Chapter Ninety-Three: A Blessing in Disguise?

The rise of the South Sea Gang had taken place only a little over a month ago, and its main strength had originally been based in Guangzhou Prefecture. Fu Xu Town also had a number of South Sea Gang members, though Ding Li had scarcely met any of them. Everything had been arranged by Zhang Wu during the month Ding Li spent recovering from his injuries. But after what had happened in Fu Xu Town two days earlier, the South Sea Gang’s name had truly spread far and wide.

In the escort trade, intelligence work could hardly be said to be poor, especially for the Miao Escort Bureau, which controlled nearly a third of the escorting business in Fu Xu Town. Their local network was quite extensive. Although the upheaval of the previous two days had been a struggle between Zhang’s Chamber of Commerce and Cao’s Chamber of Commerce, on the surface it had appeared to be a fight for control of Little South Sea by the South Sea Gang. In the end, it was still an affair of the martial world. How could Miao Cuihua, Li Shan, and the others not know of Ding Li of the South Sea Gang?

After their initial shock, Li Shan was the first to recover. He hurriedly rose, stepped back, and cupped his fists with a solemn expression toward Ding Li. “So it’s Brother Li of the South Sea Gang. I, ah, had eyes but failed to see Mount Tai before, and showed you disrespect. I hope Brother Li can be forgiving!”

Ding Li was first taken aback, then understood the meaning of the phrase in Li Shan’s mouth. He remembered how, when reading the classic tales of the marsh outlaws in the past, such humble little particles of speech were often used in formal settings. It seemed this was simply a habit Li Shan had developed after many years of roaming the jianghu. Ding Li felt a little embarrassed in return. Even if Li Shan was not twenty years older than him, he was at least eighteen years his senior, yet he still addressed him as Brother Li according to the rules of the martial world. Ding Li could hardly assume airs, and quickly rose to avoid the other man’s solemn salute. He returned the gesture with a smile and explained, “Escort Leader Li, don’t say that! In front of Escort Leader Li, my little tricks amount to nothing. I’m only making a living. If you keep saying things like that, I won’t know where to put my face!”

“Brother Li is too modest! I’m only following the rules!” Li Shan had seen such scenes many times before and did not find the form of address awkward at all. He still shook his head with a serious expression and insisted.

“What rules or no rules? We’ve stood shoulder to shoulder and faced life and death together. What is some rule of the jianghu worth?” Ding Li paid no heed to the so-called conventions of the martial world. He curled his lip and waved a hand at Li Shan, adding, “If Escort Leader Li does not mind, then for the sake of having fought side by side, I, Ding Li, will call you Brother Li. Brother Li, you can just call me Ah Li. If you keep calling me Brother Li, I won’t even dare speak to you anymore. It feels too strange!”

“This, this...” Li Shan looked troubled at once. In truth, he was more than willing to become friendly with Ding Li. For him, the chief escort of the Miao Escort Bureau, connections were immensely important. What was more, Fu Xu Town was now practically under the sole control of the South Sea Gang. If he truly formed a bond with Ding Li, it might well prove of great help to both himself and the bureau in the future.

But Li Shan’s thinking was rather rigid, and he did not know exactly what sort of relationship their boss, Miao Cuihua, had with Ding Li. After hesitating for a moment, he could only turn his gaze toward Miao Cuihua, hoping she would make the decision for him.

“Since Ah Li has already said so, Escort Leader Li, why are you still being coy?” Miao Cuihua teased him with a smile, then turned to Ding Li as well. As her gaze shifted, she looked him over once more, and with a smile that seemed to imply more than it said, she continued, “Ah Li, I really didn’t see it. The hero of all those rumors spreading through Fu Xu Town these past two days was actually right beside me. And not long ago, I even had the honor of fighting shoulder to shoulder with Brother Li of the South Sea Gang!”

“Sister Miao, please don’t make fun of me. Before, I... I also...” Hearing a trace of reproach in her words, as if she were chiding him for not revealing his identity earlier, Ding Li tried awkwardly to explain. But he did not know what else to say, and after a while he could only look at her with a sheepish expression and give up.

