Rebirth 04: Starting from Taking an Unconventional Approach

"How did it go?" Ma Yongxing asked. Han Fei had just hung up the phone when Ma Yongxing asked this. Han Fei shrugged and told him that Boss Zhou was at a newsstand in Songjiang Town and had encountered Qian Youde's men, but a postman had arrived just in time. Everything was fine now.

"It's good that everyone's alright. You, Boss Zhou, are a man of principle. When I was young in Mong Kok, I did the same kind of thing."

"Oh?" Han Fei said.

"Once, my older brother told me to wait in the shop, but I insisted on going out to oversee things. And what happened? I got cornered in a back alley and almost had my finger chopped off. If it weren't for an old man delivering newspapers passing by and shouting, you'd be seeing a Ma Yongxing with a missing finger right now." Ma Yongxing let out a loud laugh. "So, this Fatty Zhou, you not only can't scold him, you have to rely on him. The more you try to control him with rules, the more he'll feel like you're treating him like an outsider. Let him charge ahead, fight, and protect you; he'll feel much more at ease."

Ma Yongxing's phone rang, and he held it to his ear to listen carefully.

The Audi minivan turned onto the Huqingping Highway. Han Fei looked out the window. Sunlight shone on the vast farmland and the dazzling white plastic greenhouses. Along both sides of the road, apart from a few rows of drab two-story houses and a roadside restaurant with a sign advertising farmhouse cuisine, there were mostly waist-high rice paddies. If anything, there were a few scattered clumps of oleander and a few awkwardly placed cement utility poles, but it was essentially still open field. A lone farm vehicle selling watermelons was parked by the roadside, its cargo bed almost extending into the middle of the road. Looking out from inside the vehicle, there didn't seem to be even a breath of wind.

Han Fei was thinking about the postal deliveryman that Boss Zhou had mentioned on the phone. This deliveryman was extremely familiar with the newsstands and service centers in various towns and villages, had long-term trusting relationships with the local vendors, and possessed a real understanding of the dynamics on the ground. He was more than just someone who could provide stories; he possessed an official position and a global perspective spanning multiple towns and villages, something Boss Zhou lacked. The institutional credibility, grassroots connections, story resources, and channel reach he represented all held significant combined value for Qingniao. If they could truly use Sun Jianguo as a model and develop similar personnel in more towns and villages, then Qingniao could establish a grassroots network with both content and distribution channels operating in parallel.

Ma Yongxing said "hmm" twice and "keep an eye on it" into the phone before hanging up.

"My men have found Boss Zhou too," Ma Yongxing said. "They've also located Qian Youde's hideout and are already keeping watch nearby. Let's go there now."

"Should we go directly to Qian Youde?" Han Fei asked.

"Well, I had someone investigate his background. This guy isn't exactly a big shot. He started out in Songjiang, working as a lackey for a transportation boss, and later he built his own gang of over a dozen people to collect protection money. He doesn't touch the really big businesses; he only picks on the weak, those without connections or backing. He has a distant cousin surnamed Chu, who is the deputy mayor in charge of urban construction in Songjiang. Every year, Qian Youde gives Deputy Mayor Chu some cigarettes and alcohol and arranges a few dinners, which gives him a small but significant backer. So, as long as no one dies in his protection money business, the town police station just smooths things over and gives him a few warnings."

"Boss," Elephant, who was driving, interjected, "so, he doesn't have any truly respectable connections?"

"That's right, he can't reach either the district or the city."

The elephant let out a low, hoarse laugh. This was the first time Han Fei had ever seen an elephant laugh, and he felt as if the entire carriage was vibrating in unison.

"He's just a local bully in this small town, someone who got his position through family ties and a few punches. Outside of Songjiang, he's nothing," Elephant said.

"So Mr. Ma went to see Qian Youde to set some rules for him?" Han Fei asked.

Ma Yongxing smiled slightly: "Han Fei, believe it or not, reporting someone like Qian Youde is useless. The more you talk to him about laws and proper procedures, the more he thinks you're weak and easy to bully. You report him once, he'll have a drink with Deputy Mayor Chu, and tomorrow he'll go to another town and continue causing trouble, still collecting money as usual."

Han Fei nodded; he completely understood Ma Yongxing's meaning. A man like Qian Youde couldn't be brought down simply by a report. He'd been operating in the townships for seven or eight years; his roots weren't deep, but his influence was widespread. Moreover, the mastermind behind this incident was that so-called Oriental Culture Media Co., Ltd., and Qian Youde was merely their agent, using violence to seize control of the township channels. Dealing with this kind of person through legal procedures was too slow; they needed to use equal-level underworld intimidation to instantly subdue him and prevent him from making any further moves.

That cultural company is the root of the problem; it's the source of illegal publications and pirated content for the entire black market industry. Their actions are clearly illegal, so they must be reported through proper channels to fundamentally cut off their means of survival. Otherwise, even if Qian Youde is driven away, Zhang Youde and Li Youde will simply emerge tomorrow to continue acting as their agents.

"To deal with this kind of person, you have to use a language he understands," Han Fei said.

"Han Fei," Ma Yongxing smiled, placing a hand on Han Fei's shoulder, "I know you still have concerns, afraid that things might get out of control and end up damaging Qingniao's reputation. Don't worry, I, Ma Yongxing, have been in Shanghai for so many years, I know exactly what I should and shouldn't do, and to what extent. Let's go talk to him and let him know that Qingniao isn't someone to be trifled with."

......

Boss Zhou was getting more and more excited.

President Han not only didn't blame him, but also showed genuine concern for him. He even praised him, commending him for his courage, sense of responsibility, boldness, and resourcefulness. He not only protected the channel but also found a valuable potential partner for Qingniao.

He talked with Sun Jianguo for a long time, explaining in detail the Bluebird's Roots-Seeking Plan and inviting Sun Jianguo to join. Although Sun Jianguo did not agree immediately, he at least showed a very positive attitude, saying he would consider it, and even exchanged contact information with Boss Zhou.

Just now, four or five men in suits rushed into the newsstand, followed by Old Liu. They claimed to be employees of Mr. Ma. Boss Zhou asked them who Mr. Ma was, and whether he was one of that bastard Qian Youde's men. They said that Mr. Ma was specifically hired by Publisher Han to help them. Boss Zhou was astonished; he hadn't expected Publisher Han to have such a tough and unruly approach. That bastard Qian Youde is in for it now.