Five feet of sky south of the city

The study fell silent suddenly, the only sound the whirring of the overhead fan. Kiyosumi knew that choosing a candidate was an extremely important decision that required careful consideration.

"Not yet confirmed." Sister Gui's authoritative voice broke the tense atmosphere.

It was a false alarm, and Qingcheng relaxed a little, but her nerves tightened again after seeing Guijie's amused look.

With the conference of a thousand people just around the corner, Sister Gui was definitely not here to chat. Qingcheng quickly replied with a few polite words, saying that the candidates should be carefully considered. Rongtan is full of talented people, and even if they are not perfect, there should be good men who are almost perfect.

"Even perfection is hard to find." Sister Gui sighed as she placed a round purple clay cup on the table. "I know what kind of men in the gang are. They all indulge in eating, drinking, whoring, gambling, and smoking. Anyone who can help me get things done without making a mistake is a real talent."

Strange, how come Sister Gui hasn't groomed a single successor? She has no children of her own, but she has adopted quite a few adopted children and has many loyal apprentices. Even among the dwarfs, she can still find suitable candidates to use temporarily. At least they are her own people, so what could possibly displease her?

Gui Jie's lack of direct confrontation made Qingcheng uneasy. She could only offer a subtle suggestion: the priority should be getting through the current crisis to avoid being devoured by a villain. Gui Jie could simply worry for a few more years and then remove the incompetent one when a suitable heir is found.

Sister Gui shook her head in denial, saying that as the actual leader, she couldn't possibly oversee everything; at most, she could only set a direction for development. The future successor of Rongtan would need to take responsibility for its growth, and talent, interpersonal skills, loyalty, and leadership were all factors she would consider.

Moreover, as she gets older, her energy is not what it used to be, and she starts to have minor ailments. At her age, most people should be enjoying their retirement as grandmothers, so who would bother with her every day and cause her so much trouble?

What's the use of complaining? Why don't you find a successor? If male disciples aren't suitable, then find female disciples. You're a woman, so don't be so sexist. Qingcheng silently thought to herself as she drank hot tea, which washed away some of her irritability.

"Xia, are you married?" Sister Gui suddenly asked.

"Not yet, but we're engaged," Qingcheng replied cautiously. Heaven knows what Gui-jie is planning, so she had to nip her hopes in the bud.

"It's just an engagement." Sister Gui gave a meaningful smile. "I heard you can communicate directly with William in the Public Concession and attend a modern school?

Qingcheng made up a story off the top of her head, saying that she had never attended a modern school, but rather a regular private school. Her aunt taught her English.

"Your Xia family is a prominent clan in Guangdong and Guangxi. Do you have any other siblings?" Sister Gui asked again, seemingly very interested in her situation.

They were rambling on about checking household registrations. Kiyosumi tried her best to keep smiling and indicated that she had two older brothers and one older sister.

"Fourth brother, you still have two older brothers. The family business is practically irrelevant to you now." Sister Gui took a knowing sip of tea. "But you still have far more options than the average person. Why did you come to Shanghai to make your way in the world? Why not take the crooked path instead of the legitimate one?"

Good heavens, was Sister Gui trying to arrange a marriage for her or something? Alarms were blaring in her head. Qingcheng didn't want to stay here anymore. She recited like she was reciting a memorized text, "The Great Era of Strife..."

"I don't want to hear the same thing twice," Sister Gui coldly pointed out. "You knew I was behind the door, which is why you dared to provoke Xiaomi, right? Xiaomi is impetuous and fell for your provocation. Fine, but you threw away the bloodstained handkerchief and even got our Xiao Wu under your thumb. You've got some serious skills!"

"Sister Gui is joking. How could I dare to play tricks in front of you?" Qingcheng laughed it off. "Even if Sister Gui wasn't behind the door, she wouldn't have let Master Mi do whatever he wanted, because I still have a use for you."

"Whether you are useful to me or I am useful to you, you know it in your heart." Sister Gui looked at her indifferently. "Young people should understand some politics, but they can't get caught up in it. Power is more bloodthirsty than capital. Mr. Da made the mistake of not knowing his place, and in the end, he got nothing from either side."

“The eldest son is immature, you can give him some pointers. You two are husband and wife after all.” Qingcheng deliberately brought up the eldest son, the person Guijie hated the most at the moment, hoping that she would hate him too.

"Hmph," Gui scoffed, mocking Qingcheng's youth. "Marriage, to put it nicely, is about mutual support; to put it bluntly, it's about mutual exploitation. No matter how the two met in the beginning, or whether there were feelings between them, they will eventually become equally ugly."

