A life of success begins with being a landlord.

Those five burly men were borrowed from the security team; Daozai Xiong had given them permission.

Dealing with Kuai Dafa doesn't require me to lift a finger, let alone use knives or guns, go into battle bare-chested, or cause a bloodbath.

Using someone else to do the dirty work, with a legitimate reason, is the safest approach.

Kuai Dafa was pinned to the ground, whimpering, "Don't arrest me! I have a residence permit... I'm a law-abiding citizen!"

I smiled without saying a word.

All the law-abiding citizens have come out!

However, you may not be a law-abiding citizen, and the people you encounter are not regular troops.

"Shut up, show me your residence permit first!" One of the team members waved his hand and slapped Kuai Dafa twice across the face.

A trickle of blood immediately flowed from the corner of Kuai Dafa's mouth.

Out-of-town diners who were eating were so frightened that they all fled.

Checking residence permits is a nightmare for migrant workers.

As they investigated, they ended up sending you to Zhangshutou!

Kuai Dafa pleaded repeatedly, "Don't hit me! My residence permit is at home, I'll take you to get it..."

I nodded and had a few team members escort Kuai Dafa home.

Kuai Dafa was escorted into the stairwell and led towards room 404.

I stopped hiding it and invited Ding Zhili to go and see the excitement.

Once inside room 404, Kuai Dafa was kicked to the ground again.

"Brother Zu, so... it was you?"

Kuai Dafa got up and saw Ding Zhili and me follow him in. He understood everything.

I shook my head: "It's none of my business. I'm just here to watch the show."

Lei Zi slapped him across the face: "Damn it, you've wronged my brother Zu, you little brat, are you looking for death?"

"Don't hit me, I understand, I'll leave right away..." Kuai Dafa begged for mercy, covering his head.

But realizing this now seems a bit too late.

Two team members escorted Kuai Dafa and found his residence permit.

"Look, this is my residence permit. I have a permit," Kuai Dafa said, wiping the sweat from his brow.

"Fake certificate!"

The team member glanced at it, casually tore up the residence permit, and glared at it, shouting, "You fat bastard, how dare you forge a residence permit! Do you know what crime forging documents is? Take him away and send him to Camphor Tree Head!"

Kuai Da was stunned for a moment, then yelled at me, "Brother Zu, you can't do this! I have so many film reels here..."

I waved my hand impatiently: "Take it away. I'll check it to see if Kuai Dafa has any contraband."

The team members nodded and escorted Kuai Dafa away.

However, the squad leader, Jin Biao, who was also the brother-in-law of Captain Liu of Building 3, stayed behind to check the rooms with us.

I handed Jin Biao a cigarette: "Brother Biao, thanks for tonight. I'll arrange for the guys to have some late-night snacks later."

Jin Biao chuckled, "Let's see if this fatso has anything good. Didn't you say you deal in gold and silver?"

"It's silver being extracted from wastewater," Ding Zhili explained.

I understood what Jin Biao meant, so I asked Jin Biao to check Kuai Dafa's room.

Jin Biao knew where the key point was, so he went straight to Kuai Dafa's bedroom and ransacked the place.

There was a small safe in the bedroom.

Jin Biao asked me, "Brother Zu, what do we do with this thing?"

"You're the ones who should take it back. Try to pry it open and see if there are any contraband items," I said righteously.

Jin Biao was very satisfied and told Lei Zi to carry the safe downstairs.

Inside the room, there was also a bag of black, heavy medicinal residue; I didn't know what it was.

Another bedroom was filled with discarded film rolls from the printing factory, as well as many brand-new film rolls, box after box, still unopened.

"What are all these things?" Jin Biao had no idea.

Ding Zhili shook his head and said, "Brother Biao, these are all scraps, rotten plastic... worthless."

Jin Biao thought for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "No, this isn't waste plastic."

Ding Zhili smiled awkwardly: "Th-what is that?!"

"It is hazardous chemical waste, flammable, and poses a significant threat to environmental safety!"

Jin Biao casually picked up two pieces of old film: "I'm going to take them back to preserve evidence and investigate the dead fat man's crimes."

"Brother Biao is right after all!"

Ding Zhili chuckled and then packed some caustic soda into a plastic bag and gave it to Jin Biao: "This is also a dangerous chemical. Brother Biao, take it back as evidence."

Jin Biao was very satisfied and smiled at me, saying, "Then I'll be going, Brother Zu. Please take care of the hazardous chemicals here."

I thanked him again, saw Jin Biao out, and slipped him a thick envelope.

This is a thank-you fee; I'm treating Jin Biao's team members to a meal.

After seeing Jin Biao off, Ding Zhili closed the door and chuckled slyly.

"Brother Zu, we've struck it rich! That black residue is silver halide. Burn it in the furnace, and it turns into pure silver. And those film reels—they're all money!"

I lit a cigarette and remained silent.

"Brother Zu, what's wrong?" Ding Zhili asked me.

"Ding Zhili, weren't we going a bit too far with what we did tonight?" I sighed.

Our actions tonight were those of robbers and bandits, not those of any team members.

Although Kuai Dafa is despicable, what we're doing... isn't honorable either.

"Brother Zu, we should have done this a long time ago!"

Ding Zhili, however, disagreed and laughed, "That's just how the world is. If you want to make big money, you have to have the means. Don't overthink it."

I shook my head and went to look at the film reels.

"What's with these new film rolls? They must be expensive, right?"

I opened a box and looked at the film.

"Brother Zu, you wouldn't understand." Ding Zhili smiled slyly.

"As the saying goes, every profession has its quirks and its drawbacks. Doing honest business will only earn you small money. You can only make big money by taking shortcuts."

I frowned: "Stop being so mysterious, explain it clearly."

"These brand-new films were stolen by a junior manager at the printing factory."

Ding Zhili picked up a box of film and laughed, "As long as the warehouse manager and the workshop foreman agree, most consumables can be stolen. Kuai Dafa's prices are reasonable, so of course the workshop foreman is willing to steal. This is more profitable than his salary."

"Hold!"

I shook my head and dropped the film.

Isn't this blatant theft by those in charge?

Ding Zhili was still excited: "Brother Zu, now that we've dealt with Kuai Dafa, we've monopolized the wastewater business of the printing factory. We're going to make a fortune."

I paused for a moment, then said, "If we could secure the printing plant's supplies, the profits would be far greater than collecting scrap, right?"

"Of course. Collecting waste materials can earn you three or four hundred thousand a year, and supplying consumables can bring in at least two million in profit annually."

"Then you should collect scrap materials honestly and not do anything shady." I made up my mind: "We need to have a long-term vision and make big money in the supply of consumables."

Ding Zhili nodded: "Brother Zu, I'll listen to you."

I locked the door to room 404 and warned Ding Zhili that he was not allowed to touch Kuai Dafa's things for the time being.

Let's talk about it in a while.

If Kuai Dafa finds powerful connections and investigates, it will be difficult to handle if we have embezzled his goods.

As I came down from 404 and passed by the entrance of 304, I happened to see Xue Meihua.

"Brother Zu".

Xue Meihua greeted them first: "Were you upstairs just now? I heard them checking residence permits and stuff, it scared me to death. My residence permit... has expired too."

"Meihua, those were some of my friends who came here on business."

I shook my head: "You don't need to apply for a residence permit. In Sanlichuan, I guarantee you'll be fine."

Xue Meihua chuckled awkwardly, "But I still want to get a residence permit because I've found a job and I need one."

I was a little surprised: "What kind of job did you look for? Didn't I say I'd arrange one for you in a couple of days?"

Given Xue Meihua's situation, I doubt she'll find a good job.