Qiao Liu died under strange circumstances.

  Wang Hu Sheng almost stumbled into the ward, panting heavily, and didn't care about the tense atmosphere between Zhou Jingzhen and Chen Ergou. He told Chen Ergou a shocking piece of news that was no less than a thunderbolt. Chen Ergou's first reaction wasn't to furiously pursue the cause of Qiao Liu's death, but rather to be in a state of numbness, wondering what consequences this outcome would bring. Ignoring Wang Hu Sheng's anxiety and Zhou Jingzhen's shock, Chen Ergou slowly sat up, asked for a cigarette, and Zhou Jingzhen naturally lit it for him. The snake swallowed the elephant, the official raised the bandit, but before he could even digest it, the bandit died. After a long time, Chen Ergou let out a long sigh, leaned against the wall, and smiled bitterly, asking: "Where did things go wrong?"

  "Second Dog, according to your plan, I sent Jo Six, who had a broken leg, to a hospital without revealing anything to outsiders. I was waiting for you to come out of the hospital and negotiate with him for leverage. I knew that if he escaped or died, our group would lose its usefulness. So, we arranged for someone to guard him at the hospital 24 hours a day. Who would have thought that Jo Six would be killed in such an unclear manner?" Wang Hu said regretfully. This matter had been botched under his care, and he had been played with a clever trick, thoroughly disrupting Chen Second Dog's carefully laid plans just as they were entering the middle game. This young master was naturally filled with remorse.

  "Is it because of an internal traitor that the conspiracy to make our Wei family and Qiao Liu's faction fight each other has been exposed?" Chen Er Gou puffed heavily on his cigarette.

  Wang Hu furrowed his brow, his claws vigorously combing his middle-parted hair. He and Chen Er Gou had not entered the core of the Nanjing circle after all, let alone the underground world, where politics was a game of cat and mouse. For a moment, he was at a loss, unable to think of a reasonable inference. Zhou Jingwen smiled wryly, lightly handing the ashtray to Chen Er Gou, saying in a low voice: "In this fleeting life, everyone is calculating, everyone is playing cards. Your Fang Niang is no exception. In this world, an opponent with the strength of nine cows and two tigers may stab you with one knife, but it's not necessarily fatal. However, a friend behind you can lightly stab you with one knife, and the effect is often surprisingly good."

  "Aunt Fang?!" Chen Ergou said in a low, hoarse voice, like a wounded jackal.

  "I just said it casually." Zhou Jingyun lightly turned her head, flipping through a magazine that Wei Dongchong had brought earlier. She didn't want Chen Ergou to think she was taking the opportunity to splash dirty water on Fang Jie, who was clearly more important than her in this man's eyes.

  "It's not impossible." Chen Ergou said calmly.

  Wang Hu nodded too.

  Wei Xia Cao made a sudden visit and saw Chen Er Gou, who was half dead but still smoking. She couldn't help but cry and laugh at the same time. She didn't even know why this man was injured, her mother hadn't told her the truth, only asking her to come to the hospital to pass on a message: "Fú Shēng, my mom wants you to rest assured and recover from your injuries, don't worry about anything, after you're discharged from the hospital, go play golf at Zhongshan."

  Chen Ergou, who was smoking heavily, Wang Huzi, who was combing his hair, and Zhou Jingru, who looked like a quiet magazine, exchanged a knowing glance. Wei Xiacao didn't understand what these three foxes in the same camp were thinking. Now she no longer had her initial hatred and vigilance towards Chen Ergou, gradually treating him as the second Guo Qietu of the Wei family. Her mind was no longer sensitive, so after putting down the flowers and fruit basket, she stayed for a few minutes, felt bored, and bid farewell to leave, only slightly feeling that the atmosphere was a bit strange.

  "Is this what they mean by 'burning one's bridges'?" Chen Ergou chuckled.

  Zhou Jingru's eyes looked at Chen Ergou with a complex gaze. This young man, who had just risked his life to save the Wei family and himself, seemed to have been cut off in his prime, yet he still had a strong desire for power. Perhaps it was because they had fought side by side before, but Zhou Jingru, who thought of herself as a heartless woman, didn't feel any schadenfreude this time. Instead, she felt a sense of sorrow and regret, like the death of a rabbit and the mourning of a fox. This young man, who had almost completely destroyed the Qiao family's power, even dared to reveal his ambition to become another Nanjing Wei Gonggong. Just because of this, Zhou Jingru looked at him with newfound respect. Seeing Chen Ergou sink into deep thought, she quietly got up and knew that her work in the hospital was coming to an end. Wang Hu Sheng also left the ward, squatting at the door with a look of regret.

