Chapter 47 Choose One
Inside the company.
Yu Mingyuan sat in his chair, holding the phone in his right hand, his brow furrowed. "…Is this about the money that Lei Zi outside Dragon City wants, or is the Ma Gang trying to block us?"
"In my opinion, the Ma Gang didn't rob the goods or the people, but they do want to use this incident to pressure us," Tang Baiqing replied. "We have channels and can transport loose cargo quickly. Our business is expanding, and it's only natural for those who rely on the sea for their livelihoods to feel envious."
Yu Mingyuan fell silent.
"Mingyuan, we've known each other for a long time, so I'll be frank with you." Tang Baiqing tried to persuade him again. "Whether we use the Ma Gang or the Dirty Gang as our labor force doesn't matter to us. We just need to divide the profits. But from a practical and convenient standpoint, the Ma Gang is more valuable than the three families of Su, Bai, and Kong. They make a living on the water and have a lot of influence near the port. If you use them, you'll reduce a lot of unnecessary trouble. For example, you're not that big yet, but if you expand your business, more people will become jealous. When customs officials and outside gangs come after you, can you rely on the Su, Bai, and Kong families to deal with them all? But you can rely on the Ma Gang, as they specialize in this. Do you see what I mean?"
Yu Mingyuan seemed to be thinking, but he still didn't respond.
"I've said all I need to say. If you're interested in talking, I'll invite Xu Hu and Xu Er to come out and discuss this with us. We'll reorganize our plans." Tang Baiqing said.
"Okay, let me think about it."
"Don't worry, although the Ma Gang doesn't want to openly help us get the goods now, they've given us a heads up, so the other side won't move against our people or goods for the time being." Tang Baiqing gave Yu Mingyuan a precautionary measure.
"Okay, I'll get back to you tomorrow."
"Good, I'll wait for your call, and we'll invite everyone to sit down and talk."
"That's it then."
After the conversation ended, the dimly lit office was quiet. Yu Mingyuan lit a cigarette, his face was gloomy and his eyes deep.
At this point, with Yu Mingyuan's intelligence, he would never believe that the robbery of goods had nothing to do with the Ma Gang.
Clearly, the hijacking incident was a move made by the gang to deal with Yu Mingyuan's forces. Firstly, it was a way to show him their energy and control around the harbor, and secondly, they didn't want to immediately have a fallout with Yu Mingyuan, hence the talk of Lei Zi's hijacking.
So, in this matter, what role did Tang Baiqing, who had been acting as a messenger, play? Did he really not know anything beforehand? Was he really only considering his own interests?
The relationship between the maritime police and the dock organization is like that between fish and water, so is this matter really that simple?
Now there are only two options in front of Yu Mingyuan: firstly, to kick out the Su Bai Kong three families and bring in the gang, which would result in the goods coming back quickly and business continuing smoothly on the sea in the future; secondly, to refuse the gang's conditions and continue to use the Su Bai Kong three families, but in this case, the goods will not return for the time being, the detained people will also be in danger, and he may also offend Tang Baiqing. It will also not be easy to buy goods from the South Gate of the sea in the future.
This is a biased choice, and Yu Mingyuan felt an inexplicable anger in his heart, but he couldn't think of a third possibility.
Feeling restless, Yu Mingyuan stubbed out his cigarette and prepared to leave the company.
"Knock, knock!"
Just then, a knocking sound was heard at the door.
"Who is it?" Yu Mingyuan shouted.
The door opened and Su Tianyu walked in: "Brother Yu!"
"Oh, Tianyu," Yu Mingyuan replied softly, "I was just about to leave."
"I came to ask if the matter with the goods has been sorted out?" Su Tianyu asked as he stepped forward.
Yu Mingyuan licked his lips and did not tell Su Tianyu the truth, only replying vaguely: "Tang Baiqing just called me and said that the gang has found out some information, and not to worry."
"If they have demands, the goods will not be lost," Su Tianyu frowned and said, "but someone from my family has been detained, and I'm afraid they will be in danger."
"I'll keep urging the Ma Gang, don't worry, comfort your family. Rest assured, whether it's spending money or offering incense, our company will definitely bring the person back," said Yu Mingyuan as he patted Su Tianyu's shoulder.
