Chapter 38: Post-Battle Analysis

Before Jiang Yuan could speak, the men behind him raised their weapons and began to deal with the group. Jiang Yuan didn’t linger; he and Jiang Bu Tong, along with a few other brothers, headed straight upstairs.

Jiang Bu Tong reached the second floor. From behind a door came the sound of chairs being knocked over and a girl’s voice. Jiang Yuan kicked the door open; a girl was hurriedly dressing. Realizing she didn’t have time, she grabbed a bedsheet to cover herself, her face filled with terror as she stared at these uninvited guests.

Jiang Bu Tong immediately spotted a dark-skinned young man, one leg in his trousers, window already open, preparing to jump out. “Stop him!” Jiang Bu Tong shouted.

Jiang Yuan reacted at once, swinging a steel pipe at him. The Black Dog screamed in agony and tumbled out the window.

“After him!” Jiang Yuan jumped straight out after him.

Jiang Bu Tong led the others downstairs in haste.

In the alley behind the video hall, Black Dog’s heart sank; three young men stood before him, weapons in hand. He turned to flee, but Jiang Bu Tong and his men blocked his escape.

“Who are you people?” Black Dog asked.

Jiang Bu Tong smiled, “If you don’t even know who we are, why are you running?”

“I...” Black Dog was momentarily speechless. He’d been with the girl when the door was kicked in downstairs, followed by sounds of fighting. His years of street experience told him danger was near and he tried to escape, but the other side moved swiftly, not only catching up but lying in wait.

Jiang Yuan, having jumped from the second floor, kicked Black Dog in the chest, knocking him against the wall. The crowd slowly closed in around him.

Jiang Yuan looked coldly at Black Dog. “Do you know who I am?”

Seeing Jiang Yuan, Black Dog finally understood – these were all Jiang Yuan’s men. He thought for a moment: something wasn’t right. He’d sent over thirty men, and they’d been dealt with so quickly?

“Where are my men?” Black Dog knew he couldn’t escape today; he decided to find out how they’d tracked him down.

Jiang Bu Tong approached slowly. “Your men, due to attacking police, vandalism, robbery, and arson, have all been arrested.”

Black Dog’s eyes widened, a tidal wave of shock rising in his heart. Attacking police? Vandalism? Arrested...

“You called the police?” Black Dog asked incredulously.

Jiang Bu Tong said blandly, “We didn’t call them. We don’t have that kind of power. Your men just had the misfortune to run into them.”

“If I ask you to let me go, would you?” Black Dog finally realized it didn’t matter why – the men he’d sent were all gone.

Jiang Yuan sneered, “Let you go? When you hired men to attack me two days ago, did you think about today?”

Jiang Bu Tong, however, was lost in thought, considering how to maximize their gains.

Black Dog’s face changed; the fear of death made his body tremble. Jiang Bu Tong spoke, “Black Dog, how much do you think your legs are worth?”

Black Dog stared at Jiang Bu Tong, his mind racing. “Name a price – if I have it, it’s all yours.” He clutched at this final straw of hope.

Jiang Yuan glanced at Jiang Bu Tong, understanding his intention. “Go ahead, how much are they worth?” Jiang Yuan waved his steel pipe.

Jiang Bu Tong saw the situation was settled and prepared to leave. Earlier, at the private restaurant, there was a policeman present and the urgency of fighting on two fronts left him no time to meet with Chen Sheng.

After saying goodbye to Jiang Yuan, Jiang Bu Tong drove off in his van.

From this night onward, the entire wholesale market and the southern part of the city would be Jiang Yuan’s territory. Of course, stronger opponents would emerge – just like leveling up in a game, each stage brings a new boss.

The underground world grew quickly, much faster than legitimate business. That’s why so many people risk everything.

When Jiang Bu Tong drove back to the private restaurant, the place had been cleaned thoroughly; not a trace of fighting remained. Only the two shattered glass doors at the entrance had yet to be replaced, giving a sense of emptiness.

Chen Sheng sat on the steps by the door, smoking.

Jiang Bu Tong came up, took out a cigarette, and lit it.

