Dongjiang City, Xintai Entertainment City.
In the office of the security department manager on the third floor, Yang Jian put down his phone, his brows furrowed. He had just sorted out the affairs here. Fang Zhicheng voluntarily withdrew from Phoenix Street, and Zheng Jingfa also backed down and withdrew his pharmaceutical business. Without a single soldier, Fo Ye took over Phoenix Street and gave Yang Jian a 20% stake in the liquor business. As for reclaiming the bus station and Liuqiao Village, Yang Jian refused.
After only two days of peace, he received a call from Jing Yongli. His cousin Feng Wu was detained in Ping'an Town, Dongjiang, and seventy thousand yuan was demanded for his release.
Yang Jian didn't know if this matter was true or false. He didn't have much impression of this cousin anymore. He hadn't seen him in over ten years and couldn't even remember his appearance.
He clearly couldn't stand by and do nothing. They were cousins from his mother's side, and their blood ties were still close.
The forces in Dongjiang were complex. Yang Jian decided to first understand the situation and called A'Bao over with the walkie-talkie.
A'Bao, who was on the day shift, happened to be at the casino and arrived in two minutes. "Little Yang, what's up?"
"Brother Bao, are you familiar with Ping'an Town?"
"Ping'an Town is quite far, over thirty kilometers from the city. I'm not familiar with it, but I have a senior brother there. What's wrong?"
"I have a cousin there who works as a bookie's order taker. He took orders privately and unexpectedly won. He has to pay eighty thousand yuan. He has no money to pay and is being held. I want to go and see, but I'm not familiar with the place."
"Damn, getting lucky when taking private bets is really unlucky. In such a situation, order takers usually run away. Why was he detained?"
"I just find it strange. According to the rules, the draw was that night, and he knew he had to pay the money. The payout was the next morning. He had enough time to escape, so he shouldn't have been caught."
"Why don't I go with you? My senior brother has some influence there. He might know who caught your cousin and if they are from the underworld."
"My cousin didn't say. He just asked the family to send a taxi to save him. He doesn't know I'm in Dongjiang."
"Then let's go. We'll call your cousin when we get there."
"Should we bring some people?"
After experiencing the pursuit of professional killers, Yang Jian became much more cautious. When dealing with people from the underworld, one had to be constantly vigilant against firearms. Going alone was dangerous.
"No need. My senior brother has people. Besides, without firearms, how many people can stop the two of us?"
A'Bao had also recently started learning the use of extendable batons adapted from sword techniques from Yang Jian and was always looking for an opportunity to test them in practice.
The two didn't even have lunch and drove the bulletproof car straight to Ping'an Town.
Ping'an Town was a relatively well-known economically strong town in Dongjiang, over thirty kilometers from the main urban area of Dongjiang. The road was full of large trucks, and traffic jams were severe.
It took Yang Jian an hour and a half to reach the entrance of a KTV called "Youthful Radiance." A'Bao's senior brother, Cao Chong, had been waiting for a long time. This establishment belonged to him.
"Senior brother, this is Yang Wu."
As soon as they got out of the car, A'Bao introduced them to Cao Chong, who was walking towards them.
"Little Yang, your name has spread throughout Dongjiang. I was planning to visit you, this legendary figure, sometime."
Cao Chong was in his thirties, burly, with broad shoulders and a strong build, and a loud voice. He looked like a local boss at first glance.
"Brother Chong, hello. I came in a hurry, so I only brought you two cartons of cigarettes."
It was his first meeting, so Yang Jian couldn't come empty-handed. He bought two cartons of good cigarettes on the way, so it wouldn't be awkward to ask for his help.
"Little Yang, you're too kind. Let's eat first. The dishes are already ordered."
Cao Chong didn't stand on ceremony, accepted the cigarettes, and then led the two to a restaurant next door. There were already seven or eight dishes on the table in the private room, along with two bottles of good wine.
"Senior brother, I'm here on business today, so I can't drink. I have to go back to work in the afternoon."
As soon as A'Bao sat down, he took away the baijiu.
"Alright, let's eat first."
Cao Chong had clearly been hungry waiting for them.
After the three had a few bites and felt less hungry, they started to communicate.
Yang Jian briefly explained his cousin's situation. He didn't have much information.
"Little Yang, anyone who mixes in the underworld in Ping'an Town has to show me some respect. Your cousin's name is Feng Wu, right? Where is he from?"
Cao Chong gave him a reassurance.
"He's from Xiangnan. His boss is also from Xiangnan. Someone who can open a betting house here should not be an unknown figure."
"There is a Xiangnan Chamber of Commerce here, formed by people from Xiangnan. I know their general president. Are you planning to understand the situation first, or should you call your cousin directly and then go find him?"
"I want to understand the situation first. This matter is a bit strange, so I won't call him for now."
"Then please wait a moment. I'll send someone to investigate Feng Wu. We should get news soon."
Cao Chong stood up and went out for a while. He came back two minutes later.
"Let's eat. As long as Feng Wu is in Ping'an Town and is selling horses, we'll find him within an hour."
"Thank you, Brother Chong. I'll toast you with tea instead of wine."
"Cough, this is a small matter. We're not outsiders, so don't be so formal. Your dealings with the Xiang family are all over the place. Can you tell me the real situation?"
"Didn't Brother Bao tell you? He was involved in the whole process."
Yang Jian was a little surprised. Outsiders shouldn't know about such things. As Bai Zheng's disciple, he should know.
A'Bao quickly explained, "Master told us not to talk about this matter outside, saying that we should save some face for the Xiang family. So, no matter who asked me, I didn't say anything."
Cao Chong laughed heartily, "Since it's something Master told you not to say, then I won't ask."
"It's okay, we're all family, there's nothing that can't be said."
Yang Jian briefly recounted the events.
After listening, Cao Chong slapped the table, "Awesome, Little Yang, you handled this matter so domineeringly. To be honest, if it were A'Bao and me, we wouldn't dare to confront Xiang Fei so directly."
Yang Jian gave a wry smile, "The consequence of confronting him directly is that I almost ended up dead on the street. So, you are more experienced. I need to learn from you. One cannot be too ostentatious in life and work."
"Hey, you can't say that. We have too many concerns. In fact, dealing with a playboy like Xiang Nan requires your kind of approach. Otherwise, he will become even more arrogant and harm more people."
"Alas, I still lack experience. I used to fear nothing, but after this incident, I realize how treacherous the world is. If I don't restrain myself, I'll be dead one day."
Yang Jian expressed his feelings sincerely. After experiencing life and death, he had figured out many things.
After the three finished eating, they prepared to return to the KTV for tea. Before they entered the establishment, Cao Chong's phone rang.
"Little Yang, Feng Wu has been found. He works at the welfare lottery sales point on Qilin Street."
After answering the phone, Cao Chong revealed Feng Wu's information.
Yang Jian was very surprised, "He's working now? Isn't he being held?"
"He should be working. The person gathering information didn't say clearly. Shall I take you to see him? Qilin Street is not far from here."
"Okay, let's go now."
Yang Jian already had a premonition that his cousin Feng Wu was lying and his intention was to swindle money from the family.