Chapter 32: A Formidable Alliance

Zhang Ruilong, in his forties, was rumored to have connections reaching all the way to the provincial authorities. He and Feng Haodong were cut from the same cloth; years ago, they were among the first wave of merchants in Yuanli County. When trouble struck, Feng Haodong fled, but Zhang Ruilong managed to smooth things over thanks to his formidable background, escaping prosecution for speculative trading.

By the eighties, he was sitting on a mountain of cash, just as the private economy was stirring back to life. More and more people dove into the sea of commerce, each dreaming of doing business. But to trade, one needed capital, and the banks refused loans to small-time entrepreneurs. Sensing an opportunity, Zhang Ruilong stepped into this gap, lending money clandestinely to individual business owners. Back then, Chai Mingguo borrowed fifty yuan from him. In those days, to dare to lend and still be thriving today—one could only marvel at the depth of his connections. It was nothing short of miraculous.

Zhang Ruilong’s expression was grim. After retracting the antenna on his bulky mobile phone, he said, “One of my shops just got smashed up. I need to go check it out.”

Feng Haodong was surprised. “There are still people in Yuanli County who dare to wreck your shop?”

Zhang Ruilong shook his head, resigned. “Every year, there’s always a handful of people who don’t know their place. It’s normal.”

Feng Haodong gave a wry smile. “You know, in this line of work, you’re always dancing on the edge. You ought to get out while you’re ahead.”

“No one can say if there’ll be another crackdown in the future.”

Zhang Ruilong sighed. “With so many mouths to feed, it’s not so easy to just walk away.”

They fell silent as the car sped on.

Back in Yuanli County, Zhang Ruilong went straight to the shop overseen by Chen Tianyi. One look and it was clear the boss was furious. The place was in ruins, glass shattered, even the shop’s dog had been strung up on the ceiling fan and bled out.

“Who the hell did this?!”

Zhang Ruilong was livid. In Yuanli County, who dared provoke him so brazenly?

After Chai Jin and his crew had left, Chen Tianyi understood well—if he got beaten up, Zhang Ruilong wouldn’t care. He certainly wouldn’t lose his temper over some lowly underling. So, to escalate matters, Chen Tianyi had smashed up the shop himself, inside and out, and even punched himself twice in the eyes, making himself as pitiable as possible.

He spoke up, “Have you heard of Dao Xiang Distillery, Brother Ruilong?”

Zhang Ruilong was stunned. He’d just come from Dao Xiang Distillery. After returning to the county, he’d sent his old friend Feng Haodong to the Dao Hua branch. He was a man of influence in Yuanli County—how could he not know the distillery and its local connections?

He felt troubled. “What does this have to do with Dao Xiang Distillery?”

Chen Tianyi began embellishing the story. It was all because of Chai Mingguo’s debt. Zhang Ruilong, as the boss, couldn’t possibly remember all the loan deals his men made. He was genuinely puzzled. “Boss Chai at the distillery doesn’t need a paltry fifty yuan. Why would he, for such a small sum, risk his reputation by personally leading people to smash my shop?”

The more he thought about it, the less it made sense. He frowned, glancing at Chen Tianyi.

Chen Tianyi hurried to bow his head. “Brother Ruilong, they’re challenging your standing in the underworld.”

“We took some men and smashed their distillery…”

Before he finished, Zhang Ruilong kicked him to the floor. “You’re giving me orders now?”

Terrified, Chen Tianyi knelt. “Sorry, Brother Ruilong, I didn’t mean that, I just felt angry.”

“They trashed our shop—doesn’t that mean they’re slapping you in the face?”

Zhang Ruilong had no patience for his nonsense. “Get up. You’re coming with me to the distillery.”

“I want to get to the bottom of this.”

Chen Tianyi scrambled after him. “Should I call some men, Brother Ruilong?”

“You call your mother—”

Zhang Ruilong raised his hand to strike.

Chen Tianyi ducked, realizing Zhang Ruilong wouldn’t make a scene over this. He quickly said, “Maybe I shouldn’t go after all, Brother Ruilong. The shop’s a mess—I should clean up.”

Zhang Ruilong grabbed him by the ear and dragged him toward the car.

“You talk more nonsense than anyone I’ve ever met. You’re coming with me to face Boss Chai.”

“No, Brother Ruilong, my stomach hurts. I need the bathroom. Go on your own.”

“If you need to piss, pour it out your mouth. If you need to shit, do it in your pants. You’re coming, no matter what.”

Ignoring Chen Tianyi’s protests, Zhang Ruilong shoved him into the car.

Then they drove straight to the distillery.

In the office building of Dao Xiang Distillery, inside Chai Jin’s office, Feng Haodong and Chai Jin were chatting amicably. Chai Jin was surprised by Feng Haodong’s visit. His good impression of Feng Haodong came entirely from his previous life.

In that past life, Feng Haodong had run a massive electronics factory in Shenzhen, with at least a thousand acres of land. Chai Jin had been an employee there.

How could an employee not know his own boss? Though Feng Haodong’s path to success had been complicated, he was deeply patriotic. The factory held flag-raising ceremonies every morning. They’d interacted before—during a ceremony honoring employees who’d served over five years.

When Feng Haodong learned he was Chai Mingguo’s son, he quickly promoted him to work in the office. Until the day Chai Jin was reborn, he had remained at the factory, by then a department manager.

That boss from his previous life had shown him kindness, so his attitude toward him was especially warm.

The two discussed the distillery.

Feng Haodong’s arrival opened up many new ideas for Chai Jin. After thinking it over, he smiled, “Mr. Feng, let’s not talk about investing in the distillery. I don’t want to make the equity structure too complicated; I just want to give my father’s family a steady path in life.”

“If you really appreciate our Little Li Bai liquor, how about I give you exclusive distribution rights for South China?”

Feng Haodong knew it was a dead end.

He took a deep breath. “Alright. After all these years, I’ve drunk all sorts of liquor, but I still crave the taste of home.”

“Making money isn’t the main thing. What matters is that this liquor shouldn’t be lost to obscurity.”

They began discussing cooperation.

Chai Jin knew that at this stage, Feng Haodong was called the King of Southern Goods in the south!

He was a pioneer of supermarket chains!

No matter which supermarket you entered in South China, you’d find goods from Feng Haodong’s domestic trade company—he dominated the market.

If Little Li Bai liquor could ride this distribution channel, it would surely explode across South China.

Wang Xiaoli finally brought over the contract; both were from the same village and acted straightforwardly.

They signed an exclusive distribution contract on the spot.

Just as the two were about to leave together for a meal, Zhang Ruilong entered Chai Jin’s office, dragging Chen Tianyi by the ear.

Feng Haodong looked curiously at the two. “Ruilong, what’s going on here? Who’s this guy?”