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Wind Rises in Dragon City Chapter 45
🕑 Added 2024-10-30 15:14:18 +0000 UTCChapter 45: Tang Baiqing's Suggestion
Late at night, around 11:30 PM, an SUV stopped in the warehouse courtyard near Haiyan Pit. Yu Mingyuan got out alone, his brows furrowed as he entered the building.
In the living room of the main house, a group of workers were changing out of their seawater-soaked clothes, while Su Tianyu stood at the doorway, having just finished a phone call with Kong Zhenghui.
"The goods are gone, and the people too?" Yu Mingyuan asked directly upon entering.
"Yes, they hijacked the goods at sea. Zhang Hao's entire boat of people was taken away," Su Tianyu explained the situation to him again. "They had six speedboats, over thirty people, all masked and carrying spearguns and long forks."
"When will Bai Hongbo and Kong Zhenghui arrive?" Yu Mingyuan paused before asking.
"They're on their way, and my family is also heading here."
"Alright, then come with me," Yu Mingyuan nodded.
"Okay!" Su Tianyu turned back and instructed: "Mizi, keep an eye on things here. I'm going out with Boss Yu for a bit."
"Got it."
......
In the courtyard, Yu Mingyuan pulled open the car door and sat in the passenger seat, while Su Tianyu had to drive.
As they left the single-story courtyard, Su Tianyu took the initiative to ask: "Where to?"
"Back to the company," Yu Mingyuan replied, holding his phone.
Su Tianyu nodded and drove towards Maolin Avenue.
On the way, after making several phone calls in succession, Yu Mingyuan sat in silence in the passenger seat. Su Tianyu frowned slightly and asked: "What did Tang Baiqing say?"
"He's waiting for us at the company entrance," Yu Mingyuan looked at Su Tianyu with some irritation and asked: "They hijacked the goods, but why did they take the people too?"
"Either to intimidate us, or Zhang Hao and the others recognized some of the hijackers," Su Tianyu thought for a moment before replying. "They were masked, after all."
Yu Mingyuan nodded slowly and sighed: "Let's talk after we see Tang Baiqing."
Su Tianyu glanced at Yu Mingyuan and asked very directly: "Brother Yuan, can he really cover for us?"
"You're certain it was the dock gang who took the goods?" Yu Mingyuan asked in return.
"It's very likely them," Su Tianyu replied.
Yu Mingyuan: "Let's see what Tang Baiqing has to say."
"My people have been taken. If it was the dock gang, they need to come back first, Brother Yuan," Su Tianyu spoke to Yu Mingyuan without any hesitation or embarrassment.
Yu Mingyuan glanced at Su Tianyu and nodded slowly.
......
Around 11:30 PM, Su Tianyu stopped the car in front of the Mingyuan Trading Company office building. Tang Baiqing immediately got in alone.
"Did you ask?"
"I did. The dock gang said they know nothing about it," Tang Baiqing had been having a rough time lately and looked particularly haggard, with a poor complexion.
"Could they be lying?" Yu Mingyuan asked again.
"The dock gang people shouldn't lie to me," Tang Baiqing waved his hand and replied. "It might be people from the streets who did it, or maybe someone around the docks got greedy and did it without informing those above."
"If it's for money, why would they take people?" Yu Mingyuan said with furrowed brows. "Five people from the Su and Bai families have been taken. This is going too far."
"I called Wei Xiangzuo, the sitting hall master of the dock gang, and the gang leader Xu Hu. They said they're investigating," Tang Baiqing said reassuringly. "If the problem is around the port area, they'll get news sooner or later. Besides, it's just a few workers who were taken. The other side has no use for them! They probably have some demands and will negotiate sooner or later."
Yu Mingyuan fell silent.
Tang Baiqing loosened his collar, took out his cigarette case, glanced at Su Tianyu in the driver's seat, and then said softly: "Little Su, get out of the car first. I have a couple of things to say to Boss Yu in private."
