Chapter 998: Learning a Foreign Language

Do the young men on the streets of Jingcheng hold grudges after a fight?

Of course; this is called a Liang Zi.

Once a Liang Zi is formed, it will never end unless one side bows their head and yields.

Today, Li Li Yuanchao, Zhang Li Haiyang, Zhong Zhong Yuemin, and others were beaten on the streets of Dongsi, and they would certainly demand an explanation.

Would they go seek out the guards who dealt the blows?

No, they would not.

If someone hit you with a club, would you vent your fury and seek revenge against the club itself?

Those guards were merely following orders; whoever gave the command and whoever started this trouble would be the one held responsible.

What was the root cause? The root cause was the Wan Zhu!

If they hadn't gathered here today, would Li Li Yuanchao have come back to join in the fun?

If they hadn't stirred up trouble, would people like us have been beaten?

In the final analysis, Li Li Yuanchao brought his people here to undermine the Wan Zhu and smash their operation.

Li Li Yuanchao would investigate the powers behind the great mansion gates; if they were soft, he would naturally sabotage them, but if they were an iron plate, he would pretend this incident never happened.

You say the Wan Zhu were wrongly accused?

Stop joking; by the time Li Li Yuanchao led Zhong Zhong Yuemin up the steps, a shoving match and fight had already broken out below.

If Zhao Lao Si's phone report hadn't been timely and the guards hadn't acted swiftly, the entrance would have descended into a chaotic brawl.

Especially Zhang Wang Jianguo; given such an opportunity, how could he not lend a hand?

With the former boss of Jiaodaokou present and the Wan Zhu of the Four-Nine City watching, today the Little Bastard set the stage, and whoever could perform proved their capability.

The moment Zhang Li Haiyang rushed over with his people, he had already grabbed a club and joined the fray.

Young, hot-blooded, and truly ruthless.

Readers who often mix in society and fight know that when two groups clash, the ones charging at the front are the most likely to get injured.

Of course, charging at the very front also proves one has the most courage and is the most willing to strike.

As for things like left hooks, right hooks, or sweeping kicks, you are overthinking it; none of that happens.

Not to mention that when blood boils, you cannot remember what moves to use; besides, with a crowd packed together, there is no space for you to display what you have learned.

So what moves are used in group fights?

Simple: a punch, or a club swing, or a kick.

Why say that whichever move you choose counts as just one move? Because in a short burst of action, you only have time for one.

When the scene becomes complex and both sides collide, you will discover that grabbing and scratching actually inflict greater damage.

Some might say, "How is this different from rural women fighting? That's too low-class."

Stop bragging; if you were there, you would do the same.

There are no winners in a group fight; as long as those at the front stand firm and do not fall, that is enough to boast about for a month upon returning home.

As for how many hits you took or how many you landed, it does not matter.

Because the blows you land might land anywhere, and most likely on your own people.

And those hitting you are very likely the ones who rushed up from behind on the opposing side.

This is quite bizarre, yet reality is exactly like this; often, those who come later to pick up the scraps find it easier to achieve merit.

So look around; among those mixing on the streets, every small group has a big guy, thick-waisted and broad-shouldered, who won't fall even if three or five people rush him.

He may not be the boss, but he is definitely the kid the boss is most reluctant to abandon.

Among these few from Jiaodaokou, Zhang Wang Jianguo was neither tall nor strong, but Yan Yan Shengli possessed a natural advantage in this regard.

In this era, possessing such a large frame was truly harder than winning the lottery.

Yan Yan Shengli had this advantage entirely because his father was a pig slaughterer at the meat station, so he ate plenty of fatty pork since childhood.

During the previous visit to tour the Rolling Steel Factory, he had actually met Li Li Yuanchao and the others, though neither side had spoken.

Seeing them again today, he showed no mercy in his attacks; indeed, these few from Jiaodaokou fought the fiercest.

However, if you claim that Zhao Lao Si hadn't ordered the guards to clear the site and they could have continued fighting, that is also unlikely.

This first wave that charged was of the impulsive type; after fighting, their adrenaline was rapidly depleted.

What remained were those who came later joining the fight; only then would it truly become a pot of porridge.

At this moment, seeing Li Li Yuanchao and those other veterans fleeing in panic with their heads bowed, Zhang Wang Jianguo and the others began to cheer.

Yao Yuan from Donghua Sect, Li Li Zhanyuan from the Brick Head Gang, Gao Jianbing from the Club Squad, Li Li Sida from Dongsi, Wang Zhou Dahai from Dazhi Bridge, and others were also in this group.

Although they were not as arrogantly excited as Zhang Wang Jianguo, they exchanged glances and all smiled.

