Zheng Jingfa stood up abruptly, "Really? Did he say so himself?"
"It's true. Buddha's two attempts to corner him have successfully angered him, and he has decided to eliminate Buddha."
"Do you think he has the capability? Many people have tried to eliminate Buddha over the years, but none have succeeded. Yang Wu's martial arts are indeed very powerful, but it might be difficult to deal with Buddha."
"I thought it was impossible at first, but after hearing about his large casino, I believe he has the capability. Someone who can run a large casino must at least have connections in both the underworld and the authorities, and must be able to appease many forces. To carve out a niche in the underworld at his age is not just about fists; intelligence is equally important."
"Yes, you have a point. How about this: you fully support him. I have a Q7 in my garage that I haven't driven. You can give it to him on my behalf."
Zheng Jingfa and Buddha were sworn enemies, and both had a history of attempting to assassinate each other, but without success. This time, with a formidable person like Yang Wu willing to take action, he was naturally willing to invest heavily.
"Alright, but this can't be rushed. I had planned to give him a gambling den to operate. Do you have any suggestions or want to meet him?"
"My elderly mother is ill, and I'll be returning to my hometown early this year to celebrate the New Year. Let's arrange a meeting with him after the fifteenth of the first lunar month. We'll proceed with your plan: give him a gambling den to operate and see what his capabilities truly are. Let's not have him be all talk and no action."
"Okay, I also want to test if he truly has the ability."
After drinking a few cups of tea, Fang Zhicheng got up to leave. As he left, he took the key to the Q7 and asked his driver to drive the car back to Jiarong residential area.
He felt a bit envious of Yang Jian. He had followed Brother Fa for so many years, yet he was still driving a Q5. Yang Jian, upon his arrival, was getting a Q7, a car whose price could buy two Q5s and still have change left over.
When he returned to the rented apartment and handed the car key to Yang Jian, Yang Jian refused.
"Brother Cheng, I'm already very grateful that you helped me rent an apartment. I really can't accept this car, and I don't need it. A motorcycle is convenient for going anywhere. Besides, the Q7's fuel consumption is too high, and I can't afford it yet."
"Xiao Yang, if you truly intend to deal with Buddha, then you should accept this car. Buddha knows you have a motorcycle, and when his men investigate you, they will surely pay attention to the motorcycle. So, driving this car will not only be safe but also help you avoid Buddha's tracking and investigation. As for the fuel costs, don't worry about that either. There's a gas card in the driver's side compartment with a balance of five thousand. Use it for now."
Seeing Yang Jian still hesitating, Ma Yuan tugged at his clothes anxiously from the side, wanting him to accept the luxury car.
"Alright, I'll borrow this car for a while. I'll return it to you after things are settled." Yang Jian relented. Fang Zhicheng's reasoning made sense. Riding a motorcycle was indeed not very safe. If it weren't for Ma Yuan's excellent driving skills last time, he might have been hit and killed by Cheng Guang. The Q7 is a German car, tall, sturdy, and with strong impact resistance. When going out for business, he wouldn't have to worry about Buddha dealing with him through traffic accidents. Moreover, driving for business was more discreet. With a slight disguise, even if he entered the fruit market, Buddha's men wouldn't recognize him.
Yang Jian accepted the car, and Fang Zhicheng was very pleased. "Xiao Yang, Brother Fa originally planned to meet you before the New Year, but his mother fell ill, and he had to go back to his hometown early for the New Year. This car was also given by him. He specifically instructed me to cooperate with you fully. Don't rush the matter with Buddha; it's not too late to act after he returns."
"Okay, please thank Brother Fa for me."
Yang Jian knew that Zheng Jingfa was trying to win him over to deal with Buddha. Although he didn't want to be a pawn, it was okay to return a favor, as he needed their help to deal with Buddha anyway.
"You're welcome. Rest for a few days. You can go online to learn about the rules of Mark Six. In a few days, I'll take you to Liuqiao Village to take over a mahjong parlor and officially start the gambling den."