Chapter 341: Let's Discuss

Ding Li said: "When I came that day, seeing you at first glance, I felt you were a leader, indeed."

I said: "Ding Li, Zhu Sheng, this is indeed a true leader. Alas, there are some small matters, but sooner or later we will make a comeback."

"Alright, let's not talk about that, hurry up and tell me, how are you guys?" Zhu Sheng said, waving his hand embarrassedly.

"Today, I followed Mr. He to Yangquan Hutong again, and there I saw Qiu Xi. Moreover, I spent 100,000 yuan to buy a cricket." I said.

"One cricket for 100,000 yuan—what kind of cricket is this, is it made of gold?" Ding Li asked.

"Even if it were gold, it wouldn't be worth that much; it's a live insect." He Zuming said.

"Oh, I saw Qiu Xi; I thought I would see Wen Han." Zhu Sheng said.

"Not that fast. Zhu Sheng, Qiu Xi has agreed to let me join their circle, and this is thanks to Mr. He's face. Today we must properly thank Mr. He." I said.

"You're being polite; I merely made an introduction. The rest of the way, you have to rely on yourself. Jianqiang, once you enter the circle, you must be careful with your words and actions. Observe more and learn more." He Zuming said.

"Don't worry, Mr. He, I know what to do." I said.

"Alas, speaking of crickets, I suddenly thought of something."

"Do you know? The main production of these crickets is in Ningyang and Ningjin counties of Qilu Province; when I was in the province, I once went to Ningyang for research."

"Through the local government I met a divine person who catches crickets; whatever he catches can be sold at a high price. This person's surname is Ma, nickname Ma Hunter."

"He is about my age, nearly sixty, and we get along well."

"He has been dealing with crickets for almost forty years,"

"Whatever kind of cricket, as long as he glances at it, he can immediately say one, two, three. I don't know if this person would be useful." Zhu Sheng said.

"Great, Old Zhu, this information is very important. Old Zhu, you and Ding Li should go to Ningyang tomorrow to find Ma Hunter and renew old ties."

"It is extremely important to us,"

"Actually, I'm just watching the fun with this insect game,"

"because there are many aspects I sometimes don't quite understand."

"Hongguo Li and Qiu Xi have teamed up and made a lot of money in this area."

"Jianqiang, I suddenly realized that merely investing isn't enough; to draw their attention, we need to find a way to defeat them."

"Only then will they value us." He Zuming said happily.

"Yes, only by defeating them will they value us. Old He, that's what I mean. Alright, Ding Li, we'll set out for Ningyang tomorrow."

"We'll go there to find Ma Hunter and ask about the insects." Zhu Sheng said.

"I feel just asking won't be enough; it's already winter, there are no crickets to catch. If necessary, we should invite Ma Hunter over so we can discuss in person." I said.

"Jianqiang's idea is good; let's invite Ma Hunter over to consult face-to-face. Not bad, not bad." He Zuming said.

"Zhu Sheng, we have money; we can spend more to invite him over." I said.

"Alright, tomorrow Ding Li and I will go to Ningyang to find this Ma Hunter and see if we can bring him to Sijiucheng." Zhu Sheng said.

"Ding Li, don't just listen; hurry up and pour the wine." I said.

Ding Li opened the wine and hurriedly poured it for us.

I raised my wine cup,

"Mr. He, what are we doing tomorrow?" I said.

"Tomorrow there are more important matters to attend to." He Zuming said after taking a sip of wine.

"What matters, are we still going to Yangquan Hutong?" I asked.

He Zuming shook his head, after eating a piece of mapo tofu,

"Tomorrow we will go buy tea leaves." He Zuming said.

"What for buying tea leaves? As a gift?" Zhu Sheng asked.

"Old Zhu, you don't know how they play; the cricket fighting isn't played directly with cash."

"They bet with tea leaves; they deposit money at designated tea shops to buy tea leaves."

"A packet of ordinary pu'er tea is used as their stake." He Zuming said.

"Oh, why use tea leaves as stakes?" Zhu Sheng asked.

"Anyway, it's a rule passed down from the Republic era; playing this way appears refined, while directly paying money is vulgar."

"Moreover, outsiders can't tell anything; everyone is just playing a game, a packet of tea leaves, right?" He Zuming said after taking a sip of wine.

"Their game has many intricacies; without an introduction, one really can't play." I said.

"Yes, that's why once you enter their circle, you can understand more." He Zuming said.

"How much does a packet of tea leaves cost?" I asked.

"100,000 yuan per packet." He Zuming said.

"Really expensive. A packet of tea leaves costs 100,000." I said.

"This stake can be refunded, but the tea shop charges a handling fee. Do you know why Sijiucheng has so many tea shops? Besides gifting,"

"it's used as stakes. Besides cricket fighting, there's also bird fighting, dog fighting, and horse racing."

"Of course, the tea shop owners are not outsiders."

"They all have backgrounds." He Zuming said after pulling out a cigarette.

"It seems I know too little about Sijiucheng."

"I thought playing mahjong and pushing the nine was gambling, but actually they play in a way that costs even more than we do."

"Hearing Mr. He say that, I now realize there are indeed many things here. Mr. He, tomorrow I will go with you to the tea shop to see for myself." I said, after raising my wine cup and clinking it with Mr. He's.

"Good, then we'll split up. Jianqiang, you and Old He go to the tea shop; Ding Li and I will go to Ningyang County."

"Come, let's drink a cup together." Zhu Sheng said happily.

After drinking the wine,

I said: "Mr. He, staying long-term in a guesthouse like this is inconvenient; if more people come later, it will easily attract attention."

We should rent a few houses here as backups.

"Renting houses is safer. I agree with Jianqiang's idea," Zhu Sheng said.

"It looks like we need to be prepared for a long‑term longing struggle; since we're doing it, let's go big. Rent a villa, so that when the time comes more people can stay,"

if Qiu Xi really investigates us,

he will see the big villa with his own eyes, and then he'll believe we are wealthy hosts," He Zuming said.

"Then I'll invite the horse hunter; he'll also have a place to stay. Staying in a hotel is really inconvenient," Zhu Sheng added.

"Alright, let's do that. I know there's a villa there," He Zuming said.

We drank and chatted.

The next day I had Ding Li buy another used car outside, which I would drive. Ding Li drove that car and took Zhu Sheng to Ningyang.

I drove with He Zuming to a residential complex in Xinfadi,

where there really is a large villa for rent.

As soon as He Zuming entered the complex, he said to me, "Jianqiang, that villa—no matter how high the price, we must negotiate it down.

Only this villa has good feng shui.

The others aren't very good."

"I'll follow Mr. He; after we rent it, we'll handle it with your ID. I'm unavailable right now."

"That's easy. You make the contact."

I then called the villa's number to inquire about the price,

and after a while an agent arrived—a youngster with dyed yellow hair,

seeing me and He Zuming, he asked, "Are you renting the villa?"

I nodded,

"I want to see inside the villa; if the price is right, I'll book it,"

"You can view it, but we don't show houses for free. One viewing costs 200 yuan. That's the rule in Sijiucheng," the yellow‑haired guy said.

What a stupid rule, charging to view a house. They probably just bully strangers.

I was just about to get angry,

He Zuming stopped me with a glance.

So I took out the 200 yuan first,

"Kid, hold the money first. That works, right?"

The yellow‑haired guy immediately laughed happily, "Alright, let's go see the house now."

After saying that, he opened the villa's main door.