Chapter 54: The Shameless Method

As it turned out, Han Yanbao and the others had arrived far too early!

Shortly afterward, the distinguished guests invited to the event began to arrive one by one.

"Congratulations, congratulations to Brother Chen on acquiring such a prime piece of property and further expanding your rickshaw business!"

"Thank you, Inspector Gao. We have prepared some light refreshments inside, please come in!"

Though an inspector at the police station was not a towering figure, having such a connection within the police force meant it was highly unlikely anyone would deliberately harass the rickshaw company.

Inspector Gao had recently landed a massive windfall—he had been granted equity in the rickshaw business valued at three thousand silver dollars, though he would officially begin receiving monthly dividends after nine to ten months.

However, Chen Guangliang had given him complete peace of mind. He was assured that if he ever wished to divest his fifty percent equity (representing twenty rickshaws), he could cash it out for three thousand silver dollars on the spot.

This generous gift far surpassed any initial perks offered by the Wang family's rickshaw firm, which made Inspector Gao firmly regard himself as a friend of the Yangtze Rickshaw Company now.

"Mr. Smith, I truly didn't expect you to actually come!"

"Chen, we are friends. Since it's a friend's company opening, naturally I must come to offer my congratulations!"

"Section Chief."

"Li Chao."

The Western section chief of the Transportation Bureau arrived in person, startling the five rival rickshaw owners who had just been conversing with Inspector Gao.

It was only then that they remembered the Transportation Bureau was actually among the shareholders of the Yangtze Rickshaw Company.

They simply had not anticipated that the Western section chief would show up and give them such tremendous face. Just how much profit had Chen Guangliang shared with him?

At that moment, the five rival rickshaw owners completely discarded any lingering sense of contempt. This young man possessed extraordinary methods; with the police station, the Transportation Bureau, and even a group of common pullers all holding stakes, it was no wonder he had no fear of them.

Of course, matters would not end so simply; after all, this world still harbored a particular breed of people known as scoundrels.

"Professor Zhang."

"Manager Li."

"Manager Sun."

As university professors, senior executives from the Shanghai Savings Bank, and the general manager of the Gu family's rickshaw enterprise arrived one after another, Chen Guangliang's network of connections built over the past few months was fully displayed.

This was true strength!

While it might not amount to much across the entirety of the Shanghai Bund, he had at least successfully planted his feet and secured a firm foothold.

Chen Guangliang shared a few drinks with the guests and delivered a brief speech, allowing everyone to understand that the Yangtze Rickshaw Company had grown to the point where it could establish its own self-owned operational base on land it possessed.

During the gathering, Li Shoumin raised his glass and said, "Manager Chen, the next time you need a loan, come straight to me!"

Having watched the Yangtze Rickshaw Company and Chen Guangliang step-by-step reach where they were today, he sincerely hoped to support Chen Guangliang, largely because Chen had already proven his worth and capability.

Chen Guangliang raised his glass in response, "Thanks to Manager Li's staunch support, our company is where it is today!"

While the initial connection had indeed been through Professor Zhang, that subsequent loan of six thousand silver dollars was granted purely because Li appreciated the competence of both the company and Chen Guangliang himself.

This scene filled the rival rickshaw owners with envy!

Now that Chen Guangliang was partnered with the Transportation Bureau, the bureau's license quotas would essentially have nothing to do with the others, as Chen would surely swallow them all up. Furthermore, with the backing of a bank, Chen Guangliang faced zero financial constraints.

And looking at the subordinates under Chen's command, every single one of them appeared to be a capable talent. For a moment, all of them began to doubt whether they should continue this feud.

The celebration soon concluded, and Chen Guangliang arranged dedicated vehicles to send everyone off, demonstrating meticulous hospitality.

...

Inside a teahouse.

The owners of the five rickshaw firms gathered together with Sun Yingjie, the general manager of the Gu family's enterprise.