Today here at Dongsi, the Wan Zhu finally turned the tables on one round, which could be considered a restoration of their former sharp spirit.

Having always been suppressed and bullied by the veterans, they too had been holding in their anger.

Even if from today onward the Wan Zhu and the veterans picked up their mutual hatred again, they felt it was worth it.

Today's incident was not the cause, but rather the fuse that had been accumulating for some time.

To put it in the words of the Wan Zhu on the scene, they had long wanted to beat the hell out of them.

The Four-Nine City is only so big; the places where young people can carefree play can be counted on one's fingers, and no matter how you count, there are never enough to go around.

Relying on their past prestige and the resources and power in their hands, the veterans had given the Wan Zhu in the hutongs no shortage of grief.

Some vented their fury, blaming not the bosses who led the charge just now, but only regretting that they themselves hadn't seized the chance to punch the other side a few more times.

If you asked him who he hated, he wouldn't know, but he only knew that beating those people vented his anger and served as revenge.

The opposite side was the same; they would not vent their anger on these small hooligans, as their sights were set on the big boss figures.

It seemed that Zhang Wang Jianguo, who was the most prominent today, didn't even need to boast himself, as there were plenty of people to spread his reputation for him.

Once his fame rose, Li Li Yuanchao and the others would naturally know whom to seek out to crush their prestige and whom to approach to reclaim their ground.

Of course, when you're out in this world, you want both your life and your profit; how could you possibly be afraid of trouble?

Zhang Wang Jianguo had thought it over: fighting his way out from Jiaodaokou meant he had to be even more ruthless than his predecessor Zhou Zhou Changli, otherwise he would spend his entire life living in Zhou Zhou Changli's shadow.

People fear comparison; once compared, others would say that the former little hooligan was so-and-so, while Zhang Wang Jianguo did not measure up to him.

So today, having come, having fought, he truly felt exhilarated, showing off his victory to his heart's content on the stage that Zhou Zhou Changli had built.

In the future, he must compete—compete with those old veterans for territory, compete for girls, and even dare to like the girls from the compound.

Below the steps, after the guards withdrew, the atmosphere became lively once again; the noise of the clamor passed through the main gate and drifted into the large residence.

Among the guards who took action today were Hu Li Haiyang, Brother Da Chun's younger brother; Zhang Zhang Dayong, Zhang Zhang Wanhe's son; Zhou Yaoqiang, Zhou Zhou Ziqiang's younger brother, and other half-grown boys from the Northeast.

After Zhao Zhao Sige finished reporting the handling results to Yu Li over the phone and came back out, he saw the guards resting in the entrance hall and smiled.

"Damn fierce; you were the most aggressive of all."

He pointed at Zhang Zhang Dayong, offering a few specific comments, but then thought better of it, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "Weren't you on duty at the East Gate?"

"Er Er Gazi took my shift."

Zhang Zhang Dayong grinned, the excitement from the fight not yet faded from his face, with a trace of ferocity still lingering at the corners of his mouth.

Zhao Zhao Sige nodded at him, finally understanding Director Li's intention in transferring these people from the Northeast into the pass.

It was truly like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, unstoppable in its sharpness.

Especially for young tigers raised from childhood; kept close for so long, once released, they were bound to awe the entire region and flaunt their power.

Setting other things aside for now, the clean and decisive manner of today's action was something the Jingcheng hoodlums could absolutely never achieve.

It had little to do with whether they were trained or not; the key point was that these people dared to charge and obeyed orders.

"I won't repeat what Yu Jie praised you for; you can figure that out yourselves."

Zhao Zhao Sige took cigarettes from his pocket, smiling as he distributed them to everyone, saying, "Smoke mine for now; later, when Yu Jie's reward of cigarettes and wine arrives, we'll enjoy them together."

"Good!"

With his loud voice, Zhang Zhang Dayong chuckled, readily accepted the cigarette, and said smiling to Zhao Zhao Sige, "Fourth Brother, if there's another scene like this in the future, just call on me."

"Another one?!"

Zhao Zhao Sige looked at him amusedly and said meaningfully, "From today onward, our place has made a name for itself; for at least three years, no one will dare to smash our gates again."

"Hehe, I haven't even had enough fun yet."

Zhang Zhang Dayong grinned, his face full of simple honesty, but his words nearly made Zhao Zhao Sige burst out laughing.

Did he really think this was playtime, or some kind of practical drill they usually conducted?

For Yu Li to agree to take action, right in front of those hoodlums, and against those little brats...

To him, this matter was simply a modest beginning and a simple ending.

There was excitement and agitation, but what lay further ahead, at a deeper level, was beyond the ability of these guards before him, including himself, to handle.

Just looking at the situation at the gate today, and at those who were beaten, once news spread, who knew how many members would voluntarily step forward to push back.

