“Very good.” Ouyang held the gun, gently pressing the muzzle against the fat man’s forehead. “I will take care of your family. I will continue to support your children who are studying in Europe. You… go in peace.”
The fat man was still trembling, but he cautiously took the gun from Ouyang's hand. Then, he gritted his teeth, put the muzzle into his mouth, and with trembling fingers, finally touched the trigger.
I was shocked, but Qiaoqiao's father had already turned his head away and sighed softly.
...
Bang!
A sharp gunshot rang out, and the fat man's body slumped to the ground, his blood staining the lawn...
Ouyang glanced at his subordinate and suddenly said, "Cheng Xiao, how long have you been following me?"
“Thirteen years and nine months,” the subordinate answered quickly.
Ouyang nodded and pointed to the corpse on the ground: "Take him away... From now on, you'll be in charge of things in Shanghai. You'll take over his house, car, and location... Don't let me down."
The subordinate's face lit up with ecstasy, and he immediately knelt down, kowtowing repeatedly: "Thank you, Mr. Ouyang! I will certainly not let you down!"
Ouyang was no longer looking at him. Instead, he beckoned to me, "Chen Yang, come here and have some tea with me." He then looked at Qiao Qiao's father, "Old Qiao, I'm sorry to have stained this place with blood. Also... I'd like to borrow your junior for a while, you won't object, will you?"
Qiaoqiao's father laughed heartily: "It's an honor for Mr. Ouyang to think so highly of him, how could I object?"
I followed Ouyang silently, still unable to calm down after what had just happened.
I'm not unfamiliar with dead bodies. Nor am I unfamiliar with killing and bloodshed. It's just that this Ouyang seems so refined and cultured; we were playing golf together with smiles just a moment ago, yet he turned ruthless when it came to killing. Decisive and ruthless, without the slightest hesitation, with a measured approach to rewards and punishments—the very essence of a ruthless tyrant!
If you hadn't seen it with your own eyes, just looking at his appearance, who would have imagined that such a refined and gentle middle-aged man was actually such a person?!
I followed Ouyang away, and then we took an electric cart out of the golf course. Inside, we changed into casual clothes in the locker room, and then followed Ouyang to a place decorated in a traditional Chinese style. The tables and chairs were all carved from tree roots, possessing a natural, antique charm that was quite appealing.
Ouyang and I sat facing each other. On a huge table carved from a tree root in front of us was a set of Kung Fu tea utensils. Ouyang and I had already washed our hands and changed our clothes. There were only the two of us in the huge room; his men were all waiting outside.
Ouyang calmly arranged the teacups in front of him, washing them, smelling the aroma, and performing each step meticulously. After pouring me some tea, he smiled and said, "Try it."
Without hesitation, I picked it up and drank it in one gulp: "Very good, very fragrant!"
Ouyang smiled and said, "No need for formalities... Hehe, you must be thinking, why do all these underworld bosses like to do this Kung Fu tea thing? They're all in the business of killing and robbing, yet they like to pretend to be refined, right?"
I paused for a moment, then smiled wryly and said, "Well... I did think about that before. But I don't think so anymore."
"Oh?" Ouyang glanced at me.
"Yes," I said frankly. "Actually, Mr. Ouyang, I'm also a member of the underworld. I understand perfectly well… Once you embark on this path, there's no turning back. How many underworld bosses in the world actually die peacefully in bed? They've killed a lot, and how many haven't had their hands stained with blood? But the more people you kill, the thicker your murderous aura becomes. If you're not careful, your mind will suffer. You'll either become cold-blooded or addicted to killing, and the sooner you die, the faster you'll die! In this path, if you want to stay put, you must maintain a calm mind! If you have nowhere to vent your murderous aura, sooner or later, you won't be able to maintain that calm mind." "Abroad, even gang leaders have their own private therapists! As far as I know, Mr. Thorin, the leader of the Hells Angels in Canada, has his own private therapist, as does the godfather of the Gambino family in America… However, we Chinese are different from those foreigners. We don't usually see therapists to manage stress. But our ancestors left us many things: calligraphy, chess, and tea tasting—each a good way to calm the mind and cultivate inner peace. It's just a pity I'm a rough person; I can't learn calligraphy, chess, or tea tasting. But Mr. Ouyang, your tea ceremony skills are truly admirable. Of course, I admire your ability to cultivate inner peace!"
