Bébé de papier

Chapitre 7

Ouyang had long desired to seize power and was actively cultivating her own loyal followers, but she struggled to find a suitable candidate to take the lead. She was secretly anxious. Then, she met Yang Hong, and with her keen eye, she recognized his potential. Now that he had come to her of his own accord, her joy was palpable. The White Tiger Gang's resurgence seemed within reach.

The founder of the White Tiger Gang was a martial artist whose ancestors belonged to the Tiger Tribe. Legend has it that in the early years of the Qianlong Emperor's reign, he accompanied the army to the border region of Hunan, Guangxi, and Guizhou to suppress the "rebellious Miao." On that day, he was ordered to deliver a letter to a sentry officer. Halfway there, he encountered a group of rebellious Miao people wielding broadswords and spears, charging towards him. He fled desperately, and seeing that his life was in danger, he suddenly heard a tiger's roar, and a snow-white tiger pounced down from the mountain. The Miao people were terrified and fled in all directions, thus saving his life. He believed that it was his ancestor who had protected him.

Later, he moved to Guangzhou, settled down, and founded the White Tiger Gang. The leadership of the White Tiger Gang was passed down through generations: son to son, daughter if there were no sons, and wife if there were no daughters. While this prevented infighting and power struggles within the gang, it often left the leader powerless when isolated. Therefore, to maintain control, the leader had to cultivate loyal followers.

"A thousand soldiers are easy to find, but a good general is hard to come by." After the Xiang Party performed the grand "altar worship" ceremony, Yang Hong was named "Fourth Brother" and relied on Ouyang as his right-hand man. The brothers were surprised, as the powerful Second and Third Brothers were already dead, and no one dared to voice their dissent. After a buzz of discussion, everyone obediently followed the seating arrangement within the local gang.

"A scholar will die for one who understands him." Yang Hong was both excited and deeply moved, and a certain subconscious feeling deep within him was rekindled. He felt he could not fail to repay the kindness shown to him, and he vowed to do his best for Ouyang. Moreover, she was outstanding and charming, and such a confidante was a rare find. He was grateful to have the opportunity to be by her side.

Ouyang made no attempt to conceal anything, and after completing the procedures for joining the gang, he laid out all the predicaments facing the White Tiger Gang...

In the early years of the Republic of China, opium poppy cultivation in Guizhou had reached a considerable scale, with the opium from Yilin and Tongzhou counties in the Hengling area of southern Guizhou being considered the best. Reaching these opium poppies was fraught with danger; the journey was fraught with bandits and government checkpoints, making it a perilous endeavor where both people and goods were often lost. Despite this, the high quality and low price of Hengling opium still attracted many who were willing to risk their lives to go there.

The second and third brothers of the White Tiger Gang, arrogant and proud, ignored Ouyang's advice and insisted on going to Hengling to deal in opium. When they passed through a treacherous place, a group of vicious bandits ambushed them. The second and third brothers, confident in their martial arts skills, fought them, but due to their unfamiliarity with the terrain, they fell into a trap and died on the desolate mountain.

The White Tiger Gang, with its several hundred members, relied mainly on its opium dens for survival; therefore, obtaining cheap and high-quality opium was of paramount importance. With his second and third brothers losing both their money and men, the White Tiger Gang was severely weakened, and Yang Hong felt a heavy burden on his shoulders.

The people of Guangdong and Guizhou were terrified of the opium. Songpan and Maolin in western Sichuan were the main opium-producing areas, but they were too far away. The opium from Hunan and Guangxi was of poor quality and expensive, and the roads were difficult to travel due to years of war. Other channels were also blocked for the time being. The opium stocks of the White Tiger Gang's various opium dens were running low, and with the supply becoming tight, the brothers of the managers would ask Ouyang and Yang Hong for help every few days.

Yang Hong naturally dared not take it lightly and sent people everywhere to inquire and search for new sources of opium.

One day, while dancing at the "Imperial Nightclub," Yang Hong overheard someone whispering, "Did you know? The British are smuggling opium into China from India again!" Another person didn't believe it: "Really? Doesn't the customs usually refuse to let them through?" The first person said, "Damn, that's easy. Just smuggle the opium in with the goods! Besides, how many honest officials are there at customs?"

Upon hearing this rumor, Yang Hong became extremely excited. He stopped dancing and rushed back to the White Tiger Clubhouse, saying to Ouyang, "I have a solution! We don't have to worry about opium anymore!"

Ouyang hurriedly asked, "What good idea?"

