20 years of the Republic of China

Chapter 823: Taking advantage of the situation
Those in positions of power love to hear flattery, and Jiang Lianheng was no exception. But flattery is an art; it must be done in the right place and the words must resonate with the heart to be considered appropriate. Otherwise, it will appear insincere, turning into showing off, being glib, or being slick, and the result will only be the opposite of what is intended.

To think that one can rise to prominence overnight by offering a few perfunctory words is nothing short of an offense in the eyes of the leader.

However, at this crucial time when manpower is needed, Jiang Lianheng was unwilling to delve into the matter of making things difficult.

Li Zhengxi, however, understood the situation clearly. He quickly cleared his throat and reminded him, "Lai Zi, say something useful, don't spout that empty nonsense."

Lai Zi was taken aback, and asked, quite puzzled, "Then, what should I say?"

"Just tell me what happened back then!"

"Oh, I see, I see..."

Lai Zi scratched his head, pondered for a while, and then said, "Boss, the situation at the time was quite critical. Luckily, I arrived with my men in time, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable! As soon as the brothers stood there, those puppet regimes and secret societies immediately became ineffective! There's no way around it, the brothers have kept Old Dou under tight control all these years. When they see me, they're like mice seeing a cat, no different!"

Li Zhengxi frowned as he listened, and couldn't help but remind him again, "I told you to say what you mean, why are you always exaggerating?"

"Third Brother, that's exactly what happened, that's the situation. I didn't embellish anything!"

Lai Zi felt a little wronged because, in his opinion, things were just as he described, and there was nothing exaggerated about them.

"Alright, alright!" Jiang Lianheng waved his hand with a smile. "I understand the situation. What you said earlier wasn't just boasting; you handled this matter quite well!"

Upon hearing this, the leper hurriedly nodded and said, "Master, you are wise! How could I dare to lie to you!"

"but--"

Jiang Lianheng changed the subject abruptly, saying, "I also heard that you mentioned me a couple of times on the street today?"

"Huh?" The leper tilted his head and pondered for a moment, then suddenly remembered and said, "Oh, right, right, I did mention you a few times, I just wanted to scare them!"

"What did you say?"

"I told you the Dong family has extensive connections, from government officials to bandits, they know everyone on both the legal and illegal sides..."

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Lianheng immediately interrupted, "You rascal, you can't just say things like that. We're legitimate businessmen, and I've never met any bandits."

Lai Zi seemed to understand something, and quickly said with a grin, "Boss, you are so modest! You have such a great influence, yet you are so humble. I have a lot to learn from you!"

When Li Zhengxi heard this, he almost fainted. He thought to himself, "This kid is really clueless. The words are already on the tip of his tongue, why is he still acting so clever?"
At this point, Jiang Lianheng was quite disappointed in Lai Zi, but there were still some things he had to explain to him, otherwise he might cause some trouble.

So, I had no choice but to patiently give him a few pointers, saying, "Lai Zi, when you're online all the time, the most important thing is to hide your cleverness and keep a low profile, go with the flow, understand?"

Lai Zi shook his head, looking bewildered, and asked, "Master, what do you mean by this?"

"When the sky is arrogant, rain is sure to follow; when people are arrogant, disaster is sure to follow! Watch your mouth, don't blurt out everything. Now you'll understand, right?"

"Hey! Boss, if you had said that earlier, I would have understood everything!"

Jiang Lianheng stubbed out his cigarette, waved his hand, and said, "Alright, good that you understand. Be careful in the future! I called you here today to see what you're capable of. Work hard these days, and when we're done with this busy period, the brothers will reward you according to your merits. I will definitely not treat you unfairly!"

Normally, after saying all that, everyone should have gone their separate ways.

But Lai Zi was a little reluctant, fearing that if he missed this opportunity, it would be difficult to see his employer again.

So anxious and hesitant, he hesitated slightly, then suddenly knelt down with a "plop," saying, "Master, I don't want money, I just want an opportunity!"

Seeing this, Li Zhengxi's vision blurred, and he quickly went over to pull him, saying, "You better calm down! Let's go, let's go!"

Lai Zi writhed and immediately kowtowed, saying, "Please, master, give me a chance! Lai Zi will go through fire and water, even unto death!"

Li Zhengxi felt helpless, looked at Jiang Lianheng with a worried expression, and said with some shame, "Brother, look at him..."

Jiang Lianheng raised his hand and said in a deep voice, "Laizi, a man's word is his bond!"

Lai Zi straightened up and swore an oath on the spot, saying hastily, "Master, if I, Lai Zi, have uttered even the slightest lie, may I be torn to pieces and die a horrible death!"

