Zhao Qiang asked, "Do I have one?"
Yang Shiqi said, "You do have things to say, but you always have someone else relay them to me. It's only today that you've shown me some attitude."
Zhao Qiang chuckled: "Looks like my senior sister has a lot of influence. Okay, I'll do it. We won't hold any past issues against each other."
Yang Shiqi was surprised that he agreed so readily. Was it really because she was too proud to say those words that Zhao Qiang was ignoring her? She also picked up a glass of wine and said, "I'll drink too. Old Zhao, you said yourself that you wouldn't pursue the past."
Zhao Qiang clinked glasses with Yang Shiqi and said, "It's not like I'd lie to you. If I were angry, I would have kicked you back to Beijing long ago."
After finishing the drink, Gu Xuemei stood silently to the side with one arm across her chest and the other holding Yang Shiqi. The glass of liquor was at least three ounces, yet she drank it without changing her expression. Zhao Qiang secretly gave her a thumbs up, truly a heroine among women.
With people around, it wasn't convenient for Yang Shiqi to speak, so she could only ask indirectly, "Since we've reached an agreement so easily, shouldn't you at least offer something in return?"
Zhao Qiang said, "Let me tell you, the reason we haven't made any moves lately isn't because you made me angry, but because it's not appropriate to do anything anymore, do you understand?"
Yang Shiqi said, "I don't understand. On the contrary, I think we should make rapid progress and teach my grandfather a lesson."
Zhao Qiang said, "Color isn't so easy to see. Your grandfather's behavior also reminded me that going too far is not suitable for our current identity and environment. It's easy to attract attention. And right now we're penniless. With just twenty people, we can't accomplish anything significant. So it's not advisable to be reckless anymore, Lao Yang."
Yang Shiqi said, "So you turned to developing the economy?"
Zhao Qiang nodded: "Do you understand now? I'm not targeting you. Actually, we've been a team for a long time. Our honor and disgrace are intertwined. The Luo family's incident a few days ago proved that as long as we stick together, it's easy to accomplish something. It's just that it's economic. It's not so easy to interfere in your affairs. Patience is our long-term policy for the future. I'm just worried that you've already been targeted by others. You must do a good job of security."
Yang Shiqi glanced at the group of people slumped over in the room and said in surprise, "No way, don't exaggerate."
Zhao Qiang said, "I'm not exaggerating. It's not convenient to talk here. Let's go sing some songs."
Yang Shiqi understood that even if those students were drunk, there were some things that couldn't be mentioned in front of them. "Okay."
Jie Bing and Fang Xuehui were led out of the private room by Major Wang. When they saw two tall men standing outside, they immediately knew that the two women who had just arrived were not to be trifled with. So they left immediately without saying a word, otherwise they would be asking for a beating if they stayed. Major Wang's expression was not friendly. Just by the fact that he could lift a person weighing 170 or 180 pounds with ease, it was clear that he was skilled.
Fang Xuehui was a little unsteady on his feet. The two of them sat on the cement ground in front of the Golden Pavilion. Jie Bing said, "It's really damn frustrating. I thought I had a chance to take advantage of the situation tonight, but who knew that a Cheng Yaojin would suddenly appear."
Fang Xuehui said, "That's not the key point. The key point is that neither of us can outdrink Xiao Su. How do you get her drunk and into bed? Even if we're drunk, she won't be."
Volume 2 [Chapter 308] He died
Jie Bing said, "I suggested using medicine, but you wouldn't let me. Otherwise, it wouldn't be so complicated."
Fang Xuehui said, "They're all classmates, it wouldn't be good to give them medication."
Jie Bing retorted, "Bullshit! You're already thinking about getting her into bed, why do you care if she's a classmate?"
Fang Xuehui shook his head. "You're right. So what do we do now? The two who just arrived have some status."
Jie Bing said, "In Hedian District, only Brother Gou has the most status..."
Fang Xuehui said, "Didn't we just bring him up? He's not buying it."
Jie Bing said, "That's because they're from out of town and don't know the local customs. As long as we ask Brother Gou to step in and scare them, don't worry, I guarantee they'll obediently give way."
Fang Xuehui said, "I don't have that much money on hand. Can you afford to hire Brother Gou?"
