You promised steampunk martial arts, but you've got an internal combustion engine in your chest

Chapter 53 My Business

Upon hearing the words "Jiangshan Fengyulou," Zhou Erquan, Ding Yan, and Huang Qixiu all paused slightly in their movements.

However, to Baili Jing's surprise, the three old faces did not show shock, difficulty, or doubt, but rather—a complex expression that was hard to describe.

Even beneath that complexity, there was a hint of—a smile?

Now it was Baili Jing's turn to have doubts.

He put down the lamb bone in his hand and asked suspiciously, "Hey, you three brothers, what's with all those winks and glares? Can you give me a straight answer? Is it going to work or not?"

Ding Yan put down his wine cup and chuckled, "Brother Baili, don't be in such a hurry. Why don't you guess whose business this Jiangshan Fengyu Tower is?"

Baili Jing thought for a moment: "Baihuatang is in charge of the grain, salt, rice and meat of our city, and also owns many restaurants and teahouses. This No. 1 restaurant in Shanghai must be the property of my second brother Baihuatang, right?"

'

Upon hearing this, Zhou Erquan slowly shook his head: "No, no, Brother Baili, do you know that the annual profit of Jiangshan Fengyu Tower is equivalent to 30% of that of an ordinary branch of our Cao Gang? Baihua Hall cannot swallow such a large building."

,

Upon hearing this, Baili Jing blinked, somewhat bewildered.

Baili Jie couldn't help but speak up, "But Second Master, since you're willing to book three days' worth of shows in this building and even offer free drinks and melon seeds, if this weren't your own business, who would allow you to run around like this?"

Zhou Erquan couldn't help but chuckle: "What are you talking about? I booked this entire restaurant without paying, what are you going to do about it?"

"Huh? They really pay?!"

'

Bai Lijing was taken aback, his eyes widening: "I really thought this was your own business! Turns out you just hired someone to run this place?"

Having said all that, it's no longer appropriate to remain ambiguous.

Huang Qixiu smiled and continued, "Brother Baili, we should certainly give Zhou Erge his money, but without friendship and face, the restaurant will not allow him to cause such trouble. Let me tell you, this Jiangshan Fengyu Tower is the private property of the head of the Canal Gang."

""

"It doesn't belong to the canal gangs, but it also doesn't belong to anyone else."

Upon hearing this, Baili Jing suddenly realized: "So that's how it is! Oh dear—then—my request can't be fulfilled?"

'

Ding Yan slowly twirled the wine glass in his hand and said in a low voice, "That's not necessarily true. Brother Baili, my elder sister personally appointed you as the fourth manager, and you also asked for the position. With my elder sister's magnanimity, she wouldn't be so reluctant to part with a restaurant—or rather—"

He narrowed his eyes and looked at Baili Jing: "This Jiangshan Fengyu Tower, she can give it to anyone in the world who wants it."

""

Baili Jing was taken aback, completely dumbfounded: "What does this mean? A free apartment?!"

Zhou Erquan let out a long sigh and began to explain: "The old stories here are a long one. Brother Baili, all you need to know is that there is a rule in this Jiangshan Fengyu Tower."

He smiled slightly and held up one finger: "Whoever wants it, the restaurant will provide it. Moreover, all the managers, waiters, and chefs in this restaurant, along with all the tables, chairs, pots, pans, and utensils, will be given away for free. We won't take a single penny from you."

6

Just as Baili Jing was about to grin, Zhou Erquan abruptly changed the subject, his finger slamming down: "But! The person who takes over this restaurant must ensure that the business is profitable for three months, starting from the day the contract is signed! If the restaurant's revenue declines after three months, you will not only have to return the restaurant, but you will also have to personally make up for the lost profits during those three months—five times the amount!"

Upon hearing this, Baili Jing was immediately disappointed: "Who made these rules? They're such a mess! Can't I just not follow these ridiculous rules?"

"That won't do."

Huang Qixiu said solemnly, "If you want to take over this building, you must have my office witness and sign a formal contract. This is legally binding, and you can't renege on it!"

""

Zhou Erquan looked at Baili Jing with great interest and smiled, saying, "Brother Baili, if you really want this Jiangshan Fengyu Tower, I can give it to you directly, but the rules cannot be broken. It depends on whether you dare to gamble on these three months."

""

"I quit! I quit!"