Su Tianyu paused for a moment and pulled out a folded A4 paper from his pocket, saying, "Brother Yuan, take a look at this."
"What's this?" Yu Mingyuan took the paper and unfolded it.
The A4 paper listed some data and the names of supermarkets in various sections of Zhanan district.
Yu Mingyuan didn't quite understand and asked, "What does this data mean?"
"Recently, the three of us have been expanding our sales channels within our own circles," Su Tianyu replied softly. "This data lists the estimated increase in future goods, as well as the addresses and scale of supermarkets and stores."
Yu Mingyuan looked at Su Tianyu in surprise. "You're quite meticulous!"
"I love my job," Su Tianyu looked up at Yu Mingyuan and suddenly said inexplicably, "Brother Yuan, the Ma Gang may be good, but they're not one of us!"
This statement left Yu Mingyuan confused. He slowly closed the A4 paper and replied softly, "You're overthinking it, Tianyu."
"Brother Yuan, urge Tang Baiqing to find the person as soon as possible," Su Tianyu's voice was low and serious, without a smile on his face. "If my family's people are not back within two days, there's no need for Tang Baiqing to keep searching."
"What do you plan to do?"
"I personally think that kidnapping and using threats is the lowest means possible, because if you can do it, someone else can do it," Su Tianyu stopped at this point and said, "Zhang Hao only works for me, if anything happens to him because of this, I can't explain to his family. So if Tang Baiqing can't find him, I'll do it myself."
"Can you find him?"
"Maybe," Su Tianyu smiled.
Yu Mingyuan nodded at him and didn't say anything more.
"I'm leaving, Brother Yuan," Su Tianyu threw out these words and turned to leave.
Yu Mingyuan watched his back and his expression was complicated. After thinking for a few seconds, he quickly put on his jacket and left.
—---
Near the pier.
Kong Zhenghui sat in the car and pulled out three thousand yuan from his bag, looking at a shifty-eyed man and saying, "Read my fortune."
"What do you want me to read?" the man asked.
"Read about the seven speedboats," Kong Zhenghui said as he handed over the money, "You have one night to do it."
"...That'll cost extra," the man replied.
Chapter 47 Choose One
Inside the company.
Yu Mingyuan sat in his chair, holding the phone in his right hand, his brow furrowed. "…Is this about the money that Lei Zi outside Dragon City wants, or is the Ma Gang trying to block us?"
"In my opinion, the Ma Gang didn't rob the goods or the people, but they do want to use this incident to pressure us," Tang Baiqing replied. "We have channels and can transport loose cargo quickly. Our business is expanding, and it's only natural for those who rely on the sea for their livelihoods to feel envious."
Yu Mingyuan fell silent.
"Mingyuan, we've known each other for a long time, so I'll be frank with you." Tang Baiqing tried to persuade him again. "Whether we use the Ma Gang or the Dirty Gang as our labor force doesn't matter to us. We just need to divide the profits. But from a practical and convenient standpoint, the Ma Gang is more valuable than the three families of Su, Bai, and Kong. They make a living on the water and have a lot of influence near the port. If you use them, you'll reduce a lot of unnecessary trouble. For example, you're not that big yet, but if you expand your business, more people will become jealous. When customs officials and outside gangs come after you, can you rely on the Su, Bai, and Kong families to deal with them all? But you can rely on the Ma Gang, as they specialize in this. Do you see what I mean?"
Yu Mingyuan seemed to be thinking, but he still didn't respond.
"I've said all I need to say. If you're interested in talking, I'll invite Xu Hu and Xu Er to come out and discuss this with us. We'll reorganize our plans." Tang Baiqing said.
"Okay, let me think about it."
"Don't worry, although the Ma Gang doesn't want to openly help us get the goods now, they've given us a heads up, so the other side won't move against our people or goods for the time being." Tang Baiqing gave Yu Mingyuan a precautionary measure.
"Okay, I'll get back to you tomorrow."
"Good, I'll wait for your call, and we'll invite everyone to sit down and talk."
"That's it then."
After the conversation ended, the dimly lit office was quiet. Yu Mingyuan lit a cigarette, his face was gloomy and his eyes deep.
At this point, with Yu Mingyuan's intelligence, he would never believe that the robbery of goods had nothing to do with the Ma Gang.
