Chapter 23: Damn! Where's my car?

Perhaps it's because he's acquired a taste for it, or perhaps it's because he's seen too many little sprites at nightclubs, leaving Gang Sheng feeling insecure.

Gang Sheng had been especially diligent for several nights in a row, pulling out all the stops to try to squeeze Chen Mo dry.

Chen Mo slept in again until the sun was high, then went out feeling refreshed and invigorated.

Fei Ji had already become Chen Mo's dedicated driver and close-in lackey.

Although this differed from what Fei Ji had always wanted— to stand out— he didn't resent Chen Mo's arrangement.

At least now, Chen Mo's underlings all call Fei Ji 'Fei Ji Ge' when they see him.

This already largely satisfied Fei Ji's vanity.

Just as they arrived at Nüren Jie, Chen Mo noticed a noisy commotion up ahead.

"Fei Ji, pull over up ahead and see what's going on."

In broad daylight, assaults with knives basically don't happen, but fights are still inevitable.

Fei Ji got out of the car, ran over to find out what was happening, and soon returned.

"Mo Ge, it's Hongle's people causing trouble."

Chen Mo frowned and said, "Let's go take a look together."

Hongle's people causing trouble on his turf was still quite unexpected.

Chen Mo brought Fei Ji, pushed through the crowd, and walked up to the crowd.

By then, a group of people had already finished fighting.

Da Dou, with a gang of his lackeys, had already pinned down all of Hongle's people.

After all, on Chen Mo's turf, they outnumbered Hongle's people by quite a bit.

"Mo Ge!"

"Mo Ge!"

Seeing Chen Mo approach, a group of lackeys lowered their heads and greeted him.

"Da Dou, what's going on?"

Chen Mo looked over at Da Dou.

"Mo Ge, Hongle's people came over to cause trouble, so we only then resorted to force."

"Is that so?" Chen Mo glanced at the Hongle people nearby.

An obvious leader shouted, "It's clearly your people who first chopped off one of my lackeys' hands; we're just here to demand an explanation."

"Your lackey was cheating in my establishment; by jianghu rules, chopping off his hand is already letting him off easy!" Da Dou retorted.

Da Dou was in charge of the mahjong parlor's business, which could also be considered a gambling stall.

In a gambling den, cheating gets caught and the hand is chopped off; Da Dou was indeed following the rules.

"What's your name?" Chen Mo asked.

This person's appearance seemed somewhat familiar, not like an ordinary lackey.

"Hongle Taibao Qiu."

"Taibao Qiu? A person from Shensheng?"

Chen Mo thought for a moment; it seemed there was such a person in the movie.

"Not bad! You'd better let us go, or else you won't be able to bear the consequences."

"Heh, what consequences?"

Chen Mo was a bit amused by the anger.

Are Shensheng's people really that arrogant?

"Da Dou, tally up the losses, plus the brothers' medical expenses."

Call Shensheng and have him bring money over to collect his people.

Chen Mo didn't leave either; he just sat in the mahjong parlor waiting for Shensheng to arrive.

He was really eager to see what kind of gentleman Shensheng actually was.

Shensheng arrived quickly, after all, their premises were just across the street from each other.

"Chen Mo, release my people!"

Shensheng brought a few people, kicked open the mahjong parlor's big door, and strode up to Chen Mo.

Chen Mo sized up Shensheng before him, who indeed looked somewhat like a gentleman.

Just like Chen Mo, he too wore a sharply tailored suit.

Only Chen Mo was younger, and his bearing was a bit more fierce.

Shensheng looked to be in his thirties, with a more refined, scholarly air, more like a businessman.

Were it not for the gang of frivolous lackeys trailing behind him, you wouldn't be able to tell he was a triad boss at all.

"Da Dou, bring the people over."

Upon hearing that, Da Dou called out, a few lackeys came from behind, brought out Hongle's people, each one beaten to a swollen nose and bruised face.

"Shensheng, your people came to my place to cause trouble, they beat my people and smashed my stuff— what do you say we do about it?"

Chen Mo gave a cold smile and looked at Shensheng as he spoke.

