Chapter 89: Sweet Harbor - Rebellion in the Nest
The next day, the news of the fire in Monk Zou's temple became a big news. Many people had already been burnt to a pile of rubble and went to watch the excitement. The fire started so fast and was so powerful that everyone said that it had never happened before.
It was something I had never seen before - when the Hai'an Street fire-fighting committee arrived, escorted by local warriors, the entire temple was already burning like a torch.
People who knew the situation inside said that too much dry firewood and clear oil piled under the gable wall was the culprit. The bad guys used lamps to gamble and drink in the palace every day, and the fire probably started due to the accidental lighting of the lamp.
The destruction of Zhao Jijiao's gang did not arouse anyone's sympathy. Many people were even happy that such a gang of gangsters were missing from the streets, saying that this was retribution for their usual evil deeds.
But everyone who had heard about the overt and covert fight between Hua Nan and Mr. Zhu didn’t think so. In this sudden and strange fire, no one in the room ran out, which is really intriguing. Those few were lucky.
Not in the temple, all the bad guys who escaped escaped the next day - their noses were more sensitive than anyone else.
The yamen officials detained the temple priests and fireworkers in the courtyard behind, but this did not mean that the county yamen thought there was anything suspicious about this incident - it was purely a routine money-making exercise by the yamen officials. Everyone in the temple insisted that it was not the case.
Hearing some suspicious noises and the activities of some people, Miao Zhu's wife easily negotiated a price with the fast class leader in the teahouse opposite the Yamen, and they were released.
After the incident was rumored in the streets for a few days, it gradually died down. Incidents of arson in South China were naturally completely eliminated. The sugar merchants who originally refused to come to the meeting also secretly communicated through Feng Guangfeng.
.
Originally, everyone was not enthusiastic about the new formation of the South China Sugar Association. But now there has been a 180-degree change in attitude. The attitude of the sugar merchants has become more positive. Chang Shide found that now "talking about things" can be done.
Going even deeper, Chen Tianxiong took the time to actively lobby the sugar merchants privately.
Zhu An, with a livid face, was sitting in the meeting hall of Haiyi Hall. As usual, he was sitting at the head of the table. The twenty chairs on the left and right sides of the hall were full, and the top shopkeepers of various sugar shops were sitting at attention.
This is the first meeting of Haiyi Hall since Zhu An announced his "illness". The topic is to rebuild the Zou Monk Temple. Zhu Sanye is now surrounded by enemies and is falling apart everywhere: the sugar factory workers have been recruited, the Gu family pirates have been destroyed, and the sugar merchants
Due to their betrayal, Zhao Jijiao and his gang were burned to death again inexplicably.
He originally thought he had a lot of good cards, but now he has nothing. Zhu Sanye can't think of anything else that can deal with South China. He has used both open and covert weapons. South China is still standing. Not only will it not fall, but it will also
His corner was hollowed out.
From the bottom of his heart, he knew that he had failed, but Mr. Zhu was not willing to fail - he had dominated the Leizhou sugar market for thirty years and had already regarded his words and deeds as the embodiment of authority. When
When this kind of authority is suddenly lost, it is always emotionally unacceptable.
This time, in the name of rebuilding Monk Zou's temple, he convened a meeting of sugar merchants in an attempt to use his accumulated prestige over the years to make one last attempt to save the situation.
The sugar merchants came surprisingly neatly, and there were many of them. Even the "traitor" Feng Guangfeng came. Seeing this outsider, his eyes almost burst into flames. Although he knew very well that this person was just a middle-aged man.
He was just a human being, and those who betrayed him were those fellow countrymen whom he regarded as the most reliable - but the friendship between his fellow countrymen made him unconsciously direct his anger at this foreigner.
"He still dares to come!" He muttered lowly.
The master standing aside glanced uneasily at the people in the hall. All of them were either expressionless or carefree, and no one showed any guilt or uneasiness.
"Master, please be patient."
Mr. Zhu nodded and calmed down before speaking:
"As you all know, a fire broke out in the Patriarch's temple a few days ago, although only one entrance was destroyed. Hai Yi Tang is naturally responsible for the repairs and should take up the responsibility -"
When he said this, he deliberately stopped and looked at everyone's expressions. Seeing that none of them responded, as if they had nothing to do with him, he felt cold in his heart:
"...I wonder what everyone thinks about the temple construction?"
"The temple must be repaired, of course." Someone said, "But this is not an urgent matter."
