Chapter 380: Persuasion

"Hmm, A Tai hasn't had it easy these past few years. Though he has a bit of a family business now, being involved in the underworld is never something that can be brought into the light. It's better to let him break free from the current situation as soon as possible."

Zhang Ping'an knew that in another two years, the country would launch a severe crackdown. Anyone even remotely connected to the underworld would be in danger. He truly didn't know how Chen Tai in the drama had managed to escape that disaster.

"General Manager Zhang, actually, General Manager Chen is quite a decent person. He is very straightforward in his dealings, though of course, the price-gouging part still needs to be changed."

If not for the reputation of the Oriental Group as a behemoth, it would be truly difficult for ordinary outsiders to come here to make a living.

"Hmm." But regardless, Chen Tai was still quite good at reading the situation.

"Uncle Guan, I think you should have a frank and honest talk with A Tai. After all, you two are biological grandfather and grandson; this bond of blood is right here."

"Hmm, I will go over tomorrow and tell him everything he wants to know."

The next morning, Guan Daye and Cai Quanwu, accompanied by two security guards, went to Chen Tai's base again.

Zhang Ping'an thought of the protagonist Gao Qiqiang from *The Knockout*. He remembered that Gao Qiqiang should be eleven or twelve years old now. His childhood seemed quite unfortunate too; his father was a drunkard who also committed domestic violence, constantly beating and scolding them and their mother.

Gao Qiqiang was actually quite a good person—he knew how to repay kindness and didn't forget his roots. He was also smart and would study military strategy books from time to time. But it was a pity; once he stepped into the abyss, he could never climb back out.

He also had a crazy, extreme younger brother and a beautiful younger sister. One had to say, all three siblings were highly intelligent.

Gao Qiqiang hadn't attended university, perhaps not even middle school, but he had raised two university students, and both were considered successful in their careers. Especially Gao Qilan, who was already an Attending Physician at a Hospital at a young age.

And Gao Qisheng was also smart; he could even hand-craft a pistol at a young age. It was a pity that this intelligence wasn't used in the right place.

Of course, it might also be the influence of his original family. Right now, Gao Qisheng should only be three or four years old, and Gao Qilan should still be in swaddling clothes.

Zhang Ping'an had arrived at Jiu Chang Street by this time and saw the vegetable market and the fish stall, but the person running it wasn't Gao Qiqiang.

"General Manager Zhang, this is Jiu Chang Street; it's a bit chaotic."

"Hmm, no matter. I'm just here to take a look."

Although the five people in Zhang Ping'an's group were dressed in a way that didn't fit in here, anyone with a discerning eye knew they weren't simple, so no one dared to come forward to cause trouble.

"You little brat, I raised you for nothing! You're just like your brother and sister, a debt-collecting demon. You stop right there for me!"

Zhang Ping'an turned his head and saw an eleven or twelve-year-old boy running frantically, with a man in his thirties or forties chasing him with a stick.

However, the people around were unfazed, as this clearly happened often. Zhang Ping'an asked a question.

"Brother, what's the situation here?"

"This boss, you don't know—this Gao Dedi is a famous drunkard around here. When he gets drunk, he beats and scolds his family. It's a tragedy for that child, Qiangzi, to be born into this family."

"Does no one care? Does the local Women's Federation not handle these things?"

"This is their family business; who would want to get involved?"

"Uh..."

Zhang Ping'an felt as if he had punched cotton. That was true; in the eyes of these people, this was a family matter that outsiders couldn't interfere with. If you were born into such a family, you could only blame your bad luck.

However, Gao Qiqiang, who was passing by, seemed to have heard Zhang Ping'an's words. He looked back once, then continued running away.

Zhang Ping'an walked out of Jiu Chang Street, thought for a moment, and said to Qian Xiaoniu, who was at his side:

"Keep an eye on this child in the future. Don't let him get bullied."

"Understood, General Manager Zhang."

