Chapter 7

Chen Ke faced his first extortion in his life, and to be honest, he was really uneasy. He glanced at Hua Xiongmou, who had a carefree look on his face, seemingly experienced and confident. It was unclear whether this guy often extorted others or was often extorted himself.

Seeing Chen Ke’s rather strange gaze, Hua Xiongmou smiled and said, "Wenqing, you’ve been abroad for so long, you don’t understand the situation here." He introduced Chen Ke to the general situation on the streets, explaining that nowadays, no matter who did business, they had to know some people. The brothers on the streets would at least take money and do some work. Without the brothers on the streets looking after you, you would become a target for vicious criminals.

Seeing Chen Ke still doubtful, Hua Xiongmou assured him that after the conversation in the jargon, he could confirm that these two people were official members of the Heaven and Earth Society. The Heaven and Earth Society was a "reliable organization," and the fees they charged were very reasonable.

Since Hua Xiongmou said so, Chen Ke naturally had to respect the "expert." He nodded in agreement and then turned to Zhou Yuanxiao and said, "Brother Zhou, don’t worry, I’ll cover the money for the gift. We’ll dye the cloth as usual. Rushing it will only make it worse."

Hearing this, Zhou Yuanxiao, as usual, remained silent, just nodding. The three returned to the table, and Zhou Yuanxiao and Hua Xiongmou lay down and continued sleeping. Chen Ke, stimulated by this incident, was wide awake. Looking at the other three sleeping soundly, Chen Ke really envied their broad-mindedness. Since he couldn’t sleep, Chen Ke didn’t want to waste time. He got up and started working quietly. Cleaning the furnace, handling the wastewater, there was a lot to do. Zhou Yuanxiao’s dyeing workshop was built with considerable care, and there was even a hidden drain leading to the outside sewer. Lifting the wooden cover, Chen Ke quietly poured the wastewater in, and he couldn’t help but think that if these two from the Heaven and Earth Society were in his time, they would have been arrested and imprisoned, or even executed.

Zhengzhou, as a railway hub, was once very chaotic. Before the severe crackdown in the 1980s, the "thief kings" from all over the country even held a "national conference" in Zhengzhou. Under the iron fist of the severe crackdown in the 1980s, stealing a watch could get you executed, let alone those self-proclaimed bandits and "heroes of the underworld," who were all wiped out. The social environment was genuinely refreshed.

Chen Ke had never been extorted before. The extortion he had seen was at most a few rare incidents in school. Even so, it was never a legitimate matter. If a student who extorted others was discovered by the school, they would be severely punished.

Later, in the late 1990s to the early 2000s, crime resurfaced, but it was still within the tolerance of the people. After 2003, with several major robberies, both organized and unorganized criminals were again severely cracked down upon. This crackdown never let up.

There were several targeted operations against organized extortion groups, with dozens executed and hundreds arrested. Even those who were not executed were sentenced to at least seven years in prison. Such severe crackdowns made extortion disappear again. The surviving "heroes of the underworld" in Zhengzhou either retired or moved to other places to develop.

Chen Ke was never a "humanitarian" who advocated for prisoners' rights. He strongly supported the crackdown on crime. On this day of being extorted, he especially missed the "iron fist." But this "iron fist" did not exist in 1905, and the only way to see it again was for Chen Ke to personally build this force through revolution.

While tidying up, Chen Ke was lost in thought. Looking at the cloth hanging in the yard, he felt uneasy. If someone really came to cause trouble at night... He originally wanted everyone to go back and rest, but it seemed impossible. From today on, someone would have to take turns keeping watch at night.

By the time it was almost dinner, everyone woke up. You Gou got up to leave. After she left, Chen Ke announced the plan for taking turns to keep watch. Zhou Yuanxiao still nodded silently. Seeing that Chen Ke was still uneasy, Hua Xiongmou suggested that Chen Ke talk to Xu Xilin and see if he could use the local influence of the Restoration Society in Shanghai.

Chen Ke thought it was unnecessary for now. Using connections would cost money, and if the money spent on connections was more than what the two people asked for, plus the favor owed, it would be a losing deal. "Let’s talk first," Chen Ke said.

