"Are you trying to ask me to avenge your uncle? Don't worry, I will definitely avenge him, you don't need to say more."
"No... I'm begging you... if we catch Li Datou, could you..." Xiao Huang's eyes were bloodshot, filled with resentment: "Could you let me kill him with my own hands? I want to kill him in the mourning hall, in front of my uncle's memorial tablet!!"
“…No.” I looked at the young man for a long time before slowly uttering those two words.
"Why!!" He suddenly became agitated, jumped up, clenched his fists, and glared at me like an angry little bull.
I sighed and looked into his eyes: "First, even if Li Datou is a traitor, what are the chances that the Vietnamese will spare his life after they've used him?" This one sentence immediately extinguished the hope in many of Xiao Huang's eyes.
Then I said something that completely dimmed his eyes.
"Second..." I said calmly and woodenly, "This matter must never be known to anyone else! Even if Li Datou is not dead, I will make him disappear from the world quietly! In the hearts of all the brothers in the Big Circle, Li Datou will be a good brother who was killed by his enemy, not a traitor who deserves to be torn to pieces."
"Why!!" Xiao Huang suddenly screamed, and he couldn't help but grab my arm! He grabbed it so hard that his fingertips were like hooks, digging into the muscles of my arm... His eyes were full of fire, as if he wanted to eat me at any moment.
"Because we can't afford another internal conflict!" I said slowly. "The morale of our brothers can't withstand another blow! And more importantly, our entire circle can't afford to lose face like this!!"
Yes. Is there going to be more internal strife? When Eighth Master was seriously injured, the Big Circle almost came to blows internally. If I hadn't arrived in time to stop the situation!!
Li Datou was one of the four dead leaders… In other words, he wasn't just an ordinary henchman! He was originally a leader! Naturally, he had his subordinates and his loyal followers… If I were to declare Li Datou a traitor now, how many of his former subordinates would accept it?
And then there's morale!
The grief over the deaths of our brothers and the hatred for our enemies are the key reasons why the Big Circle is now united and working together! This morale is very important to us right now!
Imagine, a sworn brother, already considered to have died a heroic death, is being mourned and remembered by many brothers in the funeral hall. Grief, reverence… and then I step in. I say he was actually a despicable and shameless traitor…
In this situation, it would undoubtedly be a huge scandal! It would severely damage the morale of our current brothers!
Moreover, with the Eighth Prince just dead, the Great Circle cannot afford to suffer another blow to morale!
So, no matter what, I won't reveal the truth about Li Datou... at least I'll try my best to keep this secret.
Let him enjoy the offerings from his brothers, let him continue to be a loyal and heroic brother in their hearts. I don't really believe in ghosts and spirits, and I don't think his memorial tablet being worshipped by so many brothers is any advantage he's gained.
The only thing... I will definitely find a way to locate him, and then, quietly and secretly, using the most cruel methods, execute him! That's enough!
“I can let you kill him with your own hands… but this can’t happen in the funeral hall of the auto repair shop.” I looked at Xiao Huang and said calmly, “You may not understand what I mean now, but you will in the future.”
Then, I leaned closer and whispered in Xiao Huang's ear, "Hmm... I think the two people protecting you outside haven't told you yet, have they? Eighth Master is dead... just earlier today."
Xiao Huang's expression changed drastically, and he stared at me in disbelief with a look of terror on his face.
I patted him on the shoulder and then led Ciro out the door.
Part Two: The Road to Success, Chapter Fifty: Buck Teeth Zhou
Zhou, the lawyer with buck teeth, has his firm located in a famous office building in downtown Vancouver.
Unlike other famous law firms, Attorney Zhou's firm is rather small... or rather, extremely small.
Other prominent lawyers in Vancouver work in prestigious law firms, which often have dozens or even hundreds of lawyers. But Zhou, the buck-toothed lawyer, works in a rather shabby place, despite being one of Vancouver's most renowned lawyers.
Steve Zhou Law Firm.
The inscription on the door was very bright and clean, indicating that it had been wiped down frequently.
This name makes me want to laugh a little, because Steve Chow... if I remember correctly, the most famous comedy film master in the Chinese-speaking world right now, Stephen Chow, has the English name Steve Chow.
Of course, I'm here to see Attorney Zhou about something important... Eighth Master's funeral arrangements.
In fact, I'm more concerned about whether Eighth Master left any will... or what property he left behind.
I have over a hundred people waiting to be fed!
Zhou, the lawyer known as "Buck-toothed Zhou," lived up to his name. His face was slightly dark and thin, and his buck teeth were, of course, obvious. Then there were his eyes. They were exceptionally bright; a man who would otherwise be unremarkable in appearance was transformed into someone with extraordinary charisma by those eyes!
“Mr. Chen Yang...you really are going to cause me trouble.”
When I entered, the buck-toothed lawyer Zhou was carrying a small briefcase, preparing to leave.
