Chapter 26: The Sichuan Faction vs. The Hunan Faction

Lei Dian had left, but before going, he left a package of electronic chips with Cao Yang. He said the items were valuable and asked Cao Yang to keep them safe until he found a suitable buyer; he promised to split the proceeds with Cao Yang fifty-fifty.

"Stop crying, he will pay the money back."

Li Yan’s tears continued to fall.

"Pay it back, my foot! In a place like Dongguan, there is no such thing as love or friendship. People come and go, never to be seen again. If you lend him money, it’s like throwing a meat bun at a dog—it's gone for good!"

"That’s not true. I’m a good judge of character. He’s the first friend I made after coming here, and he left his things with me; he won’t run away."

Li Yan wouldn't listen and kept weeping.

Cao Yang sighed helplessly. "Let’s just say I borrowed the money from you, alright? I promise I’ll pay you back tenfold, even a hundredfold, in the future!"

Li Yan kept crying, saying nothing.

"Stop crying, sister. People are going to think I did something to you!"

"Let's go." Li Yan wiped her tears, grabbed Cao Yang’s hand, and prepared to leave.

"Go where?" Cao Yang remained unmoved.

"Are you going to stay here and wait for them to come back and beat you to death?"

"Things have to be resolved. If I leave, I'm afraid they’ll burn down my shop."

"How are you going to resolve it? You’re alone, and they’re a whole gang!"

"Who said I’m alone?"

Cao Yang smiled and picked up a slip of paper. "Don't we still have Brother Mountain Hawk?"

Cao Yang dialed the number from the note.

"Hello, Brother Mountain Hawk? It’s Cao Yang."

"Yes, the one from the shop where you just came to collect protection money."

After Cao Yang identified himself, the person on the other end, Mountain Hawk, finally realized who he was.

"Oh, it's you, kid. Did you get the money together?" Mountain Hawk was in a good mood, assuming Cao Yang was calling him to hand over the cash.

"I’ve got most of it, but the Sichuan Gang is giving me trouble and won't let me open for business. What do you think I should do?"

Mountain Hawk frowned. "Didn't you tell them you’re under my protection?"

"I did, but they said you were nothing and didn't take you seriously at all!"

Mountain Hawk flew into a rage. "They really said that? You aren't just trying to play me, are you?"

"It’s true! If you don't believe me, ask them to your face! They didn't just say you were nothing; they said you weren't even worth a damn!"

"Tell them to wait for me right there! Today, I’m going to show them exactly what I’m worth!"

Mountain Hawk hung up the phone angrily and immediately rallied his men, preparing for a fight.

Mountain Hawk thought to himself, "Damn it, I haven't seen a single cent yet, and I already have to fight for this kid. What a rip-off!" But he couldn't afford not to go; otherwise, how would he ever collect protection money from him again?

Cao Yang hung up the phone and said with a grin to Li Yan, "You go back first. My reinforcements will be here soon."

Li Yan was still worried. "The Hunan Gang aren't exactly good people either!"

Cao Yang patted her shoulder. "I’ll handle it. Don't worry about me; if I need to run, nobody can catch me."

After sending Li Yan away, Cao Yang lit a cigarette and lay back comfortably on a rocking chair.

Before long, two Haisi vans pulled up on the left side of the alley. The doors opened, and twenty or so men stepped out, each holding a long object wrapped in newspaper.

It was the Hunan Gang, with Mountain Hawk leading the group.

"You look pretty relaxed, kid!"

"With Brother Mountain Hawk here, I feel confident," Cao Yang said, buttering him up with a smile.

Mountain Hawk chuckled, but his expression quickly turned stern. "Flattery won't work. Give me the money." He reached out his hand.

"What money?" Cao Yang asked, feigning confusion.

"What money do you think?" Mountain Hawk’s face darkened.

Cao Yang had a sudden realization. "The money is all gathered, but it's with my sister. Once this matter is settled, I’ll have her give it to you."

Mountain Hawk was a bit annoyed, but he didn't dwell on it; he didn't believe Cao Yang would dare stiff him. He added, "Six thousand is just the base protection fee. I brought so many brothers to help you fight today; everyone needs money for cigarettes, food, and a bit of fun, don't they?"

"What do you mean?"

"It means you need to pay extra. Five hundred per person. With twenty-two of us, you owe another eleven thousand."

Cao Yang shook his head. "We don't have that much."

Mountain Hawk smiled. "That's fine. You can owe me this part for now and pay it once you start making money!"

Cao Yang still shook his head. "No, it's too expensive. I don't need you to fight for me anymore. You guys can go back!"

"Screw you! You think you can just call it off? We’re already here; you’re paying whether we fight or not!"

Cao Yang just shook his head and said two words: "No money."

Mountain Hawk lost his temper. If he wasn't going to fight the Sichuan Gang, he was going to beat up this kid first.

Just then, one of his subordinates grabbed him. "Brother Mountain Hawk, don't be rash. This kid looks like the person our boss has been looking for lately."

That subordinate had been involved in the Nightclub incident and recognized Cao Yang, though he wasn't entirely sure since the lighting had been poor that night.

Mountain Hawk hesitated, wanting to ask more, when the sound of screeching tires echoed from the other end of the alley.

A van blocked the alley exit. Its doors flew open, and a dozen members of the Sichuan Gang, brandishing machetes, stepped out.

"Screw you, Mountain Hawk! So it was you bastards causing trouble!"

The leader of the Sichuan Gang was a fierce-looking fat man who began cursing at Mountain Hawk; it seemed they knew each other well.

"Screw you, Fatty Dragon! You dare cause trouble in my territory!"

Mountain Hawk cursed back. The two gangs were natural rivals and often clashed.

The thirty-odd men gathered, shouting and shoving, but no one made the first move. The Sichuan Gang had come for revenge, but seeing that the opposition outnumbered them more than two-to-one, they were exercising restraint. The Hunan Gang had the numbers and the advantage, but since they hadn't been paid, they were somewhat reluctant to commit.

Seeing them dawdling and just spitting insults, Cao Yang picked up a stone and hurled it at Fatty Dragon’s head.

"Bang!" Fatty Dragon’s forehead began to bleed.

He reached up, touched the blood, and roared, "Screw you! Get him!"

With a loud clatter, everyone tore away the newspaper wrapping to reveal gleaming, sharp machetes. A fight was imminent.

Cao Yang watched the two sides clash, occasionally offering a critique or shaking his head, thinking that a particular strike wasn't executed correctly.

Perhaps his smug demeanor was too much, as a Sichuan Gang member couldn't stand it anymore and charged at him, machete in hand.

Seeing this, Cao Yang kicked the man aside, leaped up, and climbed onto the factory wall to continue watching the show.

Cries of battle filled the alley. Soon, men began to fall, blood staining the ground.

The fight started fast and ended just as quickly—barely three or five minutes.

The Hunan Gang won by virtue of their numbers, but it was a pyrrhic victory; five or six of their men lay on the ground, their fate unknown.

The Sichuan Gang was completely wiped out, with only Fatty Dragon leaning against a corner, cursing and daring Mountain Hawk to kill him if he had the guts.

Mountain Hawk couldn't be bothered. In this line of work, unless there was a deep-seated grudge, no one wanted to take a life; otherwise, it would be impossible to answer to the boss or the police.

He scanned the scene, looking for Cao Yang. His brothers were injured, and he needed to make the kid pay for their medical bills.

But after searching the area, he couldn't find a trace of Cao Yang anywhere.