Five delinquents with a swagger walked with a swagger towards the fish stall.
Vendors and passers-by nearby all gave them a wide berth, keeping their distance, fearing they might incur their displeasure and bring about disaster.
The leader, with a buzz cut and wearing a brown t-shirt, strode arrogantly at the front of the group, holding a sugarcane.
The four youths behind him all had long hair and dressed in imitation of the "horse boy" style from Hong Kong.
One of the long-haired youths bore a slight resemblance to the leader.
As the five approached the fish stall, Gao Qiqiang immediately shielded his younger sister, Gao Qilan, behind him.
The simple smile vanished from his face, and he reverted to his usual deferential, subservient demeanor.
"Brother Long!"
Gao Qiqiang took out a pack of twenty-yuan cigarettes and offered one to the leader.
Brother Long frowned slightly, while another person took out a pack of hundred-yuan cigarettes and personally lit it for him.
Seeing the expensive cigarettes, Gao Qiqiang chuckled awkwardly and carefully tucked his own pack back into his pocket.
"Old Gao, your stall fee is increasing next month. It's an extra five hundred yuan more than before. Make sure you have the money ready."
Brother Long took a deep drag and exhaled the smoke directly into Old Gao's face.
Gao Qiqiang's smile remained, but his eyes betrayed his reluctance.
Before he could speak, the long-haired youth who resembled Brother Long spoke up, "If you're unwilling to pay, your fish stall's location can be changed. Old Li behind the back door really likes this spot. He offered double the price as soon as we asked for the money. Old Gao, my brother is mentioning this to you because you're all from the same courtyard. If you want to keep this spot, you'll need to pay triple the price, and I'll let you operate until the end of the year."
"Brother Hu, my fish stall was just renovated not long ago, and I don't have much spare cash. Since we're all from the same courtyard, could you be flexible and give me a month? I'll bring you the triple stall fee." Gao Qiqiang clasped his hands together and bowed repeatedly in entreaty.
Brother Long sneered and didn't reply. He tilted his head and said to the long-haired man beside him, "Little Hu, I remember there's a new LCD TV out. If someone brings me one, I won't just give them a stall, I'll personally stand there and help them sell things tomorrow."
His voice wasn't loud or soft, and the surrounding vendors exchanged glances, quietly continuing their work. They all understood that Brother Long wasn't just here to raise the stall fee today; he also wanted that new television. And Gao Qiqiang's stall had the best business in the entire North Factory Market. It was no surprise he was being targeted.
Old Gao, standing to the side, understood the implication and immediately nodded, "It's just a TV, Brother Long. You go back first, and I'll have it delivered to you tonight."
"You know what's good for you, Old Gao!" Brother Hu chuckled and started to lead his men away.
But Gao Qilan, standing behind, couldn't hold back. She stepped forward and sharply said, "Brother, that TV costs twelve thousand eight hundred yuan. Triple the stall fee is only two thousand four hundred. Zhou Long and they are extorting you."
"Xiao Lan, stop talking!" Gao Qiqiang's face changed, and he quickly grabbed his sister.
Zhou Long spun around, looking at the graceful and beautiful Gao Qilan, and flashed a lecherous grin. "Oh, isn't this Xiao Lan? It's been a year, and you've gotten even prettier."
As he tried to approach, Gao Qiqiang immediately stepped in front of her, saying with a fawning smile, "Sorry, Brother Long. Xiao Lan is a recent graduate and doesn't understand the ways of the world. Please bear with her."
"I'm talking to Xiao Lan, what business is it of yours! Get out of the way!" Zhou Long impatiently tried to push him aside.
But Old Gao gritted his teeth and stood firm, blocking his path and preventing him from getting close to his sister.
Zhou Hu, standing nearby, had a glint in his eye. He quickly stepped forward and whispered in his brother's ear, "Brother, Gao Qilan is with Gao Fei. We should be careful. Let's just focus on Old Gao and not bother with Gao Qilan. This is more important, Brother!!"