Jie Bing said, "I told you to use your brain more, but you wouldn't listen. We can't just tell them that they said they looked down on Brother Gou and that they were going to smash up Brother Gou's territory. Wouldn't that be a free way to watch the tigers fight?"
Fang Xuehui said, "What if things get exposed? Wouldn't Brother Gou kill us?"
Jie Bing said, "How could anything be exposed? We'll stick to our story, and those people won't be able to defend themselves."
Fang Xuehui said, "Okay, let's go find Brother Gou."
Jie Bing said, "Let me make a phone call and ask first."
After hanging up the phone, Jie Bing said, "We're really lucky. Brother Gou is on his way to Golden Pavilion. He's having dinner with a friend and asked us to wait. He'll be there soon."
In just three or four minutes, Brother Gou's cars arrived. There were three cars in total, each worth over a million. Jie Bing and Fang Xuehui squatted by the car door like lapdogs, welcoming Brother Gou out of the car. Back then, they really did fight and drink with Brother Gou, but he was just lucky.
Wang Ergou glanced at the two lapdogs: "Who dares to wreck my territory?" Although these two guys were once brothers, Wang Ergou now looked down on them.
Jie Bing said, "He's inside. It's a guy, a friend of one of our classmates. We tried to persuade him not to keep going against you, but he wouldn't listen. We had no choice but to notify you, Brother Gou."
Wang Ergou said casually, "Let's go in and take a look." He turned around elegantly, his leather shoes polished to a shine, making a crisp sound as he stepped on the ground. After he left, a lingering scent of cologne remained behind him. He was truly impressive, not at all like the petty thug he used to be.
Jie Bing pointed at the Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 parked at the entrance and said, "That car belongs to them. They're pretty arrogant. We'll help Brother Gou smash it!"
Wang Ergou remained noncommittal, while Jie Bing went off to find tools. He couldn't very well use his fists to smash things, could he? Just then, Fang Xuehui noticed Su Xiaosu leading Zhao Qiang and the others out of the Golden Pavilion. He immediately went up to Wang Ergou and pointed them out: "Brother Gou, look, they're coming out! We can't let them get away!"
Wang Ergou had just lit a cigarette and hadn't even had a chance to politely exhale the smoke when he suddenly saw the figures of the group walking out of the Golden Pavilion. He let out a yelp, and the smoke that had reached his nose and eyes was swallowed back in, choking him until tears and snot streamed down his face. He tried to suppress it but couldn't stop coughing, which startled Fang Xuehui, who immediately went behind Wang Ergou and patted his back, saying, "Brother Gou, smoke slowly."
Wang Ergou suddenly turned around and kicked Fang Xuehui in the groin: "Go to hell! You dare to touch my brother Qiang? I'll cripple you!" After saying that, Wang Ergou suddenly saw Jie Bing about to smash the Mercedes-Benz. He shouted: "Stop him!" Several of his men immediately rushed over, each grabbing Jie Bing on one side and mercilessly beating him.
At this moment, Jie Bing had no idea what was going on and shouted, "Brother Gou, spare me! Spare me! What did I do wrong?" Little did he know that Brother Gou's success today was entirely due to Zhao Qiang's name. If Zhao Qiang hadn't let him go back then, and if he hadn't been so perceptive as to do Zhao Qiang a favor, he would have been long gone by now.
Ignoring Fang Xuehui, who was clutching his crotch on the ground, Wang Ergou threw away his cigarette and ran forward, bowing and scraping, "Brother Qiang." He knew better than anyone how ruthless this man was; a true killer who wouldn't blink an eye and wouldn't have to bear the criminal charges. Not to mention a nobody like Wang Ergou, even the district party secretary would have to smile obsequiously.
Zhao Qiang looked up and recognized the man somewhat, so he nodded as a greeting. Wang Ergou smiled broadly and said, "Brother Qiang, these two bastards are disturbing your meal. I'll teach them a lesson."
Only then did Su Xiaosu realize that the ones who had been beaten were Jie Bing and Fang Xuehui. Wan Xiaobo and the other three were not sober. They didn't have much of a tolerance for alcohol, and they couldn't handle drinking a mixture of baijiu and beer. So they didn't care who was being beaten. But Su Xiaosu couldn't just watch these two die tragically in the street because the group that did it was too vicious. In just a short while, Jie Bing and Fang Xuehui were covered in blood. Even if they had offended Zhao Qiang with their words, the punishment they received was enough.
