At the entrance of Time Taste Tea Restaurant, Yang Jian met up with Biao Biao and Liang Liang. After a few pleasantries, the three went upstairs and found Song Jianhao and Brother Mao in private room number eight.
Brother Mao was a bit older than Song Jianhao, in his early forties. He quickly stood up when Yang Jian and the other two entered.
"Hello, President Yang. Have you had lunch?"
"Brother Mao, why so formal? Last time we met, you called me Xiao Yang. How come you're calling me President Yang now? I'm not a president, so please just call me Xiao Yang."
"Alright, alright, Xiao Yang. What would you like to drink?"
"Just tea. Brother Hao, have the matters in Hancheng been settled?"
Yang Jian didn't chat with him much and greeted Song Jianhao.
Song Jianhao wore a wry smile. "Settled what? We were directly driven out of Xunsi River. We didn't even dare to go back to get our luggage."
"Didn't you call the police? Si Xi Ge and the others were beaten; didn't the police give you any feedback?"
"Feedback my foot! That area is Brother Xiong's territory. He's bought off the patrol officers. We're outsiders, and they simply ignored us. They even said running a casino was illegal. It's good they didn't arrest us."
"So you have to pay for Si Xi Ge and the others' medical expenses?"
"Of course, I have to. The losses this time are too great. I've already spent over a hundred thousand yuan. During their hospital stay, I still have to pay them their wages. I'm running out of money and plan to ask Jian Min to lend me some."
Song Jianhao sighed. The funds he had painstakingly saved were all gone. Everything had to start from scratch again.
"What about Xiao Wu? What's his situation now?"
"Xiao Wu is even worse off. I visited him in the hospital yesterday. He's completely crippled. His hand and leg tendons were all severed. He was stabbed over twenty times, and three times on the head. Although he's not dead yet, he probably won't live much longer because he's completely lost his ability to care for himself and his mind is unclear. He doesn't recognize me anymore."
"When you're out in the world, everyone gets cut eventually. This is the fate of those in the underworld."
Brother Mao commented from the side, his words being very apt.
Hearing about Xiao Wu's dire condition, Yang Jian felt a chill of fear. If he hadn't formed a good relationship with Li Jin and received timely warnings, his own fate would likely have been worse than Xiao Wu's. He would probably have a grave by now.
"Xiao Yang, you've been incredibly popular in Chengguan lately. Biao Biao, Liang Liang, was it you two who dealt with Liu Ming that day with Xiao Yang?"
Song Jianhao had heard about it in Hancheng, but it was inconvenient to ask over the phone. Now, he wanted to understand the whole process.
Biao Biao and Liang Liang remained silent, looking at Yang Jian.
Yang Jian naturally couldn't admit it. "Brother Hao, don't talk nonsense. I've cleared my name with the police. I have proof I wasn't in Chengguan that night. Liu Ming's case has nothing to do with me. Someone must be framing me using my brother-in-law's beating."
"Come on, we're brothers, why are you being secretive? Would I sell you out?"
"Brother Hao, let's not talk about this. What are your plans from now on?"
Yang Jian changed the subject. It wasn't that he didn't trust Song Jianhao, but he didn't want to discuss it in front of Brother Mao. This man was too insidious; if he secretly recorded it, it would become his own criminal evidence.
"Plans? I asked you here today mainly to discuss this. I plan to take some time to rest and then return to Hancheng. I hope you can join me."
"Go for what? To open another establishment? Have you found another location?"
"No more establishments. I want to form an Emperor Company, specializing in being the house. The Emperor Company won't participate in conflicts between factions, so the safety risks will be much lower. Now that Si Xi and the others are injured, I don't have enough manpower. You and Jian Min are the people I trust the most. I hope you can come with me."
Song Jianhao's words made Yang Jian fall into thought. He had also been considering his next move. Chengguan was no longer a place for him to stay. His father wouldn't agree to him continuing to be involved with Yu Feng.
"Xiao Yang, I know you have a lot of market appeal in Chengguan right now. Not to mention others, even Sister Feng is probably trying hard to recruit you, right?"
"Yes, Sister Feng has already hired me as the vice president of their group company."
As soon as he said this, all four people present were shocked. Yu Dongqiang's Dongsheng Group was the largest private enterprise in Xinhe District, with assets exceeding one hundred million. Becoming the vice president of the group company was like soaring to the heavens, with a bright future.
Song Jianhao nodded with regret. "Alright then, Sister Feng's offer is more suitable for you."
Biao Biao was even more envious. "Brother Jian, if you become vice president, you can't forget us brothers who went through thick and thin together!"
Yang Jian patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, I won't forget. Because I refused."
"What? Refused?"
All four spoke in unison. This was too unexpected for everyone. How could he refuse? For a country boy with no background or qualifications, becoming the vice president of a group company was a blessing that even his ancestors praying fervently couldn't achieve. Anyone else would never refuse.
Yang Jian gave a wry smile. "Yes, I don't plan to be that vice president because my father doesn't agree."
"Why?"
"Because recently, there have been rumors all over Chengguan about me and Sister Feng. They say I'm her kept boy toy, and that she orchestrated the beating of Liu Ming and the downfall of Pan Wenbin, with me as the executor. The rumors are detailed and convincing. My father and sister believe them and strongly oppose me joining Dongsheng Group. They forbid me from having any further contact with Sister Feng."
Song Jianhao burst into laughter. "Xiao Yang, do you really have something going on with Sister Feng?"
"Brother Hao, don't talk nonsense. How could that be? She's a married woman, and I'm still a greenhorn. If this rumor becomes solid, who would dare to date me in the future? Don't you believe me? Ask Biao Biao and Liang Liang. Before the incident, the three of us were together every day."
Biao Biao quickly nodded. "Yes, we can testify to this. The plan to deal with Liu Ming was entirely conceived by the three of us. Sister Feng had no idea."
Before he could finish speaking, Liang Liang nudged him hard. Biao Biao then realized he had let slip a crucial detail, which was equivalent to formally admitting that Liu Ming was crippled by the three of them.
Brother Mao's expression changed drastically. Previously, the social rumors that Liu Ming was beaten and crippled by Yang Jian and two others were merely speculations based on Hong Ying's report and Pan Wenbin's extensive search for Yang Jian that night. There was no concrete evidence proving that Yang Jian was responsible.
Now that Biao Biao had personally admitted it, the psychological impact on Brother Mao was more shocking than the rumors. This Yang Jian was too daring. To avenge his brother-in-law, he had gone to someone's home to commit violence, yet left no evidence and escaped unscathed.
Such ruthless methods and meticulous operational planning were truly terrifying. If he wanted to deal with someone, it was estimated that no one could defend against him.