Chapter 1262: 872 Second update!
If it weren’t for the fact that he happened to be in River City, and Fang Qing’s birthday was around the corner, Jiang Chen probably wouldn’t have co back.
So he hadn’t planned to stay long.
But plans often fail to keep up with unexpected changes.
On the second day, after he had already purchased his train ticket and was ready to head for the station, there was a knock at the door.
It was Fang Qing.
“I’ve already hailed a car, no need to send off.”
Boss Jiang wasn’t the type to inconvenience others, not even soone as close as Qing i. Plus, with ride-hailing apps these days, it was easy to order a car that could co straight to the doorstep. And how much gasoline would a Maserati need to get from here to the train station?
Even elentary school kids could do that simple math, let alone soone like an entrepreneur.
But, alas, Boss Jiang was destined to be too self-assuming.
Fang Qing stood at the doorway, looking at him calmly.
“What’s wrong?”
Jiang Chen asked with a perplexed smile.
Qing Gege wasn’t the kind of person to wallow in sentintality.
Parting reluctance? Absolutely impossible.
“Fu Zili’s been detained.”
As expected.
Fang Qing, knowing Jiang Chen was currently a busy man, didn’t beat around the bush. She delivered the news in one straightforward sentence, and Jiang Chen’s smile gradually faded. His brows furrowed, and he canceled his ride-hailing order.
Tie Jun’s Barbecue Shop.
Because it primarily served the late-night crowd, and dinner ti hadn’t arrived yet, the shop was still making preparations for the evening.
“Why didn’t you say anything when you ca back?”
Tie Jun clearly hadn’t expected Jiang Chen to be in Sha City.
Three childhood friends gathered around a table.
“I had a little matter to attend to in River City, figured I’d drop by while I was in the area. Planned to leave today, actually.”
Jiang Chen explained briefly, then got straight to the point. “What’s going on with Fu Zili?”
Fang Qing only knew part of the story. Though the group had grown up together, the differences between n and won naturally resulted in closer ties between Fu Zili and Tie Jun. In fact, Fang Qing had only found out about the situation because Tie Jun had inford her.
“He was taken into custody the night before last. He asked not to tell anyone.”
Tie Jun spoke with a somber tone.
“What did he do?”
Perhaps as a professional reflex, Fang Qing went straight for the critical question.
Tie Jun looked at her and said nothing, seemingly grappling with sothing unspoken.
“Just say it.”
Jiang Chen spoke calmly, even serenely.
After a pause, Tie Jun finally began, unhurriedly: “You guys know what kind of business Fu Zili is involved in. Recently, Sha City has been cracking down due to the urban beautification campaign. Turns out, his shop was found to have incidents of compensated companionship.”
No wonder it was hard for him to bring up.
But Fang Qing wasn’t so ordinary woman; her perceptiveness and professionalism granted her a tolerance for the darker aspects of society far greater than most.
Besides.
She’d already ntally prepared herself.
They all knew what kind of person Fu Zili was. As childhood friends, the three of them understood him thoroughly.
“He’s been running his business in Sha City for years, and this beautification campaign didn’t start just yesterday. Why now…”
Though Jiang Chen’s remark was veiled, his aning was crystal clear.
None of them were children who saw the world in black and white anymore.
The world is rife with complexities that cannot be easily divided into good and evil.
Where there is daylight, there must inevitably be night.
Where there is light, there will inevitably be shadows.
And between light and darkness, a gray area is bound to erge—unalterable and unavoidable.
Every city has its nightlife, and Sha City is no exception.
People like Fu Zili are hardly rare specins.
What they all have in common, though, is that anyone who dabbles in shady business must cultivate their own connections. Without a sharp ear for information, one simply can’t succeed in this line of work. If an average person wanted to try their hand in this ga, they’d likely open shop today and be sent for re-education tomorrow. How else could Fu Zili have managed to operate freely until now, only eting trouble now?
If sothing seems unusual, there’s always a hidden reason.
