Chapter 5

After spending a night at the dispatch station, my entire winnings were seized and I was on the brink of arrest. I called my friend Daixi, and he used his connections to get us out. By the time we were back at the station, it was already morning. Two Southerners were really upset—no matter what I said to Old Dung, they never gave us a good attitude. So I sent them back to the hotel. I and Old Dung sat at a breakfast stall on the street, eating noodles.

Old Dung, let me pour a whole bowl of egg wine and ask you: ‘Did we ever talk about eating out with someone from the palace yesterday?’

I replied, ‘Well, it’s just a few of my men. I’m thinking about signing contracts so they can work overtime at the company. Any changes can be made at a moment’s notice.’

Old Dung lit a cigarette and didn’t speak. I asked what was wrong, and he looked at me like that. ‘You’re causing trouble, you know. My men have been my apprentices. I treat them like little sisters and brothers. Business-wise, I can teach them anything, and for wages, I can apply for what I need. During holidays, we go out eating. It’s all the money I’ve spent on a few favors. I don’t mind being told what to do—what matters is I don’t want to be caught.’

As the department head, I treated those ten or so men like my own children. I taught them everything I knew, and I’d apply for raises whenever there were changes. Around the holidays, we’d eat together, and when we argued, we just shook our heads and said nothing. It felt like a battlefield after a long fight. At lunch, Road went to the street food stall with a few of us. After the incident, we didn’t talk again. The next time we met face-to-face, we just exchanged cold glances—like old enemies with a grudge. This time, when Road stopped to greet me, he said: ‘Old Gun, I heard you signed a big order. Congratulations!’

Looking at him, I hated it. I couldn’t stand having him look at me like that. But the junior staff had already mediated it. If I pushed too hard, it would be like challenging my boss. So I just replied calmly: ‘I’m still in negotiations. What’s the big deal?’

That night, I returned to the office and watched my men closely. Everyone seemed to have something to hide. The way they acted made me uneasy. During lunch, Road led a few of us down to a restaurant below. After the fight, we didn’t talk. When we ran into each other later, we just shook our heads and laughed. It felt like two people with a vendetta, like they were carrying the weight of a father’s revenge. This time, Road gave me a nod: ‘Old Gun, I heard you signed a big contract. Congratulations.’

Back at the meeting, the main agenda was re-dividing the sales region. Previously, the finance guy had managed the southern side—customers mostly from state-owned enterprises, big deals, long-term contracts, and easy approvals. The southern region was all private businesses, many small players, and signing a contract meant a lot of hassle and long negotiations. Compared to that, the southern side was like a small fish in a big pond—always struggling to make a move.’

Road stood up, clearly standing his ground: ‘Back in the old days, I worked with him on the southern side. I know most of the clients. If I handed over the region to you, I’d bet a big number on sales growing by a third.’

Road nodded, then looked at me. I said: ‘I follow company orders. I’ve been in this industry for a few years, and all the distributors know me. I don’t talk much—just tell the truth with my results.’

Road’s face turned pale. ‘This is ridiculous… I’m not sure I have the guts. I’ve been careful. My approach is always steady, and I’ve built a reputation. You’re making a mistake.’

Old Dung’s words struck me. The fox may look harmless, but his influence was obvious. The company was preparing an IP listing, aiming for steady growth. Road was trying to push the numbers, but sometimes it meant sacrificing a few small favors. I knew his strategy well. After a long pause, he said: ‘That’s what I’m hearing. You’re making a decision based on what you think, not on facts. I’ll let the boss decide.’

Old Dung smiled, a little pleased. I knew he was playing his cards right. He wasn’t just a scoundrel—he was a shrewd player. Road had the talent to win, but even he couldn’t ignore the fact that someone like him was already testing my loyalty. I took a sip of my tea, waiting for Old Dung’s reaction.

Later, Road stormed in, his voice echoing through the glass office. I could hear him shouting, like he was trying to intimidate my relatives. I just laughed and said, ‘Hey, I’m not looking for trouble. Let’s agree to finish our current assignment. If you want to mess with my boss, you’d better be ready for a real fight.’

After that, I walked over to Old Dung. Behind the glass, I could hear his angry tone. It felt like I was being watched by something familiar. I’d had a near-miss with a snake before—back in my youth, it was a scary encounter. The company had even had a wild picnic in the woods, and I’d run away screaming. Now, I thought about it. If Old Dung stood up to Road, I’d probably lose my hand. So I smiled and said, ‘Well, I’ll take it. Let’s make a deal. You take the southern region, I’ll take the southern side. Just do your best, and we’ll both succeed.’

After the meeting, Road yelled at me from his office, his voice booming through the walls. I could hear the alarms blaring. I turned around and saw the red snake in the rearview mirror, twisting endlessly, spitting out tiny sparks. My heart raced as the car’s lights flashed. It was like a nightmare I’d lived before.