Evolution - Chapter 87
Chapter 87
You couldn’t just meet a big shot whenever you wanted. To maintain their prestige, even if they were idle, you still had to go through the process of making an appointment.
So, after Ji Changqing finished her treatment, she went to collect her six freshly acquired “human assets.” Then, she led the thirty military cadets to inspect the firearms, ammunition, food, and medicine, spending the prize money that was still warm in her hands like water flowing from a tap.
Thirty people had no trouble moving the firearms and ammunition, but there was a lot of food and medicine. The fighting ring specially arranged for a vehicle to deliver it for them.
They also arranged for personnel to escort them to Cishu District.
The personnel assigned were the same guys who had just been in a small scuffle with them and had compensation demanded from them by the money-crazed cadets. When the two groups met by the vehicle, it was a little awkward for everyone.
Ji Changqing was oblivious to this. She was busy thanking the manager and A’Si, remarking on how damn good their after-sales service was.
The manager laughed it off. “We’re all friends here. It’s nothing, really.”
Ji Changqing didn’t know why the people from the fighting ring would condescend to be so considerate. She wasn’t delusional enough to think she had some kind of toxic protagonist halo where everyone she met was doomed, falling for her at first sight and turning from bosses into lackeys.
Sending a vehicle and an escort went beyond after-sales service. Anyone with eyes could see it was a message to other factions: This street is under my protection. You’d best watch yourselves.
But that didn’t stop her from graciously accepting the gesture.
When there’s a powerful thigh to hug, you hug it; don’t wait until it’s gone to sigh in regret. Otherwise, she’d be panicking inside. Acting calm and being calm might look the same, but they’re completely different on the inside.
A’Si remained as taciturn as ever. “I’ll send someone to pick you up tomorrow afternoon to meet the person you want to see.”
Ji Changqing agreed and left, surrounded by a crowd of military cadets.
By the time they returned to Cishu District, it was nearly noon. Everyone had a quick lunch, and those who had been busy all night went to get some rest.
The others began distributing the firearms and ammunition, prioritizing the military cadets. The rest went to the temporary workers who had performed well.
As for the food and medicine, that was managed and distributed centrally.
When Ji Changqing woke up, it was already nightfall. She had slept for a full seven hours. The consequence of severely overexerting her body was an all-over ache and a lack of energy. Only after persisting through three rounds of cultivation did she feel a bit more refreshed.
She left her room, and someone immediately came over to quietly report on the results of the past day and night.
“The word is out. This kind of gossip always spreads fast. We should see the effects by tomorrow or the day after.”
Ji Changqing grunted in acknowledgment. “Keep our distance from it. Starting tomorrow, no one is to mention this again. If anyone tries to fish for information, deny everything.”
“Since the supplies arrived this afternoon, seven or eight people have been acting suspiciously. We’ve already got people watching them.”
“Oh?” Ji Changqing raised an eyebrow. Seven or eight people? That was a bit more than she expected. She had originally thought three or four would be a lot.
“Did you put the word out?”
“Yes.” A ruthless glint flashed in the eyes of the person reporting to her. “After our people picked out their equipment, we took the firearms and ammunition crates, filled them with some rice, flour, and clothes, then put a layer of weapons on top and sealed them back up. We told the others that there are still plenty of firearms and ammunition, and whoever performs well will be the first to get equipped.”
“Keep a close watch these next two nights.”
“No problem.” After finishing his report, the cadet didn’t leave right away. Instead, he asked with boundless curiosity, “Will they really take the bait?”
In their eyes, Ji Changqing’s move—like Jiang Taigong fishing, where only the willing get hooked—could only be described as: the hook is a bit too straight.
“Oh…” Ji Changqing smiled, replying shamelessly, “We’ll see if it works after we try. Anyway, I don’t have a better idea.”
The other person gave an awkward laugh and retreated, having gotten the message.
Ji Changqing’s hook might be a little straight, but they didn’t even have a hook. What gave him the nerve to ask her, “Hey, are you sure this plan will work? Do you have any idea what you’re doing?”
She could win ten matches in a row on the fighting stage; couldn’t she smash his dog head in?
It seemed that having a gun in his hand and food in his belly had made him arrogant.
That night, while Ji Changqing was cultivating and recuperating, Du Zhong and the others caught eight traitors, earning nearly three thousand points.
