Chapter 118: Trouble

Held by Lin Shengnan as she fussed over his large head, Liu Jingye felt as if she were blowing sand out of his eyes. With such distraction and commotion, the ‘divine weapon’ truly cooled down.

“Sure enough, blowing works!” Liu Jingye said with deep emotion.

“Are you okay now?” Lin Shengnan blushed and asked, “If you’re fine, go back and keep drinking with them. Build good relationships—one will lead his men to serve us loyally, and the other will help us expand connections and bring in business.”

Seeing her hopeful expression, Liu Jingye tilted his head and asked, “Don’t you want to ask how Duan Hu and I met? Why is he so obedient, willing to take a beating, and wholeheartedly follow me?”

Lin Shengnan lifted her delicate head and snorted lightly through her nose, waving her hand nonchalantly. “That’s your men’s business. I don’t care.”

“So what do you women care about?” Liu Jingye asked.

“We only need to take good care of our men and money,” Lin Shengnan said earnestly.

“Next time, try not to read those ‘Thirty-Six Methods to Control Your Husband’ books!” Liu Jingye scolded with a wry smile. “You used to be such a simple and straightforward country girl, but now you’re like a scheming, bitter woman from a secluded chamber.”

“That’s none of your business,” Lin Shengnan said, then turned and started to walk away.

Liu Jingye hurried to follow, asking as they went down the stairs, “Tell me, under the table just now, did you deliberately poke me? Besides those husband-controlling techniques, have you also been reading some kind of lifestyle encyclopedias like ‘The Immortal’s Secrets’ or ‘The Jade Lotus’?”

...

Liu Jingye was never one to be frivolous or impetuous, but now he found himself increasingly fond of teasing Lin Shengnan, because she had a style all her own.

Take Yuan Xiaoying, for example—she was warm and proactive, a bit naive and silly, but when dealing with Liu Jingye, she was always on guard, constantly maintaining the upper hand and enjoying keeping him in check.

Chen Yuxin preferred to place herself as an outsider, observing Liu Jingye’s reactions as if detached and uninvolved, thus keeping herself invincible.

But Lin Shengnan was completely different. Even before anything serious happened, she was already playing the part, acting like a young wife learning how to keep her husband under control. Yet she refused to admit her feelings for Liu Jingye or ever bring up their current relationship, though she watched him like a fierce tigress. That made Liu Jingye unable to resist teasing her.

“Hey, before I knew it, so many beauties have gathered around me,” Liu Jingye thought. “One lamb is herding, two lambs are grazing—it’s all the same. Whatever happens, happens.”

Liu Jingye was now throwing caution to the wind. Some people and things, a man would never refuse.

The two entered the private room of the KTV almost simultaneously. Since claiming this territory, they spent their days at the bathhouse and their nights at the KTV and nightclubs. The old shack had long been vacated—this was dedication to their post, making the venue their home.

However, Liu Jingye had expected a scene of lavish indulgence inside the private room. Instead, there were only a group of burly men sitting stiffly, staring at each other with wide eyes. Among them was one extra person—the KTV owner.

The owner’s name was Meng Heng, a well-known local tycoon with many enterprises. This time, he came especially for Brother Xian.

After Liu Jingye and company settled in, Boss Meng said, “Brother Liu, Sister Nan, you’re not strangers to me either. I have a business deal right now and want to discuss it with you to see if anyone is interested.”

“Boss Meng must be talking about a big deal!” Brother Xian said.

Boss Meng lit a cigarette. “You probably know I started out in construction and still treat it as my main business. I dredge sand in the Hetao region, own a fleet of large trucks, and supply sand and soil to construction sites in surrounding cities and counties. The profits are huge, but of course, this relies on the protection of both the legal and underworld powers.

“To be honest, I’ve always partnered with Huang Chao on this business. But now Huang Chao has fallen, and many are eyeing this lucrative sand-dredging operation. Almost every night, someone sneaks in to steal sand, and it’s escalating. Last night, some thugs even beat up my workers for no reason and sent a message to me: vacate Hetao within three days or face nightly beatings.

“Besides that, my truck fleet has been repeatedly and arbitrarily stopped and impounded by traffic police since last week. Even with all the proper papers, they find excuses like overweight, unclear license plates, and so on.

“They want to swallow me whole. I’m at my wit’s end. Brother Xian, can you help find out who is behind this? Sister Nan, see if you can spare some men to watch over Hetao, at least to keep the workers from getting hurt. As for payment, we can discuss—it’s two-tenths of the profits for you.”

“Boss Meng is truly desperate,” Liu Jingye thought. “Dredging sand is the most profitable business right now, with virtually no investment. A 20% share is substantial. But this is purely underworld business. The fact that the rivals are mobilizing so heavily means they’re formidable.”