They did not care if there was fooling around at the gate, but if anyone brought people to smash the gates or harass the club's staff, no one would be tolerated.

There was no need for Li Li Xuewu to show himself; if someone truly bullied them to this extent, it would be a loss of face for everyone.

The club's signboard bore the blood and sweat of everyone; after more than half a year, Dongcheng Courtyard No. 1 was no longer merely a physical exercise club.

Just look at how Wang Zheng had been bustling about recently; who could guarantee they wouldn't have classmates one day?

While the guards smoked their "aftermath cigarettes" in the entrance hall, Zhou Zhou Xiaobai and Luo Yun, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, wore vastly different expressions.

"It's all my fault~"

Zhou Zhou Xiaobai's face was pale, her fingers clenched so tightly from nervousness that they turned slightly blue, as she blamed herself: "If only I hadn't urged you, we could have taken the main road..."

"Why are we back to this again!"

Luo Yun's face looked especially terrible; she had never expected that after suffering bullying from the other party, they would still be pursued to their doorstep to be harassed.

At this moment, she gritted her teeth and said, "They were beaten too lightly; we really should have sent them to the police station!"

Having said that, she turned to look at Zhou Zhou Xiaobai, who was wallowing in self-pity, and said, "Even if you hadn't urged me, we would still have encountered those dogs and been unable to escape; were you planning to hide at home and never go out?"

Feeling that she had brought this trouble upon herself, Zhou Zhou Xiaobai felt extremely guilty and was very afraid that Li Li Xuewu would despise her.

Just now, while they were peering out from behind the door, they had clearly seen those few people who had blocked the road with bicycles.

Especially the one with the damn glib tongue and the shifty eyes; even while fleeing, he had not forgotten to glance in her direction.

At the time, Luo Yun had even blamed her, asking if she knew the other party and why he kept staring at her.

What could Zhou Zhou Xiaobai say? She didn't want it either.

Fortunately, Zuo Yan Jie returned from outside at this moment, bringing back news that was not entirely bad.

"The ringleader is called Li Li Yuanchao, the troublemaker is Zhong Zhong Yuemin, and the one who got beaten is Zhang Li Haiyang; they are all from the compound."

"I... I don't know a single one of..."

Speaking to this point, Zhou Zhou Xiaobai paused; she did not know the troublemaker, but she did know the one who got beaten, Zhang Li Haiyang; they were indeed from the same compound.

It was just that her family lived in the small courtyard within the large compound, while he lived in the main compound.

"Zhang Li Haiyang was here?!"

Luo Yun said angrily, "Just you wait; when I get home, I'm going to find his family!"

"Do you know them?"

Zuo Yan Jie was slightly stunned; he glanced at Luo Yun and the other, and although he was also a child from the compound, he did not recognize any of the few names he had investigated.

"You don't need to worry about it!"

Luo Yun waved her hands noisily and said, "Tonight I'll go find Aunt Zhou and see what state their family's Zhang Li Haiyang is in!"

Zhou Zhou Xiaobai tugged her hand and advised softly, "Forget it, don't stir up trouble; if this really escalates, it will be so embarrassing~"

"You ah! ~"

Luo Yun also understood Zhou Zhou Xiaobai's concerns; she was afraid that news of today's events spreading would harm their reputation.

After all, in this era, when young men fight over a girl, people usually blame the girl.

Who asked you to attract bees and butterflies?

Of course, these words couldn't come from Zhang Li Haiyang's family, but if anyone knew, they would surely say exactly that.

If things really escalated this much, Luo Yun's family might not know, but Zhou Zhou Xiaobai's family would definitely never let her go out to play again.

Even now, working at the club, she was only getting away with it because of Luo Yun; if her father found out...

Zuo Yan Jie understood clearly; it seemed that Zhang Li Haiyang lived in the same courtyard as Luo Yun, and both families knew each other.

"Let it go; since neither side suffered losses, this time they'll have learned their lesson."

He also didn't want Luo Yun to be so insistent; when young people fought, there were their own rules, and involving parents was absolutely not allowed—that would cause a massive loss of face.

If Luo Yun really made such a scene, something might actually happen.

"I think apart from the troublemaker, Zhang Li Haiyang and the others weren't targeting you; if they really knew you, why would they do this?"

"Exactly~"

Hearing Zuo Yan Jie's analysis, Zhou Zhou Xiaobai tugged Luo Yun's hand, urging her not to be impulsive and not to make more trouble.

"Alright~"

Luo Yun snapped her hand away in a bad mood, glared angrily at Zuo Yan Jie, and snorted, "You're so easy to bully; I got hurt and you didn't even help me get revenge!"

"You got hurt?"