They left the traitors alive. The small squads they led in, regardless of which faction they belonged to, were all eliminated. They didn’t bother interrogating them to find out who sent them—their attitude was straightforward: these people were here to steal and rob supplies, so they were all to be killed and thrown out, and any usable firearms and ammunition were to be scavenged.
As for the identities of these people, did it matter?
At least, they didn’t think so.
The next afternoon, the fighting ring sent a car to pick up Ji Changqing to meet the person she wanted to see.
This big shot asked Ji Changqing three questions: Why did you want to see me? What do you want? And on what grounds?
Ji Changqing’s answers were just as hardcore: Your word carries weight. I want an area where we can live in peace to relocate the people of Cishu District. Your interest in Cishu District is too great; it could turn into a bloodbath at any moment. We common folk don’t dare to stay, nor can we.
As for on what grounds?
“People were often scouting the district, and from time to time, someone would disappear. A while ago, we accidentally learned that because of its name, everyone thinks that when the city was planned, a last resort for the city’s survival was hidden in Cishu District.”
Ji Changqing paused, then said meaningfully, “I guarantee I will forcibly relocate everyone and trade Cishu District to you. How about it?”
“Trade it to me?” The big shot gave a noncommittal smile. He didn’t answer directly, instead asking with great interest, “I hear you’re quite strong and have people under you. Haven’t you ever considered that the rumor might be true? If you got your hands on this last resort, the benefits would be beyond your imagination.”
Ji Changqing looked up, a bit dazed, and said self-deprecatingly, “I know my own limits. Then and now, all I’ve ever wanted is to live a simple life, free of trouble and effort.”
The big shot put down his cigar, sat up straight, and leaned forward slightly, his eyes full of interest. “What’s wrong with making a name for yourself and getting ahead in the world? If you were in my position now, you wouldn’t have to go to all this trouble to make a deal. Protecting a few people like this would be nothing, right?”
“What’s so great about making a name for yourself and getting ahead? It’s too tiring!” Ji Changqing said faintly. “Lately, these people have been making it unsafe for my family to even go out to work. The food at home has been getting worse and worse.”
The big shot nearly choked on her words. So, you risked your life in the ring, won, got firearms and ammunition, armed a team, and now you’re here to negotiate with me… “Just because the food at home has been bad lately?”
His tone was incredulous, with a hint of displeasure. If she was telling the truth, she was an idiot. If she was lying, she was treating him like an idiot.
Either way, he wasn’t happy!
Ji Changqing replied with righteous conviction, “Of course! What other reason could there be? I used to eat and drink well without having to do a thing. Why would I want to tire myself out?”
After speaking, she even asked the big shot curiously, “You have such a high position now, you must be very busy. Is the food you eat better than before?”
The big shot’s eyelids drooped.
He ate the finest food and the most exquisitely prepared meat, so of course, he ate better than before, but only by a little.
Big shots have one thing in common: they are magnanimous. Even though he suspected Ji Changqing was talking nonsense, the deal wasn’t a bad one for him.
“Alright, I understand. I’ll have someone look into it in the next few days.”
The big shot had spoken, which meant the deal was settled. Normally, she should have gone back obediently and waited for news, but Ji Changqing put on a pained expression. “Could you just give us any old peaceful place today?”
“Oh? In such a hurry?”
“You have no idea. Last night, three or four hundred people suddenly tried to come and rob us. In a few more days, we don’t know if we’ll even be alive.”
In the end, the big shot agreed. He asked his adjutant to find a place that could accommodate five or six thousand people.
In any peaceful area, the lower-class city dwellers would flock to occupy most of the empty houses. In the end, the adjutant designated an area—it was a former industrial zone. It didn’t have much of anything, except for spacious factories and plenty of residential buildings.
The big shot was also quite interesting. He pointed to the various vacant and abandoned factory buildings on the map. “See what you can do with these. You might even solve your employment problem.”
Ji Changqing had no real concept of this. All she knew was that everything was in that area. She scratched her head. “How about this? I’ll get the people over there first, and then we’ll see what we can do.”
He had already gone ninety-nine steps; he might as well take the last one. The big shot didn’t object, which was a tacit agreement.
Ji Changqing returned and immediately led a “demolition team” to begin the forced relocation, going door to door.
Within three days, Cishu Street once again became the scene of a large-scale recruitment drive.
“Move over there and work in a factory! There’s no shortage of work. Did you see the food we brought back yesterday? Are you afraid you won’t get paid?”
“It’s far away, and it’s not safe here now, so the whole family has to go.”
“Oh, my family? Of course my whole family is going! I’m an enthusiastic supporter!”
