Chapter 38: What's Your Plan?

Kong Zhenghui squinted as he looked at Su Tianyu: "What exactly are you trying to say?"

"Nothing, just feels a bit strange," Su Tianyu looked back at him. "What do you think?"

"Hehe, I know what you're thinking," Kong Zhenghui smiled and replied in a low voice: "But I think it's just a coincidence. We don't need to overthink it."

Su Tianyu remained silent.

Kong Zhenghui explained softly: "You don't understand the situation in Dragon City yet. The roads, the waters, those running external operations, those diving into uncharted areas - every industry has its own rules and circles. The dock gang has been eating from the waterways for years. They have many eyes and ears, with lackeys everywhere. As soon as you approach the water, they spot you. It's not unusual."

Su Tianyu nodded slowly: "Then maybe I'm overthinking it."

"Even if we take a step back, when you're out here eating from the rivers and lakes, you do it if the benefits are right, and you scatter if they're not," Kong Zhenghui saw things very clearly. "We're just the couriers, taking the money we should get, nothing more."

"That makes sense," Su Tianyu agreed.

"Alright then, I'll take my people back first," Kong Zhenghui said goodbye, and after the money was distributed, he left the garbage yard with his people.

Not far away, Su Tianbei had distributed the 81,000 in cash according to the corresponding amounts to the three families, and the workers who participated in moving and transporting goods today, as well as the core family members, each received 500 yuan in extra income.

In fact, by Dragon City's living standards, this money was definitely not small. One night's income was equivalent to many ordinary people's monthly salary. Although this business was smuggling, the risk borne by the people working below was completely different from that of the Su, Bai, and Kong family companies.

If problems arose, the higher-ups would have to bear the responsibility; paving the way and establishing relationships also relied on those above. The workers only needed to provide labor. So everyone had no objections to the profit distribution, and some even wanted to do this long-term to earn extra money to supplement their household income.

Su Tianyu netted 4,000 today, because Yu Mingyuan had given him 85,000 yuan. This showed that the boss was quite generous and valued the Su family.

With money to be made, Su Tianyu was also happy. He quickly dealt with the follow-up matters and prepared to go home to sleep.

"Li-Little Yu Brother," Just then, Daxiong grinned and happily came over to call out.

Su Tianyu turned around: "What is it?"

"Earned... earned money, I... I want to treat you to breakfast," Daxiong invited with a smile. "Let's eat something good, go... go to the Cantonese restaurant for dim sum."

"Forget it, I'm going home to sleep."

"Not... not giving me face? I want to treat you," Daxiong spoke very directly.

"Hehe," Su Tianyu grinned. "Alright then, let's go."

"Great," Daxiong pulled open the door of Su Tianyu's Ford "company car" and bent down to get in.

"Where are you going?" Su Tianbei, Bai Hongbo, and a distant relative of the Su family also came over together.

"Daxiong wants to treat me to a meal."

"Oh, Brother Daxiong, not treating us to a meal too?" Bai Hongbo asked the person inside the car.

Daxiong thought carefully for a full three to four seconds before nodding and agreeing: "Good... I'll... I'll treat everyone, let's go together."

"Generous!" Bai Hongbo pulled open the car door and got in.

And so, the group of five drove the SUV for about five or six kilometers before arriving at the Cantonese restaurant, because Daxiong had repeatedly insisted on coming here.

When they entered the restaurant, it was just at dawn, with the sun rising and its rays spreading across the sky.

Daxiong rarely took the initiative to order, and he got many dishes that weren't cheap, like shrimp dumplings, steamed fish balls, and sea cucumber porridge.

After ordering, Bai Hongbo habitually wanted to pay, but Daxiong stopped him: "As agreed, I'm treating, no need for you to pay, Brother Bai."

"Very considerate, brother!" Bai Hongbo certainly didn't care about the money for breakfast, so he didn't argue and just started drinking his porridge heartily.

As everyone was eating breakfast, Daxiong tentatively asked Su Tianyu: "Li-Little Yu Brother, can I live in that newly rented third floor in the future?"

