Chapter Thirty-Seven Negotiation

  At noon, I was the only one eating. Since meeting Hei Shan Lao Yao at Jiaozi Mountain, Old Wu insisted on passing on the "Tao Te Ching" to him and went up the mountain himself. Jin Chengwu took Xiaoxian into town for a stroll. As for my sole guest Tie Ji Li, after chatting with me for a few sentences in the morning, he stayed in his room and didn't show his face again.

  In the afternoon, Meng's aunt called and said that Wang Ercai had agreed to negotiate with her. In order to be fair, she also invited several seniors and new rich people from the rivers and lakes, and Meng's aunt hoped I could go too.

  "Is this suitable?" I said.

  "You have to go, I'm very clear about Wang Ercai's kind of person, he has a grudge and must report it. He says it's negotiations, but who knows what evil is hidden in his heart? The other old men are either dying or don't understand the rules, they're second-generation ancestors. Your dad fought to the death for everyone's benefit and the Haihe gang, as soon as he went in, those bastards turned their backs on him and didn't recognize him. In this situation, if you don't show up again, that group of white-eyed wolves will think that our Long family has no men left."

  I knew that in recent years, Long's Bao Hua Group had not only not shrunk under Meng's leadership but was also thriving and receiving attention and envy from others. I quickly realized that this was probably not a simple negotiation, but I didn't understand what I could do by going there. I don't know about Jianghu affairs, and I'm not interested in fighting and killing either. However, since Meng had taken the matter to a family level, I couldn't decline, so I asked: "Where will we meet?"

  "Red Song Nightclub," said Meng Yi, "that's Wang Ercai's place."

  "Is he... safe?"

  "There are so many seniors around, he shouldn't dare go too far." Meng said: "Are you afraid?"

  "I'm afraid?" I laughed: "If you knew what kind of days I've been having lately, you wouldn't ask that." The most beautiful and elegant person I interacted with today was also a 200-year-old female ghost. What else do I have to be afraid of?

  "What have you been doing these past few days?"

  "It's hard to put into words, but basically it's just settling an account."

  "Is there anyone else who dares to owe you money and not pay it back? How did you collect it?"

  I sighed and said: "You know me, I'm a soft-hearted person. I just can't bear to see others suffer. If I went to someone's house, there's no need to say anything, I wouldn't be able to stand it myself."

  "Do you want me to help you collect? The people under me are professionals at collecting debts."

  "Never mind, I'll handle this myself - shall we meet at a few points?"

  "Five o'clock in the afternoon, neither too early nor too late."

  "Got it."

  I took a look at my watch and saw I still had two hours left, so I quickly tidied up and drove out.

  The Red Song Nightclub is located on the west 4th ring road of the city, and its location should be said to be not very good. However, it's very famous among locals for a simple reason: this place has everything that men are interested in, including drug addicts who can find their own paradise here. It's always been the best place for bribing leaders and building relationships with clients.

  I drove across the city and arrived at 4:59. I parked my car opposite Red Song Hui, and from a distance, I saw a huge sign at the entrance: Closed today for business. It seems that Wang Ercai has made a significant investment in this negotiation.

  After sitting in the car for a while, I decided to go in myself. At the entrance, I was stopped by two seemingly polite young men: "Sir, our store is closed today. If you're interested, come back tomorrow."

  Before I could even explain, a loud and rough voice came from behind me: "Blind your dog eyes, can't even recognize Dragon Young and still dare to come out and mix?"

  I turned around and saw a burly man emerging from the car, wearing a large gold chain around his neck, followed by two men in sunglasses. The aura of a big shot was almost written all over his face. Two young men at the door hastily nodded and bowed to greet him: "Tiger Brother!"

  This big brother rushed over enthusiastically as soon as he saw me, hugged me in his arms and patted me on the back, laughing loudly: "Brother, do you still recognize me?"

  I scratched my head and said: "Forgive me, brother, for being blind..."

  Duan Hu patted his chest and said: "What's wrong with your memory? I'm Duan Hu!"

  I suddenly said: "Damn it, it's actually Tiger Brother."

  As soon as he mentioned the name, I remembered - this guy was someone I often saw when I was a kid. His name is Duan Hu, and his dad, Duan Jinlong, had a monopoly on the city's transportation business. After his dad retired a few years ago, Duan Hu took over his position and now he's also a well-known figure in the underworld, known as "Tiger Brother". When we were kids, he would often follow his dad to my house to discuss business, so I guess you could say we're acquaintances from way back. However, he's almost 10 years older than me, so we never really played together or had any deep conversations, just a nodding acquaintance. That's why I didn't recognize him at first glance.

  Duan Hu rushed towards the two men and shouted at Xiao Di: "Don't you call him Young Master Long?"

  Those two young men, although they didn't know me, as soon as they heard my surname was Long, suddenly understood and their expressions changed immediately. They smiled apologetically and said: "So you're Young Master Long, we really were blind to your identity."

  Duan Hu also ignored them and put his arm around my shoulder, saying "Let's go, up we go."

  Who would have thought that the two younger brothers hastily stretched out their hands to block him, looking embarrassed and saying: "Brother Hu, you can go up, but please leave those two brothers behind."

  "What did you say?"

  The younger brother smiled and said: "Our boss has ordered that today is a purely private gathering, no one is allowed to bring bodyguards, and he is no exception."

  "Damn it, what's Wang Lao Er up to? Fine, since you two said you wouldn't bring me along and now you're taking them instead, that just makes us look weak. You two go back by yourselves."

