Chapter 50: Becoming A Big Shot

Xiao Zhuang was the most seriously injured among Su Pingnan’s group. A three-inch cut had opened below his abdomen and blood kept flowing.

Another henchman pressed the wound tightly with a white cloth to slow the bleeding.

Su Pingnan showed no expression; he knew they couldn’t go to a hospital. Matters of the underworld must stay in the underworld—if they went to a hospital, the authorities would get involved, and even if he hadn’t reported it, he couldn’t bear to lose face.

“Why didn’t you call earlier? I’ve heard about what happened — someone nearly died, do you know that?”

An imposing old man with some gray in his hair slammed the table and shouted at the woman in green.

“Third uncle, only when someone dies does the matter become big. Only then can we wipe out those tumors in one sweep.”

The woman in green wore light makeup and had delicate features, yet her words were cold.

“You’re really insane — how can you live up to the uniform you wear?” Deputy Director Yan of Xiangnan city’s police shouted angrily at his niece.

Yan Qingyi suddenly stood up, her pretty face turning ashen, “I AM insane — the day Lin Zi died, I went insane.”

Saying that, Yan Qingyi threw her service pistol and badge onto the table, furious. “Evidence, evidence — you want evidence for everything. With so many people watching someone die, isn’t that evidence?”

Deputy Director Yan exploded in anger, pointing at his niece, “So you can just stand by and watch outsiders being bullied and do nothing, not call the authorities and wait for things to escalate? You’re really crazy.” The old man, still furious, gathered the items on the table and then softened his tone, “The New Year is coming — you’re put on leave early. Rest a few days first and we’ll talk.”

Yan Qingyi’s eyes showed no weakness: “Those outsiders are no good — they won’t let it go. I’ll keep an eye on them.”

Deputy Director Yan shook his head. He didn’t agree with his niece. He knew Chen Tianfu and his people were sly and vicious, ruthless. Even if those outsiders were rising tough guys, as long as they hadn’t taken a heavy loss, they certainly wouldn’t pursue it.

Thinking that, he waved weakly at Yan Qingyi and said, “Do whatever you want — I can’t control you anyway.”

Inside a small inn, Su Pingnan deftly riffled through the items he’d just bought.

“High-concentration alcohol, sutures, cotton, bandages…”

“Mm, not bad.”

Su Pingnan nodded with satisfaction. Getting all these supplies so quickly at this hour wasn’t easy.

“Bear with the pain.”

Su Pingnan stuffed a towel into Xiao Zhuang’s mouth and said calmly, “It’s normal to come out for a meal and get into a fight. If you can’t even bear this pain, you’d better keep your head down from now on.”

Su Pingnan’s prestige among these young men was top-tier. Hearing him, Xiao Zhuang’s face grew serious. He steeled himself as he thought, “Even if it pains me to death, I can’t embarrass myself in front of Brother Red Robe.”

Having led a turbulent previous life, Su Pingnan was very skilled at treating external wounds. On the way back he’d already inspected Xiao Zhuang’s injury. The wound looked frightening but hadn’t hit any vital organs. He breathed a sigh of relief — it wasn’t fatal, just extremely painful.

It took three pads of strong alcohol to clean Xiao Zhuang’s wound. He bit the towel until it squeaked, yet he didn’t let out a single moan of pain.

Su Pingnan patted Xiao Zhuang’s shoulder approvingly — this guy was good, socially sharp and capable, another strong member.

“This scar will be with you for life.” Su Pingnan joked, but his hands were quick and steady. The suture needle passed through flesh repeatedly, and when he had finished, Xiao Zhuang’s face was snow-white and he had no strength left, as if about to pass out.

Hearing Su Pingnan joke, Xiao Zhuang relaxed a bit and said, “I’m a man, I’m not afraid of scars.”

Su Pingnan lit a cigarette and placed it in Xiao Zhuang’s mouth, smiling, “This scar’s not bad — at least it’ll remind you some things are earned by your own hands.” He then picked up the car key on the table, flipped it, and seeing Xiao Zhuang trembling with excitement, laughed and tossed it over without caring if the injured Xiao Zhuang could catch it.

Under the heated gazes of the other three, Xiao Zhuang silently forced himself to stand and caught the key. The freshly tied bandage was already stained crimson.

Su Pingnan walked to the window, stared at the ink-black night outside, and exhaled a big, perfect smoke ring.

This long night was hard to bear — if the other side were to make a move, it would certainly be tonight.

Chen Tianfu looked at the drowsy Chen Liu, his expression sinister as he picked up the phone: “Third bro, I want to ask — do you know someone in Wucheng called Su Pingnan?”

Almost at the same time, Yan Qingyi said into the phone, “A gang caused a disturbance in the market today and clashed with Chen Tianfu’s men. Help me check this license plate from Tiannan Province.”

“Mm, okay. I’ll wait for your update.”

Su Pingnan hadn’t slept either. Today’s events affected him deeply, and he stared at the bright moon outside, momentarily lost in thought.

Before, he only made money and had brothers who’d die for him. But the moment he was away from home, he had to fight for his life.

“I want to become a big shot.”

This became his new goal. He thought of the power that Ma Yun, the founder of Alibaba, possessed in his previous life. Su Pingnan could physically pin down eight men with one hand, but did he dare to actually do that?

Social influence — this phrase surfaced in Su Pingnan’s mind for the first time.