Su Xiaosu tugged at Zhao Qiang, "Brother Xiaoqiang, don't kill them."
Zhao Qiang waved his hand and said to Wang Ergou, "Forget it, they are Xiao Su's classmates. Just teach them a lesson. It's pointless to cause trouble. By the way, find someone to take these four to a hotel. They drank a bit too much. They can go back to school tomorrow after they've sobered up."
Wang Ergou dared not disobey and immediately called a few people to help Wan Xiaobo and the other three away, so that Zhao Qiang would not have to escort them alone. At this moment, Zhao Qiang felt it was necessary to have a serious talk with Yang Shiqi, because Yang Shiqi's sharpness had been worn down by him and it was time to end the cold war with him. Although this person was a bit arrogant, just like Zhang Lingfeng, he could also do great things for Zhao Qiang.
Jie Bing and Fang Xuehui only just realized that the classmate of Sister Su Xiaosu in front of them was actually the legendary Brother Qiang, the elder brother of Brother Gou! It was said that this Brother Qiang was the one who swept through H Road in Hedian District, causing rivers of blood to flow! He shot Song Shiguo dead with one shot, and the district party secretary even applauded him. These two idiots were really stupid; they had forced him to drink earlier. If it weren't for Xiaosu's face, they probably wouldn't even know how they died!
Now that Jie Bing and Fang Xuehui knew Zhao Qiang's background, they didn't dare to be tough. The key was to get Brother Qiang's forgiveness. Maybe Brother Qiang would give them a chance because of Xiao Su. With just one word from Brother Qiang, they might be as successful as Brother Gou tomorrow. So, disregarding their injuries, Jie Bing and Fang Xuehui rushed towards Zhao Qiang and Su Xiao Su.
Yang Shiqi said to Major Wang, "You go drive, I'll ride in Zhao Qiang's car, you guys follow behind." They could talk a bit in the car. At this moment, Yang Shiqi felt an inexplicable closeness to Zhao Qiang, especially since they had reconciled. She wanted to talk to him more, about work or life. In short, Yang Shiqi had been feeling very stifled lately.
Just then, Jie Bing lunged past Yang Shiqi, bending down to grab Zhao Qiang's leg. Suddenly, a bullet pierced through Jie Bing's skull, spraying blood and brain matter everywhere. Jie Bing died instantly! His body fell at Zhao Qiang's feet, while the bullet, after passing through Jie Bing's skull, changed direction, grazing Yang Shiqi's kneecap and punching a hole in her pants! Yang Shiqi was so terrified that cold sweat instantly broke out on her face! For a moment, she couldn't react.
Zhao Qiang's mind went blank for a moment. Due to the alcohol, his reactions were a bit slow, especially since Jie Bing was blocking most of his vision. However, he immediately sobered up after Jie Bing fell. He pushed Yang Shiqi to the side, then hugged Su Xiaosu in his arms. Yang Shiqi stumbled and fell backward to the ground. A volley of bullets whizzed past her body. Zhao Qiang rolled on the spot after catching Su Xiaosu and immediately joined Yang Shiqi. He put Su Xiaosu down so that she was next to Yang Shiqi, and used his back to block another volley of bullets that followed. Bang bang bang, the bullets hit Zhao Qiang's back, making it burn with pain. These weapons were all of high caliber!
"What's going on!" Yang Shiqi shouted. She didn't understand the situation on the field and was used to giving orders to others, so her reaction was different from Zhao Qiang's. Zhao Qiang did things, but she shouted.
Taking advantage of the enemy's reloading opportunity, Zhao Qiang instantly activated the anti-gravity device. Grabbing Su Xiaosu with one hand and pulling Yang Shiqi up with the other, he pushed off the ground and shot towards the roof of the Golden Pavilion. The open doorway was not a suitable place to hide, which was why the attackers chose to strike there, so Zhao Qiang had to leave.
Yang Shiqi suddenly shouted, "Xiaomei is down there!" Gu Xuemei was walking at the back. She was stunned when the gunshot rang out and was still standing there, her hands instinctively crossed over her chest, looking helpless. The already cute little girl looked even more pitiful now.
