Su Tianyu looked up toward the doorway, grinning as he greeted the newcomer.
"Long time no see, Brother Kong!"
It was the ever-stoic Kong Zhenghui. He gave a small nod and replied flatly,
"Looks like life's been treating you well, Brother Tianyu."
"Not bad," Su said with a chuckle. "Brother Yuan's been spoiling me—fine food by day, good wine by night."
Kong smirked faintly and patted him on the shoulder.
"Good. I've always thought you'd go far. You've got the right bones for walking the gray line."
Su laughed, but didn't deny it.
Yu Mingyuan smiled, gesturing between them. "You two already know each other, so I won't bother with introductions. The Kong family's taking a share in this deal."
Su Tianyu nodded slowly. "If Brother Kong's interested, it must be a worthwhile venture."
Yu spoke efficiently, as always. He rearranged a few teacups on the table before continuing,
Each sanitation company has its own local business circle—like the Fuze Chamber's Changqing group, the Shanghai Guild, and your Su family's northern network. Those are all hidden forms of wealth.
"If we cooperate, we can start by laying down our sales routes. You handle expansion. Once your connections open up distribution in your circles, this deal will practically make money while you sleep."
He didn't need to spell it out—Su Tianyu had already seen the problem.
According to Yu's earlier proposal, the Su family's role was limited to logistics and helping with sales—the bottom tier of the operation.
A role anyone could fill. No special skills, no barriers to entry.
That meant Yu wasn't looking for muscle or efficiency. He was looking for leverage—the Su family's name and reach.
The three of them sat around, chatting and sipping tea. After a brief exchange outlining the business model, another young man entered the room.
Su recognized him immediately—Tang Baiqing, early thirties, tall and slim, with a handsome face that always looked half-asleep, as if plagued by chronic fatigue.
Su had met him once before; Yu Mingyuan had introduced him, saying he worked somewhere in the Coast Guard. No rank was mentioned at the time.
"Xiao Su, you've met Baiqing before," Yu said.
"Yes. Hello, Brother Tang," Su extended his hand.
"Hey," Tang Baiqing said lazily, shaking it before sinking into the seat beside Yu. His complexion was pale, his movements languid.
"Baiqing works for the Maritime Anti-Smuggling Bureau," Yu explained with a grin. "Our business can't run smoothly without his help."
Tang lounged back, one leg propped up on the coffee table. "It's you, Young Master Yu, who's helping me," he said dryly. "Giving us poor public servants a chance to make a little extra."
"Mutual benefit," Yu chuckled. Then he added meaningfully, "Baiqing's father has a good relationship with my old man too."
"Oh? So it's a family friendship," Su said with a polite smile—though inwardly, everything clicked.
Now he understood why Yu Mingyuan had taken him to all those parties and dinners over the past weeks. None of it had been random.
It wasn't about socializing. It was about showing Su the scope of his connections—the people who'd make this business work.
At that moment, Su's opinion of Yu rose several notches. The man wasn't impulsive—he was methodical, patient, and calculating.
"Xiao Su," Yu said, turning seriously again, "Talk to your second uncle about this. If your family's willing to join in, we'll start laying the groundwork. I can't promise everything, but if this business runs steady for a few years, the Su family's standing will rise to a whole new level."
Su smiled mildly. "I'm just an idle guy at home. I'll probably take the civil service exam later, so I can't really make that call. But… if it crosses the line into anything illegal, my uncle might not agree. You know how it is—older generation, cautious by nature."
"I'll say it again," Yu frowned slightly, "This isn't smuggling. We've got special supply permits. But it can't be done openly—it steps on a lot of people's toes."
Su nodded slowly. "Understood."
"Good," Yu said. "Go talk to him first. If he's on board, we'll work out the details."
"Alright."
Tang Baiqing glanced at Su, his voice weak but cutting.
"Kid, why the hell are you wasting time studying for a civil job? Even a department head barely makes a few thousand a month. What's the point? Take Brother Yuan's advice—focus on business. Once you've got real money, you can buy your way into an office if you want."
