Instructor

Han Yang knew very well that despite how chaotic things were now, with gangs everywhere, everything was still under the control of the Ita and the Earth Government.

No matter how many gangs there were, at most you would see a few people firing illegal guns, a dozen or so people shooting at one another with a dozen light firearms. Large-scale gunfights involving hundreds or thousands of people were almost unheard of. Even if one did happen, the Earth Guard would crack down hard on it immediately, making it disappear without a trace.

Things had come to this—even in the interstellar age, gang fights still mostly relied on cold weapons like machetes and steel pipes.

Under such circumstances, if Han Yang wanted to protect himself, the most practical approach was to train a group of dedicated enforcers. They would practice fighting and hacking people up, while a select few elites would train with firearms. Combining cold and hot weapons was the best option. That made a martial arts school necessary. Collective dormitories for centralized living and training were necessary as well.

Han Yang knew that as long as he used cold weapons and a small number of light firearms, no matter how big a mess he caused, he would not attract the attention of the Ita or the Earth Guard. But if he dared acquire heavy weapons, he might not even survive until the next day.

Never cross the red line. That was the first rule for surviving, developing, and growing stronger in this chaotic world.

As for the "Armed Drone" Han Yang had used before, it was somewhat sensitive and fell into a gray area. But Han Yang was not worried that it would cause him trouble.

Once you reached the level of the Earth Guard, any professional could tell at a glance that it was a counterfeit. They could not be bothered to deal with someone like him.

This would eventually get leaked too. But that was a problem for the future, and Han Yang did not care. At this stage, all that mattered was that the fake Armed Drone could provide him with deterrence.

After returning to the little courtyard, Han Yang began considering what businesses the empty shops should run.

His power-leveling business did not make much money yet, so there was no need to launder it. Once he moved to Fuxing Base and expanded the operation, the money would increase. Then he would need to make it legitimate.

Otherwise, what exactly were you doing in secret to earn so much money? It would draw too much attention and easily attract people with ulterior motives. But if he made money through legitimate business, no one would suspect him no matter how much he earned.

After thinking for a long time, Han Yang still could not decide what to do. It happened to be noon, and he was hungry, so he left home and headed once more to Aunt Wang's food stall.

"Aunt Wang! A large bowl of noodles, extra meat and an egg!"

"Xiaoyang, you're here! Sit down first, it'll be ready soon!"

Aunt Wang's cooking could only be called average. But Han Yang had grown used to it.

Han Yang glanced toward Aunt Wang's side and saw only Uncle Wang, not Sun Gui. Sun Gui's pot for braised chicken heads and chicken butts was sitting there, and Han Yang could not help asking curiously, "Where did Sun Gui go?"

"He went to buy a big pot. There, he's back."

Han Yang turned around and saw Sun Gui struggling over while carrying an enormous barrel. Upon seeing Han Yang, he hurried over to greet him. "Hello, Boss Han."

"Good, good. Sun Gui, what are you buying such a big barrel for?"

Han Yang was curious.

Sun Gui gave an honest smile. "I recently reached cooperation agreements with several other food stalls. I'll be supplying them from now on. The old pot was too small, so I couldn't make enough. I bought a big one so I can cook faster. Besides, if I buy more ingredients, they'll be cheaper, and I can lower the price too."

Han Yang became even more curious. "Lower the price?"

"Yes. I'm planning to drop them from fifty cents each to forty cents each."

"How many cents are you giving the food stall owners?"

"Still ten cents. I'll keep thirty."

"Weren't they selling well at fifty cents each? Why lower the price?"

Sun Gui smiled shyly. "There's no technical skill to this. Anyone can make them. If I cut the price voluntarily and squeeze the profit margin, it's like building a moat with price. Then no one can compete with me."

Han Yang slapped his forehead in sudden realization.

Sun Gui now had an advantage of scale. He could buy supplies at lower prices and still make a profit even if he sold cheaper. Others could not. They bought less, paid more, and would lose money if they lowered their prices.

He was strangling the competition in the cradle.

Han Yang looked at Sun Gui's shack, which was still set up beside Aunt Wang's food stall.

"You're making money now, so why not find a place to live first? Why are you still sleeping in a shack?"

"A place to sleep is a place to sleep. Business comes first."

Han Yang regarded him even more highly. "Sun Gui, you're so sharp. How did you end up in this situation?"

"Hehe, hehe."

Sun Gui rubbed his hands together and smiled with slight embarrassment. "I offended someone. I'm lucky just to still be alive."

"Stop selling chicken heads and chicken butts."

Han Yang suddenly said this, and Sun Gui's expression changed drastically.

"No matter how big you make it, you won't earn much. I think you've got a good head on your shoulders. Come work for me. I have a few shops. Manage them for me, and I'll give you a share of the profits."

He did not know what businesses to put in those shops anyway, so having Sun Gui handle them was perfect.

Sun Gui's expression became wonderfully complicated.

He had thought he had somehow offended Han Yang. He never expected such a good opportunity to be waiting for him.

Recently, who did not know that Boss Han's thousand-square-meter factory building had gone up just like that? He had invested several million without batting an eye.

Boss Han had influence and powerful backing. More importantly, while Sun Gui's chicken head and chicken butt business appeared to be thriving because he was clever, the real foundation was the stable order Boss Han had provided.

Without stable order, any random little thug could overturn his stall and put him out of business.

Following Boss Han was the only way to have a future.

"Th-this..."

Sun Gui rubbed his hands, filled with excitement and nervousness, his face flushed red. "I'm just afraid... afraid I'll delay your work, Boss Han..."

"It's fine. Just handle it as you see fit. I have more than five hundred square meters over there. Plan out what businesses to run."

"Alright, alright, I'll go right away."

Sun Gui took off running, not even bothering with the big barrel.

All the diners, including Uncle Wang and Aunt Wang, were filled with envy.

Han Yang slurped down his noodles, paid the bill, and casually said to Aunt Wang, "Uncle Wang, Aunt Wang, stop running this food stall too. Come work for me. I'll pay you six thousand a month, with a year-end profit share."

At most, Aunt Wang's food stall could only earn six thousand a month, and they still had to stay on edge and handle every problem themselves. Forget a profit share—being able to earn six thousand a month easily would already be an incredible blessing.

Aunt Wang happily rubbed her hands on her apron. "Your Uncle Wang and I only know how to cook. What could we do working for you?"

"Of course you'll still be cooking."

"Oh, then that works, that works. Cooking is what I know."

"Tell Sun Gui later to save a shopfront for you."

Having settled matters here, Han Yang headed straight for Butcher Shen's Meat Shop.

Shen the Butcher said gruffly, "You're Boss Han now, and you still remember to come see me?"

Han Yang chuckled. "I could forget anyone, but never you. So, Brother Shen, want to open a meat shop at my place? And while you're at it... be an instructor?"