Baili Jing shook his head vigorously, like a rattle-drum: "If my business fails after the three-month deadline, not only will I lose the building, but I'll also have to spend a huge amount of money for nothing! Wouldn't that be a huge loss?"

Zhou Erquan put down his teacup and suddenly waved his hand, "Brother Baili, if you take over this building and truly can't maintain the restaurant's business revenue after three months, then I'll cover the money you owe my elder sister in the bet. How about that?"

Upon hearing this, Baili Jing was stunned.

Ding Yan gave a meaningful "Oh," and said with a half-smile, "Second Brother, so you're plotting against our eldest sister?"

Baili Jing didn't understand the mystery behind this.

Baili Jie also asked, "Second Master, why do you want my brother to take over this restaurant so much? And what did Third Master mean by what he said just now?"

"

A sly smile appeared on Zhou Erquan's face.

He waved his hand and laughed, "The matter here can't be explained in a few words, so please allow me to keep you in suspense for now."

"In short, Brother Baili, are you going to do this deal or not? If you do it and make money, the Jiangshan Fengyu Tower will belong to the Baili family from now on, and no one can take it away; if you happen to lose money, you won't have to pay a single copper coin!"

Upon hearing this, Baili Jing thought for a moment, then slammed his hand on the table: "Fine! Since Second Brother has put it this way, I'll take this building!"

"good!"

Zhou Erquan clapped his hands and laughed: "Tomorrow morning, the land deed and house deed of Jiangshan Fengyu Tower, along with the deed from the government office, will be delivered to you together!"

'

Baili Jing nodded, but still felt somewhat uneasy.

But as he gazed at the exquisite tablecloth before him and listened to the noisy crowd of theatergoers downstairs, a strange feeling rose from the depths of his heart.

Every brick and tile, every table and chair in this restaurant, the signboard at the entrance, the stove in the kitchen, and even the busy, efficient waiters—

As long as he signs his name tomorrow, all of this will be his!

After this was settled, the atmosphere at the table finally became lively again.

Led by Ding Yan and Huang Qixiu, the group drank and toasted each other for a while, appearing as close as brothers.

After three rounds of toasts, Zhou Erquan put down his wine cup, glanced at Ding Yan, and slowly spoke, offering a suggestion: "Brother Baili, you just said that Jiangshan Fengyu Tower was the first business you asked for. Since that's the case—then did you also ask for your second business?"

""

Baili Jing's smile faded slightly, and he nodded, saying, "Of course, the second thing I need to do tonight is for Brother Ding to apologize properly."

,

Ding Yan's hand trembled almost imperceptibly.

But he still had that kind smile on his face: "Brother Baili, please speak. What kind of business do you want to do with me? As long as it's something Blackwater Hall can offer, just name it."

,

"No."

Baili Jing shook his head: "As for business, I've already got Jiangshan Fengyu Tower, that's enough. As for the docks and warehouses, I already said I don't plan to get involved."

As he spoke, he sat up straight, staring intently at Ding Yan: "I don't want your shares in your businesses, nor do I want any of your shops. I just want your Blackwater Gang members."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Erquan paused slightly, his chopsticks, which were holding peanuts, in his hand.

Ding Yan's smile froze instantly.

But both of them were seasoned veterans who had been in the underworld for decades, and they returned to normal almost instantly.

Zhou Erquan remained silent, continuing to eat his peanuts. Ding Yan, however, asked with a half-smile, "Brother Baili, you need people? Which disciples of my Blackwater Hall do you want? How many do you need? Do you want the elite forging realm warriors, or the underlings who will run errands for you? You wouldn't be thinking of taking Miao Gongfeng away, would you?"

""

"No, I don't want any of those people. I don't know any of your Blackwater Gang members, and I'm too lazy to bother with them."

Baili Jing grinned: "What I want is every single one of the dockworkers on your pier—every single one of them, as long as their names are on your Blackwater Gang's roster, they must all be removed from your dockworkers' register and brought under my command, Baili Jing!"

"Oh right, the big dock where I used to work has been taken over by Second Brother, right? Okay, I need a few people here too—I need a few old brothers I used to know, about ten people."

Upon hearing this, the entire private room fell silent instantly.

pat.

Huang Qixiu lost his grip on the teacup lid and it gently tapped against the rim of the cup.

The prefect couldn't hold back any longer and blurted out, "Brother Baili! Are you crazy?! The three docks in Shanghai alone have no fewer than three or four thousand stevedores under the Blackwater Gang's jurisdiction! You only have one Jiangshan Fengyu Tower, where are you going to get the money to support so many people?! You—you're taking them all away, where are you going to put them?"

