Chapter 662: Ma San Ran Away

"Jianqiang, you dare let the Cui Family people kneel to you; you're amazing. What are you doing now?" Ma San asked.

I smiled,

"I won't do anything. Fine, meeting you here today, we're all old friends now. Then let's have a drink."

"Of course, tonight I'm treating." Ma San said.

The three of us casually found a street stall and sat down.

Ma San said: "Jianqiang, I really didn't expect you to be doing so well. If you don't mind, I can get along with you."

"Brother Ma San, saying that, what does 'mix with me' mean? Being your street overlord isn't good, right?"

"But, Brother Ma San, I see you're getting old; continuing like this isn't the right way."

"All day leading people in fights and killings; maybe someday you'll end up in prison." I took a sip of beer.

"Ma San, you used to hang out with Mao Hai, why aren't you playing with him anymore?" Shi Yong said,

"Brother Shi Yong, you're wrong; it's Mao Hai who hangs with me. Damn, this kid, once he starts mixing, doesn't recognize his old man. If I hadn't spent a few years in prison, I could have been calling the shots in Zaocheng. Coming out hasn't been smooth; a street vendor schemed against me, and I almost died at his hands." Ma San said angrily.

"Yo, who dares to scheme against Brother Ma San? You used to be the boss of Zaocheng." I deliberately provoked Ma San.

"Ding Li, damn, as long as I catch this kid, I must kill him. This kid is fighting me for territory in Lao Cheng Qu."

I was outwitted by him.

"But that kid disappeared; I was looking for him everywhere." Ma San cursed.

"Ding Li, I didn't expect that he still holds a grudge against Ma San."

I was just about to say something,

Shi Yong quickly replied: "Ding Li, I know, he's now the Mine Director at Qi He Kuang, and this guy has always been hanging with my brother."

"What? Jianqiang, is what Shi said true?" Ma San's face changed color and said.

"Brother Ma San, yes, Shi Yong's words aren't false; Ding Li has always been hanging with me, and he's now the Mine Director at Qi He Kuang." I didn't want to hide it.

"Did Ding Li, who hangs with you, used to run a stall in Zaocheng's Lao Cheng Qu?" Ma San asked.

"Yes, he's from a street‑stall background. But this kid got on the right track; my brother promoted him." Shi Yong said.

"Great, Jianqiang, I hate this kid to death. I must kill him.

Jianqiang, what's the relationship between us? I helped you before, and today you should return the favor." Ma San finished and drank a large cup of wine.

"What help do you need from me?" I asked.

"Bring Ding Li over; today I will kill Ding Li." Ma San said, pulling a knife from his chest.

I looked at the knife in Ma San's hand,

I smiled,

"Ma San, what era is this, still brandishing knives and guns? Put them away.

"Ding Li, I won't call him. Whatever grudges you had with Ding Li in the past are gone.

"You're getting old; if you keep doing this, think about how you'll spend the rest of your life."

Hearing my advice, Ma San grew even more aggressive,

and took another big gulp of wine,

"Jianqiang, no matter what, you used to mix with me; you're my junior.

Today, as the big brother, I have a word for you,

That is, between me and Ding Li, we must clash.

Jianqiang, you must help me.

I am your big brother, hear? As long as you cut down Ding Li, tell me, what do you want."

This Ma San, after two cups of wine, doesn't know east or west.

"I want to be the boss of Zaocheng; do you have that ability? Honestly, you're over fifty and still haven't figured life out.

Who was your big brother before?

"Shi Yong, how come I don't recall having such a big brother?" I said, glancing at Shi Yong.

"Ma San, you want to settle old scores, right? We never mixed with you before; who the hell do you think you are as a big brother, and you don't even pee yourself to prove it." Shi Yong shouted at Ma San.

"Shi Yong, you turned hostile, right? Back then in Zaocheng's Lao Cheng Qu, you had nowhere to settle, being chased by Bai Lang and his crew; I took you in.

Jianqiang, you haven't forgotten, have you.

Hmph. They're all damn ungrateful people." Ma San cursed.

Shi Yong at this moment grabbed a bottle of wine.

I signaled Shi Yong with my eyes to put it down.

I said, "Ma San, this isn't right, we meet and immediately settle old scores. Yes, back then I once set foot at your place, but you damn it, you counted the money, even overcounted, and I'm not lying."

We opened a guesthouse together at Shanghu, and you—hmm, damn, schemed against us.

Xiao Wu and (someone) have torn their faces open; otherwise, I'll call Xiao Wu over for you to confront.

Ma San, I also took you in, but you ended up hanging with Bai Lang.

And you even teamed up against me.

This I haven't lied about, right?"

I looked at Ma San as he spoke directly.

Ma San's face flushed red, then pale,

He poured himself another large cup of wine,

tilted his head back and gulped it all down.

Then he suddenly stood up,

holding the knife and pointing it at me.

Surname Zhao, nice. How the hell did I get into prison? It's not because of you, kid. You betrayed me.

We'll settle both new and old grudges together.

I'll kill you, then go find Ding Li to take revenge.

This Ma San has lost his temper.

Facing this hot-headed Ma San, I'm not nervous; dealing with someone like him, what do I have to be nervous about? Don't look at him waving his knife around—he actually doesn't have the guts to hurt anyone.

If he really had the guts to hurt someone, he wouldn't have ended up like this.

All he likes to do is brandish his knife to scare ordinary people.

I know him too well.

I took out a cigarette from my pocket,

lit it and started smoking,

Ma San kept waving his knife and shouting at me,

"Zhao Jianqiang, listen up—today, it's either you die or I live."

This matter between us isn't over, damn it—you think I'm easy to bully.

You didn't even bother to find out what I've done in the past.

Back in Zaocheng, even Bai Lang had to call me big brother—what are you, Zhao Jianqiang?

At that moment Shi Yong picked up a bottle again, ready to hit him with a bottle when Ma San wasn't looking.

But Ma San kept shouting at us while backing away farther and farther.

Just as I was about to get up and punch Ma San, he suddenly turned and ran.

He ran extremely fast.

Shi Yong chased a few steps but couldn't catch up.

Shi Yong had no choice but to return and sit at the table, saying to me, "Brother, I didn't expect this kid to run faster than a rabbit."

I couldn't catch him either.

"What could you do even if you caught him? He's just that kind of person,

all he does is wave something around to scare ordinary people.

People like him are finished the moment they run into a real bad guy.

I just didn't expect Zaocheng to still have this kind of gangster type—looks like the city's public safety still needs improvement.

"Why are we worrying about that? We're about to starve to death—this is really delaying my barbecue." After saying that, Shi Yong picked up the skewers and started eating.

"Shi Yong, you just don't get it—public safety is extremely important for a city.

If public safety is bad, who would come here to tour? We want to develop tourism, and the first thing is public safety.

When tourists come, there are fights every few days bullying outsiders—who would still dare to come here to tour?

Ma San is hanging out with the Cui family—I didn't expect that.

I'll contact Cui Rulin shortly and have him get rid of Ma San.

The Cui family also needs to discipline its own people; otherwise, letting this go unchecked, how can the city's image improve?