Ouyang laughed heartily, seemingly quite satisfied with my explanation, and flicked his sleeve: "Have some tea."
He then glanced at me again: "You're a very strange person. When I first heard about you, all I knew was that you wiped out that guy with the character '人' in his name, and later Ye Huan rebelled, which seemed to be related to you... Yet you managed to build such a large empire in Canada. Among the younger generation I've met, you're definitely a standout. Sigh... We're all getting old. I'm afraid that in less than five years, no one among the younger generation will be able to stand on equal footing with you."
I couldn't respond to that. I just smiled and didn't say anything.
"Chen Yang, now it's just the two of us. What we say here today will be heard only by you and me, and absolutely no third party will hear it. Do you understand?"
"Understood." I replied calmly.
"You probably already know my identity," Ouyang said with a faint smile, glancing at me.
"I know a little." I nodded.
"Yes, my surname is Ouyang, and my given name is Ji. I am currently the major landlord under the Qinghong regime, with the character 'Di' at the top." Ouyang smiled and said, "Old Qiao, he's been a friend of mine for many years."
I had expected it. Qiaoqiao's father told me that he and the big boss of the "Di" character were mahjong partners at the same table, often playing together. And today, when they were chatting, I overheard them talking about playing mahjong together tonight, and I guessed it.
“I already know what happened today, and it has nothing to do with you. You were just unlucky to run into such a misfortune… hehe.” Ouyang chuckled. “I’m just going to ask you a few questions now, and you’d better answer them honestly.”
"Mr. Ouyang, please ask." I sighed.
"What kind of person is Shen Shan?" I didn't expect Ouyang's first question to be about this dead man, Shen Shan.
I thought about it and said, "Intelligent and cunning, keeping a low profile...and also has a good overall perspective."
Ouyang smiled, looking at me with a hint of mockery in his eyes: "I'm afraid you haven't said enough... As for him, he's as greedy as a jackal and as cunning as a fox. He's good at changing his stance according to the wind and seeking good fortune while avoiding misfortune, but unfortunately... his judgment of people is lacking. Otherwise, his evaluation would be a whole rank higher."
I remained silent, saying nothing.
"Hmm, Shen Shan has worked for your Big Circle for so many years. Now that he's dead, who is your Big Circle planning to send to take over the business in Shanghai?"
"?!!"
Ouyang's words almost made me collapse!
Despite my best efforts to hide my expression, I still managed to reveal a hint of shock.
Ouyang smiled and said, "Strange? There are no secrets in this world. Shen Shan is swaying between two sides, making money on both. This matter can be kept secret for a while, but how can it be kept secret forever? Hmph, but what does this matter have to do with me before? He used to be the manager of the Renzi Land. What benefit would I gain from exposing this matter? Hmph..."
I sighed: "So Mr. Ouyang already knew."
"Well, so I'm not surprised that Shen Shan asked you to meet today." Ouyang smiled and said, "One is a big boss in Canada, and the other is a local big boss. It's not surprising that you two met."
I had been suppressed by Ouyang for a long time, so I couldn't help but tease him back. I smiled and said, "Yes, that's right. Mr. Ouyang seems to know Shen Shan quite well. If I'm not mistaken, Shen Shan didn't side with Ye Huan back then, but he wasn't exactly loyal to the Renzi group either. I suppose he had already secretly sided with Mr. Ouyang."
Ouyang laughed and said, "You know about this, so it seems Shen Shan told you. That's right... Shen Shan, while not good at judging people, is quite perceptive about situations. He's not one to be content with being a loyal subject. Ye Huan's days are numbered, and the chaos within the Human Group is on full display; naturally, he needs to find a better way out. I won't lie to you, if it weren't for today's events, Shen Shan would have officially switched sides within a month, officially joining our organization." He sighed, "What a pity... what a pity!"