The next noon, at a restaurant near the dyeing workshop, both sides formally began negotiations. They introduced themselves, and the tall one was named Wu Xingchen, a leader of the Heaven and Earth Society.

"Brother Chen, I’m not really after the gift money, it’s not much. Let’s be frank, I see that Brother Chen’s dyeing business is good, and I want to cooperate with you."

"If you want credit, there’s no need to talk," Chen Ke replied firmly. "If you pay in cash, we can talk."

Wu Xingchen didn’t expect Chen Ke’s attitude to be so firm. He tried to persuade Chen Ke, "Who doesn’t give credit these days? Does Brother Chen not trust the Heaven and Earth Society?"

"My cloth is cheap, so I can’t give credit," Chen Ke answered.

"How much cheaper?" Wu Xingchen asked.

"If I give it to you, one bolt of cloth will cost one tael and seven mace of silver," Chen Ke said.

Before Wu Xingchen could speak, his subordinate’s face lit up, and he whispered something to Wu Xingchen in Shanghainese. Wu Xingchen’s face showed a hint of anger, but he quickly suppressed it.

Chen Ke saw this clearly and thought of the famous gangster movie "The Godfather," where the eldest son of the old Godfather expressed a different opinion during negotiations, exposing the internal discord of the family. The negotiation opponent immediately organized an assassination attempt on the old Godfather. By killing the old Godfather, the negotiation opponent could negotiate with family members who shared the same views. This subordinate of Wu Xingchen, a local from Shanghai, had already tried to persuade Wu Xingchen without his permission. It seemed they were not just a simple superior-subordinate relationship in the gang. Chen Ke decided to take a gamble on this.

Thinking this, Chen Ke suddenly asked, "Brother Wu, which branch were you originally from? The Northern branch, right?"

Hearing this, Wu Xingchen’s face changed abruptly. Chen Ke felt relieved, thinking his guess was correct, and Wu Xingchen’s position in the Shanghai branch of the Heaven and Earth Society was quite delicate.

The subsequent negotiations were rather dull. The subordinate who came with Wu Xingchen was eager to talk business on his own. At this point, Hua Xiongmou also saw the signs and, speaking the same language as the Shanghai man, took the lead in negotiating with Chen Ke. They ordered some food and drinks, and after a few cups of wine, the man’s mouth became even looser. His name was He Yifa, a junior to Wu Xingchen in the hierarchy, but a local gang member. When he got excited, He Yifa inadvertently revealed that Wu Xingchen was actually the leader of the Beijing branch, temporarily in Shanghai.

It seemed that He Yifa had been dissatisfied with being subordinate to Wu Xingchen, an outsider, for a long time. The gang’s income was closely tied to who you followed. As an outsider, Wu Xingchen must have faced many obstacles in Shanghai.

At first, Wu Xingchen’s face showed anger, but when He Yifa started talking nonsense, he knew this negotiation was a failure. This man was good at letting things go, and he ate and drank freely. When He Yifa got carried away, Wu Xingchen subtly flattered him a few times. He Yifa felt even more honored, almost grinning from ear to ear. Chen Ke and Hua Xiongmou, hearing Wu Xingchen’s ulterior motives, such as "vigorous" and "ambitious," smiled inwardly but didn’t expose him. Instead, they echoed his flattery. When Chen Ke toasted Wu Xingchen, Wu Xingchen drank it all, appearing quite generous.

Wu Xingchen’s ability to bend and stretch, and to accept the result decisively when things didn’t work out, rather than causing a scene like He Yifa, earned Chen Ke’s respect. He even had the idea of befriending Wu Xingchen.

Just as He Yifa went to the bathroom, Chen Ke said seriously to Wu Xingchen, "Brother Wu, you seem to have experienced a lot. Can you come to my place tomorrow noon? I’m from the North, and it’s rare to hear Northern dialects in Shanghai. I’d like to treat you to a drink. I hope you can honor me with your presence."

Wu Xingchen smiled, "Brother Chen, you’re quite skilled. After pulling that one in, you want to pacify me. I’m afraid I don’t have the face to accept your invitation."

Chen Ke smiled, "I pulled him in for business. I’m inviting you to drink because I admire your demeanor. Your composure and flexibility are impressive. I see it in my eyes. Being able to befriend a hero like you is more joyful to me than money. Brother Wu, I won’t eat all day tomorrow, just waiting for you to come and drink with me."

