It was a little past five in the evening.
Su Tianyu, Su Tianbei, Bai Hongbo, Kong Zhenghui, Liu the Second, and the others went to Longkou District together and hosted Yu Jinrong at an upscale restaurant.
Yu Jinrong actually said very little during the meal. He spent less than twenty minutes in the private dining room, getting acquainted with the younger generation from the four companies before making an excuse and leaving first.
The dinner seemed rushed, with no substantive discussion, but for the Su, Liu, Bai, and Kong Families, it was a turning point when all seemed lost. Yu Jinrong's presence alone conveyed an important message: within the Management Council, he would support the four families as long as doing so did not jeopardize his own interests.
This was a power struggle within the Sanitation Management Council. If the four companies had not made enough noise, Yu Jinrong would never have shown up that day. But after Wang Daolin was shot, and the complaints and protests against monopolistic practices, the severely injured workers, and the destruction at the Su Family Garbage Dump continued to draw attention, the Changqing Company was already struggling to respond. Only then had the powerful figures within the Management Council who resented them emerged to kick them while they were down.
So every opening they had gained was the result of the four families banding together to fight back, not luck or coincidence.
Su Tianyu said fewer than three sentences throughout the meal, but he kept studying Yu Jinrong. The man looked refined, yet acted swiftly and decisively. His few seemingly ordinary remarks subtly conveyed his stance to everyone. He was probably a seasoned operator who kept his cards well hidden.
Inside the Changqing Company in Zhannan District, Li Hongze sat in his executive chair, holding his phone with a dark expression. He frowned and asked, "Just tell me straight. What does this mean?"
"I went to Deputy Bureau Chief Guo. He spoke to Wang Daolin, but they couldn't reach an agreement," Li Xing said bluntly. "Here's where things stand: if you don't back down, Wang Daolin will go on the offensive. He'll thoroughly investigate the vandalism and arson, the serious injuries to the company employees, and the shooting at the Cantonese Restaurant. Lu Feng's boys have already been detained. Right now, my hands are tied. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Li Hongze fell silent.
"If Wang Daolin refuses to let this go, it'll only get bigger. Once public opinion builds, our Changqing Company will end up branded a violent monopoly no matter what, because you've already been pushed into the spotlight," Li Xing continued. "...So I'm saying we should ease off for now and let this blow over."
Deeply irritated, Li Hongze said nothing.
"What do you think?" Li Xing pressed.
"Deputy Bureau Chief Guo wants us to settle this under the table?" Li Hongze asked.
"That's right."
"All right. I understand." Li Hongze hung up and lit a cigarette, his mind in turmoil.
In fact, just twenty minutes earlier, Zheng Fu'an from the Management Council had also called Li Hongze, his voice full of reproach.
At the Management Council's regular meeting that morning, Yu Jinrong had blasted the Changqing Company, accusing them of using violence to monopolize the industry, undermining the stability of the sanitation system, and even provoking a major public backlash. All those accusations and criticisms had actually been aimed at Zheng Fu'an, because he was the one backing the Changqing Company.
Being put on the defensive like this was deeply uncomfortable for Zheng Fu'an, who had only just taken office. Yu Jinrong's attack was also well supported: the Changqing Company's thugs had been arrested, and there was solid evidence of their violent monopolistic practices. Even those close to Zheng Fu'an could hardly argue back at the meeting.
As a result, Zheng Fu'an could only pass the pressure on to Li Hongze, telling him to clean up the mess quickly and settle the matter.
Smoking his cigarette, Li Hongze thought again about the direction of public opinion. He knew Kong Zhenghui had been contacting the media lately. The only reason they had yet to act was probably to leave room for negotiations. Otherwise, the serious injuries to the company employees and the arson should have been exposed long ago.
Li Hongze sat on the sofa and weighed things carefully for a long while before picking up his phone and dialing Su Tiannan's number.
"Hello?"
"Su, let's sit down and talk."
"Sure."
"Ten tonight, Fortune House. I'll be waiting for all four families." With that, Li Hongze hung up.
It was a little past seven that evening.
Su Tianyu, Kong Zhenghui, Su Tianbei, Bai Hongbo, Liu the Second, and the key younger members of each family all gathered at the People's Hospital to discuss things with Su Tiannan in his ward.
Seated beside the bed, Su Tianyu frowned at Tian Nan and said, "Call Director Wang. Ask what he thinks first, then tell him what you want."
"What do we want?" Su Tiannan asked.
"Not just the men. We need money too," Su Tianyu replied.
"Isn't that pushing it a little?" Su Tiannan asked calmly.
"After everything that's happened, can you still be friends with the Changqing Company?" Su Tianyu said coolly. "We've already offended him. What the hell is there to be afraid of now?"
Su Tiannan nodded. "I'll go with you later."
"You don't need to go. Li Hongze picked the place. What good would you being there do?" Su Tianyu replied quietly. "We can handle it."
"I'm worried Lu Feng might lash out when he's cornered. After all, you and he...!"
"Big brother, don't worry about me." Su Tianyu smiled. "My family was destroyed, and I spent four years drifting on my own without being afraid. Why would I be scared of Zhannan's Number One Blade? Heh!"
"I...!"
"It's fine. Just call Wang Daolin first," Su Tianyu urged.
Su Tiannan nodded slowly, picked up his phone, and dialed Wang Daolin's number. "Uncle, Li Hongze asked to meet."
"Then go. Negotiate however you need to," Wang Daolin replied.
"Besides getting our men back, I want money too," Su Tiannan said frankly.
"Is that really necessary? If you take his money, it'll be harder to walk away," Wang Daolin cautioned.
"I've offended him whether I take the money or not."
"...That's your call. Neither Li Xing nor I will interfere with the negotiations," Wang Daolin said bluntly. "We'll talk afterward."
"All right. I understand what you mean."
"That's it, then."
After they ended the call, Su Tiannan turned to Tianyu. "Make sure you stay safe tonight."
"It'll be fine. Heh!" Su Tianyu grinned.
At nine thirty that evening, at least thirty people from the Changqing Company were sitting inside Fortune House on Changfeng Street in Zhannan District.
On either side of the street outside the restaurant, Wang Daolin and Li Xing had each brought more than a dozen officers under their command.
Meanwhile, Zheng Fu'an still had not left his office at the Management Council. He sat smoking and waiting for a call.
Inside a villa in Longkou District, Yu Jinrong watched the news with his legs crossed. "Have someone keep an ear out and find out how the talks at Fortune House go."
"All right." The middle-aged man beside him nodded.
At around nine forty, seven or eight cars approached from the south. An officer from the Police Bureau raised a hand to stop the convoy.
Su Tianyu rolled down his window and asked with a smile, "What can I do for you, officer?"
"Talk all you want, but don't cause trouble, or we'll deal with you," the Police Bureau officer said grimly.
"Yes, sir!" Su Tianyu saluted with a smile.
The convoy continued forward and stopped outside Fortune House. Su Tianyu, Su Tianbei, Kong Zhenghui, Liu the Second, Bai Hongbo, and the others-eleven people in all-walked into the restaurant lobby together.
Outside, a cold wind stirred beneath a sky thick with dark clouds. It seemed this was destined to be no ordinary night.
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