The cold wind roared past my ears, slapping my cheeks until they stung.
I lowered my head and used Xu Rang's back as a shield. "Xu Rang, slow down! You rushing to reincarnate or what!"
The wind was too loud. My voice got swallowed. Xu Rang had to shout:
"What? Speak louder!"
So I yelled at the top of my lungs, "I said slow the hell down! You riding like this—are you rushing to get reborn!?"
Xu Rang burst out laughing. "Lao'er, you're right. I am rushing to reincarnate—except I'm sending someone else to reincarnate."
My heart tightened. "Xu Rang, you mean… Big Brother's planning to spill blood?"
I hadn't been with Chen Qiang long, and I'd never truly mingled in the underworld. I didn't know how far grudges between street bosses could go.
Xu Rang twisted the throttle harder. Winter wind slapped my face like a pissed-off stepmother.
"You son of a bitch, I said slow down!"
Xu Rang cranked the throttle even more. The 125cc CG King lurched forward.
"Lao'er, burning Tumor's fish farm was just to warn him—tell him to back off. If he had any sense, he should've left Liuxiang Town on his own."
He paused, then continued, "But he doesn't have sense. Doesn't want to leave. Then there's no helping it."
I swallowed hard. Tumor had been running around Liuxiang Town for over ten years—he was a well-known street boss.
With men and businesses under him… leave Liuxiang Town?
A man rooted in his turf—especially someone like him—how could he bear to leave?
Looks like this fight was inevitable.
And I, Chu Jianghe, would have to charge in the middle of it.
Tumor couldn't win. If he won and had free hands afterward, the first person he'd come for was me.
Thinking of that, I clenched my fists.
Xu Rang kept riding until we left Liuxiang Town and headed toward a nearby village.
The village was called Zhoujia Village, seven or eight kilometers away.
At the speed Xu Rang was flying, we got there in ten minutes.
Several middle-aged men stood at the entrance, wearing thick coats, hands tucked under their arms.
I knew what the hidden hand meant—they were gripping knives under those coats.
Xu Rang knew them. One glance, and they let us through.
In front of an old house, Goat Beard and Chen Qiang squatted on the ground smoking.
Next to them stood three constables in military-green coats.
I was startled.
I grabbed Xu Rang's shoulder. "What's going on? Are the authorities coming after Chen Qiang?"
Xu Rang whispered, "What Chen Qiang—call him Big Brother."
"These three aren't here to bust Big Brother. They're his friends in the bureau."
Only then did I relax.
The days of 'officials don't act unless civilians report' were long gone. If the bureau really cared, after what I did to Wang Hai, I'd at least get charged with aggravated assault and be sent to 'college' behind bars for a few years.
Xu Rang parked the motorcycle to the side. "Big Brother, Goat Beard—brought Chu Lao'er back."
I greeted them too, then turned my attention to the three constables.
The leader was a middle-aged officer. Chen Qiang kept calling him "Captain Xu," his tone almost flattering.
The two behind him were young, barely twenty. Compared to Captain Xu's ease, the two looked nervous.
Their hands pressed on their gun holsters.
Can't blame them. Behind Chen Qiang stood over thirty men dressed like the ones at the village gate, weapons hidden in their coats.
They were the law. We were the scum of society.
Cats and mice by nature. Two kittens dropped into a nest of rats—of course they'd be tense.
Captain Xu was relaxed, talking to Chen Qiang as if speaking to a subordinate, even sounding faintly impatient.
Old foxes like him understood—no matter how capable a town-level street boss like Chen Qiang was, he couldn't make waves in front of government men.
In front of them, dragon or tiger—had to crouch.
Speaking of this, let me digress for a moment.
A new anti-gang drama is popular lately. It's about a fish seller named Gao Qiqiang rising step-by-step to become the top boss of Jinghai.
The show is very realistic. I've been following it. Today I saw a comment:
"Why doesn't Gao Qiqiang just kill the inspection team? Hire a few hitmen, easy."
This question… is honestly kind of adorable.
If the inspection team really had an 'accident' in Jinghai, it wouldn't be anti-gang anymore.
It'd be counter-terrorism.
Anti-gang needs evidence. Counter-terrorism only needs a list of names. Men in navy-blue uniforms will yell at you to kneel with your hands on your head. Men in camouflage will give you two shots to the body, one to the head.
This world is gray. White (the authorities) helps black (the underworld) settle some things and offers convenience. Black does the dirty work White can't show publicly.
Everything is tacit understanding.
But one bottom line—everyone knows:
No matter how wild the underworld is, you do NOT touch someone from the authorities.
That's the line. If any street boss dares kill a government man like he kills a gangster, he's no longer a boss.
He's a desperado. A fugitive.
That's not crime—that's challenging the authority of the hammer and sickle itself.
If you don't die, who will?
I went on this long just to say: White absolutely crushes Black.
I withdrew my gaze and obediently followed Xu Rang to stand behind Chen Qiang.
Now that I was closer, I could hear their conversation clearly.
Captain Xu had a cigarette dangling from his lips. He spoke casually:
"Bald Qiang, I don't care what you and Tumor are planning, but remember—no trouble in town. And if either of you dares fire a gun in town again, I'll take you down first."
Chen Qiang forced a smile, face full of grievance.
"Captain Xu, how would I dare? I've never caused trouble in town. The one who fired in town was Tumor. Look—here's the victim!"
He pointed at me.
Captain Xu didn't even look at me. Rolled his eyes and snorted.
"Heh. Chen Qiang, we're all thousand-year-old foxes. Don't tell ghost stories from Strange Tales."
"I'm not interested in your beef with Tumor. Just remember what I said."
Chen Qiang nodded like a pecking chicken. "After all these years, don't you know me, Captain Xu? I know the rules. I'd never cause trouble in town and make things difficult for you."
"It's just… Tumor fired in town. If he stays, who knows what else he'll do?"
Captain Xu gave a tight smile.
"Heh. I know what you mean. Don't worry. The chief already said—if we see Tumor in town again, we'll arrest him on the spot."
"He's not stupid enough to stay."
Chen Qiang laughed, satisfied, then laid on the flattery.
"Aiyah, with Chief Wang and Captain Xu protecting Liuxiang Town, we common people are blessed."
"Oh? Captain Xu leaving already?"
"Alright, alright, walk safe. When I'm done with my business, I'll slaughter a sheep for you."
"Take care, Captain Xu!"
Once Captain Xu walked off into the distance, Chen Qiang's face slowly twisted into something sinister.
"Tumor… let's see if you die this time. Dumbass who doesn't know if the sky's bigger or the earth."