Zhu An was furious when he heard someone singing the opposite tune on the spot. He took a closer look and saw that it was Wu Yi, the owner of "Baolaihao", a small sugar store with the lowest quality. This man originally asked many people to beg his grandfather to sue his grandmother.
I paid him 10,000 taels of silver before I could squeeze into Haiyi Hall. Baolai's capital was not big, and people in Haiyi Hall were indifferent.
Zhu An suppressed the anger in his heart and said coldly, "Oh? What does Shopkeeper Wu mean? What is the urgent matter?"
"Collect the sugar!" Wu Yi poked Zhu Sanye's sore spot without any politeness, "The sugar season is about to end. Our warehouses are still empty. Without sugar, where will the money come from to build the temple? This matter, I'm afraid,
I have to wish that it would be better for Mr. San to be taken care of by himself!"
"Bastard!" Zhu An roared angrily. When had he ever been mocked to his face by such a lowly little character? "Who are you! You weren't kneeling on the ground begging for help, you weren't even qualified to receive candy!"
"I'm really not a big shot!" Wu Yi was very courageous, "You wish the third master is a big shot. I vowed at the beginning that this sugar season will ensure that everyone can receive sugar, but now? I, Wu Yi, begged my grandfather to sue my grandma in order to collect the sugar.
Making money is not about flattering your stinky feet!"
This statement is extremely naked, but it also vividly expresses the mentality of most people here - Mr. Zhu is no longer useful!
"Old Wu, don't say that -" The fat man from "Ri Yuelai" came out to smooth things over, but for a while he couldn't think of anything to say to smooth things over.
"How can you say otherwise?" Wu Yi had long been secretly bribed by Chang Shide. He bowed to everyone around him, "Dear shopkeepers and bosses! Didn't everyone form Haiyi Tang just to jointly collect sugar? Now Haiyi Tang
I was actually tortured by Zhu An to the point where I couldn’t receive any candy. I suggest that Mr. Zhu can no longer be the master of this hall!"
Zhu An had a cold face and acted very calm on the surface, almost indifferent. In fact, he had practiced a set of pretentious and calming skills. He was also very nervous inside. Wu Yi definitely didn't come up with this song by himself.
There must be someone who is behind the drama. I am afraid that most people here acquiesce to his actions - thinking of this, Zhu An can't help but be frightened.
What's even more frightening is that the people around him didn't react at all surprised, which proved his guess. Zhu An's face had veins bulging, and he stared at this guy who had turned his back and wanted to kick him to death.
"There is no need for Haiyi Tang to exist any longer." Wu Yi continued to fire unceremoniously, "This sugar industry guild has long been reduced to the private property of the Zhu family. I wish you the best! In the seventh year of the Apocalypse, Haiyi Tang Public School
Over the years, we have almost more than 10,000 taels of silver deposited. Why did we only have a few hundred taels in the second year of Chongzhen, and we still have to share it with everyone? Each of our families has paid in full the public fees payable in the past two years, one tael or more!"
People were in a commotion. Zhu An took control of Hai Yitang, installed private individuals, spent the money in the public account at will, and even collected more public funds under various names. It was never a secret, but it was just because of his prestige and ability.
No one dared to bring it up. Now that someone mentioned it, everyone was whispering. Some of the people who had a hard time getting along with him now also felt that Zhu An's work was not beautiful enough and started to murmur.
Feng Guangfeng stood up: "What Shopkeeper Wu said is absolutely true! There is no need for Haiyi Hall to exist anymore."
The sugar merchants who were originally just in a commotion now became noisy. After a while, someone sighed: "That's all."
"Yes, there is nothing we can do about it."
"I wish Third Master has been busy for most of his life, it's time to take a rest."
"But Haiyi Hall is gone, what will we do in the future?" Some people are already discussing what will happen next. It seems that the dissolution of Haiyi Hall has become a foregone conclusion, and Zhu Sanye has been completely thrown aside.
Zhu An suddenly stood up and shouted: "You despicable and shameless villains!" His voice was so loud that it overwhelmed all the voices at once, "They are all short-sighted! Haiyi Hall is where you live and settle down, what are you doing?
You are destroying your own foundation!" He roared, "Without me, Hai Yi Tang——"
"Hai Yi Tang's surname is not Zhu!" Feng Guangfeng interrupted him loudly, "Hai Yi Tang has been your Zhu family's for many years, not everyone else's!" He then said loudly: "I suggest that we ask Mr. Wen from South China to
Come and preside over the overall situation of Haiyi Hall!"
Wu Yi jumped out immediately: "The current situation cannot be solved by shopkeeper Fei Wen."
