The orthopedic hospital.
Old Gui sat with a grim expression by Wu Laizi's hospital bed.
Wu Laizi had been stabbed in the leg and cut twice in the buttocks. He could only lie on his stomach, and with his hands immobilized, he looked incredibly awkward and uncomfortable.
"Old Wu, you saw Yang Jian's brothers at Nanhu Club. Could the ones who came to finish the job last night be them?"
Old Gui had just returned from Hancheng and, upon hearing that Wu Laizi had been attacked, his first thought was Yang Jian's men. This was because his sister's house had been raided the previous evening, and he suspected people from their own side.
Wu Laizi struggled to move his neck. "It wasn't those four. I've known Song Jianmin and Biao Biao for a long time. They are much thinner. The person who came in was slightly shorter than Yang Jian, but more robust, and moved with agility and experience. It was clear they were an old hand from the streets, and a martial artist at that."
"Damn it, someone is deliberately trying to make my relationship with Yang Jian irreconcilable. Shuangshuang, send out the brothers and investigate. We must find this person."
"Brother Gui, you also think this wasn't Yang Jian's doing?"
Shuangshuang raised a question.
Old Gui shook his head. "It wouldn't be his men. We investigated Yang Jian. He has no background, and before the New Year, he was a migrant worker. Those following him are Song Jianhao's men, and Song Jianhao's brothers are all cowards. Besides Yang Jian, no one else would dare to carry out such an attack."
"Then what about the negotiation with Yu Feng? Should we still insist on the previous conditions? I feel the Yu family won't agree. Fifth Brother's intention is to ask for more money."
"Yes, that woman Yu Feng is very tough. With Yang Jian backing her, she knows we won't push too hard. And Hu Zhenghua is urging me to negotiate. I was supposed to discuss compensation with Old Wu today, but I didn't expect to be attacked. Old Wu, give me a number, and I'll go demand the money directly."
Old Gui clearly didn't want to drag this out. Someone was using this incident to stir up trouble, and the longer it went on, the deeper the conflict between him and Yang Jian would become. He certainly didn't want to be the second Liu Ming or Pan Wenbin.
"Five hundred thousand. Not a cent less, or I won't forgive him."
Wu Laizi felt too wronged. He would be incapacitated for at least half a year.
Old Gui shook his head. "Five hundred thousand is too much. Even a court judgment wouldn't award that much. I asked Lawyer Zhang, and he said with the Yu family's connections and financial resources, if it went to court, even if Yang Jian were convicted, he wouldn't go to jail. He surrendered himself, so it's highly likely he'd get a suspended sentence, with civil compensation not exceeding fifty thousand."
Wu Laizi was stunned. "Fifty thousand? That's too little."
"Fifty thousand is still a lot. Based on the current wage levels in Chengguan, the average monthly income is less than two thousand yuan. Even compensating for a year of lost wages, it wouldn't be more than twenty thousand, plus medical expenses, it definitely wouldn't exceed thirty thousand. And you have a rural household registration, so the compensation standard is even lower."
"Holy crap, that low? What do we do then?"
"I'll go ask Yu Feng for two hundred thousand and see what her counter-offer is. I'll try to get her to pay one hundred thousand. If you agree, I'll call Hu Zhenghua right away."
"Alright, you decide."
Wu Laizi had to accept reality. Forgiving Yang Jian was the only way to get more financial compensation.
Teacher's Village Residential Area.
The moment Yu Feng saw Lu Feng, she decided to hire him. This young man's appearance was even more imposing than Yang Jian's. More importantly, he dared to storm the hospital alone to attack Wu Laizi, which showed he wasn't afraid of the Hu Gang.
The company's real estate projects could be provoked and harassed by the Hu Gang at any time, so he could be cultivated. Since Yang Jian had explicitly stated he wouldn't join Dong Sheng Group, Lu Feng was the most suitable replacement.
"Brother Feng, this is Sister Feng."
Biao Biao had mentioned in the phone call that Yu Feng wanted to interview him.
Lu Feng nodded at Yu Feng. "Hello, Sister Feng."
Yu Feng smiled. "Lu Feng, Yang Jian is my younger brother. I don't need to vet people he introduces. When can you start working at the company? Your salary and benefits will be at the level of a company manager."
In Chengguan, the salary of a department manager at Dong Sheng Group was comparable to that of a section-level cadre, something not easily enjoyed by ordinary people.
With such good treatment, Yu Feng expected Lu Feng to accept immediately.
However, Lu Feng shook his head. "I need to wait for my master to come out. He told me that if I want to continue in the underworld, I should help him run the gambling operations or join the Emperor Company. If I want to do legitimate business, I should find you and join Dong Sheng Group. I haven't decided yet and want to wait for him to come out to plan properly."
"Running the gambling operations is fine too. I'm also a shareholder in Yang Jian's gambling company. If you're willing to run it, I'll give you half of my shares. Nanhu Club will reopen tomorrow, and the gambling company will also start operations tomorrow. Additionally, my hotel plans to open a card room, where we can have two shifts of people running the gambling operations to expand business."
Yu Feng was now trying every way to recruit Lu Feng to her side.
"I can run the gambling operations for my master, but I don't want to go to Nanhu Club recently. My appearance will arouse suspicion from Old Gui and the others. Everything will wait until my master comes out. By the way, Sister Feng, when will you get my master out?"
"Don't worry. Yang Jian's personality is too impulsive. It's good for him to stay inside a few more days to temper his temper. I'm just waiting for Old Gui to approach me actively. Otherwise, he'll keep making exorbitant demands."
Lu Feng grew anxious. "Sister Feng, you haven't experienced what it's like inside. Time passes like years. As long as you can get out, no one wants to stay inside for an extra minute."
Before Yu Feng could reply, Hu Zhenghua's call came through.
Yu Feng didn't avoid it and answered the phone in front of several people, a smile immediately appearing on her face.
"Lu Feng, Biao Biao, I have good news for you. Old Gui has compromised. He's actively willing to forgive Yang Jian and doesn't want my family's development project anymore. However, his asking price is still very high."
Yu Feng hung up the phone, excited.
Lu Feng asked eagerly, "What are his conditions?"
"He wants two hundred thousand in compensation. I didn't agree, saying I'd give at most fifty thousand, and let them continue negotiating."
"Fifty thousand might not be agreed upon. Sister Feng, what's your bottom line?"
"No more than one hundred thousand. Wu Laizi isn't worth that much. If it weren't for your eagerness to get Yang Jian out, I wouldn't have considered compromising with him. If it went to court, the compensation wouldn't exceed thirty thousand."
"Spend a little more money to get Master out sooner. It's too unbearable inside."
Lu Feng was eager for Yang Jian to get out soon so they could join forces to make a name for themselves in Chengguan. As for doing legitimate business, he wasn't very willing. It was too slow to make money. His master already had a car, and he wanted to buy a good car as soon as possible.
Yang Jian's reputation was soaring in Chengguan. With a little maneuvering, he could become incredibly wealthy. Relying on Sister Feng was just a last resort.