She had heard some foreigners suggest that marriage is a form of long-term prostitution, a view she didn't quite agree with. She felt the girls in brothels only needed to provide men with fantasies, and nothing else mattered. Those who held this view probably only saw what was in their crotches.

If you could remove the "things in your crotch" from marriage, he would get an independent shop, but the property rights would only belong to the man. Most women look for a husband who is also an employer. Besides providing food and lodging, the husband would act as a guarantor for you in society, giving you a legal identity to operate openly. At the same time, your support would help your husband advance further in his career.

As the business grew, the man took on more and more responsibilities outside the home, while the woman took on more and more household responsibilities. This is what is known as the man being in charge of external affairs and the woman being in charge of internal affairs.

She was unwilling to be inferior to others, and working was out of the question. She wanted a legal identity to operate in society, which first required a basic shop with mutual insurance. Getting married was also an urgent matter.

No matter how foolish the young masters of high society are, they are still someone else's children, protected by their families. They can't compare to the seeds she has raised herself. So she chose to create a "husband" for herself, a man from the lower class with no powerful connections, the easiest to control. As for his appearance, it didn't matter, since she wasn't going to have children with him anyway.

As time goes by, all feelings can transform into familial affection. She had always hoped that the couple could share their wealth after making a fortune, and that she would have someone to accompany her in her old age. Unfortunately, she was wrong in the end. Sister Gui's eyes were red, and a few tears slid down her face, looking utterly desolate.

The atmosphere in the entire private room dropped. Qingcheng took out a handkerchief and wiped away her tears: "It's a pity I wasn't born twenty years earlier, otherwise the person who would be so influential in Shanghai now wouldn't be Mr. Da, but Mr. Xia."

Her lips were greasy, but in her heart she thought: Sister Gui, save your tears, perform again tomorrow. Those old feudalists just want to see you as a resentful woman after being abandoned. The advantage is that they feel you pose no threat, so they will abstain from voting.

"You want to be the chief?" Sister Gui looked her over with a probing gaze.

Qingcheng replied decisively, "I don't want to. You enjoy the power, and I'll bear the consequences. Sister, what kind of unfair deal is this?"

The sobbing stopped abruptly. Sister Gui covered her eyes and laughed...hahahaha, her laughter went from soft to loud, and then to unrestrained laughter that reached the sky.

"Faced with immense wealth and power, few people can resist. They simply cannot see the countless skeletons beneath the mountains of gold. How could you possibly see that?" Sister Gui wiped away the remaining moisture from the corner of her eyes.

"What I can see, others can see too. It's just that selfish desires can drive people mad, demons, and monsters. Doing whatever you want without overstepping the bounds is the key to survival in chaotic times." Kiyosumi's eyes were bright.

Sister Gui smiled approvingly: "Well done, doing as you please without overstepping the bounds. I don't usually praise people, but I must praise you today. You know how to conduct yourself properly. You deserve to be mentored by me."

Qingcheng feigned surprise and stepped back, saying, "Xia, please thank Sister Gui on behalf of the White Tiger Hall. However, our business is not urgent; right now, we should select candidates for Rongtan."

Gui Jie's face darkened. The fact that she was drawing a line clearly displeased Gui Jie. Qing Cheng guessed what she was planning, but she couldn't guess what it was.

After a moment's hesitation, Sister Gui got straight to the point: "Let's not beat around the bush. You'll be attending this year's conference with a thousand people. I'll take you to do something big."

As expected, they came for me! Qingcheng took a deep breath, cupped her hands and bowed, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Sister Gui. However, I am a member of the Tiger Hall. Before doing anything important, I need to tell my aunt. Once she gives her approval, I can go all out."

“You’re not a child anymore, how can you let your elders worry about everything? As long as you make up your mind, I’ll talk to Junior Sister Xia myself, you don’t need to worry.” Sister Gui said in a threatening tone, “But if you refuse, you should know the consequences.”

“Sister Gui seems to have forgotten something.” Qingcheng’s heart was beating faster and faster, and finally her hands behind her back were trembling. “The disciples in the sect value loyalty, righteousness, propriety and filial piety the most. My sudden change of allegiance is a major taboo. I am afraid I will not be able to win over the gang. Being criticized is a small matter. The uncles and elders of the Green Gang may want to expel me and sink me to the bottom of the Huangpu River. This matter cannot be rushed.”

"I've already thought this through." Sister Gui smiled and took out two photos of young girls from the drawer. She introduced them as her adopted daughters, one seventeen and the other sixteen. They were both studying at a modern school, spoke fluent English, and were all exceptionally beautiful. Whichever one she chose would become Mrs. Xia.

