Chapter 007: The More Brazen Their Plagiarism, the Happier I Am

When he returned home, his Fourth Uncle was sitting on the balcony smoking a cigarette, a burly young man with three knife scars on his left arm sitting beside him.

“If you hadn’t come back soon, I’d have scoured the whole city looking for you.”

“Why didn’t you go out tonight?” Zhang Tianfeng tossed his keys onto the table and asked.

“No, I was listening to his stories,” Fourth Uncle replied, gesturing to the man beside him. “Let me introduce you—this is my friend Zhou Runbo. The open-air cinema you saw last night, his family owns it.”

“Good evening, Uncle Bo,” Zhang Tianfeng greeted with a smile.

“I’m only twenty-six—just look older than I am. Call me ‘brother’ instead.”

He tossed over a Hongmei cigarette, and Zhou Runbo continued, “So, after Chen Haonan was captured by Handsome Kun...”

“You’re telling stories about the Young and Dangerous gang?”

“Oh? You know them, too?” Zhou Runbo was surprised, and so was Fourth Uncle.

“I happened to overhear something while I was out today,” Zhang Tianfeng lied smoothly.

Fourth Uncle laughed, patting the stool beside him. “Come sit down. Runbo’s version is much more complete—the ones circulating outside are all pirated.”

“Alright.”

After about ten minutes, just as the story reached its climax, it abruptly stopped.

Fourth Uncle was furious, slapping the table. “Damn you, Zhou Runbo! Are you trying to leave me hanging on purpose? Hurry up—did Chen Haonan sleep with Mountain Chicken’s woman or not?”

Zhou Runbo spread his hands helplessly. “I don’t know either. The comic my dad gave me ends right there. I want to know what happens next, too.”

“Damn it, you just want to drag me into this pit of suspense with you!” Fourth Uncle cursed, lighting another cigarette and sulking beside them.

Zhou Runbo chuckled. “Actually, it’s not just you. Every small-time punk in Xiyan City is dying to know what happens, just like me.”

“Get out, get out. I’m going to bed.”

“Weren’t you going to buy me a late-night snack?”

“The story isn’t finished, and you still want to eat? Finish it first, then we’ll talk.”

“Alright, I’ll head off then. See you, little brother.”

After seeing Zhou Runbo out, Fourth Uncle returned to the balcony. “So what did you get up to today?”

“Making money, like I told you.”

“How much did you make?”

“Two thousand four hundred.”

Fourth Uncle rubbed his temples. “If your grandfather finds out you’re lying, he’ll blame it on me again. Don’t go around saying anything, alright?”

With no choice, Zhang Tianfeng pulled out the money from the snakeskin bag and spilled it onto the floor.

Staring at the colorful bills scattered everywhere, Zhang Jizheng was dumbfounded.

“Nephew, did you rob a bank?”

“You know better than me how hard it is to rob a bank.”

“That’s right; with the current crackdown, even street punks don’t dare go too far these days.” Zhang Tianfeng sat down. “Fourth Uncle, do you know why I’m showing you this money? Because I want to tell you—going down the wrong path won’t work.”

“There will be more crackdowns in the future. If you keep this up, you’ll get yourself killed sooner or later.”

“It’s better to settle down, start a family, and make an honest living. That way Grandpa can rest easy, and so can the rest of our family.”

“You brat, now you’re lecturing me?” Fourth Uncle forced a bitter smile, taking a drag of his cigarette. “Tell me how to make money, and I’ll turn over a new leaf and run a proper business.”

“No rush. First, tell me—where did Zhou Runbo get the Young and Dangerous comics?”

“Probably from his dad’s transport fleet.”

Zhou Runbo’s father had worked at a machinery factory in his early years, picked up some driving skills, and around 1988 started his own fleet, running trips between Xiyan City and the provincial capital.

He was rumored to be planning to expand to the coastal cities, but whether that was true remained to be seen.

Hearing this, Zhang Tianfeng fell silent for a moment. “Do you know who really runs their transport fleet?”

Zhou Runbo had told the “Handsome Kun” arc, which had just finished serialization on February 4, 1993. It was still only in comic form—not yet adapted into a film.