  Zhou Jingyi hesitated for a moment, and finally spoke up to Wang Huren, who had not given her a good impression from head to toe: "Wang Huren, now that Qiao Liuji is dead, the big shot above Qiao Bazi's head will definitely not let things go easily. Chen Fusheng has an elder sister, Chen Yuanshu, the eldest daughter of the Chen family. You'd better hurry up and ask her to mediate, otherwise, if you're not careful, once the protection umbrella of the Fang and Wei families is withdrawn, you'll be forced out of Nanjing. Guo Qianyu is a warning from the past."

  Wang Hu nodded slightly, gave a few orders to Wang Jiefang who had been waiting at the door, and then rushed out of the hospital in a hurry. He was the one who brought Chen Erdou to Nanjing, and he absolutely would not allow another humiliating experience of crossing provinces to recur.

  Zhou Jingxuan sighed and walked out of the hospital, the dazzling sunlight making her slightly uncomfortable. She raised her hand to block the unbridled light, and suddenly thought about smoking a cigarette, but ultimately gave up on the idea. She hailed a taxi, got in the back seat, and said the address before closing her eyes to rest and muttering to herself: "Chen Fusheng, if you can't get back on your feet this time, Chen Yuanshu will probably lose half of her trust in you. Your road in Nanjing will be completely blocked. In the past, for the sake of the family, Fang Jie was able to divorce Wei Duangong, who was at the height of his power. Now, she can certainly kick you out with one foot. Perhaps there will be some guilt, but at most, it would just be giving you a seven-digit credit card. Moreover, whether or not you have the opportunity to use this money is still a big question. The phrase 'the heart of a woman is the most poisonous' applies to any woman. From now on, I can only guarantee that I won't kick you while you're down or add insult to injury. As for what I owe you, I'm afraid it will just have to remain owed forever."

  Chen Ergou sat alone in the empty hospital room, took out the coin that Cao Qiang had given him, clenched his fist, and flipped the coin between his fingers. This was a small trick he had learned from a movie, and now Chen Ergou could even play with a Zippo lighter in seven or eight different ways. For a young man who didn't know how to spend money at nightclubs, Chen Ergou's life was healthy to an "abnormal" degree that made many of his peers feel ashamed. Even playing with the Zippo was just Chen Ergou's attempt to get close to the so-called high-society circle in his mind, just like he tried to learn golf for the same reason.

  For a long time, Chen Ergou's face, which was still calm when Zhou Jingwen and Wang Hu were on the scene, gradually became distorted. Except for a few individuals, he had never been a kind and honest person who didn't seek returns for his efforts. He worked hard at Ah Mei's restaurant and got paid accordingly, with Ah Mei not shortchanging him one cent. Chen Ergou did things with all his might, so he didn't owe anyone anything, including Chen Qingfu, the fat owner of SD Bar. Therefore, Chen Ergou was always diligent in his work. When Fang Jieken was willing to pay the price in Nanjing, Chen Ergou was also willing to risk his life for her. But today's cold water had truly chilled him to the bone. This knife cut deeper than Zhao Kunpeng's overt and intimidating tactics.

  Mr. Sun was a big shot who kept a low profile, and when he died, he didn't leave anything material behind for Chen Ergou, not even the fruit that Chen Ergou would occasionally bring over or the wild ginseng wine they would drink together. Chen Ergou wasn't bothered by this at all because he thought that someone of Mr. Sun's stature wouldn't bother with such trivial things. They would just chat about life and play a game of Go, and from the start, Chen Ergou didn't have any expectations of getting anything from Mr. Sun. Even later when Chen Ergou ran into Zhao Kunpeng and was forced to take drastic measures, he still wasn't as upset as he was now. Chen Ergou's face twisted in anger, his pale complexion a testament to his indignation. If Fang Jie saw this unfamiliar face, she might feel some regret, realizing that she had underestimated the intelligence of this young security guard from Shan Shui Hua Men.

  To be possessed by an evil spirit.

  Chen Ergou was like someone trapped in a maze, unable to find his way out. Without a father figure in his life, he lacked guidance and had to rely on himself to feel his way through. After leaving Zhangjiashan, Wei Duan Gong might have become a similar role model for him, but unfortunately, he was sent to the Western Heaven by Qiao Baizhi. Chen Ergou's world had not yet unfolded when it was suddenly snatched away from him, like a mad dog that had just spotted a tempting bone only to have it cruelly taken away, driving him completely mad.