Yang Hongdao said, "Foreigners have opium, especially good opium from India. Let's go buy some from them..."

Ouyang was skeptical: "We don't know any foreigners, who should we ask?"

Yang Hong was also stunned. After a long while, he suddenly remembered someone: "Do you still remember Lu Xing?"

“I remember,” Ouyang said with a hint of disgust. “That man is a lecher. I did a few business deals with him before, but I never showed up. Now we have no contact at all.”

"I heard that Lu Xing is now a customs commissioner and holds an important position."

Yang Hongdao said, "Why don't we get in touch with the foreigners through him? It will be easier to pass through customs. He can get a share without spending a penny. Who doesn't love money?"

“That’s a good idea, but—” she hesitated.

Yang Hong asked, "What are your concerns, Chief?"

I don't want to go to his house.

Yang Hong advised, "Once a person becomes an official, their face changes. Lu Xing is no longer the same Lu Xing as before! If the gang leader doesn't come to his door, I'm afraid we won't be able to persuade him, and the opium business will be impossible to continue."

Ouyang could only nod: "Okay, I'll go."

Upon seeing Ouyang, Lu Xing's eyes widened. He quickly took the teacup from the maid, presented it to Ouyang with both hands, and said with a beaming smile, "It is an honor for our humble abode to have the Chief Clan deign to grace us with his presence!"

Ouyang bowed slightly: "Mr. Lu is very wealthy and powerful. We are honored by your good fortune and have caused you any trouble."

"Not at all, not at all," Lu Xing said humbly. "Just let me know if you need my help!"

Ouyang said to Yang Hong, "Go ahead and speak—"

Yang Hong recounted the events and said, "Mr. Lu, our gang leader has come in person, so you must give him face."

“I know quite a few foreigners, so it’s easy for me to help you get in touch,” Lu Xing said unhurriedly. “The only problem is getting through customs.”

Yang Hong said, "That's all thanks to your word!"

“It’s not that simple,” Lu Xing shook his head and said, “The customs has long stipulated that opium cannot enter the country. If those in charge insist on the regulations, there’s nothing I can do.”

Ouyang said, "I believe Mr. Lu will have a solution."

"Well, there's a way, but I can't say there isn't." Lu Xing's gaze lingered on Ouyang for a long time before he said, "The gang leader is a smart man. This back-and-forth is about friendship, and loyalty is priceless, isn't it?"

Ouyang understood the hidden meaning in his words, and his expression turned rather unpleasant.

Yang Hong understood the meaning behind Lu Xing's lecherous gaze and quickly changed the subject: "We'll cover all the expenses for any things that need to be taken care of." He then winked at Ouyang.

Ouyang understood immediately and continued, "Mr. Lu, I won't treat you unfairly when it comes to money!"

Seeing that Ouyang had closed the door tightly, Lu Xing was very displeased, cursing inwardly: "That cunning, cold beauty! Years ago, I danced with her once at the 'Empire Nightclub,' and to curry favor with her, I proposed a business partnership to lure her in. But when the business actually started, she never showed up herself, sending a so-called 'cousin' to handle the affairs. I got neither the meat nor the smell. Now you've come to my door in person, asking for my help; let's see if you can escape my grasp! I'll make sure you obediently fall into my arms!"

“I’m sorry to say that,” Lu Xing said deliberately, “I don’t take a penny myself…” He counted on his fingers that to ensure the smooth passage of opium, the customs would need to bribe fifty or sixty people, and it would cost three or four thousand silver dollars. This did not include the 50% commission that would be paid after the opium entered the customs.

"That's outrageous!" Ouyang and Yang Hong exchanged glances, finding the conditions too harsh and unacceptable. Ouyang's beautiful face hardened, and after a long pause, she said, "Let's go back and discuss it further."

On the way, Ouyang's expression was still unpleasant, and he said resentfully:

"Even if Zhang the butcher dies, we won't eat mixed-breed pigs! I refuse to believe we can't find someone who can get in touch with foreigners."

That being said, finding someone like that wasn't easy. Unable to contact the foreigner for the time being, Yang Hong could only spend his days keeping Ouyang company, taking her to theaters, nightclubs, and restaurants. Yang Hong felt uneasy, believing he hadn't handled things well; Ouyang said it wasn't his fault and they would think of another way. As the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining, and soon things took a turn for the better.