Zhao Qiang flung Yang Shiqi and Su Xiaosu toward the third-floor balcony, then pushed off the building and shot down again. Just then, the second wave of gunfire arrived, engulfing Gu Xuemei. Seeing that there was no time to land and rescue her, Zhao Qiang had no choice but to make a quick decision. He launched a ball of energy to cover Gu Xuemei before she hit the ground. The bullets hit the energy with a thud and then fell to the ground. In those brief two seconds, Zhao Qiang successfully grabbed Gu Xuemei and then leaped onto the third floor of the Golden Pavilion.
Zhao Qiang's movements were lightning fast; the likes of Wang Ergou hadn't even flinched yet. However, the attackers' reaction speed wasn't much slower than Zhao Qiang's. They immediately turned their guns and opened fire on the Golden Pavilion. Some diners who came out to watch the commotion were hit, and the sound of shattering windows filled the air. Fortunately, the four men were protected by a wall where they were hiding; otherwise, they would have been easily injured. Gu Xuemei landed on the ground and then burst into tears.
Yang Shiqi didn't have time to comfort her and asked Zhao Qiang, "What should we do?" This emergency situation was different from acting like a spoiled brat. Yang Shiqi understood this, so she was willing to listen to Zhao Qiang's orders. In fact, she had gotten used to it during this period and really didn't know what to do without Zhao Qiang's orders.
Zhao Qiang reminded her, "Don't forget, you also have jumping shoes and a bulletproof vest! I'll take the two of them with me, so be careful! This group is after you, but they probably don't want to kill you. Let's meet up in front of the district police station; it'll be safer there."
The reason for choosing the district public security bureau is that it is a place with good public order, and assassins usually avoid it.
Volume 2 [309] Luring the Tiger Away from the Mountain
Yang Shiqi was skeptical: "Targeting me? How could that be?"
Zhao Qiang said, "The first shot was meant to disable your mobility. The subsequent bullets are all chasing after you. What's impossible about that?"
Yang Shiqi cursed, "It's all because of your jinxed mouth! You just said someone would be watching me and it's already happened so quickly."
Zhao Qiang was also frustrated, but this wasn't something he could control. With two women around him who needed protection, he couldn't possibly attend to Yang Shiqi. At that moment, Major Wang and the other two soldiers below also reacted. They drew their guns and opened fire, drawing most of the attackers' fire. Therefore, Yang Shiqi's safety should be guaranteed thanks to her bulletproof vest and running shoes.
Major Wang and his two companions were also fully equipped, but like Yang Shiqi, they did not possess super-fast reflexes. Although they were much faster than ordinary people, they still could not compare to Zhao Qiang's super biochip. Otherwise, Zhao Qiang would not have been able to rescue Yang Shiqi and the other two. At this moment, they would probably be in a similar situation to Jie Bing, Fang Xuehui, and Er Gou. Jie Bing was definitely dead, Fang Xuehui was hit in the abdomen by a hail of bullets, and Wang Er Gou was the luckiest, only being hit in the leg.
There were three groups of attackers. One group was on the road opposite the Golden Pavilion, using a light truck as a base. The second group was on the left side of the Golden Pavilion, on the second floor of a low commercial building. The third group was on the right side of the Golden Pavilion. The third group could not see Zhao Qiang's side at all. Their main task was to clear out the resistance forces on the ground.
As soon as Zhao Qiang showed his face, the attackers on the left side of the Golden Pavilion opened fire, the bullets causing pieces of plaster to fall off the wall above him. Yang Shiqi said, "No, it's dangerous if you rush out with the two of them. Take out that group of people on the other side first!"
Zhao Qiang pushed Su Xiaosu and Gu Xuemei toward Yang Shiqi: "You protect them, I'll go and eliminate them."
Wang Ergou, enduring the pain, crawled under a car. He didn't dare hope that Zhao Qiang would come down to save him. When he saw Zhao Qiang rush out from the third-floor balcony of the Golden Pavilion like a giant bird, heading straight for a firing point, Wang Ergou couldn't help but exclaim, "A god! Flying and soaring through the air! This lightness skill is like the reincarnation of the legendary thief Kong Kong'er!" Wang Ergou liked to read martial arts novels, and at this moment he even started reading.
