Chapter 267: Seeing Kong Xiangju

About an hour later, we arrived at the Da Ba Cha place Xiao Wu had mentioned.

This is where Hu Cha are more common, similar to a road intersection.

Xiao Wu pointed to a nearby lit spot and said, "We're almost at my boat. From now on, our two boats will be together."

The boats quickly came alongside each other.

Someone on the opposite boat said, "Fifth Brother, you're back; let's quickly get the vegetables ready."

Xiao Wu said, "Jianqiang, let's go, we're boarding."

The boat captain laid a plank between the two boats to make it easier for us to board.

Everyone held hands and boarded Xiao Wu's boat.

Xiao Wu's boat is bigger than ours, with more space inside.

There is a dedicated kitchen and dining area.

Xiao Wu led us into the dining hall,

a few people were already waiting for us,

No need to ask; they are the so-called Northeastern Gang.

As soon as we entered, their eyes locked onto Xiao Fang and Shen Honghong.

These guys are all outlaws,

The way they look at Xiao Fang and her companions makes me very worried.

I whispered to Shi Yong, "Shi Yong and Xiao Long, you two sit beside Xiao Fang and Shen Honghong; these fellows have shifty eyes."

Shi Yong nodded, entered the dining hall and sat among them, separating the Northeasterners.

Xiao Wu introduced us one by one; since we come from different paths, I merely nodded at them.

I quietly asked Xiao Wu, "Why don't I see Kong Xiangju?"

Xiao Wu said, "How could he eat here?"

"He's in the hold."

I said, "Call him up; I want to talk with him."

Xiao Wu told the boat captain, "Call that kid over."

The boat captain went down the ladder into the hold to call Kong Xiangju.

Soon Kong Xiangju was called up, looking wan and exhausted; he bowed to us in greeting.

The mighty boss of Zaocheng has been reduced to a dog's life here at Xiao Wu's place.

I said to Kong Xiangju, "Xiangju, do you still know me?"

Kong Xiangju lifted his head, stared at me carefully for a long while,

then shook his head,

"Big Brother, I really don't know you."

At that moment, Shangguan Zhuren came over and patted Kong Xiangju's shoulder,

"Xiangju, you ought to know me."

"Uncle Shangguan, how are you here?" Kong Xiangju asked hurriedly.

"It's been many years since we last saw each other; I never expected we old guys would meet again here."

Shangguan Zhuren pointed at me and said, "Let me tell you, this is Zhao Jianqiang, your Uncle Zhao."

Kong Xiangju hurriedly took another close look at me,

"Uncle Zhao, it really is you; I never imagined you'd changed so much I couldn't recognize you. Uncle Zhao, Uncle Shangguan, did you come to rescue me?" Kong Xiangju said happily.

I smiled and said, "You want to leave."

Kong Xiangju's eyes turned red,

tears streamed down,

"Uncle Shangguan, Uncle Zhao, this place is no fit for humans; I want to leave quickly—did my father send you to rescue me and take me home?" Kong Xiangju said through tears.

Indeed, the once carefree boss of Zaocheng now lives in the ship's hold, constantly berated; his days are surely hard.

I patted Kong Xiangju's shoulder,

"Xiangju, to be frank, your father has already given up on you."

Upon hearing this, Kong Xiangju burst into loud sobs,

"Impossible, my father wouldn't abandon me. Uncle Zhao, please, save me."

Just then Xiao Wu came over,

and slapped Kong Xiangju hard across the face,

"Damn, why are you wailing? Your daddy doesn't want you anymore. We sent word to your father, but he told us to tear up the ticket; we only spared you out of respect for Shangguan Zhuren and your Uncle Zhao." Xiao Wu roared at Kong Xiangju.

Kong Xiangju covered his face,

muttering, "Impossible, how could my father not want me? I need to contact my father."

"What's the point of contacting? I've been stuck on this boat so long because of you, kid. Damn, your father wants to arrest us."

"After we finish drinking today, we'll throw you into the lake to feed the fish." Xiao Wu shouted at Kong Xiangju.

Kong Xiangju was stunned by Xiao Wu's demeanor,

looking at Xiao Wu, then at me and Shangguan Zhuren, he dared not speak further.

At this point I said to Xiao Wu, "Xiao Wu, what are you doing? Go back and drink; I just want to speak a couple of words with Xiangju. Come on, let's go outside the hold."

Shangguan Zhuren pulled Xiao Wu to sit down and drink.

I and Kong Xiangju walked to the outside of the hold,

I took out a cigarette and offered it to Kong Xiangju.

Kong Xiangju took it over,

I stared at the black lake water and said to Kong Xiangju: "What Xiao Wu just said is true; your father had them kidnap for ransom. He wasn't willing to spend a penny, which means your father really abandoned you. I never thought your father would be so ruthless—he wouldn't even spend a penny on you."

It's easy to kill someone here, Xiangju—you know what kind of people they are; they all have blood on their hands.

"Uncle Zhao, I really don't want to die—please, Uncle Zhao, find a way to save me; I want to live, tell me your conditions, I'll agree to anything, as long as you let me live." Kong Xiangju said pitifully.

"Xiangju, you know my situation—I let your father ruin my family, and now the Group Company is gone, my home is gone. What should I do? I brought you here hoping to have a good talk with your father, but who would have thought he'd abandon you? Your father is too vicious—beyond my imagination."

Actually, killing you is simple—just a word from me,

"Do you really want to live?" I said coldly, looking at Kong Xiangju.

"Uncle Zhao, my father is so sorry—he's not even human, he schemes against his own best friend."

I believe your words,

My father definitely doesn't want me anymore.

"But I want to live. Uncle Zhao, tell me what to do—I'll obey anything you say." Kong Xiangju looked at me pleadingly.

I patted Kong Xiangju's shoulder again,

"You're a good kid, unlike your father—heartless and unjust, not even wanting his own son."

Out of old sentiment, I can let you go for now. Xiangju, there's something I don't understand: your father doesn't even want his son—what does he want, what is his weak point?"

Kong Xiangju took a puff of his cigarette and said: "Uncle Zhao, I understand my father's weak point."

I also have a younger brother named Lei Lei, who is ten years old—he's my father's illegitimate son, and that lowly woman is raising him; I know where they live.

I believe he already plans to leave all his money to that son.

He thinks I'm hopelessly addicted to gambling,

so he puts all his energy into cultivating Lei Lei.

That's his lifeline."

After hearing Kong Xiangju's words,

I thought to myself, damn, I never expected Kong Shi to have an illegitimate son—Kong Shi really plays high.

Still, Kong Xiangju knows more. Kong Shi has hidden the news deeply.

"Xiangju, we don't want your life either—I just want to give your father a lesson, to let him know you can't scheme against everyone, you can't abandon everyone."

He wanted us to kidnap for ransom—how could that be possible.

These things aren't up to him—whether we kidnap for ransom depends on what you do.

"Xiangju, you want to live, you want to get out—I know all that."

"How great it would be out there—eating, drinking, playing all day—but all that requires conditions."

"Only if you meet these conditions to our satisfaction will we let you go."

"Some things, you figure them out yourself."

"I don't want to say more,"

"You're just over thirty—dying at this age is really a shame."

I took a puff of my cigarette and looked at Kong Xiangju.

After Kong Xiangju heard my words,

he stopped speaking, silently smoking.

After finishing the cigarette,

Kong Xiangju threw the cigarette butt on the ground and stomped on it hard with his foot,

"Since you don't want my son, then I won't let you have your son either—I won't live, that kid also won't live, you want to leave all the money to that kid—no way."