Chapter 18: No Influence Means You’re Just A Nobody
“Kid, how dare you hit someone?” A young man in his twenties with long hair and wearing a Floral Shirt stood up directly, his face ferocious as he reached into his Pants pocket, seemingly pulling something out.
Chen Wujun suddenly exploded into action, kicking off with his foot and lunging to the front of the other in three steps.
At this moment, the opponent had just pulled out a Folding Knife that wasn’t opened yet, and Chen Wujun was already leaping into the air, grabbing at the opponent’s head with both hands while his knee smashed toward the opponent’s Chest like a heavy hammer, extremely ruthless and fierce.
Bang!
The Man was grabbed by the hair by Chen Wujun and took another knee to the Chest, causing his whole body to collapse face-down on the ground, with the small knife dropping beside Chen Wujun’s foot.
“As expected, striking first is stronger, otherwise it would be Trouble once the opponent pulls out the knife.” Chen Wujun didn’t look at the knife underfoot but swept his gaze around.
He saw a few people whose gazes showed eagerness to try, and they might be carrying knives like this guy.
Moreover, the surroundings were full of people, the space was small, and there was little room to maneuver.
Chen Wujun stomped on the back of the head of the man underfoot and said coldly: “You even dare to steal from He Tu people, you really don’t want to mix in the Walled City anymore!”
As soon as these words came out, those few people in the crowd flickered their eyes, frowned at him, and immediately didn’t dare to move.
“Little brat, you say you’re He Tu and that makes you He Tu?” Someone in the crowd said.
It was really because Chen Wujun was too young, just a half-grown teenager still wearing a cheap T-shirt.
“If you want revenge, you can come find me at Jin Di Finance in Liang He Building!” Chen Wujun stared coldly at the person who spoke, memorizing his appearance.
Upon hearing Liang He Building Jin Di Finance, the opponent’s brows furrowed even tighter, and he began to back down in his heart.
These rotten kids making a living in the Walled City knew best who could be provoked and who couldn’t.
And Jin Di Finance was one that couldn’t be provoked.
Behind Jin Di Finance was Sha Jiu, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of He Tu.
“Little punk, keep your eyes open from now on, otherwise you won’t even know how you die!” Chen Wujun stomped another foot on the back of this guy’s head before reluctantly walking over to pick up his things.
He swept his gaze over those few people in the crowd again before turning to leave.
Chen Wujun kept his Mind at its highest alert, walked a distance, and saw no one following before thinking to himself:
“As expected, when doing things out here, it’s not just about being able to fight, but also having a background! There were still three accomplices in the crowd just now; if they had rushed up with knives, it would have been dangerous.”
“But as long as the Identity is revealed, those little punks won’t dare to cause Trouble anymore.”
“They still need to make a living in the Walled City, and after getting beaten by me, they won’t even dare to retaliate!”
“The feeling of suppressing with power is pretty good!”
Chen Wujun was in a good mood; although he had been Punching Practice well these days, he had always been hitting dead posts.
Today he hit a few live posts, which gave him much more understanding of the Boxing Method.
“In a few days, borrow a few people from Ji Xiang, catch these pickpockets, and use them as live posts for Self.”
“They stole Self’s things and even dared to pull a knife to attack; they’re simply heinous and can’t be let off with just a beating.”
“When doing things out here, you have to get revenge for the smallest grievance; only when others fear and dread you will they not dare to provoke you, and everything will be more convenient no matter what you do.”
Not long after, he arrived at the Rented House, where the landlord was already waiting for him.
Pushing the door in, the inside was about 20 square meters; even after cleaning, it was still dirty.
A small Bathroom inside with a Squat Toilet and a Water Bucket; the kitchen and Bedroom were together, with a few pieces of worn Furniture—that was all.
The only good thing was that the window here faced the street, so sunlight could be seen during the day, and fresh air could come in.
You know, most Houses in the Walled City, no matter when, had pitch-black Walled City passages outside the windows.
This Room was on the top floor; Chen Wujun went to the Rooftop to take a look and saw many ropes hanging with Clothes drying on them.
Chen Wujun walked along the Rooftop edge, knocking on the Guard Wall every few steps with his hand to confirm its sturdiness was no problem before nodding and going downstairs to sign the contract with the landlord.
Chen Wujun rented for half a year, one month deposit and one month prepaid.
As for after half a year… he felt he probably wouldn’t need to live in a place like this after half a year.
After the landlord left, he simply cleaned the Room again, then went home for dinner.
“So early today?” His mother Huang Meizhen poked her head out from the kitchen.
“I still need to go to the Martial Arts School later! I have to clean during the day and do extra practice at night!” Chen Wujun said.
