When Wu Qiming opened his mouth to say he wanted to buy the "video" on my phone with money, I realized clearly that he had exhausted all his options.
To be precise, it should be desperation, a last resort.
Another classic example of "one wrong move, and you lose everything"!
The self-preservation move by Xu Erye and Wen Sanye, who teamed up to deceive the heavens, was actually a disguised strategic abandonment.
The so-called strategic abandonment is not an abandonment in the true sense.
After all, this is a realistic society where you are beholden to those who have given you favors.
Wu Qiming had already sent his grand gifts and paid his respects at the docks; there was no reason for him to be discarded as a pawn tonight.
The two big bosses were eager to clear their names, wanting to show that they viewed matters fairly and justly.
Losing the first round of preemptive strikes didn't matter; as long as they regrouped, they still had a chance in the second round that was about to begin.
But in the eyes of the disoriented and out-of-sorts Wu Qiming, he had already been abandoned.
Therefore, he could only grit his teeth and bear this loss.
...
When the situation had developed to this point, I knew I was no longer needed.
As a woman in the underworld, if Jin Yan couldn't even figure out how to turn the tide in such a situation, she would never have been able to appear at this gambling table.
So, I waved my hand grandly and pointed to Jin Yan beside me, saying, "What money or no money, I don't care at all!"
"I just want to seek justice for my woman!"
Upon hearing this, Jin Yan also stood up at the opportune moment. First, she gave a slight nod to the big bosses at the table, and then she cupped her fists and bowed to the onlookers, saying politely, "My friends from the Gansu Province underworld, please help me judge this matter!"
"Both this Wu Qiming and I are in the business of selling 'xiang' (firearms) and making a living in Tongwei County. I entered the business a year before him, and we were originally on good terms, minding our own business!"
"When businesses clash, disputes and friction are inevitable. I didn't take it to heart initially."
"But this Wu Qiming took my forbearance as the timidity of a competitor who dared not compete. For every step I retreated, he advanced three!"
"It was one thing for him to come to my territory to do business, but he even hired people to poach my old clients!"
"Based on the principle of harmony and prosperity, fine! No problem... I can tolerate all of this!"
"But my tolerance not only failed to make him realize his wrongdoings, but it also brought me to the brink of death!"
"Wu Qiming was determined to monopolize and become the undisputed leader in the business of selling 'xiang' in the Tongwei County area!"
"Last month, he even bribed one of my subordinates, colluding from the inside and outside to try and eliminate me completely!"
"In one night, it only took one night, and the foundation I had painstakingly built in Tongwei County for many years was almost reduced to ashes overnight!"
"Not only that, but many of the brothers who followed me through thick and thin perished that night of gunfire and chaos while covering my escape!"
"I ask you all, my friends, is there anyone who clashes with and steals business from others like Wu Qiming, and then tries to annihilate them completely?"
Under Jin Yan's almost tearful accusation, no one in the large room spoke; they all lowered their heads in contemplation.
Although I didn't fully understand the affairs of the underworld, I understood one principle.
Competitors are natural enemies!
It was only a matter of time before they would fight over profits, but...
In this new century and new era of a harmonious society, there had truly been no underworld clashes of such a grand scale.
Generally, one would first extend courtesy before resorting to force, making intentions clear before engaging in conflict.
If negotiations truly broke down, then they would arrange a place and fight it out.
As for whether to use knives or guns, to injure or to kill, it would depend on the extent to which the conflict between the two parties escalated and the bottom line agreed upon before the fight.
Normally, dead bodies are troublesome.
From this, it could be seen that this Wu Qiming truly did business without rules and acted unscrupulously.
...
Seemingly satisfied with everyone's reaction, Jin Yan looked solemnly at Xu Erye and Wen Sanye and said, "Erye, Sanye... My purpose in coming here today is only one: to ask you two to uphold justice for me!"
"With you two present, Jin Yan dares to say that as fellow tradesmen, I have been more than generous to Wu Qiming. As competitors, my repeated forbearance has only led to his relentless pressure!"
"Therefore, after tonight, if Jin Yan is in Tongwei County, Wu Qiming will not be. If he is, I will not be!"
"As long as you two can make a decision for me, from now on, I will draw sixty percent of the profits from the business of selling 'xiang' in Tongwei County and share it with you two!"
As soon as Jin Yan finished speaking, the entire venue erupted in an uproar.
Even I, an outsider, was shocked by Jin Yan's grand gesture and boldness.
Giving away sixty percent of the ten percent profit meant that Xu Erye and Wen Sanye would each receive thirty percent, meaning Jin Yan, while bearing the risk of selling firearms, would only earn ten percent more than each of them!
To facilitate this incredibly lucrative business, all they needed to do was turn a blind eye tonight.
As for the so-called "making a decision," it was merely a formality.
No matter which line of work they were in, the truly powerful figures never liked troublesome individuals who only sought their help to solve problems.
What they wanted were smart people who could not only generate sufficient profits for them but also save them trouble and effort.
As soon as Jin Yan finished speaking, Wu Qiming's expression instantly became even more gloomy.
He reached out and pointed at Jin Yan, shouting angrily, "You damned slut! Do you think you can win against me like this?"
"When I get my hands on you, I'll shove my big dick down your throat and fuck you!"
"Come on! Brothers, take down this slut who spews filth from her mouth!!!"
After Wu Qiming's furious outburst, not a single person from the onlookers moved.
Seeing this, I immediately understood why Jin Yan didn't have money to send grand gifts to Xu Erye and Wen Sanye!
It turned out she had played a masterful move of "drawing the firewood from under the cauldron" and retaliated against Wu Qiming for bribing her subordinate, an eye for an eye!
Jin Yan is a ruthless woman!
As I mentioned earlier, there are rules to giving gifts to powerful figures.
If you learn through certain channels that your opponent has already given gifts to the bosses you both want to appease, don't rush to give your gifts.
Because the initiative in gift-giving is crucial!
Once you lose the initiative, unless you are willing to spend money without regard for cost or gain, you won't gain much advantage.
Jin Yan was very smart. She knew that instead of spending more to appease Xu Erye and Wen Sanye, it was better to spend the money where it mattered most – winning people over.
It seemed that before this birthday banquet tonight, Jin Yan had secretly bought over many of Wu Qiming's subordinates.
Although certainly not all of them, as long as those bribed subordinates who had come with Wu Qiming did not step forward in a situation like this, the money would have been well spent!
Seeing that none of his subordinates responded, Wu Qiming completely panicked...