Chapter 139: Busy Brother Hu

Overseas Chinese organizations were very particular about etiquette, especially regarding weddings and funerals, where they emphasized details and proper procedures.

Gu Tongshan was an elder-level figure in the Dock Workers General Association, had previously served as the Zha'nan dock gang leader, and also held a position in Dragon City's government units, so his prestige and connections in this circle were naturally extremely strong.

Death was a major matter. After discussion, the people from the Dock Workers General Association immediately began preparing a very grand funeral for Gu Tongshan.

Setting aside the dock gang's busy night negotiating with the Police Bureau.

The next morning, after Gu Tongshan's memorial hall was set up at the Dock Workers General Association, Xu Hu had already donned mourning clothes that only a son should wear and began receiving mourners in the hall.

Last night, Wei Xiangzuo had actually been busy all night too, so in the morning he directly told the dock gang elders: "I'm tired, going back to sleep."

Thus, Wei Xiangzuo didn't appear during the day but found a place to sleep soundly, seemingly showing no emotional fluctuation over his master's death.

Xu Hu was different - he was truly moved. When receiving guests during the day, he always had tears in his eyes, red rims around them, and spoke with a trembling voice.

After a busy morning, at noon the Dock Workers General Association prepared food, and the mourners all went to eat, leaving fewer people in the courtyard.

Xu Hu sat by the coffin in the memorial hall, burning paper money while saying to a middle-aged man in a suit: "Old Wu was killed along with Master, now Longkou is also without a leader."

"Yes, it started last night. If I hadn't held them back, Longkou's people might have gone to raid the Su, Bai, and Kong families' homes last night," the middle-aged man replied softly.

"Now's not the time for trouble," Xu Hu said calmly while burning paper money. "We need to be more clever."

The middle-aged man looked down at him and slowly bent to squat: "How clever?"

"Nick was taken too, probably won't escape death," Xu Hu replied softly. "They were lost in Dragon City, War Hammer will probably send more people."

The middle-aged man paused for a while, casually picking up an apple from in front of Gu Tongshan's spirit tablet: "Yes, the General Association elders were discussing this morning - with Old Gu gone, what to do with Zha'nan's territory."

Xu Hu looked up at him with bright eyes: "War Hammer's goods are expensive and limited, and must be exclusive. Following the old model, the brothers below... can't make much money."

The middle-aged man took big bites of the offering apple, juice leaking from the corners of his mouth: "Old Xu, just say directly what you want to say."

"I don't want to deal War Hammer's goods anymore," Xu Hu said directly. "Switch to new channels!"

"The elders might not agree to this. Though War Hammer's goods are expensive and limited, they've cooperated with our dock gang for so long that the goods prices are transparent to the upper levels," the middle-aged man looked around and lowered his voice. "If you set up new channels and negotiate prices yourself, for the elders... that's uncontrollable. Who knows what price you negotiated? They'll be suspicious."

Xu Hu looked up at him: "You don't dare do it."

"I'm not even sure if I can take over as Longkou gang leader, how dare I make decisions?!" the middle-aged man sneered. "Old Wu died last night, and Longkou's team leaders and hall masters all started arguing, almost pulling guns on each other. Brother, with unstable territory, how can I talk policy?"

Xu Hu burned paper money and replied softly: "Work with me, I'll guarantee you get the Longkou District gang leader position, let you be the small dragon head."

"Can you do it?" the other asked.

"I'll do my utmost to support you. If it works, I'll take you along when negotiating prices with new channels. For your Longkou District's goods afterward, I won't take a single penny's cut - we'll get goods at the same price," Xu Hu said squinting at him. "You know me - in business, I always do what I say."

"Give me a hint, who in the General Association supports you?" the middle-aged man pressed.

"Let me put it this way - if the goods matter needs elder votes, I already have at least thirty percent support, not counting customs support. If people from various halls also speak up for me, then this can happen," Xu Hu replied.

The middle-aged man took two more bites of apple and stood up replying: "Alright, I'm in with you!"

"Good, I'll introduce you to the new channel's suppliers later," Xu Hu nodded.

"That's it then, I'm going to eat," the middle-aged man casually threw the half-eaten apple in the trash and left.

In the coffin, the shattered Gu Tongshan still lay quietly, and after meeting that middle-aged man, Xu Hu met with a customs military officer.

"Can you hold the territory?" the officer stood by the funeral tent with his hands behind his back.

"I need your support! Dock gang's goods movement depends on customs' face," Xu Hu replied with a smile. "If you agree, we can do it; if you don't agree, we can't. The elders understand this principle."

"How to split the profits?"

"On top of the original basis, I'll give those above another ten percent," Xu Hu replied softly. "The new channel's goods are cheaper to begin with, and if we can do long-term business later, prices can be pushed down further - anyway, the profit margin won't be small."

"Alright, it's settled then."

"We need to show our attitude before War Hammer's people come."

"You arrange it," the officer dropped these words and left.

Xu Hu kept vigil in the courtyard all day, meeting at least a dozen people. His master's death had kept him very busy.

Until evening.

Wei Xiangzuo finally came over with sleepy eyes and bent down to sit under the funeral tent, asking very directly: "When do we avenge Master?"

"Xiangzuo, to repel external threats we must first stabilize internal affairs! The situation in Zha'nan now has surging undercurrents!" Xu Hu replied.

After a full three seconds of silence, Wei Xiangzuo stood up and replied: "Fine then, you continue surging here, I'll go find the killers."

With that, Wei Xiangzuo left expressionlessly.

Xu Hu watched him and waved calling out: "Little Fei!"

"What is it, Gang Leader?"

"Last month's unsettled profits need to be held back, this month's too won't be settled," Xu Hu said softly, watching Wei Xiangzuo's retreating figure. "Do you understand my meaning?"

"Understood," Little Fei nodded.

"Also, release those Security Bureau people immediately, I'll ask forgiveness from those above later."

"Got it!"

......

In the evening, when Captain Niu and his people were released, he immediately called Yu Mingyuan's phone, but the latter replied with a text message telling him to contact Su Tianyu.

Su Tianyu was busy handling follow-up matters when he received Captain Niu's call: "Hello?"

"You people are really fucking traps! Why didn't you tell us your follow-up plans? Do you know how passive I was?! Dozens of people surrounded us and beat us up, even showing my work ID didn't help," Captain Niu cursed furiously. "You used us as guinea pigs, right? Huh? Who were we working for? You people have no principles!"

"You misunderstand, it's a long story..."

"Long my mother's waves! Quickly send someone to pick us up, those people dumped us somewhere, we don't have cars..."

"Where are you?"

"If I knew where I was, would I need to call you?!"

"Are there any landmarks around?"

"No, by the sea, just a pretty big pit..." Captain Niu replied irritably.