At around 1 PM, Kong Zhenghui's car pulled up in front of the Su family mansion.
Inside the car, Su Tianyu's expression was serious as he instructed Kong Zhenghui, "You have good connections, check out the situation with the leaders of the Wharf Gang. Get the details, then we can decide on our next step."
Kong Zhenghui, being quite perceptive, had already guessed Su Tianyu's plan. He quickly responded, "If we go by our previous analysis, it's clear that Yu Mingyuan is torn, and it seems like he's leaning toward the Wharf Gang, right?"
Su Tianyu said nothing but gave a slight nod.
Kong Zhenghui raised another question, "If we make a move on our own and Yu Mingyuan doesn't back us up, what then?"
Su Tianyu turned to him and asked, "Let me ask you one thing: The business is already up and running, and the profits are already visible. If they kick you out now, will you be okay with that?"
"Of course not!" Kong Zhenghui replied firmly, "But my dissatisfaction doesn't change anything. The power lies with Yu Mingyuan. If he decides to stop working with us, what can I do?"
Su Tianyu looked at him thoughtfully. "You check things out first, then we'll decide how to proceed. Let's not overthink it for now."
Kong Zhenghui, after a moment of thought, responded, "Alright, I'll make some calls."
"Okay, I'm heading home. Wait for me," Su Tianyu said as he got out of the car.
After watching Su Tianyu leave, Kong Zhenghui spent almost a full minute thinking before pulling out his phone and making a call.
...
Inside the main hall of the Su family mansion, Su Zhengcai stood with his hands behind his back, watching as Dog Li entered. He frowned and asked, "Xiao Hao's been detained for two or three days now. Can Yu Mingyuan really settle this?"
"Sit down, Uncle," Su Tianyu replied.
"I'll sit for a few, but Haozi's mother's been crying non-stop, and it's giving me a headache," Su Zhengcai grumbled, showing his usual lack of civility. "You need to call Yu Mingyuan, and I'll talk to him."
"Uncle, let me explain first, alright?" Su Tianyu interjected.
"…!" Su Zhengcai glanced at Li, then sat down in a chair. "What's going on?"
Su Tianyu lowered his voice and relayed the entire situation, his analysis, and what he had discussed with Yu Mingyuan the previous day.
After hearing everything, Su Zhengcai furrowed his brows deeply. "Do you think Yu Mingyuan will choose us over the Wharf Gang?"
"Whether he chooses us or not, we need to get the people and the cargo back first," Su Tianyu replied, his voice low. "I'll handle it."
"The Wharf Gang isn't like Longqing Company, they stick together, and they all live in the same area. How do you plan to handle that?" Su Zhengcai thought for a moment, then waved his hand. "Don't talk nonsense. If you can't get the people and cargo back, don't go dragging yourself down with it."
"Uncle, I know this has risks, and I'm not going blind. But, look, who gets to enjoy smooth sailing all the time?" Su Tianyu lifted his gaze, asking directly, "You've watched me grow up—do you think I'd take a risk without any assurance?"
Su Zhengcai fell silent. "Getting the people and cargo back to the port won't be easy."
"That's why I came to talk to you," Su Tianyu leaned closer to his uncle's ear and said, "If Yu Mingyuan can settle things tonight, then it'll be done."
Su Zhengcai, listening to Su Tianyu's words, wore a complex expression.
Su Tianyu, staring into his uncle's eyes, asked, "Do you think this is feasible?"
Su Zhengcai blinked and sighed. "The problem is, how do I convince them? We don't have shares in the sea trade, why should they help us?"
"Because of your relationship with them!" Su Tianyu responded.
"That's not enough," Su Zhengcai waved dismissively. "When it comes to business, relationships are relationships, but business is business."
Su Tianyu thought for a moment and continued with another suggestion, "Then tell them this..."
...
Half an hour later, Su Tianyu left his house and got back into Kong Zhenghui's car.
"Did you get any information?" Su Tianyu asked.
"I did," Kong Zhenghui replied.
"Good, tell Bai Hongbo to bring some of the bolder ones, and we'll meet at the warehouse," Su Tianyu instructed.
"Alright!" Kong Zhenghui didn't ask any more questions, dialing Bai Hongbo's number as he drove.
Around 4 PM, Su Tianyu, Kong Zhenghui, Su Tianbei, Bai Hongbo, and eight other core family members gathered at the warehouse, waiting for Kong Zhenghui's contact to return with more information.
Inside the main hall, Bai Hongbo looked at Su Tianyu with uncertainty. "Brother, is this really a good idea? I'm telling you, the dock is by the sea. If we don't get this right, we could end up being buried out there, and no one will even find the bodies."
Su Tianyu glanced at him and replied succinctly, "If you're scared, you don't have to participate."
"... Tianyu, if you're going to say it like that, then I'll just wish you all the best," Bai Hongbo shrugged, not pretending anymore. "I'll stay here and wait for the news."
Kong Zhenghui, narrowing his eyes at Bai Hongbo, said bluntly, "That's the thing—if you don't back us up this time, then the sea business moving forward will have nothing to do with the Bai family."
Bai Hongbo blinked. "... Do we have to fall out so quickly?"
The others ignored him and waited in silence.
...
In a tea house near the Longcheng Police Department, Su Zhengcai sat by the window, speaking softly. "Old Wang, for the sake of our relationship, you have to help me with this."
"Ha-ha," Wang Daolin chuckled as he held his teacup. "Su Erpao, you're not being too considerate here!"
"What's the matter?"
"You're expanding the sea trade business and making money, but now that you're in trouble, you only remember me because we're old comrades. Doesn't that seem a bit off?" Wang Daolin took a sip of tea. "This business is Yu's, and if something goes wrong, it's on them. Why should I clean up the mess?"
Su Zhengcai paused, then replied, "Old Wang, I'm coming to you for support. I'll make sure you're not caught in the middle, and once this is over, if you need anything from the Su family, I won't say no. Money, connections—whatever you need, we'll make it happen. We'll be a team, for good."
Wang Daolin gently toyed with his teacup, silent for a moment.
Su Zhengcai lit a cigarette and continued softly, "And if this sea business doesn't collapse..."
Wang Daolin listened quietly, his mind working.
...
That evening, around 6 PM, Yu Mingyuan left the company and met with Tang Baiqing. After a brief discussion, they headed to a high-end restaurant in Zhanan District.
Meanwhile...
Kong Zhenghui received a call from his friend. "Tell me."
"I couldn't get the specifics," the friend said softly, "But if the Wharf Gang was involved, it definitely had to be one of their leaders. But Zhanan has four leaders, you know what I mean?"
Kong Zhenghui's mind worked quickly, and in an instant, he realized that it was Xu Hu who had been dealing with Yu Mingyuan. He immediately asked, "Who's Xu Hu's main man?"
"Guo Lin and Feng Hai."
After five minutes of conversation, the call ended. Kong Zhenghui turned to Su Tianyu. "I've got some info. Are you really going to go through with this?"