Chapter 14: Sifang Showdown

“Sifang Transport Company is one of the largest freight companies in the North District. Their main business is transporting goods between Satellite Cities. Sometimes they even handle routes to the Main City and other High-wall Cities. Their boss is supposedly a woman surnamed Chen. I heard her business is huge, covering not just the nearby Satellite Cities but even having connections in the Main City!”

“Brother Lu, are we sure… we want to deal with them?”

Surprisingly, after getting Lu Xin’s permission to join the project, Lü Cheng seemed extremely grateful.

He knew that with his qualifications, even with the Director’s daughter favoring him, securing a place in this Company without any achievements was still very difficult. This was especially true after his failed attempt to snatch Lu Xin’s job had made him disliked by everyone in the Office, ruining his reputation. So, he was taking this job very seriously.

For the entire company, this was also a very important piece of business.

Their company was a small trading firm, mainly dealing in trade between Satellite Cities. But this particular task, specifically assigned to Lu Xin, involved the Main City. And being able to conduct business with the Main City was the dream of every company.

Therefore, not only did he quickly help Lu Xin organize the materials, but he also decided early on to accompany Lu Xin for the inspection.

However, when they set out, there were three of them.

Princess Xiao Qing had tagged along. She seemed worried that Lu Xin might deliberately sideline her boyfriend at work.

Lu Xin didn’t mind; after all, Princess Xiao Qing had a car.

“I’m afraid Sifang Transport Company isn’t as simple as it looks on the surface…”

Listening to Lü Cheng’s report, Lu Xin thought to himself that although modern society had solved the food problem for most people thanks to the discovery of wild grain species and the partial recovery of industry, rebuilding the former industrial system was still a long way off.

One major difficulty was transportation.

The roads outside the High Walls were severely damaged, littered with obstacles. Countless madmen, impossible to completely clear out no matter how hard they tried, roamed outside the city. There were also refugees and Knight Orders surviving by raiding supplies, and many other unpredictable dangers. Therefore, those who dared to run transport outside the city were all quite formidable people with backing and means…

Especially since the additional information Chen Jing had given him revealed many hidden details not discoverable through public channels.

Like how this woman surnamed Chen was actually just a figurehead for Sifang Transport Company.

The real boss was someone from the Wasteland named Qin Ran.

However, because people from the Wasteland aren’t granted formal status until they’ve lived within a High-wall City for three years, have no opportunity for schooling, aren’t allowed to register a company until they’ve lived there for ten years, and are barred from administrative positions, he had pushed one of his lovers forward. And Sifang Company’s business probably involved more than just honestly transporting goods!

Someone originating from the Wasteland could never be simple, and certainly wouldn’t be honest!

…

…

“We’ll go with them. After all, not many dare to take on transport business outside the city these days!”

Lu Xin didn’t elaborate further. For his company, this was indeed a business deal.

But for his other job, the real goal was to make contact with Qin Ran and see if he was problematic.

Princess Xiao Qing, driving in front, rolled her eyes in the rearview mirror.

She felt Lu Xin was putting on airs in front of her boyfriend.

But she had already received a lecture from the Director yesterday, so she didn’t dare say much now.

The car soon arrived at Sifang Transport Company in the North District. It was a huge factory area. Most of the buildings inside had been demolished, replaced by neat cement roads. In the large yard sat a line of pickup trucks welded with thick iron plates, some even sporting spikes. Every single vehicle was filthy, looking like giant monsters covered in moss and muck.

They had called ahead. As soon as Lu Xin and the others got out, a young man with half his head shaved, a cigarette dangling from his lips, and wearing slippers walked over. He swung an arm so thin it looked like a stick, gestured vaguely at Lu Xin’s group, and led the way inside.

As they walked, cold gazes frequently landed on them from the roadside, sizing them up.

Among these people were swaggering young thugs with open shirts and extremely tough-looking men.

“You two go ahead and talk to the manager first!”

Reaching the office door, Lu Xin smiled at Lü Cheng and Princess Xiao Qing. “I’ll stay outside and check out their trucks!”

Lü Cheng and Princess Xiao Qing hesitated slightly. Princess Xiao Qing quickly pulled Lü Cheng along, and the two hurried inside.

Before finalizing the contract, inspecting the vehicles used for hauling cargo was naturally necessary. Moreover, if Lü Cheng could settle the specific terms, it would be a notable achievement for his job. So, Princess Xiao Qing knew what was important.

After the two went in, Lu Xin slowly wandered around outside.

The materials Chen Jing gave him only mentioned seven or eight homicide cases related to this company, but it wasn’t confirmed if Mental Pollution events were involved. After all, for people like them, deaths resulting from disputes and shady dealings were common. And for the High-wall City, such cases were minor matters, hardly worth paying attention to in some respects…

What he needed to do now was ascertain the truth of the matter.

So he decided to walk around the company first, looking for any strange phenomena like those encountered during the coffee shop incident.

“People who operate outside are really tough…”

Lu Xin circled the company grounds a few times, carefully inspecting several trucks, thinking to himself.

These trucks bore all sorts of marks. Some looked like they were made by smashing rocks, others by knife hacks. Dark red stains, possibly blood, could be seen on the tires or chassis.

Lu Xin wasn’t actually an expert in this sort of thing.

But he felt he should try to act professional.

So he looked closely, wondering what exactly warranted suspicion.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

“Stop hitting him…”

“If you keep hitting him, I’m going to the Security Hall…”

“…”

Just as Lu Xin was looking, a burst of crying and shouting suddenly erupted from the row of single-story buildings used as offices up ahead.

