Chapter 19 Northeast Wooden Head
Fang Che was closest to Li Hanzhou, and his feelings were the clearest.
The smug feeling of "I'm so brave" in his mind was instantly shattered by this chilling murderous aura.
This isn't the "overwhelming aura" imagined through words in a book, but a real, chilling sense of oppression!
Subconsciously, she shrank back behind Li Hanzhou, as if that was the only safe haven.
At that moment, he realized that the man beside him was a true hero who could fight his way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, someone he couldn't control with just a bit of prophecy and the tenacity of a Siberian tiger.
However, in this area frozen by Li Hanzhou's murderous aura, there was one exception.
Jiang Tianqi.
The gaze behind the gold-rimmed glasses did not falter; instead, it met Li Hanzhou's gaze in mid-air.
“Boss Li, why are you so angry?” Jiang Tianqi said slowly. “Hong Kong is a society governed by the rule of law. The old ways of fighting and killing are outdated. Now, it’s all about capital and rules.”
He gently raised his hand, and his bodyguard immediately handed him a folder.
Jiang Tianqi held it between two fingers and flipped it open like a work of art.
“Numbers 7, 9, and 11 on Portland Street… and those old buildings at the end of the street,” he read, his tone mocking, “Unfortunately, Dongsheng Group has already reached a preliminary agreement on the future development rights for them. Boss Li is a step too late.”
Ah Gui's expression changed drastically, and his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.
Li Hanzhou's gaze grew even colder, but he didn't look at the document; his eyes remained fixed on Jiang Tianqi's face: "Intention? A signature forced through shady means can still be considered valid?"
"What you're saying, Boss Li," Jiang Tianqi closed the folder and chuckled, "is a business partnership, it's a matter of mutual consent. But you, Boss Li, are injured and leading a few... very special brothers."
His gaze swept over Fang Che. "You've come here to fight for Portland Street. Do you think you're too long-lived, or do you think I, Jiang Tianqi... am too easy to talk to?"
"I'll stand up—" Ah Gui, unable to bear it any longer, was about to step forward.
"Ah Gui," Li Hanzhou hissed, stopping him.
Making a move at this moment is exactly what Jiang Tianqi wanted.
The police may be nearby, waiting to find something to use against them.
The situation reached a stalemate once again.
On one side was Li Hanzhou's icy killing intent, like a drawn blade, and on the other side was Jiang Tianqi's calm and oppressive smile that concealed a dagger.
The two opposing forces collided and compressed in the confined space, making everyone feel suffocated.
Fang Che felt like he was about to be crushed by this silent contest!
My inner voice is going wild: "Oh my god! Are these two acting out 'Shanghai Bund' here?! Can their eyes kill? The atmosphere is so tense, I can't breathe!"
He felt he had to do something to break this damn deadlock and also to show off in front of Brother Li!
So, without anyone's expectation, Fang Che suddenly leaned halfway out from behind Li Hanzhou, cleared his throat, and shouted loudly at Jiang Tianqi in his penetrating Northeastern Cantonese:
"Hey! I'm talking about that Jiang... what's with the Jiang thing? Are you going to keep babbling on and on?"
His shout immediately drew everyone's attention to him.
Jiang Tianqi was also taken aback, and squinted at Fang Che.
Fang Che straightened his chest, met the other person's gaze, and said with an air of authority, "We're all in this together, let's save face! Let's talk straight, okay?!"
The scene fell silent briefly.
Looking at Fang Che's serious expression, Jiang Tianqi was surprised, but his eyes were filled with even more amusement.
"Okay." He smiled, leaning back in his chair and lightly tapping the table with his long, slender fingers. "Tell me about it?"
Fang Che breathed a sigh of relief upon receiving a response.
Li Hanzhou subtly turned his head and gave him a deep look.
Fang Che dared not meet his gaze, straightened his back, and began to speak eloquently, following their earlier agreement:
"Mr. Jiang! As the saying goes, harmony brings wealth! Who wouldn't be envious of Portland Street, this lucrative piece of meat? But we in the underworld also need to consider sustainable development, right?"
A look of surprise flashed across Jiang Tianqi's eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses.
He probably had never heard of anyone using "sustainable development" to negotiate territory.
He raised his hand and made a "please continue" gesture, as if he were listening to a stand-up comedy routine.
