Chapter 54: An Unexpected Encounter with Di Rong

  Although he lost a million, Di Rong finally got rid of the annoying Zhang Cheng and had a bittersweet Spring Festival. From New Year's Day on, he either attended banquets or invited others to banquets, and Di Rong didn't rest for a single day, sometimes even having to drink at two different events in one day. In fact, Di Rong was already used to it; while others usually finished celebrating by the 15th of the first month, he had to keep going until the second day of the second month before it was all over.

  Today is the twenty-third day of the first month, which means that the difficult days are almost over and there are less than ten days left. Three days ago, it was already agreed that today would be a banquet to entertain the second important person in Di Rong's life. This person holds a position in Di Rong's heart, second only to Yu Xiaoping of Guanhai City. If he can survive until now because of Yu Xiaoping, then his ability to establish himself in Sifang City and earn such a fortune is closely related to the person he will entertain today.

  The restaurant was also booked three days ago, and before 11 o'clock, Di Rong rushed to the restaurant and personally reviewed the menu proposed by the restaurant, replacing several dishes. And repeatedly instructed the restaurant owner to do a good job, be meticulous, and be precise.

  Di Rong had arranged for a restaurant that wasn't some grand, luxurious hotel. He was well aware of the noble's preferences - he loved to eat dog meat, and it had to be pure black, without a single stray hair. The local, freshly caught wild dog meat was just what he needed. Because Di Rong knew the noble's tastes so well, every spring he would raise one for an entire year, just in time for now to slaughter. Early that morning, he had already sent someone to deliver the dog and instructed the boss to wait until he arrived to personally oversee the slaughter. Only after watching the black dog he had raised for a year be slaughtered did Di Rong get in his car to go pick up the noble.

  Congye left the public green space, found a breakfast stall to eat breakfast, and then wandered around the street. He didn't dare to ask directly about Di Rong's situation, so he could only find some young people on the street who seemed to be in the know and ask if they knew Ren Yusi. As a result of this question, Congye was shocked by their answers, which were all the same:

  "I've never heard of this name."

  It can't be, under Ren Yusi's name, as long as it's a socialite in the four-party city, it's impossible for no one to know.

  "What about Shi Da Jun?"

  "I've never heard of it."

  Having heard this, Cong Ye didn't understand, what's going on?

  Seeing the young man somewhat impatient, Cong Ye casually handed over 200 yuan, and only then did he smile and say:

  "Big brother has something to ask, I guarantee to answer without reservation."

  "Do you know Di Rong?"

  "That's our boss, but I've never seen him before."

  "Are there two special fighters beside Di Rong?"

  "There were two people, I think their names were Zhao Yi and Zhao Er."

  "Zhao One, Zhao Two?"

  Cong Ye described Ren Yusi and Shi Dajun's appearance, and the other party immediately said:

  "That's Zhao Yi and Zhao Er, no mistake about it, I've met both of them twice."

  Congye didn't expect that Ren Yusi and Shi Dajun were not using their real names in Four Sides City. After sending away the young man, Congye pondered in her heart about where to find Di Rong. If she accidentally asked his subordinates, they wouldn't tell her, but instead would alert them like a startled snake.

  Congye wandered around for a long time, but couldn't think of a way to find Di Rong. If he could find Ren Yusi or Shi Dajun, one of the two, maybe he could find Di Rong. But people like them, who usually don't dare to show their true names, are obviously worried about being retaliated against by those they have offended in the past. So it's not easy to find them either. Moreover, both of them are currently injured and will not easily show up.

  Just as Cong Ye was in a dilemma, he suddenly heard the sound of dogs wailing from the street ahead. The voice pierced into Cong Ye's ears, making him feel uncomfortable. Cong Ye had an aversion since childhood - he never ate dog meat. Moreover, he had never hit a dog, even when being chased by one and running wildly in all directions, he would not pick up stones to hit the dog. These two habits of Cong Ye were related to a stray dog from his orphanage days.

  That year, Cong Ye was only six years old. A stray dog appeared in the orphanage from who-knows-where. Its whole body was dirty and its hind leg was curled up, obviously having been beaten by someone before. There was a big patch of fur on its back that seemed to have been scalded off, oozing yellow pus, looking very frightening.

