Chapter Twenty-Four: A Petty Trick

"One hundred silver dollars just to lock someone up for a little over an hour, and he still has the nerve to ask me for the balance!" Wang Chengyun sat in his living room, fuming as he spoke to Tang Zhiqing.

According to his plan, once Chen Guangliang was locked up, he would immediately send men to stir up trouble in Fangguan Lane, creating a situation where everyone would demand their money back from the Yangtze Rickshaw Firm. In this way, the newly established firm would inevitably collapse like a mountain. But as it turned out, the whole ordeal lasted barely two hours, including travel time; the people in Fangguan Lane didn't even have time to react.

Tang Zhiqing replied, "Inspector Gao says that we didn't tell him the full truth. Not only was there a university professor on the scene collecting material, but they also have partners from the Traffic Department. Regardless, he has already completed the job, and as for whether we pay the balance, he says that's up to us."

This was clearly a threat. With Inspector Gao being so greedy, there was no way he would let the balance go unpaid. Wang Chengyun gritted his teeth in frustration. He felt that Inspector Gao was simply not doing his job properly. What did a university professor or a Traffic Department clerk matter? They weren't exactly powerful backers, and it shouldn't have been hard to hold someone for two or three days!

"Pay him, the dog!" Although he didn't want to pay the balance, Inspector Gao was, after all, a minor official in the police station. While he wasn't afraid of him, he didn't want to offend him either. Still, paying two hundred silver dollars only to have the job fail left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Wang Chengyun began searching his mind for other ways to sabotage them. By now, he had tried "stealing cars in the dark," "breaking and entering," and "colluding with the police," all of which had failed.

"Go find a few patrolmen and tell them to harass the rickshaw pullers who have joined the Yangtze Rickshaw Firm!"

Tang Zhiqing felt that his boss had truly run out of options to come up with such a pathetic plan. After all, while patrolmen had a habit of extorting rickshaw pullers, there were so many pullers on the streets, and the Yangtze firm’s men didn't exactly have it written on their faces.

"Boss, I’m afraid they won't even recognize them."

"Can't you lead them there to help? Are you just eating for free at home every day? Is there nothing for you to do?"

Tang Zhiqing’s face flushed with shame; he felt that Wang Chengyun was truly humiliating him. "I'll take some men to do it." In the end, he had to bow his head—life was not easy. A respectable enforcer now forced to stand guard on the street, doing petty, dirty work. It was infuriating.

***

After his visit to the police station, Chen Guangliang decisively appointed He Xiangdong and Zhou Xinggao to management positions at the Yangtze Rickshaw Firm.

He Xiangdong was temporarily learning accounting. The three independent projects—A, B, and C—required separate accounts, merchandise procurement, and sales records, all of which demanded patient calculation. At first, Chen Guangliang would prepare a set of books, and He Xiangdong would "intern" by calculating them, with Chen Guangliang providing guidance.

Zhou Xinggao was primarily responsible for guarding the premises, collecting rent, and managing the rickshaw pullers. The daily rent for twenty-one rickshaws had to be collected sixty-three times, and the pullers needed regulation while resting at the base to prevent fighting, gambling, and the like. Having gained prestige after his recent brawl, Zhou was naturally suited for this role.

With this arrangement, Chen Guangliang could gradually act more like a true "General Manager," focusing his energy on establishing rules and expanding the scale of operations. Since the monthly profit of the Yangtze Rickshaw Firm was already reaching over seven hundred silver dollars (six hundred thirty from rent, about ninety from goods), Chen Guangliang decided to pay himself a salary of fifteen silver dollars, while He Xiangdong and Zhou Xinggao would receive twelve.

"Boss, Master Gao says that today a patrolman extorted money from him, and he lost thirty cents in income." Zhou Xinggao walked in with one of the rickshaw pullers, "Master Gao."

Master Gao quickly added, "Boss, if it were just an ordinary situation, I would have swallowed it. But today was different. It seemed like someone from the Wang Rickshaw Firm was directing the patrolman; it felt like they were specifically targeting us."

They were like a persistent ghost! Chen Guangliang stood up and walked over to Master Gao. "Hmm, your instincts are likely correct, Master Gao. It seems Wang Chengyun is jealous of your ability to make money, so he's resorting to petty tricks."

Master Gao’s anger was immediately ignited, and he began cursing Wang Chengyun. This was exactly the effect Chen Guangliang wanted.

Chen Guangliang said, "How about this, Master Gao? I’ll waive your rent for three days as a small subsidy from the firm. As for this matter, everyone just endure it for a while."

Master Gao replied gratefully, "Thank you so much, Boss! You are a good man. If all the bosses in the Concession were like you, it would be a blessing for us pullers."

Chen Guangliang smiled. "I can't control other bosses, but you are all shareholders of this company, and I started out as a puller myself. I will certainly help wherever I can." Master Gao was deeply moved, his sense of belonging strengthened.

After Master Gao left, Chen Guangliang instructed Zhou Xinggao, "Keep a record of any such incidents recently, and waive the rent for three days each time." Although Zhou was a former soldier, he was literate and understood basic arithmetic, making him capable of simple record-keeping.

"Yes... but if this continues, what about the firm's losses?"

Being able to consider the firm’s interests made him a qualified employee. Chen Guangliang said calmly, "This is Wang Chengyun at his wit's end. Our pullers are scattered across the main roads; how many can they catch and extort? I fear the money they extort won't even cover their own wages. Besides, Wang Chengyun will soon have his own problems to worry about."

***

"Understood, I'll head out then!"

"Go."

On the other side, although He Xiangdong kept an eye on this news, he remained focused on his accounting.

"Xiangdong, come with me to purchase merchandise in a while. You'll need to handle this task in the future!"

"Understood, Boss."

At this moment, some of the Yangtze Rickshaw Firm’s pullers were busy collecting evidence on the "wildcat" rickshaws of the Wang firm. Everyone already knew about it, but now they were conducting a detailed investigation to ensure a single, decisive blow. Within the Wang firm, there were many pullers who admired the Yangtze firm. They already knew that they could join by "subscribing for shares" and had been waiting for the next round of recruitment. Therefore, if they were asked to act as insiders, they would certainly agree.

***

"Old Wang, do you want to join the Yangtze Rickshaw Firm?"

On the road, a long line of rickshaws waited for passengers as two pullers chatted idly.

"I dream of it! We are all envious of you guys who joined the Yangtze firm and can hold shares in your rickshaws. Master Li, I heard you’ve made quite a bit?"

"It’s not that much. I only invested thirty silver dollars, and it’s only been a month (Project B), so it has only grown by three dollars, making it thirty-three."

Master Wang was stunned. "Three dollars in one month? That’s thirty-six dollars a year—you’ve doubled your money!"

Master Li boasted, "That’s not how the math works. The money you earn gets reinvested, so in a year, it’ll be more than thirty-six—maybe seventy dollars. In a few years, I might not even need to pull a rickshaw anymore."

Master Wang grabbed Master Li’s arm and whispered, "Master Li, introduce me! I’ll buy you a meal."

Master Li nodded. "Small matter, but you have to do one thing for me!"

"Don't say one thing, even ten things wouldn't be a problem!"

"Good. Help me find out how many wildcat rickshaws the Wang firm has, where they are kept, and who is pulling them... the more detailed, the better!"

"No problem, that’s easy. Consider it done."

Since he had already decided to join the Yangtze Rickshaw Firm, Master Wang was eager to provide a significant "pledge of loyalty," even if he wasn't quite sure why Master Li needed to know all that!