Su Xi and others arrived at the gate of the mob boss's residence, only to be stopped by guards.
"Stop right there. Is this a place you can just wander into?" A group of men in black suits glared at Su Xi and Li Ping with malicious smiles. They had seen many people before who were drawn to the house's beauty and wanted to take photos. Unfortunately, anyone who dared to disturb them invariably ended up as a corpse. Now that Su Xi and his companion had come looking for death, they couldn't be blamed.
Seeing the men blocking their path, Su Xi shook his head and explained, "We're not here to take pictures. We have business to discuss with your boss."
The men exchanged bewildered glances, then burst into laughter. When had discussing business become so cheap and casual? In the past, businessmen arrived in luxury cars, not dressed like construction workers, looking more like beggars than negotiators. This was no charity.
"Get lost, or don't blame me for being impolite. Don't come crying to me when you're dead," the gate guard warned sternly, looking at Su Xi. If their boss found out they had let anyone through, they'd be in serious trouble. For their own safety, no unauthorized personnel could enter and cause trouble. Not only could they not disturb, but they had to nip any problem in the bud.
Seeing their unwillingness and stubborn attitude, Su Xi wore a helpless expression. It was clear that talking nicely wouldn't work. They would have to use some methods to make these men listen. Su Xi glanced at Li Ping beside him, signaling him to begin. Wasting words was too troublesome; it was much more efficient to act. If action was possible, why bother with talk?
Hearing Su Xi, Li Ping was reluctant but knew he had to act. With a sigh, he charged towards the men. Though his abilities were currently weak, accomplishing this task wasn't overly difficult. More importantly, he wasn't good at arguing. After all, dealing with these minor characters was no problem for them.
The others were surprised that Su Xi would suddenly make a move, and with just one person at that. Did they not take them seriously at all?
"Take them down!" the security captain shouted, leading his men to surround Li Ping. He couldn't believe that so many of them couldn't handle one person. This was the real world, not a martial arts movie where one could fight a hundred. Today, they would teach these people a lesson.
As the situation unfolded, they realized they had overestimated themselves. These people gave them no chance and simply attacked. Li Ping looked at the scene before him and shook his head. *They're asking for it*, he thought. With a surge of strength, he struck. Instantly, the once formidable group lay on the ground, unable to move even a finger. They had guns, but Li Ping's speed was too great. They had no time to react. Pain coursed through them, leaving them helpless.
After dispatching the unnecessary obstacles, Li Ping turned to Su Xi. "No one is bothering us now. Let's go." Su Xi nodded and entered the house with Li Ping.
The house was not only large from the outside but equally spacious within. It stood five stories tall, each floor lavishly decorated with a nobility absent in ordinary places. It looked more like a high-class establishment than a regular home.
"Is anyone here? Speak up!" Su Xi shouted, flopping onto a stool.
"Who are you people?" A man adorned with a thick gold chain and wearing a fur coat stomped out, still buttoning his pants. He had been busy with something important when these people interrupted him. He was somewhat known in the area and had powerful connections. He had never expected his lair to be raided, leaving him unprepared.
Su Xi rolled his eyes at the man's obnoxious demeanor and said, "Before I make a move, you'd better change your outfit. Otherwise, I don't mind helping you."
"You..." Boss Zhang Mancang was about to erupt in anger. Who dared to lecture him on his own turf? But the words caught in his throat. His face turned red, not from choking, but because he noticed all his subordinates lying unconscious outside. He realized then that Su Xi was not to be trifled with. If Su Xi and his group could take down so many of his men, and he suddenly had a fit of rage, he would be finished. For his own safety, he had to be cautious.
Seeing Zhang Mancang obediently listening, Su Xi didn't hesitate. He pulled out a large pile of gold and placed it on the table. Zhang Mancang stared, utterly confused by this ostentatious display. What was this? Was this a show of wealth? But it didn't quite match his own considerable assets.
Su Xi didn't give Zhang Mancang time to speculate and said directly, "I have a business proposal for you."
"What business?" Zhang Mancang asked, looking perplexed. If he recalled correctly, there was no one who conducted business like this.
Knowing Zhang Mancang didn't believe him, Su Xi took out a gold bar and tossed it over. "The most important thing is for you to agree to let us distribute the gold. But don't worry, we won't take your benefits for nothing."
Zhang Mancang was stunned, unable to comprehend. Was this true? The market in this street was only so large, and they already had trouble meeting demand. If others were allowed to encroach, how would they make a living? And how would they support their numerous mistresses? He certainly didn't want to live a life of austerity.
Su Xi saw the shift in Zhang Mancang's expression and knew what he was thinking. He wasted no more words and said, "Do you think I'm here to negotiate?" She had gone to such lengths, not just to talk, but to achieve her objective.
Hearing Su Xi's words, Zhang Mancang showed hesitation. "What confidence do you have?" he asked, wanting to know her trump card. His clients had substantial assets, and if his brothers lost out, it would cause significant trouble. Moreover, he had superiors who wouldn't tolerate recklessness. Therefore, he needed to know Su Xi's leverage to plan his next move.
Su Xi looked at Zhang Mancang and sneered, "My confidence lies in possessing gold. Enough gold to last you a lifetime." Su Xi's attitude was clear: use money. Whatever the other party wanted, she would simply throw money at them. Even if they were difficult to deal with, as long as she had money, it wouldn't be a problem.
Hearing Su Xi's words, Zhang Mancang was momentarily speechless. Indeed, with money, anything was possible. "Alright, I can agree, but..." Zhang Mancang started to state his conditions, only to be cut off by Su Xi.
"You don't need to say anything, and I won't care. So save your breath. If I hear your demands and can't resist hitting you, don't blame me." Zhang Mancang was stunned by Su Xi's warning. Who conducted business like this? Couldn't she be reasonable? However, for his own safety, it was better to play it safe. It wasn't worth risking his life for a moment of pride.
Seeing that Zhang Mancang was compliant, Su Xi took his hand, made a small cut, and dripped his blood onto a gene paper. As the blood landed, Zhang Mancang's portrait and his spoken words soon appeared, clearly serving as evidence. Su Xi was pleased with Zhang Mancang's cooperation, which saved her considerable trouble.
With that done, Su Xi left with her companions. With Zhang Mancang's promise, distributing the goods would no longer be difficult. She knew Zhang Mancang wouldn't give her much time, so she quickly arranged for large-scale distribution, preparing to make a killing.
Soon, Su Xi had seized control of the gold supply on one street, and her influence rapidly expanded. In less than two days, she had occupied all the streets, and the speed of distribution quickly extended to neighboring areas. After all, such excellent gold at an affordable price was enough to excite anyone. Thus, every shipment Su Xi made was immediately snapped up.
The sudden abundance of gold caused a sharp decline in local gold prices. Merchants involved in the gold trade took notice and, unwilling to have their market snatched away, quickly began their investigations. This cake had been divided, and they would not allow anyone to forcibly take it. After extensive investigation by these powerful figures, they soon traced the entire operation back to Su Xi.