After his brother's advice, Zhou Long's displeasure grew. He was the local overlord of North Factory Street, a kingpin. With just a word, dozens of his underlings would fight and die for him. Now, his brother's suggestion felt like a challenge to his authority, making him feel uncomfortable and agitated!
Zhou Long's face turned cold, and he shouted loudly, "What kind of shit is that Gao person? As long as it's in North Factory Street, he has no say here."
Hearing his angry roar, Gao Qilan and Gao Qiqiang looked at each other in confusion. A person named Gao? It seemed they were the only family with that surname in North Factory Street!
Zhou Hu glanced at the siblings and lowered his voice, "Brother, don't forget the fire at the Wutong District express warehouse. Gao Fei directly took six lives! And the demise of the Yu Min gang was also largely related to Gao Fei. He's a bona fide underworld boss. We're just trying to make a living. Be patient and don't get angry!!"
At these words, Zhou Long's anger subsided considerably. He was indeed a thug, the local overlord of North Factory Street, but he was also afraid of death! However, as the boss of North Factory Street, he couldn't be scared away by just a name.
Zhou Long dared not linger his gaze on Gao Qilan. Instead, he coldly glared at Gao Qiqiang, "Deliver the television to me tonight, or you can get out of this market." With these harsh words, he led Zhou Hu and the others away.
After they left, the market returned to its normal order. With Gao Qiqiang now targeted by Zhou Long, some vendors who were on good terms with him, while outwardly appearing normal, subtly displayed a newfound distance in their interactions. Zhou Long was the bully of the market, and they didn't want to be implicated because of Gao Qiqiang.
...
On the way to the shop of Gao's second elder brother.
Gao Qilan looked at her dejected elder brother and couldn't help but say, "Brother, didn't Brother Xiao Bei used to manage the market? How did it suddenly become controlled by these two riffraff, Zhou Long and Zhou Hu?"
"Xiao Bei was a mid-level member of Yu Min's criminal syndicate. Yu Min was arrested, and he went in too! Seeing Xiao Bei arrested, Zhou Long and Zhou Hu immediately brought a group of social misfits and took over North Factory Street. Now, on the entire North Factory Street, their Zhou brothers call the shots, and no one dares to object!"
Now that his sister was more worldly, Gao Qiqiang decided to explain some of the social realities to Xiao Lan. After all, his sister was growing up, and she would eventually witness some of the unpleasantries of society.
"Brother, why don't we quit the fish stall and try a new industry!"
"What industry?"
"Our factory has an employee incentive program. Any employee who wants to open a Gao Lan cosmetics direct sales store can get an 80% discount on the first batch of goods. I've already secured a spot. I came back today to discuss opening a store with you and Second Brother." Gao Qilan's visit home today was not just to see her brother, but primarily for the Gao Lan cosmetics direct sales store.
After hearing his sister's suggestion, Gao Qiqiang smiled with relief and said, "When it comes to opening the store, you and your Second Brother can discuss it. I'll listen to whatever you decide." Seeing her brother agree, Gao Qilan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. After all, if her brother continued to stay in the market, he would always be suppressed by the Zhou brothers. Now that he was out of the market, he could finally distance himself from those two shameless thugs.
Gao Qiqiang, walking beside her, heard the mention of Gao Lan Cosmetics and suddenly realized who the surname Gao that Zhou Long had mentioned referred to. It was his sister's major boss, Gao Fei!
...
After leaving the market, the Zhou brothers took a group of their trusted subordinates to a teahouse to discuss how to expand their territory and collect money. After some discussion, they planned to target the shops outside the market. Under the guise of collecting sanitation fees, they would essentially extort protection money from the various shops. Just as Zhou Long was fantasizing about himself gradually ascending to become the underworld boss of Yuhe District, a subordinate rushed in. "Brother Long, a message has come from the film crew. The person in charge said their boss is Gao Fei. If you want venue fees, you should go and talk to Gao Fei!"