76: Chapter 67: Better Be a Beam than a Wild Dog (First Subscription Check-in)_2 76: Chapter 67: Better Be a Beam than a Wild Dog (First Subscription Check-in)_2 Qin Lihao, being one of the heirs of the Qin Family in Yan City, knew many secrets.
He squinted his eyes in thought and suddenly asked:
“Do you think it could be that stray dog Cheng Ze?”
The suited subordinate dared not give an answer, mumbling:
“Brother Ze, he was at the hotel at that time…”
Qin Lihao bared his teeth, revealing sharp white fangs, and a brutal look gleamed in his eyes:
“Send people to Old Factory Street and search for them!
Dig three feet into the ground if you have to, but find them!”
The suited subordinate trembled, facing the cold and ferocious carnivorous creature, a deep, ingrained fear emerged.
“Boss, should we get the patrol unit to help?”
A savage look flashed across Qin Lihao’s face.
His overly muscular arm shot out like lightning, the thick veins bulging and surfacing on his skin, and the suited subordinate was lifted off the ground like a chick.
Despite being close to two hundred pounds, the suited subordinate was hoisted effortlessly with one hand by Qin Lihao, whose powerful muscles gradually released strength with the swelling.
“Would I rely on the Urban Circle patrol unit to resolve the kidnapping of a Qin Family member?
What, are those surnamed Chen and Lin of higher rank?!”
The suited subordinate’s face turned red, capillaries under pressure showing a faint purple hue, almost suffocating.
Qin Lihao flung the nearly strangled subordinate aside, who landed on the carpet gasping for breath.
“Tell Cheng Ze to get back here!
Isn’t he the boss of Beiguan Street?
Give him two days to bring Luo Jie back!
I don’t want to use other drastic measures and cause a big commotion!”
It was ten o’clock at night, and the rain was pouring heavily.
Large raindrops pelting against the car window, creating layers of misty fog.
Cheng Ze glanced at the suited subordinate in the driver’s seat, the handprints on his neck were clearly visible:
“Ah Hao, thanks for bringing me back.”
The suited man named Jiang Hao, a trusted aide of Brother Hao, tugged at his collar and smiled:
“No need to be polite, Brother Ze.
Back when I first joined the Righteous Fist Society, you were the one who led me and even treated me to beef hotpot.”
Cheng Ze looked dazed:
“I almost forgot, Ah Hao, you came from the Righteous Fist Society too.
I haven’t been to the club in a long time.”
Jiang Hao pursed his lips; in recent years, Brother Hao took over Yu Hai, absorbing fresh blood and initiating younger, more obedient members, leaving veterans like Brother Ze gradually marginalized.
“Brother Hao actually values you a lot, Brother Ze.
But he… is impatient and doesn’t like to be refuted.
Brother Ze, you should stop going against him all the time.
Just do whatever he asks obediently.”
“I don’t have much brains and can’t read people’s expressions well.
Thanks for the reminder, Ah Hao.
Here’s where I’ll get off.”
He opened the car door, the pouring rain driven by the wind, surged over him like a raging river.
“Let me give you an umbrella, Brother Ze!”
Jiang Hao pulled out an umbrella from beside the car door, opened it, and handed it to Cheng Ze.
Cheng Ze didn’t refuse, he took it and strode towards his house.
“Boss, Brother Ze has gone inside.
As instructed, a micro tracker is placed in the umbrella handle, though the signal in Old Factory Street is not very clear and can only capture the movement intermittently.”
Soaking wet, Jiang Hao got back in the car, opened his phone cover and dialed a number, reporting softly:
“I’ll keep an eye on him.”
Cheng Ze closed the door, folded the umbrella, leaning against the doorframe without minding the rainwater soaking the carpet.
He pressed the switch on the wall, the bright chandelier lighting up the room which wasn’t very spacious.
The residence of the boss of Beiguan Street was not what outsiders imagined it to be, a high-end apartment or a standalone villa.
Though Cheng Ze had properties in the central areas of the Urban Circle and the more developed Dangyang East Suburb.
But the place he frequented most was still this relocation house near the factory district.
After changing out of his wet clothes and drying his hair with a towel, Cheng Ze calmly began cooking, as if he wasn’t at all concerned about the kidnapping of Luo Jie and Brother Hao’s younger brother by the Righteous Fist Society.
Before long, cold mixed bean curd salad and braised pork ribs with string beans were served on the dining table.
He filled his own bowl and ate heartily, devouring half a pot of rice in no time.
He took a tissue to wipe his mouth, poured himself a glass of cool white water and gulped it down.
Rising, he entered the bedroom, opened the bedside table drawer and took out a framed photograph.
It was an old faded picture, with a man and a woman standing in an empty field, the background showing some chimneys and extensive factory buildings.
The man smiled sincerely, radiating warmth, while the woman held a baby, kissing the chubby cheek.
This moment was captured, becoming the only family photo.
The plastic film coating the photo curled; Cheng Ze’s palm gently stroked it, studying it for a while.
He then carefully took it out of the frame, smoothing it out and placing it in his shirt pocket.
He sat at the edge of the bed, waiting for the clock to strike 11:58, then turned off all the lights in the room.
However, Cheng Ze did not go to bed.
He opened the storeroom door, lifted the carpet and pulled up the cover board.
Below was a simple passageway, supported by an iron ladder, straight down to the vegetable cellar behind the house.
In the early days of Old Factory Street, every household constructed cellars to store large amounts of vegetables and fruits over winter.
Generally, they dug four or five meters deep, bricked the bottom with soil, built a sturdy wooden frame above, and covered it with corn stalks, leaving only an entrance.
Cheng Ze descended step by step, his feet touching the ground, he pulled the light string, and the bulb lit up with a “pop.”
Despite the heavy wind and rain outside, no water leaked in; the cellar was well sealed.
Wires stretched across the ceiling hung tungsten lamps, casting dim light on two outlines.
As Cheng Ze approached, he discovered two naked, stripped figures, resembling skinned pigs.