Encouraged, Fang Che became even more enthusiastic, switching into "Master Fang" mode: "Your Dong Sheng Society is rich and powerful, perfect for getting into finance and stocks, so much more sophisticated! Portland Street is a mixed bag, difficult to manage. Leave the dirty work to teams like He Yi Tang! We know the neighborhood, understand their needs, and can provide the most local... uh, service!"
Ah Gui, listening from the side, felt his forehead veins throbbing and wished he could sew Fang Che's mouth shut.
Li Hanzhou's face was expressionless, but his fingers hanging at his sides curled slightly, as if he was enduring something.
Fang Che felt increasingly impressed with his own unique way of thinking: "Besides, even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake! You're new here, and even if you use money to buy your territory, the locals won't accept it and will cause trouble every day, which will be a headache, right? We and Yitang have been deeply rooted in this area for many years and have a good foundation with the local people! If we cooperate, you provide the money, we provide the labor, and we share the profits, it's a win-win situation! This is the modern business model!"
He wanted to add, "It's truly good when everyone is doing well," but seeing the seriousness of the occasion, he swallowed it back.
Jiang Tianqi chuckled softly, a mixture of mockery and curiosity in his voice: "Interesting, very interesting. Li Hanzhou, where did you find such a...treasure?"
He turned his gaze to Li Hanzhou, "He means that I, Dongsheng Society, should pay for and support your Heyi Hall to help us manage Portland Street? Boss Li, when did you stoop so low as to be someone's watchdog?"
These words were extremely insulting, and Ah Gui and his brothers instantly flew into a rage, about to make a move.
“Jiang Tianqi!” Li Hanzhou spoke, his voice as cold as ice. “Portland Street, it’s all about skill. Your men, get out of here immediately. Otherwise, I don’t mind leaving a few more corpses here.”
He ignored Fang Che's "grand business theories" and went straight for the most gangster-like method.
Jiang Tianqi's smile remained unchanged, but his eyes turned cold: "Li Hanzhou, do you think things are still the same as before? That fighting and killing can solve everything? Look around you, besides a capable gangster, there's only one..."
His gaze swept over Fang Che, then paused, "...A quick-witted little beauty. What does she have to compete with me?"
The words "little beauty" are deeply ingrained in Fang Che's Northeastern soul!
He instantly bristled, his neck stiffening as he retorted, "Who are you calling a little beauty?! You're the beauty! Your whole family are beauties! I'm a real man! I have a Siberian tiger inside me! Awooo, believe it or not!"
"Pfft—" Jiang Tianqi's bodyguard couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Li Hanzhou closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and felt the gunshot wound in his right abdomen start to hurt again!
He grabbed Fang Che by the back of his collar, who was still howling, and pulled him back like a chick.
"Enough." Li Hanzhou's voice carried a command, directed at Jiang Tianqi, and also at the restless fellow in his arms. "Portland Street, let's see who's the best. Let's go."
After saying that, he stopped looking at Jiang Tianqi, grabbed Fang Che who still wanted to argue, and turned to leave.
Ah Gui and the others glared at the Dong Sheng Society members and followed closely behind.
Jiang Tianqi watched their retreating figures, especially the handsome young man being protected by Li Hanzhou, his interest growing even stronger.
He muttered to himself, "A little beauty with a Siberian tiger living inside her... Li Hanzhou, you've really picked up an incredible gem this time."
...
On the way back, the atmosphere was even more somber than on the way there.
Ah Gui drove the car, his face as black as the bottom of a pot, occasionally glaring at Fang Che, who was hanging his head, through the rearview mirror.
Fang Che himself was also dejected.
He wanted to demonstrate his intelligence, but it seems he messed it up again?
He secretly glanced at Li Hanzhou beside him; the other man had his eyes closed, and his emotions were unreadable.
"Brother Li..." Fang Che spoke softly, his voice filled with grievance and uncertainty, "Did I... say something wrong again?"
Li Hanzhou didn't open his eyes, only letting out a hum through his nose.
Fang Che looked even more wilted, like a frostbitten cabbage.
He tried to explain, "I... I just wanted to outsmart them... Fighting is bad, you can easily get hurt, and it costs money..."
Ah Gui finally snapped, slamming his fist on the steering wheel: "Outsmart?! That's just shameful! Sustainable development? Service? You've completely disgraced Heyitang! What will people in the underworld think of us now? Will they say we've switched to being neighborhood committee members?!"
