Chapter 44: Rumors And Connections

As the year end approached, Jinxiu Pavilion’s business was explosively booming.

People returning from all over, as long as they had made a decent amount of money over the year, were willing to spend money to invite friends and family for a big feast at Jinxiu Pavilion.

When everyone sat down, they couldn’t help but mention Jinxiu Pavilion’s owner, Su Pingnan.

After Su Pingnan’s high-profile appearance at the auction last time, he seldom showed up, keeping his head down to grow his businesses. Because there was so much to talk about him, he became a popular topic at the dinner table. Bit by bit, the man who had wanted to keep a low profile was unknowingly becoming better known.

Even Su Pingnan couldn’t have imagined that without doing anything, he would become the most celebrated figure in Wucheng at the end of 1992. Perhaps fate was teasing him—the death of Brother Dao of South Gate Street made him soar in certain circles.

Brother Dao had died from drinking. A few friends who had come back for the New Year naturally had nothing else to do but drink, and after getting senselessly drunk that night, they didn’t wake up the next day. It was really nothing more than an ordinary incident—Wucheng lost a few people to drinking every year, and such talk usually faded after a few days. But at some point a rumor began: “Before Li Dao died, he offended a woman of the Little Red Robe, so…”

Even though those who had drunk at the same occasion came forward to refute it, and the police station issued an official statement, people seemed willing only to believe what they wanted to, and the rumors spread everywhere.

Su Pingnan looked utterly stunned when he heard about it, and immediately picked up the phone to call Yang Qianli.

“Did you do this?”

Yang Qianli didn’t understand. “Do what?”

“Did you do that damn Brother Dao thing?” Su Pingnan’s tone was heavy—if it were true, it meant that one of his underlings had overstepped his authority and he would have to sever ties with him decisively.

“Huh?” Yang Qianli, unusually honest while speaking with Su Pingnan, sounded surprised and a little aggrieved. “I thought you had someone do it. I didn’t dare to ask.”

After hanging up, Su Pingnan began to use his connections to learn about the matter. Upon learning the reason for the rumors, he was speechless and could only bitterly let it go. He knew how badly such things could blow up and it was better to be careful. He immediately told the men who were most likely to do such things to watch their mouths and behave themselves.

His guess was right—Li Changhai, while drinking in the privately reserved “Tian No. 2” room at Jinxiu Pavilion, said this, “If he’s someone who kills others even over petty matters, the empire the Little Red Robe built won’t last long.” The room fell silent. It showed how people viewed Su Pingnan.

Where there are pros, there are cons. Zhang Shuhai, who had the contract for the government guesthouse, went home that night, slapped his own wife, then burned a thick stack of letters reporting problems at Jinxiu Pavilion to ashes.

By seven in the evening, seven or eight of Li Yuanguang’s siblings had returned, and the cramped living room became very crowded. The eldest of the Li family thought it was about time, so he deliberately cleared his throat a few times, and picked up the phone.

“Hello, Jinxiu Pavilion? What? No tables available? Uh-huh, okay.”

Having gotten the answer he wanted, Li Yuanjie began to scold the sister who came back last, “It’s your fault. You took so long that Jinxiu Pavilion has no tables left. I wanted to take you all out to celebrate this year, because the food there is top-notch.” Jinxiu Pavilion’s food and service were indeed impressive, but the prices were daunting. Li Yuanjie wasn’t willing to pay. He was only making the call because his second brother had stolen some of his thunder today—he knew at this hour there would be no space, so he was just pretending.

“Yeah, yeah,” several sisters chimed in, “I’ve heard the interior is better than the top restaurants in the capital and Shanghai. Several friends have been there in recent days and said it’s really good—what a pity.”

Li Yuanguang felt the gold card Su Wenwen had handed him before he left in his pocket and silently marveled at the owner of Jinxiu Pavilion’s clout in Wucheng.

“Jinxiu Pavilion? My father has a card, no reservation needed.” The innocent Li Yuan said this, and everyone’s eyes turned to Li Yuanguang.

“Second Brother, don’t talk nonsense. If you don’t need a reservation, it means you have a gold card. Aside from a few big shots in Wucheng, hardly anyone has one—don’t spoil everyone’s mood,” said Li Yuanjie.

Li Yuanguang took out the card Su Wenwen had given him and, looking at his big brother’s slightly sullen face, smiled and said, “It should be fine—we’ll know when we get there, right?”

The group of nearly thirty people descended the stairs in a grand procession. The driver, Xiao Wu, quick to notice the crowd, immediately ran over, “Stationmaster Li? I’ll call for a few more cars.”

“No need, no need, we’ll just take taxis, taxis are fine.” Li Yuanguang was already shocked by Jinxiu Pavilion’s clout, so his earlier reserve was gone. He tightly held Xiao Wu’s hands and politely declined.

Li Yuanjie said sarcastically, “If there’s an easy solution, just take it. Why don’t you let Xiao Wu call for the cars?” He still couldn’t believe his younger brother, who worked on the railway in a remote town, had such face.

The cars arrived quickly.

Five uniformly black, rugged off-road vehicles quietly lined up, driven by tough-looking young men.

Li Yuanjie’s face finally changed. He pulled his younger brother aside and, in a very solemn tone, asked, “Second Brother, what exactly is your relationship with the Little Red Robe?”