Chapter 481: Octagonal Cage

Watching one fierce-eyed youth after another desperately sweating.

Yang Qing felt a little heavy-hearted.

He had always avoided seeing such a scene, because he himself was from the lower strata.

This life feels like a dream, so unreal.

Only seeing these youths sweating gives him a sense of reality.

His sympathy almost burst forth.

Waves of impulse surged within him.

In the end, he forcibly suppressed them.

Such emotions change nothing and may even cause trouble.

He would go all out to destroy the triads, destroy the heartless capitalists, destroy the Yinglian people—but what then?

Would they then live better?

I fear the opposite is true.

A violent place, after losing the Yinglian people's sign, and then being sanctioned and blocked by shameless folks,

Gangdao would likely become entirely a slum, a land of death.

Destruction is easy; construction is the ultimate challenge.

Those who act on grudges cannot change the world; only those unmoved by emotion, who skillfully compromise, grasp the essence of productivity, and stride forward can drive the world.

What is the essence of productivity? Money, manufacturing.

Yang Qing felt he was a bit of an angry youth, and moreover, an angry youth with a small-farmer mindset.

He often felt an impulse arise within to annihilate all his enemies.

Even though he had now become one of those enemies.

Such impulses are irrational and come out of nowhere.

But he understands that resources can only exert their best use when in the hands of those who can utilize them well.

Give resources to a farmer, and he cannot create more value; give a farmer a hundred million, what can he do? Buy land, marry, buy a house, and hide the rest.

Give a hundred million to educators, and they will create a production chain.

Give it to Yang Qing, and he can both make money multiply and also establish a manufacturing enterprise.

Even such enemies of his still have an important role.

He represents private enterprise; as long as he uses this wealth well, he can be guiltless.

Yang Qing's shifting emotions were caught red-handed by Chen Hong.

She wondered.

"What's wrong?"

Yang Qing regained his composure.

"Nothing, just watching them reminded me of us."

"We too once struggled to live."

Chen Hong took his hand.

"Yes, living can sometimes be hard."

"Seeing them is like seeing myself fleeing famine."

"To survive, we lived desperately."

"They train desperately for a way out."

"You just saw those few kids who had gathered at the entrance earlier, right?"

"They too were once part of this place, but they trained too hard and ruined their bodies."

"I let them work here as assistant coaches."

"They have no hope themselves, but they hope someone can succeed—this was their original dream."

"It's also the dream I've been feeding them."

Yang Qing took her hand. Feeling her tremble, he knew her heart was uneasy.

If they fail, what future awaits this group?

She dares not think about it; she can manage for a moment, but not a lifetime.

The only way out is for them to blaze it themselves.

It is a path bristling with thorns.

Already several have fallen along this path.

"Those with dreams are happy; drifting aimlessly is what's truly sad."

"Everyone has their own life to face."

"You've already done well leading them onto the path."

Yang Qing finally added.

"At least better than other kids."

Now the income from the Supreme Ultimate Fitness Center can sustain the company's normal operation.

Chen Hong is not good at making money, nor does she care much about it.

But she still understands the simplest balance of income and expenditure.

The fees at the Supreme Ultimate Fitness Center are not low; they are much higher than those of other gyms.

Chen Hong's simplest way to profit is to charge high; the higher the price, each customer brings a noticeable, substantial income to the gym.

With few people, she also has more time to lead them in exercise.

After Mulan was released, the membership of Supreme Ultimate Fitness Center noticeably increased.

At this point, those apprentices who had completed their training could also be put to use.

Sometimes the Supreme Ultimate Center would also hold a few matches internally, inviting members to watch.

Provide members with extra benefits.

It also let these children get used to the competition atmosphere in advance.

Moreover, most of those who come to the Supreme Ultimate Center are women, and many of them are wealthy women.

If someone could seize the opportunity and hook up with an unmarried rich woman, that would also be a leap to success.

Chen Hong obviously lacked such awareness, and Yang Qing didn't remind her either—how precious is the chance to achieve social advancement?

Yang Qing thought there was nothing wrong with that.

This path isn't something everyone can succeed on; others also need a way out.

In the afternoon, after Chen Hong tidied up, she went to the hospital together with Yang Qing.

Chen Xueru was staying here awaiting childbirth.

Zhao Man Ting was also here, and she rarely took care of Chen Xueru.

Hou Kui was also here; upon seeing Yang Qing, he turned his head away and ignored him.

Yang Qing and Hou Kui weren't close either; both were grown men, and Yang Qing had no mood to coax him.

Seeing this, Chen Xueru furrowed her brows, wanting to scold Hou Kui.

Yang Qing grabbed her.

"Alright, kids are like this; there's no need to argue with him."

Hou Kui, hearing this, wanted to beat him to death.

"Damn it, he bullied my mom and still acts like this."

He didn't even want to deal with Yang Qing anymore.

Chen Hong took Hou Kui's hand and patted his head.

"Don't stoop to his level; when you grow up, beat him."

Only then did Hou Kui greet Chen Hong.

"Aunt Hong, hello."

Chen Hong pulled him along to start checking the household register, asking, "How's your studies? Is anyone bullying you? How's Little Plum doing?"

Saying this made Hou Kui's face flush red.

At this moment, Xu Huizhen also came over, followed by two maidservants.

One of the maidservants curiously stared at Hou Kui.

"Big Brother Kui, what's wrong? Your face is so red?"

Chen Hong burst out laughing.

Xu Huizhen glanced over and realized Chen Hong was teasing her again.

She greeted Zhao Man Ting.

"Aunt Zhao."

The maidservants she brought began greeting everyone one by one.

"Grandma, Aunt Hong, Uncle Yang..."

These two children are so well-behaved, showing Xu Huizhen's talent for raising people.

Not long after, Lou Xiao'e also came over.

Yang Qing hadn't seen Lou Xiao'e in a long time.

Since coming to Gangdao, this girl has been busy hustling with Lou Bancheng on their career.

She still hasn't had time to find a partner.

Her family urged her, but she wasn't in a rush, and she didn't know whether it was because Xu Damao had dealt her a heavy blow or what.

Lou Xiao'e came in carrying big and small bags, saw everyone, and called out.

"Everyone's here, I'm late, I'm late."

After greeting Yang Qing, the few women gathered together and chattered noisily.

Chen Xueru lay in bed, feeling a surge of hot fluid rising from below.

She knew she had leaked again.

She called out embarrassedly.

"Mom."

Zhao Man Ting, being experienced, saw Chen Xueru's state and knew what was happening.

She took the people and headed outside.

"Come on, let's go outside."

They left Yang Qing behind.