The meeting room of the Ma Bang Zong branch.

Xu Hu slowly stood up: "Lao Wei, what exactly do you mean?"

"I don't mean anything." Wei Xiangzuo ignored the young man whose chin he had dislocated, and only turned to stare at Xu Hu and said, "Xiao Feng's words were a bit harsh, but they are reasonable. Master is dead, and the murderer hasn't been caught yet. We're gathering here to discuss dividing up territory and making money. Isn't that a bit out of line?"

Xu Hu said with an extremely ugly expression: "Don't stand on the moral high ground..."

"Bang!"

While the two were confronting each other, Zhang Zhengfang slammed his hand on the table: "Enough! You two are a bangdai (leader of a gang) and a zootang (manager of a gang). Can't you speak and act with some sense of propriety and abide by the rules?!"

Xu Hu glanced at Wei Xiangzuo and didn't say anything more.

Wei Xiangzuo looked up at Zhang Zhengfang: "My master's death is obviously suspicious. If this matter isn't investigated and we move according to the old rules to divide up territory, it will definitely be difficult to convince the public. Elder Zhang, you are one of the Ma Bang's veterans. What do you think should be done about this matter?"

In the room, those who were originally prepared to support Xu Hu were now silent. Because Xiao Feng's words just now were justified and almost proved that Lao Gu's death was not so simple. So, if anyone jumped out at this time to forcibly smooth things over for Xu Hu, they would not be helping him, but harming him.

Since the Ma Bang walks the Jianghu path, then it must have Jianghu spirit. Under-the-table infighting can be like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each displaying their own unique abilities, but the things on the table must still be justifiable, because this is their survival rule.

"What do you all think?" Zhang Zhengfang asked the members of the elders' council in the room.

After a few seconds, an old man smoking a cigarette frowned and looked at Xu Hu, saying, "Xiao Wei is right. If you want to rise to the top, you have to convince the public, make the brothers below respect you, and make the people above recognize you. Now that someone has raised a different opinion, it means that some brothers in Zhan Nan have doubts. If you want to be the little dragon head, then you have to take the initiative to solve the problem."

Next to him, the bangdai of Fukuoka District also chimed in, saying, "Xu Hu, it's well known that you want to enter the elders' council and be affiliated with the general trade union. I'm not against that. With enough seniority, we advocate that the capable should be in charge! But the things that should be done must be done beautifully. When the people below are silent, I'll cast my vote for you."

When everyone heard this, they nodded in agreement. Xu Hu stood in place, smiling in response, but didn't say anything.

Zhang Zhengfang deliberated for a long time, then slowly stood up and said, "Then that's settled. You investigate Lao Gu's death clearly, catch the gunman, and make the voices below disappear. Then we'll agree to you changing the rules, and we'll also agree to you coming up. We old guys sitting here won't stop the younger generation."

Xu Hu paused slightly, turned his head to Gu Tongshan's wife, and said, "Shiniang (martial aunt), don't worry. If I can't catch this group of gunmen within a month, if I can't kill the person who killed my master, then I'll hand over my chair and step down in Zhan Nan."

"Good, it's settled then." Zhang Zhengfang made a decision: "One month, you figure out the reason, and we'll still have a meeting here."

"Good." Xu Hu agreed readily.

"Do you have any other questions?" Zhang Zhengfang asked Wei Xiangzuo.

"No, I don't." Wei Xiangzuo shook his head simply.

"Then you listen to me. If the things that Xu Hu investigates can convince the public and are well-organized, then you must fully support him." Zhang Zhengfang pointed at Wei Xiangzuo and said, "You are the second-in-command. Internal strife is definitely not allowed."

"No problem." Wei Xiangzuo replied again.

"That's it, meeting adjourned!" Zhang Zhengfang waved his hand.

"Let's go!"

Wei Xiangzuo called out to Xiao Feng and led his men away.

Xu Hu stayed in the meeting room and began to see everyone off one by one, communicating with them individually.

...

Five minutes later, inside the car.

Wei Xiangzuo turned his head and looked at Xiao Feng: "Who told you to speak at the meeting?!"