“The Martial Arts School can also house people; I want to live at the Martial Arts School so cleaning and Punching Practice will be convenient on normal days.”
Hearing this, Huang Meizhen came out of the kitchen, still wearing an apron.
She said somewhat heartbrokenly: “If it’s too hard, then don’t practice; being a dentist is also good!”
“Senior Brother Li says I have good talent, and I feel like I’m learning quickly too!” Chen Wujun just said.
Seeing that he was determined, Huang Meizhen sighed and didn’t persuade him anymore, though she was still a bit uneasy in her heart.
“Go, go! Since you like it, then practice well!” Chen Hanliang said from the side.
Chen Hanliang’s Idea was very straightforward: as long as you like it and are willing to work hard, no matter what you do, you won’t do too badly, and supporting the family won’t be a problem later.
“But you have to come home for dinner!” His mother Huang Meizhen added.
“Okay!” Chen Wujun nodded.
When there was nothing going on, coming back for dinner didn’t affect anything.
After dinner, Chen Wujun went back to his room, pocketed the money hidden in the Cabinet, then returned to the Rented House, put the money under the mattress, changed into black Pants, a blue Shirt, and Leather Shoes.
Then he called Ji Xiang on the Telephone.
Moments later, Chen Wujun arrived at a Bar outside the Walled City.
There weren’t many people in the Bar; in a Sofa Booth inside, Sister Sha Jiu was sitting with her legs crossed, talking to someone.
Brother Ji Xiang was sitting at the bar counter with a few people.
Besides them, at the other end of the bar counter were a few burly men wearing Suits who clearly weren’t from the Walled City.
Those few were all Foreigners with high noses and deep eyes.
“Brother Ji Xiang!”
“So sharp-looking today!” Ji Xiang saw him and laughed while sizing him up, then lowered his voice a bit.
“Today we’re accompanying Sister Sha Jiu to talk Business; there shouldn’t be any issues, but still be a bit careful!”
“Got it!” Chen Wujun nodded and said to the bartender: “Soda!”
Then he picked up the Soda Bottle and sat to the side, sizing up those Foreigners up and down.
Just as Ji Xiang said, there was nothing going on; moments later, both sides left separately.
……
In the next ten days, Chen Wujun changed his Rooftop Punching Practice time to four in the morning, then went to the Martial Arts School during the day and followed Sister Sha Jiu to learn how to do things at night.
Most of the time there was nothing to do; occasionally he would follow Sister Sha Jiu to talk things over.
At the same time, he also figured out some situations under Sister Sha Jiu.
The most important under Sister Sha Jiu were Ji Xiang and Kai Lun, followed by A Hao, Hua Zai Rong, and one called Cun Bao.
Among them, Ji Xiang was in charge of the Finance company, that is, the Loan Shark Company; it wasn’t just lending to Gamblers but also to some small factories needing turnover.
Kai Lun was in charge of several Strip Clubs and brothels.
A Hao was in charge of four Gambling Dens of various sizes; Hua Zai Rong was in charge of three food processing factories—one making dumplings, two making Fish Balls—all without licenses.
There were also Protection Fees from two streets, and any small Trouble on normal days was handled by Cun Bao.
Normally, Cun Bao was at the He Tu Martial Arts School.
Sister Sha Jiu had over a hundred people under her, most following these few.
“One Loan Shark Company, a few Strip Clubs and brothels, four Gambling Dens, three food processing factories, and Protection Fees from two streets… and that supports nearly a hundred people? So profitable?”
You know, among Sister Sha Jiu’s over a hundred people, there were thirty or forty core members from the martial arts school, and quite a bit of money was given to them each month.
Ji Xiang, Kai Lun, and the others took even more money.
Supporting so many people would cost at least seven or eight hundred thousand a month.
Not to mention Sister Sha Jiu herself.
Adding up, it was at least over a million a month—an astronomical figure.
Could these Businesses make that much in a month?
Chen Wujun felt it was because he didn’t understand the Profit of these Businesses; they were probably even more profitable than he thought.
During the day at the Martial Arts School learning, Chen Wujun’s boxing skills improved further; at night he followed Sister Sha Jiu, Ji Xiang, and the others to learn, gradually understanding the Rules of the Walled City streets and these people’s ways of doing things.
The only thing he found regrettable was no time to watch《Police News》ed.
This was his favorite program, but soon he thought of a way.
He found a shop renting Discs in the Walled City and gave the Boss 200 bucks to record Police News every week for him to take back and watch.
……
This afternoon, after Chen Wujun finished practicing punching, Senior Brother Li called him over and said: “Come with me to see Master later.”
