Chapter 10

Chapter 008: Revisiting Old Matters

The Yulong Grand Hotel is one of the most upscale hotels in South City, where many important business negotiations take place. Of course, many troubles also originate here.

A silver Audi A8 parked at the hotel entrance, and the doorman immediately came over to open the door respectfully.

For this banquet, Chang Fuguo brought only a few people: Lin Zhiya and Ye Shaofeng, three people, and three handguns.

In the underworld, whether it's dining or visiting prostitutes, carrying a gun is the most basic safety measure. Therefore, many sincere business negotiations are often held in saunas or bathhouses.

Today's negotiation was set in a restaurant. As they walked into the Yulong Grand Hotel, Chang Fuguo's ominous premonition grew stronger.

In his gut, he felt that this negotiation might fall apart. Moreover, given Wang Baocai's character, it was likely that he would bring up the unpleasant matters from the past over the dinner table, especially the dispute over a piece of land.

Nowadays, the underworld doesn't often engage in large-scale battles with machetes or hand-to-hand combat. If someone wants to settle a matter, they would meet up, bring a few people with guns, and shoot it out or stab each other. No one can afford to be a coward; being a coward means death.

Therefore, in recent years, the underworld in Luyang City has grown rapidly. Although Luyang City's economic development is still at a third-tier city level, the local underworld has entered the international stage, truly keeping up with the times, being enterprising, and aligning with the world.

Their methods of operation fully adhere to international standards, following the principles of simplicity, efficiency, low profile, and high effectiveness.

In the opulent private room, Wang Baocai sat steadily in the main seat. Behind him stood four men in black suits, wearing sunglasses, resembling the bodyguards of a gangster in a Hong Kong or Taiwanese movie.

Wang Baocai was in his forties, bald, and overweight, especially his beer belly, which looked like that of a pregnant woman seven or eight months along. He held a thick cigar in his mouth, slouching in his chair, puffing out smoke like a pile of flesh.

When Chang Fuguo and his group entered the private room, Wang Baocai did not stand up respectfully or shake hands politely. He remained seated, took a puff of his cigar, and said, "Mr. Chang, it's been a long time."

"Brother Wang, how have you been?" Chang Fuguo didn't stand on ceremony, sitting down opposite Wang Baocai without waiting for an invitation. Perhaps this is how they negotiate in the underworld.

"Have you heard that you want to enter our South City steel market?" Wang Baocai got straight to the point.

"Are you willing to share a piece of the pie with your brother?" Chang Fuguo didn't beat around the bush, and they quickly got to the main topic.

"We are all brothers in the underworld. Of course, we should make money together. Since you, Brother Chang, want to join, I have no reason to refuse. You're welcome to come, but it depends on whether you can handle it." Wang Baocai glanced at Ye Shaofeng, who was standing behind Chang Fuguo. He was unfamiliar with him but could tell he was a trained fighter.

"Brother, what do you mean by that? I don't understand," Chang Fuguo's eyes twitched slightly. Of course, he understood. Wang Baocai clearly wanted to settle old scores and clear the air.

"Three years ago, during the renovation of Zao Lin Village. The holdouts were removed, the houses were demolished, and construction was about to begin. I bought that land, but your company interfered, and the land went to you. My contract with the government was torn up! I've never been able to swallow this." Wang Baocai said.

"It's that old matter again. If you want to bring it up, I won't hide anything from you.

When we demolished Zao Lin Village, it was my people who did it. I personally led the team to remove the holdouts, one by one. The houses were demolished by my bulldozers.

Because of the demolition, several lives were lost, and I, Chang Fuguo, took the blame! My subordinates are still in prison for me!

We paid so much, why should you come and take the profits?

Moreover, I had already discussed the development rights with Director Wang of the government. The government promised to cooperate with me. If you want to seek revenge, you should go after Director Wang, not me." Chang Fuguo said.

"But Director Wang took my money, and because of you, my contract was nullified. The two million yuan I gave him is gone. Who else should I go to if not you? Without you, I would have succeeded!" Wang Baocai slammed the table and said.

"That money was taken by Director Wang. If you have the guts, go after the corrupt officials in the government. We are both in the underworld, and we both know what kind of people they are. They just want to take your money. Why are you venting your anger on me?" Chang Fuguo said.

"Fine, let's say Director Wang took my money. But during the development of Zao Lin Village, a few of my brothers died. Wasn't that your Zonghai Group's doing?"

"That's right. I don't hide anything. I said it before, Zao Lin Village is our development area. Your people kept causing trouble at our construction site. If I didn't deal with them, how could the project proceed?" Chang Fuguo said confidently.

Ye Shaofeng was sweating profusely. He never imagined that these underworld figures would treat human lives so lightly.

To them, death was such a trivial matter. For their own interests, they would break the rules, losing their humanity and morality.

Thinking of his fellow members of the Dragon Group and the soldiers who risk their lives to protect the country and its people, while these inhumane beasts at home oppress the people, collude with the underworld, and act without conscience for their own interests, Ye Shaofeng's eyes turned red, and a surge of righteous anger boiled within him. At that moment, he really wanted to pull out his gun and shoot all these so-called gangsters, leaving no one alive.

His body trembled slightly, not out of fear, but from the pent-up anger he couldn't release.

Ye Shaofeng calmed himself down, reminding himself to stay calm. This black chain of corruption wasn't just these two people. To catch more criminals and bring them to justice, he needed to endure and continue to follow the trail.

"You mean, you think it's justified to harm my people? Let me be clear, I came here today to settle old scores. How do you plan to compensate me? If I'm satisfied, we can still be good brothers who make money together. If I'm not satisfied, then we might as well..." Wang Baocai said.

"Then what? Are you suggesting we face off? Wang Baocai, let's be clear. I didn't come here to compensate you. If we're going to fight, let's do it!"

Chang Fuguo didn't hesitate. As a seasoned veteran, he knew when to take the initiative. Seeing that the negotiation was falling apart, he suddenly pulled out a small-caliber German-made pistol from his waist.

At the same time, Wang Baocai also quickly drew his gun, a silver Czech-made pistol. The two men faced each other, guns pointed at each other, eyes locked...