  Chen Ergou may not be as good at calculating human hearts as Wang Huzi, nor is he as brave and skilled in battle as Chen Qing, but he is definitely the most stubborn core member of the 4-person team. No one can persuade him, and when he goes crazy, Chen Qing, Wang Huzi, and Wang Jiefang brothers can only follow him into madness.

  Chen Ergou had been brewing a crazy mood in the hospital for two weeks, and it was possible to explode at any time. On the surface, however, he was calmer than ever before. During this period, Chen Yuanshu met him once, but didn't notice anything unusual. Wang Huren and Chen Qingzhi, two old men who were not meticulous in their thoughts, also thought that he had already gotten over the setback. Only Chen Xiangyuan, who was blind, was worried, but didn't know how to speak up.

  Chen Erdou was picked up by Wei Xiaocao and taken to the Wei family villa at Zhongshan Golf.

  Fang Jie finally brought out a few thousand yuan's worth of Pu'er tea that was over ten years old to entertain the number one big shot in Nanjing, Wei family's top meritorious official. To outsiders, this young man who had been involved in a homicide case had an unlucky face that seemed destined for misfortune. Today, Chen Er Gou was dressed very formally, wearing a suit, watch, and leather shoes, except for the red string tied around his wrist that he never took off, everything about him looked like a successful person who had established himself in the city. He still wasn't used to drinking tea, especially good tea, and sat across from Fang Jie, allowing her to carefully examine him as she poured tea with a flourish, holding him up high then pushing him down low. They sat there for over ten minutes until Chen Er Gou finished his cup of tea, and Fang Jie helped him pour another one. She slowly opened her mouth: "Fang Sheng, Guo will return to Nanjing the day after tomorrow."

  Chen Ergou smiled to himself, this was probably a subtle hint. One mountain cannot accommodate two tigers. Even with Chen Qing and Wang Hu remaining, compared to Guo Xiaonian who had been operating in Nanjing for over a decade, he was far inferior. Without the constraints of the Qiao family, it wasn't hard for Chen Ergou to imagine Guo Xiaonian's rapid rise to power. All of this eventually became a farce that worked to someone else's advantage. He took the teacup and drank a mouthful slowly, without saying a word.

  Fang Jie quietly sighed inaudibly, lifted the teacup and suspended it in mid-air. Taking advantage of the moment when the teacup covered her face, she said calmly: "The card you have has a sum of money deposited into it, which is the Wei family's repayment to you. I'll make you another promise: as long as you speak up, I'll continue to deposit more money in the future."

  In her view, this first pot of gold was enough for the young man to stand firm in Nanjing or any other big city, including settling down and starting a business.

  "Thank you, Aunt Fang."

  Chen Ergou said sincerely, even at this point, he did not lose his conscience. Wei Duan Gong's cultivation and the more than half a year of daily interactions had left him with some good intentions in his heart. Perhaps this was what Wei Duan Gong meant by "not forgetting to retain a thread of kindness despite great evil". Chen Ergou had already inherited this spiritual wealth, which might seem like tattered cloth to outsiders. Putting down the teacup, he said softly but firmly: "Aunt Fang, you were wrong this time."

  Aunt Fang shook her head, with a faint smile on her face.

  The child in front of her is still too naive, how can he understand the intricacies behind a matter, the subtleties that can make or break it? The most difficult thing is not the cunning and ruthless tactics employed by Qiao Liu before his death, but rather the aftermath, the measures taken to deal with the consequences. This is what truly tests Fang Jie's wisdom in handling affairs, as well as that of the entire Fang family. Fang Jie is quite confident in this regard, she doesn't need a spokesperson who is too unpredictable, nor do the Wei and Fang families. Guo Qianyu may not have many of the young man's good qualities, but he has one thing that Chen Fusheng lacks: stubborn loyalty. The Fang family is no longer just a small player, they need to balance stability and risk-taking, something that Chen Er Gou, who only cares about wealth and glory, cannot comprehend.

  "The people from the Qiao family originally wanted to put you to death, I used all my strength to fight for a chance of survival, and finally they agreed, as long as you leave Nanjing, everything will be forgotten." Fang Jie said slowly, gazing at Chen Er Gou's changing expression, trying to find his true thoughts.

  "Leave Nanjing?" Chen Ergou frowned and then broke into a smile, catching Fang Jie off guard. It seemed that only at this moment did she remember that the young man in front of her had shot off one of Qiao Liu's legs with a single bullet, and was said to have single-handedly overturned Qiao Liu's Knife Gang. She began to regret not waiting until Guo Xue arrived in Nanjing before making her move.

  "Why is there such a requirement?" Chen Ergou narrowed his eyes and smiled as he asked.