"Attorney Zhou, where are we going?"
"Go to the police station!" He glared at me irritably. "Today your men took a whole bunch of people to smash up the Vietnamese place. I just got the news and I know I'm in for a lot of trouble! Hmph, I really don't know what you're up to. This kind of fighting and vandalism is pointless. If we run into the police, they can charge you with property damage, which can be serious or minor... But with so many people, you'll exhaust me."
I waved my hand and smiled, "No rush, no rush. This is a small matter. I came to see you because I have something important to discuss."
"A small matter?" Buck-toothed Zhou suddenly sneered. He glanced at me, his face full of undisguised sarcasm: "Your men went out to cause trouble and got arrested by the police, and you call that a small matter? Brother Wu! If this is how you treat your own men, then I guess I've misjudged you."
His address of "Little Fifth Brother" carried an air of utter mockery.
I couldn't help but blush, and quickly explained seriously, "No! It's just that the police and I... well, we've reached some private compromises. As long as we don't go too far, the police won't make things too difficult for us."
“Oh…” Bucktooth Zhou’s expression softened a bit. After a slight pause, he nodded and said, “Yes, that’s right. Do you and that famous big dog have some kind of private agreement? Before, at the police station, he openly protected you and prevented Norton from dealing with you. I had some suspicions at the time. Now it seems that it was indeed the case.”
This guy speaks in a very harsh tone, and his bad temper is notorious throughout the circle. To be honest, I'm not angry when he talks to me like that, because I understand that anyone who is extraordinary will inevitably have a different temperament than ordinary people.
Moreover, this lawyer Zhou is an old friend in the industry, and he is far more senior than me. How could I dare to put on airs in front of him?
"Then please come in." Attorney Zhou finally ushered me into his office.
His small law firm had only three people, including himself. He was the sole lawyer and owner, with two assistants. Attorney Zhou invited me into his office, and before I even sat down, he went straight to the point.
"Mr. Chen Yang, your sudden visit is probably about the funeral arrangements for Eighth Master, right?" Buck-toothed Zhou glanced at me, his eyes filled with sarcasm.
I felt a little annoyed. I didn't understand what I had done to offend this person; he always seemed to speak to me with such a sarcastic tone—later I learned that this guy just had a bad temper and spoke to everyone in the same way.
Seeing that I didn't speak, Bucktooth Zhou picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip of water to moisten his throat, sat down in the chair, and slowly said, "Alright, I know you must be anxious now. I have a will left by Eighth Master here... Well, of course, there are some issues. For example, some assets are in Eighth Master's private name... According to the law, Eighth Master has no direct relatives, and I can't disclose his designated heir right now. Don't worry, I'll prepare the relevant documents within three days and then come to see you..."
I looked at the teacup Zhou was holding… This guy really is acting like a big shot. A guest arrived, and he didn't even call his assistant to bring him a cup of tea…
However, his words didn't have the effect I wanted. Suppressing my displeasure, I slowly asked, "Attorney Zhou, we're family, so let's not beat around the bush... I don't like beating around the bush... To be honest, although I've temporarily taken over, it was always Eighth Master who was in charge before. And let me tell you something that might sound ridiculous... none of us know how much the Big Circle has right now! I don't know, and none of the brothers in the repair shop know either! The repair shop's accounts are almost empty! How am I supposed to manage such a mess with nothing in my hands?"
I stood up, slowly walked to the side, gently pushed open the door, and gave Xiluo a wink. Xiluo immediately went out and stood guard at the door.
I closed the door, faced the buck-toothed lawyer Zhou, and took a deep breath: "Attorney Zhou, since we've come this far, I might as well lay it all out!"
I walked up to him step by step, avoiding his gaze. I tapped my fingers on the table, speaking casually, "Attorney Zhou, as I said before, I don't know exactly how much wealth the Big Circle has! But the only thing I do know… is…" My eyes flickered, my voice soft but unusually firm: "…Many of these assets may be registered under Eighth Master's personal name! But that's only in name! After all, Eighth Master was the head of the Big Circle before! But you and I both understand! This money isn't Eighth Master's private property! It was earned by so many brothers in the Big Circle through blood and sweat!! This is public funds!!"
At this point, I took a deep breath, gave the buck-toothed lawyer Zhou a cold look, and said, "I hope you remember this!"
"Ha!" Buck-toothed Zhou seemed to laugh angrily, "You actually threatened me? From Fang Bazhi to that hot-tempered Lao Qi, I've never seen anyone dare to threaten me!"
“I’m not threatening you,” I said slowly, my expression calm. I spoke slowly, but each word was deliberate and uncompromising: “Now that I’m in charge of this business, that I’m in charge of this household, so many brothers have their lives and livelihoods tied to me! So many brothers depend on me for their livelihood! I will get this hard-earned money no matter what!”