"I just said everything you couldn't say." Xiao Feng said indignantly, "Gu Lao was killed, and Xu Hu is currently the biggest beneficiary. He himself is worthy of suspicion. How can such a person be able to stir up trouble in Zhan Nan at this juncture? He even wants to change the rules. Not to mention that we don't agree to sell 'gold bricks' (drugs) in the first place, even if we do agree, he can't be the only one who gets to decide! If it hadn't been for Xu Hu playing tricks and you happening to be on the run, the position of bangdai should have been yours."

Wei Xiangzuo frowned and looked at Xiao Feng: "How do you know what I wanted to say?"

"Brother, the brothers are doing it for your own good. It's not just me who has feelings about this, all our brothers are feeling unbalanced." Xiao Feng said somewhat angrily, "As soon as Gu Lao died, Xu Hu stopped giving us the monthly interest. Why is that?!"

"Sigh!" Wei Xiangzuo sighed, pointed at Xiao Feng, and said, "I know what I want to do and what I should do. Next time there is such an occasion, if you talk nonsense again, I'll cut your mouth off."

Xiao Feng was still quite afraid of Wei Xiangzuo. Hearing him say this, he immediately smiled: "...This mouth still has to call you Brother, would you be willing to cut it off?!"

"You little brat...!" Wei Xiangzuo glared and cursed, then turned his head to look out the window.

...

Inside the Trade Union.

After Xu Hu saw Zhang Zhengfang off, he met with the zuotang (manager) of Longkou District alone.

"Wei Xiangzuo seems a little unconvinced by you!" The zuotang of Longkou District said in a low voice, "With him tripping you up behind your back, it won't be easy for you to take over the power."

Xu Hu frowned and looked at him: "I will talk to him."

"Talk my ass, kill him if he doesn't obey." The zuotang of Longkou District frowned and said, "Power struggles are cruel. You should understand this better than I do!"

In fact, Xu Hu was very annoyed by this unruly person, but because he needed to use the other party's power, he replied in a low voice, "I know what I'm doing. I will do what I promised you."

"That's good." The other party nodded.

...

Inside a high-end restaurant in Longkou District.

Su Tianyu drunkenly dragged Da Bai to the corridor and asked him urgently, "Have you found a place with little brothers?! Lao Dong is so anxious he has pinched my inner thigh four or five times. If you dawdle any longer, I'm going to be in trouble...!"

"Damn, it's not like he just needs a place. He wants a high-end place with good quality. Do I not have to ask around first?!" Da Bai replied, also quite anxiously, "I don't usually go to these kinds of places...!"

"Hurry up!" Su Tianyu urged.

"You go back first, I'll make two phone calls." Bai Hongbo replied.

"Hurry up, okay!" Su Tianyu threw down a sentence, smiling, and pushed the door open to enter the private room, sitting down next to Leader Dong with a slightly awkward gait: "He's contacting them now, we'll leave immediately, Dong-ge (Brother Dong)."

"If it doesn't work out, then forget it..." Leader Dong looked at Gou Liuzi with drunken eyes.

"How could it not work out? Soon, soon!" Su Tianyu replied somewhat cautiously.

Leader Dong propped his chin with his chubby little hand, looked up at the door, and suddenly asked, "...Hey, that little white fatty outside the door... talks quite interestingly, huh! He's also fair-skinned, pretty good."

Su Tianyu was dumbfounded, and turned his head to look at the corridor, seeing Da Bai's fleshy figure.

"That kid looks pretty good." Lao Dong said again, "Does he have anything to do tonight? How about we take him for some tea?"

Hearing this, Su Tianyu immediately nodded: "He... he should be pretty free. It's okay, I'll ask him for you."

"Hehe, good!" Lao Dong nodded with a smile.

Su Tianyu got up, muttering to himself, "Damn, he's not interested in me? Then I'm safe!"

A minute later, Da Bai looked at Su Tianyu in stunned silence and said, "Don't talk nonsense!! None of my ancestors for eighteen generations have done this... If this gets out, how will I live?!"

"No, you just fool him for a bit. I misunderstood just now, he doesn't like me, he likes fat ones..."

"Get the hell out of here!" Da Bai took the phone and walked to the side, yelling in a broken voice, "Hurry up and find a place! If you're any later... my hemorrhoids will be cured!"

...

As soon as Wei Xiangzuo arrived in Zhan Nan, Xu Hu suddenly gave him a call: "Hey, Lao Wei, I'm going back right away, do you have time? Let's chat!"