Lin Shengnan’s thoughts mirrored his. That a wealthy, powerful tycoon like Boss Meng had to beg for help showed how strong the opposition was.

But fortune favors the bold. This ruthless, stingy housekeeper, always focused on making money, was genuinely tempted.

“I also have several trucks. You all help me think of ways to get them out. Whoever manages to free them can keep them for now and operate them freely. I won’t take a penny until this matter is settled,” Boss Meng said again. Every issue he raised was laden with substantial profit.

Even a seasoned veteran like Brother Xian was tempted and immediately said, “Boss Meng, don’t worry. The city’s underworld is disrupted now, with many new forces rising. I can first scout the situation and then plan our next move.”

“Good, that’s the only way,” Boss Meng said. “Thanks, everyone. Alright, I won’t keep you. Have fun tonight. The bill’s on me.”

Boss Meng was indeed a tycoon, but construction sand and transport were his foundation and main source of wealth. He was unwilling to give it up easily.

After Boss Meng left, Brother Xian’s face turned serious. “Everyone heard what Boss Meng said, right? He’s facing a terrifying force. I got word that a very powerful gang from the provincial capital is preparing to settle in our city. They used to cooperate with Huang Chao, but now Huang Chao is down, and they want to take over aggressively.”

“A provincial gang?” Lin Shengnan said. “The provincial capital is over seven hundred kilometers away. Even if they’re powerful, can they reach so far?”

“That’s why they’re called a major force,” Brother Xian said. “At first, they’ll parachute their own men from the capital. Once established, they’ll recruit locally. I’ve heard they have extremely strong backing, and a big shot has personally come to secure the territory.”

“Another big shot?” Liu Jingye squinted in thought. “Chen Yuxin mentioned that Secretary Zhao Xue’an’s case remains unresolved. When a big figure appears, Zhao Xue’an was immediately indicted and fell from grace. Could this big shot be connected to the provincial gang?”

Because of the enormous stakes, Brother Xian had no mind for singing and left to mobilize his contacts for intel. Yet he was willing to share resources with Liu Jingye’s group and let them join in.

After Brother Xian departed, Duan Hu appeared hesitant. Liu Jingye didn’t notice, but Lin Shengnan did. Smiling, she said to Duan Hu, “Brother Hu, Boss Chu said the business is open to us. If you’re interested, go ahead and try.”

Duan Hu felt a bit awkward. He had just joined this small team and was being asked to go off on his own, which felt unfair.

He glanced at Liu Jingye, still somewhat fearful, then considered that joining the team with Liu Jingye’s backing was a strong pillar. He thought for a moment and said, “I’m familiar with the Hetao area, not far from my home. The twenty or so kids under me also live nearby. I want to take them there tonight. If anyone causes trouble, we can help fend them off. These youngsters are new to this life; it’s a good chance to build their courage and gain experience.”

Liu Jingye nodded, and Lin Shengnan had no objection. Regardless of success, Boss Meng’s reward would be generous, and it would be a good way to test the opponent’s strength.

After Duan Hu left, only Liu Jingye’s group remained. Hu Ming and Er Niu rubbed their hands excitedly. “Boss Lady, they took all the good jobs. We’re left with just a few big trucks, but the profits are still good. I heard each run earns three to five hundred yuan, and a day’s work can bring in over a thousand!”

Liu Jingye smiled at them, thinking, “No matter how high they rise, people from humble beginnings never lose their true nature. I like that.”

Lin Shengnan shook her head. “Big trucks aren’t like other jobs. These have been ‘legally’ impounded by the authorities. We have no influence there, no way to intervene.”

“We don’t know anyone, but Brother does,” Hu Ming said. “Boss Lady, don’t you remember? Not long ago, Brother got married. Almost all the police chiefs in this city attended, as well as high-ranking officials from the provincial bureau. A few big trucks? One phone call from Brother and it’s handled.”

Lin Shengnan’s eyes widened. Without Hu Ming reminding her, she had forgotten. That scoundrel had married, and the bride was a police officer. Today, she absolutely had to clear this up.

“Come with me!” Lin Shengnan beckoned with a finger like a grim reaper summoning a soul.

Liu Jingye glared at Hu Ming in mock annoyance. Why drag him into this?

Taken to an empty adjacent private room, Lin Shengnan placed her hands on her hips, narrowed her eyes, and said coldly, “Now tell me, what exactly is going on between you and that policewoman?”

Seeing her stern and commanding demeanor, Liu Jingye wanted to laugh. As he had suspected, Lin Shengnan was already deep in character. Though they had never discussed being a couple, they acted like an old married pair. Liu Jingye enjoyed this feeling immensely.