Chapter 4 The Real First Step

  Back home, his mother Wang Lin and second brother Ye Haoran were wrapping dumplings, looking like they were almost done. It was already this late when they finished wrapping, it seemed that they were mostly waiting for Ye Haodong to get off work. Ye Haodong's heart warmed up, he smiled and washed his hands, pretending to want to help, but then feigned surprise: "Coming back early is not as good as coming back at the right time, you've finished wrapping, just in time to eat them freshly made."

  Because Ye Haodong can bring back home one thousand yuan every month, their family life has been greatly improved. In 1993, the monthly salary of a front-line worker in the factory was just over one thousand yuan with subsidies. The youngest son, who is only sixteen years old, now brings back one thousand yuan every month, which is more than two hundred yuan more than his mother's salary. This is something Wang Lin would never have dared to think of before.

  The original house in the family has been sold to pay off debts, and the less than 40 square meters rental house where the mother and children are currently living is a cramped space for the four members of the Ye family to live in. The biggest improvement is having a good meal of dumplings. Today, Ye Haoran's school is on holiday, and his son who has been away from home for several months has returned. Wang Lin naturally wants her child to have a good meal. Ye Haodong puts the packaged roasted beef he brought back on the dinner table and says with a smile: "Just in time to add a dish for my second brother."

  "Have you eaten outside?"

  "Yeah, let's have dinner together with the two of us who work together. I just went there and they took good care of me, I've been wanting to show my appreciation, and it just so happens that today was a good day for work, we made some extra money..."

  Wang Lin: "Having received others' care, it's also necessary to show one's gratitude."

  On the dinner table.

  "Mom, if you want me to say it, I think my second brother should just go back to high school. No matter how well he does in vocational school, his prospects won't be great. With his grades, he's sure to get into a top university if he takes the exam. It would be a pity if he doesn't continue."

  Ye Haodong's words made Wang Lin feel relieved: "I've talked to your second brother about it, he himself doesn't want to attend high school."

  Ye Haodong looked at his second brother and asked: "Why?"

  Ye Haoran: "My brother dropped out of school at the age of 16 to work for this family, and I'm already 20 years old during the New Year. Not only can't I earn money to alleviate my mother's burden, but I also have to rely on you guys to support me in studying. This has made me very ashamed. Attending a vocational school is great, the school is close to home, the cost is low, and there are scholarships for good students. Graduating early and starting work early, I think it's better than any university."

  Ye Haodong: "If you think it's good, then it's good."

  "Tomorrow onwards, I can go home a bit earlier."

  "What's wrong? Has there been some change in work?"

  "There's been a change, but it's good news. Your son has become the top apprentice in the massage parlor and the boss wants me to train new employees on massage techniques. From now on, he won't have to work so late and his salary will double. After finishing work, there will also be bonuses, I reckon he'll definitely earn more than before."

  Wang Lin and Ye Haoran were delighted by what he said. Since their income wouldn't decrease, they naturally hoped that Ye Haodong would be more relaxed.

  "After the Spring Festival, I might go out for a long trip. My boss said that if this batch of employee training goes well, he will help me contact a job in the south. At that time, he will send my salary to you every month through someone. I'm giving you a heads up now, so when the time comes and I leave in a hurry, you won't be caught off guard and wonder where I went."

  Wang Lin: "It's still two or three months away, there's plenty of time to prepare, what's the rush? Alright, let's eat dumplings, they'll get cold soon..."

  Three months later.

  The efficacy of the medicinal bath is surprisingly good, and now Teng Yu Bathhouse has become a famous destination for people to come and soak in the medicinal bath every day. Li Tengyu cancelled the free trial promotion a month ago, and the current price is 20 yuan per session. Although the ticket price is much higher than the usual three-yuan ticket price for bathing, people still flock here specifically for the medicinal bath. Under the boost of this new business, Teng Yu Bathhouse's main business has been booming in the past two months, with even some wealthy people from three stations away coming to visit. The benefits brought by this event have surprised Li Tengyu, who had initially estimated it would be a success. What makes him even happier is that the Teng Yu Medicinal Bath and Massage Therapy Center, located in the central area of Xin Guang District, officially opened on the eighth day after the New Year. The first batch of massage girls trained by Ye Haodong have also officially started work. Although the new store has been open for less than two weeks and its reputation is not yet established, the business is still far from reaching full capacity, but due to targeting high-end customers with high prices, the new store's profits are surprisingly much higher than the old store.

  Qian Tu Yuande, with a great mood, Li Tengyu's thoughts on the conditions discussed with Ye Haodong have changed again compared to before.

  New store opening, Ye Haodong suggested that he take the high-end route, to do professional massage therapy, and let the female masseuses bring a little ambiguity in the service process, so as to hit the policy's edge ball, and rely on the freshness of the female masseuses to hook the customers' appetite, the business will be good for a long time. According to Ye Haodong's plan, the results achieved within half a month made Li Tengyu realize that this young man was indeed a rare talent in the business world.

