Chapter 459: Farewell to the Little Country

Zhao Xiaoguo answered: "When winter comes, we sleep in the underground passage; there are heating pipes running through, and it's warm inside."

They really know how to pick a place; it looks like they won't freeze in winter or overheat in summer.

"Xiaoguo, is there a difference between begging for food in Sijiucheng and in the Provincial Capital?" I asked.

"Of course there is a difference.

In the Provincial Capital, no one manages or asks about us.

Begging here is not allowed; it affects Sijiucheng's image. So we often get caught.

But when they catch us, they don't give us a hard time; they just send us to a shelter, feed us a few meals, and then release us.

Brother, I'll tell you the truth,

In Sijiucheng, there are too many rich people, and they give at least ten yuan each.

Some people hand over two hundred yuan at a time.

Brother, each of us has a task; we need to earn a basic income of 200 yuan per person per day.

This 200 yuan must be handed over to the head who oversees this area.

Only what's left after that is ours."

Hearing Xiaoguo say that, I asked: "You mean after you earn 200 yuan a day, only then do you have your own income. Your leader collects 200 from each person; with over a dozen people under you, he makes more than 2000 yuan a day. Isn't he getting rich?"

"Brother, nothing is easy. If we don't each pay the 200 yuan occupancy fee, someone will drive us away or beat us.

"Sigh, even to get a meal we have to pay protection money. The head of our area manages over a dozen teams, and his daily income is in the tens of thousands.

"That person wears gold and silver, and he even has three wives."

"Damn,"

"In these times, if you want to get rich, you can only take an unconventional path."

"Hoping to get rich through hard work is just a dream."

I asked Zhao Xiaoguo: "Can you manage to earn 200 yuan a day?"

"Yes, it's easy. Sometimes I don't even need to beg; the money those dozen-plus people need to give is all handed to me, and I distribute it.

I have several hundred yuan left over each day.

Moreover, in these times we never lack food or drink.

When we stand at a restaurant's door, the owner hurriedly gives us good food to send us away, because we affect his business.

We lack neither food nor money.

"I'm living very comfortably now." Zhao Xiaoguo said proudly.

It seems this group of beggars is also exploited layer by layer.

The lowest layer not only has to beg, but also has to hand over money.

One must go through the superiors' distribution to receive money.

"Xiaoguo, as long as you feel comfortable, that's fine. I can't really help you; I just came to see you, for us brothers to meet. After I finish this cigarette, I'll leave. Keep begging for your food." I said.

"Brother, is the Da Heng Group finished?" Zhao Xiaoguo looked at me and said.

"How do you know that?"

"Brother, this is Sijiucheng; we gather information. Don't forget what happened in the Provincial Capital." Zhao Xiaoguo said proudly.

I recalled that Zhao Xiaoguo used to help me transmit messages in the Provincial Capital; these beggars wander everywhere, contacting all kinds of people and hearing all kinds of news.

Some people even buy information specifically from them.

"Xiaoguo, you already know everything, so I won't hide anything from you. Our Da Heng Group has already been taken from me by the Zhou Family and Kong Shi. I now have nothing.

My next step is to live like you, without worrying about food or drink.

"I'll sleep in sewers in winter and culverts in summer; I'm completely free." I laughed.

"Brother, are you talking about the Zhou Family, that is, Young Master Zhou Jie?" Zhao Xiaoguo asked.

"Yes, how do you also know him?"

"How could I know him? He's a well-known young master in Sijiucheng; he just has a lot of rumors. A few days ago he went missing, said to have been kidnapped, and someone is offering a high price to buy information about him.

But I haven't been able to find out.

So I haven't earned that money. Brother, I want to tell you: I've heard that the Zhou Family is about to collapse.

This news has also been circulating these past two days,

saying the Zhou Family has fallen out with the Wen and Wang Families,

and the Wen and Wang Families are now joining forces to deal with the Zhou Family.

"This time the Zhou Family is probably finished." Zhao Xiaoguo took a puff of smoke.

I didn't expect the news to spread so fast; even those beggars know the Zhou Family is done.

Zhou Renfeng is truly finished.

"Xiaoguo, let me tell you, that Zhou Jie is the one I kidnapped. I just wanted to topple the Zhou Family. Your information is fast enough that you even know about the Wen and Wang Families joining forces." I also took a puff.

"Brother, it's really you who kidnapped Zhou Jie—you're formidable, daring to touch someone like him. In Sijiucheng he's the big boss; our leaders have to pay tribute to the Zhou Family every month, or the area chief won't let them stay in charge. The Zhou Family is about to fall, and our leaders are worried sick, not knowing who will be the new backer. Will someone else take over managing this area later?" Zhao Xiaoguo said.

"Is what you're saying true?"

"It's not false; our leader said it himself. All the illicit fees collected in Sijiucheng have to be turned over to the Zhou Family. The Zhou Family monopolizes operations in Sijiucheng."

Originally, those so-called families' wealth sources were all shady.

The money from these beggars all goes to the Zhou Family; you can imagine how greedy they are.

"If the Zhou Family falls, you won't have to pay money anymore. Wouldn't that be better?"

"Brother, it's best to keep the status quo. Because if the Zhou Family falls and someone else takes over, what if the newcomers have an even bigger appetite, or if they don't like this system?

So I don't want the Zhou Family to fall. But he's our enemy, so there's nothing we can do. His family can only fall. After it falls, brother, you'll have your chance to rise, and the Da Heng Group can become yours, right?" Zhao Xiaoguo looked at me and said.

"Xiaoguo, you're right; the Zhou Family is our enemy. If it falls, maybe I'll have my chance to rise. But I envy you now—even if the Da Heng Group returned to my hands, I'm too tired from managing so many people and worrying so much. You live more carefree." I sighed.

"Brother, I am not like you; you are someone who likes to worry, I have never liked to worry from childhood to adulthood, and I am unwilling to bear responsibility."

"Ah, brother, I am truly useless; among us three brothers, I lack ambition and cannot help you, and I have even dragged you down."

"Our Zhao family is counting on you; you cannot be like me."

"I hope you will be well." Zhao Xiaoguo said sincerely.

"Zhao Xiaoguo, is this sincere?"

"Yes, brother, I have thought about it; even if you become successful in the future, we two brothers will still live our own lives."

"You be your boss, I will have my meal."

"I am destined to beg for food; I have accepted this for my whole life."

"Forget it, let's not talk about these things. Xiaoguo, you get news so quickly; I want you to help me with something." I said.

"What matter, brother, just say it; as long as I can do it. I can do some things for you, I feel happy in my heart, you have done so much for me. Tong Qing and Er Ying's mother and her, you have been supporting them."

"I am grateful, and I also remember all the things you have done for me in the past."

"Brother, what matter, speak up."

"Zhao Xiaoguo being able to express gratitude to me moves me from the heart. Truly, sometimes, after I have done so much for him, all I need is a word of thanks."