I didn't say anything, picked up the teacup in front of me, and took another sip in silence.
Ouyang's eyes flashed as he looked at me and smiled, "Speaking of grudges, back when you weren't yet powerful, the Green Gang did indeed issue a kill order, hunting you down everywhere. But times have changed. Now, nobody's a fool, and nobody would risk making an enemy of you just because of a personal grudge between the big bosses of the 'Human' faction. After all, your status is different now. As for today's matter..."
I had figured it out by now. I looked up at Ouyang with a smile and said, "Mr. Ouyang, there's no need to beat around the bush. Just state your price. Let's lay out our terms and see what you can give me and what you want in return. It's getting late, and I'm afraid Mr. Qiao is getting impatient waiting for us to have dinner."
"Haha!" Ouyang clapped his hands and laughed loudly, "You're quite the character! Alright, I won't play riddles with you anymore, I'll just tell you directly... This accusation against you may seem troublesome to outsiders, but to me, it's just a matter of a few words. I can certainly clear your name. But I wonder, Chen Yang, how will you repay me for helping you like this?"
I thought to myself: Here it comes!
Part Three: The Pinnacle, Chapter Sixty-Eight: A Killing Intent...
I raised an eyebrow: "Mr. Ouyang, how insincere! I've already done you a huge favor, don't you even realize it?"
Ouyang smiled and said, "Oh? What help have you given me?"
I had already figured out all the details, and now I spoke with full confidence, loudly proclaiming, "What happened today had absolutely nothing to do with me! Hmph! Shen Shan misjudged people and was infiltrated into his organization by Ye Huan. The second-in-command colluded with Ye Huan to assassinate Shen Shan. Although Shen Shan is clever, the other side was acting out of deliberate intent; Shen Shan was doomed no matter what! Whether I was present or not, the outcome would have been the same! Shen Shan would have died! Mr. Ouyang, do you admit that?"
“That makes sense!” Ouyang nodded.
I sneered again: "For me, it's incredibly unlucky to have run into this situation and become the scapegoat! But for Mr. Ouyang or Qinghong, it's a stroke of good fortune amidst misfortune!"
"What do you mean?"
"Haha!" I chuckled deliberately. "Mr. Ouyang, are you still playing dumb? If I hadn't been there today... the Second Boss would have already taken control of the entire Shanghai branch of the Ren Gang! In less than three days, the Qing Hong branch in Shanghai would be under the Ye family's control!! At that time, the Qing Hong would have lost the power of a local branch manager, while Ye Huan would have gained an ally! Who would suffer the loss, and who would be the winner? Mr. Ouyang, what do you think?" I looked at Ouyang's face and quickly continued, "But I happened to be there too, and by some twist of fate, I killed the Second Boss! And what happened? Shen Shan is dead, but Ye Huan's pawn is also dead! Now, although Ye Huan killed Shen Shan, his plan to turn Shen Shan's subordinates against him has failed! The Qing Hong lost Shen Shan. Naturally, they can send someone else to Shanghai to take charge of the situation, which is better than the entire Shanghai branch of the Ren Gang siding with Ye Huan, right? If it weren't for me... hmph, the situation would be ten times worse now!"
Ouyang was silent for a moment, then sighed: "What you said is right."
At this point, he suddenly smiled and said, "Alright, alright! I'll take care of this for you. Tomorrow I'll spread the word and clear your name."
I was a little surprised. Did Ouyang really not intend to blackmail me just because of a few words I said? I was prepared for Ouyang to definitely propose some conditions.
Looking at my expression, Ouyang couldn't help but smile. He said, "It's fortunate that I met you today... You are the most capable young person I've ever met. Although you have many shortcomings, you are destined for greatness. If I were to take advantage of you today, you might remember it and eventually try to get it back with interest. Rather than that, I'd rather do you a favor."
After a pause, Ouyang continued, "Of course, I won't refuse any benefits. How about this? You pass on a few messages..."