But before Zhang Ping'an's group had walked far from Jiu Chang Street, they were called out by Gao Qiqiang, who had doubled back:

"Uncle, can the Women's Federation you mentioned earlier really do something about my dad?"

"They can. Your father getting drunk and beating your mother and you is, strictly speaking, already breaking the law. If it's long-term, it's even possible to have your father put away for a few years."

"Uncle, look at this."

Gao Qiqiang rolled up his sleeves directly; his arms were covered in bruises. Then he lifted his shirt, and his back was covered in the same marks from the beatings.

"My mother is in an even worse state than me. I want to send him in," Gao Qiqiang said through gritted teeth.

This father—his biological father—didn't provide any care for the three siblings at all. He only drank heavily and then beat them. It was his mother who had raised them single-handedly and had even taken the brunt of the brutal beatings for them.

Qian Xiaoniu looked at the thin Gao Qiqiang and the injuries all over his body, and he gasped inwardly. How much hatred must there be? Even a tiger wouldn't eat its own cubs; if this continued, there was a real possibility he might be beaten to death by accident one day.

"Let's go. Uncle will help you. We'll go to the Women's Federation right now."

"Thank you, Uncle."

"That works. Xiaoniu, you guys go with this little friend and make a trip. I'll look around here."

With the injuries on Gao Qiqiang and his mother, and with Qian Xiaoniu's help, even if they couldn't send Gao Dedi to prison, getting rid of him would be easy.

"Understood, General Manager Zhang."

Zhang Ping'an also happened to look for a place suitable for opening a supermarket; he planned to introduce fresh-food supermarkets to the Mainland within these two years.

Guan Daye had also spoken frankly and honestly with Chen Tai about everything. Combining this with what his parents had said before, Chen Tai confirmed that Guan Daye was indeed his biological grandfather.

But it wasn't realistic to ask him to acknowledge this grandfather right now, let alone ask him to give up the empire he had worked so hard to build to go live in Sijiucheng. That was something he couldn't do.

"I'm not going. My home is here."

"A Tai, listen to your grandfather's advice. Once you're involved in the underworld, the best way is to change your environment, turn over a new leaf, and start over."

"Grandfather only has you as a grandson. I've already lost your father; I can't lose you too."

"In any case, it's impossible for me to leave Jinghai."

"You... why are you as stubborn as your father?"

Zhang Ping'an arrived at this moment. Seeing the grandfather and grandson still at a stalemate, he couldn't help but say:

"A Tai, think back to a few years ago. When our Oriental Group first entered Jinghai, the underworld boss at that time wasn't you, right?"

"So, you should stop being involved in the underworld. The underworld boss from two years ago had a stronger force than you, didn't he? If the government wanted to move against you, wouldn't it be easy? Just manage the construction materials business properly with your group of brothers."

"The world of the streets isn't always about killing and fighting; it's more about human relationships and worldly wisdom. You can learn from the people in Xiangjiang and become a big financier."

Seeing Chen Tai's confused expression, Zhang Ping'an explained further.

"It means that once you have money and power, people will naturally take the initiative to do things for you. You can rest easy as the big boss behind the scenes."

"Like you?" Chen Tai pointed at the security guards behind Zhang Ping'an.

Zhang Ping'an's face darkened upon hearing this, and his gaze toward Chen Tai became unkind.

"I don't need these street thugs, and besides, this is security work, it's legitimate."

"Oh... but I don't have any money."

Chen Tai really couldn't be considered wealthy; after all, he had only been doing well for these past two years, had a large group of brothers to support, and still had to pay tribute to those above him, so he only had a little over one hundred thousand yuan in his hands right now.

"Your grandfather has money. You should hand over everything here to brothers you trust, go back to Sijiucheng with your grandfather to calm your mind for a while, and once you have a wife and children, if you still have this mindset, then bring money back to help these old brothers."

"......" Guan Daye

"Let me think about it."

"Fine, rest assured. After you return to Sijiucheng, I will have them clean up the operations here as quickly as possible, and I will also help you look after things."