“All settled?” Chen Sheng asked.

“Done. Any losses on our side?” Jiang Bu Tong replied.

Chen Sheng gestured to the broken glass doors behind him. “Two doors, one window, three tables, two injured waiters, Da Zhuang got hurt a bit.”

Jiang Bu Tong’s heart tightened. “None of them seriously hurt?”

Chen Sheng shook his head. “Just superficial wounds. Looks bad, but it’s nothing.”

Relieved, Jiang Bu Tong sat beside him.

Chen Sheng turned to Jiang Bu Tong, his eyes full of admiration. “Xiaotong, your strategy impresses even me. If you hadn’t told me to set things up in advance, I never would’ve thought we could bring down the Black Dog Gang at such little cost.”

Chen Sheng recalled the scenes: ever since Jiang Yuan was injured, Jiang Bu Tong began laying out his plan. In just three days, the Black Dog Gang was wiped out, and their own side barely lifted a finger.

If it had been twenty years ago, Chen Sheng wouldn’t have believed it even if he were beaten.

“What strategy? You flatter me, Chen. Just a bit of cleverness,” Jiang Bu Tong laughed and shook his head.

Chen Sheng glared at him. “You call that cleverness? Everyone became your chess piece. If you’d been around twenty years ago, the whole city would be yours by now.”

Jiang Bu Tong changed the subject. “When will the glass doors be installed? It won’t affect tomorrow’s business, will it?”

Chen Sheng took a deep drag. “They’ll be installed tomorrow morning. Won’t delay anything.”

He had to admit Jiang Bu Tong’s mind was extraordinary – he’d accounted for the loss of glass doors and tables, and had Chen Sheng order replacements two days earlier, so they’d be installed right on time, with no disruption to business.

Chen Sheng was glad Jiang Bu Tong was on his side; if he were an opponent, it would be terrifying.

Jiang Bu Tong sat with Chen Sheng for a while before heading home, to Chen Pan’er’s place.

Past one in the morning.

Jiang Bu Tong unlocked Chen Pan’er’s door with the key she’d given him a few days before.

In the moonlight, Chen Pan’er slept soundly, as if dreaming sweetly; her lips curled into a faint smile, a delicate dimple appearing.

Jiang Bu Tong quietly went to the bathroom to wash up.

When he came out, the bedside lamp was switched on.

Chen Pan’er, eyes half-closed, noticed Jiang Bu Tong had just washed up, droplets still clinging to his hair.

“Did I wake you?” Jiang Bu Tong asked.

Chen Pan’er rubbed her eyes, her voice soft and sweet, “Why are you back so late?”

Jiang Bu Tong finished drying his face, changed into slippers, and came to her bedside, gently pinching her tender cheek.

“Just finished everything and came straight home.”

Chen Pan’er pouted, slightly unhappy. “You’ve been so busy lately; it’s not like when we first met.”

Jiang Bu Tong remembered back then – they were inseparable, shopping at the wholesale market together, setting up stalls, or dining at Chen Sheng’s restaurant.

He slid his finger and pinched her delicate chin.

“Without me at night, do you miss me so much you can’t sleep?”

Chen Pan’er’s cheeks flushed with shyness as he hit the mark, and she swatted his hand away.

“Who misses you? Narcissist.”

Jiang Bu Tong watched her turn over to sleep and sighed, preparing to lie down on the mat beside the bed.

Day by day, he wasn’t making much money and was busier than a CEO of a listed company. He’d need to start training his own men soon.

In the morning, Chen Pan’er was up early, washing and getting ready.

Jiang Bu Tong, exhausted from the past two days, stayed in bed, reluctant to rise.

The sound of Chen Pan’er moving about woke him, making it impossible to sleep peacefully.

With eyes closed, Jiang Bu Tong could guess what she was doing: washing her face, brushing her teeth, combing her hair, going to the bathroom... though she tried to keep those noises quiet.

“Xiaotong, are you hungry? I’m going to get breakfast.”

At some point, Chen Pan’er had sneaked over, playfully slipping her hair into Jiang Bu Tong’s ear.