Chapter 224 — Strange Moves
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 3
"You useless piece of trash! Old Yan and I have nothing between us but mutual interest — I did him favors, and he does things for me, one job for one debt repaid. If I send him out over a trifle like this, isn't that making a mountain out of a molehill?" Zou Tiandi was furious at his son's failure to live up to his blood. How could this boy be such a spineless coward?
"If it's such a trifle, then let it go..." Zou Ruoguang said weakly.
"Enough! I don't need you for this. Get out of my sight!" Zou Tiandi waved him off in a fury. This son had not a shred of the dominance he himself had shown in his youth — craven, clinging to life at any cost.
Zou Ruoguang, as if granted a royal pardon, turned and fled back to his room, leaving behind a Zou Tiandi boiling with rage.
Zou Ruoming had heard the entire exchange outside his room, and he had seen the wounds on his brother's hands as well. He was thoroughly dejected; it seemed his plan would have to be postponed. In the state his brother was in, how could he possibly help him snatch anyone?
For a delicate business like this, Zou Ruoming would not trust anyone but his elder brother to handle it in person. So it was that by Monday morning he was still sunk in gloom. Summoned out by Zhong Yongliang, he was reminded of the plan again and grew all the more listless.
"Brother Ming, that plan I mentioned — how are the preparations coming along?" Zhong Yongliang pulled out his cigarette case and offered Zou Ruoming a cigarette.
"Don't even mention it..." Zou Ruoming waved his hand in frustration. "My brother has run into some trouble on his end and can't help me with this. I'm stewing over it right now. I'm afraid the whole thing will have to be pushed back!"
Zhong Yongliang was secretly overjoyed at Zou Ruoming's words. His original idea had been to have Brother Black Panther help Zou Ruoming snatch the girl, then lure Wei Zhao there and let Black Panther finish him off. But if Zou Ruoming's men were present, it would be awkward for Black Panther to make his move.
Still, he could hardly bring it up directly. If he suddenly said to Zou Ruoming, "Let me find the men to snatch Tang Zhi for you," Zou Ruoming would certainly grow suspicious.
"Brother Ming, this is no time to drag your feet. If you delay and that brat Wei Zhao beats you to the punch, you'll be the one losing out big!" Zhong Yongliang began administering a strong dose of medicine to Zou Ruoming.
"You've got a point. Damn it all to hell, but I can't very well do this with my own hands!" Zou Ruoming said with some difficulty. "Liang, do you have anyone suitable on hand?"
"Me? Brother Ming, you're not asking me to help you kidnap someone, are you? If my dad found out, he'd beat me to death!" Zhong Yongliang said, feigning reluctance. "You know about that business with Brother Black Panther..."
Zou Ruoming nodded. Of course he knew about the Black Panther affair — Zhong Yongliang had surely taken no small scolding at home over it. But at the moment, Zhong Yongliang was the only one he could turn to. "Liang, you've got a grudge against Wei Zhao too, haven't you? Why not help me out this time? That brat Wei Zhao put Brother Black Panther in prison, and that's what got you chewed out. He's your enemy too!"
"You've got a point there!" Only then did Zhong Yongliang nod in what seemed like deep agreement. "All right, Brother Ming, I'll help you this once!"
"Now that's what a real brother sounds like!" Zou Ruoming was overjoyed and clapped him on the shoulder. "When can we move?"
"Tonight at the earliest, I suppose. I'll make some calls to gather people in a bit," Zhong Yongliang said. "But Brother Ming, do you have a place to do the job?"
"I do. There's an abandoned, half-finished building in the North District — hardly anyone goes there normally. It's a hangout where my brother and the boys go to let loose!" Zou Ruoming said. "It's on Honghua Road in the North District."