Jiang Lianheng remained silent for a long time.

To be honest, the leader of the gang would hate to see this. His men might seem loyal, but there's a hidden sense that they're being forced to submit.

If you don't agree, outsiders will find out and laugh at you behind your back, saying that you are petty as the leader. Even though your own brothers have said so, you still refuse to give them important positions. What are you talking about in terms of being inclusive and tolerant?
What's more, Lai Zi just made a contribution today.

Although the matter was somewhat strange, he did indeed force back the maintenance committee's obstruction in full view of everyone. If he is not rewarded or honored, how can he be trusted?
Li Zhengxi was worried that Jiang Lianheng would feel awkward, so he decided to play the bad cop and simply made Lai Zi leave.

However, before he could even speak, Jiang Lianheng clapped his hands and praised him repeatedly, "Good! Good, good, good! Right now, the family is in trouble, and what we need most is a loyal, capable, and resourceful brother like you. Since you've asked, I'll assign you a task!"

Lai Zi's face lit up with joy, and he hurriedly said, "Master, just give me your orders!"

"Do you know that besides the dozen or so shops in Xiaoxiguan, Xuejie, and Baguajie, I also own a sand and gravel plant?"

"I've heard of it, but I've never been there."

Jiang Lianheng continued, "Recently, there has been a lot of commotion in Fengtian, and we are short-handed at home. We are busy managing various shops, but we are always short-handed at that sand and gravel plant. It is inconvenient for me to move around in the city. I am willing to send someone else over, but I don't trust them. Starting tomorrow, you will take your brothers and go there to help me take care of it!"

Lai Zi nodded hurriedly, then thought for a moment and felt something was amiss, so he asked, "Master, then wouldn't I have to leave the city?"

"Don't worry, there are enough rooms in the factory for all of you to stay in."

"No, no, no, what I mean is... if the maintenance committee comes looking for trouble again, can they handle it if I'm not around?"

Jiang Lianheng leaned down and asked, "Do you know how to play chess?"

"Yes!" Lai Zi nodded, still somewhat bewildered.

"Then tell me, which is more important, the pawn or the chariot?"

"Oh... so that sand and gravel plant is that important to our Jiang family?"

"This is very important!" Jiang Lianheng patted Lai Zi on the shoulder and said earnestly, "I'm entrusting this matter to you. Don't let me down, understand?"

Lai Zi nodded heavily and said, "Boss, you've got the job covered! If anything goes wrong at the gravel plant, I'll rip my head off for you..." "Shh! Secrets are the best policy, leaks are the worst! This matter must never be made public!"

"I understand, I understand!"

In fact, Jiang Lianheng wasn't entirely lying to him.

The profits from sand and gravel plants are indeed quite considerable, almost a risk-free business with huge returns. For the Jiang family, it is naturally an indispensable source of wealth.

But in the sand and gravel industry, are sand and gravel plants important, and are those so-called factory buildings and land important?
No, the business license for sand mining is the most important!

The leper didn't understand any of this; he only felt that he had been given an important position, so he hurriedly expressed his gratitude profusely.

Jiang Lianheng waved his hand and laughed, "Alright, you should hurry back and prepare. After this period is over, I'll find you another job!"

Lai Zimei was delighted and quickly said, "Alright! Boss, I'll head back now!"

After that, he turned around and left.

"Wait a minute—" Li Zhengxi chased after them, grimacing as he looked towards the mourning hall, and whispered a reminder, "What's wrong with you, kid? Can't you see what's going on in this courtyard?"

Lai Zi realized what was happening and turned around to ask, "Master, shall I... go and offer incense to the old lady?"

Jiang Lianheng didn't say anything, but raised his hand while sitting in the chair, indicating that he was free to do as he pleased.

Led by the west wind, Lai Zi walked into the mourning hall, took three incense sticks from the offering table, and bowed respectfully before finally leaving the Jiang family residence.

Li Zhengxi then leaned closer, looking slightly ashamed, and said, "Brother, that's just how Lai Zi is. He really can't be relied on. To be honest, I also think today's events were a bit strange..."

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Lianheng's expression changed drastically, and he coldly questioned, "What kind of people did you bring?"

Li Zhengxi's heart tightened, and he quickly said, "Brother, they've had a tough life since they were young, so they really don't have much ability or experience. They're all just half-open-minded..."

"I think you're the one who's only half-open-minded!" Jiang Lianheng shouted sternly. "Calling you half-open-minded is an understatement. What's the difference between you and someone who's completely blind?"

Li Zhengxi lowered his head and remained silent, not daring to utter another word of argument.

