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Chapter 123: There's a Small Grove Over There
The salary Zhang Yang offered was far beyond Chen Tianxiong's expectations. In Meining City, the average annual income of company employees was around forty thousand yuan. Among his gang, the higher-ranked ones could make seventy to eighty thousand a year, while the worse-off might not even reach that. Of course, some did darker things—but that was another story.
But to earn ten thousand a month through legitimate work, upright and honest? That was almost impossible. Now, Zhang Yang was offering them positions as security staff—but with salaries comparable to foreign executives.
It felt too unreal. Was it because Zhang Yang was still a student, or did he just blurt out random numbers for some other reason?
As his subordinate, Chen felt obligated to remind him: "You see, you might not be familiar with Meining City's wage levels. A security guard earns at most three thousand yuan a month. Those who mix in the underground world might get more, but since I'm leading them to change careers, they must accept the same treatment as ordinary people. So you don't need to overpay them for my sake—long term, that'd be a burden for the company."
Hearing that, Zhang Yang smiled and waved his hand. "Brother Xiong, don't worry. Nuwa Company can afford that salary."
Zhang Yang paused, then added, "Just one thing—right now, they're gangsters. But once they become Nuwa employees, they're ordinary citizens. They must follow company rules. Anyone who violates them will be punished accordingly. I'd like you to help draft those regulations."
Seeing Zhang Yang's serious commitment, Chen Tianxiong couldn't argue further. He nodded. "Rest assured. I may have been in the underworld for a few years, but I learned plenty in the army. After I left, I even worked in the security department of a big company for a while. If you trust me, I'll handle it."
"Good, that's settled then." Zhang Yang thought for a moment and gave him Xu Danlu's phone number. "She's my assistant, Xu Danlu. Give her the personnel list—she'll handle their onboarding."
Zhang Yang paused again and added, "If I'm not around, whatever she says represents me."
Chen took the number and didn't ask further. He understood what Zhang Yang meant—that Xu Danlu would effectively be his superior.
But he didn't mind. After all, if he wanted to go straight, having someone to keep him in line was only natural.
He carefully saved Xu Danlu's number and nodded. "Don't worry. I'll cooperate fully with Miss Xu."
"Right, there's something you should know." After saving the number, Chen calmly pulled a USB drive from his pocket and handed it to Zhang Yang. "Ah Ye is dead."
"Dead?" Though Zhang Yang had expected it, hearing it still sent a slight chill through him. After all, Ah Ye's death was indirectly because of him, even if he had nothing to do with it directly.
"Yeah. Last night, the Bai family found him. Minister He personally led the operation." Chen picked up the kettle and poured more hot water into his green military mug. "They strangled him, wrapped the body, and took it away in a car. Later, they tied it to rocks and dumped it in the sea—clean and neat. But the whole thing was recorded by the Doctor."
The Doctor was one of his four enforcers. He'd been a special forces medic—bookish-looking, wore glasses, and was good at tracking.
Chen glanced at Zhang Yang. "This evidence is enough to drag Bai Pharmaceuticals into a pit they can't climb out of. But… to completely take down Bai Wensheng, it's probably not enough."
"You think I should grab He Tiancheng?"
Zhang Yang waved his hand. He knew "grab" meant forcing He to reveal conversations between himself, Bai Wensheng, or Bai Liangfeng. Without their orders, He Tiancheng wouldn't have dared act on his own.
But doing that now would only alert the enemy. Besides, confessions extracted by force wouldn't hold up as evidence against Bai Wensheng.
Zhang Yang looked at the USB drive and said calmly, "We'll wait for the right time to use this—it'll hit hardest that way. Thanks, Brother Xiong."
"Why are you still thanking me?" Chen looked awkward. "I should be calling you President Zhang now."
"Haha, no need. And stop with the 'you' and 'sir' stuff—it makes me uncomfortable. If you don't mind, I'll call you Brother Xiong, and you can call me Yangzi."
"No way!"
"It's settled." Zhang Yang slipped the USB drive into his pocket. "In a few days, the construction company Topshine will come to discuss the project for Nuwa Company. I'll contact you then."
Zhang Yang checked his watch—it was around ten-thirty—then stood up. "I've got something else to do, I'll head out first."
"Alright, I'll walk you out."
As they reached the door, Chen hesitated. "I've heard some rumors lately. A few troublesome people have slipped into Meining. They're mercenaries—don't know if it's related to you, but I figured I should warn you. Better safe than sorry."
"Assassins?"
Chen nodded. "I've already asked the Doctor to keep watch."
"Alright, got it." Zhang Yang realized finding Chen had truly been the right choice. "Thanks, Brother Xiong."
Chen still looked embarrassed. "No need to thank me."
"Heh, I'm off then." Zhang Yang opened the car door and got in.
Not long after he left, a man with glasses and a cigarette between his lips walked out, leaning against the doorframe. "Brother Xiong, you're really giving this up?"
"Of course. Doctor, you, Old Yi, and Smoker all have families. I can't keep you in the underworld forever. And have you forgotten who we used to be? We were soldiers—we swore to protect this country. But look at us now: extortion, debt collecting, gambling. Don't you feel ashamed?"
"Boss, sorry. I know you're doing it for us." The Doctor lowered his head, flicked his cigarette away. "I just… can't help feeling a bit unwilling."
"Unwilling? Because Yangzi's so young, right?" Chen's gaze shifted faintly, as if talking to himself. "His skills aren't worse than mine, and look at what he's achieved. I only respect two kinds of people—those stronger than me, and scientists. He happens to be both. Doctor, trust me—our future with him will be amazing."
"I'll follow your lead, boss."
Chen gave him a sidelong glance. "You're sharper than Old Yi, Smoker, or Wenzi. But let me warn you—if you ever disrespect Yangzi, don't blame me for turning on you. From now on, you don't answer to me—you answer to him. Got that, Corporal Xiao Xing?"
Hearing that, the Doctor instinctively stood at attention. "Got it!"
"Good." Chen walked up and patted his shoulder. "You haven't forgotten who you are."
*****
Zhang Yang picked up Xu Danlu at the hospital. As soon as she got in the car, she pulled off her thick coat, revealing her alluring figure. Her bright eyes turned toward Zhang Yang. "I gave my parents the house. They didn't want it at first, but after a lot of convincing, they agreed to stay temporarily. They told me to repay you properly. But I'm thinking, what do you even lack?"
Hearing that, Zhang Yang's gaze dropped to her proud chest, grinning. "Who says I don't lack anything?"
"What do you lack? You've got money, you've got women—hey, your hand! We're driving, behave!" Xu Danlu exclaimed, realizing a hand had suddenly appeared on her chest, slipping into her tight cotton top, following the pale valley downward, pushing past the edge of her bra, and grabbing her full, soft mound.
She moaned softly, her body going weak. "You bastard… watch the road."
"Mmh… over there… there's a small grove."