68: Chapter 62: The Tiger and the Sick Cat, The Old Street and the New City 68: Chapter 62: The Tiger and the Sick Cat, The Old Street and the New City The rumbling bulldozer leveled the house, smashing large sections of brick and tile, breaking the wooden beams on the eaves, and causing billowing dust to rise up.
This kind of commotion attracted a crowd of onlookers, various neighbors and locals.
Old folks with cloth bags buying groceries, office workers munching on fried cakes and chive boxes, all gathered in small groups, whispering to each other.
“How co the shelter renovation notice hasn’t co down yet, but Old Zhang’s house is being torn down?”
“Seems like his son is in a hurry to get married and couldn’t gather enough dowry, so he sold the house.”
“What a waste, they’ll be moving into a new house soon.”
“Hey, who can say for sure?
They talk about renovating the Old Town District every year…”
Qin Shi was slightly taken aback.
The topic of the Old Factory Street demolition had been hotly debated recently, but he didn’t expect a bulldozer to show up today.
He stood outside the crowd, listening to the fragnts of conversations from all directions.
“All the inns, massage parlors, and many shops on Xinghua Road have been taken away.”
“The tenants on Weigong Street didn’t want to move and even had paint splashed on their doors by thugs.”
“There’s been no renovation, what’s the big fuss?”
“Well, developing a new city, shops are worth much more than residences…”
Lin Yunqing frowned:
“The shelter renovation and old building demolition in the Old Town District, the docunts haven’t co through yet, how co soone is already grabbing land?”
She had heard her older brother Lin Xiaohan ntion that the urban construction planning deliberately avoided the Dangyang East Suburb due to historical issues.
For example, the big explosion at the military factory, and the large area covered by the Old Town District with its complex mix of residents, involving military workers, veterans’ families, and even martyrs’ descendants.
Added to this was Heng Province’s conservative attitude of external blockade over the years, made this big project, big engineering, unable to proceed normally.
But recently, the winds seed to be changing.
Rumors from the Urban Circle were that Heng Province might lift the blockade.
It was said that the Imperial Capital was preparing to launch the “Revitalize the Borderlands” strategic plan.
And it would be promoted vigorously from all aspects and in all directions.
Lin Yunqing wasn’t sure if this was true, so she asked her older brother Lin Xiaohan.
The latter gave a vague response and brushed her off.
Qin Shi shrugged, not feeling surprised:
“The flow of information often goes from top to bottom, while the flow of wealth is exactly the opposite.
Grabbing land ahead of ti and converting residential property into comrcial spaces to get more compensation during the expropriation process is a common tactic.”
He suddenly thought of Cheng Ze, the boss of Beiguan Street, and wondered if his so-called big job was related to this?
Beep beep, the ear-piercing honk of a car snaked through the crowd, as a sedan drove into the chaotic street.
A tall, thin man with gold-rimd glasses let the driver open the car door for him.
His shiny leather shoes hit the ground, and he covered his nose as he stepped out from the back seat.
Without a care for anyone around, he pointed at the surrounding shops and said:
“This one, and that one, secure them as soon as possible.
A Biao, Hao Ge appreciates you, that’s why you’re taking over the Righteous Fist Society, you have to be grateful.”
The baby-faced young man who had appeared in the Midnight Imperial Palace followed behind, looking troubled:
“Brother Ji, the people living here are all workers’ families, they don’t want to sell.”
The man with gold-rimd glasses looked displeased:
“That’s why you need to find a way!
Shut off their water and electricity, release snakes, start fires…
use all the thods your brother Ze used to collect debts!
We’re not going to stiff them on the money!
The other day, wasn’t that poor guy who mortgaged his house this way, dragged in to play a few rounds, and ended up bankrupt from compound interest!”
A Biao lowered his head, pleading:
“Brother Ji, I grew up around here, many of the neighbors know my parents…”
The man with gold-rimd glasses grew impatient:
“That’s even better, explain it to them, take the money and leave early, don’t dream about getting rich from demolition!
So money, even if it falls on the ground, isn’t for them to pick up!
Got it?”
A Biao’s lips quivered, wanting to say more, but was stopped by a slap to the face from the impatient man with gold-rimd glasses.
“Do your job properly when you’re told!
What’s with all the fuss?
Trying to learn from your boss?
Hao Ge respected him and gave him the big job with the construction company!
Yet he hesitated and wasn’t happy!
Missing out on an opportunity to get rich, deserves a lifeti of eating shit…
Ah Ze, when did you get here?”
The man with gold-rimd glasses adjusted his glasses and turned his head to see Cheng Ze approaching with a few underlings.
He instinctively took two steps back and quickly put on a smile:
“Ah Ze, long ti no see!
I heard Hao Ge asked you to buy land and take over shops, quite the fat job!
Hao Ge values you the most!”
Cheng Ze glanced at the baby-faced young man with a swollen cheek and red eyes, then turned his gaze back to the man with gold-rimd glasses:
“Brother Luo, younger people are not clever, why lose your temper, it’s bad for the liver.”