The fleet’s boss, who could spot the potential in Young and Dangerous comics, was clearly no fool.

Fourth Uncle shook his head. “No idea. I’ve only heard it’s a big boss from the provincial capital, keeps things very secret.”

Provincial capital? Suddenly, Zhang Tianfeng thought of someone—Qin Lin!

This middleman made his first fortune from piracy, then went to the coast and made fifty million in a year, only to vanish within two.

“Alright, Fourth Uncle, go out and have some fun. I’m going to bed.”

“Don’t run off. I don’t want your grandpa yelling at me.”

“I know.”

The night passed in a blink.

At seven in the morning, Zhang Jizheng returned home to see his nephew’s dark circles.

“You didn’t sleep all night?”

“Pretty much.” Zhang Tianfeng tugged at his hair and handed over a notebook. “Fourth Uncle, give this to Zhou Runbo.”

“What’s in it?”

“The complete story of the Handsome Kun arc.”

“How would you know when I don’t?”

Grumbling, Fourth Uncle opened the notebook and began reading, but his expression quickly soured.

“What did you write? If Chen Haonan really slept with Mountain Chicken’s woman, his brothers would chop him into eight pieces!”

“Just say I made it up. But make sure you give it to Zhou Runbo, and by the way, tell him I want to discuss a deal with Boss Qin.”

If this had been yesterday, Zhang Jizheng would have laughed at his nephew for dreaming of doing business with a big boss from the provincial capital.

But after seeing him make two thousand four hundred yuan, he suddenly found himself believing it might be possible.

Zhang Tianfeng pulled out three hundred more yuan and handed over a hand-drawn picture. “Help me make a thousand good-quality copies. Once they’re ready, bring them to Stall 205 at the wholesale market.”

He added, “And bring me a few posters of film stars from Hong Kong—Miss Chow, Miss Cheung, Miss Ye, Miss Wong, that sort.”

“Fine. I really don’t know what you’re up to, kid. Nonsense!”

Fourth Uncle was still hung up on the Handsome Kun arc. If anyone else had written it, he’d have smacked them already!

Of course, Zhang Tianfeng had no intention of getting into piracy. As Fourth Uncle said, these people were setting a trap.

They had money, power, and connections—cross them, and you might not even know how you died.

Writing out the story was just bait to draw out the real mastermind.

If the fleet boss really was Qin Lin, then he was confident he could unload all of his resources at once.

If not, it was still worth a shot.

He couldn’t afford to wait any longer—the time had come to make a big move and head to the coast to build his capital.

He slept until midday, then headed for the wholesale market.

There were noticeably more people on the second floor today, most of them loitering outside Qin Yuelan’s shop, shifty-eyed and looking every bit like they were plotting commercial espionage.

As soon as he entered, Qin Yuelan pulled him aside.

“What are you doing? Hooliganism isn’t limited to men, you know.”

“Pfft, even if you threw yourself at me, I wouldn’t take you!”

Qin Yuelan closed the door and whispered, “We’ve got trouble. Your necklace design has been copied. They’re shipping large quantities out this morning. By tonight, the whole city will be flooded with knockoffs.”

“Good! Let them copy!”

“What’s so good about that? With all these fakes at lower prices, even with your design skills, your profits will be cut in half.”

“It’s fine. The more they copy, the happier I am—especially if they spread the goods to the provincial capital.”

The hand-drawn picture he’d sent with Fourth Uncle that morning was part of the next stage in his accessory business plan.

Last night, he’d sold services—now it was time to sell stories.

Touching tales—those literary, sentimental female fans were always the most susceptible.

“Is the shaved ice cart ready?” Zhang Tianfeng asked.

“The machinery factory says it’ll be done this afternoon. You came just in time—I’m heading out to buy supplies.”

“Go ahead, the sooner the better. Come to the shop tomorrow.”

Qin Yuelan nodded and headed for the door, then suddenly turned back. “Hey, you little devil—you didn’t sell this idea to anyone else, did you?”

“I do business with integrity. So far, only you know.”

“Good. I’ll be off, then.”