The Red-Hot Master Jiang

No surprise.

This month, Black Tortoise Hall had stolen all the limelight, its performance soaring from dead last to first place.

Deputy Branch Master Zhuang Xiulong was overjoyed and lavishly praised Zhu Hu and Jiang Yuan. He told the other three halls to learn how to do business properly instead of knowing nothing but killing, killing, killing and snatching, snatching, snatching all day long!

Seeing the smug look in Zhu Hu's tiny eyes, the three hall masters were so furious their lungs were about to explode.

Just who was this Jiang Yuan who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere?

He had actually managed to make achievements in a rotten place like Black Tortoise Hall. It was simply unbelievable!

Thus, from that day onward, Jiang Yuan became the focus of the entire Black Market.

Afterward, as business in the West District boomed, the other three districts began copying the West District's methods one after another, throwing themselves headlong into the frenzy.

The halls' stewards cried bitterly, secretly cursing Jiang Yuan for working them to death.

After all, they did not possess Jiang Yuan's ability to coordinate everything and keep such a huge project in perfect order.

Sure enough, Black Tortoise Hall still had the best performance in the second month!

The reason, when all was said and done, was Jiang Yuan himself!

Only Jiang Yuan, with memories of his past life, could make this set of rules work. There were far too many intricacies involved.

This drove the three hall masters frantic with jealousy. They had even considered quietly getting rid of Jiang Yuan.

But then they heard that Deputy Branch Master Zhuang Xiulong had personally hosted a banquet for Jiang Yuan and sought his advice on business, apparently intending to promote him again.

The two talked through the night, lamenting that they had not met sooner, and nearly became sworn brothers.

When they learned of this, all four hall masters were scared out of their wits.

Zhu Hu in particular felt that Jiang Yuan was gradually slipping beyond his control.

That was not a good sign.

Yet Jiang Yuan was now blazing like the midday sun. Almost no one could openly deal with him in the Black Market.

During this time, the hall masters of Azure Dragon Hall, White Tiger Hall, and Vermilion Bird Hall compromised. They changed their strategy, fawning over Jiang Yuan at every turn and asking him about business while clearly intending to poach him.

On this day, they threw Jiang Yuan a grand banquet.

After three rounds of drinks, Chen Long, the Azure Dragon Hall Master, raised his cup and said warmly, "Brother Jiang, the three of us regret not meeting you sooner. We would like to invite you to serve as deputy hall master of our three halls as well, managing the Black Market's business together with us. What do you think?"

They had finally figured it out.

If they could not beat him, they would join him.

Wasn't Black Tortoise Hall so impressive because it had a business master like Jiang Yuan?

Then they would invite Jiang Yuan over too. Who was afraid of whom?

As long as their regular businesses were doing reasonably well, they still had great confidence in their underground businesses.

Jiang Yuan naturally saw through their intentions at once, and he was overjoyed.

He had long felt that Zhu Hu was unreliable.

In a place like the Black Market, relying on only one person to survive was bound to lead to great losses. Who knew when someone might grow jealous and dig a huge pit for you?

Moreover, while managing the West District, Jiang Yuan had discovered a deficit in White Tiger Hall's account books, leaving him shocked for quite some time.

That dog Zhu Hu had actually secretly embezzled ten thousand spirit stones. Who knew where he had spent them?

If such a massive deficit were discovered, it might even drag Jiang Yuan down with it!

Since Zhu Hu could not be relied upon, Jiang Yuan had to distance himself from him as soon as possible. Serving concurrently as deputy hall master of the three halls would be the first step!

Of course, he could not agree too readily. That would seem far too abnormal.

Jiang Yuan frowned. "This... would not be appropriate, would it? This old man is currently the deputy hall master of White Tiger Hall. How can I serve concurrently?"

"Ah, Brother Jiang, you are treating us like outsiders."

Xu Teng, the Black Tortoise Hall Master, pretended to be displeased. "Our Black Market is one family to begin with. How can there be any distinction between yours and mine? I trust Old Zhu would not be so petty."

"As long as Brother Jiang nods, I will personally explain it to Old Zhu!"

"Yes, yes."

Qin Feng, the alluring Vermilion Bird Hall Master, leaned close and blew a warm breath into Jiang Yuan's ear. "Brother Jiang, this little woman has admired you for a long time."

Jiang Yuan let out a heavy sigh. "I am honored that all the hall masters think so highly of this old man, but at my age, an old man truly cannot be put to much use."

"The four districts of the outer city cover such vast territory. How can this old man possibly handle it all alone?"

"The capable must bear more burdens. Elder Brother, you are old yet still vigorous, so do not be modest."

"How about this? Azure Dragon Hall is willing to give Brother Jiang ten percent of its profits separately."

"White Tiger Hall will also give Brother Jiang ten percent of its profits."

"My Vermilion Bird Hall can as well."

The three hall masters unleashed their sugar-coated barrage together, promising all manner of benefits. They looked determined to poach him no matter what.

Men die for wealth; birds perish for food.

They refused to believe Jiang Yuan would not be tempted!

Jiang Yuan was also a martial artist. Martial artists themselves were bottomless pits—there was not one who was not greedy!

Under the persuasion of the three, Jiang Yuan finally agreed with an extremely reluctant expression, though his heart was already bursting with joy.

This was what it meant when the snipe and clam fought, and the fisherman profited.

With the tokens of all four halls in hand, who else remained in the Black Market?

When Zhu Hu first learned of this, his jaw dropped. He stared at the three hall masters before him for a long while, unable to say a word.

"Damn it, is this how you poach someone? And you poached an old man at that!"

"With an elder in the house, it is as though one possesses a treasure. Does Hall Master Zhu not understand even that?" Qin Feng said with a beaming smile.

"Old Zhu, let me warn you: do not use public office to avenge a private grudge against Brother Jiang. He is the lifeblood of all four of us now!" Xu Teng said with a wide grin.

"You people..."

Zhu Hu pointed at the four of them, utterly speechless.

Of course, he would not be foolish enough to deal with Jiang Yuan personally.

That old fellow had already grown into a force to be reckoned with. Even if he slipped out of Zhu Hu's control, there was nothing Zhu Hu could do about it.

Soon, Jiang Yuan took office, the tokens of all four halls hanging from his waist as he basked in limitless glory.

He also pushed the 996 work model into the other three districts.

Not only the managers, but even the stewards had to work strictly according to the 996 model, because Jiang Yuan alone simply could not manage everything.

This left the stewards deeply dissatisfied, feeling as though the sky had collapsed.

Managing the outer city's four districts had originally been called resting. Every month, they only needed to settle the accounts, call the roll, and hold their concubines, and the month would pass muddleheadedly by.

But now, they would rather manage the more dangerous underground businesses.

It was simply too exhausting!

Jiang Yuan did not care about any of that. He only cared about the attitudes of his superiors.

As long as he produced results, then whatever he did was right.