Chapter 101: The Funeral

In the warehouse.

Su Tianyu put away his phone and looked up at Daxiong, saying: "Big Bai's brother is dead, I have to go attend the funeral. Nobody usually comes to this warehouse, don't go out, just stay here and recover. I'll come back tonight or tomorrow morning."

"O... okay, thank you, Brother Yu!" Daxiong nodded slowly.

Su Tianyu took out his wallet from his pants pocket and removed all the cash, about fifteen or sixteen hundred yuan: "Take this, in case you need it."

Daxiong stared at Su Tianyu, somewhat at a loss.

"It's fine, take it," Su Tianyu placed the money beside the instant noodles and stood up, saying: "Everyone outside is trying to catch you, remember, don't go anywhere."

"I... I understand," Daxiong nodded.

"Alright, I'm going now," Su Tianyu turned and walked out of the warehouse.

Daxiong watched his retreating figure and carefully picked up the instant noodles, lowering his head to eat.

......

In the evening, in the Bai family compound, funeral music played and people crowded around. Neighbors from all around and management staff and workers from the Bai family company had all come to pay their respects.

The New Year's "fu" characters, couplets, and red lanterns hanging in the courtyard had all been taken down, replaced with black and white banners and wreaths, though the scattered red firecracker debris on the ground looked particularly jarring.

As Su Tianyu walked into the courtyard, he heard Bai Hongtao's sister and mother crying uncontrollably.

At the entrance, Bai Hongbo, just back from the hospital, stood at the main hall door smoking, his face very unpleasant.

"My condolences, brother," Su Tianyu walked over and said softly to him.

"Ah!" Bai Hongbo let out a long sigh, his eyes somewhat red.

After the two stood in silence for a while, the feng shui master in charge of arranging the funeral suddenly called out at the entrance: "Who's free? Quickly drive to the market to buy a live chicken and some mixed grains, we need to prepare the burial things now."

"I'll go, I'll go," Su Tianyu immediately stepped down and replied, taking his car keys: "Tell me what's needed, I'll buy everything in one trip."

Actually, when a man encounters difficulties and troubles, he might not need others' words of comfort and guidance, but perhaps more importantly needs companionship.

Companionship between men.

Su Tianyu didn't try to console Big Bai, but just did what he could here, even if it was just running errands, buying things - doing whatever he could do.

After staying busy until after 9 PM, there were far fewer people in the courtyard, just the Bai family keeping vigil and the hired drum band and feng shui master.

Bai Hongbo brought a chair and sat with Su Tianyu, Kong Zhenghui and others at his family's entrance, staring blankly and smoking.

With Big Bai in low spirits, Kong Zhenghui chose not to talk with him frequently, only turning to ask Su Tianyu: "What did you need the medicine I got you for?"

Su Tianyu glanced at him: "To treat a dog's illness."

"Don't fucking joke, using gunshot wound medicine for a dog?" Kong Zhenghui said softly. "Did that kid find you?"

Su Tianyu took a drag on his cigarette without responding.

Kong Zhenghui was a very clever person. He didn't mention Daxiong's name, only advising very quietly: "Brother, he killed police officers, and fucking five of them at that. Do you have the ability to help him? If you don't have the ability, you'll end up ruining both of you; if you get others to help, you might implicate them too, understand my meaning?"

Su Tianyu looked at him: "I understand, I know what I'm doing."

Kong Zhenghui made his point and immediately changed the subject: "Xu Er is dead, Xu Hu definitely won't let it go. How do you think the dock gang will retaliate against us next?"

"Hard to say," Su Tianyu slowly shook his head. "But from what happened at the foot of Qika Mountain, Xu Hu was very close to his brother. They're likely to do something extreme."

"After the funeral, we still need to have a good talk with those above."

"Zhenghui, where do you think our main difference from the dock gang lies?" Su Tianyu asked.

Kong Zhenghui thought carefully before replying: "In cohesion."

Su Tianyu nodded in relative agreement: "Right. Without people gathering and hearts uniting, just relying on the three leading households to stir things up will never amount to a force."

Kong Zhenghui very much agreed with Dog Six's view in his heart and began talking with him in low voices.

......

The next day, in the afternoon.

In Mingyuan Trading Company's warehouse, Daxiong had a slight fever. He lay on a pile of goods, feeling very thirsty and cold, so he kept drinking water.

"Vroom vroom!"

Just as Daxiong was hazily about to fall asleep, the sound of car engines suddenly came from outside the warehouse.

Daxiong sat up with a start, clutching the wound on his shoulder, immediately grabbed the things on the ground and turned to run toward the inner corridor.

About two or three minutes later, the warehouse door opened and a man in a suit and leather shoes led an old man inside.

"Recently there was a case of police officers being killed in the city. The police departments of all districts have notified us trading companies to strengthen control over our warehouses and uninhabited areas..." the man in the suit turned to tell the old man. "You can't be lazy during your night watch, you need to come check here from time to time."

In the corridor, Daxiong's forehead broke out in sweat as he hid behind some stacked cardboard boxes, listening to their conversation.

"Also, the goods in here are afraid of moisture, you need to come clean regularly."

"Got it, got it," the old man nodded repeatedly in response.

......

At Tianhong Port, at the Xu family's entrance.

Several cars stopped as Gu Tongshan led a group of people out.

"Hello, Old Gu!"

"Old Gu!"

"...!"

Groups of dock gang brothers in the courtyard came over to greet Gu Tongshan.

Gu Tongshan nodded slightly to everyone and led the group behind him through the compound to the main hall.

Inside the room, though Xu Hu was in low spirits, he was still receiving underworld friends who had come to pay their respects.

When Gu Tongshan and his group entered, everyone stood up.

"Master is here," Xu Hu immediately went to welcome him.

"Come to take a look."

Just as they started talking, Xu Hu turned to look to the side and saw a familiar figure.

"My condolences, Boss Xu," Li Hongze stood beside Gu Tongshan and said softly.

Xu Hu not only saw Li Hongze but also noticed Lu Feng behind him.

Although the leaders of the dock gang and dirty gang knew each other, they usually didn't have very deep relationships. For Li Hongze, Lu Feng and others to come together with Gu Tongshan today was clearly unusual.

Xu Hu was stunned for a moment before extending his hand: "Long time no see, Boss Li, Boss Lu."

After everyone shook hands, Gu Tongshan beckoned: "Let's all sit!"

Just as he spoke, a lackey ran in calling out: "Gang leader, Police Captain Li Xing has arrived."

Xu Hu turned and froze.

Li Xing had come too? All the influential figures in Zha'nan from Changqing Company had shown up today - what were they planning to do?