Of course, mutual benefits were also one reason. Qin Ruohan could at least resolve the predicament he and his sister were in. He didn't care much for himself, but Qin Ruohan was right about one thing—his sister was in poor health. She had lingering effects from a severe illness that required expensive Chinese medicine for treatment.
As he thought of this, Chen Liuhui's eyes suddenly narrowed, a terrifying glint flashing briefly.
"Those people in the capital. Even if my sister doesn't speak, do they really think I don't know what you did to her a year ago? Her illness and crippled leg can't be cleansed even with your whole family's blood!" Chen Liuhui muttered, "In less than two years, I'll see how many people wake up in the middle of the night!"
The next morning, Chen Liuhui sent Shen Qingwu to school as usual, taking in the youthful energy of the campus. Of course, his primary enjoyment was a feast for his eyes.
Don't think Chen Liuhui was a casual person. His eyes were not for everyone; he adhered to one principle—he only looked at those with less clothing.
Satisfied, Chen Liuhui left with a swagger on his old tricycle, under numerous disdainful stares.
Today, Chen Liuhui didn't scavenge the streets but went straight to a construction site. There, he finally spotted the inconspicuous Huang Baimian amidst the dust and rubble.
The guy was moving cement.
"Sixth Brother!" Seeing Chen Liuhui, Huang Baimian quickly dropped his work, grinning widely with his big yellow teeth, and ran over. He wiped his dirty hands on his pants, took out a crumpled soft-pack of Da Qian Men cigarettes from his pocket, and carefully handed Chen Liuhui one.
With a smile, he said, "Old Huang's level is like this, Sixth Brother, don't mind it."
Chen Liuhui took the cigarette, used the lighter Huang Baimian handed him to light it, and took a deep drag. The harsh, acrid strength of it was overwhelming, even worse than the three-and-a-half yuan Red Plum.
"Old Huang, you have quite the connections. How can you still get such cigarettes in this era?" Chen Liuhui asked as he squatted beside Huang Baimian, puffing smoke.
"Heh, these cigarettes are cheap," Huang Baimian replied casually.
Chen Liuhui looked Huang Baimian over and said with a smile, "Old Huang, you're doing hard labor here, at least you should be making a hundred or two a day. Why tighten your belt like this?"
Huang Baimian didn't shy away, "No, I only make eighty a day. The foreman takes one hundred and twenty from me. He doesn't say it, but I know." After a pause, Huang Baimian added, "I have a younger sister studying high school in a town about ten kilometers away from Lishan. I support her. I don't mind the hardship myself; I can't let her suffer. Studying hard will lead to a better future, not like me."
"Can you stand this kind of humiliation?" Chen Liuhui teased.
Huang Baimian grinned, showing his signature unpleasant smile, "When I left the mountains at thirteen, my old mother told me that suffering is a blessing."
Chen Liuhui didn't say more, lightly patting Huang Baimian's shoulder. He thought to himself that this thin, ragged-looking fellow beside him had broad shoulders and a strong backbone!
"Old Huang, aren't you supposed to be working? Do you not want your pay today?" At this moment, a middle-aged man with a somewhat snobbish demeanor came over, scolding Huang Baimian.
Chen Liuhui looked up with a smile and kept quiet, while Huang Baimian put on a flattering expression, "Manager Liu, a good buddy is here. I'll keep him company for a few minutes, then get back to work right away."
Manager Liu glanced at Chen Liuhui with contempt and then scolded Huang Baimian, "You're asking for trouble, trying to bargain with me? Today's pay is cut in half, but the work can't be less."
"Got it, got it," Huang Baimian nodded and bowed, not showing any temper.
After Manager Liu left, Huang Baimian apologized to Chen Liuhui with a nonchalant expression, "Sixth Brother, heh, sorry you had to see this."
Chen Liuhui shook his head, "I actually think you'll be more successful than Manager Liu in the future."
Huang Baimian grinned, "Sixth Brother, did you need something from me?"
Chen Liuhui nodded, "You've been in Hangzhou for over a decade, so you must be familiar with the area. There's something I need your help with."
Huang Baimian tossed his cigarette butt, "Then Sixth Brother found the right person. I can't claim to know everything, but in Hangzhou, there's no street or alley I don't know. Just tell me what you need, I'll handle it without blinking."
Chen Liuhui said, "I have something that's quite dangerous. It might even cost your life. Are you up for it?"
"Dare!" Huang Baimian didn't hesitate, responding directly.
"Good, first take a look at this." Chen Liuhui took out a crumpled note from his pocket. Huang Baimian took it, looked it over for a minute, then burned it with his lighter.