Then, some people agreed. Although some people did not agree, they remained silent and did not object.
"This is Haiyi Hall!" Zhu An shouted uncontrollably, "I am the leader!"
But Wu Yi ignored him at all: "Please shopkeeper Wen!" he shouted.
Under the protection of Zhou Shizhai, Wen Tong and others had already booked a single room in a teahouse on the street and were waiting. A few people were humming a tune and drinking tea. Wen Tong couldn't help but ask Tianxiong:
"Does your plan work? I'm afraid they won't understand me."
"Definitely." Chen Tianxiong said with a smile, "Most of them are from Guangdong. You just need to be able to speak Cantonese."
"I always feel it's a bit too dramatic." Wen Tong muttered, "Can't we take over in another way?"
"Of course you can." Chen Tianxiong said, "But if you want to rule the Sugar Industry Guild in the future, you must first create momentum. A little drama is good."
"so--"
Chen Tianxiong knew that he was not confident: "Don't worry! Zhou Shizhai and Li Biao will protect you personally, and Chen Sigen and his team members will follow you in. There are people from Bei Wei outside, and he has a sniper rifle on the roof."
Going up..."
"No need, just ask Zhou Shizhai to follow me in." Wen Tong suddenly became proud, "I am also one of the protagonists after all, and I have a halo to protect my body."
"Yes, if you open up your domineering spirit to the fullest, Hai Yitang will not be able to return home immediately."
Wen Tong nodded repeatedly and closed his eyes to rest, probably because he wanted to build up more of his domineering energy.
Chen Tianxiong smiled, took out the walkie-talkie and contacted Bei Wei who was pressed on the roof. He was observing the movement in the courtyard of Haiyi Hall, in case Mr. Zhu made any unusual movements.
The news coming from everywhere was that there was no movement. After a while, the person watching from the window reported that a servant came out of the gate of Haiyi Hall and went straight to the teahouse.
"The treat is here, Lao Wen, get ready and let's go!"
Wen Tong nodded. He took only Zhou Shizhai and Li Biao with him and walked down the street in a light car. But fifty meters down the street, Wen Tong was like a cloud in the mist, with fear, expectation, doubt and confidence mixed together.
A kind of drunken pleasure enveloped his body and mind.
The door of Haiyi Hall has been opened straight. Walking up the steps, you can see the hall with all the windows and doors from the door. Wen Tong took a deep breath and walked in with his head held high.
Feng Guangfeng was already waiting under the dripping eaves, bowing his hands and saying, "Shopkeeper Wen, everyone has been waiting for a long time."
Liu Yulin, the owner of Risheng Hao, was the first to stand up and salute, and then all the shopkeepers of the candy shops stood up and bowed. Wen Tong smiled and returned the salute.
"Fellow shopkeepers, this is shopkeeper Wen of South China Sugar Company, and also the head of the new Sugar Association." Wu Yi said loudly.
Wen Tong ignored Zhu An, whose face was covered with flames and wanted to tear him into pieces. He stood in the middle and held his hands together:
"All the shopkeepers and owners of sugar shops, Hua Nan has been kindly elected as the head of the Sugar Industry Association. Hua Nan will regard this as an honor and responsibility, and will obey his orders boldly. He can only devote himself to the Leizhou Sugar Industry and die..." He read.
Looking at Zhu An, I suddenly felt that this man was not scary at all, even pitiable - he still didn't know what he was facing. If he knew, he wouldn't be so angry. "... Zhu An is so grateful to everyone.
Trusted, controlled Haiyitang for many years, exercised power arbitrarily, appointed private individuals, stole public funds, made friends with pirates, seduced gangsters..." He listed twenty charges in one go, all of which were well-founded.
The emotions of those who had objections to Zhu An's actions over the years were aroused, and they felt quite happy.
"You, you-" Zhu An was so angry that he couldn't speak. Indeed, these things are true, but making friends with pirates and raising bandits are for the survival of the entire Leizhou Sugar Industry, which are two evils.
It is a less expedient measure, and the benefits are shared by everyone. In the past twenty years, the various sugar shops in Leizhou have been able to enjoy peace. Isn't it the result of these expedient measures? Now they have all become his.
crime!
There is no need to blame anyone if you want to incriminate him! I wish the third master a cold hand and foot - the other party not only has money and "power", but is also top-notch in thick black!
Wen Tong said excitedly, "...please wish the third master a brave retreat! Leave a place for each other to meet in the future, so as not to clean up the accounts and make the magistrate laugh!"