  "Little brother, stay here, I'll give you 3,000 yuan a month. The new store over there will be handed over to you for management. I think we two brothers are compatible and can make a fortune together."

  Yehao Dong smiled: "Thank you boss for the compliment, but I still want to stand on my own mountain. Even if it's just a small hill like a grave mound, as long as it's mine. You're also surnamed Ye, if you really think I'm good and want to help me out, give me a good price, and I'll remember your kindness for the rest of my life."

  "Hey, it's okay, everyone has their own aspirations. A forced relationship is not sweet. Let's just consider this a chance encounter and call it fate. You name the price for Fangzi and the training fee, I'll fulfill your wish."

  Ye Haodong thought for a moment: A few months ago, he spent less than 5,000 yuan on buying pots and medicine (this was his private savings aside from the 1,000 yuan he gave to his mother every month). As for the cost, apart from using some brainpower, it's just this amount of money. Looking at the booming business on Li Tengyu's side these days, it shouldn't be excessive to quadruple the investment based on this cost. If the training fee is also priced similarly, the two items would add up to 40,000 yuan, which would be enough for him to move on to his next plan.

  "40,000, plus training fees."

  "I'll give you 600,000, but with one condition." This price was apparently below Li Tianyu's psychological bottom line.

  "What's wrong? I really can't go to work at your place." Ye Haodong said with a bitter smile.

  Li Tengyu: "You can't use this money to open a bathhouse, let alone go to other bathhouses!"

  Ye Haodong: "That's it?"

  Li Tengyu: "Yeah, that's it!"

  Ye Haodong: "Alright, I agree."

  Li Tengyu: "A gentleman's word is his bond." Ye Haodong: "A swift horse needs only one whip."

  Two people shake hands, and the deal is sealed.

  In 1994, after the Lunar New Year, Ye Haodong made his first pot of gold.

  It's time to address the underlying threat that has been lurking in the background for a long time.

  Ding Dawei, 20 years old, a well-known thug on Taipingmen Street. Usually carrying a * in his hand, playing with knives and swords, collecting "management fees" to make a living in the Taipingmen market. This guy didn't get into this line of work by accident, but rather it's a traditional family business that's been passed down from generation to generation. His old man was Ding Lao Si, who was said to be on par with Er Xinzi before the Shanlong Army brothers rose to power.

  Four years ago, Er Xinzi's gang and Ding Laosi's gang had a fierce battle, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. After the war, Shan Longjian suggested that Er Xinzi launch a surprise attack on Ding Laosi's lair, and Shan Longjian personally cut off Ding Laosi's tendons. The hatred between the two sides was irreconcilable. Unfortunately, Ding Laosi's downfall led to his followers dispersing, and his son Ding Dawei, who inherited his legacy, failed to inherit his power. Fortunately, Shan Longjian and his brothers did not bother him after that incident, partly because they looked down on him and were not afraid of his revenge, and partly because they feared Ding Laosi's friends in prison. Although Shan Longjian did not eliminate Ding Dawei, the seeds of hatred had already taken root in Ding Dawei's heart. When Li Weidong approached him with a plan to take down Shan Longjian, he agreed without hesitation.

  Ye Haodong met with Ding Dawei and, after just one glance at the young man's scarred arm, agreed to let him join in on the action against the Shan Long Army. Among the small-time hooligans on Taiping Gate Street, this young man didn't have a bad reputation, couldn't be considered a despicable villain hated by gods and men alike. Ye Haodong had heard of him before, and now seeing that he wanted to avenge his father showed that he still had some humanity in him. The deep-seated hatred between Ding Dawei and the Shan Long Army also made him the most suitable candidate in Ye Haodong's eyes.

  With Ding Dawei's participation, Ye Haodong's plan can be basically implemented.

  Ye Haodong didn't have the slightest psychological burden about the matter of Shan Longjun. He thought it was very clear that within the bounds of the law, this was a world where the strong preyed on the weak. Ye Haodong's innate iron-like temperament made him unable to stand idly by when faced with Shan Longhui bullying Xiao Zheng. However, due to the Shan Longhui incident, he unwillingly ended up on opposite sides with the Shan Longjun brothers. Now, the Shan Longjun brothers were sneaking back to deal with him, risking being caught at any time, clearly with the intention of killing a chicken to scare the monkeys. Given their ruthless and cruel nature, if Ye Haodong fell into their hands, his fate would likely be no better than that of Ding Laosi. Thinking about this, Ye Haodong made up his mind to eliminate the threat of Shan Longjun, even if it meant risking his own life!

  Shan Longjun has been eyeing Ye Haodong for a month now. He is waiting for an opportunity to make his move, and he is confident that he will get it. Although Ye Haodong is a cunning little brat who takes detours every day on his way to and from work, never taking the shortcut through the quiet alleys at night.

  Shan Longjun didn't know that while he was waiting for an opportunity to make his move, Ye Haodong was also waiting. He was waiting for a suitable moment to give Shan Longjun this opportunity.