41: Sister Hua

That evening.

Inside a private room in a small tavern near the Nancheng Wharf.

Under the dim yellow light, Li Zhan and Tang Shirong sat opposite each other, drinking wine.

Li Zhan raised his glass and took a sip. "The big fight at the Wharf that day, your side wasn't implicated, was it?"

Tang Shirong adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes behind the lenses.

"I moved my men out beforehand, so we were completely unscathed."

He picked up a peanut and tossed it into his mouth.

"The time is almost right, isn't it?" Li Zhan put down his glass.

Tang Shirong's smile faded, and he lowered his voice.

"Wait a few more days, until my men return.

The old man has suffered significant losses recently, and his subordinates are already starting to complain."

He sneered, "The territories are being smashed every day, cutting off the income streams of so many people."

"Ghost has been hiding deep lately, barely showing his face." Li Zhan narrowed his eyes.

"He was scared witless by that shot you fired."

Tang Shirong raised his glass and swirled the contents. "Don't worry, I'll have a way to draw him out when the time comes."

"Good, as long as you can draw him out."

Li Zhan paused. "Then, your father-in-law..."

Tang Shirong's breathing suddenly became heavy, and his fingers unconsciously picked at the edge of the table.

He took off his glasses and wiped them, and when he put them back on, the eyes behind the lenses were bloodshot.

"Five years..." He let out a cold laugh.

"I don't even have the qualifications to sit at the dinner table in the Bai family.

In this household..."

He raised his glass. "I have never received an ounce of respect."

Li Zhan also raised his glass. "Come on, let's toast."

Their glasses clinked together, and Tang Shirong's expression gradually softened.

Li Zhan put down his glass.

"It's settled then. According to our previous agreement, I want the territory in Xiagang."

"I've recruited quite a few people recently, and I don't have enough territories for them to stay."

Tang Shirong nodded with a smile. "No problem, I'm not interested in that territory."

He lowered his voice.

"Honestly, I've been at the Wharf for so long, you wouldn't believe how profitable smuggling is.

Later, you can invest some money with me, and we can do it together."

Li Zhan pondered for a moment, then raised his glass. "Alright, I'll leave you some shares in the territory."

The two exchanged smiles, and their glasses clinked with a crisp sound.

---

After Li Zhan left the Wharf, he drove along Shunhe Road all the way to the Town Center.

However, he didn't go straight back to the Lianhua Residential Area. The car turned into a bustling food street and stopped in front of "Mong Kok BBQ."

This was an old shop that had been open for many years.

Several sets of semi-enclosed booths were placed outside the entrance. Although the decor was ordinary, the aroma of charcoal grilling wafted half a street away.

He locked the car and walked, calculating things in his mind.

Recently, he felt the pressure on his shoulders growing heavier.

He was supporting dozens of men, and every day he woke up meant a huge expense.

Although the Gambling Den business was booming, who could guarantee it would stay this good?

Once Nancheng and the Bai family recovered, the good times would be over.

That's why he subtly asked Tang Shirong when they should make their move.

Now that Master Bai had lost men and resources, it was his weakest moment.

Nancheng himself was overwhelmed, and Ninth Master was only focused on scheming for benefits—

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

As long as he helped Tang Shirong ascend, he could take the opportunity to establish his own faction.

But a problem had also arisen.

How long had he been in Chang'an? His foundation was too shallow.

In this line of work, just having men and territory wasn't enough; the most crucial thing was having protection from above.

As he was pondering, his peripheral vision caught sight of a familiar figure sitting alone in the corner booth.

The figure was slightly hunched, looking completely different from her usually charming and seductive self.

Li Zhan couldn't help but slow his pace, thinking he was seeing things.

Only when he got closer did he see clearly: it was indeed Sister Hua.

In front of her were several skewers of cold grilled eggplant, and two empty bottles of beer lay beside her hand.

Her makeup-free face lacked its usual refinement, her hair was casually tied up, and a few strands fell around her ears.

Under the dim yellow light,

her profile, as she gazed at the street scene with one hand propping her chin, conveyed an indescribable sense of loneliness.

"Sister Hua?"

Li Zhan sat down opposite her. "Why are you drinking alone?"

Sister Hua was clearly startled. When she turned her head, a flicker of panic crossed her eyes, immediately followed by a hint of pleasant surprise.

She quickly curved her lips, and the shrewd and resourceful Sister Hua seemed to be back.

"Oh, what a coincidence."

She turned and called toward the shop, "Boss, bring a set of tableware and a menu!"

She then turned back to Li Zhan, a hint of slyness in her eyes.

"Why are you also here alone for a late-night snack?

Where are those little sisters of yours?"

Li Zhan gave a dry laugh. "I just got back from the Wharf. I had a couple of drinks but haven't eaten anything."

He took the utensils handed over by the waiter. "A Zhen and the others are still working."

Sister Hua filled the newly brought glass with beer, the foam slowly sliding down the side of the glass.

She raised her glass and swirled it under the light.

"Come, let's have a drink first."

Their beer glasses clinked together, making a crisp sound.

Sister Hua put down her glass and pushed the barbecue skewers in front of her toward Li Zhan.

"Have something to line your stomach." She stopped a passing waiter and, holding the menu, added a few signature skewers.

Propping her chin with her hand, she watched Li Zhan wolf down a few skewers of grilled beef, her red lips slightly parted.

"What's wrong? You look preoccupied."

Li Zhan grabbed two more skewers of mutton, eating as he spoke.