Zuo Yan Jie asked in surprise, then immediately leaned in nervously, looking Luo Yun up and down as he asked, "Where are you hurt? Let's go to the hospital!"

"What are you doing~"

Luo Yun blushed slightly under his gaze, yet felt moved deep inside; she pushed him away and coquettishly retorted, "I fell off my bicycle, so where do you think I'm hurt?!"

"Your hand? Is it?"

Zuo Yan Jie carefully helped Luo Yun remove her glove; seeing her small hand flushed red, he held it in his own with heartache and asked with concern, "Does it hurt?"

"A little~"

At this moment, Luo Yun's voice had lost its initial sharpness, becoming unusually gentle and carrying a hint of shy embarrassment.

"..."

Zhou Zhou Xiaobai stood aside; they had barely exchanged a few words, and before anything much had happened, she was already force-fed a mouthful of dog food.

Clearly, she had fallen much harder, and Luo Yun hadn't been hurt at all, so why was Luo Yun the one acting like she was in pain now?

Eww~~~~

Seeing Luo Yun's suddenly gentle voice and shy demeanor, goosebumps rose all over Zhou Zhou Xiaobai's body.

"You two stay here; I'm leaving."

She turned her head, stepped down the porch stairs, and walked quickly toward the Service Department; even when Luo Yun called out to her, she brushed it off by saying she was busy.

Never seen anyone so wicked; here she was, trembling with fear and feeling wronged, while that one was making a loud fuss and putting on a lovey-dovey performance right in front of her.

Too much! Far too much!

Just showing off that you have a boyfriend, aren't you!

Hmph, wait until Li Ge is done with his work; I'll sweeten you to death!

I'll let you see the true taste of being in love!

Zuo Yan Jie looked somewhat stunned at Zhou Zhou Xiaobai, who was hurrying away, and asked Luo Yun, "Xiaoyun, what's wrong with her...?"

"It's nothing~ just ignore her."

Luo Yun watched Zhou Zhou Xiaobai's retreating figure, twitched the corner of her mouth, then sighed and said, "A Princess's body, but Lin Lin Daiyu's temperament~"

Zuo Yan Jie raised his eyebrows, not expecting Luo Yun's assessment of her little sister to be so profound and specific.

Seeing Zhao Zhao Sige hastily walking back from the office, Zuo Yan Jie knew he had finished reporting and was now returning to deal with these hooligans.

He rubbed Luo Yun's small hand and advised her to go check on her little sister, not to leave her alone.

Luo Yun pursed her lips; knowing Zuo Yan Jie had matters to attend to, she softly instructed, "Don't get involved in this; what I said was just out of anger; those people are not to be trifled with."

"Don't worry; you know how I handle things."

Zuo Yan Jie smiled to comfort her, pinched her cheek, and said, "Go quickly; if she really starts crying, you'll have to coax her."

"Sigh~"

Hearing him say this, Luo Yun sighed and said, "I was just born with the fate of a mother; I even have to take care of her."

Seeing Zhao Zhao Sige step up onto the porch, she proactively expressed her gratitude: "Thank you, Fourth Brother; if you hadn't stepped in today, we would have been bullied."

"What kind of talk is this~"

Zhao Zhao Sige, who was very well-versed in worldly wisdom, glanced at Zuo Yan Jie and smiled at Luo Yun, saying, "You are one of our club's people; no one is allowed to bully you."

While speaking, he patted his chest and told Luo Yun, "If you encounter these people again in the future, just say you belong to the club; whoever dares to lay a hand on you, tell me, and Fourth Brother will chop off their claws."

"Thank you, Fourth Brother~"

Luo Yun laughed heartily, waved her hand, and gestured toward the Service Department, saying, "Zhou Xiaobai wanted to thank you too, but right now there's no one in the Service Department except me; we'll treat you to lunch at noon."

"Don't be so polite."

Zhao Zhao Sige smiled and refused, gesturing toward Zuo Yan Jie as he said, "We are all brothers; if you talk like this, how can we continue getting along in the future?"

After saying that, he turned to Zuo Yan Jie and added, "Director Li instructed that if this matter recurs, you, brother, should step forward to coordinate; just go ahead and handle it."

"Understood."

Zuo Yan Jie responded steadily; since it was veterans coming to cause trouble, naturally he would be the one to coordinate.

One didn't need to think hard to realize this; after all, he was now responsible for managing the courtyard's affairs and was also running around with Section Chief Wang Ke on the foundation's work.

One shouldn't underestimate the task he was currently responsible for; after more than a month of running around, those division directors and deputy division directors who often came to the courtyard would all greet him with a smile when they saw him.

Whether they remembered his hard work or simply wanted to build a connection, at the very least, he had already risen from being a little hooligan in the compound to stepping onto the public stage, undertaking what a man should do.

