Yang Jian appeared timid, but Xiao Wu clearly didn't believe him. Song Jianhao had said Yang Jian had taken down police officers and single-handedly subdued over a dozen thugs armed with knives and guns. Such combat prowess was rare, and Xiao Wu was determined to recruit him.
"Little Yang, I don't need you to get involved in any fighting. Your job is to stay by my side and handle tasks. As long as no one attacks us, you won't need to lift a finger. I'll treat you well."
"Brother Wu, I was brought up by Brother Hao. I need to get his opinion on this matter."
Having accepted so much money from Xiao Wu, Yang Jian felt obligated not to refuse him outright and deferred to Song Jianhao's decision.
Song Jianhao also found it difficult to refuse. His ability to operate this establishment relied on Xiao Wu's backing. Moreover, with the area slated for demolition, the casino business was poised for a boom, and this was an opportunity he couldn't afford to miss.
"No problem, Little Yang. We're all part of the same team. You can follow Mr. Wu. Besides your room and board, I'll give you a monthly salary of three thousand yuan."
"Alright then. I'll sign up for driving school tomorrow and see how they arrange the schedule. I'll follow Brother Wu during my free time. Is that okay?"
"Of course. The driving school will require a few days of intensive traffic rule study. You don't need to come in during those days."
Xiao Wu was delighted by Yang Jian's agreement. He was actively recruiting, urgently needing capable young men like him to join.
The area around Xunsih River was a melting pot of different elements, and Xiong Laoda wasn't the only power. To maximize profits during this unprecedented period of demolition and development, he needed to quickly assemble a formidable team that was unafraid to fight.
Yang Jian was a skilled fighter, and Xiao Wu's intention in recruiting him was to ensure his own safety, so he wouldn't readily put him on the front lines to risk his life.
Yang Jian, who hadn't originally planned to get a driver's license, now had to brace himself and sign up. The tuition was three thousand yuan. The red envelopes he received the previous evening totaled three thousand three hundred yuan – two thousand eight hundred from Xiao Wu and five hundred from Song Jianhao – which perfectly covered the fee.
The driving school was not far from where he rented his place, just a ten-minute walk after turning a corner past Xunsih River.
After two days of studying traffic rules, he began practicing driving. On the fifth day, the driving school scheduled the first subject exam.
Yang Jian performed well and passed the first subject exam with flying colors.
He had intended to press on and complete the second and third subject exams within a month, but Xiao Wu called him for urgent matters.
"Everyone, allow me to introduce Yang Jian. He's my distant cousin, and starting today, he'll be the General Manager's Assistant. Let's all get acquainted."
Xiao Wu brought Yang Jian to a newly renovated office building on the north bank of Xunsih River and introduced him to over a dozen young men.
This left Yang Jian a bit bewildered, as this was clearly an office space, and a sign at the entrance read "Changlong Business Co., Ltd." What on earth was a General Manager's Assistant?
"Little Yang, this is a society governed by law. We must abide by the law in everything we do, which is why we've established this trading company. Our main businesses include timber processing, building materials, demolition, and earthwork transportation. You'll be a formal member of the company from now on, and these are your colleagues." Xiao Wu explained further, seeing Yang Jian's confused expression.
Now Yang Jian understood. They intended to operate under a legal facade, engaging in strong-arm tactics and managing these hooligans through a corporate structure.
Since he was here, Yang Jian decided to make the best of it. He smiled and greeted the young men, not bothering to remember most of their names as he had no intention of integrating into their circle.
However, a young girl caught his attention. She was only in her early twenties, with a round face, large eyes, and a ponytail. Her skin was fair, and she was tall. Dressed in a denim outfit, she exuded a spirited aura. While not stunningly beautiful, she possessed a good temperament.
According to Xiao Wu's introduction, this girl was Wu Xiaoyue, his cousin, who had just graduated from vocational college and was here to manage the company's finances.
Yang Jian couldn't fathom why Xiao Wu would associate his own cousin with such a group of ruffians, but it wasn't his concern.
After meeting his colleagues, Xiao Wu assigned him an office desk, complete with a computer.
This device was somewhat unfamiliar to Yang Jian. Although he had graduated from high school, he had rarely used computers. He had only visited internet cafes with classmates twice during high school to play games.
"Yang Jian, you haven't used a computer before? I'll teach you."
Seeing Yang Jian staring blankly at his workstation, Wu Xiaoyue from across the way came over to help him turn it on. There were only four desks in this office; the other two were empty. The rest of the people were in a larger room, playing cards and smoking.
"No. I haven't used one."
Yang Jian felt a bit flustered by Wu Xiaoyue's friendliness. It was his first time interacting so closely with a girl. The faint fragrance emanating from her made his heart race.
Wu Xiaoyue also had a good impression of Yang Jian. She felt he was different from the others. Not only was he tall and handsome, but his cousin also valued him highly, as his workstation was right behind Xiao Wu's general manager's office.
"What's your educational background? You know Pinyin, right?"
Wu Xiaoyue casually pulled up a chair and sat beside Yang Jian.
"High school graduate. I know Pinyin."
"Really? I thought people like you were all junior high graduates. Then I'll teach you how to type, and we'll register a QQ account. You can use QQ to flirt with girls later, haha."
Wu Xiaoyue had an outgoing personality. Once she started talking, she became very familiar, chattering incessantly.
Yang Jian wasn't slow-witted and quickly mastered the Pinyin input method.
At that time, computers were considered high-end office equipment. Young people aspiring to be social elites were expected to be proficient with computers, driving, and English.
After learning the basic operations of the computer, Yang Jian instantly fell in love with it. Not only could he play games, but he could also learn many things on it, including specialized knowledge in construction.
"Yang Jian, you seem quite intelligent. Why didn't you get into university after the college entrance exam?"
Wu Xiaoyue found Yang Jian's learning ability to be excellent. After teaching him typing, he moved beyond the "hunt and peck" method within an hour, able to coordinate both hands on the keyboard.
"Would you believe me if I told you I had diarrhea during the college entrance exams?"
"Haha, I believe you. You're quite humorous. Yang Jian, you have such a robust physique; have you practiced martial arts?"
"Yes, my family is a hereditary martial arts family. However, we only practice some martial arts forms, which aren't very practical. Furthermore, our family has an ancestral rule: do not use martial arts to break the law, do not injure others with martial arts, and do not engage in wicked deeds."
"A martial arts family? No wonder your demeanor is so unique, possessing a natural aura of dominance. I feel a bit pressured being around you. By the way, how old are you? Do you have a girlfriend?"
"I'm almost twenty-three, and I haven't had a girlfriend yet. How about you introduce me to one?"
Perhaps influenced by Wu Xiaoyue's open personality, Yang Jian also let loose and started joking with her.