When Fifth Brother of the Red Flag heard that the gang leader was troubled by his connections with foreigners, he told Ouyang that his brother-in-law was a second mate on a foreign ocean liner and was highly regarded by the British captain. The British ship had recently entered port; perhaps they could go and find him…

The second mate was indeed enthusiastic. Through the captain, he found a British merchant named James, and they quickly got in touch. James had been doing business in China for some years and spoke fluent Chinese. He said, "The opium business is incredibly profitable, but also very risky, especially dealing with customs, which requires extreme caution. However, I have my own methods."

James demanded a deposit upfront. Ouyang, used to operating without proper authorization, was hesitant to pay such a large sum upfront, fearing he might be cheated and lose the opportunity to do business with foreigners. Just as he was hesitating, Yang Hong spoke up.

Yang Hong said that the deposit could be paid first, but a document had to be signed with asset collateral; otherwise, there would inevitably be some mishaps.

James said he was a law-abiding businessman, and James had no objection to that.

Ouyang paid a deposit of five thousand taels of silver, and James went to India to buy fifteen thousand taels of opium. He hid it at the bottom of a specially made kerosene barrel and arranged for Ouyang and his men to wait for him outside the customs on a certain day, so that he could retrieve the opium under the guise of kerosene.

When Lu Xing saw that Ouyang had stopped coming to see him, he realized she was going to try another way, so he secretly investigated. He believed that Ouyang wouldn't give up and would still buy opium from foreigners, leaving behind clues.

That day, he went to work at customs and suddenly noticed Yang Hong peeking out from outside the customs building. He then reminded himself that the goods entering the customs today needed to be thoroughly inspected.

Just as James's kerosene inspection was about to be completed, Lu Xing arrived. After inquiring about the situation and finding no problems, the customs officers prepared to release it. "Wait—" Lu Xing suddenly remembered something, ordered someone to unscrew the lid, measured the depth of the kerosene with a ruler, and then measured the height of the entire kerosene barrel. He noticed that the bottom seemed a bit thick. Prying open the bottom of the kerosene barrel, they found a hidden compartment containing neatly stacked packets of opium…

“Your Chinese customs officials have gotten smarter.” James Gao’s nose was beaded with sweat, his blue eyes blinked laboriously, and he shrugged, spreading his hands in frustration as he said to Yang Hong, “We’ve failed!”

The seizure of the opium by customs was unexpected by James, and even more so by Ouyang. To avoid huge losses, she had no choice but to go to Lu Xing's door again to plead for help.

“It’s not that I don’t want to help you,” Lu Xing observed Ouyang’s expression and said, “Things have come to this point, it’s difficult to help even if I wanted to!”

Ouyang remained silent, then spoke frankly, "If you had told me earlier, I would have taken care of it. Now it's too late..."

"Is there really no other way?" she pleaded again, her face full of worry. "Please help me out, no matter what!"

This stunning female gang leader, usually so arrogant and aloof, has finally learned what it's like to beg! Lu Xing secretly gloated, comforting her, "Don't worry, gang leader, let's talk slowly, slowly—" He walked over, closed the door, took her hand and stroked it, pressing his chubby face against her radiant cheek:

"Don't worry, boss, as long as you treat me well..."

"Slap!" Lu Xing received a resounding slap across the face. Ouyang Xing's eyes widened, her gaze like two cold beams shooting straight at him, and she angrily retorted, "What kind of person do you take me for?"

08. His strong chest pressed against her soft breasts.

"I'll kill him!" Ouyang returned to the White Tiger Club still furious. "That lecherous scoundrel dared to make a move on me! He's blind as a bat!"

"Calm down, calm down before we talk," Yang Hong gently patted her shoulder and softly advised.

Fifth Brother Hongqi, unaware of what had happened, poked his head in; seeing only the two of them in the room, he quickly withdrew, only to be stopped by Ouyang: "Go, send someone to kill Lu Xing, but be careful!"

"No!" Yang Hong hurriedly dissuaded him. "Lu Xing is a high-ranking customs official. If he's killed, how can the police let us off the hook? Besides, even if we kill him, the opium will still be confiscated..."

Yang Hong told Ouyang to stay calm, and that he would go to Boss Tang and ask him to mediate.

The Tang family was having dinner when they all stood up when he entered. The dignified and virtuous proprietress, Ouyang Huiyun, eagerly asked, "Li-mei, it's been so long since you've come to visit! Are you that busy?"

"We're in trouble..."

Yang Hong recounted what had happened, and Boss Tang shook his head repeatedly: "I warned her long ago that illegal business is unacceptable! But she wouldn't listen, and now she's learned her lesson..."

