Young Master Bing was hungry too, so he nodded and said, "Then let's eat something first."

The shantytown residents, who had been waiting for ages, were struck dumb. This bunch of big shots had come and then just left? They had been waiting to discuss the price, and the price hadn't even been mentioned yet—the other side had gone off to eat first? What on earth was that supposed to mean?

But no one dared ask more. They could only watch as Young Master Bing and his people walked off.

Zhao Qibing and the others were just about to get in the cars and go eat when Zhao Qibing heard someone shouting his name: "Young Master Bing! Young Master Bing! Wait for me!"

Zhao Qibing turned his head and blinked in momentary surprise, but then he recognized the newcomer: "You're Li Erlan, aren't you?"

"That's me, that's me!" Li Erlan was overjoyed—he had never imagined that after all this time, Young Master Bing would still recognize him. He was beside himself with delight. "Young Master Bing, I've missed you something awful. You've no idea—after you left, my life lost all direction. Without a leader, nothing works! I've been dying of emptiness!"

Zhao Qibing had spent a few days of middle school in Songshan City, and that was how he had come to know Li Erlan, the schoolyard tyrant of those days. Zhao Qibing had money—bodyguards escorted him to school and back—and Li Erlan was not the sort of fool who knew nothing but fighting. He could tell that Zhao Qibing's family was no ordinary one, and that there were advantages to be had from him.

So he volunteered to be Zhao Qibing's underling. Although Zhao Qibing had bodyguards to escort him to and from school, bodyguards couldn't sit in class with him, so having a follower at school was a thoroughly satisfying thing. Zhao Qibing was delighted by Li Erlan's allegiance and did not treat him shabbily, and Li Erlan reaped no small amount of benefit from him.

Who would have guessed that after less than two months of classes, Zhao Qibing would transfer away? Li Erlan was sick with frustration. He had thought he could follow the young master forever and carve out a fine future for himself, but no—the young master had transferred!

Zhao Qibing had the means to transfer; Li Erlan had no such ability and could only stay obediently at his old school. Yet Zhao Qibing did find Li Erlan genuinely handy, so after he left, when Li Erlan phoned him now and then, Zhao Qibing never minded.

On this trip back to Songshan City, Zhao Qibing had gotten in touch with Li Erlan in advance. But this was their first meeting since they had parted, and Li Erlan looked somewhat changed from before.

"Oh, come on, let's go eat together!" Zhao Qibing nodded, then introduced him to Zhong Fabai and the rest: "This is Li Erlan, my underling here in Songshan. His family lives in the shantytown too, so we can ask him about the demolition."

Zhong Fabai had looked down on Li Erlan a little before, but the moment he heard the man was Zhao Qibing's underling, he turned respectful at once. After all, he himself could not yet be counted as Zhao Qibing's underling—he was merely running errands for him and was not part of the inner circle.

Jin Gubang was secretly astonished as well: how could this unremarkable little local thug be Young Master Bing's underling? Still, he did not dare ask.

Zhao Qibing picked a restaurant. He had no particular fondness for food—he could eat anything—his interests lay only in women and money. "Let's eat here. Erlan, go ask if they have a private room."

"Sure thing!" Li Erlan was a small-time thug in these parts and naturally knew the owner of this restaurant. Once inside, he said to the waiter with a swagger, "Get your boss out here!"

The waiter knew Li Erlan too, and knew he was a hoodlum, so he dared not offend him. He nodded hurriedly and called the owner over. When the owner came out and saw it was Li Erlan, he could not help frowning: "Erlan, didn't I give you your spending money this month? Why are you back again?"

The owner was not exactly afraid of Li Erlan, but with thugs of this sort it was best to throw them a little something every month; otherwise, if they kicked up a fuss, it truly was a great deal of trouble.

"What do you mean, back again? This time I'm here to eat at your place! That's me doing you a favor! My boss is here—get a private room ready, quick!" Li Erlan glared and cursed impatiently. "My boss is Chairman Zhao of Qibing Real Estate, from the provincial capital!"

The owner had heard that the shantytown renovation nearby was the responsibility of Qibing Real Estate. He was taken aback for a moment, thinking to himself, since when did Li Erlan know such an impressive boss? He dared not be negligent now, and put on a smile: "Erlan, looks like you're headed for better days? When you become some kind of general manager, don't forget us!"

"Of course not! All right, enough chatter, hurry up and find us a private room!" Li Erlan was thoroughly pleased by the owner's words, and inwardly he was already scheming: Young Master Bing has come here to start a company—as his former underling, couldn't I get myself a position too, become a general manager and have my moment in the sun?

The owner personally escorted Young Master Bing and the others into the private room. He didn't know Young Master Bing, but he had certainly seen Zhong Fabai! What restaurant owner didn't know Zhong Fabai? And seeing that Zhong Fabai was so deferential to that young man, the owner knew that Young Master Bing's power was truly formidable.

Soon the food and wine were laid out on the table. Zhao Qibing ate a little, casually, and then asked, "Erlan, I told you on the phone that I want to develop the shantytown. Did you look into it for me? What's the situation in the shantytown now?"

"Those relocation households have all agreed among themselves—they want three thousand yuan per square meter in compensation!" Li Erlan said. "That's just shameless extortion, isn't it? Complete nonsense!"

"Three thousand?" Zhao Qibing sneered. "The housing prices here are only ten thousand, and they dare ask for three thousand?"

"Tell me about it! If you ask me, giving them eight hundred or a thousand is already generous!" Li Erlan said. "Young Master Bing, I've made inquiries—there's nobody in the shantytown with any real backing, just small fry. Do whatever you like, nothing will come of it!"

"Then it's easy!" Zhao Qibing nodded and said to Zhong Fabai, "In that case, today you go flatten a few of their houses for me. Whichever family plays the troublemaker, knock their house down first—then let's see who else dares get cocky!"

"Don't worry, Young Master Bing. The bulldozers and excavators are already in place. We can start any time!" Zhong Fabai nodded.

"Oh, that's right, Young Master Bing—there's a pretty girl in our shantytown. Any interest?" Li Erlan had been after Tang Yun for a long time but had never gotten anywhere. Recently Tang Yun had turned up with a formidable boyfriend, and Li Erlan knew he had no hope left. But because Tang Yun's boyfriend had taught him a lesson last time, Li Erlan nursed a bitter grudge and wanted revenge on Tang Yun, so he set his sights on Young Master Bing.