Chapter 9: A True Man Who Stands Tall

In the Su family compound.

Faced with Bai Hongbo's near-questioning "jokes," Su Tianyu immediately poured himself two and a half measures of white liquor, stood up and replied: "Brother Bai, even if you didn't mention the Changqing Company garbage yard incident, I still must thank you in person."

"Hehe, what are you thanking me for?" Bai Hongbo replied with a cold laugh. He was definitely a bit unhappy with Su Tianyu, because the latter hadn't given anyone any warning before attacking Lu Feng, and afterward had inexplicably caused Big Bai to get beaten up, so naturally he was somewhat angry inside.

Su Tianyu looked at the cultured person Big Bai with a reverent expression, speaking with powerful emphasis: "Brother Bai, I was indeed impulsive at the garbage yard. Originally Big Brother brought me just to listen, but I didn't expect Lu Feng would brag about cutting my Second Brother, that's why I couldn't hold back and attacked him. After the fight, I regretted it too. In the end, if Brother Bai hadn't called people to block Lu Feng, I might not have even made it out of the garbage yard, so I must thank you in person."

Hearing his brother's words, Su Tiannan immediately interjected: "Ah, so it was Brother Bai who called people to help block Lu Feng?"

"Yes, we got separated when running," Su Tianyu nodded. "Lu Feng came out of the main building looking just for me, it was Brother Bai who blocked him for me, that's how I got away."

Su Miaomiao's eyes brightened, and she immediately raised her glass toward Bai Hongbo, saying: "Brother Bai, I really had no idea you saved my brother! To be honest, there aren't many workers in Zha'nan who aren't afraid of Lu Feng, you're really such a man. Just for this alone, I have to drink with you."

Bai Hongbo was somewhat dumbfounded hearing this, thinking is this how the Su family understood it? Well, since this was how they understood it, he couldn't very well say he got beaten up because he ran too slowly - that would be too damaging to the image of a pretentious person.

"What's all this talk about being a man," Bai Hongbo waved his hand casually, softly narrating: "Little Su happened to run with me, then Lu Feng brought people out with knives coming for him. I had more people around me, so how could I not help Little Su? Eh, since the four families are banding together, we should help each other."

"Brother Bai is a real man! I saw you took down quite a few on Lu Feng's side," Su Tianyu immediately raised his glass respectfully and said: "I must drink to you no matter what."

"Come, let's all drink to Brother Bai," Su Tiannan also called out.

All the Su family members stood up, raising their glasses toward Bai Hongbo. He had originally wanted to pressure the Su family, saying since they initiated this matter, they should naturally take the lead in subsequent affairs. But unexpectedly, before he could even drink, he had somehow become the main force opposing Changqing Company.

"Come on then, let's all drink together," Brother Bai grinned and drained his glass hearing everyone's compliments.

"To a real man!"

The Su family members clinked glasses with Bai Hongbo and drank them dry.

Half an hour later, Bai Hongbo was already drunk and confused, holding Su Tiannan's hand and saying with a stiff tongue: "After the fight at the garbage yard, I called Lu Feng, originally wanting to..."

"You called Lu Feng after the fight?" Su Tianyu actively asked from the side.

Bai Hongbo paused, instantly realizing in his mind that he had almost let the truth slip in his drunkenness: "Ah... no, he called me, but I cursed at him. Others might fear him, but I don't. What I mean is, since we can't negotiate anymore, our four families must bind together and handle this well, get the old men out early. Tiannan, just go ahead confidently, Brother Bai will definitely support you."

"Alright, alright, Brother Bai," Su Tiannan nodded repeatedly.

Su Tianyu smiled as he looked at Bai Hongbo, raising his glass again: "Brother Bai, for those words alone, I must drink another toast to you."

"Little Su, not to look down on you, but when it comes to drinking, three of you together wouldn't be my match."

"Then I'll risk my life drinking with a real man."

"Come on, bottoms up!"

"...!"

Twenty minutes later, Bai Hongbo was sprawled on the table, white foam at the corners of his mouth, speaking unclearly: "Damn, I forgot, I have knife wounds, I think the doctor said not to drink... Xixi, why is my heart beating so fast, am I dying...?"

The Bai family follower heard this and stood up replying: "It's fine, there was no restriction on drinking, the medicine you're taking doesn't react with alcohol."

"No, my heart's beating too fast. Miaomiao, you studied nursing, help me feel it..." Even drunk as a dog, Bai Hongbo hadn't forgotten to flirt.

......

After the family feast ended, Bai Hongbo was carried away by his people, while Su Tianyu, Su Tiannan, Su Miaomiao and others sat chatting in the compound's small pavilion.

"Little Yu, do you think the strike can save your Second Uncle?" Su Tiannan asked directly.

Su Tianyu was the type whose face didn't redden from drinking - as long as he hadn't blacked out, no one could tell how much he'd had. At this moment he held his teacup, saying softly: "The strike can definitely save Second Uncle, because Changqing Company's goal isn't to kill anyone, but to profit. In other words, without profit, they won't seriously offend anyone, and when their interests are damaged, they'll naturally cut their losses quickly. But all this is premised on our ability to persist and create time and event effects."

Su Tiannan nodded, continuing the thread: "I'm just worried we can't hold out for long."

"The workers are key - as long as the workers don't scatter and are willing to help speak up, Changqing Company will definitely compromise if we hold out," Su Tianyu looked at his big brother and continued: "But what you can see, Changqing Company can also see, because the cooperation between workers and the four families is our very weak link."

"That makes sense," Su Miaomiao nodded slowly.

"My suggestion is, if Second Brother has nothing else to do these days, he should watch the workers, especially those protesting at the Management Council - they're very important to us," Su Tianyu said concisely.

"What about the other three families?" Su Tiannan asked in return.

Su Tianyu was silent for a moment: "Big Brother, we can't control everyone, and neither can the other three families. Just stabilize our position and wait for time to create event effects."

Su Tiannan fell silent.

"Big Brother, in everything you have to protect yourself first before you can protect others. I'll say again, I'm still learning about Dragon City's situation as I go along - how specifically to handle things still has to be your decision," Su Tianyu added.

"Let's do as you say then," Su Tiannan replied.

Su Tianyu took a sip of tea, smiling as he said: "I'll go look at the storage yard these few days. Our family's been in this business so long, but I still don't know how the daily work is done."

"Be careful, Lu Feng lost an ear, he'll come for you sooner or later," Su Tianbei warned.

"Hehe, it's fine," Su Tianyu replied with a smile.

......

The next day, the strike continued, and had gained some spread and influence among the public, because yesterday many workers had already gone to protest at the Management Council, so word had gotten out.

Near noon, over four hundred people gathered at the district Management Council's entrance, not causing trouble or gathering to provoke, just holding banners expressing their demands.

With so many people blocking the gate, the Zha'nan District police department couldn't pretend not to see, and had already sent over a dozen officers in the morning to maintain order.

After one o'clock in the afternoon, a business van with dark tinted windows stopped at the Management Council entrance. Lu Feng sat in the middle row of seats, legs crossed as he scanned the crowd: "Go see who's shouting the loudest?"

......

At the Bai family home, Bai Hongbo sat on his bed with a splitting headache, asking the follower who had gone to the Su family with him yesterday: "Hey, what were we going to the Su family for yesterday? Why can't I remember?"

"I don't know either, we were all drunk. I just remember everyone surrounding you, saying you were a real man," the follower replied hazily.

Bai Hongbo: "Damn, everyone on Earth knows that, did they need to say it?!"