Zhang Tianxing cursed inwardly upon hearing this, thinking that they were just bullying honest people.
If they couldn't capture the market, they would resort to sabotage, obstructing production or calling the joint defense team to investigate safety issues. These thugs only cared about their own small territory and had no thought for the future, living only for the present.
It seemed he needed to be cautious and see what tricks the bosses of this era would come up with.
Caution prevents mistakes; anyone who can become a boss is not simple-minded or physically weak.
The next morning, Zhang Tianxing felt something was amiss. By this time, the grain-collecting truck should have already arrived at the cannery. Why was there still no news?
As Zhang Tianxing was wondering, Gou Dan, the young hero of the village, ran over, panting.
"Brother Tianxing, it's bad! The grain-collecting truck is stuck on the road."
Zhang Tianxing found it strange. What had happened to make it stop on the road?
"Brother Tianxing, Er Liuzi is lying in front of the truck by himself, saying he was hit and refusing to get up."
Hearing this, Zhang Tianxing paused. "Did you see if he was hit or not?"
Gou Dan shook his head. "One says he was hit, the other says he wasn't. I don't know exactly what happened."
After learning the location, Zhang Tianxing ran straight there.
Upon arriving, he saw the notorious Er Liuzi lying in front of the truck.
"Er Liuzi, get up! What are you doing lying in front of the truck?" Zhang Tianxing roared.
Er Liuzi glanced at Zhang Tianxing. "President Zhang, this has nothing to do with you. This person and the truck are not yours. You should find another one to haul grain. This person driving the truck hit me, and this driver is in big trouble. It won't be easy for him to leave."
He spoke righteously, but anyone with eyes could see that he had no injuries. He was clearly just causing trouble, lying on the ground and refusing to move.
The driver, Xiao Li, looked bewildered. Er Liuzi had terrified him; he had never encountered anything like this before.
"Xiao Li, I'm asking you, tell me the truth, did you hit him?" Zhang Tianxing pointed at Er Liuzi.
Xiao Li shook his head and hurriedly defended himself. "I really didn't hit him. I've been driving for several years, and I wouldn't make such a basic mistake. Furthermore, even if the truck had hit him, he wouldn't be completely unharmed."
Xiao Li said exasperatedly, "If the truck had hit you, it would have sent you flying. You'd be dead by now. Do you think a large truck is a bumper car?"
Hearing Xiao Li's exasperated voice, Zhang Tianxing had already made his judgment.
Seeing a knife on the truck, Zhang Tianxing walked over, picked it up, and slowly approached Er Liuzi.
Zhang Tianxing's reputation had recently become quite prominent, and his knife skills were said to be exceptional.
"Brother Zhang, Master Zhang, this has nothing to do with you. Don't come over. I'm a patient." Er Liuzi shouted, putting on a brave front.
Who didn't know the reputation of those two? Coupled with the legends of Zhang Tianxing, who could fight several people alone, and the once-famous Liang Ge, who had shaved his head in submission to Zhang Tianxing out of respect.
And the old rogue Kong Er Lengzi had also fallen under Zhang Tianxing's blade.
Er Liuzi dared not risk his life. He had originally thought Zhang Tianxing wouldn't show up, but to his surprise, Zhang Tianxing had.
If he had known Zhang Tianxing would appear, Er Liuzi would never have taken this job.
A person's reputation precedes them. Zhang Tianxing's name carried significant weight in the underworld now.
He was wealthy, a skilled fighter, and the president of the booming Crayfish Association.
Who could afford to offend such a person? Er Liuzi certainly couldn't. The well-known figures on the street were all defeated by Liang Ge and Kong Er Lengzi.
If those two were thoroughly beaten, then these petty hoodlums wouldn't dare to make any small moves in front of Zhang Tianxing.
Zhang Tianxing raised his knife and fiercely stabbed towards Er Liuzi.
Everyone present closed their eyes in fear. How could this Boss Zhang be so impulsive? He acted as soon as he said it. How could porcelain contend with mud? It wasn't worth it.
Before Zhang Tianxing's knife even fell, Er Liuzi scrambled away in a panic.
He shouted repeatedly, "Brother Zhang, Master Zhang, I was wrong! I shouldn't have blocked the truck. I truly didn't know it had anything to do with you. If I had known, I definitely wouldn't have blocked it. Please forgive me! I'll leave now. Treat me like a fart and let me go!"
His cries were enough to make onlookers weep with sorrow and burst into laughter.
This Er Liuzi, who bullied the weak and feared the strong, had become the most unpopular person in the village.
Seeing how Zhang Tianxing dealt with Er Liuzi, everyone present applauded.
"Well done! People like Er Liuzi deserve to be taught a lesson."
"Boss Zhang's knife skills... If Er Liuzi hadn't run, he probably wouldn't be able to run anymore."
Xiao Li looked at Zhang Tianxing gratefully. Boss Zhang was truly capable. He had said everything he could, but Er Liuzi had only replied with one sentence.
"You hit me, you have to pay." He said nothing else, almost driving Xiao Li to despair. He had never encountered such a shameless person.
"Alright, stop talking nonsense. Hurry up and drive. I have more goods coming later," Zhang Tianxing urged the truck driver, Xiao Li.
"Yes, Boss Zhang!" Xiao Li quickly got into the driver's seat and drove towards the cannery.
Zhang Tianxing turned to Er Liuzi. "Er Liuzi, I have a question for you. If you tell me, I won't bother you. If you don't, you'll have to face the consequences yourself!"
Er Liuzi nodded repeatedly. "President Xiao Zhang, you ask, I'm listening."
"Who told you to block the truck?"
Hearing Zhang Tianxing's question, Er Liuzi's face instantly turned pale.
Er Liuzi mumbled, "No one told me to come. I saw the truck and had wicked intentions."
Zhang Tianxing drew a flourish with his knife. "I'll give you another chance to rephrase your answer. Seize the opportunity, as it may not come again."
Er Liuzi's face turned even paler. He looked at the gleaming kitchen knife. "President Xiao Zhang, I'll tell you. It was Boss Jin from the beverage factory. Doesn't he have two canneries? He told me to cause trouble for the truck driver."
After hearing this, Zhang Tianxing put away his knife. "Alright, I'll let you off for today. If I ever catch you causing trouble again, I'll beat you every time!"
With that, Zhang Tianxing turned and left. He mused that those cannery bosses were so afraid of him after only a few days. He had only affected the sales of canned goods.
The crayfish industry was fine for now, but the cannery sector seemed to be a bit more challenging. "There are always troublemakers trying to harm me."
Boss Jin from the cannery, right? I'll remember you.
Boss Jin's cannery had been operating for several years, and he had become fat and prosperous.
He was a nouveau riche, albeit with considerable wealth.
It seemed the silent war in the canned goods industry was about to begin. He recalled the saying: win and you get beautiful models, lose and you go work in the sea.
When two tigers fight, one must be injured. It seemed the canning industry was also due for a shake-up.
Boss Jin, since you've come looking for trouble, don't blame me for being impolite. It's either you or me.
Zhang Tianxing said fiercely. Taking down a mere Boss Jin from a cannery would be too easy. He had expected a minor boss, but instead, he got this sort.
There was no difficulty at all.