Crackdowns happen regularly. That Fu Zili had remained safe up till now and was suddenly detained clearly indicated other underlying factors.
“According to him, his boss seems to have gotten into trouble recently.”
The truth surfaced.
Tie Jun’s follow-up undoubtedly pointed to the core reason behind everything.
Such is the nature of shady dealings.
With a well-connected backer, all is smooth sailing.
But once that backer stumbles, a domino effect becos inevitable.
Simply put:
No eggs can remain unbroken in a toppled nest.
When the ship starts leaking, nothing aboard can stay unscathed.
“Wasn’t his boss pretty formidable?”
Fu Zili had been the epito of success in Sha City, which was evident to all. This implied his boss wielded significant influence there.
If Jiang Chen rembered correctly, he’d even t Fu Zili’s boss once in East Sea. Fang Qing had been there too.
“It’s a bit like being a farr—living at the rcy of the weather. When everything aligns, life is easy. But when storms arise, that’s where the trouble begins.”
Tie Jun used an analogy.
Jiang Chen nodded in approval. “Well said.”
Tie Jun chuckled bitterly.
Fu Zili had often swung by his place, always surrounded by a posse of underlings. Yet, Tie Jun never envied him in the slightest.
Why?
Because he understood the risks behind such glory.
Though running a barbecue shop was a small venture, it was steady and relatively unaffected by external disruptions like storms or tempests.
As for Fu Zili?
One day could see him living like a king, and the next might have him shackled and behind bars.
That said.
The situation hadn’t deteriorated to such extres yet—it was just detention for now.
“Have you ever visited his shop?”
Jiang Chen asked.
Tie Jun imdiately shook his head, glancing at his fiancée, who was busy cleaning. “Do I seem like that kind of person to you?”
Jiang Chen looked at him.
“He operates a nightti business, and so do I. Even if I wanted to check out his place, I wouldn’t have ti for it.”
Tie Jun replied helplessly.
Jiang Chen chuckled lightly.
“Qing Gege, you’re the expert in this field. What’s your take?”
Tie Jun shifted his gaze to Fang Qing.
“Actually, the legal definition of compensated companionship is sowhat vague. Whether he’s in serious trouble depends on the actual nature of the services involved.”
Fang Qing spoke objectively and impartially, displaying a broad perspective not restricted by gender. Her discussion of the topic was rational, devoid of emotional bias.
Jiang Chen couldn’t help but glance at Tie Jun again.
“Don’t look at ; I’ve truly never visited. And I’ve never even discussed such things with him.”
Tie Jun clarified imdiately.
If those words had co from another man’s mouth, they might have seed dubious. But Tie Jun’s character was trustworthy.
“Hungry? Want to eat sothing?”
Tie Jun’s fiancée, Wen Rong, approached, standing lovingly beside him and resting her hand on his shoulder.
Despite their modest and ordinary life, their affection for each other seed undiminished.
“Go to work; I’ll keep them company.”
Tie Jun clasped his fiancée’s hand.
Jiang Chen recalled eting Wen Rong for the first ti two years ago during the Spring Festival. He’d known then that she worked as a nurse.
“Alright. By the way, where’s Fu Zili?”
With an unchanging expression, Tie Jun chuckled and explained, “You know how he is—always busy. He’ll co by later.”
Clearly.
Tie Jun didn’t want his fiancée to know about the situation with Fu Zili.
Jiang Chen and Fang Qing, tacitly understanding this, refrained from bringing up any related topics.
“Alright, then I’ll head to work. You three keep chatting.”
“Let Tie Jun take you.”
Jiang Chen said.
“No need. It’s just across the street.”
Wen Rong stepped out of the shop.
“Don’t get involved with Fu Zili’s matters—just focus on your own life.”
Jiang Chen gazed at the doorway.
“Do you think I want to ddle? I’m busy running my shop every day; it’s incredibly fulfilling.”
Tie Jun chuckled bitterly and sighed.
“But what can you do? He’s our brother.”
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