If Qingcheng agrees, Guijie will announce her engagement to her adopted daughter tomorrow. Once he becomes her son-in-law, he will naturally be able to take over Rongtan's affairs without having to change his family background.

"How can you force someone to buy or sell?" Qingcheng said seriously, "Sister Gui, I'm already engaged."

"It's just an engagement. You can get divorced even if you get married. Or is it that you look down on my daughter because her background isn't good enough for you?" Sister Gui slammed her teacup down on the table, her tone turning cold.

“The leader of Rongtan should first be someone from Rongtan.” Qingcheng hurriedly changed the subject. “I think Master Wu downstairs is very good. He may seem rough, but he is actually very thoughtful and clear in handling problems. His leadership is beyond question. His subordinates are all proud to be brothers with him. Cooperating with Master Wu is one of the most comfortable business deals I have ever done.”

Sister Gui was slightly taken aback, then said, "If you like Xiao Wu, I don't mind. You can have him assist you, but on the surface you will still have to address each other as brothers."

Kiyosumi was startled: "No, no, no, that's not what I meant. I don't want him to assist me... I can assist him."

Just then, soft footsteps sounded outside the door, and a maid's voice came from outside: "Madam, Mr. Du's butler has arrived and brought you several jade necklaces. Please choose one to wear at the conference tomorrow."

Mr. Du? Sister Gui raised an eyebrow, her voice suddenly rising: "I'll give you two choices. First, when I come back, kneel down and kowtow to me, call me 'Mom,' and I'll accept you as my son-in-law. Second, I'll tie you up and force you to marry Xiao Wu. Once it's a fait accompli, you'll have no choice but to comply. Starting tomorrow, you'll be my new adopted daughter, and Mr. Xia will cease to exist."

"Sister Gui, what do you mean? How could I possibly marry Master Wu?" Qingcheng's face turned pale and then red, and she choked on her words.

"Hmph, I don't care. Just figure out your answer before I get back." Sister Gui said, then got up and left.

As the sound of Gui Jie's high heels faded into the distance, Qingcheng collapsed onto the chair, exhausted. Her back was soaked with sweat. She felt trapped, with a tiger inside and dogs outside. Even if she managed to escape this house today, she would not be able to break free from the net woven by Gui Jie.

Her intelligence network, sometimes even more powerful than that of special agents, was like a ticking time bomb, holding such a huge secret about the radio station in her hands, which could affect the newly reorganized Shanghai station at any time.

This is Sister Gui's territory. A direct confrontation with her is almost pointless; the only option is to outsmart her. She opens the window, letting in fresh air. Butler Du is here; Mr. Du will be here soon too. Her clear thoughts race with the evening breeze, devising a plan…

In the living room, the housekeeper of the Du mansion was answering the master's phone: "Yes, yes, Madam chose that old mine jadeite. She said she likes the deep color. Oh, and there's a matching bracelet too. Okay, I'll come back and get it right away."

"It's alright, we can talk about the bracelet later. More accessories aren't necessarily better; the important thing is that they suit the person." Sister Gui admired the jade necklace in her hand, her eyes filled with satisfaction.

A sharp cracking sound came from upstairs, followed by several loud thuds of fighting. Gui Jie's hand froze in mid-air, a hint of embarrassment flashing across her face.

"It's nothing, a maid accidentally broke the teapot." The housekeeper considerately made an excuse for Sister Gui. "Mr. Du thinks the sparrow tongue tea he sent last time is almost finished, so he has acquired a new batch of Maojian tea and would like to invite Madam to taste it."

"Please thank Mr. Du for me. We'll talk about it tomorrow." Sister Gui closed the velvet lid.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a furious roar came from upstairs: "I'm going to kill you!"

"I've said I'm not a member of the G Party, and I'll say it a hundred times. If you have the guts, go find the real G Party and take revenge."

The housekeeper gave a few perfunctory replies and quickly hung up the phone. Sister Gui awkwardly laughed and gave him the order to leave: "The kids are just playing around. You've been running around a lot, so Huamei, get Uncle Du two packs of good cigarettes."

"Thank you, Madam. See you tomorrow." Butler Du rose and said respectfully in a low voice, but as he turned around, a strange smile appeared on his face.

The second floor was in complete chaos. Xiao Mi was tightly gripping Qing Cheng's neck, while Master Wu was pulling on Xiao Mi's arm to make him let go. All three of them were red-faced and their veins were bulging.

Bang! The gunshot was deafening.

"Stop it, all of you!"

Sister Gui's shout was like a thunderclap, startling everyone. Qingcheng felt her neck relax, and fresh air rushed into her lungs. Her neck had suffered a lot today. This was the third time, and there would be no next time.