Zhao Qiang's situation was not as easy as Wang Ergou had imagined. The enemy's firepower was too fierce. This was clearly not an ordinary organization. It is unimaginable for ordinary people to know that the strictness of weapons control in China is so great. But how much organizational power must these people have to be able to put heavy weapons under their noses?
The bullets struck the shield in Zhao Qiang's hand with a series of loud thuds. If it hadn't been reinforced multiple times, it definitely wouldn't have been able to stop them! Fortunately, the jump was short, otherwise the impact of the bullets hitting the shield would have bounced Zhao Qiang back from the air. Seeing that the opponent was right in front of him, Zhao Qiang suddenly removed the shield and fired the compressed gun at the firing point in front of him.
Boom! Even the most powerful weapon couldn't withstand a shot fired at its maximum power. The compressed air exploded violently, completely destroying the firing point on the left. The people and weapons inside were sent flying into the air. Half of the building collapsed, and dust and sand shot up into the sky, filling half the road with dust and smoke!
Judging from the glance Zhao Qiang took at the enemy before he launched the attack, these men were all around thirty years old, probably a group of well-trained soldiers, and their faces did not resemble those of foreigners.
Major Wang and the other two soldiers were using ordinary pistols. They thought it was impossible for such a fierce gunfight to occur in a city in China, so they were at a great disadvantage in terms of weaponry. They were suppressed by the fire from the two strongpoints. Although the shooting had been going on for nearly a minute, they estimated that it would take at least five or six minutes for the police to arrive, which would be enough time for the other side to take action.
After eliminating one firing point, Zhao Qiang headed straight for the light truck in the center of the street. The enemy had already seen Zhao Qiang destroy one firing point, so they turned their guns and fired fiercely at Zhao Qiang who was charging towards them. If they couldn't stop Zhao Qiang, they were doomed.
Zhao Qiang used a leaping motion to advance, which allowed him to avoid most of the bullets. Seeing that the firepower was drawn to Zhao Qiang, Major Wang and his two companions risked rushing out of their cover, activating their running shoes to maximum power, and following Zhao Qiang's example, rushed towards the truck in the middle of the street. Finally, they jumped onto the top of the truck and started firing at the people below! Every shot hit their heads, showing Major Wang's fury over the incident!
Bang bang bang! The firing point on the right stopped its indiscriminate firing at the Golden Pavilion and turned its fire back to its comrades in the center of the street. But it was too late. With the cooperation of Major Wang, Zhao Qiang had already destroyed the firing point. More than ten people were shot dead, some of them with their heads blown off. The horrific scene terrified the surrounding crowd, who vomited on the ground. Now that there was only one firing point left, it would be much easier to deal with.
"Zhao Qiang, save me!" Suddenly Su Xiaosu screamed. Zhao Qiang was shocked and turned around to see Su Xiaosu being lifted up by a man, while Yang Shiqi and Gu Xuemei had been knocked unconscious. Another man was carrying two jars on his back, the purpose of which was unknown, and he looked a bit like a diver. He picked up Yang Shiqi and then jumped from the third floor!
Contrary to expectations, he didn't fall and get injured. Instead, a burst of gas shot out of his back like a rocket, propelling him far into the distance. Wasn't this like a firecracker set off during Chinese New Year? It's just unclear whether it will actually explode. The two men were dressed similarly to the ordinary diners around them; perhaps they had been hiding in the Golden Pavilion, waiting for their chance. Zhao Qiang was drawn to the three firing points, and they took advantage of the opportunity to attack—they had fallen for a diversionary tactic!
Zhao Qiang immediately gave chase. The man holding Su Xiaosu threw her off the building, then grabbed Gu Xuemei and threw her off as well. He then jumped off the building, the canister on his back opened, and whoosh! He shot into the distant sky, and the first person disappeared without a trace. What a strong airflow! And controlling such a powerful airflow to fly in the air is no easy task. These people are all well-trained experts.
What to do? Track down Yang Shiqi? But Su Xiaosu and Gu Xuemei will fall to their deaths! Zhao Qiang naturally had no choice but to save them. He successfully caught Su Xiaosu as she was about to fall from the building. Su Xiaosu was so frightened that she clung to him tightly. Then Zhao Qiang caught Gu Xuemei, who was unconscious. Zhao Qiang had no choice but to let go of Su Xiaosu and hold her instead.