Clearly, the hijacking incident was a move made by the gang to deal with Yu Mingyuan's forces. Firstly, it was a way to show him their energy and control around the harbor, and secondly, they didn't want to immediately have a fallout with Yu Mingyuan, hence the talk of Lei Zi's hijacking.
So, in this matter, what role did Tang Baiqing, who had been acting as a messenger, play? Did he really not know anything beforehand? Was he really only considering his own interests?
The relationship between the maritime police and the dock organization is like that between fish and water, so is this matter really that simple?
Now there are only two options in front of Yu Mingyuan: firstly, to kick out the Su Bai Kong three families and bring in the gang, which would result in the goods coming back quickly and business continuing smoothly on the sea in the future; secondly, to refuse the gang's conditions and continue to use the Su Bai Kong three families, but in this case, the goods will not return for the time being, the detained people will also be in danger, and he may also offend Tang Baiqing. It will also not be easy to buy goods from the South Gate of the sea in the future.
This is a biased choice, and Yu Mingyuan felt an inexplicable anger in his heart, but he couldn't think of a third possibility.
Feeling restless, Yu Mingyuan stubbed out his cigarette and prepared to leave the company.
"Knock, knock!"
Just then, a knocking sound was heard at the door.
"Who is it?" Yu Mingyuan shouted.
The door opened and Su Tianyu walked in: "Brother Yu!"
"Oh, Tianyu," Yu Mingyuan replied softly, "I was just about to leave."
"I came to ask if the matter with the goods has been sorted out?" Su Tianyu asked as he stepped forward.
Yu Mingyuan licked his lips and did not tell Su Tianyu the truth, only replying vaguely: "Tang Baiqing just called me and said that the gang has found out some information, and not to worry."
"If they have demands, the goods will not be lost," Su Tianyu frowned and said, "but someone from my family has been detained, and I'm afraid they will be in danger."
"I'll keep urging the Ma Gang, don't worry, comfort your family. Rest assured, whether it's spending money or offering incense, our company will definitely bring the person back," said Yu Mingyuan as he patted Su Tianyu's shoulder.
Su Tianyu paused for a moment and pulled out a folded A4 paper from his pocket, saying, "Brother Yuan, take a look at this."
"What's this?" Yu Mingyuan took the paper and unfolded it.
The A4 paper listed some data and the names of supermarkets in various sections of Zhanan district.
Yu Mingyuan didn't quite understand and asked, "What does this data mean?"
"Recently, the three of us have been expanding our sales channels within our own circles," Su Tianyu replied softly. "This data lists the estimated increase in future goods, as well as the addresses and scale of supermarkets and stores."
Yu Mingyuan looked at Su Tianyu in surprise. "You're quite meticulous!"
"I love my job," Su Tianyu looked up at Yu Mingyuan and suddenly said inexplicably, "Brother Yuan, the Ma Gang may be good, but they're not one of us!"
This statement left Yu Mingyuan confused. He slowly closed the A4 paper and replied softly, "You're overthinking it, Tianyu."
"Brother Yuan, urge Tang Baiqing to find the person as soon as possible," Su Tianyu's voice was low and serious, without a smile on his face. "If my family's people are not back within two days, there's no need for Tang Baiqing to keep searching."
"What do you plan to do?"
"I personally think that kidnapping and using threats is the lowest means possible, because if you can do it, someone else can do it," Su Tianyu stopped at this point and said, "Zhang Hao only works for me, if anything happens to him because of this, I can't explain to his family. So if Tang Baiqing can't find him, I'll do it myself."
"Can you find him?"
"Maybe," Su Tianyu smiled.
Yu Mingyuan nodded at him and didn't say anything more.
"I'm leaving, Brother Yuan," Su Tianyu threw out these words and turned to leave.
Yu Mingyuan watched his back and his expression was complicated. After thinking for a few seconds, he quickly put on his jacket and left.
—---
Near the pier.
Kong Zhenghui sat in the car and pulled out three thousand yuan from his bag, looking at a shifty-eyed man and saying, "Read my fortune."
"What do you want me to read?" the man asked.
"Read about the seven speedboats," Kong Zhenghui said as he handed over the money, "You have one night to do it."
"...That'll cost extra," the man replied.
