"Hiss..."
Everyone present couldn't help but gasp. This young man, though appearing formidable, was making a request that, for a mob boss like Guangtou Qiang, was akin to demanding his life.
Collecting protection fees from a mob boss? Twenty million a year? Was that not an insult to the boss's dignity?
However, what they didn't anticipate was that Guangtou Qiang, upon hearing this, didn't get angry. Instead, his face lit up with joy. This led them to wonder if the bald man had truly lost his mind.
Guangtou Qiang, of course, paid no mind to their thoughts. He had been contemplating how to apologize to Zhang Fan and establish a friendly relationship with him just yesterday. He never expected that Zhang Fan would be willing to take him as a subordinate today.
As one of the prominent figures in the North City of Donghai's underworld, being forcibly taken as a subordinate would be a great loss of face to anyone else. Perhaps Guangtou Qiang had thought so too in the past; there might be people stronger than him in Donghai, but no one could force him to become their underling.
But if it was the young man in front of him who wanted him as a subordinate...
"Alright, Brother Fan, from now on, you are my boss, Guangtou Qiang," Guangtou Qiang quickly nodded. With a congenital grandmaster as his boss, who in Donghai would dare provoke him?
Let alone paying twenty million a year, he would willingly hand over all thirty million collected from protection fees to Muran. After all, his income wasn't solely derived from protection fees.
"Why aren't you guys quickly calling him Brother Fan?" After responding, Guangtou Qiang noticed that his own subordinates hadn't wisely followed suit. He turned and glared at them.
"Brother Fan!" Guangtou Qiang's numerous subordinates, after a moment of stunned silence, finally reacted and shouted. They were still in a state of bewilderment, which made their usually agile selves appear somewhat clumsy.
The surrounding onlookers were already in a daze. The events that had transpired in just over ten minutes were simply too incredible; they had completely overturned their understanding of the world.
Were all these underworld figures so easy to deal with? So happy even when being forcibly taken as subordinates? Weren't they rumored to be ruthless desperadoes who wouldn't bat an eye at murder?
"Good. Since you're willing to be my subordinate, from this moment on, no one in Donghai will dare bully you except me. If anyone bullies you, you can come to me. As your elder brother, I will help you seek justice," Zhang Fan said. After all, he had collected protection fees, so he had to do some work.
"Alright, Brother Fan." Guangtou Qiang felt a surge of strength upon hearing this. With Zhang Fan's support, wouldn't it be a matter of time before he, Guangtou Qiang, unified the North City?
"Brother Fan, actually, our Black Tiger Gang has quite a few other businesses. If you have time, perhaps you could take a look?" Guangtou Qiang asked tentatively.
"Never mind. I'll be starting school in a couple of days. I'll visit if I have time later," Zhang Fan wasn't particularly interested in the businesses Guangtou Qiang mentioned, so he refused.
Seeing this, Guangtou Qiang couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. It seemed his 'brother' wasn't particularly interested in his businesses. However, he quickly reconsidered. For a congenital grandmaster, it would indeed be strange if he were interested in such minor enterprises.
"Well, if that's the case, everyone can disperse. Don't disrupt my uncle's business. As for the protection fees, just have them delivered by tomorrow," Zhang Fan waved his hand, telling everyone to leave. He felt a sense of elation; with these twenty million, he could alleviate his immediate financial pressure.
Then, Zhang Fan pointed at Xiao Qiang Ge and said, "Xiaopingtou, I don't want to see the barbecue stall opposite open by tomorrow. Do you understand?"
"Understood, don't worry, Brother Fan." Xiao Qiang Ge's heart trembled violently upon hearing Zhang Fan call his name. He then repeatedly patted his chest to assure him.
With Zhang Fan's words, Guangtou Qiang quickly dispersed his subordinates. After exchanging phone numbers with Zhang Fan, he left happily, leaving a crowd of bewildered onlookers behind.
"They just left?"
"And they left so happily?"
"Can being a subordinate be this joyful?"
The crowd was filled with questions. Even Zhao Yongchang and Zhang Xin remained in a state of stupor throughout. Only Zhao Qingqing appeared calm, as if this outcome had been predetermined.
"Xiao Fan, what exactly is going on?" After Guangtou Qiang and his subordinates retreated from the snack street, Zhao Yongchang finally spoke.
Facing his uncle's confusion, Zhang Fan knew how to explain.
"Didn't I tell you, Brother Zhang Fan is very good at fighting?" Zhao Qingqing chimed in.
"Yes, he is indeed quite good..." Zhao Yongchang nodded. The overlord of the university town area, Chongtian Bao, couldn't even withstand one move from Zhang Fan, so 'very good' couldn't even begin to describe it.
Why did Chongtian Bao's older brother act like a frightened mouse upon seeing Zhang Fan and obey so obediently? Although he still had many questions, seeing Zhang Fan's demeanor, he decided not to ask further. Everyone had their secrets, after all.
After the commotion, Zhao Yongchang and Zhang Xin's moods clearly improved. He knew that because of his nephew, no one would ever dare to collect protection fees from his barbecue stall again. With this burden lifted, their family's life would see significant improvement.
The street drama that began with collecting protection fees and ended with being forced to pay protection fees concluded with an unimaginably bizarre outcome. 'Qingqing Barbecue Stall' thus became famous throughout the entire snack street. All the thugs, thieves, pickpockets, and various other characters on this street remembered this small barbecue stall. Everyone knew that from this day forward, it was a corner they absolutely could not touch.
...
Meanwhile, after Guangtou Qiang led his numerous subordinates away from the snack street, the disheveled Chongtian Bao finally voiced the doubts in his heart.
"Brother Qiang, who exactly is that young man? How can he be qualified to be your boss?" Chongtian Bao asked cautiously. Chongtian Bao's subordinates also craned their necks, unable to discern anything extraordinary about Zhang Fan.
"Him? He is the noble one who can lead our Black Tiger Gang to unify Donghai City." Guangtou Qiang gazed up at the vast sky, his eyes sparkling with a bright light. Unifying the underworld of Donghai had always been Guangtou Qiang's dream.
From the day he founded the Black Tiger Gang, he had harbored this ambition. But as he delved deeper into this circle, he realized how murky the waters were and how intricate the involved powers were.
To reach his current position, given his own capabilities and connections, he had reached his limit. Without a powerful backing, if he dared to take another step, he would inevitably be plunged into an abyss of no return.
However, with Zhang Fan's support, things would be different...
"Unify Donghai!" Chongtian Bao and his numerous subordinates were shocked. They knew the current awkward, middle-ground position of the Black Tiger Gang. Could that young man possess such power?
It was hard for them to believe, but they would not doubt their boss's judgment. From this moment on, although Zhang Fan had done nothing, simply because of Guangtou Qiang's words, Zhang Fan had completely won their allegiance.