Chapter 089: In the Entire City of Edo, Who Dares to Cross Ding Yan?

In the 1990s, the island nation had just emerged from its economic bubble, and everything was in disarray, awaiting revival.

As soon as he got off the plane, before even leaving the terminal, Zhang Tianfeng could already hear the sound of drums and gongs. A sudden sense of foreboding struck him.

Stepping outside, his fears were confirmed: a crowd was holding signs that read “Welcome to the Patriotic God of Stocks,” while several people with red headbands were beating drums with great enthusiasm.

“The God of Stocks is here! The God of Stocks is here!”

Standing in the crowd, Ding Yan’s hands shook with excitement, as if he had just encountered a long-admired celebrity.

Zhang Tianfeng covered his face and sighed. Never in his life had he felt so speechless—he almost didn’t dare to walk over; it was just too mortifying.

Gao Ran, on the other hand, acted as if nothing was amiss. She took Zhang Tianfeng by the arm and walked straight toward Ding Yan, the two of them leaving together.

“Little God of Stocks, your girlfriend is quite pretty. Where is she from? Does she have an older or younger sister at home?”

Ding Yan grinned. “Old Ding here may be in his forties, but this would be my first time. I’ve got money, just missing the right person.”

“Don’t talk nonsense, I—”

Before Zhang Tianfeng could finish, Gao Ran covered his mouth with her hand, smiling gently. “Thank you for the compliment, Uncle. I’m the only daughter in my family, but I do have a best friend. She runs a factory here on the island.”

“Really? You must introduce her to me. If things work out between us, I guarantee you a big red envelope.”

“Of course, I’ll do my best,” Gao Ran replied, a cunning glint in her eyes.

Ding Yan’s appearance was passable, but years at sea had left his skin dry and dark, making him look older than his age.

If Li Qing knew about this, her expression would surely be amusing.

Their ride was a stretch Bentley. After the initial excitement of their reunion subsided, Ding Yan handed Zhang Tianfeng a folder.

“Little God of Stocks, here’s the information you wanted.”

Zhang Tianfeng thanked him, opened the folder, and began to read.

Ding Yan continued, “As you requested, I used all my contacts to find three factories that meet your requirements. Take a look—tell me which one interests you, and I’ll arrange the meeting.”

“Alright, thank you.”

“No need to be polite. Just don’t forget what you promised me.”

Ding Yan was always straightforward, never hiding his intentions. In his eyes, his dealings with Zhang Tianfeng were nothing but mutually beneficial—just business.

There were three names on the list: Mitsubishi Technical Research and Industrial Corporation, Honda Technical Research and Industrial Corporation, and Yamazaki Mazak Corporation.

Seeing Mitsubishi and Honda on the list surprised Zhang Tianfeng. As far as he knew, Mitsubishi was in heavy industry and Honda made cars. Only Yamazaki Mazak seemed like a standard choice.

Noticing the hesitation on Zhang Tianfeng’s face, Ding Yan said, “If you can’t decide, I’ll arrange meetings with all three. You might have to stay on the island for another two or three days.”

“That’s fine—sorry for the trouble, Brother Ding.”

“You’re too polite. Like I said, just don’t forget me when the money comes in.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t forget what I promised.”

“Good, good!” Ding Yan laughed heartily, slapping his thighs in delight.

Soon, the car arrived at the center of Edo City.

New to the place, Gao Ran’s smile never left her face. Her camera was constantly clicking away at the beautiful sights.

Not only did she take landscapes, but she also insisted that Zhang Tianfeng take pictures of her. Only then did he realize how much skill it took to photograph a girl.

Bad lighting? Pass!

Wrong angle? Pass!

No artistic flair? Pass!

It nearly fried Zhang Tianfeng’s brain cells, but fortunately Gao Ran called it quits in time. Otherwise, she might have seen another side of him altogether.

The two of them looked just like tourists, while Ding Yan’s group acted as their bodyguards, always wearing sunglasses and carrying their bags.

After wandering for most of the afternoon, Gao Ran took the opportunity to call Li Qing during a break. Now they had plans for supper.

Upon hearing that Li Qing would join them, Ding Yan was delighted and kept saying he needed to go home and freshen up.

Gao Ran, tired from all the fun, went back to rest for a while—ready to continue in the evening.

And so, the group headed to their hotel.

On the way, Gao Ran was absorbed in reviewing photos on her camera, while Zhang Tianfeng took the chance to observe his surroundings.

Having fought hard to survive in his previous life, he had developed a peculiar habit: in any unfamiliar place, he made a point to note his surroundings—where the police station was, where the train station was, where the shopping centers were.

The residential areas in Edo City were densely packed, even more so than in Hong Kong. The use of land was pushed to its absolute limits.

With the city by the sea and frequent rain, the streets were often damp, which led some people to mistakenly believe the island was squeaky clean.

But that wasn’t so. Take a look at any river, and you’d be in for a surprise.

As they walked, Ding Yan suddenly stopped. Zhang Tianfeng looked up and saw that the intersection ahead was blocked by two cars. A dozen men, armed, stood at the corner.

“Don’t worry, Little God of Stocks. I’ll handle this,” Ding Yan said, stepping forward.

He called out, “Stinky Fish, you never learn. Last time you chased me, I took out a batch of your men. Here again to throw away more lives?”

“Throw away lives? See what I’m holding?” The burly, bald man grinned menacingly. “And you—when did you become a lackey? Who’s the young master behind you? Introduce me, would you? I could use some cash these days.”

“You really aren’t afraid of dying, are you? Fine, you want money? Let your people go. Once I’ve delivered my guest, we can talk privately.”

“If I let you go, I’d be an idiot.”

“I’ve been waiting for those words!” Ding Yan said with a vicious smile. He gestured to his men, and one of them pulled a massive mobile phone from his pocket. He dialed a number and hung up as soon as it connected.

Within a minute, the roar of engines filled the air. Motorcycles converged from all directions, each carrying three men—one driving, two wielding clubs, all in matching uniforms.

“In our country, pulling this stunt might have scared me a little,” Ding Yan declared. “But here on the island, you must have a death wish! Do you even know who I once rescued at sea? In all of Edo City, no one who dares touch me, Ding Yan, has ever lived to tell the tale! Isn’t that right, brothers?”

“Yes!” came the thunderous reply, brimming with menace.

Gao Ran grimaced and whispered, “Ah Feng, if I told Li Qing to go home right now, would your friend tie me up?”

Zhang Tianfeng just patted her hand and kept his eyes forward.

He sensed something unusual about the whole situation.