He seemed to think for a moment, then slowly said, "I won't hide it from you. Shen Shan did secretly side with me, but I still have pawns under his command. Although Shen Shan is dead now, his power base will eventually be mine again. In Shanghai, there are three branches: Heaven, Earth, and Man. I've already taken control of two of them. I don't dare to dream of the Heaven branch's territory, but I'm satisfied with controlling two-thirds of Shanghai. My request to you is simple... I know that Shen Shan has been secretly working for the Big Circle. And what about the future..."
I frowned: "Do you mean you want the entire Big Circle to withdraw from Shanghai? I can't agree to that, nor can I make that decision!"
"No, no..." Ouyang smiled and said, "To be frank, if I could take over the three branches of the Qinghong gang in Shanghai—Heaven, Earth, and Human—then naturally I would first try to drive the Big Circle out of Shanghai! How can I allow others to sleep soundly beside my bed! Hmph! However, Shanghai is not yet mine. The leader of the Heaven branch still occupies a territory. Before, the three of us divided Shanghai equally, and our existence maintained a balance. No one dared to easily touch anyone else... But now, only two remain. I'm afraid that once the Human branch falls, the remaining two, the Heaven and Earth branches, will start fighting in Shanghai. I don't want to fall out with the Heaven branch right now. So, I'm happy for the Big Circle to come in. Shanghai is full of opportunities to make money; one family can't possibly take it all. The arrival of the Big Circle will allow me to maintain a balance with the Heaven branch, which I'm happy to see."
"So what do you mean..."
Ouyang laughed, a seemingly easygoing laugh: "Pass on a few words to the Big Circle... The Big Circle's business in Shanghai will continue as usual, but I have two conditions: I won't interfere with your Big Circle's business in Shanghai, but transit and resale are allowed, but you can't establish a base in Shanghai! Whether it's arms dealing, smuggling, or drugs, Shanghai is a port city, and I don't care about the comings and goings. But if the Big Circle dares to set up a base in Shanghai! Then don't blame me, Ouyang, for not giving them face! I'll kill one if they come! I'll kill a hundred if they come!"
I nodded; that was exactly how it should be. Otherwise, how could someone as shrewd as Ouyang so easily cede territory to let the Big Circle in? Ouyang wouldn't do something like inviting a wolf into the house.
He only needed the Grand Circle to nominally enter Shanghai, thus creating a third-party force between the Qing Hong under the "Tian" (Heaven) and the Qing Hong under Ouyang's "Ren" (Human) divisions, serving as a buffer zone to maintain peace with the Qing. He didn't actually intend to give up territory to the Grand Circle.
I understand.
"Okay, I understand the first point. What about the second point you mentioned?" I asked Ouyang.
"Secondly, it's not difficult either," Ouyang said calmly. "I'll guarantee Daquan's business in Shanghai from now on! I'll ensure your safe entry and exit, and if you encounter any minor troubles, I can also help you resolve them... However, no matter what business you do or how much money you make, I, Ouyang, will take 10%!"
My expression changed drastically, and I immediately stood up, saying firmly, "That's absolutely impossible!"
Ouyang remained unmoved, still sitting and watching me. I said slowly with a dark face, "Mr. Ouyang, isn't your appetite a bit too big?"
"How so?"
"Hmph!" I snorted unhappily and said in a deep voice, "You want a 10% cut of all the big circle's businesses in Shanghai... Heh! Even if it's protection money or tolls, it's not that much! And..." I gritted my teeth and said, "My companies in Shanghai, the entertainment industry, and the Deep Blue Entertainment I just bought, the import and export business... all these things make me, Chen Yang, a member of the big circle. Mr. Ouyang wants to take 10% of all these businesses every year just because of a single sentence. Let alone me, even my own brothers would absolutely refuse! There's no such logic in this world."
"Ah... I forgot to mention that." Ouyang, seeing my anger but not at all bothered, smiled. He adjusted his glasses and smiled, "When I said 10%, your legitimate businesses, Chen Yang, naturally don't count. Let's be honest, Chen Yang, whether you're in the entertainment business, running an entertainment company, or your Huaxing Import & Export Company, or any other legitimate business—import & export, investment, etc.—I won't interfere. I won't ask about any of those. What I'm saying is... all illegal businesses, I want 10%! Do you understand?"
