While thirty express delivery sub-stations were erupting in various brawls.
At the district headquarters warehouse.
Because the cargo warehouses of Tongda Express and Suyu Express were located together.
Gao Fei had simultaneously hired twelve warehouse managers, assigning six to work in shifts to guard the warehouses.
To prevent theft, each manager was equipped with a stun baton and other tools.
After the warehouse work finished for the night, the six on-duty managers gathered in the back courtyard to enjoy hot pot and ice-cold beer, living a truly pleasant life.
"Boss Gao's current ventures span media, film, food, and express delivery. Besides what we know, what other businesses is he involved in?"
"What's up, Old Guo? You want to join Boss Gao's business? With the net worth of us brothers, we couldn't even afford to join if we sold everything."
"To join the boss's business, the franchise fee must start from over a hundred thousand! Old Guo, stop dreaming. We're finally out of the street life and landed warehouse manager jobs. We should save money and live a stable life!"
"A salary of 4,500 a month, plus five social insurances and one housing fund. I've been in the streets for so many years, seen so many places, and this is the first time I feel so content!"
"Staying away from that life of fighting and killing, we no longer have to worry about rivals suddenly stabbing us. Now that we're stable, we should be grateful!"
The six people sitting at the table, enjoying their hot pot, were around the same age, the youngest being twenty-eight and the oldest thirty-one.
Each of them had dragon and tiger tattoos, exuding a tough,大哥 (big brother) aura.
Yet, as they chatted and laughed, a weariness from the trials of time could be seen in their expressions.
After all, these six were once notorious gang leaders in the nearby alleys.
After serving their time and repaying their debt to society, the six had finally turned over a new leaf.
Although being warehouse managers was far from their former life on the streets, it brought them a sense of contentment they had never experienced before.
Just as the six were enjoying their hot pot and chatting, Old Guo, who had previously inquired about joining the business, suddenly put down his chopsticks.
He raised his head, his nose twitched slightly, and he frowned, saying, "Why do I smell something burnt? Do you guys smell it?"
"Old Guo, are you drunk? It's calm and peaceful, what burnt smell could there be?"
A man chuckled while stirring his hot pot.
But as soon as he finished speaking, another man next to Old Guo abruptly put down his chopsticks. "Damn it, it's a burning smell coming from outside the warehouse. Old Guo, hurry up and get the fire extinguishers. Xiao Wu, come with me."
With that, the six at the table immediately put down their bowls and scattered.
Before Yang Ming, the eldest, and Tang Gui, the fifth eldest, reached the warehouse entrance, they saw flames raging outside, and thick black smoke continuously wafting in.
*Crash!*
The window at the top of the warehouse door fell off in the fire.
The raging inferno was surging into the warehouse.
"Old Five, call the fire department quickly!" Yang Ming roared, looking at Old Guo and the others rushing over with fire extinguishers. He yelled, "Old Guo, hurry and go get the hose from the yard, three fire extinguishers won't be enough. Xiao Er, Old San, Old Si, fight the fire and cover Xiao Wu and me. Xiao Wu, come with me to start the forklift and move the goods from the valuable items section to the backyard."
The eldest quickly issued orders, and everyone immediately got busy.
Within a minute, all three fire extinguishers were depleted. The eldest and the fifth were still using a forklift to transport goods from the valuable items section. Old Guo, eager to extinguish the fire, advanced step by step with the hose, clearing the way for the eldest and the fifth.
Suddenly.
With a deafening *boom*, the intensity of the fire inside the warehouse dramatically increased.
A wave of heat and the shockwave from the explosion hit them directly, tossing Old Guo aside.
The hose in his hand slipped, and after being flung several meters, he fell unconscious.
Xiao Er, Old San, and Old Si, who were running over with water basins, quickly dragged him to the backyard.
Looking at the warehouse engulfed in flames, Brother Er, Hu Qing, felt his legs go weak. He gritted his teeth and rushed forward, but was still forced back by the overwhelming fire.
"Big Brother, Xiao Wu!"
"Big Brother, Xiao Wu!" Hu Qing shouted tremblingly. He doused himself with water from the hose and quickly rushed into the fiery inferno. Old San and Old Si followed suit, dousing themselves and grabbing hoses to charge in.
*Boom!*
Another deafening roar.
The three who had just charged in were forced back again.
"Big Brother, Xiao Wu!" The vast inferno had already consumed half the warehouse. The urgent shouts of the three were met with no response in the roaring flames. The fate of Yang Ming and Tang Gui was sealed.
Seeing the fire relentlessly encroaching, the relatively calm Old Si, distraught, walked towards the backyard gate and pushed it open, his eyes widening in horror.
The backyard gate was locked from the outside!
At this moment, outside the warehouse.
Nearby residents and warehouse managers, upon discovering the fire, also rushed to help extinguish it. However, the flames in the warehouse were too intense, and the water they used had little effect.
Outside the alley, the sirens of fire trucks could be heard. Two vehicles sped towards the scene and stopped at the perimeter of the fire. Several firefighters immediately took action, rapidly extinguishing the flames.
In a moment, the fire in the warehouse was brought under control.
Not long after, the blaze was finally put out.
Of the six warehouse managers, only Old Guo and the four brothers, including Hu Qing, remained.
...
At the General Police Headquarters.
Screenwriter Liu Guosheng and director Gong Wei arrived at the Propaganda Department, and after meeting with Director Ge Qing and Gao Fei, they began discussing the filming content for the first episode of the variety show.
"Director Ge, screenwriter Liu, Director Gong, we could actually choose recent civil cases as themes. Then, based on the bodycam footage used by the police officers in their investigations, we could select some classic content and build around it." Gao Fei sat at the table, explaining his ideas for the first episode of the variety show.
Ge Qing, Liu Guosheng, and Gong Wei did not interrupt his speech. As they listened to his explanation, the three nodded in agreement, finding it feasible.
Just as Gao Fei was about to mention the premeditated smashing of the express delivery sub-stations and how they could film it, his phone rang, interrupting him. Director Ge, sitting beside him, smiled and said, "It's okay, take the call first. Everything is in the preparation stage, no need to rush!"
"Alright!" Gao Fei nodded, picked up his phone, and walked out of the office. As soon as he answered, Zhang Cheng's trembling voice came through, "Lao... Lao Gao, the warehouse caught fire, Brother Yang and Brother Tang are dead!"
Upon hearing the news from Zhang Cheng, Gao Fei's heart clenched, his face instantly turned deathly pale, and he leaned against the wall to steady himself. "Wait for me, I'm coming back right away!" He suppressed the panic of learning about someone's death, took a deep breath, and walked back into the office.
"Director Ge, screenwriter Liu, Director Gong, something urgent has come up at the company, I need to head back."
"If you have something to attend to, go ahead. Be careful on your way!"
"Alright!" After Gao Fei closed the door and left, Director Gong said to Ge Qing and Liu Guosheng, "Xiao Gao's face looked terrible just now, nothing serious happened, right?"
"It's a young man's business, probably something about romance!" Screenwriter Liu joked.
Ge Qing, sitting at his desk, glanced at the flashing internal group chat. As he opened it, he suddenly froze.