Wu Xingchen just smiled without saying anything. A moment later, He Yifa returned, and the table became lively again.

After sending Wu Xingchen and his subordinate away, Chen Ke said to Hua Xiongmou, "Zhenglan, can you find out more about Wu Xingchen’s background? I think this person is not simple."

"Isn’t his background already clear?" Hua Xiongmou asked, a bit puzzled.

"Never underestimate this person. If we don’t find out his background, I won’t feel at ease. Zhenglan, please give me a definite answer tonight, whether you can find out or not. If your friends can’t find out, I’ll ask Mr. Xu to have Tao Chengzhang help."

Hua Xiongmou, seeing Chen Ke’s serious expression, nodded. "I’ll go now and find you at the workshop tonight."

Back at the workshop, Chen Ke tried to sit calmly for a while but couldn’t feel at ease. Facing Wu Xingchen, Chen Ke seemed to handle it with ease, but he couldn’t be sure if his judgment about Wu Xingchen was correct. If Wu Xingchen was indeed a capable person and things were not going well, he would accept the failure. If Chen Ke was wrong, the next thing to face would be Wu Xingchen’s retaliation.

Better to be prepared. Chen Ke made up his mind. He asked Zhou Yuanxiao, "Brother Zhou, are there any easy entry points here?"

Zhou Yuanxiao looked at Chen Ke, "This is an old workshop, and most of the vulnerabilities have been considered. If someone wants to break in, they can only come through the front door. If they want to climb the wall, our wall is high enough, and it’s not easy for ordinary people to climb over."

Chen Ke wanted to ask what would happen if someone set fire, but thought it was too alarming. "That’s good," Chen Ke said.

You Gou, who didn’t know what was going on, asked, "Is someone causing trouble for us?"

Chen Ke didn’t want to easily involve You Gou in the trouble. He fobbed her off with a few words, but You Gou wouldn’t let it go. Seeing Chen Ke unwilling to speak, she pulled Zhou Yuanxiao and started asking in Jiang-Zhe dialect. Zhou Yuanxiao also refused to say anything. Seeing everyone’s attitude, You Gou declared, "I’ll stay here."

"Will your family let a girl stay out late?" Chen Ke was quite surprised.

"They can’t control me," You Gou’s face turned cold when she mentioned her family.

"Ask Brother Zhou. If he agrees, I have nothing to say," Chen Ke said and went out to check the surroundings.

Zhou Yuanxiao’s workshop was at the entrance of an alley, about 400 square meters. It was a typical old Shanghai lane with high walls. Chen Ke threw a brick with all his strength to get it over the wall. Chen Ke thought that with the density of the cloth in the yard, if he wanted to cause trouble, he could just throw a torch or a Molotov cocktail over the wall. But then he thought, they were here for money, not to fight to the death. What benefit would this bring to Wu Xingchen? Even if it was a temporary failure, it wouldn’t come to this.

Thinking this, Chen Ke looked at the high wall again. For a normal person, even with a rope, it would be very difficult to climb. It seemed that guarding the entrance and patrolling at night would be enough.

But Chen Ke was still uneasy. He went back and told Zhou Yuanxiao that he was going out for a while, heading to his place. As soon as he entered, he saw Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin talking with Hua Xiongmou. Seeing Chen Ke come in, Xu Xilin called out, "Wenqing, I want to introduce you to Mr. Cai Yuanpei tomorrow."

Chen Ke remembered his appointment with Wu Xingchen. If he went to see Mr. Cai, the appointment would be canceled. Was Mr. Cai more important, or Wu Xingchen? This was a tough decision. After a moment’s thought, Chen Ke said humbly, "Brother Baisun, I have an appointment with someone else tomorrow. Can we postpone the meeting with Mr. Cai for a few days?"

Xu Xilin was quite surprised and, seeing Chen Ke’s troubled expression, became suspicious. When Chen Ke asked Xu Xilin to introduce him to Mr. Cai, he specifically asked Xu Xilin to do so. Now he wanted to postpone it. Was it because he met a relative or an old friend? Thinking this, Xu Xilin emphasized, "Wenqing, this is a rare opportunity. You should think carefully."