Huang Baimian's face grew serious, "Sixth Brother, how much time do I have?"
"Two days." Chen Liuhui held up two fingers, then smiled and asked, "Aren't you curious why I'm stirring up trouble?"
"Sixth Brother's orders, I just handle the job. My brain isn't sharp, only my strength is," Huang Baimian said.
"Be careful. The Black Dragon Society isn't to be trifled with," Chen Liuhui said, standing up.
As soon as Chen Liuhui left, Huang Baimian spat, stood up, and walked straight out of the construction site, ignoring Manager Liu's angry shouts, "Huang Baimian, where the hell do you think you're going? Not working? I think you're tired of living!"
Huang Baimian just waved his hand without looking back. He felt he had never been so carefree as today.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye. During these two days, Chen Liuhui did nothing but idled around, except for the fixed routine of washing clothes, cooking, and picking up Shen Qingwu. His greatest pleasure was riding his old tricycle to various parks, watching the different urban beauties with their silky white legs.
Chen Liuhui had always had a soft spot for long legs, and the thin silk stockings added to the allure. He considered stockings a brilliant creation of human wisdom, a great invention with immense destructive power.
Women in stockings could conquer men, while men in stockings could conquer banks. Of course, women wear them on their legs, men on their heads, but both achieve a conquering effect!
Over the two days, Qin Ruohan called Chen Liuhui countless times, but he was always indifferent, as if he were a dead pig not afraid of boiling water. Qin Ruohan was so angry she almost wanted to come over and strangle him.
Whether she had given up on Chen Liuhui completely, he didn't care. He remained unhurried and calm.
It's worth mentioning Huang Baimian. This guy hadn't returned for two days and nights, with no news.
Chen Liuhui wasn't worried. If Huang Baimian couldn't handle this small task, then he deserved to struggle all his life.
If Chen Liuhui had taken on the task himself, he could have completed it easily, but since Huang Baimian wanted to make a name for himself, he needed to put in the effort. Chen Liuhui wasn't a philanthropist and wouldn't give handouts.
The opportunity was given; whether Huang Baimian could seize it depended on his own ability.
That evening, just as Chen Liuhui and Shen Qingwu were having dinner in the courtyard, Huang Baimian, who had been missing for two days, finally returned. However, he looked quite disheveled.
His hair was messy, his mouth swollen, his tattered clothes stained with blood, with several cuts on his shoulders, back, and thigh. He walked with a limp.
Chen Liuhui didn't get up to greet him, letting Huang Baimian hobble over. Shen Qingwu didn't speak or ask anything but quietly went back inside and came out with a medical kit.
Despite his injuries, Huang Baimian was grinning from the moment he entered the courtyard. He took out a few photos from his pocket and placed them in front of Chen Liuhui, "Sixth Brother, these might be useful to you."
Chen Liuhui didn't look at the photos but examined Huang Baimian's wounds. Taking the medical kit from Shen Qingwu, he said, "I'll take care of your injuries."
The wounds on Huang Baimian were severe, one even exposing bone. Chen Liuhui stitched him up with a needle and thread without anesthesia, and the courtyard echoed with Huang Baimian's pig-like screams.
But this seemingly fragile man was tough; he endured it with a strong spirit, helped by a swig of strong liquor.
After treating the wounds, Huang Baimian's face was pale, lips trembling. He lit a cigarette and took a
deep drag, grinning at Chen Liuhui.
Chen Liuhui asked, "Did you suffer a lot these two days?"
"Not as bad as when I was scamming in Hubei. Back then, I was chased and hacked every few days," Huang Baimian said.
Chen Liuhui nodded and then picked up the photos. The intimate and even obscene images were intriguing. There were more than ten photos, with the same man in all, but three or four different women.
Huang Baimian explained, "This guy is Zhou Yunkang. He's quite the playboy, changing women every two days. The women are all beauties; I almost wanted to give them a shot myself."
Huang Baimian continued, "When I checked, I was shocked. Zhou Yunkang is not only lecherous but also incredibly bold. You wouldn't believe it, Sixth Brother, but this bastard not only plays with good women but also with young wives and even his father-in-law's mistress. He's done so much evil, absolutely unscrupulous."
"Oh?" Chen Liuhui was intrigued.
Huang Baimian got animated, pointing to a photo of a voluptuous woman, "See this big-breasted, curvaceous woman? She's actually Zhang Yongfu's second mistress, the Black Dragon Society's leader. But secretly, she's also involved with Zhou Yunkang. Isn't that thrilling?"