Baili Jing put his hands behind his head, leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and replied with a smile, "Hey, Brother Huang, don't worry about that. Didn't you just keep me in suspense? Well, I'll keep you in suspense too. Don't worry, I have my own uses."

After hearing this, Zhou Erquan, Ding Yan, and even Huang Qixiu all fell silent.

Even Baili Jie's face was full of confusion at this moment.

He turned his head and looked at his older brother's appearance. He opened his mouth, but in the end, he didn't ask in front of outsiders.

Seeing that the three big shots were silent, Baili Jing couldn't help but scratch his head: "What's wrong, brothers? I just need a few dockworkers. What happened? Did you break any bones?"

'

Ding Yan remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a long sigh.

He slowly leaned back in his chair, head bowed, his expression unreadable: "It's more than just a broken bone—Brother Baili—My Blackwater Gang is in the dock business. A laborer and a boatman are the foundation of my Blackwater Gang, the most numerous and indispensable link in my entire water transport system—"

"And you, you just casually ask to take away these thousands of people—"

Ding Yan suddenly raised his head, still smiling, but now a deep ferocity could finally be seen in that smile!

"Where am I supposed to find a new batch of laborers in such a short time?! Without anyone to unload cargo and carry bags, how can my dock continue to do business?! What will Blackwater Gang eat in the next few months?!"

'

Zhou Erquan shook his head and said slowly, "Fourth brother, you've taken away all the able-bodied men from your third brother's dock. His Blackwater Hall business will be paralyzed for at least three or four months. As for restoring it to its current scale—it will probably take at least a year and a half to recover."

Upon hearing this, Baili Jing's smile deepened.

He spread his hands and looked at Ding Yan with an innocent expression: "So, this is what it means to apologize!"

Zhou Erquan turned his head at the opportune moment, his gaze falling on Ding Yan, and said calmly, "Third brother, fourth brother has already made it clear what will happen to these thousands of laborers—so, are you going to apologize or not?"

Ding Yan's chest heaved violently a few times, his smile widened, and his teeth clenched tighter and tighter.

long silence.

He squeezed out a question through gritted teeth: "Compensation."

""

Baili Jing grinned, clasped his hands together, and cupped them in Ding Yan's direction: "Since Third Brother is so generous, then I will accept it without hesitation! Third Brother, from this moment on, all our past grievances are over."

""

He spoke eloquently, but deep down he knew very well that it wasn't so easy to turn the page completely.

Ding Yan's son, Ding Sinan, died because he couldn't install the gas furnace. Ding Yan couldn't swallow this humiliation, as the "miracle drug" was right in front of him but he couldn't get it.

And he would never forget that Ding Yan colluded with the government to lock him in a death row cell, intending to cut open his chest and remove his lungs while he was still alive.

However, now that the high-ranking officials of the canal gang have turned the prefect into a peacemaker, if I don't accept this opportunity, it would be disrespectful to both the officials and merchants of the entire city of Shanghai.

and----

Even if he wanted to kill Ding Yan right now, he might not have the ability. Baili Jing still remembers how Ding Yan flew away easily with mechanical wings on his back outside the warehouse yesterday.

These deep-seated grudges can only be set aside for now, and dealt with when the opportunity arises.

With the matter settled, Ding Yan drank a few cups of wine in silence.

His face showed an unmistakable pain, but he had to admit that he was relieved that the matter was over. He even poured himself a glass of wine and offered a toast to Baili Jing alone.

Baili Jing also readily tilted his head back and drank the wine in one gulp.

He wiped his mouth and pressed his advantage, saying, "Alright, since you two brothers are being so kind to me tonight, then I'll tell you about the third thing I want."

What?!

'

Ding Yan was shocked: "There's a third one?!"

Baili Jing quickly waved his hand and laughed loudly, "Don't be nervous, don't be nervous, Third Brother! This third condition doesn't require your business or your person!"

He said with a smile, "Tonight, our prefect even gave me a book of sword techniques. That's incredibly generous! I think, Second Brother and Third Brother, the martial arts treasures you have can't be too much worse than the prefect's, right?"

""

Baili Jing's eyes lit up, and he stretched out his right hand: "Didn't you want a capable leader of the Canal Gang? Then stop holding back and bring out all the good stuff you have."

'