Chapter 369: Qiao San Voluntarily Cooperates

I said to Shi Yong, "Will this punch of yours kill Qiao San?"

Shi Yong said, "Don't worry, brother, I know what I'm doing. I only used twenty percent of my strength with this punch; he's oxygen-deprived, he'll wake up soon."

I said, "Alright, you and Ding Li go out; I'll handle things inside."

Ding Li and Shi Yong both left.

Only Qiao San and I remained in the room.

At that moment I scooped cool water into a teacup and splashed it onto Qiao San's face.

Qiao San, lying in the chair, gasped "ah" and slowly opened his eyes.

Then he looked around the room,

and finally his gaze settled on me.

When he saw me,

his body shrank back suddenly,

and his head jerked up.

"How did you get here? Where am I?"

"Qiao San, where you are is none of your concern. Since I dared to bring you here, I'm prepared to take your life." I said harshly.

"Zhao Laoban, I've already lost my money, I didn't even hit you—why do you want my life?"

At that moment Qiao San lifted his head, looked at me, and asked.

"Haha, because you beat up Mr. Qiu and wanted to smash the Douqu Pavilion. Don't you know who owns that place? You actually went there to cause trouble. I have to kill you." I said deliberately.

I wanted to shift the blame onto Wen Han.

Upon hearing that,

he hurriedly asked, "Is it really Second Master Wen who wants my life?"

"That's certain, for you have Li Tian backing you; without Second Master Wen's order, nobody would dare move against you.

"Tell me, how do you want to die—should I strangle you or stab you with a knife? Choose." I said coldly.

Qiao San looked at me, still doubtful.

"Zhao Laoban, I want to make a phone call."

"No way. I follow Second Master Wen, so I have to obey him. Today I must kill you.

"If you have any last words, leave them now. I can arrange for someone to pass a message to your family. We're all just trying to get by; this is all I can do." I said.

After saying that, I pulled out my phone and placed it in front of Qiao San.

"Speak, leave a message for your family, quickly. You don't have much time."

Qiao San looked at the phone before him, then at me.

He still didn't believe it.

He doesn't believe me, right?

I pulled a knife from my bosom,

and then said, "Qiao San, don't blame me; it's your own recklessness. After you die, go seek revenge on Second Master Wen and his lot."

Seeing the knife and my gaze, Qiao San realized I truly intended to kill him.

His face turned green all at once.

"Zhao Ge, I don't want to die. I want to live. My children aren't grown yet—please, spare me. I truly don't want to die."

Qiao San begged me while crying.

I ignored him and grabbed his clothes in one swift motion,

"Brother, I really can't help you. Alas, I dare not disobey Second Master Wen's orders."

Qiao San hurriedly knelt on the ground,

clutching my legs with both hands,

"Zhao Ge, please, let me go.

I, Qiao San, have toiled like an ox and horse all my life to repay this favor.

Zhao Ge, could you contact Second Master Wen for me? I know what he wants, and I can obtain it for him.

Zhao Ge, please. We're all just trying to get by in the underworld, eating our meals together—why must we make things difficult for each other?" Qiao San said through tears.

Hearing Qiao San say that, my hand holding the knife hesitated.

Then I asked Qiao San, "What does Second Master Wen want?"

"The blue-and-white porcelain cricket cage from the Xuande era that Li Tian holds. I can get it into my hands and hand it over to Second Master Wen." Qiao San said while crying.

"I've heard that cricket cage is Li Tian's lifeblood—can you really get it?" I asked.

"Don't worry, Zhao Ge, I'll definitely get it. If I fail, you can kill me later." Qiao San wiped a tear with his hand.

I put the knife away,

"Qiao San, Second Master Wen has always longed for that cricket cage; you can surely get it from Li Tian."

Qiao San nodded frantically.

I took out a cigarette,

and tossed it to Qiao San.

Qiao San caught it, lit it, and took a puff,

"Zhao Ge, I really can do this. I know exactly where Li Tian keeps that cricket cage. I can steal it using a 'replace the beam with a pillar' method—swap it out—and get it into your hands.

Then you can pass it on to Second Master Wen.

All I ask is that you spare my life."

Looking at Qiao San's plea,

I said to Qiao San, "Brother, we're both hustling in society; as for this matter, I'll take care of it for you first."

You find a way to get a cricket jar. As long as you obtain a real cricket jar.

I'll hand it over to Second Master Wen to plead on your behalf. I believe he'll definitely let you off.

You, however, must not play me.

I'm a person who values honesty above all; what pisses me off the most is being lied to.

"Zhao Ge, I will never deceive you; if I were to cheat you, I'd die a miserable death and meet a bad end." Qiao San cursed with a poisonous oath.

I shook my head,

"Brother, swearing oaths is useless these days. You go out to sue Li Tian, then send people to capture us—what to do? Last time you almost killed us."

Everyone is in the business of licking blood on a dry knife edge.

You must show sincerity. Let me believe you."

"How about this: I take my whole family as hostages, okay? Zhao Ge, you can assign people to follow me to my house. My wife and children are at home; if I fail to get the cricket jar, you can kill my entire family." Qiao San looked at me earnestly.

Hearing Qiao San say that, I was instantly utterly disappointed in the old guns of Sijiucheng.

Damn it, they're all scum, using their own wives and children as hostages just to survive. There's no heroism at all,

they're all despicable and shameless people.

Hooligans will always be hooligans. They can never become notable figures.

Their starting point is always self‑interest.

They can abandon everyone around them without hesitation for profit, including their own relatives.

Let me tell everyone here that the online propaganda about the chivalry of Sijiucheng big brothers must not be believed.

They are not chivalrous,

they're selfish, willing to do anything for themselves.

Moreover, their rise to wealth consists of shady deeds,

either acting as a gang leader or relying on robbery and fraud.

Now, those who parade around in groups of five or six, showing off in the streets, are all a façade.

I hope everyone keeps their eyes sharp and doesn't upvote those nonsense chivalrous big brothers online.

In their eyes there is no chivalry, only profit.

Since Qiao San voluntarily offered his family as hostages, what more can I say.

I can only say to Qiao San, "Qiao San, that's what you said; fine, I'll trust you this once.

How about this: I can let you go.

but you must take my people with you, let them eat and stay in your house, waiting for you to get the jar.

If you truly get the jar in hand,

I will not only spare your life, but also reward you.

You owe that boss ten million; I'll pay it off. How does that sound?"

Hearing me say that, Qiao San immediately knelt on the ground and kowtowed to me.

"Zhao Ge, my dear elder brother, thank you for sparing my life. I am willing; how about this: let your men go with me. We'll proceed according to the agreement."

I called Ding Li and Shi Yong into the room,

then leaned over their ears and gave them instructions.

Finally, I blindfolded Qiao San and let Ding Li and Shi Yong lead him away.