Reborn in 1993, Dark Sea

An Xiaohai gently blew on the scalding hot tea without looking up, but his peripheral vision caught his fourth brother's reflection in the gleaming electric kettle. His fourth brother was staring intently at him, his face full of surprise and uncertainty.

The curvature of the electric kettle distorted Fourth Brother's image, making him look exactly like a ferocious toad demon.

"Xiao Hai, we're in a bit of trouble!" After a long while, the fourth brother took a deep breath and said, "Tong Sheng Lian is not a small organization. It has a lot of members, mainly container truck drivers and taxi drivers from Hong Kong, as well as some seamen."

In short, people working in the transportation industry in Hong Kong who want to join a triad usually choose Tong Sheng Lian.

More than 70% of the smuggled goods coming from Honggang pass through their hands, which is why they dare to cause trouble with the armed police.

The money lost in the incident at Shenhu Port is a minor issue; the key problem is that it caused a conflict between them and the armed police. Now the armed police are investigating them very strictly, so the losses are not small.

So this feud has taken a deep turn; it can't be settled with just a few words or some money.

"Fourth Brother, I find it quite strange. Since Tong Sheng Lian deals in smuggled goods, why would they go and stir up a hornet's nest with the Armed Police? Isn't that just asking for trouble?"

"This...this involves a power struggle between the two sides," Fourth Brother said, taking a sip of tea.

"The deep-sea market is only so big, and the profits are only so much. Those who bribe will naturally hope to bribe less so they can get a bigger slice of the pie. Those who let people through, taking such a big risk, will naturally hope to get more."

The tug-of-war between the two sides has been going on for more than just one or two years, with each side constantly testing the other's bottom line.

In the eyes of Tong Shenglian, the incident at Shenhu Port was an attempt by the armed police to cross their bottom line.

Therefore, they had to resist, willing to earn less money but determined to destroy the other side; otherwise, once the situation became entrenched, their losses would be enormous.

"I understand. With their commotion, those armed police officers who take bribes will realize that they can't go too far, or they'll all be wiped out. Once this matter calms down, those who take bribes will also become much more restrained."

"Yes, a short, sharp pain is worse than a long, drawn-out one! But who would have thought it was all a misunderstanding? Tell me, if you were in either of those situations, what would you think?"

"Of course, I wish I could tear those guys to pieces, haha!" An Xiaohai laughed as he spoke.

Damn it, I was just thinking of extorting some money to tide me over, but who knew I'd stir up such a huge hornet's nest, damn it!

"How can you still laugh!" Fourth Brother was getting a little impatient.

"Of course I can laugh, it's not like I did it."

"You didn't do it?"

"Fourth Brother, you mustn't say such things!"

……

"Fine, whether you did it or not, you'd better stay away from this. It's too sensitive right now."

"Understood, thank you, Fourth Brother."

An Xiaohai chatted with his fourth brother for a while longer, and his fourth brother didn't let his men come in again. Just as An Xiaohai was thinking about what excuse to leave, the phone rang.

An Xiaohai pressed the call button, and Ah Huo's voice came from the other end: "Xiaohai, where are you?"

"Ah Huo, I'm having tea at Fourth Brother's place."

"Oh, I'm with Uncle Shui. The site here is already being cleared. If you have time, come over to Haiwei and give me some advice."

"Okay, I also need to see Uncle Shui. You wait for me over there, I'll be right there."

"Okay, I'll be waiting for you. See you there!"

"Ah Huo? How did you get in touch with him?" Fourth Brother asked as soon as An Xiaohai hung up the phone.

"I met him at Uncle Shui's place yesterday."

"So, Ah Huo has secured the site in Haiwei Village?"

"Yes, Uncle Shui's daughter, Guo Fang, saved my life before. I went over yesterday to thank her..." An Xiaohai roughly told his fourth brother what happened in Haiwei Village.

"So that's how it is. The Big Circle Gang really isn't afraid of killing anyone!" Fourth Brother said through gritted teeth, "Alright, I'll give you an explanation regarding the Big Circle Gang."

"Fourth Brother, don't say that. There's no need to explain anything. As for Third Brother's matter, I just happened to be there."

My third brother took good care of me inside and helped me a lot. When I first came out, if it weren't for my fourth brother's help, I don't know how much I would have suffered.

We're all brothers, let's not talk about these things anymore.

"Okay, you're right. We're all good brothers, and there's plenty of time for the future! Since we're good brothers, I have to give you some advice: don't get too close to Guo Xiangshui and his gang."

"Oh? Why?"

"I can't tell you the specific reasons, but in short, what they did was extremely dirty, it's not just as simple as smuggling. I think we can boldly make some money, but it's best not to touch money that will ruin your future generations."

"Okay, I understand. I'll keep things in check!" An Xiaohai lowered his head, thought for a moment, and then nodded.

Sure enough, once you reach Fourth Brother's level, very few things in the underworld can be kept from him.

"It's good that you know what's going on. You're going to Haiwei Village later, right?"

"Yes, I get along quite well with Brother Huo, and we don't have anything else to talk about anyway."

"Then I'll have Er Mao take you there."

"No need. Before going there, I want to visit Deep Sea University first."

"Haha! Young people...that's great!" Fourth Brother shook his head with a smile: "Indeed, Er Mao is not suited to wandering around in college."

Alright, I won't disturb your time together any longer. Don't rush off, finish this round of tea.

"good!"

After saying goodbye to his fourth brother, An Xiaohai left his brother's small building and walked alone towards the main gate.

To reach the gate, one must pass through an armed police camp. On the camp's roads, squads of armed police officers are running and training, and one can faintly hear the sound of gunfire from the mountains behind.

An Xiaohai walked straight to the gate without anyone coming up to check him or even paying him any attention. It seemed that everyone had long been used to it. As he walked out of the gate, the guard on duty even saluted An Xiaohai.

Land is extremely scarce in Shenhai City; just a few hundred meters from the Armed Police barracks lies a residential area.

An Xiaohai glanced at his watch; just fifteen minutes had passed.

An Xiaohai turned into a small alley, picked up his phone and dialed the number in the lobby of his fourth brother's place.

"Hello, who is it? Who is it looking for?" The phone rang for about ten times before it was answered. Er Mao answered the phone.

"Er Mao, it's me."

"Hai-ge? Is something the matter? Can't get a ride? I'll drive you there."

"No need, Er Mao, thank you! I've discovered my watch is missing."

I was having tea with my fourth brother just now, and some water spilled on it. I took my watch off and wiped it, so it must have fallen there. Could you go check with him for me?

"Okay, Brother Hai, but Fourth Brother and the others are in a meeting right now. I'll look for it for you later. As long as it's with Fourth Brother, it won't get lost."

"Okay, thanks... Wait, never mind, I found it, it's in my pocket. It's fine now, thanks!"

"Why are you being so polite with me, Hai-ge? It's good that you found it, haha!"

"Okay, come visit me sometime, I'll take you fishing."

"Okay, Brother Hai!"

An Xiaohai hung up the phone, frowned and thought for a while, then waved to flag down a car and headed towards Haiwei Village.