At Third Master Hu's residence in Shunyi Ward, Su Xin didn't need to announce himself this time. The two gang members guarding the gate ushered him and Huang Bingcheng straight inside.
Su Xin had made such a name for himself in Happy Forest that even if he weren't Third Master Hu's adopted son, he would still have earned their respect.
Inside the reception hall, Third Master Hu sat upright in the seat of honor, as though he had known Su Xin was coming. Master Li stood behind him.
"Su Xin pays his respects to his adoptive father." Su Xin hurried forward and bowed.
Holding his teacup, Third Master Hu smiled. "Rise. You've done well in Happy Forest lately. I knew I hadn't misjudged you."
Su Xin flattered him. "You're too kind, Father. I owe my success to your reputation. Without you backing me, I wouldn't have been able to bring those merchants to heel."
"Enough, you don't need to be modest. You're the most capable among the younger generation in the Flying Eagle Gang. Even the gang leader has been full of praise for your reforms in Happy Forest," Third Master Hu said.
"By the way, Father, did you hear that men under me were beaten to death by the Green Bamboo Gang yesterday?" Su Xin asked.
"Of course I heard. It was just a misunderstanding. Dai Chong, one of the Green Bamboo Gang's chief officers, already came to apologize. They paid ten taels of silver, so let's put the matter to rest."
Su Xin suppressed his anger. "Father, the Green Bamboo Gang killed one of my brothers. Are we really going to let it go just like that? Is an apology worth a human life?"
"What else do you want? You're still young. There's nothing simple about conflicts between gangs," Third Master Hu said earnestly.
Su Xin was about to say more, but Third Master Hu cut him off. "That's enough. Happy Forest has only just begun to prosper. Don't waste your energy on a trivial matter like this. I'm tired. Master Li, see Su Xin out."
At those words, Su Xin knew there was no chance the Flying Eagle Gang would send men to demand justice. He could only turn and leave with Huang Bingcheng.
Master Li followed them with a genial smile. "Young Master Su, don't take this matter to heart. We can just give the gang member's family a little more for the funeral and pretend it never happened."
"Master Li, please don't call me that. Just use my name."
Su Xin knew better than to underestimate Master Li, the trusted adviser who had served Third Master Hu for decades.
Master Li shook his head. "That won't do. We must observe proper etiquette. You're Third Master's adopted son, so it's only right that I call you Young Master."
Su Xin's expression shifted. He led Master Li around the corner by the entrance, then gave Huang Bingcheng a meaningful look.
Huang Bingcheng was quick on the uptake. He immediately pulled out a thousand-tael banknote and deftly slipped it into Master Li's hand.
Master Li glanced at the denomination and was delighted. Without showing it, he tucked the note into his sleeve.
"Ahem. Young Master Su, you're far too generous," Master Li said, beaming.
Su Xin cupped his hands. "Master Li, I'm not just being polite. I sincerely want to ask you something. Why did the higher-ups refuse to demand an explanation after the Green Bamboo Gang killed one of our men? Is Father unwilling to risk losing more of his brothers?"
Master Li glanced around. Seeing no one nearby, he sighed. "Young Master Su, I won't hide it from you. This really doesn't have much to do with Third Master. It was entirely the higher-ups' decision."
Su Xin raised an eyebrow. It didn't have much to do with him, which meant there was still some connection.
"The Green Bamboo Gang killed one of our men. They slapped us in the face, right there in public. We won the last battle in Joyful District, so why are we the ones backing down this time?"
They had won the battle, yet now they had to swallow their pride. That was what Su Xin couldn't understand.
Master Li shook his head and sighed. "Young Master Su, do you know why we went to war with the Green Bamboo Gang last time?"
"Wasn't it over control of Joyful District?"
Master Li curled his lip in disdain. "Bullshit! That was just an excuse to fool the ordinary gang members. That godforsaken place, apart from Happy Forest, had nothing of value.
"And Happy Forest only became prosperous after you took over. Before that, it brought in a few hundred taels a month at most—not even enough to cover the rewards we paid our men after the battle for Joyful District.
"The real reason we went to war with the Green Bamboo Gang was that Sha Yuandong, the young master of our gang, got jealous over a woman and lost face to the Green Bamboo Gang's young master. So he wanted revenge.
"When two gangs go to war, it's not just the gang members who suffer losses. It costs a great deal of money, too.
"After a major battle, we have to reward the men. If any are injured or killed, we have to pay compensation. If the commotion gets too big, we also have to bribe the officials. It all adds up.
"So that battle for Joyful District was meaningless from the start. It was nothing but two young masters fighting over a woman.
"We didn't want it to escalate, and neither did the Green Bamboo Gang. They withdrew of their own accord, which counted as giving the Flying Eagle Gang face.
