Because Jiang Wangzu kept his accounts clear and orderly.
Chen Tai had even earned a few words of praise from his direct superior, Third Master Qin of the Canal Gang's Council of Elders.
So from then on, keeping the books for the gangs' income on Rongsheng Street became Jiang Wangzu's responsibility.
Chen Tai also thought more highly of him, and rarely made him join in on the fighting and killing.
These days, besides working as Chen Tai's bookkeeper, he collected protection money and kept an eye on the gambling dens.
Both jobs were much safer than collecting usurious debts or fighting over territory!
So Jiang Wangzu's goal now was to keep his head down.
Once he got his hands on the Black Tiger Fist Manual that Chen Tai treasured, he would secretly build up his strength, then amaze everyone.
As for leaving the Canal Gang, it wasn't as though he'd never thought about it.
But he'd seen what had happened to Black Boy today.
Once you entered the jianghu, you no longer controlled your own fate!
If you made your living in the underworld, sooner or later you had to pay the price.
Even top gang bosses couldn't simply wash their hands of it and walk away unscathed.
Let alone a low-level thug like him!
Especially in a major gang like the Canal Gang.
They cared deeply about rules and face.
Anyone who left the gang without permission was punished without mercy.
In these circumstances, Jiang Wangzu naturally didn't dare take the gamble.
He could only settle down and be a Canal Gang thug.
In the morning, he kept the books and watched the gambling den.
In the afternoon, he collected protection money.
At night, he and A-Wei dumped Black Boy's body in Dragon River.
Another full day's work!
On the way back from dumping the body, Jiang Wangzu and Zhang Wei passed through Xinglong Street.
This was the Blue Society's turf, one of the three major gangs in Shen City.
The Blue Society, the Canal Gang, and the Hong Association were Shen City's three major gangs.
Warlords stood behind the Canal Gang, financial magnates backed the Hong Association, and foreign powers from the concessions supported the Blue Society.
The three factions were locked in bitter rivalry, and their backers also fought one another behind the scenes.
As it happened, Rongsheng Street and Xinglong Street were both bustling commercial districts in the Lower District, and they lay close to each other, so they were rivals.
That was why Zhang Hongshun, the Blue Society's boss on Xinglong Street, and Chen Tai, the boss of Rongsheng Street, had become sworn enemies.
The one who had cracked Jiang Wangzu's former self over the head with a club back then was almost certainly someone from the Blue Society.
But Jiang Wangzu had neither the strength nor the evidence.
So he had no way to avenge his former self.
As luck would have it, Jiang Wangzu and Zhang Wei, returning from the banks of Dragon River, came face-to-face with several Blue Society thugs from Xinglong Street.
"Those two little punks are from Rongsheng Street. Get 'em!"
The thugs sized up Jiang Wangzu and Zhang Wei. Then one of them recognized them.
They all grabbed whatever weapons they had and charged straight at the two men.
"Holy shit!"
"A-Wei, these guys are tough! Run for it!"
Jiang Wangzu turned and bolted. He had not the slightest intention of sticking around to take on those Blue Society thugs.
Zhang Wei didn't quite understand what Jiang Wangzu was muttering.
But when he saw Jiang Wangzu take off running, he didn't hesitate either. He sprinted for his life.
"That pretty boy's Chen Tai's right-hand man. Chop him down!"
"Damn, this kid's too handsome! Slash up his face. Shen City won't stand for someone this good-looking!"
"..."
Seven or eight Blue Society thugs chased after Jiang Wangzu and Zhang Wei, armed with short knives, iron clubs, axes, and other weapons.
Jiang Wangzu had trained his Iron Crotch Technique to a high level, so he was stronger than most people.
He shot ahead, leaving Zhang Wei and the Blue Society thugs far behind.
Seeing that, Zhang Wei ducked into an alley and ran in a different direction from Jiang Wangzu.
All he could do now was hope Jiang Wangzu would draw more of the heat away from him.
Just as Zhang Wei had expected.
Jiang Wangzu was their main target.
Only three men chased after Zhang Wei.
A full five kept after Jiang Wangzu.
Jiang Wangzu sprinted on, and in his frantic haste, he somehow ended up on the main street of Shen City's Upper District.
He stopped, dazzled by the neon lights until he could barely keep his eyes open.
After a long while, he gradually adjusted to the brightness and spotted Shen City's number-one ballroom, the Immortal Music Gate.
"The Immortal Music Gate?"
"The Immortal Music Gate's owner has a background so powerful even the three major gangs don't dare provoke him. There's no way a bunch of low-level Blue Society thugs would dare cause trouble here!"
Seeing the neon lights flicker over the Immortal Music Gate, Jiang Wangzu didn't hesitate. He was about to walk inside.
"Sir, the entrance fee is one thousand silver dollars!"
Just then, a waiter in a suit and bow tie, wearing white gloves, held out a hand to stop Jiang Wangzu.
Jiang Wangzu: "???"
Me?
Do I look like I'm worth a thousand silver dollars?
"Brother, I'm here looking for a job."
"Does it look like I came here to spend money?"
Jiang Wangzu's eyes shifted. Then he smiled faintly.
He quietly pulled back the foot he had already put inside the Immortal Music Gate.
"You can apply through the back entrance. With your looks, you shouldn't have any trouble getting a job as a waiter!"
The tall, straight-backed waiter looked Jiang Wangzu over and smiled.
The Immortal Music Gate was Shen City's number-one ballroom. A famous singer performed there almost every day, and every one of its dancers was stunning.
Even male waiters applying for jobs there had to be good-looking.
So when Jiang Wangzu said he was there to apply for a job, the waiter believed him without question.
"Thanks!"
Jiang Wangzu clasped his hands in a salute, then immediately headed for the Immortal Music Gate's back entrance.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Jiang Wangzu reached the back door of the Immortal Music Gate and knocked.
Creak!
A middle-aged man in a black long gown opened the door. He looked Jiang Wangzu up and down, then said outright:
"You're here to apply for a job as a waiter, right? You look decent enough, kid. Go inside and register. The manager still has to interview you and make the final call."
"Thanks!"
Just like that, Jiang Wangzu successfully slipped into the Immortal Music Gate and let out a sigh of relief.
In fact, he'd been worrying for nothing. Those Blue Society thugs had stopped chasing him as soon as they saw him run into the Upper District.
This was already outside the Blue Society's turf. And this was the Upper District, where the residents were all rich or important—at the very least, they were middle class. The thugs wouldn't dare cause trouble here.
Besides, they were already gasping for breath. They didn't even have the strength left to swing their weapons, let alone keep chasing Jiang Wangzu.
After entering through the Immortal Music Gate's back door, Jiang Wangzu slipped past the long line of job applicants. He had no interest in working as a waiter here.
If Chen Tai, that mad dog, found out he'd picked up a side job at the Immortal Music Gate, he'd be subjected to the gang's three-knives-and-six-holes punishment!
That was downright brutal!
He went straight from the back courtyard to the front hall.
The Immortal Music Gate.
The front hall.
Neon lights flickered here.
On the stage, young, beautiful dancers in fashionable outfits swayed their bodies.
And a beautiful woman with her hair styled in finger waves, wearing a gorgeous qipao and high heels, sang onstage.
"When the Immortal Music Gate opens, neon lights become a sea."
"Champagne glimmers gold, and old dreams awaken!"
"..."
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