  Duan Hu said one sentence to dismiss the bodyguard, and the little brother at the door thanked him profusely. One of them led the way, sending us up in the elevator. At the entrance of the elevator, he bowed and said: "Tiger Brother, Long Shao, the meeting place is on the 5th floor, you two will have to go there yourself, today is a gathering of all the big shots, we small ones dare not show our faces easily."

  Duan Hu waved his hand impatiently and pressed the 5th floor button. After the elevator doors closed, I apologized: "Sorry, Brother Tiger, that was really embarrassing just now."

  Duan Hu waved his hand and said, "It's been many years since we last met, no wonder you can't recognize me, I also took a long time to recognize you." Duan Hu looked at me and said, "I was wondering where you've been all these years? Logically speaking, after your dad went in, you should have taken over, I thought our two brothers would join forces and do something big together."

  I smiled and said, "Nothing much, just a few years of school."

  Duantiger's eyes swept towards the camera and he leaned in close to me, saying in a low voice: "You should know what happened today, right?"

  I nodded slightly.

  "So, I'm saying you shouldn't have gone to school and left your woman behind, it's only going to cause trouble!"

  I don't know if he's referring to Meng Yi or Gao Xiaowei, so I can only laugh awkwardly.

  At this time, the elevator door opened, and a woman in full bloom stood in the corridor to lead the way. As soon as she saw him, she called out "Tiger Brother" repeatedly, obviously a nightclub hostess who had seen the world. Duan Tiger's palm was stuck on her buttocks, and he whispered something in her ear, the hostess giggled and pretended to refuse, while Duan Tiger chuckled slyly.

  The girl led us to the entrance of a private room but didn't go in, slightly composed and said: "You two big shots go in, another day when you come to play I'll accompany you."

  This is a dozen or so square meters large private room, although the top light is on, it still feels a bit stuffy. On the table, there is only a teapot and a few cups. Before us, a middle-aged man with a gloomy face was already sitting on the sofa. His face was dark and his eyes were fierce, as if everyone owed him money.

  Duan Hu saw this person and slightly furrowed his brow, then loudly called out: "Feng Ge, you're early."

  Feng Ge looked up at him and forced a few points of expression: "Hutu also didn't come late."

  Duan Hu patted me on the shoulder and asked him: "Do you still recognize who this is?"

  Feng Ge didn't seem interested at all and casually said: "Your new little brother?"

  Duan Hu was shocked and hastily said: "You've really killed me with this, don't you recognize the son of Dragon Master?"

  Feng Ge's face changed, and he slightly bowed his head to greet me: "Little Dragon, where have you been making a fortune lately?"

  I was just going through the motions with him, and as Duan Hu introduced him, I vaguely remembered this person. His full name is something I really don't know, but I recall that back in the day, he often followed my dad around to get involved in things. However, my dad didn't like people with the surname Feng, saying they were sinister, cunning, and untrustworthy. Later on, Feng slowly managed to climb up as well, basically getting involved in any shady business that made money - collecting protection fees, lending at exorbitant interest rates, and pimping. After he rose to prominence, his reputation was terrible because of his tyrannical ways, earning him the nickname "Feng Ba Zhou". However, whenever he saw my dad, he would still be very respectful and obedient. Since my dad went in, no one has been willing to listen to him anymore.

  Feng Ba Zhou said half a sentence to me, roughly thinking that he had already given face to Long Ye, so he didn't bother with me anymore. He chatted with Duan Hu about some unrelated things, and Duan Hu responded randomly. These two people obviously looked down on each other, but the Jianghu was no longer a place where you could clearly distinguish between love and hate. Even if they looked down on each other in their hearts, they still had to be polite on the surface.

  Not long after, the sound of Aunt Meng's voice came from the corridor, and I felt a bit better. To be honest, being with these people makes me feel quite awkward, although I don't talk about black changes like ordinary people do, but after all, I've been away from this circle for too long.

  Aunt Meng said at the door of the private room to that young lady: "Where is your boss Wang? Why hasn't he come yet?"

  The young lady carefully said: "He said he'll be here soon."

  "Hurry him up, he's got a big attitude wanting to talk to me. Tell him I'll wait for 5 minutes, if he doesn't show up within 5 minutes, I'm walking out."

  The young lady hastily said: "Yes." As a woman herself, her advantages were of no use, so she seemed even more obedient.

  Meng's aunt pushed open the door and came in. As soon as she saw Duan Hu and Feng Ba Zua, she smiled and said: "Wow, there are really early arrivals!"

  Duan Hu and Feng Ba Zha also stood up to greet her, Meng Ni was a woman of noble birth after all, representing the Bao Hua Group and Long Ye, not giving her face would be inappropriate.

  Aunt Meng saw me and casually asked: "Nothing going on this afternoon?"

  I'm depressed, originally nothing happened, but now she's made a big deal out of it. I took advantage of the time when Hu and Feng were chatting to pull Meng aside and ask quietly: "What should I say later?"

  "Speak to me," said Meng's aunt. "But don't let them pick out the gifts yet."

  "I made a bitter face and said: 'Isn't it too difficult?'"

  "Dealing with these people, I'll give you eight words: reasonable and well-founded, confusing and chaotic!"

  I sighed and said: "I just can't understand."

  Aunt Meng patted me on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, I'll demonstrate it for you in a moment."

  Division line

  If they fight, guess what these two people rely on to escape. Those who guess correctly will receive a heavy reward, and the second male lead has the right to sign his name.