Chapter 17: Jiu Chang Jie and the Saimachang

Early in the morning, Lu Chen began his daily routine.

In a small corner of the financial newspaper appeared: "Crown's plan to implement financial reform... expected to complete adjustments after a period of time."

It made Lu Chen's breath hitch slightly.

What was meant to come had indeed arrived!

Xiao Huangmao arrived at the hotel promptly at 9 o'clock.

"Boss, what are we doing today?"

Xiao Huangmao was wearing a jacket that looked a bit out of place for the era; seeing that Lu Chen was not wearing a suit, he let out a sigh of relief.

"Let's go, I'll take you to get something to eat first, then you take me around—where do you want to go?"

Lu Chen tossed a pack of 555s to Xiao Huangmao, and he himself lit one with a cheap lighter he had prepared in advance.

"It's your call today, I'm paying."

"Can we go to the Saimachang?"

Xiao Huangmao hurriedly put away the cigarette, his eyes lighting up, looking at Lu Chen with a face full of anticipation.

Immediately, a hint of shame appeared on his face, and he said in a low voice.

"I've wanted to go see it for a long time; usually I only hear the noise from the outside, and occasionally... occasionally I even buy a horse racing ticket..."

After a pause, he continued.

"Um, Boss, ever since you had Li Ge supervise me, I haven't bought any!"

"Let's go, eat first, then go to the Saimachang."

Lu Chen smiled; ever since he transmigrated to Xianggang, he really hadn't been to these kinds of places.

The streets of Xianggang remained bustling and lively.

However, this time Lu Chen felt a slightly different atmosphere; yes, even the air carried a hint of restlessness.

An illusion that a storm was coming.

"Jiu Chang Jie is up ahead; taking this way saves a lot of time."

Xiao Huangmao pointed forward, looked back at Lu Chen, gave a sheepish smile, and then changed his words.

"But... Boss, should we just hail a taxi instead?"

"Oh? Is there something different about Jiu Chang Jie?"

Lu Chen, watching Xiao Huangmao's reaction, became interested instead.

Normally, he would never pass through these small streets and alleys.

He had no understanding of the situation inside.

"It's a little more orderly than over at our Textile Factory, but if we go through, there's no guarantee we won't run into robbers, especially with a fresh face like yours."

A hint of worry appeared in Xiao Huangmao's eyes, and even the hand holding his cigarette trembled slightly.

"Then we won't go this way."

Lu Chen thought for a moment and said directly.

A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall!

Right now, he was just a wealthy fat sheep; don't look at how he could play games with Crown and the others.

That was just a way of playing within the rules.

As for the underworld rules, although Lu Chen wasn't clear on them, he could catch a glimpse of them from the TV shows and movies of his past life—it was the naked law of the jungle!

Lu Chen was not prepared for that right now!

"Hey, is Xiao Huangmao not working today!"

A man wearing a tank top, his arms covered in tattoos, with bulging muscles and a face full of stubble, sat on a table, watching Xiao Huangmao, who was hesitating about whether to step into Jiu Chang Jie.

Sunlight shone through the main street into Jiu Chang Jie, seemingly forming two completely different Xianggangs.

With a cigarette hanging from his mouth, his tone was nonchalant.

"Fei... Fei Ge, what brings you to Jiu Chang Jie today..."

Xiao Huangmao instinctively shrank back and wanted to hide behind Lu Chen, but he still took a step forward.

He reached into his pocket, pulled out a somewhat battered cigarette case, took out a cigarette, and handed it over.

"Alright, I'm not going to beat you up. Did you ask the foreman for leave? Watch out for them docking your pay at the end of the month!"

Fei Ge took the cigarette Xiao Huangmao handed over, a sharp look in his eyes, and asked directly.

He instinctively looked past Xiao Huangmao at Lu Chen, seemingly evaluating something.

"That's my cousin; he just arrived in Xianggang not long ago, so I'm taking him around. I already asked the foreman for leave."

Xiao Huangmao's body tensed up instantly, and he hurriedly explained.

"Hey, that cousin over there, want to come into Jiu Chang Jie and have some fun?"

A smile appeared on Fei Ge's face; he casually lit the cigarette Xiao Huangmao had handed him, struck a match nonchalantly, and lit the cigarette.

"Fei Ge, is it? What's fun in Jiu Chang Jie?"

Lu Chen pulled out a cigarette, leaned against a utility pole, casually spun the cheap lighter in his hand, lit the cigarette, and took a deep drag.

A smile was on his face, but a hint of gravity flashed in his eyes!

If he could help it, he really didn't want to have anything to do with these street thugs right now.

"Once you come in, won't you know?"

Fei Ge raised his head, frowned, and a playful smile appeared on his face.

He held the cigarette in his hand, took his feet off the table, jumped down lightly, and walked from the shadows into the sunlight.

"Um... Fei Ge, Fei Ge, my cousin doesn't know the rules, please be lenient..."

Xiao Huangmao panicked, immediately stepped forward two paces, and said cautiously.

He glanced back at Lu Chen, his eyes seemingly signaling for Lu Chen to leave immediately.

"Xiao Huangmao, come here."

The corners of Lu Chen's mouth curled up slightly as he beckoned to Xiao Huangmao.

Interesting!

This person does not seem to be someone who plays by the rules either.

Lu Chen pointed toward a spot on the street and gestured to Fei Ge.

He grabbed Xiao Huangmao and hailed a taxi.

Xiao Huangmao looked in the direction Lu Chen was pointing, where a few patrolmen were wandering aimlessly.

He shoved Xiao Huangmao into the passenger seat, sat in the back himself, and through the taxi window, looked again at Fei Ge, who had a bewildered expression and seemed not to have reacted yet.

He made a goodbye gesture!

"Driver, Saimachang."

After a long while, Xiao Huangmao finally reacted!

His eyes revealed a trace of confusion and bewilderment.

Lu Chen closed his eyes slightly, carefully recalling the information Xiao Huangmao and Fei Ge had just revealed.

"Big Boss, that... Fei Ge..."

Xiao Huangmao swallowed hard before he finally spoke.

His face carried a clear look of worry, as if Fei Ge were some formidable figure.

"With that kind of person, the more you fear him, the more powerful he becomes."

Lu Chen opened his eyes, a hint of a smile in his gaze.

This Xiao Huangmao is truly cute!

He has indeed brought him a certain amount of trouble.

Forget it, let's just treat it as a test for him.

He still needs to have Li Xuanhua pay attention...

It is just that this person Fei Ge seems quite aggressive for now...

Greedy for money and ruthless—that is Lu Chen's impression of him.

He cannot accomplish great things, but who knows, he might be able to ruin them...

Hmm, let's observe a bit more.

Lu Chen did not jump to conclusions easily; after all, one's impression does not necessarily represent what a person is truly like.

Who is to say he didn't just want him to see it that way?

As the taxi got closer and closer to Saimachang, Lu Chen could already hear huge cheers and sighs...

Even the air seemed to carry a hint of fanaticism.

It made him feel slightly uncomfortable.

"Big Boss, we're here!"

Xiao Huangmao raised his hand, pointing at the massive building ahead, his face filled with a hint of excitement and longing!