Chapter 60: A Single Call Solves Everything

“Master Zhang?” Fang Yi was startled when he heard the name.

In Zhonghai, his reputation was well-known, though few had met him in person. In the old days, when Zhonghai was still developing, he started as a dock worker and clawed his way up to become a legendary figure—a tale from a bygone era. Master Zhang hadn’t shown himself in public for many years.

After Chai Jin hung up the phone, Fang Yi couldn’t help but ask, “How do you know Master Zhang?”

Chai Jin smiled, “Don’t you see him often?”

“At Boss Cai’s place, there’s always a table in the corner with old men playing cards. Remember?”

“Yes! The ones who are always arguing, and each likes to place their mobile phone at opposite corners.” Fang Yi replied instinctively.

Chai Jin chuckled, “The one who favors traditional Chinese attire—that’s Master Zhang.”

“That’s him?” Sweat appeared on Fang Yi’s forehead.

He’d always thought of him as a regular local old man from Zhonghai—constantly cursing, saying things like “Are you from Hong Kong?” or “Is your brain broken?” Who would have suspected that the old man who poked people’s noses with his mobile’s antenna was the legendary modern ‘Du Yuesheng’ of Zhonghai?

Perhaps wary of drawing too much attention, Master Zhang had indeed stayed out of external affairs for years.

Chai Jin smiled, “Now you believe I can solve your problem?”

Fang Yi frowned deeply, nodding with gravity. But then he reconsidered, “Master Zhang can settle anything in Zhonghai, but Shenzhen is a different story.”

“His influence doesn’t reach that far,” Fang Yi added.

Chai Jin calmly took a sip from his cup. “That’s simple. We’ll use money and power to build our own force over there.”

The offhand remark sent a shock through Fang Yi’s heart. If any ordinary young man had said such a thing, Fang Yi would have dismissed it as mere bravado. But coming from Chai Jin, he was left speechless.

After a long pause, Fang Yi asked, frowning, “What’s your real background?”

Chai Jin shook his head with a smile. “What background could I have? Just an ordinary man from a small county in Jiangnan Province, dabbling in business.”

“Come, let’s drink. We’ll wait for Master Zhang’s people to take care of things.”

He raised his glass, and Fang Yi, after some hesitation, clinked it.

Time ticked by.

About two hours later, the scar-faced man returned, just as before, with a row of Mercedes and familiar faces. At the alley entrance, he greeted Chai Jin with hearty laughter, as if they were old friends.

Chai Jin didn’t put on airs. He grabbed a few packs of Huazi cigarettes from the small shop, tossing one to each man.

He said with a smile, “Brother Gang, thanks for your help again today.”

“Haha, it’s nothing, just some out-of-towners causing trouble.”

“Bring them over!”

With that, his men dragged out seven or eight people—the same punks who had chased Fang Yi for days. Each had tattoos on their arms, earrings, and dyed yellow hair, reminiscent of the street gangsters in Hong Kong films. Their demeanor was quite different from mainland toughs.

The leader, a yellow-haired youth, was battered and bruised but defiant. When brought before Chai Jin, he spat blood at his feet.

“Damn it! A mighty dragon can’t defeat a local snake. If you were in Shenzhen, you’d all be dead!”

Smack! Smack!

Brother Gang slapped him twice. “Listen, you can curse me, but don’t call me a snake!”

“I’m a dragon, you think you’re the only one with a dragon tattoo?”

Annoyed, Brother Gang pulled off his shirt, revealing a roaring dragon tattoo across his chest. But Chai Jin wasn’t watching the tattoo—what caught his eye were the countless knife scars and even bullet wounds on Brother Gang’s body. No one could guess what this man had been through.

The punks noticed these scars too, and suddenly fell silent. They called themselves gangsters, but the knives they carried were just for show. If they were forced into a real knife fight, who would have the guts? These days, the underworld was filled with toothless tigers kept by bosses with money. Nothing like the camaraderie and loyalty of Brother Gang’s era.

Seeing they dared not speak, Brother Gang slowly put his shirt back on, muttering, “Call me a snake and I get riled up. You little punks think you’re untouchable.”

Then he looked at Chai Jin. “Brother, how do you want to deal with them?”

Chai Jin turned to Fang Yi. “That depends on him.”

Hatred blazed in Fang Yi’s eyes. “Whatever they did to me, I’ll return double!”

He stared at the leader, “Go back and tell your boss, don’t push me too far. If you do, I’ll send the evidence to the Shenzhen government and he’ll be finished!”

Brother Gang frowned. “Alright. You don’t seem like a real underworld guy—can’t get ruthless. I’ll handle it for you.”

“Oh, by the way, they still have some of your things in their bags. I got everything back for you!”

He waved his hand, and his men tossed several backpacks at Fang Yi’s feet. Then they gathered their people and left in a rush.

As for how Brother Gang would handle things, Chai Jin didn’t need to concern himself.

Fang Yi opened the bags and was delighted to find his stolen subscription certificates.

His face shone with joy. “Thank you!”

Chai Jin raised his glass. “You can cash those certificates and pay off your debts. If you’re short, I’ll make up the difference.”

“Let’s drink—the storm has passed.”

At this moment, Fang Yi was utterly impressed by Chai Jin. In a few words, he had resolved Fang Yi’s greatest crisis. If Fang Yi left now, it would be heartless. He raised his glass, and they clinked them again.

After they set the glasses down, the old man who had been drunk and unconscious stirred, opening his eyes in a haze.

He saw them drinking and burped, “Did something happen? I thought I heard a commotion.”

Chai Jin grabbed the mobile from the table. “Nothing, old man. I took quite a few cigarettes from your shop—left the money on the table.”

“It’s getting late, I’m heading home to rest.”

He rose and walked to the alley’s entrance.

The old man scratched his head, still confused. Seeing Fang Yi, he sighed, “Fang Yi, you’re here too. Did something happen? Why won’t you tell me?”

Fang Yi smiled, raised his glass, “It’s all fine now, old man. Everything’s resolved.”

“I’ll stay and drink with you.”

So the two of them drank in the alleyway.

…

That night, the punks were shoved into a car bound for the south. Their faces were swollen and battered.

On the third morning, the bus finally stopped.

When they got out and saw familiar streets and buildings, they broke down in tears.

But soon, a man wearing pale brown glasses appeared at the bus station.

The moment he arrived, the group fell to their knees in terror.