New Territory (Part 3)

Jobs are hard to come by these days. A position at Lingtong Hall might not be the best, but it certainly isn't bad.

Everyone has their own internal scale. Although the work at Lingtong Hall is grueling, the pay is quite generous. They distribute rice and flour during holidays, and if you have a family emergency, it isn't difficult to get leave as long as you explain the situation clearly and offer a pack of foreign cigarettes.

This treatment is already far better than that of other factories in the Big Factory District.

Not to mention, they know full well that a factory like Lingtong Hall, which requires a certain level of technical skill, isn't a place where just anyone can be hired and immediately start working.

To maintain production while ensuring the quality of the medicinal ointments, the company relies on skilled hands like them to keep the production lines running steadily.

On the other hand, the deaths of the management team have conveniently cleared the way; the rest of them can now expect promotions and raises. Their lives and prospects are looking much better than before!

In this day and age, having a stable job to work at securely is truly no small feat.

Now that they have received a sincere and heartfelt promise from Jing Tao, knowing they can remain in the factory to earn money securely and even look forward to promotions and raises, they naturally have no reason to refuse.

Consequently, the only remaining obstacle for Jing Tao at Lingtong Hall is the former security team.

At this very moment, there are about a dozen men from the former security team standing guard inside the factory gates, looking aggressive and armed with clubs and short blades.

They are the final barrier preventing Jing Tao from reclaiming Lingtong Hall.

Xu Yi and Duan Hu's group stand outside the factory gates.

Neither side is carrying guns, due to an unwritten rule regarding gang skirmishes among the lower classes—

If it is only knives, clubs, and sticks, it is merely a personal grievance.

But if foreign guns are brought out, the Constabulary will intervene as soon as someone reports it.

The Constabulary is much better equipped than the gangs; once a fight breaks out, the gangs have absolutely no chance of winning.

Not to mention, the Constabulary has the Militia Corps standing behind them.

To the military, the strength of an individual is far too insignificant.

Duan Hu steps forward, cups his hands in a salute, and speaks in a deep, powerful voice:

"Gentlemen, you must clear out today, whether you want to or not! I advise you to keep your eyes open, don't get in the way of our business, and let's all just settle this peacefully!"

The meaning of his words is:

"Today, you all must leave, whether you want to or not. I advise you to be sensible and avoid unnecessary trouble!"

There is hardly a gang member roaming the 38th Shop District who doesn't recognize Duan Hu's face.

Even if they don't recognize him, the moment they see his fists, the corded muscles across his back, and the vicious thugs behind him, they usually take the hint and back down on their own.

However, this group of security guards at Lingtong Hall is different from ordinary gang members.

They were the primary culprits who participated in framing the Jing Hesheng family over the past few years, and they have committed many dirty deeds bullying workers for the factory. Their interests are firmly tied to the branch of the Jing Family that has already been killed off, making them impossible to separate.

Xu Yi didn't kill them last night because they weren't on the personnel list he obtained—the Jing Family relatives who controlled Lingtong Hall these past few years wouldn't put a bunch of murderers on the official employee list, as that would only invite trouble.

They didn't run away this morning because they are overly confident in their own combat prowess.

They are also greedy.

They think that as long as they guard the factory, keep the workers in line, and keep the assembly lines running, they can still make a profit.

They know they might encounter some trouble, but they don't believe they are incapable of solving it. They are ruthless, cold-hearted thugs who would do anything; who would dare to provoke them?

Thus, the leader raises his blade and points it at Duan Hu's nose:

"Screw you! Kill these bastards for me!"

The two groups of thugs immediately clash, erupting into a chaotic brawl.

Since both sides have drawn blades, this fight is now a matter of life and death.

The sounds of shouting and fighting at the entrance of Lingtong Hall draw the attention of surrounding factories, but no one chooses to call the Constabulary. Skirmishes in the Big Factory District are far too common, and gang turf wars are a daily occurrence.

The crickets and frogs have stopped chirping, and the roar of machinery inside the factories becomes even more jarring amidst the shouts of the brawl.

Tonight the moon is dark and the wind is high. There are fewer outsiders in the 38th Shop District than usual; word is that a war has broken out elsewhere, and the railway tracks to Puxi City have been destroyed.

Puxi City has become a besieged city.

Those outside cannot get in, and those inside cannot get out.

Yet, some people inside do not know how to cherish their current lives. They attempt to use violence to seize things that do not belong to them, illustrating their greed to the fullest.

The sounds of the fight soon dissipate into the night wind.

In the end, the thugs under Duan Hu are more vicious. At the cost of only two lives, they beat the opposing side into a rout, leaving guts and severed limbs scattered across the ground.

Duan Hu exchanges a word with Xu Yi and leads his men in pursuit. He has lost men this time, and he is determined to recoup his losses from these security guards one way or another.

There are thousands of dirty tricks used by gang members; once someone falls into their hands, they will never stop until they have squeezed out every last drop of profit.

Xu Yi spits blood from the corner of his mouth and calls over to Jing Tao, who has been hiding far off to the side.

"It's done."

Xu Yi spoke.

"I will stay behind to keep watch tonight."

Jing Tao nodded and entered the factory with Xu Yi, where they suspended production and gathered the employees for a general meeting, just as they had discussed with the management that morning.

During this meeting, Jing Tao laid out the situation regarding her family, making it clear to the workers—

The generous benefits you have enjoyed over the years were due to the rules my father established, and the reason those benefits have been steadily whittled away—a little less today, a little less tomorrow—is entirely the doing of my scoundrel relatives.

Upon hearing this, the workers were immediately filled with righteous indignation, one after another confirming that this was indeed the case.

They had long harbored grievances over their constantly shrinking wages and benefits.

But in this world, when workers have grievances, how could they dare to voice them?

While one might earn more in Puxi City, the cost of living was equally high; if they lost this relatively decent job today, they might well find themselves forced into the brothels to sell their bodies before long!

They had dared not speak out in the past because the Old Security Team had a heavy hand, and anyone who disobeyed was dealt with.

But things were different now.

Boss Jing Tao had arrived, and the blue sky had returned!

Jing Tao listened to the complaints of the night-shift workers, answering their questions and concerns about the future one by one, while making various guarantees and promising them higher wages.

By midnight, the fully satisfied workers had returned to the assembly lines, and the factory resumed operations.

Around 1:00 AM, as the clamor on the main street of the 38th Shop District finally subsided, Xu Yi used a newspaper to cover the window he had smashed the night before in the second-floor office of the factory.