Chapter Thirty-Seven: Hidden Turmoil

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Hidden Turbulence

At dawn, Pang Gang arrived at the medicinal cuisine restaurant with seven or eight workers and a whole truckload of light industrial materials, immediately beginning the carpentry work according to the designs made the previous day.

Xu Yun was also up early. He prepared a delicious schisandra and longan porridge for the four beauties—three adults and one child—who were staying there, and only then called them to wake up.

The moment Guoguo saw the food, her stomach began to rumble and she dug in with her little spoon. Qin Wan’er quickly ate and rushed off to work, while Qiu Yan took a sweep around the restaurant before returning for breakfast, her vigilance heightened several times since the arrival of those three underground experts.

Although the total destruction of the medicinal cuisine restaurant pained Ruan Qing Shuang, seeing those around her brought a smile to her face. She believed that as long as she persevered, something beautiful would inevitably happen.

After breakfast, Guoguo clamored that since school was starting, she had to go to the amusement park. Ruan Qing Shuang, unable to resist, took her, with Qiu Yan naturally following close behind. Xu Yun stayed behind—not because he doubted Pang Gang’s craftsmanship, but because Qiangzi had called saying he would come to help, and there were things Xu Yun wanted to discuss with him.

Qiangzi, usually idling about, brought his dozen men to the medicinal cuisine restaurant. Though they couldn't help much with the major tasks, they assisted Pang Gang and his team with plenty of smaller jobs.

Xu Yun joked, “Qiangzi, you might as well quit your old ways and join Brother Pang in the renovation business.”

Qiangzi nodded, “I think that’s a good idea! There’s no real future in being a layabout, just look at Wang Shunxi of the Four Wolves Gang—he’s the perfect example.”

“As long as you’re willing to work hard, there’s nothing difficult about this trade,” Pang Gang replied with a dry chuckle, though his mouth twisted into a bitter smile as he turned away. Things weren’t easy for them now either—why was Wang Shunxi of the Four Wolves Gang so unlucky, while Fan Nanjie of the Blade and Axe Society remained untroubled?

...

The news of the Four Wolves Gang's destruction spread through Hedong City in a single night!

The entire police force of Hedong City was shaken by the event! From the municipal government compound to every bureau, down to the offices of township departments, nearly everyone was talking about Qin Wan’er’s heroic deeds.

The case of the Four Wolves Gang hiding firearms was quickly established. As Police Chief Chen Wei said, it was the most astonishing and unimaginable achievement ever witnessed by Hedong’s police! Qin Wan’er’s standing in the force soared to an unparalleled height.

If anyone attributed her killing of Eagle Palace’s You to luck, no one could say a word about uprooting the Four Wolves Gang’s base—it could only be called a miracle!

“Little Qin, you’ve performed such outstanding service for our Hedong City Public Security Bureau, I don’t even know how to reward you. If you have any requests, speak up! Anything the bureau can do, I promise you,” said Chen Wei, who had never spoken so grandly in his five years as bureau chief, leaving the branch chiefs stunned. They all knew his style—if Qin Wan’er asked to join the bureau, he would agree without hesitation.

Qin Wan’er made a single request: “Chief Chen, actually, there is something I’d like your help with.”

Chen Wei waved his hand, “Go ahead!”

All the subdivision chiefs pricked their ears, since a personnel reshuffle was coming, and if Qin Wan’er joined the municipal bureau, it would surely affect their own moves.

“A friend’s child wants to attend the Bilingual International School for elementary, but there are registration issues—the child can’t enroll. I don’t want any commendations, just hope the bureau can help resolve this,” Qin Wan’er said earnestly, without a hint of jest.

Chen Wei frowned—a truly simple girl, not asking for any promotion despite such a great feat. Her chief, Liu Guangming, could use this achievement as leverage to become a top leader in the bureau.

Qin Wan’er awaited his answer, “Is it possible?”

“The principal of Bilingual International School, Principal Dong, is an old friend of mine. I’ll call him right away.” Chen Wei’s eyes were full of admiration and relief. This was precisely the sort of selfless and unambitious comrade they needed.

Qin Wan’er nearly jumped for joy—she hadn’t been so excited even during the awards ceremony.

With a single phone call, Chen Wei solved Guoguo’s school enrollment problem, informing Qin Wan’er that her friend could take Guoguo to register today. Qin Wan’er couldn’t wait and hurriedly called Ruan Qing Shuang.

But it wasn’t only the police force that was shocked by the Four Wolves Gang’s annihilation.

The criminal underworld of Hedong City was also trembling with fear—a female officer had destroyed the Four Wolves Gang single-handedly, an almost unbelievable feat!

Fan Nanjie, the leader of the Blade and Axe Society, nearly laughed himself sick when he heard the news. His greatest thorn in the side had been taken out by the police without him lifting a finger! Was there anything more satisfying in life?

Yet, after the initial thrill, Fan Nanjie considered the deeper implications. With the Four Wolves Gang gone, would Blade and Axe Society’s good days soon end? Might their fate turn as miserable as the Four Wolves Gang’s?

This thought forced Fan Nanjie to furrow his brow—he had plenty to deal with lately. Not only did he have to quietly swallow up the territory and stray members left by the Four Wolves Gang, but he also had to carefully avoid the police’s attention.