Fang Che shrank back, stubbornly persisting, and muttered under his breath, "What's wrong with the neighborhood committee? The neighborhood committee can mediate disputes, it can grasp public opinion, it plays a huge role... You just don't understand grassroots work..."
"You!" Ah Gui was so angry he almost veered off course.
"Ah Gui," Li Hanzhou said, his voice weary, "Watch the road while driving."
Ah Gui shut up, feeling frustrated, and focused on driving.
Li Hanzhou then opened his eyes and looked at the boy huddled up beside him.
The boy's handsome profile flickered in and out of the neon lights, his long eyelashes drooping, and the corners of his mouth turned down, conveying a sense of "grievance but strength."
Thinking of how he had stood in front of Jiang Tianqi, trembling with fear yet still managing to "negotiate" in such an unbelievable way, Li Hanzhou's anger subsided considerably, replaced by a mix of emotions.
This kid may be stupid and reckless, but his subconscious desire to protect him and share his burdens is genuine.
“Your idea,” Li Hanzhou suddenly spoke, his voice still calm, “is not entirely wrong.”
"Huh?" Fang Che looked up abruptly, his eyes instantly lighting up. "Brother Li! You understand me?!"
Li Hanzhou felt a little uncomfortable under his bright eyes and looked away: "We can make contact with the old buildings on Portland Street, as you said. But the method can't be the same as yours."
"Understood, understood!" Fang Che nodded vigorously. "Brother Li, whatever you say goes! I promise to cooperate!"
Seeing Fang Che's face instantly brighten, Li Hanzhou's lips curved into a barely perceptible smile.
This blockhead from Northeast China is easy to coax.
“However,” Li Hanzhou changed the subject, his gaze falling back on Fang Che, “your ‘heart of a Siberian tiger’…”
Fang Che blushed, his neck stiffening: "That, that's exactly right! I'm incredibly fierce inside!"
Li Hanzhou's gaze shifted downwards, landing on his still swollen ankle. He recalled the light weight he had felt when he had carried him back earlier, and gave a meaningful "Oh."
Fang Che: "..." He felt offended! But he couldn't refute it!
He clenched his fist in grief and anger, secretly resolving: Once my foot is healed, I must start exercising!
At least we can no longer be treated like chicks and carried around!
The car drove back to the base.
As soon as he got out of the car, Fang Che volunteered to change Li Hanzhou's dressing, trying to make amends.
In the dim light, Li Hanzhou leaned against the cot, and Fang Che carefully untied the bandage on his abdomen.
The wound is healing well, but the scar is still noticeable.
Looking at the scar, Fang Che felt a wave of fear and guilt, and his movements became even gentler.
He kept his head down, focused on applying the medicine, unaware that Li Hanzhou's gaze was fixed on his lowered eyelashes and slightly pursed lips.
The boy's fingers were slender and cool, occasionally brushing against the skin and causing a slight itch.
Li Hanzhou's Adam's apple bobbed.
"Brother Li," Fang Che muttered to himself as he clumsily bandaged the wound, "once we take Portland Street, we'll have truly taken the first step! Then we'll open a chain of barbecue restaurants, with Tie Niu as the technical director! We can even start a logistics company..."
He spoke eloquently about the future, his eyes shining.
Li Hanzhou listened quietly without interrupting.
These ideas, though still naive, strangely dispelled the gloom and bloodlust surrounding him.
Perhaps, keeping this noisy, boisterous guy from Northeast China around isn't so bad...
only……
Li Hanzhou looked at Fang Che's exquisite profile, so close to him, completely unguarded, and felt the faint touch. His eyes darkened.
Fang Che finally finished bandaging himself up, tying an ugly knot. When he looked up, he met Li Hanzhou's deep and unfathomable gaze.
He couldn't understand it; he just felt his heart skip a beat.
"Brother Li, it's all done." He instinctively avoided eye contact, his ears burning. "You...you should get some rest!"
After saying that, she practically fled, jumping back to her shabby sofa, wrapping herself in a blanket, revealing only her bewildered and flustered peach blossom eyes.
Strange, the look in Brother Li's eyes just now... it felt even scarier than Jiang Tianqi's knife?
He touched his burning ears and thought to himself: It must be the infection from the wound that's causing the low-grade fever; even his eyes look strange! Yes, that must be it!
Looks like I need to get some money quickly so I can buy some good medicine for Brother Li to help him recover!
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