Han Yanbao voiced his dissatisfaction, "Manager Sun, if Chen Guangliang keeps operating like this, he'll completely ruin the rules of the rickshaw trade and leave our pullers in a state of panic. Besides, you saw it yourself today—he has ties with the Transportation Bureau and backing from a bank. If he's allowed to keep growing, won't he surpass the Gu family's firm sooner or later?"

It was evident that the five men had come to lobby for Gu Zhuxuan's support, though they had only managed to see Sun Yingjie.

Sun Yingjie chuckled. "Don't try to manipulate us with reverse psychology. This Chen Guangliang is considered a friend of our boss."

Growing anxious, Han Yanbao retorted, "We are Mr. Gu's friends too, paying our protection fees regularly. Besides, someone is currently breaking the rules."

At that, Sun Yingjie finally dropped his polite facade and said, "I must say, how can you people be so foolish? If you're afraid of getting hurt by fighting him out in the open, don't you know how to fight him in the shadows? Don't forget how you lot made your fortunes in the first place."

Hearing this, the five men experienced a sudden flash of enlightenment.

Those who ran rickshaw businesses were essentially ruffians and gangsters originating from the Green Gang. While not absolute, at least half of them shared such a background.

Sun Yingjie was hinting that they should employ underworld tactics, which would naturally force Chen Guangliang to hesitate out of fear of the consequences.

Han Yanbao immediately pressed on, "In that case, Manager Sun, since you're supporting us in this, does that mean this is Mr. Gu's intention as well?"

Sun Yingjie adopted a stern expression immediately. "What does Mr. Gu have to do with such trivial matters? I am merely offering you some pointers; don't expect me to drag our firm into this muddy water. No matter how formidable Chen Guangliang is, he still has to pay his respects to Mr. Gu."

Wu Guangpang gritted his teeth and declared, "As long as the Gu family's firm doesn't interfere, we have ways to deal with him. I refuse to believe that the five of us combined cannot defeat a single upstart."

Sun Yingjie stood up with a smile and said, "Since you've all made up your minds to act, this has nothing to do with me anymore! Rest assured, our Gu family's firm certainly doesn't wish to see the Yangtze Rickshaw Company go too far either."

"Then we can rest easy."

After Sun Yingjie departed, Wu Guangpang offered a suggestion: "My proposal is to hijack their vehicles. We can dispatch a few men to ambush their pullers when they are isolated, give them a severe beating, and snatch the rickshaws. In a vast city like Shanghai, let's see where they go to find their missing carts."

Scoundrels had the methods of scoundrels!

Much like how the Nationalist leader had his 'Blue Shirts'—a notorious band of thugs specializing in illicit and rogue operations.

Many rickshaw owners were former gangsters from the Green Gang, with only a fraction coming from legitimate mercantile backgrounds.

Currently, if the five firms were to compete on official connections, they naturally could not match the Yangtze Rickshaw Company.

Yet when it came to ruthless tactics, they considered themselves far more seasoned than Chen Guangliang.

Han Yanbao immediately chimed in, "Let's do it this way. I propose that each of our four firms sends a crew to either rob or steal one rickshaw from the Yangtze Rickshaw Company as a symbolic joint effort."

At this point, Feng Jingtao suddenly spoke up, "I originally thought everyone had a sound strategy, but if this is the method you're choosing, the Feng family's firm will not participate."

Though he loathed the Yangtze Rickshaw Company just as much, he clearly wanted no part in such base and despicable tactics!

Han Yanbao demanded sharply, "Manager Feng, what is the meaning of this? We agreed to stand and fall together."

Feng Jingtao stood up and replied, "Pardon me, but I am unwilling to be part of such unity. If everyone is willing to use other methods to pressure the Yangtze Rickshaw Company into pulling back its ambitions later on, I may rejoin. Naturally, I will keep everything discussed today in absolute confidence."

With that, he rose and bid them farewell.

"Hmph, putting on airs of moral superiority," Han Yanbao cursed before declaring, "Then it will just be the four of us. We must pull this off, otherwise people will think we're a loose sheet of sand."

"Agreed."

The four firms finalized their strategy, planning to strike in a few days to let the immediate tension blow over slightly.