"Now, only one low-ranking gang member has died, and the Green Bamboo Gang has already apologized. We've got our face back. Why would the higher-ups spend a fortune attacking the Green Bamboo Gang over a scrap of justice that isn't worth a penny?"
Master Li's words left Su Xin and Huang Bingcheng dumbfounded. Neither of them had imagined that the gang war a little over a month ago had been sparked by two young masters fighting over a woman.
After glancing around, Master Li lowered his voice. "Young Master Su, I'll say one more thing. The higher-ups aren't planning to send anyone to demand an explanation for this reason, but there's also an element of targeting you.
"Your Happy Forest brings in nearly a hundred thousand taels a month—more than some chief officers earn. Plenty of people are already jealous. They want to put you in your place."
Su Xin said gravely, "Did Father do nothing to stand up for me?"
Of the eighty thousand taels he'd earned this month, Su Xin had given thirty thousand to Third Master Hu.
Partly, it was to show his filial respect. But he'd also wanted to keep others from getting jealous, trusting Third Master Hu to shield him.
In name, Su Xin was a junior officer under Third Master Hu's command, and Third Master Hu was his adoptive father.
If the higher-ups grew jealous and wanted to suppress Su Xin, then Third Master Hu, who had accepted his money, ought to stand up for him.
Master Li didn't answer directly. Instead, he asked, "Young Master Su, you gave Third Master thirty thousand taels last month, right?"
Su Xin nodded.
"Only afterward did Third Master learn you'd earned eighty thousand taels in total last month!"
After saying that, Master Li cupped his hands and turned to leave.
"A man's greed knows no bounds." Su Xin understood what Master Li meant. A cold glint flashed in his eyes, and he left with Huang Bingcheng.
"Damn it! What kind of people are they? They went to war with the Green Bamboo Gang over two young masters, but now one of their own men has been beaten to death, and they can't even be bothered to fart!" Huang Bingcheng cursed the whole way, furious.
He'd fought in the battle for Joyful District, too. His nature meant he probably hadn't charged into the fray, but the whole affair still left him with the bitter feeling of a rabbit mourning a fox.
The Flying Eagle Gang's higher-ups truly didn't see ordinary gang members like them as people.
Unlike Huang Bingcheng, Su Xin remained calm. "Look at it this way: those in high positions care about only one thing—profit.
"Clearly, what we want to do doesn't serve their interests, so they won't help us. They may even try to suppress us. Better to rely on ourselves than on others."
Su Xin had understood that back in his previous life. Never hand your fate over to someone else.
If Third Master Hu wouldn't help, and the Flying Eagle Gang's higher-ups wouldn't act, did that mean Su Xin was powerless?
"Boss, are you thinking of..." Huang Bingcheng stared at Su Xin in shock.
Su Xin said nothing. A cold look flashed in his eyes.
When they returned to Happy Forest's headquarters, his men were waiting anxiously, eager to find out whether the higher-ups would send anyone to get them justice.
But when they saw only Su Xin and Huang Bingcheng return, their hearts sank.
Meeting their gazes, Su Xin spoke frankly. "The higher-ups said the Green Bamboo Gang has already apologized, so the matter is settled. They won't send anyone to start another war with the Green Bamboo Gang."
His men erupted in anger. Though they'd already guessed the news, it still left them feeling bitter and wronged.
Ji Gang, standing among the crowd, shook his head with a scornful smile.
He was one of Third Master Hu's trusted men and naturally knew a little about the Flying Eagle Gang's higher-ups.
As soon as this had happened, he'd known they would never send anyone to help Su Xin get justice.
The crowd was in an uproar. Su Xin rapped his knuckles on the table, and everyone fell silent.
Su Xin had been their boss for only a little over a month, but his fairness in rewarding and punishing them had already earned their respect.
But they had watched one of their brothers get beaten to death by a rival gang, only for it to be answered with an apology they hadn't even witnessed and ten taels of silver. It left them with the bitter feeling of a rabbit mourning a fox.
The matter had little to do with Su Xin personally, yet they still felt resentful.
If a boss couldn't even protect his own men, how could they truly respect him?
Seeing their faces, Su Xin let out a long breath.
This was probably exactly what the Flying Eagle Gang's higher-ups—or rather, Third Master Hu—wanted to see.
They wanted him to become a powerless boss with money but no loyal men, someone they could manipulate at will.
Su Xin gave a cold laugh and rapped the table. "It doesn't matter if the higher-ups won't send anyone. They have their reasons, but I won't let my brothers die for nothing!
"By this time tomorrow, I'll bring Zhang Hong's and Dai Chong's heads to pay tribute to our fallen brother!"
The entire headquarters fell silent.
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