Chapter 136 He is the Benefactor of Our Family

Xiao Weiguo said solemnly, "Alright, let's move forward with this plan. I need to warn you in advance, though—the previous two transactions were absolute child's play compared to what's coming, so prepare yourself mentally.

First, you need to find a secure storage location, like an abandoned courtyard or some deserted place, to use as our warehouse.

Second, starting next week, every Saturday at 11:00 PM, my people will deliver the supplies you ordered for the following week to the warehouse. You can go pick them up at 1:00 AM. Don't go too early; the two groups must not have the slightest contact with each other.

After you take the supplies, leave the money earned from the previous week's goods inside the room, along with a list of what you need for the following week.

They will also give you certain instructions there, and you just need to follow them.

Finally, regarding the distribution of profits, we will temporarily stick to a ninety-ten split. Once your capital grows larger, we will set procurement prices directly based on black market rates. By then, it will be cash on delivery. Once you receive the goods, whatever price you sell them for will have nothing to do with that side.

Also, remember this: do not have any contact with the people on that side whatsoever. As for the two of us, from now on we are simply ordinary friends. Do you understand?"

Hearing this, Zhou Xiaoming grew excited. He could get as many supplies as he wanted—wasn't that pure profit? Besides, in the beginning, they were even providing the goods before payment; they were truly righteous and generous.

Clearly, he couldn't handle all of this by himself anymore; he needed to quickly find some trustworthy people to work with him.

"I understand, Weiguo. Thank you, truly. Don't worry, I swear right here: even if you were to carve me up piece by piece, I, Zhou Xiaoming, would never betray a single thing. I will make it so that all information stops with me."

Xiao Weiguo nodded and said, "Alright Xiaoming, you should head back quickly. When I went to your house at noon today, your sister looked terribly worried.

I'll come find you again tomorrow. By tomorrow noon, make sure you've found a suitable warehouse that meets the criteria, as well as a list of what you need for next week. It will be delivered tomorrow night."

After the two parted ways, Zhou Xiaoming walked along wondering how he was going to tell his aging mother and lovely sister that he had lost his job.

Then, thinking about how the residents in their courtyard would probably ridicule his family yet again, a suffocating ball of frustration clogged his chest, making it hard to breathe.

"Brother! Brother, is that you?
Mom, my brother's back!" Zhou Xiaoming heard Zhou Xiaoqing shout happily the moment he appeared at the doorway. She then dashed inside to share the joyful news with their bedridden mother.

Seeing his sweet sister, Zhou Xiaoming felt a smile touch his face.

Inside the cramped room, as Zhou Xiaoming sat alone sipping thin porridge and eating a coarse corn bun, his younger brother Zhou Xiaowei returned as well. Xiaowei sat there, staring at the corn bun on the table and swallowing hard. Although it hadn't been long since lunch, no amount of food was ever enough to satisfy his hunger.

"What? A young man brought you all these things? Was he wearing a grayish-blue Zhongshan suit and looking very handsome?"

Recalling the encounter, Zhou Xiaoqing said, "Yeah, a very handsome guy. He looked only a few years older than me. Brother, who is he to you?"

With a profound look in his eyes, Zhou Xiaoming said, "He is our family's benefactor."

Passing the corn bun in his hand over to Zhou Xiaowei, Zhou Xiaoming thought with fierce determination in his heart:

From now on, Xiao Weiguo is my best brother.
In the future, I must, absolutely must repay Xiao Weiguo's kindness. I must get the Pigeon Market business up and running, make it big and strong, and only then will I be able to properly repay him.

He figured that the side behind Xiao Weiguo must be a massive organization, and quite exclusive at that. He wondered what kind of status Xiao Weiguo held within it.

Well, no use dwelling on that. As long as his own business grew larger and larger, he would inevitably be able to help Xiao Weiguo in return.

Finishing the porridge in his bowl in a few gulps, Zhou Xiaoming turned and went back out to search for a suitable warehouse.

