Chapter 194: Establishing the Chinese Gang

Before he could utter a word of thanks, he felt his vision go black and fainted to the ground.

"......" Chen Yongren.

Taking advantage of the empty street, Chen Yongren brought him to the courtyard he had just rented.

Seeing Zhang Dingqi with a gunshot wound, he happened to use him to test his medical skill.

Because Chen Yongren paid promptly, the landlord didn't hold back and prepared all the necessary daily supplies for him.

Chen Yongren casually took out a dagger, heated it under the kerosene lamp for a while, then cut open Zhang Dingqi's shoulder wound to extract the bullet.

He had the medical skill at his disposal.

Removing the bullet and suturing the wound—such minor surgery was nothing to Chen Yongren.

In just a few minutes, he had finished treating Zhang Dingqi's wound.

Not long after, Zhang Dingqi regained consciousness.

Opening his eyes to find himself in an unfamiliar setting, Zhang Dingqi instantly grew wary, struggled to sit up, and stared at the seated Chen Yongren, stunned.

He seemed to be the person who had saved me earlier?

Seeing Chen Yongren smile, Zhang Dingqi clasped his fists and said, "Thank you, brother, for your help. If it weren't for you, I might have died in the street!"

"Don't mention it," Chen Yongren laughed.

"I don't know which hero you are, brother, but I will surely come to thank you properly another day," Zhang Dingqi said, clasping his fists again.

While speaking, he also sized up Chen Yongren from head to toe.

"The four people who chased me earlier—this guy just lifted his hand and took them all down. How could an ordinary person do that?"

"He kills so cleanly and swiftly; even my father and brother A Ren't that composed."

"This guy is definitely not an ordinary person."

Zhang Dingqi also displayed a maturity beyond his years.

Sure enough, he was the young chief of the Dock Gang, having grown up in its ranks.

Hearing Zhang Dingqi's thoughts, Chen Yongren smiled and said, "I'm not exactly a hero; I just can't stand what the Yellow Dao Society does, so I took care of them on a whim."

Upon hearing that, Zhang Dingqi exclaimed in surprise, "You also know about the Yellow Dao Society?"

"Who doesn't know the Yellow Dao Society, propped up by the Japanese?" Chen Yongren said: "Lately many gangs have been ruthlessly crushed by them—either they join and cooperate, or they get wiped out."

"Because the Japanese are helping them, many gangs have suffered."

Hearing that, Zhang Dingqi angrily retorted, "Exactly, these beasts—originally just the offspring of the Qing Gang—usually like to bully the common folk."

"Relying on Japanese backing, they now want to reach their hands into the concession."

"After all that talk, which gang are you from?" Chen Yongren pretended not to know.

"I'm the young chief of the Dock Gang, Zhang Dingqi." Zhang Dingqi did not conceal his identity.

The fact that he remained unharmed after being unconscious for so long shows that this brother before him is trustworthy.

"The Dock Gang?" Chen Yongren feigned curiosity, asking, "Why are they targeting you?"

"Though called a gang, we're actually more like a small group that sticks together," Zhang Dingqi explained.

"Inside are all dockworkers; initially my father and his coworkers, unwilling to be bullied by foreigners and have their wages squeezed, banded together for warmth."

"The reason they target us is because we control a dock in the concession; although Li Hua Dock can only berth three small steamers, it still counts as a port."

"It's enough to keep the gang's members fed."

"Other ports are behind controlled by Westerners; the Yellow Dao Society wants to carve out a foothold in the concession, so they can only strike at us."

"We just don't want to be bullied and want to eat a full meal—why is that so hard?"

"If you don't want to be bullied, why not strengthen yourselves?" Chen Yongren asked: "Lately the underground gangs of Songhu have fallen into chaos."

"Wasn't the Yellow Dao Society also developed around that time?"

"That's easy to say, but you also need money." Zhang Dingqi shook his head helplessly: "Don't you know the Yellow Dao Society is funded by Japanese people?"

"I can sponsor you." Chen Yongren said.

"What did you say?" Zhang Dingqi was dumbfounded.

Chen Yongren laughed: "I said I can sponsor your development, provide funds, so our gang can have money to buy weapons and equipment."

"Our gang?" Zhang Dingqi gave a strange look: "I never said I wanted your money."

"Your gang hasn't been doing well lately, right?" Chen Yongren said: "Otherwise the Yellow Dao Society wouldn't be chasing you down in the street."

Upon hearing that, Zhang Dingqi's expression turned embarrassed.

Chen Yongren added: "Since the Yellow Dao Society dared to kill you once, they'd dare to kill you a second time."

"Chief Zhang, you wouldn't want to see the estate your father built fall into Japanese hands for nothing, would you?"

"Who do you think could help you now, those white-skinned devils?"

"Let me tell you a saying: leaning on a big tree makes it easy to enjoy the shade."

"Today you're lucky to have met me."

"If you're unwilling, we'll just pretend we never met."

Zhang Dingqi remained silent.

What Chen Yongren said indeed made sense.

Westerners certainly wouldn't want to offend the Japanese too much; if the Yellow Dao Society comes again a few times, the Dock Gang couldn't hold out for more than a few days.

"Why should I trust you? We've only just met, and I don't even know your background." Zhang Dingqi took a deep breath and asked.

"Because you have no recourse, while I have money." Chen Yongren directly jabbed Zhang Dingqi's weak point: "Even if you don't consider the gang, you still have to think about those under you who earn their living."

"Sticking together for warmth is true, but when sticking together fails to keep you warm, you must weigh things carefully."

"By then, even without the Yellow Dao Society, your internal affairs will first fall into chaos."

Zhang Dingqi originally wanted to say, "So what if you have money?"

But after thinking it over.

It actually seems quite impressive.

With money, he could buy better equipment, and those gangs wouldn't come to bully him.

The Yellow Dao Society sometimes even carry submachine guns.

It fires quickly, but the high price of over two hundred dollars per unit makes him hesitate.

Zhang Dingqi knows well that there's no free lunch; if he mishandles it, it could kill him.

"What are the conditions?" Zhang Dingqi asked: "Don't tell me you want to do good deeds and just give me money."

"Smart." Chen Yongren smiled: "One, rename the gang to the Chinese Gang; I want to later be able to uniformly manage the concession, and even the entire Songhu underworld."

Hearing this, Zhang Dingqi's heart jumped.

This person before him has quite an appetite!

Who isn't reckless when young? Although it's their first meeting, Chen Yongren's words are quite tempting.

Unify the concession, even the entire Songhu underworld.

Just thinking about it is exciting.

Chen Yongren continued: "Two, for now the gang will only accept Chinese members."

"Three, the gang must not bully ordinary civilians."

"Four, the port must not transport opium."

"Five, every so often, I want to see your results, with territory and business expanding."

"In short, I want to see a return on my investment."

Zhang Dingqi's expression shifted, then he nodded: "No problem, I agree."

After a pause, Zhang Dingqi asked again: "Then how should I address you, and how can I find you?"

"You don't need to know my name." Chen Yongren put away his smile and said: "If you wish, you may call me..."

"Godfather."