Fists can't cross Tianjin

Chapter 16 Another Case of Double-crossing

After leaving the jewelry store, Chen Zhuo didn't look back and plunged into the intricate alleyways next to it.

He weaved through the alleys, deliberately choosing narrow passages known only to locals. After running for a good ten minutes, making sure no one was chasing him, he finally stopped in a dead-end alley.

"call……"

Chen Zhuo leaned against the wall and breathed a sigh of relief.

He touched the cold gold coin in his pocket, a bitter smile appearing on his lips.

They're sitting on a mountain of gold, yet they're begging for food.

That's fucking ironic.

No household registration, no employer, no proof of employment.

Even if you have gold, it's just scrap metal.

He tightened his cotton-padded coat, preparing to return to his lodgings.

As soon as I reached the intersection of Xiguan Street, I saw several thugs wearing military overcoats and looking like hooligans walking forward with their arms around each other's shoulders.

They're obviously from Ergaizi's gang.

Although he probably doesn't know who did it yet, Chen Zhuo felt guilty for killing Gangzi, so he instantly felt his hair stand on end.

His heart tightened, and he slipped into a public toilet.

He listened for a while through the brick wall that reeked of urine.

However, it seemed that the group was only talking about crude and trivial matters, indicating that news of Gangzi's affair hadn't spread yet. Furthermore, judging from their relaxed demeanor, they weren't following Ergaizi's orders to search him.

Moreover, to his surprise, these people were focused on "finding Gangzi" and no one mentioned "the driver" or "Chen Zhuo".

This put his mind at ease.

I guessed that after all that happened overnight, no one had probably noticed Gangzi's disappearance yet.

Ergaizi probably realized something, but even if he did, he probably wouldn't dare reveal it to his side. In any case, this gave him a valuable buffer period.

Just in case, Chen Zhuo didn't dare to show his face. He took a long detour, specifically walking on muddy roads that no one else used, and finally managed to find his way back to his drafty little hut.

Based on this, it seems that this car won't be able to leave the factory anytime soon.

He practiced the Three-Body Stance in the room all afternoon.

Standing meditation is static, but it is also mentally taxing.

As evening approached, that familiar feeling of hunger surged up like a tide once again.

That meal I had today has long since been used up for my training, and now my stomach is so empty I could run a horse across it.

"Gurgle..."

My stomach was growling louder than thunder.

Chen Zhuo gave a wry smile, pulled the empty water ladle from under the bed, scooped up a ladle of cold water, and poured it into his stomach.

This is unbearable!

A dignified successor of the Xingyi School, upon arriving in this place, finds himself worrying about his stomach every day.

If I continue to starve like this, I won't be able to develop internal strength, and I'll even lose my external strength.

We need to think of a way.

Just then, the scene he had witnessed at the freight yard the previous night involuntarily flashed into his mind.

That truckload of "wet cargo".

Judging from the way those men carrying the meat were talking, it seemed that Gangzi was in charge of managing the place.

In other words, it's protected by a materials recycling company.

In short, no matter what...

"Water-injected meat is still meat."

Chen Zhu gritted his teeth, a glint of green light flashing in his eyes.

Since we've already offended the recycling company, a few more highway robbers selling adulterated meat won't make a difference.

Since the right path is blocked, let's resort to underhanded tactics.

Go over there to "buy some goods".

……

Having made up his mind, Chen Zhuo returned to the freight yard that very night.

Pay attention to what's in the dark.

Moreover, since Gangzi was in charge of the place, and now that Gangzi is gone, there probably won't be much resistance here.

We arrived.

It was still the same abandoned warehouse, with a few searchlights casting a stark white light, shattering the vast cargo yard into fragments. The air was thick with the pungent smell of raw pigs, the lingering scent of blood.

However, this time, something is not quite right.

It's too quiet.

The Jiefang brand truck that was originally parked at the entrance is gone.

The 100-watt light bulb by the door was still on, illuminating the snow in a stark white light. But the four burly men who should have been drinking and playing cards there were nowhere to be seen.

Only the warehouse door was ajar, letting in a dim, yellowish light.

Chen Zhuo lay prone behind a pile of sleepers thirty meters away, covered with a tattered sack, his brows furrowed.

What about people?

These highway robbers must value the "wet goods" in this warehouse the most; they are their lifeline, so how could there be no one guarding them?

Unless... something major happens that causes them to be transferred away.

He waited patiently for more than ten minutes.

In the wind and snow, only the occasional sound of a train whistle could be heard in the distance.

An occasional cough could be heard coming from inside the warehouse.

someone.

But there is only one.

Chen Zhuo narrowed his eyes.

Don't miss out.

Like a raccoon dog, he stealthily crept over under the cover of shadows.

Go around to the side of the warehouse, and there's still that same air vent.

This time he had some energy, and he was also familiar with the route.