  It was just a dog, but it caught the eye of the grandfather who guarded the orphanage gate. With a rope, taking advantage of the stray dog's inattention, he quickly looped it around the dog's neck and led it to a tree, where he tied the other end of the rope to a branch, strangling the stray dog to death. This scene unfolded before the eyes of six-year-old Cong Ye.

  From then on, whenever Cong Ye saw dog meat, he would think of that stray dog, so Cong Ye had never eaten a piece of dog meat since he grew up.

  As the wailing of dogs on the street in front gradually turned into low whimpers, Cong Ye quickened her pace and just as she turned the corner, she saw a small restaurant with an ordinary-looking signboard surrounded by three or four people gathered in front of it, staring at a black dog hanging from a wooden frame, struggling desperately. The onlookers were occasionally pointing and discussing something.

  Congye didn't expect the restaurant to openly slaughter dogs at the entrance. Just as he was about to turn around and leave, he vaguely heard someone call out "Director Di". Congye immediately put down his raised foot and pretended to be strolling casually, walking towards the direction of the restaurant's entrance.

  "Lao Zhang, this dog was raised by me personally, every day it's almost like eating big fish and meat, how is it, not bad, right?"

  "Boss Di doesn't need to say it, I can see that a dog raised for a year has grown so big and fat, definitely hasn't been mistreated."

  "Take a good rest for now, and if you do well, I'll introduce more customers to you later."

  "Thanks a lot, Mr. Di."

  Congye looked at the tall, fat man standing there, gesturing with his hands and feet. He was about 1.7 or 1.8 meters tall, with a shiny bald head. His upper body wore a black leather jacket, while his lower body wore loose-fitting jeans, along with a pair of shiny black leather shoes. Under his left arm, he held a handbag, and on the thumb of his right hand, which was constantly gesturing, hung a set of keys. Although Congye couldn't be certain that this man was Di Rong, she knew that people with the surname "Di" were not many. Since they had run into each other unintentionally, no matter what, she had to figure out whether or not he was Di Rong.

  Just as he was about to put on a pitiful expression, thinking of going over, he heard Old Master Di instructing:

  "Be sure to clean up carefully, I'm going to pick up guests now."

  "Mr. Di, just treat us well."

  As he spoke, the fat boss Di turned around and walked towards a small car parked by the street, opened the door and got in, and soon drove away.

  Cong Ye walked slowly to the entrance of the restaurant, glanced at the black dog that had already stopped breathing on the rack, and asked nonchalantly:

  "Old Zhang, who is that person?"

  "Do you know me?"

  "Years ago I came with a few friends and had a drink here, how come you don't remember me?"

  "Hehe, I said it looks a bit familiar. You're asking about Mr. Di from earlier? He's a big boss."

  As he spoke, he turned his head and glanced around at both sides of the street.

  "Others are just stamping their feet and half of the city is trembling with fear."

  "Isn't this just a shameful thing in the underworld?"

  "Of course it's him, who else has the surname Di?"

  "Old Zhang, what do you mean? You're not saying that there's only one person with the surname Di in the entire Four Square City, are you?"

  "That's what I mean, last time the Civil Affairs Bureau came to my place to eat dog meat, he told me in person, Di Rong, there is only one in Sifang City, and there is no second person with the surname Di, of course, except for his son."

  After finishing, the face of Old Zhang, the owner of the restaurant, clearly showed a proud expression. Cong Ye didn't know if he was proud because people from the Civil Affairs Bureau also came to his store to eat dog meat, or if it was because he knew Di Rong, who was one of a kind.

  "Old Zhang, Director Di with such a big identity also comes to your store to eat?"

  "Hey young man, don't underestimate my shop. In Four Square City, it's one of a kind. I'm not bragging, but if you want to taste authentic dog meat, you won't find another place like mine in the whole city."

  "I'll really have to bring some friends over to try it another day. One of my friends works at the Labor Bureau and loves eating dog meat, I heard their director likes this dish too."

  "Welcome, when the time comes, notify me in advance, I will prepare the freshest dog meat for you. Or we can do it like today, and let you watch while we kill."

  "Lao Zhang, what kind of guest did Boss Di invite today that he's willing to serve pure black dog?"

  "I really don't know about this, but judging from Old Di's attitude towards him, he is definitely not an ordinary person."

  Congye chatted with Zhang Laoban from the dog meat restaurant for a while before bidding farewell and leaving.