Chapter 400

Lin Dongfan walked over to the gambling stall laughing: "Zheng Lao Pi, you've got guts, daring to make my life and death a bet—how much did you lose today?"

The thoroughly defeated Zheng Lao Pi didn't dare utter a word.

Those who bet on Lin Dongfan getting injured all lost. Zheng Lao Pi hastily collected their bets, and seeing no one around on guard, he turned and ran.

Xiao Yu quickly took two steps: "Zheng Lao Pi, pay me my money!"

"Who took your money? Your money's on the ground!" Zheng Lao Pi's feet were as slippery as oil, and he slipped away faster than a rabbit.

The twenty thousand that Xiao Yu had bet was indeed placed on the ground.

But that was Xiao Yu's own capital.

According to the earlier one-to-five payout, Zheng Lao Pi owed Xiao Yu one hundred thousand. This guy collected the losers' bets but refused to pay the winners—like a pixiu, only taking in, never giving out.

Xiao Yu shouted loudly: "Zheng Lao Pi, you can run from the monk but not from the temple!"

"Don't rush, Xiao Yu—if he dares not to pay, I'll chop off his hand!"

Uncle Chen Dingchao stepped forward to back Xiao Yu.

He wasn't in a hurry to chase Zheng Lao Pi either, figuring Zheng Lao Pi couldn't come up with a hundred thousand all at once, would go back to think of a plan, and needed to give him some time.

Chen Dingchao shifted his attention to Lin Dongfan, sizing him up carefully.

The more he looked, the more he admired him!

Like the other villagers, Chen Dingchao had originally thought Lin Dongfan would surely meet disaster this time, and even if he didn't die he'd end up covered in injuries.

Now it seems he had still underestimated this big boss.

The members of the Hai Long Society are notoriously ruthless; any outsider who can walk out of that place is absolutely a fierce dragon crossing the river.

Chen Dingchao curiously asked Lin Dongfan: "Boss Fan, didn't you guys make a move today?"

"We did—someone sliced Zheng Sanshui's kidney." Lin Dongfan mentioned it offhand, and it sparked heated discussion among the surrounding villagers, each face breaking into a pleased smile.

Chen Dingchao excitedly pressed: "Then did you seize the Fisherman's Port New City project?"

"The difficulty coefficient of this heist project is a bit high—just using force won't work; you need to use your brains too." Lin Dongfan scanned the villagers present: "I came today just to give everyone a heads-up: the Zheng Family people will likely come to collect your houses and lands in the next couple of days; I hope you can hold your ground and refuse to sign."

One villager asked: "Boss Fan, do you still count what you said that night?"

"Of course it still counts."

Knowing these villagers were the type who need to see the rabbit before releasing the hawk, Lin Dongfan waved his hand, and Lao Ba immediately set the password box he was holding flat on the ground.

As soon as the box was opened, it was full of bundles of brand-new cash.

What a luxurious sight!

It drew the surrounding villagers' eyes so wide they almost popped out; the men, women, old and young of the village, whoever they were, had never seen so much cash before.

"This must be several million, right?"

"Be confident—take off that 'ba'."

"If I had that much money, I'd deposit it in the bank to earn interest, and thereafter I wouldn't need to do anything—I could still eat well and live well; why would I even fish?"

"Keep at it—if you daydream well enough, you'll definitely end up broke enough to jingle."

……

The villagers chatted back and forth, their lively discussion inseparable from the word "money," and their eyes couldn't leave the box of cash on site either.

Having money doesn't necessarily make ghosts turn millstones, but having money certainly can activate human nature.

Lin Dongfan said to everyone present: "That night I said, whoever it is, I'll give five hundred yuan for each day delayed. Now I've brought the cash—words matched deeds. Starting today, as long as you refuse to sign, refuse demolition! You can go to Xiao Yu each day to collect five hundred yuan."

Hearing that, the surrounding villagers were thrilled.

Xiao Yu also felt a secret shock—let me handle the money?