Run-up, push off the wall, hang the mark.

My feet made no sound as they stepped on the icy ground.

When he was still a meter away from the base of the wall, he exerted his strength suddenly.

rub!

He leaped into the air, using his toes to brace himself against the wall.

That's the "monkey form" movement from Xingyi Quan, which emphasizes lightness, agility, and leaping.

The body stretches out in the air like a large bird, using the strength of both arms to pull itself up.

With a twist of his waist and abdomen, he became like an eel, his fingertips gripping the cracks in the bricks, and he lightly flipped onto the roof.

The warehouse was empty.

The mountain of flesh on the ground is still there.

There was only one short man with two mustaches, wrapped in a military overcoat, dozing off next to the coal stove.

A gleaming boning knife was stuck in the wooden stump beside him.

It looks like he was left behind to guard the house.

Chen Zhuo gently pushed open the air vent and went inside.

He hung upside down on the beam like a bat, staring at the dozing man.

They've become too lax.

Perhaps these people were so used to running rampant in this area that they never imagined anyone would dare to provoke them.

Chen Zhuo let go.

come down.

The moment he landed, he lightly touched the ground with his toes and floated behind the man like a ghost.

"who……"

The man felt the cold wind and was groggily about to open his eyes.

Chen Zhuo's scalpel had already cut into his carotid artery.

"Well."

A muffled groan.

The man's body swayed, and he collapsed limply to the ground.

Get rid of the guards.

Chen Zhuo didn't hesitate much; his goal was very clear.

meat.

He quickly took off his tattered cotton-padded jacket, the color of which was no longer discernible, and tied the cuffs tightly.

Installed.

We only select the best pork belly and lean meat.

The movements were incredibly fast.

In less than two minutes, the tattered cotton-padded jacket was stuffed full and weighed forty or fifty pounds.

He slung the meat bun over his back and tied it in a tight knot.

They were preparing to leave.

"Buzz—"

Suddenly, the roar of a car engine came from afar.

Two blinding beams of headlights, like two sharp swords, instantly pierced the darkness, swept across the plastic sheeting on the warehouse door, and illuminated the warehouse brightly.

came back!

So fast!

Chen Zhuo's heart skipped a beat.

Going through the main entrance is definitely too late. Going up to the roof? Carrying fifty pounds of meat would be too noisy and easily spotted.

His eyes swept across the area and spotted a pile of junk behind the meat pile—a few discarded tin oil drums and rotten wooden crates.

His body shrank.

Like a startled mouse, it darted into the shadows of the pile of junk.

Xingyiquan - Bone Shrinking.

He held his breath, tensed all his muscles, and hid himself completely.

"Bang!"

The warehouse door was violently pushed open from the outside.

A gust of cold wind, mixed with snowflakes, swept in.

Then came the sound of hurried footsteps, which sounded like at least five or six people.

"Holy shit! This is fucking weird!"

A rough, hoarse voice rang out, cursing, "We've searched all night and haven't found a single hair!"

"Brother Gou, do you think Brother Gangzi might be...?"

Another voice asked cautiously.

"What if...? They ran off with the money?"

A hoarse voice sneered as he kicked away an empty wine bottle on the ground. His eyes were bloodshot, and his fleshy face trembled with rage. "Dare he! Doesn't he know what Cat Cat is capable of? If he dares to embezzle that money, Cat Cat will burn his whole family to the ground!"

He paused, then pulled a pack of "Daqianmen" cigarettes from his pocket. Without lighting it, he rubbed it vigorously between his fingers, the cigarette shreds falling down in a soft rustling sound.

His name is Mad Dog, and he's another formidable member of the security department at the recycling company, usually in charge of the scrap metal collection area. Gangzi hadn't shown up for the past couple of days, and Flower Cat sensed something was wrong, so she specifically transferred him over to take over the operation and, incidentally, to find out Gangzi's whereabouts.

"Besides, Gangzi has over three thousand yuan of the 'gift money' he's collected over the past two weeks! This is what Hua Mao is going to offer to that 'big shot' before the New Year! If he loses it, none of us brothers will survive!"

Chen Zhuo, hiding in the shadows, felt his heart skip a beat.

Three thousand yuan!

These days, an eighth-grade worker's monthly salary is only a hundred or two hundred yuan. Three thousand yuan is an astronomical figure that can buy one's life.

Gangzi really is one of Hua Mao's people.

And judging from the tone of those words, is there someone behind the tabby cat? And who is that "big Buddha" above?

It seems this pool of water is deeper than I thought.

but……

Chen Zhuo frowned slightly.

Last night, before burying Gangzi's body to cover up any traces, he thoroughly searched the place from head to toe. Apart from the gold coin and a few coins, there was no three thousand yuan at all.

Such a large sum of money, a thick stack of "big unity" bills, couldn't possibly be hidden away.

unless……

Gangzi wasn't with him.