Seeing the two men talking, Luo Yun called out once before going after Zhou Zhou Xiaobai.

Just as she herself had said, regarding Zhou Zhou Xiaobai, she was simply fated to be a mother; if she failed to keep watch for even a moment, the child might be secretly crying.

Zhao Lao Si gestured toward the door outside and said to Zuo Yan Jie, "I'll go tell Zhou Ge first to disperse the crowd; it doesn't look good to have them surrounding the entrance."

"That's only proper."

Zuo Yan Jie nodded and said, "If there's anything you need help with or anything to be done, just say the word, Fourth Brother."

"Good; between us brothers, we don't stand on ceremony."

Zhao Lao Si patted his arm, then strode out through the side gate.

From start to finish, the main gate of this great mansion had never been opened; Zhao Lao Si called this "guarding one's upright qi."

"Chief Zhao has arrived~"

"Fourth Brother is out~"

"Fourth Brother!"

……

When Zhao Lao Si appeared once more, those ruffians outside, who had been vaguely waiting for the person behind the scenes inside the gate to speak, now all turned their gazes toward Zhao Lao Si.

Compared to his earlier solemnity and authority, Zhao Lao Si now appeared much more approachable.

When someone joked by addressing him as "Chief Zhao," he did not get angry; instead, he smiled, walked down the steps, and clasped his fists in greeting to the crowd.

This demeanor, both steady and magnanimous, truly possessed the bearing of a Great Steward; seeing this, the ruffians also made way and ceased their joking.

In fact, it had just been heard that Zhao Lao Si had to seek instructions for everything and obey a certain female leader here; some, unconvinced, claimed Zhao Lao Si was showing weakness.

Mentioning Zhao Lao Si was not the goal; the goal was to point at Zhou Zhou Changli, saying his performance today was unlike his usual bravery.

Zhao Lao Si paid no heed to their gazes and criticisms; walking up to Zhou Zhou Changli, he handed out cigarettes to the ruffian bosses around while cautiously telling him, "Yu Jie has words: tonight's banquet expenses are on her, and she instructs you to pay attention to safety."

"Understood."

Zhou Zhou Changli nodded, listening to the order with great seriousness, showing neither the joy of gaining support nor the excitement of saving face.

The reason, of course, was that these words, spoken through Zhao Lao Si's mouth, represented something more, which he understood all too clearly.

Furthermore, since they intended to preserve his dignity for him, pointing it out before everyone also carried a tone of warning.

What the Security Section had done today had nothing to do with these ruffians; it was handling an emergency situation.

As for the gathering of ruffians here, that too had nothing to do with the club.

If Zhou Zhou Changli himself could not grasp the situation, then he should roll back into the ranks of the ruffians; if he still knew his own identity, then he should pay attention to "safety."

This "safety" was naturally not entirely words of concern for him; it also meant he should not cause trouble for the club.

Among the ruffians, there were those who merely mixed around, but there were also clever ones; once they accepted the cigarettes, they basically figured out the meaning behind Zhao Lao Si's words.

However, none of them spoke; they all watched Zhou Zhou Changli, waiting for his reply.

Zhou Zhou Changli only felt a wave of heat rise to his face, but fortunately, having spent time in the Northeast, he had grown some sense and his head did not overheat.

After acknowledging the order, he smiled, clasped his fists, looked around at the ruffians, and spoke politely: "Brother I truly had matters to invite everyone's help with; I didn't expect today to turn out like this; it is my fault."

After apologizing, he again addressed the crowd: "Our leader, Yu Jie, has cared for me greatly; tonight, I count as borrowing flowers to offer Buddha, inviting all you brothers to grace me with your presence."

These words were spoken very politely, yet the reality was not quite so.

Some ruffians looked at Zhou Zhou Changli with slightly surprised gazes, thinking to themselves: Is this still the Little Bastard?

Especially Zhang Wang Jianguo, who felt directly undervalued; he had still regarded the Little Bastard as his goal to surpass, as an idol.

Who would have thought... I chose this myself!

Sigh~~~

Many people, watching the Little Bastard become such a figure, could not help but sigh in their hearts.

From today onward, the nickname "Little Bastard" was broken; from now on, he could only be called Zhou Zhou Changli.

He could no longer call himself a ruffian, nor would the circle of ruffians acknowledge him anymore.

Of course, the Little Bastard still existed, but could only exist within history.

Zhou Zhou Changli faced everyone's regret and questioning with complete composure.

A bitter smile crossed his face; he slung an arm around Zhang Wang Jianguo's shoulder and said to several ruffian bosses nearby: "Life is short, the path of the jianghu is long; I have reached the end of my road."