She excitedly glanced at Lin Dongfan's handsome side profile, thousands of words unsaid, and could only silently remind herself: "Xiao Yu, you must work hard; you absolutely must not become a drag on Brother Fan..."

However, in the eyes of those around, Xiao Yu was undoubtedly a lucky child favored by God.

An ordinary fisherman.

In a flash, she became the village's prominent figure, enviable beyond measure.

Everyone envied her, not only because of this immediate honor, but also because Lin Dongfan had once promised to give her a large ocean-going fishing boat.

Seeing Lin Dongfan's weighty word, that promise is very likely to be fulfilled.

A youth working in security suddenly stepped up to remind Xiao Yu: "Xiao Yu, Boss Fan entrusted you with all this money—if thieves take a liking to it, things could go badly, even losing the ship and lives. I've been idle these days; want me to come aboard and help? I can work as your free guard."

"Thanks, I'll think about it."

For well-meaning people, Xiao Yu always gives them some face and doesn't lightly hurt their self-esteem.

This young man is also a member of the Chen family, 21 years old; he shares the same generation as Chen Shaokang, the policeman at the old dock police station, and is called Chen Shaolong.

Usually he's very sincere, with no ill intentions.

After seeing off Chen Shaolong, a few more villagers came up to chat, and Xiao Yu greeted them all with a smile. Today her mindset was very steady; whether the other party felt envy or jealousy, she wasn't the slightest bit flustered.

After returning to the boat.

Only then did Xiao Yu release her lively girlish nature; she plopped down on the cash-filled box and asked Lin Dongfan with a laugh: "Brother Fan, did you notice? Today lots of people want to cozy up to me."

"Are you happy?" Lin Dongfan asked with a smile.

Xiao Yu beamed with joy: "Happy, so happy, but I'm a little worried."

"Worried about being robbed?" Lin Dongfan wondered.

Xiao Yu nodded and replied: "Yeah, I've lived this long and never seen this much money, and the villagers haven't either. After you leave, who knows if they'll have second thoughts."

"Don't panic, I'll have Liu Wei and Liu Wu stay behind as your bodyguards." Lin Dongfan thought it over, then added a suggestion for Xiao Yu: "Besides, you can find two trustworthy people to train as capable assistants. After all, you'll eventually be captain, and you can't have no reliable hands under you."

"I won't be captain—I have my grandfather." Xiao Yu chuckled, obviously not thinking too far ahead and unable to imagine how grand Lin Dongfan's blueprint for her really was.

Lin Dongfan sighed: "Your grandfather's gotten old, he can't withstand great winds and waves; he should retire ashore to enjoy his blessings. From now on, the vast seas and the jianghu belong to us young people."

"And there's still my uncle—he's only in his forties." Xiao Yu said.

Lin Dongfan replied without hesitation: "Your uncle Chen Dingchao can only be your assistant, not your captain."

"Why?" Xiao Yu gazed at Lin Dongfan, puzzled.

Lin Dongfan replied: "The large ocean-going fishing vessel I ordered for you is currently the most technologically advanced fishing vessel in the world. When the time comes, I will equip you with a professional crew. Chen Dingchao has limited knowledge and learning ability; he can help you with miscellaneous tasks, but he still falls short of being a captain."

"Oh."

Upon hearing Lin Dongfan say that, Xiao Yu was already filled with anticipation for the future, his face beaming with a brilliant smile.

Lin Dongfan then suggested: "That Chen Shaolong also seems like a solid, dependable person. You can bring him under your command and train him to be the captain's successor."

"Can he? His parents are both dead, died at sea." Xiao Yu said.

Lin Dongfan furrowed his brow slightly: "Having no parents, he is a heaven-chosen child; no one is more suited than him to go to sea and pioneer new lands."

"Alright then." Xiao Yu said, and with that said: "I'll go call him over now for a talk, have him quit his security job, and from now on go out to sea with my uncle to gain experience."