Su Tianyu was taken aback: "Why do you want to live there? Aren't you going home?"

"It's more free there," Daxiong lowered his head and drank his porridge. "I see no one's there, if... if not, I can pay some rent every month too."

Yu Mingyuan had previously had Linda rent a three-story building by the sea. The main purpose of this building was to store work equipment like speedboats, ropes, motors, chains, and other tools used for the job, because these things couldn't be brought in every time they were needed. Moreover, they needed a gathering point for workers before each job, and couldn't always gather the team at the garbage yard as it was too conspicuous.

Su Tianyu looked at Daxiong, and although he had many doubts in his heart, he habitually didn't ask about family matters: "Alright, if you want to live there, go ahead. No need to pay rent. It's good to have someone watching over the things there."

Daxiong was very happy to hear this: "Th-thank you, Little Yu Brother. When you have time... I'll treat you to another good meal."

"Hehe, Daxiong, when are you getting married?" Bai Hongbo asked casually.

"As long as I work hard, save enough money, I can... can buy a house, get married, soon... soon," Daxiong replied.

"You can marry, but you can't marry Third Sister," Bai Hongbo said, looking sideways. "She's my moon goddess, your future sister-in-law."

"Your mother," Su Tianbei cursed indignantly.

Hearing this, Daxiong's face turned red in an instant, and he lowered his head, not speaking anymore.

"Damn it, everyone says his brain doesn't work well, but look, his life plan is clearer than mine!" Bai Hongbo might have a loose mouth, but he had never vulgarly teased Daxiong. Although his words seemed out of line, they were his true inner thoughts.

"You don't have a plan?" Su Tianyu asked.

"To be honest, I don't have much of a plan, I'm quite lost," Bai Hongbo replied with a pout. "I don't really like what we're doing now, but... but I can't not do it. My dad is getting old, and there's a big group of people at home waiting to be fed... Sigh, as a man, once you're an adult, you're not living for yourself anymore."

Su Tianyu smiled and turned to Su Tianbei and the Su family's distant relative, asking: "Second Brother, Haozi, what are your plans?"

"Grow bigger and stronger, create new glories!" Su Tianbei replied concisely and clearly.

"Not bad," Su Tianyu nodded. "How about you, Haozi?"

The young man sitting diagonally opposite was called Zhang Hao. He was the child of Tianbei's maternal uncle. His father had died early in the Chinese Navy, and he and his mother had no one to rely on, so they sought refuge with the Su family, who had some property in Dragon City.

Zhang Hao was usually a man of few words, but he worked hard. In any corner of the Su family compound where work was being done, you could almost always find him. Su Tianyu had known him since he was young and had always had a good impression of him.

Hearing Su Tianyu's question, Zhang Hao thought carefully before replying: "I don't have much of a plan, just want to earn some money so my mom can have a better life."

"Right, in life, simply put, we just want to have good days," Bai Hongbo raised his porridge bowl and called out: "Come, for better days tomorrow, let's drink!"

"Who drinks porridge like that!" Su Tianbei was speechless.

"Oh, that's just the idea. Drinking alcohol early in the morning, that's not healthy," Bai Hongbo grinned and said: "Today is quite memorable, we succeeded on our first day. Hope it gets better and better in the future."

The five young men smiled at each other, raised their porridge bowls and drank.

In the early morning, everyone left the porridge shop together, facing the dazzling sun, and went their separate ways.

......

Daxiong got the key to the third floor from Su Tianyu and walked home happily on foot.

At around eight in the morning.

In a dilapidated building on Tufang Street in Zha'nan District, Daxiong bounded up to the seventh floor, taking three steps at a time, and used his key to open the door to his home.

Tufang Street was a famous slum in Zha'nan District. The buildings here were all semi-welfare housing specially built by Dragon City's Relief Agency for those people without security, without work, and without labor capacity. Except for water and electricity fees, no other fees needed to be paid.