“Wei Ming.” Fan Nanjie’s face, with its bulging cheek flesh, twitched; his eyelids jerked. He beckoned to a man in a checkered shirt beside him.

The broad-shouldered man leaned in, “Cousin, what do you need?”

“Tell the brothers to keep a low profile for now. I’ll watch over the bathhouse myself, but be extra careful with everything else. Hold off on collecting protection fees—we need to first figure out what the police intend, especially be wary of Qin Wan’er at the Wen Hui District station. Avoid her if possible.”

Fan Nanjie let out a cold laugh, his eyes nearly invisible behind the bulging cheekbones and predatory features, his appearance menacing.

Wei Ming, the burly man, hesitated, “But cousin, what about daily expenses for our crew?”

“Have you still not handled what I asked you last time?” Fan Nanjie’s patience wore thin. “Swallowing up all the small contractors citywide—why isn’t that done yet? Whoever’s doing renovations, collect the management fee.”

“Cousin, I’ve been working on it. The obedient ones are already paying us forty percent management fees, which we’ve spent on bathhouse renovations and gifts. Only a few stubborn ones refuse to pay,” said Wei Weiming, Fan Nanjie’s cousin. Not particularly capable, he survived on his cousin’s reputation.

“Who’s bold enough to defy me?” Fan Nanjie asked coldly.

Wei Weiming replied meekly, “One is Lu Zhonghua, who used to rely on Four Wolves Gang’s Wei Lao Si. Another is Ma Fangguo, the cousin of the wild woman’s brother from Xiongying Society. And then there’s Pang Gang from the edge of the city’s shanty district—a real stone in the latrine, stinky and stubborn…”

Fan Nanjie’s eyes bulged, veins popping, “Even a shanty district guy dares challenge me?! Gather the brothers and teach them a lesson! As for Lu Zhonghua, Wei Lao Si isn’t qualified to lick my boots now! He’s nothing!”

In Wen Hui District, the only one Fan Nanjie needed to watch out for was Su Yanqing of Xiongying Society.

“Yes, cousin! I’ll go right now!” Wei Weiming received the order as if it were an imperial decree, head held high.

...

When Ruan Qing Shuang learned that Guoguo could register for school today, she scooped her up, her eyes red with emotion.

Even Qiu Yan was moved—she had no doubt about the depth of this woman’s love for Guoguo.

“Mama, shouldn’t we tell Daddy, so he can come with us to register?” Guoguo asked, smiling broadly. “He’ll be so happy!”

Ruan Qing Shuang nodded, her smile radiant as she dialed Xu Yun, “Wan’er says we can go register at Bilingual International School now. Where should we meet?”

“You name the place, I’ll find you,” Xu Yun replied with a laugh. Qin Wan’er was truly capable! And this matter was urgent—school starts the day after tomorrow, any later and it would be too late.

After getting the address, Xu Yun hung up and turned to Qiangzi, “Let me borrow your car, I have something to do.”

“Sure!” Qiangzi quickly handed over the keys from his belt, “Bro, just the clutch is a bit loose, the accelerator a bit stiff, otherwise nothing major.”

Damn, if that’s not a major issue, what would be—brake failure?

Xu Yun drove Qiangzi’s beat-up Shenlong Xiaofukang, bought for a few thousand at some second-hand market, straight to the Guomao Mall where Ruan Qing Shuang and the others were waiting. While the car was truly dilapidated and hard to drive, it was nothing for Xu Yun, who had handled all sorts of vehicles.

Soon, Xu Yun arrived, dust-streaked, in front of the three women.

Ruan Qing Shuang blinked in confusion, “Why are you driving Qiangzi’s car?”

“Just borrowing it,” Xu Yun grinned, “I’m taking my goddaughter to register at school—I need to show a little class! It’d be embarrassing if I had no car at all.”

Guoguo’s smile was even worse than a cry; helpless, she tugged at Qiu Yan’s hand, “Qiu Yan, maybe we should just take the bus…”

Even the usually cool Qiu Yan was speechless. Calling this a show of class, taking such a junk car to school? What a disgrace.

“Let’s go!” Ruan Qing Shuang didn’t mind at all, only feeling guilty about wasting Qiangzi’s gas.

Seeing her mother unfazed, Guoguo could only sigh. There’s a saying—marry a chicken, follow the chicken; marry a dog, follow the dog. Guoguo patted her forehead, sighing, “Oh, what have I done to deserve this…”

Qiu Yan rolled her eyes and got in, thinking to herself, you’ve certainly done plenty…

The second-hand Shenlong Xiaofukang sped along, its window glass rattling incessantly. From the passenger seat, Ruan Qing Shuang asked, “Xu Yun, how much does a car like this cost? Maybe we should buy one, it’d be convenient to take Guoguo to school.”

Guoguo panicked, “Mama, let’s not! Uh… I get carsick!”

“But you never get carsick on the bus. Xu Yun, slow down,” Ruan Qing Shuang turned, frowning in concern. “Is everything alright? If you feel unwell, let me know in advance.”

Guoguo gave a nervous, awkward laugh, “Mama, I get carsick in small cars, not on the bus…”