…
And just like that, through a mix of coaxing and trickery, most of the neighbors in Cishu District were on their way out.
It was mainly the hundred-plus military cadets who threw tantrums and acted shamelessly until their families couldn’t do anything with them. On second thought, since they would have work and could live peacefully, what did it matter where they lived?
Inspired by these hundred-plus households, the dozens of people in Ji Changqing’s little gang of hooligans who had performed well over the past few days followed suit, throwing fits to get their entire families to move.
With over two hundred households—adding up to about two thousand people—already gone, the rest just followed the trend. This was especially true for those who were already struggling; they couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity and were more eager than anyone.
Even a broken home is worth a fortune to its owner. These people moved as if they were fleeing a famine, trying to take even a single thread from their homes with them. Fortunately, everyone was poor, so they only had some daily necessities.
The military cadets, overjoyed that their mission was nearing completion, scraped together some money to rent more than twenty vehicles.
Seeing such extravagance, the neighbors became even more confident. A few families who hadn’t originally planned to leave quietly came over to say they wanted to go too.
The only ones who were refused were the families of the eight traitors who had been caught.
“We brought some things back yesterday, and by nightfall, they were already leading outsiders in to steal. We can’t afford to have families like yours.”
The eight men, who had been caught and whipped twenty times the day before, were covered in wounds. Hearing this, they roared, “What do you mean, steal? That ill-gotten wealth of you accomplices and running dogs should have been offered up! The resistance fighters are bleeding and fighting for us…”
Ji Changqing smiled and said amicably to the parents and siblings of the eight families, “You see? Their brains are broken. Whose money isn’t earned through blood and sweat? And yet they say it should be offered up. They seem to think everyone owes them something.”
“It’s because of numb and apathetic people like you…”
“If you were truly brave and passionate, you would have joined the resistance under an assumed name so as not to implicate your family and friends, instead of being generous with other people’s property.” Ji Changqing cleaned her ears, treating the hysterical curses as background music, and earnestly sowed discord among the families. “We risked our lives for these things, also to help our neighbors live a more stable life in these times. Tell me, if he had succeeded in robbing us this time, and word got out, what would happen when the next group comes? If they can’t get what they want, will they get angry and start killing people?”
“You’re all adults. If you want something, earn it yourselves. Stop trying to curry favor using other people’s things. Today he can betray his own and bring people here to rob us in broad daylight; next time, he might just sell out his entire family to please his master.”
“Whether it’s the resistance or the so-called government army, it doesn’t make much difference to us. We still pay our taxes and do our work.” Ji Changqing kicked the self-righteous young traitors, lowered her head, and said to them, word by word, “Do you know what real soldiers are like? They bear the burden when there’s trouble, they shoulder the responsibility when there’s hardship. The duty they carry is to protect.”
Not to scheme and collude for personal gain like you.
One feigns innocence, being generous with others’ property to pave his own way.
The other is truly disgusting, taking others’ possessions for granted as his own, and branding anyone who refuses as a running dog and accomplice.
Having thoroughly cursed them out, a satisfied Ji Changqing left, not caring how the families tore into each other.
After tallying the families confirmed to be moving, they didn’t all go home to pack their things. Instead, they were assigned numbers. They concentrated their manpower on helping the first 200 households pack. Ten households were crammed into each vehicle, which then swayed off down the road.
Those who remained continued to pack.
Naturally, they couldn’t finish moving everyone in one night. After the second batch of 200 households departed, they paused for the time being.
Perhaps it was the thought of having jobs, work, money, and food in the future—a new hope for their lives. Although the street was half empty, the sounds of laughter and cheerful chatter seemed to have returned.
Ji Changqing, Du Zhong, and their group squatted in a row by the side of the street, holding large bowls and slurping down their food. Neighbors whose turn to move hadn’t come yet made a special trip over to let them taste their specialty dishes.
Of course, everyone lived frugally. Expressing gratitude was proper, but giving too much was out of the question. Each person only got a small spoonful.
Ji Changqing and the others good-naturedly reminded them again and again to lock their doors and windows at night and to shout loudly if anything happened. With all the commotion from the move, what if some fool tried to sneak in and steal something, right?
The neighbors cheerfully agreed.
Cishu District gradually fell quiet, and the lights went out one by one.
As the time approached three in the morning, a gunshot shattered the silence of the night, tearing open the curtain on a fierce battle.
Get instant access to all the chapters now.
Comments
Post a Comment