A message has been circulating through the three religions and nine streams of Wucheng: the silent Little Red Robe, after a long absence, has suddenly begun searching for old single-handed thieves throughout the land.
The current Little Red Robe is at the peak of his power, with a network of powerful connections. Within a few days, many long-retired old thieves have converged on Wucheng.
Cheng Hua, one of Wucheng’s top craftsmen, has spent many years in the underworld. His skills are his greatest pride. In 1987, he was chased out of the train station by the Sihai Gang. This is his first appearance since then.
Rumor has it that Little Red Robe was wronged by the Sihai Gang somewhere else, and he’s seeking revenge. This is why he’s making such a big deal of it. If things go well, everyone might have a chance at a better future.
The rumors may not be entirely true, but everyone has seen Little Red Robe’s immense wealth. With a hope of a chance, a large number of old thieves, who disappeared years ago, have gathered, Cheng Hua being one of them.
Du Jiu asked Su Pingnan, “Will bringing these old foxes be useful?”
Su Pingnan smiled but said nothing, only telling him to keep searching for people. He understood a simple truth: when striking a snake, you must hit the vital point. The more prepared he is, the more lethal the blow.
He would remain motionless until the moment of action, when he would strike like thunder, leaving no chance for the Sihai Gang. Since they started this, he, Su Pingnan, would finish it. With the heavens on his side, giving him a second chance, his nature would not allow him to bow to anyone, no matter who it was.
Zhang Tong was bored out of his mind. After Little Red Robe was furious with him last time, he found himself with nothing to do.
Su Pingnan had given the Ertai Town hotel and some of the arcades to other people. Every now and then, he would call, urging Zhang Tong to bring the scammers to him.
He thought Su Pingnan was making a mountain out of a molehill, even bringing Su Wenwen back to help with this task.
"You can’t even remember who introduced you to them? How much did you drink that day?”
Su Wenwen looked at Zhang Tong with disbelief. He had spent days with this idiot, yet he couldn’t remember how they met the people those “big brothers” had touted as talents.
Zhang Tong, looking at Su Wenwen’s irritation, scratched his head nervously and said, “Why don’t we just call a meeting again?”
Su Wenwen could only nod, gritting his teeth as he looked at the nonchalant Zhang Tong. “Think hard, I’m going to ask everyone one by one!”
From a modern perspective, Dong Ya would be considered a delinquent girl. She smoked, drank, fought, and had loose connections with gangsters. However, she was born under a lucky star. Her father was a university professor and her mother was a successful businesswoman. Though they had divorced, they indulged their daughter's every whim, something she was very content with.
Lately, she'd been troubled because she had offended someone she shouldn’t have. Thinking about it made her pull at her hair in frustration.
The person she had offended was none other than the infamous Zhang Tong, “Brother Tong.”
The name Little Red Robe was too distant, but Zhang Tong was a close associate of the Red Robe, and this little girl, in a moment of foolish infatuation, had introduced her brother to him.
It was all her brother’s fault. He had boasted about big deals worth tens and hundreds of millions, and then, eager to build a relationship, she had impulsively acted as a matchmaker.
Dong Ya idly blew on her bangs, not feeling guilty at all about her brother getting beaten up. It was his own fault. He had opened his mouth and asked for five million. She just hoped that Tong, drunk as he was that day, wouldn’t hold this against her.
“Are you Dong Ya?” a sharp-looking young man asked, approaching her.
“Yes.”
Dong Ya answered obediently. She had a keen eye, and though the man was dressed in a suit, the faint tattoo peeking from under his white shirt collar hinted at something else.
The man was polite. “Could you tell me if you were having dinner with Zhang Tong on February 19th?”
Dong Ya thought for a moment. It was the day Tong got drunk.
“Yes,” she finally nodded. The young man smiled and handed her a business card, which read “Jinxiu Company, Su Wenwen.”
Dong Ya stared at the young man in surprise. She knew him. He was more powerful than Brother Tong. Legend had it that he was Little Red Robe’s right-hand man.
"Zhang Tong hit someone that day, he's your friend, right?"
This was the sixth time Su Wenwen had asked the same question. He wholeheartedly agreed with his brother beating that guy to a pulp. If he had the chance, he wouldn't mind doing it himself, turning Zhang Tong into a second "Er Xiong" (Pigsy, a character in Journey to the West).
"Yes, it was my brother's fault, but I really have nothing to do with it."
Dong Ya grew nervous. Had this incident reached the ears of the fearsome Little Red Robe?
Su Wenwen took a deep breath. Finally, he had found him. His expression brightened. “That day it was Zhang Tong’s fault. Could you please contact your brother and tell him that Su Pingnan wants to see him?”
(Wishing everyone reading my book a happy Christmas Eve. I’ve already written my book as succinctly as possible, following the comments I received. Today, I finally signed a contract and I'm writing more chapters. I plan to have a burst of activity when the book goes on sale. Please collect and give me flowers.)