Chen Zhuo's mind was racing.

In an instant, greed arose.

But now that Gangzi is dead, it's estimated that no one in the world knows where that money is now hidden.

Three thousand yuan!

In those days, three thousand yuan was enough to make you practically invincible in Tianjin.

Chen Zhuo subconsciously licked his chapped lips.

Although there are no leads right now, he's made a mental note of it. If he's lucky enough to stumble upon it someday, that would truly be a gift from heaven.

Pity.

"Hey Dog Bro, where do you think this guy could go?"

One of the underlings, shrinking back, asked, "Could it be... we've been caught?"

"fart!"

Mad Dog spat fiercely, "Gangzi's a trained fighter. He used to be on a wrestling team. Even I have to be wary of his 'Little Sleeve Hand' move. He has some special skills too. Who can let him fall?"

"However, the key point isn't that, it's that three thousand yuan... Alright! Stop guessing."

Mad Dog waved his hand irritably. "Where's the third brother? Damn it, I put this bastard in charge of guarding the house, and he hasn't even said a word? Not even turned on the lights?"

The beam of the flashlight swayed erratically in the warehouse.

Finally, someone discovered the small man lying next to the coal stove.

"Big brother! Third brother's here! He seems to be asleep..."

"Sleep with your ass!"

Mad Dog strode over and kicked the third brother in the butt.

The third brother was kicked and rolled over like a dead pig, his head hitting the ground with a thud, but he still didn't move.

"wrong!"

The mad dog's expression changed.

He squatted down and reached out to touch the third brother's neck.

He didn't die, but he was very dizzy.

Looking at the back of the third brother's neck, there was a patch of bruises, caused by a heavy blow.

"Big brother, the third brother has been taken down!"

"What?!"

With a whoosh.

The warehouse instantly descended into chaos.

The mad dog suddenly grabbed a solid iron rod from the side, his face trembling with menacing bulge.

"Someone has come in!"

His bloodshot eyes scanned the warehouse like searchlights. "Grab your weapons! Search! He's definitely still inside! Tear him to pieces!"

Chen Zhuo knew he could no longer hide.

The men had already dispersed, forming a fan shape to surround us. Hiding any longer would be like being trapped in a pile of debris, hacked to death.

Just as everyone was crowding around the third brother, with their backs to the door, in that instant...

He moved.

Without any hesitation.

He suddenly darted out of the pile of debris.

Holding two empty iron buckets in his hands, he threw them forcefully in the opposite direction—towards the iron wall deep inside the warehouse.

"Clang! Clang!"

The enormous impact echoed deafeningly in the empty warehouse.

It's like a giant is smashing a wall.

"Over there!"

"Kill him!"

Although this feint is an old trick, people's instinctive reactions in such a highly tense atmosphere cannot be faked.

Everyone instinctively turned around, their weapons all aimed at the depths of the warehouse.

Mad Dog took the lead, charging forward with an iron rod in hand.

In that split second...

Chen Zhuo was like a black ghost, carrying fifty pounds of flesh on his back, his feet treading on muddy steps, hugging the wall, and silently sliding towards the gate.

fast.

But it was quiet.

When someone has mastered Xingyi Quan to this level, they can walk without making a sound as long as they don't exert force to strike someone.

When Mad Dog and his gang rushed deep into the warehouse, they found it empty except for two rolling iron barrels and a pile of scrap metal.

Chen Zhuo had already slipped out of the gate and plunged into the vast darkness.

When the group came to their senses, they only saw the curtain at the gate shaking violently, and the wind and snow outside were pouring in.

"Damn! A diversionary tactic!"

"Chase!"

"Don't let him get away!"

Mad Dog roared in exasperation and led his men to chase after them.

But it was too dark outside, and there were few people in this area. The alley was deep, which is why they chose this place to store meat.

Now go outside and look around.

Not to mention a human figure, you can't even see a ghost.

……

Chen Zhuo ran two miles in one breath.

This time, he didn't feel tired.

Instead, I felt hot all over.

Gangzi has disappeared, and Hua Mao already knows. There's also the matter of three thousand yuan...

Although this news was dangerous, it also gave him a sense of security.

At least for now, nobody knows that Gangzi is dead.

Moreover, it seems that everyone's attention is focused on the three thousand yuan, which to some extent overshadows their personal information.

In reality, the only people who truly know his identity or his face are Ergaizi and those around him.

However, given the magnitude of this matter, Chen Zhuo guessed that even if Er Ga Zi knew, he probably wouldn't dare to expose him for the time being.

After all, sacrificing oneself is just a way to vent one's anger.

If the three thousand yuan really does implicate him, then it's a matter of whether he lives or dies!

Therefore, thinking about this, Chen Zhuo felt much more relaxed.

He tightened the meat bag on his back and walked lightly.

Go home and eat meat!