He hurried over and saw several thuggish young men surrounding Lü Cheng, kicking him repeatedly while cursing viciously: “Is this how you do business? We risk our lives running back and forth out there just so you can haggle down the price? Acting all cultured in front of me? How about I throw you outside to feed those madmen right now?”

Lü Cheng covered his head, begging for mercy. Princess Xiao Qing shouted from the side but didn’t dare step forward to intervene.

“What happened?”

Lu Xin strode forward quickly, pulling his backpack around to his chest.

Princess Xiao Qing cried, “We just thought their quote was too high and tried to negotiate down a bit, then they started hitting people! Also, I saw too many problems with their accounts! We can’t work with them. Cooperating with them will definitely be extremely troublesome…”

Before she could finish, a woman rushed over from the side, grabbed her hair, and started slapping her face hard.

“You bitch, who are you saying has problems?”

“If you hadn’t been so damn fussy, why would I hit you?”

“Ah? Tell me, why did I hit you?”

Princess Xiao Qing’s face swelled from the slaps. She didn’t dare speak anymore, just sobbed.

Watching her get slapped, Lu Xin’s hand, which had reached into his backpack, pulled back. His steps subconsciously slowed.

“Sorry everyone, really sorry…”

Dragging his feet, taking his time, Lu Xin finally walked up, repeatedly apologizing, “How did a fight suddenly break out?”

“Cut the crap…”

A shirtless man with a scar on his face glanced sideways at Lu Xin. “You’re the leader, right?”

“The call mentioned some Manager Lu? Good, I’ll talk to you. You called, said you needed trucks. I’ve got the trucks ready, found the drivers for you. Now you suddenly back out? Are you messing with us? Life isn’t easy for anyone these days. You give me some leeway, I give you some, we can all survive. But if you’re not willing to give way, then don’t blame us for getting rough…”

“…”

“Big brother is right!”

Lu Xin forced a smile. “How about I go back and discuss it?”

Lu Xin wasn’t surprised by what happened to Lü Cheng and Princess Xiao Qing.

Their company was a small trading firm in a Satellite City. Simply put, its main business was circulating non-strategic goods between Satellite Cities. Because their boss had connections with the Materials Management Department and obtained permits, holding a little power, the logistics companies they usually dealt with fawned over them. Sometimes, they even received substantial kickbacks.

Suddenly dealing with a different type, how could they expect Sifang Transport Company to be the same?

He didn’t know the exact reason they got beaten, but clashes were normal when two incompatible attitudes met.

“Discuss?”

The Scarface Man sneered, spat on the ground, and said, “Everyone’s busy trying to survive. Who has the time to bullshit with you?”

Lu Xin looked troubled. “Then what do you want?”

The Scarface Man said, “Sign the contract, pay up quickly, and let’s get to work. Saves everyone the trouble!”

Lu Xin paused for a moment. “The contract definitely can’t be signed just like this!”

Hearing this, the Scarface Man sneered again. “This little manager has a hard head, huh…”

At this moment, the surrounding men lazily closed in, forming a circle around Lu Xin, smirks on their faces.

Seeing this scene, Lu Xin hesitated slightly, then suddenly pulled the gun from his backpack and pointed it at them.

“A gun?”

Seeing it, the men froze for a second.

Even Lü Cheng, sprawled on the ground too scared to get up after being kicked, and Princess Xiao Qing, whose hair was still being held, stared wide-eyed.

Nobody expected Lu Xin to pull out a gun.

“He actually has a gun…”

“Haha…”

“…”

But what followed immediately was a roar of laughter.

The men’s expressions turned mocking. Even the woman holding Princess Xiao Qing’s hair showed contempt. Some quietly pulled out sharpened iron pipes from nearby or grabbed hammers, axes, and similar items.

“Never thought someone would actually pull a gun inside the walls…”

“Heh, little brother. Is that gun of yours even real?”

“…”

The group laughed mockingly, slowly closing in. A lean, tough-looking young man held a rusty knife.

Catching a moment when no one was looking, his eyes turned cold, and he suddenly lunged towards Lu Xin’s back.

At that moment, viciousness gleamed in his eyes. As someone who made his way on the streets, he understood very well that the most important thing for a punk was to stand out. But opportunities were hard to find. Besides major situations requiring risking one’s life, it usually came down to who was the most ruthless and quickest to act. This clueless guy was doomed anyway. As long as he could stab him down with one blow, he’d be eating meat tonight…

But before his knife could even connect, Lu Xin, who seemed completely unprepared, suddenly spun around.

He held the gun and fired without hesitation.

“Bang!”

The young man let out a horrific scream, collapsing two meters away, blood gushing from his left thigh.

It was Lu Xin’s first time using a gun; his aim was truly terrible.

But hearing the gunshot, everyone around was suddenly stunned, scrambling backward.

The surroundings instantly fell silent. All laughter and jeering vanished completely. Only the young man who got shot was now rolling on the ground, clutching his leg, his screams sounding like a pig being slaughtered, clearly mixed with sobs.

Everyone looked at Lu Xin as if he were crazy. Who could have thought it was a real gun?

Even more unthinkable was, how did he actually dare to fire?

This was inside the High-wall City, not outside! Was the Security Hall just for show?

People who frequently traversed the Wasteland were tough, but not fearless. On the contrary, they feared death even more.

It was the young punks messing around in the city who, when their blood rushed, dared to do anything. This was also why Lu Xin shot him first.

After shooting that person, Lu Xin immediately swung the gun around, aiming it at a middle-aged woman standing behind the crowd.

“Don’t push me!”

“You all saw it. My gun is very real…”