Having said this, he again smiled and looked at the ruffians forming a circle, his expression seeming both gratified and reminiscent as he said: "It is not that I, Zhou Zhou Changli, have lost my nerve, nor that I have lost my courage; it is that I have more to care about."

Zhou Zhou Changli pressed his lips together, paused, and said: "From last year when I left Jingcheng until today when I returned, a total of sixty-eight brothers went with me to the Northeast!"

"I must look after them; I must let them earn money to support their families; in the future, there will be even more people, more brothers, more families!"

He patted Zhang Wang Jianguo's shoulder, forcibly holding back his emotions, and looked at everyone as he said: "The burden on my shoulders is too heavy; I cannot afford to act impulsively easily; I must act like a man."

Saying this, he turned around, looked earnestly at the ruffians, and said: "I live for myself, but I must also live for them."

Hearing him speak thus, everyone fell silent; at the gate of the great mansion, there was only a faint sound of movement, and no one chatted or joked anymore.

Yes, everything Zhou Zhou Changli said were words from the heart, honest and true words.

They were ruffians, possessing a carefree life, but even the great ruffians, were they all popped out of stone cracks?

Anyone who had a family, who had parents, had they never thought about the future?

No matter how much they could play, no matter how carefree they could be, they could only play for a few years; the good times were only what lay immediately before their eyes.

"Today, I count as washing my hands in a golden basin; I will not enter the jianghu again."

Zhou Zhou Changli clasped his fists to those around him and said: "But I will forever be a person of the jianghu, and I will remember the responsibilities of the jianghu!"

He pointed at himself and said: "I, Zhou Zhou Changli, possess no great abilities; I cannot give you fantasies of soaring success, nor can I give you a future of fine clothes and delicacies."

"But if you wish to eat your fill, make a living, and take a wife, as long as you are willing to endure hardship, I can still provide a place and security for everyone."

Zhou Zhou Changli finally said: "Anyone in the capital facing difficulties, or living in hardship, or with relatives and children needing work, can all come find me, find Lao Si."

Zhao Lao Si stepped forward at the right moment and introduced to everyone: "Shipping sailors, waiters, dockworkers, warehouse workers; for now, only these positions are available; there may be more in the future, but we must wait."

"There is a phrase; I do not know whether I should speak it or not."

He looked at several ruffian bosses and said sincerely: "Since Brother Zhou has said he will no longer be in the jianghu, I also advise you all: being a ruffian leads nowhere; you should make plans early."

Having said this, he pointed at Zhou Zhou Changli and said, "If you truly want to support a family and work steadily, you can follow Zhou Ge on this journey."

The elder hooligans surrounding them watched the pair, while those on the periphery remained silent, pondering in their hearts.

Some might have taken the words to heart and were reflecting, while others, though not openly refuting them on the surface, paid no heed to what the two had said.

At this time, every hooligan was supported by a 'Buddha,' so where was the lack of spending money? At any time, they lived carefree lives.

As for the future?

Damn it, we haven't even figured out how to live properly right now; why think about the future!

Drink today while there is wine; worry tomorrow when sorrow comes tomorrow.

"Fourth Brother."

A hooligan looked toward Zhao Zhao Sige, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "You're doing quite well right now; is there still such work available?"

"Me? Heh heh~"

Zhao Zhao Sige chuckled softly, then shook his head slightly, saying, "Right now, I'm just a gatekeeper; not only can I not support a family, I'm struggling just to feed myself."

"As for making money,"

he looked at the person who had asked the question and said sincerely, "you still have to follow Zhou Ge on this journey."

"Of course, if you haven't decided yet, after Zhou Ge leaves this time, you can also tell me; I will keep a record for you, and when Zhou Ge has needs on his end, I can act as an intermediary to make contact; that is no problem either."

Zhao Zhao Sige spoke very modestly, yet none of the crowd really believed his words.

If he were truly just a gatekeeper, could he, with a single wave of his hand, command so many guards to rush out and beat people?

Moreover, looking at Zhao Zhao Sige's demeanor and image back then, some would even believe he held a high-ranking cadre position within that place.

What exactly lay within those deep courtyards and grand mansions, these hooligans did not know, but what they did know was that small cars frequently entered and exited there, a place not accessible to ordinary people.

Even a seventh-rank official stands before a prime minister's gate; no matter how incompetent Zhao Zhao Sige might be, with his current status displayed right there, the crowd could not help but look up to him.

Especially since Zhou Zhou Changli, today, had gone with the flow, washed his hands of the golden basin, and withdrawn completely from the hooligan underworld.

Decent and prestigious, he truly had both substance and face.

That Yu Jie had reminded him to pay attention to his safety was, in reality, a hint to everyone present; Zhou Zhou Changli's choice directly determined his future status.