"Sister Gui, there's been a misunderstanding. I... I'll handle it. You should go and rest first," said Master Wu, swallowing hard and panting.

"Misunderstanding my foot! I want him to pay for my brother's life." Xiao Mi struggled violently, but Master Wu dared not let go.

"Don't come any closer, or I'll jump." Qingcheng took the opportunity to step onto the windowsill and untied her shoes without making a sound. "I told you I'm not, why can't you understand? I'm just a black market broker. Someone is offering a high price for a bunch of scrap metal, and I have no reason not to sell. Merchants always prioritize profit. If I don't sell, someone else will."

"Then tell me the buyer's information." Xiaomi desperately needed an outlet for its pent-up anger.

“Are you crazy? The rules of the black market were set by Sister Gui, and no one can break them,” Master Wu blurted out.

Gui Jie, who had been observing, shouted sternly, "Xiao Wu, take him away. He has no manners at all. He's embarrassing us. Xia Xia, stop making a scene. You have to attend a conference with a thousand people with me tomorrow."

"Sister Gui, Xia is very grateful that you want to marry your daughter to me, but breaking off the engagement is absolutely impossible," Qingcheng said sternly.

"What?! Mother, you still want to marry your sister to him? Who does he think he is?!" Xiao Mi's shrill scream almost pierced her eardrums.

"Shut up! It's all your fault for being so useless. The bigger the business, the more capable the leader needs to be. I can only find half a son to handle things." After scolding, Sister Gui tempted her, "Xia, the underground rivers in the five provinces of Jiangnan are almost fully laid out. We're about to make money. Are you willing to give it up?"

“Sister Gui, I love money, but even I, a scoundrel, have my bottom line. Especially in the underworld, the most important thing is to keep your word.” Qingcheng retorted, “Would you dare to use a scoundrel who would abandon his wife for wealth and glory? Even if you did, would the brothers be convinced? Instead of trying to convince me, why don’t you look at Master Wu over there?”

Sister Gui's face instantly darkened, and she coldly retorted, "What do you know! He himself gave up his inheritance rights back then."

Huh? Qingcheng had lost count of how many times she'd asked this question. She turned her gaze to Master Wu, but he looked away, keeping his emotions bottled up. "A ruthless man isn't necessarily a hero, and a loving father isn't necessarily less of a man," these words suddenly popped into Qingcheng's mind.

"Do you think you can get away? Drag him down!" Sister Gui waved her hand, and two thugs stepped forward, rubbing their fists together.

A gust of wind blew in, carrying a faint smell of gasoline. Qingcheng glanced outside out of the corner of her eye. There were shadowy figures everywhere. She curled the corners of her mouth, leaned back, and the gauze curtain swayed as she fell.

"No!" Two male voices overlapped.

A chill ran down her feet as Wu Ye held Qingcheng's right shoe in his hand. The sorrow in his eyes seemed to see another person through Qingcheng.

Ouch! With a muffled groan, Qingcheng landed steadily on a fleshy cushion, without feeling any pain.

Qingcheng jumped up, patted Gao Junxiao's shoulder, and asked with concern, "Ah Xiao, are you alright?"

"It's okay, I'm a professional. Let me catch my breath." Gao Junxiao lay on the ground as if having a picnic, completely unaware of the danger, even as the menacing black-clad thugs gathered around him.

"Get up quickly." Qingcheng patted the man's stomach anxiously, and he immediately jumped up in pain. Qingcheng rubbed it for him tenderly, thinking that her own wife was the best.

Suddenly the crowd parted, and a middle-aged man in a black long gown and mandarin jacket approached the two, cupped his hands and smiled, "You must be Mr. Xia, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Xia Xia greets Mr. Du." Qingcheng straightened up and bowed.

The crowd stirred again. Master Wu rushed over in a hurry, and when he saw Gao Junxiao, he was stunned, but he still helped him up and patted the weeds off his back.

"Hey, who do we have here? Xiao Du, what brings you here?" Sister Gui, who had come down from the building, propped herself up on her arm and chimed in.

“I wouldn’t come here without a reason. I found out who was trying to harm you, Master’s wife. I was in such a hurry that I didn’t inform you in advance. I hope you will forgive me.” Mr. Du’s gentle demeanor was extremely rare.

"Who is it?" A hint of murderous intent flashed in Sister Gui's eyes.

"I've already invited the three heads of the Municipal Council. They should be here in about 45 minutes," Mr. Du said confidently.

Qingcheng winked at Gao Junxiao knowingly; Mr. Du was even more capable than she had imagined.