The Buddha sat in the room and wrote for three hours, detailing the bad deeds he had committed in his hometown. It wasn't that he was foolish, but rather that he was on the verge of collapse.
If the police had asked him to confess, he might have refused to admit anything. However, the harm Yang Jian inflicted was too severe, encompassing both physical attacks and mental pressure. He felt as though if he didn't write down everything, his bones would truly be shattered and he would be buried alive.
When Yang Jian received the Buddha's confession, he was impressed by the man's skillful penmanship.
The confession spanned over ten pages, and reading it made Yang Jian want to flay him alive on the spot. The man had committed far too many wicked deeds.
Starting at fifteen, he engaged in petty theft and brawls. At sixteen, he learned the tricks of gambling from others and frequented casinos, becoming adept at poker.
By nineteen, he had gathered a group of people in his hometown to bully the locals. Fights were commonplace, and he ran a casino, cheated at games, and extorted money, amassing considerable wealth and becoming a notorious local gang leader.
At twenty, he was arrested for his involvement in a large-scale brawl that resulted in a death. He was sentenced to three years but was released after serving two.
At the time, his enemies were powerful, and his hometown offered him no sanctuary. He took a few of his former associates to Dongjiang. Leveraging the large local population of people from his hometown, he quickly rallied them near the train station to swindle and extort protection money, even resorting to robbery, and gradually grew his influence.
Most of the criminal acts he wrote about were difficult to verify because his targets were primarily migrant workers from out of town, making the victims virtually impossible to locate.
However, evidence could be found for coercing the fruit market owner into cheating at cards and for monopolizing the alcohol and drug trade on Fenghuang Street.
This was a thoroughly wicked scumbag, but Yang Jian was not a law enforcement officer and had no authority to judge him. Moreover, he himself was a wanted fugitive. Therefore, this confession was merely to prevent the Buddha from reporting him to the police for kidnapping.
"Boss Yang, I've finished writing everything. I haven't lied about anything. When can you let me go?"
Seeing Yang Jian put away his notebook and prepare to leave, the Buddha pleaded anxiously. His leg was broken, and if he didn't receive timely treatment, it would truly be ruined.
Yang Jian glanced at him with disdain. "I need to verify these things you've written to confirm they are all true. Otherwise, I fear you might turn around and accuse me. So, it will take another two or three days before I can release you."
"But I really can't stand it anymore. My leg is broken, and if I don't get medical attention soon, I'll be permanently disabled. Please, can you send me to the hospital? I'll give you ten million."
"Don't dream. You've done so many bad things, and you've tried to kill me multiple times. Crippling one of your legs is already being very merciful. If I find out you've falsified anything in your writing, I'll come back and break all four of your limbs. You have plenty of money, so you can hire more people to help you with eating, drinking, and relieving yourself."
Yang Jian walked away without looking back. If he had stayed any longer, he might have been unable to resist breaking the Buddha's other leg, because this person was too much of a scumbag, having committed every conceivable evil. He deserved to have sores on his head and pus flowing from the soles of his feet.
Thursday, Liuqiao Village Chess and Card Hall.
At 8:30 PM, the lottery draw for this period had not yet occurred when Fang Zhicheng drove over.
"Brother Cheng, why are you here so late? Is something up?"
Yang Jian met him at the door and offered him a cigarette.
"Little Yang, tomorrow Boss Zheng and his employer are going to negotiate with the Buddha's boss. Boss Zheng wants to invite you to participate. Do you have time?"
"I don't have time. My brother has entrusted me with visiting an old friend of his tomorrow, and the appointment is already set. I won't be participating in the negotiation."
"But the Buddha was ultimately brought here by you. Through this negotiation, your reputation in Dongjiang's underworld can be enhanced. Boss Zheng and his employer also want to meet you, and perhaps you can enter the upper circles."
"It's fine. You can handle the Buddha's affairs entirely. Whether you release him or keep him, I won't interfere. As for meeting Boss Zheng, there will be plenty of time later."
Fang Zhicheng was a bit helpless. "Alright, I'll explain to Boss Zheng. But I have some good news for you. Today, I led people to sweep through Fenghuang Street and drove out all of the Buddha's men. If tomorrow's negotiation goes smoothly, we will control Fenghuang Street. Good days are coming."
"Are the good days you speak of monopolizing the alcohol and drug trade on Fenghuang Street?"
"Yes. These are the two most profitable businesses. Boss Zheng said that once we control Fenghuang Street, you will be in charge there, leading the operation, with me as your assistant."
Yang Jian, however, shook his head. "Brother Cheng, I will not touch the drug business. That is my bottom line. Coercive selling is also not my style. Therefore, I may have to disappoint Boss Zheng."
"Little Yang, you don't have to touch drugs, but the alcohol business isn't about coercive selling. It's a legitimate business, just one that has formed a certain monopoly, which happens in all industries."
Fang Zhicheng was a little anxious. Fenghuang Street was a very sensitive area, and he didn't know how many people were eyeing that lucrative piece of territory. He, Fang Zhicheng, certainly couldn't keep it under control, and even if Boss Zheng personally took charge, it might not be enough. Yang Jian was the best candidate; with his four brothers, they could sweep away all enemies. Now, to be refused by him caught Fang Zhicheng a bit off guard.
"Brother Cheng, to be honest, my brothers and I are not really people who mix in the underworld. Back home, besides running gambling houses, we don't get involved in other underworld activities. Especially drugs. Within our team, even things like ketamine, ecstasy, and GHB are not allowed to be consumed, let alone engaging in that kind of business. Although we fight fiercely, we never provoke trouble. We only act when we are provoked or when our interests are infringed upon. We also wouldn't be hired as thugs for others. To put it this way, we have legitimate and well-developed businesses operating in our hometown. You can tell from our willingness to take on the gambling house that we aren't particularly short of money. The reason we were willing to take on the gambling house is that we felt it was similar to running a casino. We don't have to force people to gamble; it's a willing exchange, and we have no psychological burden whether they win or lose. Kidnapping the Buddha was also a last resort. If he hadn't pressured me, I wouldn't have acted against him. Handing him over to you is to repay the favor of you sending cars, houses, and taking on the gambling house. Therefore, I can only be friends with you. We can cooperate in legitimate businesses, but joining your gang is impossible. Please also convey my intentions to Boss Zheng, so as not to delay your plans. If you take control of Fenghuang Street, I will congratulate you, but I will absolutely not get involved."
To avoid misunderstandings with Fang Zhicheng and Boss Zheng, Yang Jian had to openly express all his thoughts. This way, there would be no barriers in their future interactions.
Yang Jian's explanation greatly disappointed Fang Zhicheng. He had confidently told Boss Zheng that Yang Jian had joined their team, and the disturbance on Fenghuang Street on Tuesday night was Yang Jian's pledge of allegiance. Now, he was in a difficult position. However, such things could not be forced. It seemed he would have to find a way to explain himself to Boss Zheng.