"Brother Baisun, please wait a moment," Chen Ke said, turning to Hua Xiongmou, "Zhenglan, did you find out anything?"

Hua Xiongmou said, "I have some information, and I was planning to tell you tonight." Before he could speak, Chen Ke interrupted, "Zhenglan, do you know where Wu Xingchen lives?"

"I don’t know, but I can find out," Hua Xiongmou replied.

Chen Ke turned back and said, "Brother Baisun, I met someone named Wu Xingchen today and invited him to meet me tomorrow. I’ll go with Zhenglan now to tell him I have something else tomorrow. I’ll come back early in the morning and go with Brother Baisun to meet Mr. Cai." Seeing Xu Xilin’s surprised expression, Chen Ke felt he needed to say more and quickly added, "Brother Baisun, I was inconsiderate just now. I appreciate your efforts in introducing me to Mr. Cai. I apologize. I’ll make it up to you."

After bowing deeply, Chen Ke heard Xu Xilin sigh, "No need for that, Wenqing. Things have their priorities. I admire your integrity in not wanting to break your word. But you should also think carefully."

Chen Ke, still bowing, replied, "I will remember that."

After a while, Xu Xilin said, "Wenqing, no need for formalities. Come back early tomorrow. And..." Chen Ke was about to straighten up when he heard the last two words and bowed again. A moment later, he felt someone helping him up, and it was Xu Xilin. Xu Xilin smiled, "And, bring Xiongmou with you tomorrow. Both of you come back early."

"Uncle, I understand," Hua Xiongmou replied.

After the conversation, Xu Xilin and Qiu Jin returned to their room. Chen Ke went to his room, took two flashlights, and put in the batteries. Hua Xiongmou, seeing Chen Ke test the flashlight, said excitedly, "Wenqing, you have so many treasures."

Chen Ke waved his hand, and the two went out to find Wu Xingchen.

They first went to Hua Xiongmou’s friend to ask about Wu Xingchen’s address, then followed the directions through the streets and alleys, finally finding the courtyard where Wu Xingchen lived.

"Brother Wu, I’m sorry to disturb you," Chen Ke said sincerely.

Wu Xingchen was surprised by Chen Ke’s sudden appearance. His tall and strong body stood at the door, looking down at the two unexpected visitors, almost blocking the entire entrance. He clearly didn’t want to let them in.

Chen Ke had no intention of entering, "Brother Wu, I invited you to have a drink with me tomorrow, but something came up, and I can’t wait for you tomorrow. I’ll definitely be at the workshop the day after tomorrow. I apologize for the inconvenience."

Wu Xingchen looked Chen Ke up and down, trying to figure out his intentions. After a while, he couldn’t see any malice or ulterior motives in Chen Ke’s demeanor. But Wu Xingchen was still uneasy and couldn’t help asking, "Brother Chen, you came here just for this?"

"I genuinely want to befriend you, so I came to inform you of the change. I apologize," Chen Ke said. Seeing Wu Xingchen’s noncommittal response, Chen Ke added, "Brother Wu, I have something to do today. I’ll be at the workshop the day after tomorrow. I’ll take my leave now."

Wu Xingchen watched Chen Ke and Hua Xiongmou leave, feeling both surprised and annoyed. He hadn’t planned to meet Chen Ke tomorrow, but Chen Ke’s formal visit made him very dissatisfied. Was Chen Ke showing respect or threatening him? Wu Xingchen couldn’t tell, so he decided to see what Chen Ke was up to the day after tomorrow.

Chen Ke and Hua Xiongmou had dinner outside and bought some snacks. It was completely dark by then. There were few pedestrians on the street, but a few houses had red lanterns hanging at their doors, and people were coming and going.

"Brother Chen, take out the flashlight, let’s try it," Hua Xiongmou said excitedly.

"Save the batteries," Chen Ke advised, handing a flashlight to Hua Xiongmou. It was a common AA battery flashlight. Hua Xiongmou turned it on, and a bright circle of light appeared on the dark ground. Hua Xiongmou shone it here and there, like a child. The passersby were clearly intimidated by the two. Chen Ke had heard a saying, "The poor play with toys, the rich play with watches, and those who play with flashlights are extraordinary." He