Su Tianyu was taken aback for a moment but didn't say much. He opened the door and got out.
In the car, Tang Baiqing lit a cigarette, looked up at Yu Mingyuan and said: "Actually... the dock gang people came to see me yesterday."
"What for?" Yu Mingyuan was somewhat surprised.
"They wanted to talk about the sea smuggling business, but I've been so preoccupied with family matters lately that I didn't think much of it at the time," Tang Baiqing took a drag on his cigarette. "The dock gang's meaning was that at first, they thought we were just doing short-haul, and the volume wasn't big, so they just took a cut at sea, selling me a favor. But recently, our receiving volume has been increasing, and management has become more standardized, completely operating like a long-haul business. This has made them a bit envious."
"Go on."
"The dock gang's meaning is that they want to join in, taking a cut from the goods," Tang Baiqing added.
"How much?" Yu Mingyuan asked in return.
"At least twenty percent," Tang Baiqing replied.
"Bullshit!" Yu Mingyuan raised his eyebrows. "The Su, Bai, and Kong families are already taking thirty percent, then you take another thirty percent. If I give the dock gang twenty more, will the company have any profit left? Wouldn't I just be doing charity?"
Tang Baiqing was silent for a while, then lowered his voice and replied: "Mingyuan, if you're eating from the sea, you can't bypass the dock gang. Every industry has its own way of doing things and rules. You've reached too far, and you're making a lot of profit, so naturally, people will be envious. You know the situation with the dock gang, they're similar to Changqing Company, both are gang-like organizations. They not only have a say on land, but also have quite a few of their own people in the Maritime Police and Customs. They can sell me a favor, but they can also choose not to. Do you understand my meaning?"
Yu Mingyuan paused for a while: "Are you saying they're the ones who hijacked the goods this time?"
"No, that's not what I mean," Tang Baiqing waved his hand. "I really did ask Wei Xiangzuo and Xu Hu, but they both said they didn't order anyone to do this. What I just told you is what they discussed with me when they found me yesterday."
Yu Mingyuan fell silent.
"The courier work can actually be given to anyone. To be honest, you're giving the Su, Bai, and Kong families too much profit," Tang Baiqing paused slightly before saying. "If you're doing this long-term, you can't bypass the dock gang, so why not just give them the courier work?"
"What do you mean?"
"Use whoever is useful," Tang Baiqing replied.
"You mean kick those three families out, right?" Yu Mingyuan asked very directly.
"It would be better to do it this way," Tang Baiqing nodded.
Yu Mingyuan looked deeply at Tang Baiqing, thought for a long time, and then replied: "Old Tang, are you sure the dock gang people didn't lie to you?"
"Fuck, you don't even trust me?" Tang Baiqing replied exasperatedly. "Should I call Wei Xiangzuo and Xu Hu right now so you can listen in person?"
"That won't be necessary."
"This might not be the dock gang's doing. It could be someone who got envious and found people to hijack the goods for some extortion money," Tang Baiqing replied, smoking. "The docks are chaotic, with Old Thunder and desperados everywhere."
"We'll talk later about who joins and who leaves," Yu Mingyuan turned his head and replied. "Let's find the people and goods first."
"Alright, I'll urge the dock gang side," Tang Baiqing nodded and replied. "If it really was done by people around the Zha'nan docks, they'll definitely be able to find out."
......
In a certain place in Zha'nan District, Zhang Hao and the other four were pressed to the ground, covered in blood.
"Damn it, you still dare to fight back, still dare to report? You think you're tough?!" A burly man stomped on Zhang Hao's head several times, then immediately waved his hand and ordered: "Put them in dog cages and soak them in the pool."
A few minutes later, Zhang Hao and the others were locked in cramped dog cages, then carried by several people and thrown into an artificial sea fish pool.
Zhang Hao's lower body was submerged in water, his thighs bleeding profusely, his consciousness already blurred. He was supported by another worker and muttered softly: "I... I know who they are..."
