Chapter 32: Pawns
Liu Shuan Zhu hesitated for a moment, then nodded. He had no choice now. If he continued to side with the Black Dog Gang, the recording tape in Jiang Butong’s possession would be evidence of his betrayal. Gouzi was naturally suspicious and would surely doubt him.
Jiang Butong watched Liu Shuan Zhu leave.
The two of Jiang Yuan’s men, covered in blood, slowly regained consciousness, clearly badly injured.
“Brother Yuan, let’s get them to the hospital,” Jiang Butong said.
Jiang Yuan nodded, but suddenly everything went dark before his eyes and his legs gave way. He quickly grabbed hold of Jiang Butong.
“Brother Yuan, what’s wrong?” Jiang Butong steadied him.
“Damn, I just felt weak. Now I can’t muster any strength.”
Jiang Butong helped Jiang Yuan to a corner and eased him down to sit. His brows were tightly furrowed.
At that moment, Chen Sheng and four or five brothers rushed over.
The van screeched to a halt, and Chen Sheng ran out. Seeing Jiang Yuan drenched in blood, his eyes hardened.
Chen Pan’er had told him earlier that Jiang Yuan was in a fight. He’d put down his wok, handed the restaurant over to Jiang Da Zhuang, and hurried over without pause.
But he was still a step too late!
Fortunately, Jiang Butong and Jiang Yuan were not in mortal danger.
Chen Sheng called his brothers to lift Jiang Yuan and the two injured men into the van.
...
A private hospital.
Jiang Yuan and the two wounded brothers had their wounds bandaged by doctors. Due to severe blood loss, they were currently receiving transfusions.
More than a dozen of Jiang Yuan’s men stood in the corridor, their faces grim; after all, their boss had been hacked.
Jiang Butong and Chen Sheng stood in the hallway, smoking.
“Tell me, what happened?” Chen Sheng’s face showed a fierce expression.
Jiang Butong relayed everything that had happened.
Chen Sheng smoked aggressively, his mind circling around Gouzi, the Black Dog Gang. Not only had they attacked Jiang Yuan, their next plan was to strike directly at the restaurant!
“What’s your plan?” Chen Sheng noticed Jiang Butong’s calm demeanor, as if victory was assured.
Yesterday, Jiang Butong would have had no solution, but today, he was confident he could handle the Black Dog Gang.
“I’ve planted a mole in their ranks today!” Jiang Butong flashed his white teeth.
“That Shuan Zhu you mentioned before?” Chen Sheng asked.
“Yes,” Jiang Butong nodded.
Chen Sheng felt doubtful about relying on Liu Shuan Zhu.
“Do you trust him? If he can betray Gouzi, he can betray us.” Chen Sheng disliked fence-sitters like that.
Jiang Butong replied, “He gave me their address. Tomorrow, I’ll go check on him.”
Chen Sheng saw no better option; he could only go with Liu Shuan Zhu.
“Take a couple more men with you tomorrow—don’t let anything go wrong,” Chen Sheng instructed.
Jiang Butong nodded.
Since this was a hospital, and one chosen by Chen Sheng, the Black Dog Gang shouldn’t be able to find Jiang Yuan here for now.
Jiang Butong sent Jiang Yuan’s men home. After all, the wholesale market parking lot needed to operate normally tomorrow.
The Black Dog Gang had lost seven or eight men here today; likely they wouldn’t cause trouble again tomorrow.
Based on Jiang Butong’s analysis, Gouzi would surely convene a meeting to discuss their next move.
As a member of the Black Dog Gang, Liu Shuan Zhu would know their plans, and then the piece Jiang Butong had planted would be useful.
That night, Jiang Butong and Yingzi stayed at the hospital.
Since the restaurant was busy, Jiang Butong sent Chen Sheng home.
Before leaving, Chen Sheng left the van for Jiang Butong to use.
Inside the hospital room.
Jiang Yuan was severely depleted and had fallen into a deep sleep.
Jiang Butong sat in a chair.
Yingzi, who had previously had a run-in with Jiang Butong at the wholesale market for stealing Chen Pan’er’s wallet, felt awkward—unsure whether to sit or stand.
Jiang Butong glanced at Yingzi and smiled. “Don’t just stand there, sit down.”
Yingzi felt as if a great weight had been lifted. He nodded quickly. “Thank you, Brother Tong.”