This Beiguan Street boss seed unbothered by the man with gold-rimd glasses’ insults and remained cordial.
“Ah Ze, you used to be too gentle with your subordinates, making them not know how to get things done one by one.
When the boss gives an order, the little brothers should just follow it obediently.”
The man with gold-rimd glasses nad “Luo Jie” forced a smile:
“Hao Ge hates disobedient types who like to act on their own.
A dog raised by the family knows to bark when given a bone, but a wild dog doesn’t act even if it’s told to bite.”
The baby-faced young man, who had been cowering with his head down, suddenly raised his head, his fists clenching involuntarily.
Cheng Ze’s underlings behind him also glared angrily at Luo Jie, the man in charge of the Righteous Fist Society.
This kind of sarcastic jab was even more insulting than a slap to the face.
“Ah Ze, you’ve been a boss too, don’t you agree?”
Luo Jie watched Cheng Ze with a leisurely air, as if he were full of confidence.
But honestly, he was feeling nervous inside.
Back when Hao Ge hadn’t taken over Yu Hai City Construction, during the reign of the old master.
Cheng Ze was known as the “Tiger General,” best at chopping people and seizing territory, capable of defending a sand dredging boat with just two shotguns.
If it really turned ugly, it was hard to say who’d take the loss.
“Brother Luo is not wrong.”
Cheng Ze pulled out a cigarette box, plucked one out, and held it in his mouth.
“Subordinates indeed need to be taught, but A Biao has followed , Brother Luo, please show so face.”
Hmm, the tiger turned into a sick cat.
But still had so sense.
Luo Jie smiled, adjusted his glasses fra again, and raised his chin:
“I’m also anxious.
Ah Ze, you don’t know that Hao Ge’s business hasn’t been going well recently.
The inspection team targeted Yu Hai Pharmaceutical last ti, sealing off several warehouses at the docks.
On the urban construction side, the Education Departnt wants to engage in so reformation and rectification campaign, making us exhausted.
Looking at the docunts soon to be issued, the progress can’t keep up, and it will delay the company’s developnt.”
Cheng Ze clamped the cigarette, his expression calm:
“I’ll hurry up and buy the land…”
Luo Jie shook his head:
“No need, let A Biao do it.
As for the batch of goods in the warehouse, could you please watch over it, Ah Ze, until Hao Ge greases the wheels and gets it out.”
“Okay.”
Cheng Ze had no objections, agreed, and left with his underlings.
In the crowd, Qin Shi watched Li Yuan and Xie Yucheng trailing behind Ze Ge, seeing disappointnt and frustration on their faces.
Punching his way down Beiguan Street, Cheng Ze, with his boldness earning his fortune, was the embodint of “making it big” in Yuan Ge and Cheng Ge’s world.
But Ze Ge’s retreat today shattered their “big boss dream” completely.
It turned out the Beiguan Street boss who watched the place and backed his underlings was also only a dog raised by the big boss, with no dignity at all.
“What are they doing?”
Lin Yunqing looked at the two groups, puzzled.
Missy hadn’t seen the underworld, thinking they were just so contractor eting up.
“Living off this area.”
Qin Shi replied plainly.
“The difference is, one likes to drink blood, the other can’t let go of emotions.”
The onlookers quietly discussed, feeling that Ze, the boss of Beiguan Street, was too timid.
Letting soone curse him to his face and not daring to make a sound.
“Having beco a boss, lives in a big house, drives a fancy car, can’t just go around chopping people, right!”
“Yeah, I think Ze Ge still cares about the feelings of the neighborhood, unlike Ji doing ruthless things!”
“Let’s go, let’s go, luckily they didn’t set their eyes on my house, otherwise, with paint splashing or releasing rats, life would be unlivable…”
Qin Shi frowned, worrying that they might target him?
He thought of warning his younger sister Qin Lan, to avoid any unexpected trouble.
“Indeed, we should move out early.
When the renovation docunts co down, this place will definitely get chaotic.”
“Teaching Assistant Qin, I heard the chicken skewers on Old Factory Street are delicious, can you take there?”
Lin Yunqing retracted her gaze, eagerly said.
“They only set up stalls in the afternoon.
I’ll treat you to a tray of beef dumplings.”
Considering he’d use Teacher Lin’s virtual combat room and High-Energy Food Cans in the future, Qin Shi painfully decided to spend ten bucks to win over this woman’s favor.
“Heh, a man, he can’t hold it anymore!
Actively inviting to eat, definitely has a crush!”
Lin Yunqing recalled the teachings from the “High Charm Cultivation Guide.”
The initiative to show goodwill from the opposite sex indicates affection.
Qin Shi was unaware that his actions had caused a misunderstanding in Lin Yunqing’s mind, otherwise he’d sure curse “ordinary girl, really a turn off.”
It was currently the morning market, bustling and lively.
Blending into the crowd with Lin Yunqing, Qin Shi suddenly recalled the fleeting aura he captured earlier.
That killing intent and malice from Ze Ge, under introspection and extra-sensory perception, rged like a thick red, mixed with chilling black.
“A sick cat?
I don’t think so.”
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