Daxiong's father had also been a soldier and had been seriously injured on the inland battlefield in the Chinese Zone, losing his left hand and receiving a third-class merit for individuals. After he was discharged, he came to Dragon City with the migrating troops and was initially allocated relatively spacious housing and received a sum of military compensation.

However, Wu's father had three sons. If he had lived solely on the compensation given by the army, sooner or later there would have been a day when the mountain would be eaten bare. So after he was discharged, he started a business with several war comrades in Dragon City, dealing in scarce resources. But due to bad luck and tightening policies, he eventually lost a lot of money.

From then on, the Wu family moved to this slum, and Wu's father also worked for the Su family in the dirty gang for a while. To put it bluntly, Su Zhengcai gave him a sinecure in the company only out of consideration for their previous relationship in the army. Later, as Wu's father's health condition worsened, Daxiong took over his position and became a worker in the dirty gang.

Daxiong opened the door and entered the living room of his home. At a glance, he saw his father sitting at a dirty table eating breakfast and drinking white liquor.

This was Wu's father's habit - he had to drink alcohol with all three meals, and after drinking, he would either lie in bed reading or sleep.

The Wu family's house was about sixty square meters in total, and the environment was very dilapidated. The furniture in the house was from more than a decade ago, and for some reason, there was also a pervasive smell of decay.

Daxiong's eldest and second brothers had already started working and didn't live at home anymore, so Wu's father had rented out the east room to a middle-aged couple who ran an early morning stall. He and his wife lived in the west room, while Daxiong's room was converted from the balcony, with barely enough space for a bed.

After Daxiong came back, he called out somewhat nervously: "Dad... you're... you're up?"

"Where the fuck have you been every day, not coming home? What have you been doing?" Wu's father demanded loudly.

"I... I was with some friends from the company, helping the Su family transport some goods at sea," Daxiong stammered in response.

"Transporting goods at sea??? Smuggling?! Are you fucking stupid, doing whatever others tell you to do?" Wu's father cursed loudly. "Do you know how many years you'd be sentenced if you got caught?"

"They're all doing it, even the Su family people are doing it themselves, it's fine," Daxiong replied, turning to walk towards the balcony.

"How much are they paying you? Huh?!" Wu's father shouted again.

Daxiong returned to the balcony and lowered his head to start packing his belongings.

"Fuck, how did I give birth to such an idiot! You step wherever others draw a line, your brain is full of shit," Wu's father continued to curse while drinking.

Daxiong packed his things as quickly as possible, then picked up a worn-out travel bag and walked out of the balcony, locking the door behind him.

"What are you doing?"

"I found a night watchman job, need to... to live there..." Daxiong stuttered in reply. "Won't... won't be coming back for a while."

"I'm asking you, how much money can you earn running the seas with them?" Wu's father glared and demanded.

Daxiong thought for a moment, then took out 454 yuan from his pocket and put it on the table, saying: "They gave 500 yesterday, here, take it."

Wu's father took the money, his tone softening considerably: "Don't be so fucking stupid, be careful when doing things. If something's not right, you need to run."

"I know."

"Mm, I'll save this money for you. Don't cause any trouble out there, you hear!" Wu's father replied.

"I'm leaving," Daxiong picked up his bag and walked out the door.

......

Outside, the sunlight was brilliant. As soon as Daxiong left home, he unconsciously showed his trademark smile.

After a dusty journey, Daxiong arrived at the three-story building by the sea, neatly placed his luggage on the ground, and began to tidy up a bedroom on the top floor.

The weather was hot, and Daxiong took a rag and a worn-out mop to clean the room thoroughly. Although he looked rough and simple on the outside, he was very meticulous inside and worked very methodically.

After cleaning, Daxiong moved several broken cabinets from downstairs and placed them in the room.

Bending down to take out his luggage, Daxiong sorted and put away his belongings one by one. Finally, on the bedside table, he placed a small wooden carving that looked very much like Third Sister, and a very worn Superman model toy that had been glued together with clear tape.

With everything in order, Daxiong lay on the floor, wiping sweat with his arm, looking at the bright sunlight outside, grinning for no apparent reason.