Now that Zhou Zhou Changli was a person of the grand mansion, his safety would naturally be protected by the mansion's influence.

From the mouths of the hooligans, today's events would inevitably spread; in the future, those old soldiers would have no reason to lay hands on Zhou Zhou Changli upon seeing him.

No longer in the underworld, no longer asking about the underworld; if anyone truly provoked him, there would be no need to handle matters according to underworld rules.

If he truly had background and connections, then naturally, proper channels would be used: arrest those who should be arrested, sentence those who should be sentenced; who could withstand that?

Therefore, watching Zhou Zhou Changli arrange proper futures for himself and his brothers, Zhang Wang Jianguo and others, who ruled their own mountains, felt a mix of disdain and envy in their hearts.

"From today onward, 'Little Bastard' is gone."

Zhang Wang Jianguo lifted his head slightly, looked at Zhou Zhou Changli, and nodded earnestly at himself, saying, "From now on, in Xinjiekou, it is I, Zhang Wang Jianguo, who calls the shots."

Witnessed by the elder hooligans of the Four-Nine City, the power in Xinjiekou was formally handed over.

Zhang Wang Jianguo was clearly and logically taking over Zhou Zhou Changli's reputation and influence, but he was also taking over the karmic debts Zhou Zhou Changli had accumulated in the past.

This openness and legitimacy made the crowd yearn for it; if everything could proceed this smoothly, there would be no more conflicts among hooligans.

After finishing his speech, Zhang Wang Jianguo paused, pointed a finger from himself toward Zhou Zhou Changli, and said, "But I must call you Big Brother!"

He nodded slowly and said seriously, "Just for you preparing this path for us, from now on, the hooligans of the Four-Nine City will not be ghosts on a dead-end road!"

Zhang Wang Jianguo's words were spoken very arrogantly, yet they were also very convincing.

Yao Yuan, Li Li Zhanyuan, and others, the elder hooligans of the north and south of the Four-Corner City who had remained silent until now, also nodded in agreement with his viewpoint.

Perhaps right now they could not bear to give up their identity as hooligans, could not bear to part with the quick satisfaction and revenge of the underworld, but who could guarantee that the feng shui of the underworld would remain the same in the future?

Therefore, Zhou Zhou Changli had become their backup plan, and also the place where they could settle their brothers and sisters.

Just as Zhou Zhou Changli had said, there was no overly ideal job; it was simply hard work for real money, enough to eat one's fill, take a wife, and support a family.

Even someone as arrogant as Heizi had seen it with their own eyes; the fact that Zhou Zhou Changli spoke so cautiously only confirmed that his words were not false.

'Four-Nine City'; this term originally likely stemmed from the number of city gates, but earlier it was not called Four-Nine City, but rather Four-Corner City.

Dongcheng, Xicheng, Chongwen, Xuanwu; everything else was outside the city.

The concept of 'North and South City' in the hooligans' jargon was a general reference to areas south and north of Xidan.

Believe it or not, this gathering at the club entrance, brought about by a strange combination of circumstances, had truly established several rules and events.

First, Zhou Zhou Changli had formally withdrawn from the underworld, proving his status to all hooligans; from now on, he would only discuss life, not fighting and killing.

Secondly, the hooligans had gathered without conflict, and instead had jointly dealt with the invading young punks.

This also gave the hooligans, for the first time, the mindset and reason to unite against external threats.

If matters were truly laid out in the open, the conflicts between hooligans did not seem to be life-or-death or irreconcilable.

Li Li Zhanyuan and others smiled at each other, all feeling that the current atmosphere was very good.

Someone proposed that, taking advantage of everyone being present today, they should make an agreement: henceforth, whenever there were matters or conflicts they could not resolve among themselves, they would invite Chief Manager Zhao to mediate and reconcile, ceasing mutual fighting.

This proposal quickly gained everyone's approval; no one wanted to fight each other, and they all felt that beating up the young punks today was far more uplifting.

Especially since Zhao Zhao Sige now had background and status; whether due to entangled interests or entangled identities, all the people of his faction had followed Zhou Zhou Changli to the Northeast.

In Jingcheng, Zhao Zhao Sige could truly be said to possess unique advantages; his position could not be more impartial or detached from worldly affairs.

"I won't do it!"

Zhao Zhao Sige was rendered speechless with a mix of anger and amusement by this proposal, stating, "I am just a gatekeeper!"

Although he emphasized this, the elder hooligans ignored him; you say your piece, we say ours.

Right there at the gate of the grand mansion, the crowd made a pact: in the future, when meeting, they would call him Fourth Brother, and if anyone faced difficulties or conflicts, they should come to Fourth Brother in advance to give notice.