“Old sayings really were right after all. Sometimes a loss turns out to be a blessing in disguise,” Miao Cuihua said with a smile. She reached out to stir the campfire in front of her, then looked at Li Shan and Ding Li in turn and continued, “It seems that although we lost an escort run, we’ve ended up latching on to the great tree that is Brother Li of the South Sea Gang. It looks as though our Miao Escort Bureau will have even better prospects in Fu Xu Town from now on. Those other escort bureaus likely won’t dare join forces to suppress us so easily anymore!”

“This, this...” Hearing this, Li Shan began to sweat a little at the brow. He had not expected his boss to speak so frankly. Though that was indeed her nature, he still felt it was somewhat abrupt. He was just considering whether he should step in and explain for her when Ding Li laughed it off and said casually, “Sister Miao flatters me. Still, if there is anything you need help with, just say the word. As long as it is within my power, I, Ding Li, will not refuse!”

“Escort Leader Li, see that? Ah Li is a man meant to do great things. Don’t keep fussing over little formalities!” Miao Cuihua smiled triumphantly at Li Shan. A hint of cunning flashed in her eyes. When she turned back, her expression had already returned to normal, and in an instant her face grew serious. “Ah Li, speaking of which, there really is something. I wonder if it would be convenient for you to help?”

“Please, Sister Miao, go ahead!” Ding Li nodded and sat down again, then smiled and called to Li Shan, “Brother Li, we’ve all faced life and death together. What rules are we still talking about? Sit down and speak. If we keep being so proper, I’m afraid I won’t be able to take it and will have to leave first!”

“Heh, yes, yes, Ah... Ah Li, what you say is right...” Li Shan gave an awkward laugh and nodded. Even so, he still sat down somewhat stiffly, and his eyes kept drifting toward Miao Cuihua. In his heart, he could not make sense of what their boss was doing today; everything she said and did struck him as extremely rash.

“It concerns our Miao Escort Bureau!” Once Ding Li and Li Shan had both sat down, Miao Cuihua spoke in a grave voice. After receiving Ding Li’s slight nod for her to continue, she explained, “You saw it yourself today, Ah Li. The brothers brought out on this escort run were all among the bureau’s best hands. This loss will affect our strength to a small degree. This line of work is one where the weak are devoured by the strong. I’m afraid the other escort bureaus in Fu Xu Town won’t let such a good opportunity to suppress us slip by easily!”

Having said this, Miao Cuihua paused and fixed Ding Li with an intent stare. Ding Li thought it over briefly, his brows knitting slightly. After a thoughtful sigh, he explained, “Sister Miao, the South Sea Gang does indeed have quite a few brothers with decent skills. But if you want them to fill the gaps in the Miao Escort Bureau right now, I’m afraid that would not be easy. And there is another thing: the higher you stand, the harder you fall. I’m sure Sister Miao understands that very well. As for the South Sea Gang’s situation, Sister Miao and Brother Li understand it without my saying much. Right now Zhang’s Chamber of Commerce has completely fallen out with Cao’s Chamber of Commerce. At a time like this, if I were to openly declare a relationship with your Miao Chamber of Commerce, the outcome might not be to help you at all. On the contrary, it could well bring about many unforeseen troubles.”

“Ah Li, what you say is certainly true, but you’ve misunderstood what I mean,” Miao Cuihua said, nodding in understanding before shaking her head. Seeing the confusion in Ding Li’s eyes, she smiled and patted his shoulder, then let out a long breath and continued, “It’s actually not as complicated as you’ve just imagined. Since the South Sea Gang has already gained the upper hand in Fu Xu Town, there will surely be more business at sea in the future. As long as you, Ah Li, can hand over a portion of that business to our Miao Escort Bureau, there is no need for your South Sea Gang to declare any position at all. First, our Miao Escort Bureau will not lose customers because of this incident, since your South Sea Gang’s goods are still entrusted to us for escorting, so our reputation will naturally be preserved. Second, even if the other escort bureaus want to join forces and suppress us, for the sake of your South Sea Gang’s face, they certainly will not dare act rashly!”