Su only chuckled. "Heh. Sure."
He didn't bother arguing.
After their talk, Su Tianyu left alone and took a cab back home.
Around five in the evening, the Su family gathered in the courtyard for dinner.
As soon as Su Miao saw him, she called out, "Hey, someone came looking for you today—a pretty girl!"
"Huh?" Su blinked.
"Nice work, Dog Six," she teased. "Haven't been in that company long, and you're already bringing girls home. Just like your second brother."
"Who was it?" Su asked, confused.
"Uh… I think her name was Qiqi? I was busy, didn't catch it clearly."
"Crap—I forgot!" Su slapped his forehead. He'd promised to help An Qiqi fix her car and still hadn't done it. "Guess I'll reach out to her in a couple of days."
His eldest brother looked up. "How's it going at the company, Six? Getting used to things?"
"Let's eat first," Su said with a grin. "Later, you, me, and Uncle—let's have a little talk."
After dinner, Su Tianyu gathered his older brother and Second Uncle Su Zhengcai in the side room of the main house.
When he finished recounting everything, Su Zhengcai frowned.
"So it's basically smuggling, huh? You sure this is reliable?"
"It's not exactly smuggling," Su explained carefully. "From what Yu Mingyuan said, it's a government-approved special supply line, only a few people have the permits. The Kong family's already in, and I've met Yu's main contact. Personally, I think the Yu family has the pull to pull this off."
"The last false accusation we went through still leaves a bad taste in my mouth," Su Zhengcai said. Despite his rough, straightforward personality, he was a cautious man deep down. "We'd be handling transport ourselves—taking delivery, moving shipments. If something goes wrong, it won't be easy to clean up."
Su thought for a moment. "Uncle, you mean…?"
"If someone else tested the waters first, that'd be ideal."
Su blinked, then suddenly grinned. "What about the most cultured man in Zhannan District—Brother Bai Hongbo? Maybe he could go first."
The words had barely left his mouth when all three men exchanged knowing looks.
"Perfect!" Su Zhengcai slapped his thigh. "Six, I've underestimated you!"
"Bai's family's got the means," Su added. "They're backed by the Chamber of Commerce and already have a network for sales. Yu probably didn't invite them yet because they haven't gotten the right introductions. I'll talk to Bai—let's make sure we're the ones doing him a favor this time."
"Go now," Su Zhengcai urged. "Before that fool figures it out himself."
At that moment, Su Tianbei—who'd been eavesdropping outside—walked in, smirking. "Yeah, better move fast, or the idiot will beat you to it."
Half an hour later, at Bai's warehouse.
Bai Hongbo narrowed his eyes at Su Tianyu. "So, you're tight with Yu Mingyuan now?"
"Not tight," Su said humbly. "But if you're interested in the deal, I can help set up a meeting."
"I've got friends at the docks," Bai admitted. "There's money in this trade. I'm interested—but I'm not sure my dad will be."
"Go home and ask him," Su said. "I'll wait for your word, okay?"
"Alright. I'll go talk to him."
Bai left immediately, driving his SUV straight home.
In the Bai family study, the old man sat reading. He didn't even look up as he scolded,
"Use your damn head for once. You just jump into anything, huh?"
"Dad, I think it's a real opportunity. Just now—"
"Cut the crap. Just keep the family business stable—that's all I ask."
"Dad, the Su family's in. The Kong family too!"
The old man froze, then slowly lifted his head.
"Wait—Su Zhengcai, that old bastard, is doing it too?"
"Yeah."
"Then we're in," the old man said at once, standing up with his hands behind his back. "If he's already stepped on the landmine, what kind of fool would stay behind?"
With that one sentence, the Bai family—the most refined name in Zhannan District—officially joined the game.
And with it, a storm of blood and profit began to quietly gather.
At Yu's residence that night, Yu Mingyuan spoke softly into his phone.
"Just finished talking. I think it's a done deal. Start preparing."