Although these words were spoken in jest, which of those present dared to treat them without seriousness?

Each family knows its own affairs; what background or patron did any of these hooligans truly have?

Zhao Zhao Sige leaned against a big tree for shade; if he truly spoke out to resolve their conflicts, it would also create a bond of gratitude.

To put it plainly, they just wanted to bask in Zhao Zhao Lao Si's glory and soak up some of that Miss Yu's Buddhist aura.

Pity that, from start to finish, this Miss Yu never appeared, leaving everyone only to fantasize in their hearts about how domineering and formidable she must be.

As the crowd dispersed, a group of older ruffian bosses walked out together; riding their bikes and gazing at the grand mansion before them, someone suggested that the ruffians of Si Jiu City should be no different from the veterans and ought to have a base of operations.

No wonder they say that whenever three men gather, a king of ideas is bound to emerge.

Thus, the third event of the club gathering was born: a base of operations.

They all envied this club, a place where everyone could gather without having to stand outside foolishly freezing as they had in the past or even today.

Li Li Sida from Dongsi proposed, "The Zhengxie Club opposite the Guest House has been shut down and now sits empty; we could sweep it out and make it our base."

"Good!"

"That place is perfect!"

"Let's go right now!"

Over a hundred bikes rolled out from Dongsi, heading straight for the Guest House.

It was precisely in this club opposite the Guest House that Zhang Wang Jianguo and the others first felt the heroic spirit of a grand alliance, like the eighteen warlords uniting to punish Dong Zhuo.

This club had long been abandoned; no one dared to occupy it, so they seized it first, and indeed, no one dared to interfere.

Many of the prominent ruffians operating in Si Jiu City had returned from Daxibei; the specific reasons need not be spoken aloud, as everyone knew.

Inside this club, the underlings found firewood, lit the stove, and ordered wine and dishes.

The bosses, over white liquor, discussed today's gathering, spoke of the grand courtyard, and talked about Zhou Zhou Changli.

Furthermore, reflecting on today's scene of unity, they reviewed the lessons learned from last August when the ruffians of Si Jiu City were wiped out in one sweep.

As everyone kept talking, they felt the words flowing ever more freely and ideas multiplying.

In the end, the group deliberated and drafted four rules of conduct for the circle of ruffians in Si Jiu City.

This club had long been neglected, with no one coming to tidy up for several months; not even a scrap of draft paper could be found.

Finally, Li Li Heping used the yellow grass paper that had wrapped fried dough twists to record these four rules of the way:

One, do not bully good students;

Two, when picking fights, do not chase opponents to their homes, and do not retaliate by harming their families;

Three, any Fo Ye changing trades must go through the ruffians;

Four, do not betray associates; even thieves have their code.

From this moment on, the club opposite the Guest House became the base of operations for their 'Si Jiu' group.

Paicha is not a fork used for stabbing people; it is a festive snack, deep-fried and often made during winter.

As for the underworld slang in these four rules, the simpler terms were understood by all, though 'tai ren' might be slightly obscure to some.

It does not mean carrying someone away, but is jargon for betraying friends or informing on others.

In fact, from these simple four rules, one can see that these people still had certain scruples and a sense of bottom lines.

Not bullying good students indicated they did not wish to provoke figures in the open, while also allowing them to proclaim their own righteousness.

Picking fights was naturally unavoidable, but the principle that calamity should not extend to one's family proclaimed their loyalty and left themselves a way out.

Fo Ye changing trades naturally related to economics; without money, nothing can be done, and no one wants to fight over cash.

With rules restricting the Fo Ye, they could secure a steady flow of income into their pockets without having to lift a finger.

As for the last rule, it goes without saying that everyone in this line of work worldwide hates a snitch.

Li Li Xuewu stayed at the club for only half a day; he resolved work matters in the morning and then sat for a while with Wang Wang Xiaoqin and the others.

After eating lunch in the cafeteria, seeing that Zhou Zhou Xiaobai seemed to have endless things to say, he could only explain that he needed to return home to visit his parents.

Zhou Zhou Xiaobai actually knew some of his family circumstances, and upon hearing him mention his eldest sister-in-law giving birth and his father and third younger brother returning home,

even though she hadn't seen him for a week, she still had to smile and pretend not to care.

Li Li Xuewu wanted to tease this Miss, but truly lacked the energy, so he simply wrote down an address for her.

"If you are willing to learn a foreign language, or to see the world of Lu Mian De Shi Yan Jie, you can go over there and have a look."

"Where is this?"

Zhou Zhou Xiaobai was naturally willing to go to the address he gave, but did not know what this place was for.

As Li Li Xuewu let her walk him out of the dining hall, he raised an eyebrow and joked, "The International Hotel; a place for sleeping."