“Oh! I understand now!” After hearing this, Ding Li suddenly saw the light. So Miao Cuihua meant to use the influence the South Sea Gang now held in Fu Xu Town to help the Miao Escort Bureau gain a firmer foothold in the escort trade and even continue expanding their power. After thinking it over, he felt he absolutely had the authority to decide such a thing, and immediately agreed. But then he asked curiously, “By the way, Sister Miao, I really don’t know this: Zhang’s Chamber of Commerce handles such enormous business, with goods coming and going every day, and your Miao Escort Bureau has such a strong reputation in Fu Xu Town. Have you really never cooperated before?”

“Cooperate? There have been a few times, but they were only tiny deals,” Li Shan said somewhat discontentedly from the side, shaking his head. Speaking of matters he knew well, his earlier stiffness immediately vanished, and he muttered with some complaint, “Ah Li, almost all of Zhang’s Chamber of Commerce’s goods are escorted back and forth by their own people! Besides, the journey from Fu Xu Town to Guangzhou Prefecture only takes one day by carriage. In this little stretch of land, there are truly very few fools bold enough to intercept the Zhang caravans flying the golden banner. Even ordinary children in Guangzhou Prefecture know something of Zhang’s backing. Unless someone no longer wants to remain in this territory, they would never dare make a move against Zhang’s caravans!”

“That is indeed the case,” Miao Cuihua said in agreement. Seeing the slight furrow between Ding Li’s brows, she immediately understood his concern and quickly continued, “Ah Li, now that your South Sea Gang has already established itself in Fu Xu Town, Zhang’s Chamber of Commerce will naturally expand its business. By then there will surely be many smaller transactions, and Zhang’s own strength will not be enough to cover them all. You only need to send some of the smaller business to our bureau!”

“If that’s really the case, then there’s no problem at all!” This was indeed the point Ding Li had been considering. After hearing Miao Cuihua’s analysis, he also felt it made sense. After all, the purpose of Zhang Mingzhi’s occupation of Little South Sea was not mere amusement; he would certainly expand his base and business rapidly. Even so, there was still a note of hesitation in Ding Li’s words, because he could not be sure when he would be able to provide them with business.

Seeing this, a flash of light came into Miao Cuihua’s eyes. She hurriedly added with a smile, “Of course, as for the commission, I can also step back a little. I wouldn’t want to make things difficult for you, Ah Li. How about, um, eighty percent of the current market rate?”

“No, no, there’s no need! Sister Miao, you’ve misunderstood me. Our brothers already have it hard enough in this line of work. How could I let Sister Miao and the brothers earn less than others? I was only thinking that I don’t know when I’ll have business to send your way!” Ding Li quickly shook his head and waved off her kindness, then explained seriously. After that, he added with a shake of his head, “Besides, whenever there is business that needs help, I’ll definitely take care of Sister Miao, Brother Li, and all the brothers first! If we’re going to get rich, then everyone should do it together!”

“This...” Li Shan again felt a little embarrassed. He knew the profit from every escort run all too well, especially the runs from Fu Xu Town to Guangzhou Prefecture: low risk, low investment, and remarkably good returns. Even at the eighty percent rate Miao Cuihua had mentioned, the profit would still be considerable.

“Since Ah Li is being so straightforward, then I’ll not stand on ceremony,” Miao Cuihua said. Unlike Li Shan, as the head of the Miao Escort Bureau she had far more to consider. Especially after today’s events, she understood all the better how hard things were for the escorts under her command. In her heart, she had already increased their settlement allowance by more than half, and naturally the higher the profit, the better. Money delivered into one’s own pocket—how could there be any reason to send part of it back?

“Ah Li, I’ll thank you in advance, then.” Thinking of the steady stream of business to come, the smile at the corners of Miao Cuihua’s mouth could no longer be concealed. She rose at once and cupped her fists solemnly toward Ding Li in thanks. Li Shan had no choice but to stand as well and, somewhat helplessly, return the salute to Ding Li.

“Sister Miao, Brother Li, there’s no need to be so polite. It’s only a small favor!” Ding Li hurriedly stood and returned the salute, waving it off with an unconcerned smile. In truth, what Ding Li was thinking was much simpler than the two of them before him. After all, the business was not his, and the money was not his either. Yet the relationship between him and these two people had become somewhat special because of a life-and-death struggle. Within the bounds of what he could do, looking after their business seemed perfectly natural to him.