  At this time, Mr. Wei Chi entered the villa's living room neither early nor late, walked through the living room and went to feed the fish in the pond outside the living room.

  Fang Jie immediately calmed down and said, "Fú Shēng, don't underestimate the strength of your opponent. Moreover, Qiao Liu has many loyal followers who would die for him, so you are indeed in danger in Nanjing. Aunt Fang is doing this with 40% consideration for the Fang family, 40% consideration for the Wei family, and the remaining 20% is all for your sake. I hope you can understand."

  It's already like this, saying more would be tedious.

  Fang Jie just kept drinking tea, not making any explanations. Chen Ergou took the hint and stood up to bid farewell, saying that he would arrange for a vehicle to move everything away tomorrow. Fang Jie nodded, her expression complex, but without any regret or guilt.

  Chen Ergou picked up the card and left the Audi A6 car key behind, walking out of the villa.

  He blew a whistle and the black dog darted out, following closely behind. One man and one dog walked in Zhongshan Golf, a residential area known as China's top luxury residence.

  The old man who fed the fish sighed and shook his head, seemingly a little regretful.

  Fang Jie sipped her tea and began to prepare for the cleaning of the seven or eight properties, including Shi Qingfeng's. As soon as Guo Qier arrived in Nanjing, she would be able to divide up the big cake that was the Qiao family's with Pu Dong Xiahe together. In business, there were no eternal enemies and no eternal friends, only eternal benefits. This was perhaps a small irony for Chen Er Gou, who had not long ago been given a warning by Xiahe.

  Wu's mother cleaned the living room, wanting to speak but stopping herself, finally muttering to herself "Ergou is a good kid, helping me wash dishes and sweep the floor isn't difficult, but he's been willing to help me for almost half a year now. This child has a kind heart, kicking him out of the Wei family, or even out of Nanjing, will bring retribution."

  Wei Xia Cao leaned on the railing of the 3rd floor balcony, gazing at Chen Er Gou's desolate back, lost in thought.

  Chen Ergou has been driving in and out of Zhongshan Golf for half a year, and it wasn't until he walked that he realized this community was really big, so big that he couldn't control it.

  As he walked to the door with Hei Zhi, he lowered his head to take out a cigarette and prepare to smoke one. The corner of his eye seemed to catch a glimpse of a familiar figure.

  Duck tongue hat, black frame glasses, holding a camera, click, took a picture of his second downfall in the big city.

  Chen Erdog held a cigarette between his three fingers, not getting angry, but instead feeling an urge to rub the sand out of his eyes. He couldn't help but lift his head, not wanting the woman who he thought would be far away from him for the rest of his life to see his current disheveled state.

  "Useless." She walked over to Chen Ergou's side and saw the young Northeastern men still looking up at the sky with their heads tilted back, and couldn't help but laugh sadly.

  Chen Ergou wiped his face hard, wiping away something, and finally dared to look at her with red eyes. She was as beautiful as ever, stunning to the point of making people feel ashamed of their own appearance. She still looked like she did when she first appeared in Zhangjiacun, leaving everyone in awe. In front of her, Chen Ergou always wanted to have enough money in his pocket to treat her to a good meal, to take her to places like the Oriental Pearl Tower without her having to pay. But for some reason, he could never show her his glorious side. Wearing a suit of famous brand clothes, yet on the verge of being kicked out of Nanjing - it was a huge joke no matter how you looked at it.

  Cao Jingying, this mysterious woman seemed to always like to see Chen Ergou when he was down on his luck.

  "How did you come to Nanjing?" Chen Ergou said with difficulty.

  Cao Jing smiled and said, "Fu Gui has already joined the special forces of the military region. I just received news that he participated in a military exercise and performed outstandingly. He's already been promoted to wear epaulets on his shoulders. This kind of rapid promotion even shocked my grandfather. With such a bright future ahead of him as a model soldier, you leaving Shanghai has already made him hold a grudge against me. If you leave Nanjing again, he'll hate me to death."

  Chen Ergou smiled bitterly and said: "Don't worry, Fu Gui won't blame you, it's just that I'm not good enough myself. If he dares to target you, I won't let him off."

  "Not man enough?"

  Cao Jing looked at Chen Ergou's pale face, which had not fully recovered from his injuries. She said softly: "Can a man who doesn't even have the courage to fight back make Sunan Qianzi personally name him and wish him ill? Can a man who doesn't even have the courage to fight back make Shanxi Chen Qingzhi surrender? And yet, this man still dares to say that he won't forgive Dongbei Menghu Chen Fugui? Chen Ergou, stand up straight for me! Even if my man loses and is beaten to the ground, he must still hold his head high!"