Jiang Butong asked, “Did you chase the Black Dog Gang members today?”
Yingzi replied, “I was the first batch. I was at the parking lot entrance collecting fees when the Black Dog Gang blocked passersby, claiming there was roadwork and no entry. I’d seen them before and knew they were here to provoke trouble again.”
Jiang Butong pondered how to make the Black Dog Gang disappear.
Seeing Jiang Butong silent, Yingzi grew nervous. He feared Jiang Butong even more than Jiang Yuan; Jiang Butong seemed unfathomable.
Suddenly, Jiang Butong asked, “Can you drive?”
Yingzi shook his head—he was a small-time hoodlum, after all.
“Learn when you have time; you’ll need it someday,” Jiang Butong said.
Yingzi’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Thank you for the guidance, Brother Tong. I’ll start learning tomorrow.”
He then pulled out a pack of cigarettes and respectfully offered one to Jiang Butong.
Jiang Butong chuckled. He remembered when he first met Yingzi, he was just a petty thug trailing behind Langzi.
Now Langzi was ruined, Hou San had left, and Yingzi had chosen to follow them.
...
The next day, near noon, Jiang Yuan woke.
He saw he was in the hospital, an IV in his hand, and Jiang Butong sleeping slouched in a chair.
Yingzi was also sleeping at the foot of the bed.
Jiang Yuan recalled that Chen Sheng and Jiang Butong had brought him here.
He glanced at the clock on the wall—it was just past twelve.
His stomach rumbled; he was hungry.
Jiang Butong sensed movement nearby and woke abruptly, seeing Jiang Yuan about to go to the restroom.
“Xiao Tong, did I wake you...” Jiang Yuan grinned. Only when he saw Jiang Butong did he feel warmth in his heart.
“Brother Yuan, you’re alright now?”
Jiang Butong stood, feeling a bit sore. He’d chatted with Yingzi late into the night, until nearly dawn.
“I’m fine, really. You should rest on my bed for a while,” Jiang Yuan said.
Yingzi also woke up, seeing both bosses were up.
“Yingzi, go buy some food,” Jiang Butong handed him fifty yuan.
“Brother Tong, I’ve got money,” Yingzi wanted to show his loyalty.
“Take it—it’s work,” Jiang Butong insisted.
Yingzi hesitated, then took the money and went out.
As he walked, he felt moved. In the past, when following Langzi, Langzi always made him pay. Bosses usually squeezed their underlings for cash when they were short, but Jiang Yuan and Jiang Butong were different—they cared about their men.
Inside the hospital room, Jiang Yuan felt he was almost recovered and wanted to be discharged.
Jiang Butong refused and called a nurse.
The young nurse entered and saw Jiang Yuan sitting shirtless on the bed, her cheeks turning slightly red.
Jiang Butong pointed at Jiang Yuan. “Nurse, can you check if he’s fit for discharge?”
She opened the bandage and changed the dressing on Jiang Yuan’s wound.
Her voice was crisp: “You can’t be discharged yet—the wound hasn’t scabbed over.”
Jiang Butong said, “Now do you believe it? Wait until you’re better before leaving.”
Jiang Yuan grew anxious. He was the boss; how could he lie around in a hospital? He still had to take revenge on the Black Dog Gang.
“When can I be discharged?” Jiang Yuan asked the nurse.
“At least four or five days,” she said, replacing the IV.
“That’s too long—I need to leave tomorrow,” Jiang Yuan thought if he stayed four or five days, the Black Dog Gang would be at his door.
“If you’re not afraid of dying, you can leave tomorrow,” the nurse shot him a look and left.
Jiang Yuan: “.....”
Since she was a girl, he couldn’t get angry—he just punched the wall.
Jiang Butong comforted him, “Alright, just focus on recovering. I have some business today and need to go out for a bit. I’ll borrow Yingzi.”
Jiang Yuan looked at Jiang Butong, guessing his purpose.
“Xiao Tong, are you going to see Liu Shuan Zhu?”
Jiang Butong nodded.
Jiang Yuan knew Jiang Butong would not be swayed. “Be careful. If anything goes wrong, get out fast.”
“I know. Don’t worry,” Jiang Butong replied.
Soon, Yingzi returned with lunch—chicken drumsticks, meatballs, pig’s trotters, rice, and milk—a hearty meal.