"Hmph..." I still snorted unhappily, but my tone wasn't as harsh: "Then... what about smuggling?"
Ouyang smiled, slowly poured me another cup of tea, then looked up at me: "Chen Yang, I know your Huaxing Company must be involved in smuggling, right? You control the smuggling business along the entire west coast of Canada. It would be strange if your Huaxing Company here didn't engage in smuggling! But you have to understand, this isn't Canada, this is Shanghai! The Qinghong faction has been deeply entrenched in Shanghai for many years. Even the major domestic factions can only secretly transfer some business here; they don't dare to openly interfere in Shanghai!"
He paused for a moment, then pointed to the teacup in front of him: "Sit down. Business is always discussed one sentence at a time. Why rush things? Sigh, young people still lack composure."
I frowned and sat down, but didn't touch the teacup in front of me, and pondered for a moment. Ouyang just looked at me with his bright eyes, without saying a word, just waiting for me.
"Alright!" I slowly exhaled. "But taking a ten percent is absolutely out of the question! As for the price... according to the rules in China, I'll just pay protection money."
"Ha!" Ouyang suddenly laughed loudly, looking at me: "Chen Yang, Chen Yang... do you think I really care about this money?"
He raised an eyebrow and said calmly, "Do you know how much profit Shen Shan made as the secret agent for the Big Circle? Let me tell you... Shen Shan takes 10% of every shipment the Big Circle makes in Shanghai! But with me, I haven't raised the price, and I've promised everything will remain the same. If you just relay my message back, no one in the Big Circle, unless they're an idiot, will refuse. As for you..." He sneered, "Chen Yang, you've just arrived in Shanghai. How much smuggling business can your Huaxing Company possibly handle? Even if you earn tens of millions here a year, my 10% is only a few million... Do you think I, Ouyang, care about a mere few million a year..."
A thought struck me.
Indeed, would someone like Ouyang care about an annual income of several million? With his status and position, he could probably win or lose much more in a single night of gambling!
"Rules are the most important thing," Ouyang said calmly. "All illegal businesses in Shanghai have always belonged to Qinghong! No matter what their name is, they all have to use the Qinghong sign! If it were you, Chen Yang, back in Vancouver, if a foreign organization wanted to open a branch there, would you let them in? Hmph! Of course not. Now that you, Chen Yang, have returned from abroad to Shanghai and want to do business here, are we at Qinghong supposed to open our doors wide to welcome you? If we're talking about logic, I'm afraid there's no such logic in the world."
I remained silent.
Indeed, Ouyang's words make a lot of sense. According to the rules of the underworld, what I did was actually "overstepping my bounds." Even if they took a ten percent of my protection money, and even if the Green Gang and I turned against each other and immediately engaged in a bloody battle, driving my business out of Shanghai, they would still be in the right.
“Okay.” I nodded. “I will relay Mr. Ouyang’s words back. If the higher-ups have no objections, then I have no objections either. From now on, I will just pay for the road every year.”
“Not bad, not bad. That’s exactly what those four words mean: ‘paying for the way.’” Ouyang laughed. “Money? Neither of us cares about this small amount. But without rules, there can be no order. This matter, let alone millions a year, even if it’s just a few hundred dollars a year, is something we should fight for, and I will never compromise! Rules come first. If the rules are broken, I won’t be able to be the boss anymore!”
I remained silent.
Actually, my losses weren't that significant. When I returned to China, I never intended to engage in much illegal business. I had an agreement with Wu Gang that once I was back, I would primarily invest my funds abroad. I wanted to make money through legitimate means, or rather… launder my money!
I do smuggling a little, but not much. All things considered, if I only give away 10% of the illegal business each year, it's not much money. But it's worth it for the sake of maintaining a stable relationship with Qinghong for the time being.
My first meeting with Ouyang Di lasted quite a while. Overall, I suffered a slight loss, but in the big picture, we were basically evenly matched. At least I resolved the issue of being the scapegoat, and Ouyang had to make a significant move to enter the market in Shanghai. After the meeting, we both achieved our expected goals.