“We just want you to step in and mediate,” Yang Hong said. “You’re a man of the world, you know what to do.”

"No, no!" Boss Tang refused outright. "I've never had any dealings with that guy surnamed Lu. These days, what official would even give us a second glance? Don't go looking for trouble!"

“You’re the gang leader’s brother-in-law. Even if he doesn’t care about you, he’ll still have to give you face.”

Huiyun also pleaded with him, but to no avail. Boss Tang had no choice but to bite the bullet and go to Lu Xing's residence, only to be turned away at the door.

Lu Xing conveyed the message: Unless Ouyang himself comes to admit his mistake, he will not see anyone!

"You want me to apologize?" Ouyang's eyebrows furrowed, her fine white teeth clenched tightly. After a moment, she sneered, her eyes flashing with murderous intent, and called for Fifth Brother Hongqi...

That night, Lu Xing's bodyguard, Piao, was fast asleep when he suddenly heard the faint sound of the door latch being pried open. He pretended not to hear and snored even louder. The figure tiptoed to the bedside, and through the covers, suddenly thrust a long knife down. But it missed. Piao sat up abruptly, grabbed the assassin's hand holding the knife, and with his other hand picked up the sharp knife beside the pillow, slashed it across the assassin's neck. Blood splattered everywhere. The assassin's hand released its grip, and he collapsed by the bed like a corn stalk. Piao turned on the light and saw that he had never seen this assassin before.

Although the assassin failed and was killed by his bodyguard, Lu Xing was terrified. He was greedy, lustful, and ruthless, inevitably offending people in both the legitimate and underworld circles, and from then on, he became much more cautious.

Ouyang was furious at losing one of his brothers' lives. Lu Xing became even more arrogant, boasting, "No one in this world has been born who can outwit me!" Ouyang was even more enraged upon hearing this, vowing not to be a man until he killed Lu Xing.

Seeing that Ouyang had made up his mind, Yang Hong asked, "Are you determined to kill him?"

"That goes without saying!"

A mysterious smile appeared on Yang Hong's face.

She gazed at the distant sky countless times, but still saw no sign of Yang Hong. Each time, the old woman would try to persuade her: "It's so late, he won't come back." But Xiaoyu remained stubbornly still, like a statue.

He's been gone for almost a year, why hasn't he come back yet? Did he fall ill while he was away? What happened? Has he forgotten me...? Xiaoyu counted on her fingers, asking herself these questions over and over. Under the pear tree outside the door, she had left two shallow footprints; she went to wait on the stone path at the village entrance, but Yang Hong still didn't appear; she went to the pavilion on the mountain ridge to meet him, but there was no sign of him. Longing became her illness, and she fell ill. Lying in bed, she was in a daze all day, unable to eat or drink, muttering incoherently, and calling out Yang Hong's name in her dreams.

That afternoon, she woke up from her half-asleep state and grabbed the village woman who was watching over her: "Mother, he's back!"

"Child, you're talking nonsense again!" The old woman lovingly tucked the blanket around her and put her hand back.

"It's him back!" Xiaoyu perked up her ears. "Listen, the footsteps—"

The old woman didn't hear anything.

Xiaoyu tried to get out of bed, but the village woman pushed her back down.

"Don't overthink it, get some rest."

"Mother, Xiaoyu, I'm back!" A familiar voice suddenly came from the doorway. The old woman turned around and saw that it was indeed Yang Hong who had returned!

"Yang Hong—" Xiao Yu was overjoyed and jumped out of bed, throwing herself into his arms.

“Xiaoyu, look—” Yang Hong untied his satchel, “I brought back a lot of money!”

"I don't want money, you'll have everything once you come back!" Xiao Wang hugged him tightly, and his condition immediately improved by seven-tenths.

At dinner, the village woman personally toasted Yang Hong, and watching him drink it down in one gulp, she let out a long sigh and said, "You saved two lives!"

"No, I don't." Yang Hong took the wine that Xiaoyu poured for him.

The old woman said, "If you had returned two months later, both you and Xiaoyu would have died!"

"What happened?" Yang Hong asked.

"Xiaoyu longed for your return every day, and her longing made her ill. She was so sick that she couldn't eat or drink and grew thinner and thinner every day. No one could save her. But when you came back, her illness was more than half cured."

Yang Hong looked at Xiao Yu with some emotion. She was indeed much thinner than before, her rosy face had turned pale, and her eye sockets had sunken.