Jiang Lianheng continued to question, "Are you an online professional or do you run an orphanage? You dare to hire just anyone? Aren't you afraid that one day he'll get struck by lightning and you'll be caught in the crossfire? You're all talk and no action, and you dare to hire someone like that? This is clearly a trap set by Qin Huaimeng. He might not see it, but can't you?"

Li Zhengxi quickly apologized, "Brother, don't be angry! Or should I go and tell him not to get involved anymore?"

"Too late!" Jiang Lianheng cursed. "If we kick him out now, what will people in the underworld think of me? What will they think of you? Who will work for the Jiang family in the future?"

"Brother, Lai Zi is just too proud, but he still values ​​loyalty and righteousness, otherwise he wouldn't have come that night."

Those who readily speak of lofty ideals will surely betray their cause in battle!

After reminding him, Jiang Lianheng suddenly softened his tone and continued, "Xifeng, open your eyes wider. Make sure you know the people before you befriend them. Don't pour your heart out to just anyone. You're not a kid anymore. Do I need to tell you this kind of thing?"

Li Zhengxi lowered his head and said in a muffled voice, "Brother, I understand."

"He has no room for error."

"understand!"

Li Zhengxi responded, and when he looked up again, he saw that Jiang Lianheng had already slipped away and returned to the mansion. His gaze moved upwards, and he saw the curtains on the second-floor windows swaying gently...

Back at the mansion, Jiang Lianheng went straight to the study on the second floor.

Hu Xiaoyan was sitting in the room drinking herbal medicine, and whether it was from the bitterness or her illness, she kept coughing from time to time.

After the Jiang residence was ransacked, many account books were destroyed, missing pages, or mixed up, so it was inevitable that they would need to be painstakingly reorganized.

Moreover, in recent days, the Jiang family has been busy distributing resettlement and medical expenses to the brothers who died or were injured, as well as repairing the mansion, calculating funeral expenses and the income from gifts. Although these things are insignificant, they are the prerequisites for the Jiang family to stabilize quickly.

As soon as Jiang Lianheng entered the room, Hu Xiaoyan put down the medicine and asked softly, "How is it? Is Lai Zi really that useless?"

"Don't even mention it!" Jiang Lianheng sighed, shook his head, and said, "Xifeng said he was useless, and I thought he was just afraid of making too many promises and letting me find fault with him, but after talking to him today, it turns out he really isn't that great!"

"Qin Huaimeng is using a blatant scheme to disrupt our rules. If the rules are disrupted, the family will fall into chaos, rewards and punishments will become unfair, and who will be willing to risk their lives for the Jiang family in the future?"

"As the old man said, there is no solution to open schemes; we can only respond to them as they come."

"So how did you arrange things just now?"

"Let's do as you say, transfer him to the sand and gravel plant, get him out of there first!"

Hu Xiaoyan coughed twice to catch her breath before continuing, "This isn't a long-term solution. Even if there are no lepers, there will be thugs, kidnappers, and tumors. As long as they continue to do this, the house will fall into chaos sooner or later. Time is running out, we have to take the initiative."

"Then we'll have to see if Guoyan and his men can kidnap the Qin family's translator tonight."

Jiang Lianheng said this, but he seemed a little absent-minded.

Hu Xiaoyan noticed and asked, "What's wrong now?"

Jiang Lianheng shook his head and muttered to himself, "Xi Feng is not strict in managing his subordinates. I feel that problems are bound to arise sooner or later."

Hu Xiaoyan was not surprised by this, and sighed, "Alas, he has always had this personality since he was a child, and he can't change it at all... But then again, if he weren't so easygoing and always put his brothers first, he probably wouldn't have been able to call so many people that night."

"That's true. These four brothers are really quite different. Dongfeng is a quiet type, and no matter how you look at it, he doesn't seem like the type to be the eldest brother; Nanfeng is too shrewd, calculating gains and losses too clearly, lacking a bit of the chivalrous spirit; Xifeng is loyal, but I'm afraid he'll be taken advantage of; Xiaobei is too arrogant, looking down on everyone... By the way, we haven't heard from Xiaobei lately."

"Speaking of this, I'm actually a little worried. In your last letter, you said you were going home for vacation soon, but we haven't heard from you since."

Jiang Lianheng suddenly felt a chill run down his spine and hurriedly said, "Hey, could it be that Xiao Bei has joined Guo the devil in rebellion?"

“How could that be? He wasn’t with the Third Army Group. He had already retreated before Guo’s rebellion…” Hu Xiaoyan turned to look out the window and saw that light snow was beginning to fall in the distance. “He should be in western Liaoning now, not far from here. I wonder how he is doing now…”

(End of this chapter)