Chapter 47: Mediation

In the hotel parking lot, Ding Xiang extended her hand to Lu Feng for a quick handshake and said, “Thank you, I had a great time today. I need to get back to the hospital.”

“Back to the hospital?”

“Yes, I’m on a twenty-four-hour shift. I snuck out tonight, actually. Hopefully, there won’t be any emergencies. I have to go.” With a slight smile, she unlocked her car with the remote, opened the door, and got in.

She started the car, made a U-turn, and stopped by Lu Feng’s side, rolling down the window. “It was nice meeting you. And I witnessed quite an entertaining little drama tonight. Goodbye…”

“Goodbye…” Lu Feng waved.

Just then, his phone rang. On the other end, Su Dao’an’s voice sounded anxious.

“Xiaofeng, did you have another run-in with the people from Lianhong Society?”

“Yes, I did. There was another fight. I couldn’t really avoid it,” Lu Feng replied.

“There’s been a problem. Are you free to come to my room now? I need to discuss something with you,” Su Dao’an said.

“Alright, I’ll come up.”

...

Three minutes later, Lu Feng knocked on Su Dao’an’s hotel room door.

“Come in, come in,” Su Dao’an hurriedly ushered Lu Feng into the suite’s living room.

“What happened?” Lu Feng asked.

“Our wellness center in Dongyue District was trashed by people from Lianhong Society. Our staff has already called the police,” Su Dao’an explained briefly.

Lu Feng frowned slightly, puzzled. “Wasn’t that Uncle Qi quite amiable last time? Why the sudden aggression?”

“I’m not sure yet. But according to some friends on the street, it was Da Zui Xiao’s people who smashed the place. It might not have been Uncle Qi’s orders,” Su Dao’an said.

“I did beat up Da Zui Xiao, and he got hurt pretty badly. How much damage was done to the shop?” Lu Feng asked.

“They broke some things. The loss isn’t much, but they scared the customers, which isn’t good for Yun’an’s reputation,” Su Dao’an sighed.

That was the truth. The actual losses from the damages weren’t significant for Yun’an Group, but if their wellness center was targeted and customers frightened, who would dare come back in the future?

“This mess is my doing, so I’ll find a way to fix it. Don’t worry,” Lu Feng said seriously.

“Xiaofeng, don’t be rash. What are you planning to do?” Su Dao’an asked nervously.

“If they want to fight, I’ll fight them,” Lu Feng replied.

“Don’t be impulsive. You don’t really understand these gangsters; they have nothing to lose. I know you’re skilled, you can take on ten, maybe even a hundred. But what if it’s a thousand, ten thousand? You can’t win by brute force. I’ll handle it, just don’t act rashly,” Su Dao’an tried to calm him.

As a song played faintly in the background, Su Dao’an’s phone rang. He picked up, walked to the window, and said, “Hello? What’s up? Mm, got it. Let’s schedule a meeting.”

After the call, he sat back down and said, “Uncle Qi called. He wants to mediate and have you and Da Zui Xiao sit down for a talk.”

“I don’t think there’s much to talk about,” Lu Feng considered. “But since they’ve dragged Yun’an into this, it’s no longer just my problem. If we have to talk, you decide. I’ll go when the time comes.”

“Alright, I’ll arrange it with Uncle Qi,” Su Dao’an nodded.

...

Two days later, at the same tea house.

Da Zui Xiao was seriously injured, his body covered in bandages—wounds from being bitten by dogs. Dogs don’t throw matches, but they also don’t recognize people; whoever gets locked in the cage gets bitten.

“Boss Su, have some tea. I didn’t expect to be your host again so soon,” Uncle Qi still wore his usual smile as he poured tea for Su Dao’an.

Da Zui Xiao glared at Lu Feng with venomous eyes, as if stabbing him with invisible daggers, but Lu Feng sat there unbothered, as if made of steel.

This time, Su Dao’an was not as patient as before, since it was his wellness center that had been attacked. Even in gang circles, there are basic rules. If Lianhong Society wanted revenge or to settle a score, they should have gone after Lu Feng, not Yun’an Group. Such indiscriminate retaliation broke the rules. Of course, if they did go after Lu Feng, Su Dao’an would still intervene.

“My men acted without understanding the situation and attacked your place, Boss Su. That was our fault. Here, have some tea,” Uncle Qi said.

“Trashing the place is one thing, but frightening my customers is serious. I can’t take this tea just yet,” Su Dao’an replied angrily.

Uncle Qi turned to Da Zui Xiao. “Anything you want to say to Boss Su?”

Da Zui Xiao shot Uncle Qi a glare and snapped, “Uncle Qi, you’re too old for this. If you don’t have the guts to stand up for your brothers, you should step aside and let someone braver take over.”

Bang!

Uncle Qi slammed his palm on the table. “Da Zui Xiao, what do you mean by that?”

“What do I mean? Don’t you get it? When Shanwei’s territory had trouble, you didn’t back him up. Now my turf’s in trouble and you still don’t have the guts! What’s the use of a useless boss like you? I’m telling you, you old bag of bones, just find yourself a coffin and let someone with a backbone take the lead!” Da Zui Xiao shouted. His followers immediately surrounded Uncle Qi’s right-hand men, and the atmosphere grew tense.

Da Zui Xiao was nothing like Shanwei. Shanwei’s territory in Hongqiao was poor and powerless. Da Zui Xiao, on the other hand, ruled Qingtang Street—strong, well-manned, arguably the most powerful branch of Lianhong Society. He no longer needed to watch Uncle Qi’s mood when acting, but he still respected the rules. Usually, he treated Uncle Qi with deference.

But now, after his own trouble, Uncle Qi was making him apologize and serve tea like Shanwei had to. Da Zui Xiao couldn’t stand it.

“Da Zui Xiao! Have you forgotten who brought you up?” Uncle Qi’s right-hand man, Wangtou, banged the table and shouted.

“Brought me up? Back then I took my brothers and staked out Qingtang Street alone. Did any of you help? I held onto Qingtang, and you just sent people to leech off me, sucking my blood. You call this brotherhood?” Da Zui Xiao shouted back, and his wounds started bleeding from the exertion.

“Qingtang Street flies the Lianhong Society flag. The boss already gave you what you deserve, or you wouldn’t be in charge there,” Wangtou retorted.

“Hmph! Don’t think I’m like Shanwei, spineless and weak. I could walk away right now, take my brothers to the Bamboo Green Gang, still be a boss, and not have to put up with you old men’s crap!” Da Zui Xiao slammed the table.

Uncle Qi’s expression darkened. He had intended to mediate and resolve the matter. For gangs and businessmen, there was nothing that couldn’t be negotiated as long as interests aligned. He just hadn’t expected Da Zui Xiao to have already made connections with Bamboo Green Gang, leading to this standoff.