"Tell me a number— how much money will let me take my people away?" Shensheng gritted his teeth and said.

"Da Dou, calculate today's losses and tell Sheng Ge."

"Mo Ge, the damaged goods plus the brothers' medical expenses, plus today's affected business— at least three hundred thousand is needed, Mo Ge."

Da Dou directly quoted a sky‑high price.

Chen Mo raised his eyebrows, glanced at Da Dou, and thought, "No wonder he's my lackey— he really dares to speak up!"

"Chen Mo, isn't this going too far? Are you treating me like a mark?"

Upon hearing Da Dou's reported number, Shensheng flew into a rage.

"Shensheng, since my little brother has spoken up, that's the number."

"You can also choose not to pay; I'm not forcing you!"

Chen Mo spread his hands.

"Chen Mo, our families are so close; don't go too far!"

"Shensheng, please get the situation straight. It's your people causing trouble here—who's really being excessive?"

"One sentence: no money, today you won't take a single person away!"

Shensheng stared at Chen Mo with unblinking eyes, his gaze icy, full of killing intent.

Chen Mo also showed no weakness, locking eyes with Shensheng, without a trace of fear.

The two stared at each other for a long while.

"Fine, you've got guts!"

Seeing that he couldn't overwhelm Chen Mo in aura, and this being Chen Mo's turf, Shensheng found himself utterly helpless against him.

"Wenxi, give him the money!"

Shensheng repressed his temper and had his underlings produce the money.

Chen Mo took the money, tossed it straight onto Da Dou, and greeted his men: "No wonder you're Brother Sheng—generous to a fault. Why aren't you thanking Brother Sheng?"

"Thank you, Brother Sheng!"

Chen Mo's underlings were also conspicuous, each shouting loudly, mockery turned up to the max.

"Let's go!"

Shensheng said through gritted teeth.

Several underlings helped up the beaten few and quickly followed Shensheng away.

"Alright, split the money among yourselves—don't start a fight!"

With the matter settled, Chen Mo didn't linger; he got up and left.

Although he smokes, he doesn't like staying in smoky, hazy places.

He wasn't short on that three hundred thousand; he simply let the fighters split it.

"Thanks, Brother Mo—take it easy, Brother Mo!"

Behind him, a group of underlings happily bade farewell to Chen Mo.

Three hundred thousand—each person in the group could get over ten thousand.

"Damn! Where's my car?"

Chen Mo and Fei Ji went to where they'd just parked, only to find his car gone.

That was a brand‑new car he'd bought less than a week ago!

Most likely the nearby underlings had all gathered at the mahjong parlor, giving car thieves an opening.

"My car got stolen on my own turf—if I say it out loud I'll lose face!"

Chen Mo, furious, kicked the roadside railing twice.

"Brother Mo, should I have the brothers go look for it?"

Fei Ji asked cautiously.

Chen Mo was clearly on the verge of exploding.

"Forget it—Hong Kong is huge; where would you even look?" Chen Mo suppressed his anger, then added, "I'll call Big Silly later."

Without a car, the two could only walk back to the nightclub office.

Fortunately, it was on Nüren Jie, not far—just a few hundred meters.

Back in the office, Chen Mo summoned Gao Jin.

"Ah Jin, any recent movement from Hongle's side?"

"There's been some activity, but it doesn't concern us."

Gao Jin thought for a moment, then said.

"What's up with Hongle?" Chen Mo asked curiously.

"That guy Shishi from Hongle—I don't know what he did, but a few days ago he was punished by family law, or rather it was Shensheng's people who laid hands on him."

"Now the relationship between Shishi and Shensheng is really strained."

"Also, I heard Shensheng has been pursuing a hostess lately."

"Huh? A hostess? Pursuing?" Chen Mo blinked in surprise.

"The more I hear it, the weirder it sounds."

"When did a hostess ever need a Triad Society boss to chase her?"

Chen Mo thought it over; it seemed like something that happens in movies.

Shensheng apparently hasn't caught her yet.

"Isn't that just pure simp behavior?"