After finishing his sentence, Zhou, with his buck teeth, still spoke in a venomous tone, looking at me with a half-smile: "Your words are beautiful, but in this line of work, I've seen countless people whose words are ten times more beautiful than yours... Chen Yang, I have my principles, I have my professional code! Since Eighth Master trusted me and left his will with me before his death, I naturally can't betray him..."
A hint of anger had already appeared on my face.
shit!
According to Zhou with buck teeth, many assets were registered under Eighth Master's private name! Eighth Master is dead, and he has no close relatives. Heaven knows who his designated heir is! What if it's a complete stranger? Are we just going to watch this money flow into the hands of outsiders?
If Eighth Master doesn't designate an heir... then the situation will be even worse! According to the law, this money will probably end up in the hands of some charitable organizations..."
This situation is even more troublesome!
If it's said that Eighth Master's money was given to some unrelated person—frankly, heaven knows if Eighth Master has any illegitimate children or anything like that…it's hard to say.
But even if the money ends up in someone else's hands, I'm determined to get it back, no matter how troublesome it may be! Whether by robbery or intimidation, whoever dares to swallow it, I'll make them spit it out! I won't feel guilty at all, because this was originally the hard-earned money of my brothers, not Eighth Master's personal property.
But if the government confiscates it... I'm out of options. I can't exactly threaten the government, can I?
*Smack!*
I slammed my hand on the table, glanced at Bucktooth Zhou, and said coldly, "I'm not talking to you about the law now! I'm talking to you about reason! No matter what happens in the world, it can't surpass reason!! This money is the blood and sweat of our brothers! There are so many brothers in the Big Circle who need to eat! They need to survive! And there are our fallen brothers whose funerals need to be taken care of, whose families need to be supported! I don't care about wills or anything like that! Even if it means resorting to some unavoidable means, I will definitely get this money back!"
After I finished speaking, I glanced at the buck-toothed man and couldn't help but feel a little disappointed in him.
Is this guy also called a vampire, like other lawyers?
If Eighth Master's estate were to be swallowed up, who would have the best chance of profiting from it... without a doubt, it would be the buck-toothed lawyer, Zhou!
Seeing my murderous glare, a strange glint flashed in Zhou's eyes, but he smiled coldly: "Fine, in that case, we'll see in three days. I'll bring people to your place to announce Eighth Master's will!"
In my rage, I was about to slam the door and leave when Zhou with the buck teeth hesitated for a moment and chuckled, "Don't you think it's too early for you to get angry now... Perhaps the situation isn't so bad after all."
He spoke very vaguely and in a low voice, so I didn't hear him clearly. I was only slightly taken aback, but didn't pay much attention. I walked out of Bucktooth Zhou's office angrily and saw Xiluo standing outside the door. I was about to call him to leave together when my phone suddenly rang.
After receiving that call, all my anger vanished instantly! Then, a cold sweat broke out on my back!
The 51st chapter of Part Two: The Road to Success has been exposed!
"Chen Yang." A deep, somewhat cold voice, with a heavy American accent, sounded familiar on the phone. I took a moment to realize who it belonged to...
It's Hansen, the black bodyguard next to Yang Wei!
Before I could speak, the other person simply said, "The time you were ambushed on the road... someone saw what you and your brother did in the alley."
He spoke very quickly, and Hansen's voice was cold. You couldn't detect any emotional fluctuation in his voice, and... after he finished speaking, he immediately hung up the phone.
However, that short sentence was like a sharp sword, instantly piercing my heart!
Someone saw it…
Did someone see it?
Someone saw it!!
What did Xiluo and I do in the alley when we were ambushed by the Vietnamese on the road that day?
Xiluo killed Eighth Master with his own hands!!!
Even though I'm toughened up to be incredibly resilient, I was stunned for a good while after hearing that! I didn't need a mirror to know I looked terrible! And my back, under my clothes, was sticky with cold sweat!!
Countless scenes flashed through my mind instantly:
When our plot was exposed, Xiluo and I were branded as murderers of our leader and hunted down by the brothers from the Big Circle... We were on the run, with nowhere to turn... penniless... and glared at with hatred by our former comrades. Everyone scorned us...
Cold sweat was already dripping down my forehead, and my fingers were gripping the phone so tightly that it was making a clicking sound...
Finally, by the time I came to my senses, all that was left on the phone was the busy signal.
I gasped for breath, then frantically dialed back on my phone, but all I got was a busy signal! Hansen had suddenly called, and then suddenly disappeared...
Seeing my frightened expression, Xiluo opened his mouth as if to ask something, but I remained solemn. I shook my head at him and said through gritted teeth, "Let's go... let's go."
I pulled Ciro out the door, and in the elevator, I didn't say a word. I just stared blankly at myself in the mirror. My eyes were terrifying... I remembered seeing the same look in the eyes of the wolves in their cages at the zoo when I was a child!
...Someone saw it!