"I have more and more people relying on me lately, so I need to find more ways to make money."

Sister Hua took small bites of the mutton, her gaze fixed on the young man in front of her.

In the past two months, she had witnessed his rise firsthand—

from the initial distress when he took over,

to now, having strong forces and subtle signs of establishing his own territory.

The rumored ruthless methods and the level of cunning far exceeding his peers secretly astonished her.

"Take your time,"

she lightly swirled her wine glass. "You've only been in Chang'an for so long..."

After eating a few skewers of barbecue, Li Zhan leaned back in his chair and lit a cigarette.

Through the smoke, he carefully scrutinized the woman across from him—

he had felt she was extraordinary since their first meeting.

To still be able to operate safely in the underworld after that high-ranking official left was something no ordinary person could achieve.

After eliminating Flour Chang,

he had even prepared for the two Sausages to be troubled by the Bai family, but surprisingly, everything remained calm.

He had been trying to guess why.

At first, he thought the Bai family was concerned about Nancheng, but now it seemed that wasn't the case.

"Sister Hua,"

He blew out a smoke ring. "Seeing you here alone just now gave me a shock.

In my impression, you are not the type to drink alone."

Sister Hua also lit a slender ladies' cigarette, refilled her glass, and raised an eyebrow.

"What?

Do you think Sister Hua should always be surrounded by men?"

She flicked the ash. Her eyes suddenly dimmed for a moment.

"Some drinks... taste better when you drink them alone."

They clinked glasses twice more, and the effects of the alcohol gradually set in.

Li Zhan stared at the corners of Sister Hua's eyes, reddened by alcohol, and suddenly spoke.

"Sister Hua, I've always wondered... with your capabilities, you didn't need to split the profits equally with Sausage, and cooperating with me later on was also..."

Sister Hua chuckled softly, tracing circles on the rim of her glass with her fingertip.

"The one who originally cooperated with me... wasn't Sausage. He wasn't qualified."

Her eyes darkened as she propped her chin and looked at the distant street scene.

"Since ancient times, which woman in our line of work hasn't needed a Wharf to lean on?

Those officials... they just treat us like chamber pots. When they need us, everything is fine, but once they're done, they toss us aside without a second thought.

Those in the underworld are far more reliable than them.

Although all men..."

She glanced at Li Zhan, smiling self-mockingly. "But you really can't do without them.

If I don't follow the rules now, in case something happens later... no one will respect the rules with me anymore."

Li Zhan fell silent, squinting as he looked at Sister Hua. To have such insight, she was indeed no ordinary person.

He raised his glass and clinked it against hers.

Amidst the crisp sound of glass colliding, Sister Hua suddenly flashed a mysterious smile.

"I also know what you're most worried about right now."

"Oh?" Li Zhan raised an eyebrow.

Sister Hua slowly poured the wine.

"Your foundation in Chang'an is shallow, and you have no one above you."

She looked up and stared directly at Li Zhan. "That's the real reason you dare not completely break ties with Nancheng."

"You're not afraid to fight them openly, you're afraid they'll use their connections above to target you."

Li Zhan's hand, which was holding the glass, froze in mid-air. He then poured himself a full glass with a wry smile.

"I yield.

This is indeed the most troublesome thing for me right now."

He downed the wine in his glass in one gulp.

"Sister Hua, can you point me in the right direction? In the future, I will climb mountains of knives and descend into..."

"Stop right there!"

Sister Hua laughed out loud, her red lips, moistened with wine, looking particularly dazzling.

"Don't give me that routine, but well..."

She suddenly leaned forward, her wine-scented breath fanning Li Zhan's face.

"If you keep me happy tonight, maybe I really can point you toward a path."

Li Zhan looked at her eyes and brows so close to him, and suddenly smiled too.

"Alright, tonight I'll risk my life to accompany Sister Hua..."

They clinked glasses twice more. Sister Hua's fair cheeks were already flushed with the redness of intoxication.

She propped her chin with one hand, gazing seductively at Li Zhan.

"I heard... you live with a few little sisters and even bought houses for all of them?"

Li Zhan gave a dry laugh and rubbed his nose. "Shouldn't that be expected..."

"It's good that you're like this,"

Sister Hua suddenly sneered, poking Li Zhan's chest with her fingertip.

"At least you know how to be considerate of women.

Unlike some men..."

She tilted her head back and took a gulp of wine. "They have dicks, but they're useless."

Li Zhan choked on her blunt words and started coughing, only able to raise his glass with a wry smile to cover his embarrassment.

The two continued talking... and drinking... until two in the morning, when Li Zhan helped the slightly tipsy Sister Hua to the entrance of her apartment building.

In the elevator, Sister Hua leaned completely against him.

The scent of perfume mixed with alcohol from her hair made the small space feel ambiguous.

"We're here."

Li Zhan stopped at the door, found the key in her bag, and opened it.

Sister Hua suddenly turned around, wrapped her arms around his neck. "Won't you come in and sit for a while?"

Her red lips were almost touching his ear.

Li Zhan's Adam's apple bobbed. He gently pulled her hands away.

"It's too late. I still need to pick up A Zhen from work. Sister Hua, get some rest."

After speaking, he decisively turned and left.

The moment the door closed,

Sister Hua leaned against the door, her eyes clear—she showed no sign of being drunk.

She walked to the window and watched Li Zhan's figure get into his car downstairs.

A meaningful smile curled up at the corner of her mouth.