Chapter 236: Catch Kong Xiangju

At noon, Shi Yong took Xiao Long and left.

Shangguan Zhuren looked at Xiao Long's back and said to me, "Li Ming's son."

I nodded,

"Just over twenty, in the prime of youth."

"This kid is promising, should be well nurtured. I think he's talent." Shangguan Zhuren said.

"Well, I had him go out with Shi Yong for some training. Sigh, among these kids, Xiao Long is the best." I sighed.

"That's not right either; every child has their own strengths. The key is how parents raise them. Actually, I've heard from Xiao Fang about your several kids,

they each have their own strengths.

But they grew up in a relatively privileged environment, which made them unwilling to study and improve, so they only fight for immediate gains.

Only by putting them in a larger environment to train can they grow better.

For example, Kong Shi's son Kong Xiangju,

used to be outstanding,

a very smart child, who once ranked in the top five in our city's college entrance exam,

got into a prestigious university, with a bright future ahead. Who would have thought,

Kong Shi painstakingly paved the road for him, providing so much money,

all of which he squandered.

He thought himself smart and liked taking shortcuts.

First he invested in stocks, losing badly; then he picked up the bad habit of gambling.

From then on he never recovered.

Sigh, I sometimes think, if Kong Shi hadn't paved the way for him, hadn't given him all that money to squander, maybe this child's life would have been different.

Life has no "maybe." A child who's too smart isn't necessarily a good thing.

The ancients said, diligence can make up for clumsiness.

"A child being a bit slow might not be a bad thing." Shangguan Zhuren gazed into the distance and said.

After hearing Shangguan Zhuren's sigh, I expressed agreement.

Particularly smart children will use their intelligence to take some shortcuts to achieve quick success.

They are unwilling to work down-to-earth and seriously do each task well; on the contrary, the slower kids are more willing to bend over and get things done.

Among Sun Dajun, Xiao Shitou, and Zhengzheng, Zhengzheng is the smartest, Sun Dajun average, Xiao Shitou the slowest.

In every exam they end up among the last few.

Zhou Wei and I saw that Xiao Shitou couldn't be trained in studies, so we had him learn basketball.

But I now increasingly feel that Xiao Shitou has potential to be tapped.

Xiao Shitou's current situation is unknown; we've lost contact.

I just hope he remembers that night when I was drunk and we talked.

Just let him remember me as his father.

Shi Yong called me at night,

"Brother, Xiao Long and I are already at the entertainment city. We're just waiting for Kong Xiangju to come; as soon as he does, I'll have those Northeastern guys grab him and take him to Shanghu right away."

I said, "Shi Yong, you must not expose Xiao Long. I let him go with you just to train; you must protect Xiao Long's safety."

Shi Yong said, "Don't worry, Xiao Long is more capable than me—steady in speech and action. I don't need to worry. Brother, I'm hanging up; Kong Xiangju has entered the entertainment city."

After Shi Yong finished speaking, he hung up.

My heart began to rise.

In the past I handled such matters myself, but now I want to let Shi Yong and Xiao Long do it.

After all, I'm getting older,

I can't personally handle everything.

I know this Kong Xiangju well; he's very ostentatious and likes to go out with bodyguards. Those bodyguards were specially chosen for him by Kong Shi.

Why let Shi Yong take Xiao Long?

Just in case those Northeastern folks resort to any means and cause a major incident, that would be trouble. I believe they won't even make it out of Zaocheng Xin Cheng.

If Niu Ju finds out, he'll also want to silence them.

We can only use strategy, not cause a big commotion.

I've already given Shi Yong several plans, hoping he can take Xiao Long and act according to my plans.

Have him coordinate with Xiao Long to separate Kong Xiangju from his bodyguards.

Then have those Northeastern folks step in to seize Kong Xiangju and bring him back to Zaocheng.

I suddenly regretted it—I should have gone myself.

I realized I've become increasingly timid and fearful,

after entrusting the task to them, I again feared they wouldn't finish it,

and worried they might get into trouble.

I kept smoking,

pacing around the room with my phone in hand.

The phone was covered in my sweat.

I was very nervous.

At that moment Shangguan Zhuren came in from outside; he seemed worried too,

he smoked while looking at me.

"How is it, did Shi Yong call?"

I shook my head,

"Not yet, it's just 11 o'clock now. Their real gambling only starts at 12."

Shangguan Zhuren said: "As long as we catch Kong Xiangju, it's like grabbing Kong Shi's little braid."

"Next, you should go find Niu Ju; don't let Niu Ju release Zhou Fuhai."

"Then our plan will be disrupted."

"Shangguan Zhuren, Niu Ju won't easily release Zhou Fuhai; he's in a tight spot—if he releases him, his crime is still serious; if he doesn't, keeping him locked up makes him unable to eat or sleep well. It seems only I can go solve this problem for him." I said.

"Yeah, only we can help him. Who made Zhao Jianqiang like Zhou Fuhai?" Shangguan Zhuren said.

I and Shangguan Zhuren laughed heartily.

Just then my phone rang; I saw it was Shi Yong calling.

I hurriedly answered,

"How is Shi Yong?"

Shi Yong said relaxedly over the phone: "Brother, the mission is already completed."

"This kid has already been taken away by the Northeastern gang. Our Xiao Long is heading back."

Upon hearing that, the stone in my heart fell.

I said to Shi Yong: "Hurry back, watch the road for any tails, make a few extra loops around the outskirts."

Shi Yong said: "Don't worry, I have experience in this; besides, Xiao Long is with me. He knows even more than I do."

I said: "Alright, hang up then; we'll talk when you return."

When Shi Yong returned, it was already past two in the night.

Xiao Long and Shi Yong both returned to the guesthouse,

I and Shangguan Zhuren were waiting for them both.

I happily said to Shi Yong and Xiao Long: "How was it, no tails, right?"

Xiao Long said: "No, Elder, you can rest assured."

I patted Xiao Long's shoulder,

then asked: "How did you and your Uncle Yong coordinate? Let's chat quickly."

Shi Yong said: "Let us first have a drink of water."

Xiao Long laughed: "Elder, this is simple; we had the Northeastern gang wait in the restroom. I and Uncle Yong waited for him in the lobby,"

that Kong Xiangju knows Uncle Yong. Upon meeting,

Uncle Yong greeted him, then Uncle Yong leaned close to his ear and said two sentences,

he then followed Uncle Yong to the restroom,

his bodyguard remained in the lobby.

Then those Northeastern folks tied him up and took him out, and I and Uncle Yong came back."

This Shi Yong knows Kong Xiangju; I know that, but how did he get Kong Xiangju to follow him into the restroom,

Does Kong Xiangju not know that his father Kong Shi is arresting Shi Yong?

When Shi Yong was about to leave, he patted his chest and said he had a clever trick; it seems he really does have a clever trick, and the plan I devised is utterly useless.

This Shi Yong really does have a method.