As for Xiao Weiguo, he found himself with some free time. He really didn't feel like returning to the courtyard just yet.

As for the renovations, with his father right there, and Master Zhang Runde seeming like a reliable man, there wasn't much need to worry too much.

He still needed to resolve the trouble with the Yang family first.

Xiao Weiguo thought of Tian Xuguo's disciples and followers, like Li Qing and Li Hong. They were neighborhood alley kids—did they know the Yang brothers, and could they help resolve this mess?

Come to think of it, that was indeed a viable path. He should go ask them first.

He straddled his bicycle and pedaled straight toward the large compound where Tian Xuguo lived.

Upon arriving, he saw Li Hong and a bunch of half-grown kids playing games and making a racket.

"Li Hong, where's your brother? Is he home?"

Curious as to who was calling him, Li Hong turned his head and saw Xiao Weiguo. He immediately dropped the others and ran over excitedly.

"Hello, Brother Weiguo! My brother went out to help someone move cargo; he has to work every day," Li Hong said.

"Oh, is that so? Is Master Tian in? By the way, among you guys, who is the toughest around here for someone my age?" Xiao Weiguo asked.

"Master Tian is inside taking a midday nap. As for who can fight the best, that's definitely Master Tian's eldest son, my Brother Guangyao. We usually listen to whatever he says," Li Hong pointed toward the house and said excitedly.

Guangyao—Tian Guangyao? Xiao Weiguo mused to himself. It looked like this matter might just fall squarely on his shoulders.

While Xiao Weiguo was deep in thought, Li Hong dashed into the house and called Tian Xuguo out.

Master Tian invited Weiguo inside to sit down.

Initially, Xiao Weiguo hadn't wanted to bother Tian Xuguo with this matter. After all, the man was an elder, and involving him in the petty bickering of the younger generation didn't feel quite right.

However, since Li Hong had already brought Master Tian out, he had no choice but to explain the whole situation from beginning to end.

Tian Xuguo turned to Li Hong outside and said, "Xiaohong, go fetch your Brother Guangyao."

"Can you stop calling me Xiaohong? I'm a boy," Li Hong mumbled with a aggrieved pout.

"Go take it up with your old man."

Before long, a burly young man well over six feet tall appeared in the room.

"Come here, Guangyao. This is our esteemed guest, Xiao Weiguo. There is something he needs you to do next. Just follow Weiguo's instructions, and stop hanging out and making a mess all day long," Tian Xuguo said, feeling a surge of irritation looking at his son, who fought and bickered every single day. Fortunately, the boy had a decent head on his shoulders, which prevented him from causing any catastrophic trouble.

Xiao Weiguo said, "Brother Guangyao, do you happen to know the Yang Hu and Yang Bao brothers from our courtyard?"

"Yang Hu and Yang Bao? I know them. Aren't they running with Scar-face Tie?"

So the guy who went around stabbing people was called Scar-face Tie? What a strange name.

"That should be them. I live at Courtyard 98, Nanluoguxiang. The thing is, I have a bit of a grudge with the two of them..." Xiao Weiguo recounted the entire incident to Tian Guangyao once more.

"Easy enough. Don't you worry, Weiguo, I'll go find them later and teach them a lesson. If they ever dare to bother you again after this, just let me know, and I'll beat them every single time I see them," Tian Guangyao said with utter confidence.

"Fighting isn't the only way to solve a problem. You can fight now, but can you fight for the rest of your life?" Tian Xuguo admonished his son sternly.

"Guangyao, fighting is never a good thing after all. Let's see if we can just give them a warning first. If that doesn't work, we can talk about other options," Xiao Weiguo added.

"Alright, anyway, I've got this covered. Rest easy, Weiguo. If you're free, you can come along with us. It'll be even better with you, the person involved, right there."

With that, Tian Guangyao walked out into the courtyard and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Brothers, assemble!"