The gunfire around them suddenly intensified, with the last gunshots aimed at Zhao Qiang. And that wasn't all; more than a dozen enemies emerged from the crowd. Although they weren't heavy weapons, their submachine guns had a larger kill radius, and they all attacked Zhao Qiang. Zhao Qiang couldn't even leave Su Xiaosu and Gu Xuemei to save Yang Shiqi; keeping the three of them alive was a major problem!
With so much firepower, the three-proof shirt couldn't withstand it, and the armor wasn't very effective in protecting Su Xiaosu and Gu Xuemei. Left with no other choice, Zhao Qiang separated a large amount of energy to envelop Su Xiaosu and Gu Xuemei within it. Bullets hitting the outside were blocked as if by a white, transparent shield. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Zhao Qiang activated the anti-gravity device, then, with one arm around each person, leaped into the air. While dodging the gunmen's fire, Zhao Qiang also tried to chase after Yang Shiqi, but by then, the two flying frogmen had vanished without a trace. Zhao Qiang, dizzy and disoriented, jumped around the city aimlessly, attracting countless onlookers but achieving nothing!
By the time Zhao Qiang returned, the battle in front of the Golden Pavilion had ended. Major Wang and two other soldiers had killed nearly fifty enemies, proving their combat effectiveness—not comparable to Zhao Qiang's, but more than ten times that of ordinary soldiers. The three men had long since run out of bullets. With the assistance of the police who arrived later, the enemy suffered several more deaths. However, these attackers had completed their mission, discarding their weapons and disappearing into the streets and alleys. Finding them again would be difficult unless a city-wide search was conducted.
The most upscale hotel in Hedian District has been reduced to a dilapidated ruin, riddled with bullets! While it's hard to say that blood flowed like a river inside, the number of casualties was staggering. If you include the casualty rate from the battle at the entrance, it's even higher than in the provincial capital, because no one died in the large-scale firefight there. This was because Zhao Qiang was very rational at the time, but these attackers didn't care. They were eager to create even more bloodshed so they could fish in the chaos.
Major Wang's face was ashen. His protection mission had failed; Yang Shiqi had been arrested. She ignored the police chief who tried to speak to her, merely waving her identification and that was it. At this point, the only option was to quickly report the situation to Old Master Yang for a decision.
Before the call was even finished, Major Wang came to find Zhao Qiang. "Young Master Zhao, it's the commander on the phone. He wants you to answer it."
Zhao Qiang was somewhat reluctant. Although he had never met Old Master Yang or heard his voice before, Old Master Yang's actions in the provincial capital had hurt Zhao Qiang's feelings, and he didn't want to have any contact with him. However, Major Wang's phone was there, and his eyes were pleading. This man was Yang Shiqi's confidant. Although his primary loyalty was to Old Master Yang, his face was filled with worry because his young master was in danger. Even if it was for his sake, Zhao Qiang had no choice but to accept the offer. Moreover, he needed support from above to rescue Yang Shiqi.
"I am Zhao Qiang." Just three words, nothing more. This was Zhao Qiang's expression of dissatisfaction with Old Master Yang. He almost lost his life. Only a fool would be satisfied. It was already a favor that he didn't come to Old Master Yang's door.
The voice on the phone was deep yet resonant: "This is Yang Zhaoxi."
Zhao Qiang remained silent, thinking to himself, "Even if you were the Jade Emperor, I wouldn't flatter you. I'm friends with your grandson, but sorry, we have nothing to do with each other. If you're not satisfied, I can continue the fight; I'm happy to oblige."
"I know you hate me." It turns out that Old Master Yang is a self-aware person. It seems that being a high-ranking official doesn't mean you can be unreasonable.
Zhao Qiang remained silent; in his opinion, there was no point in saying anything now.
"But haven't you noticed how much Shiqi's personality has changed lately?" Yang Zhaoxi actually brought up something unrelated to the current situation. Did he and Luo Xin have similar ideas? Luo Xin used Zhao Qiang to save Haifeng Group, and Old Master Yang planned to use Zhao Qiang to save his grandson. Zhao Qiang isn't a school teacher; he has no such obligation!