Chapter 8: The Restaurant
“Director Song, I know you’re not the final decision-maker in this matter, but I have a request—could you contact them right now to see if they would accept it?”
“The Datang Group has their eyes on that abandoned warehouse in the eastern part of the city, but we do think the price of six million is a bit steep.”
“How about two million?”
Tang Jianing’s words struck like a dagger, causing Director Song’s heart to tighten sharply.
Though the four million difference wouldn’t come from the stability maintenance funds, they would definitely have to scrape that money up from somewhere else.
Still, considering this whole mess was caused by the special task force, the director clenched his teeth fiercely.
“Well, it’s getting late today, and Mr. Tang, you should rest early since you’re older. I’ll report this matter first thing in tomorrow’s meeting!”
Tang Liqian nodded slightly with a faint smile on his face.
Seeing that her father understood her intentions, Tang Jianing also nodded and then stood up.
“All right, I won’t keep you any longer.”
Without another word, Tang Jianing turned and walked out of the Criminal Investigation Building.
The driver started the car and glanced up at the rearview mirror.
“Miss, where are we headed?”
“To the World Restaurant.”
“Understood!”
The car slowly pulled away, and Tang Jianing leaned back in her seat, rubbing her throbbing temples.
The World Restaurant was the territory of Seventh Master; most people chose this place for business meetings.
Through the streetlights, she gazed outside—now the entire mountain city was thoroughly stirred.
Gangsters with tattoos were everywhere on the streets. Many kept glancing down at their phones, comparing the people passing by.
Shops that normally stayed open until three or four in the morning had closed early tonight, and even the busiest nightclubs had chosen to shut down.
In some remote areas, workers carrying pickaxes, shovels, and steel pipes wandered about.
The underworld’s manhunt order had driven the struggling masses almost to madness.
The car stopped in front of the restaurant, and Seventh Master, who had received the news early, stood at the entrance with two henchmen.
“Miss, what an honor for you to come in person. Please, come inside!”
“Seventh Master, don’t be so formal. You’re of my father’s generation; I am the junior here.”
“Miss, you flatter me. I’ve prepared a meal and hope you’ll grace us with your presence!”
Tang Jianing spoke politely, but Seventh Master was no fool—he wasn’t easily swayed.
The sole heir of Datang Group, coupled with occasional news from abroad, made it clear to anyone with a brain where they should place themselves.
“Well, that’s considerate. Let’s have a meal together.”
***
Seventh Master’s clear goodwill was not rejected by Tang Jianing, and she followed him into a private dining room.
Dishes were brought to the table one after another by the waiter.
After pouring herself a glass of juice, Tang Jianing fixed her gaze on Seventh Master.
“Have you found Liao Wenjie?”
“Not yet, but my men have tracked his whereabouts.”
Seeing Tang Jianing’s expression unchanged, Seventh Master began to share the intelligence gathered recently.
“At present, every exit from the city and all stations are guarded by my men. It’s certain Liao Wenjie is still within the city.”
“Half an hour ago, workers in the northern Chengbei area spotted signs of Liao Wenjie. We’re leading a siege now; within an hour, we should find him!”
Listening to Seventh Master, Tang Jianing nodded and leisurely sampled the delicacies before her.
“This dish is the restaurant’s specialty, usually not sold to outsiders. The seafood is all airlifted from overseas to ensure freshness!”
“The beef in this dish is XZ yak beef, freshly slaughtered today!”
…
As Seventh Master continued his introductions, Tang Jianing calmly enjoyed the exquisite meal.
The World Restaurant was a masterpiece of Seventh Master’s efforts—both the flavor and ingredients offered a top-tier experience.
After filling her empty stomach, Tang Wanwan leaned back in her chair.
“Tough times lately?”
“The investigations are strict; business has definitely been affected.”
Hearing Seventh Master’s reply, Tang Wanwan glanced out the window.
“Next, I’m going to develop that plot in the eastern city. Prepare the building materials.”
Her words immediately lit a spark in Seventh Master’s eyes. He picked up his wine glass and stood.
“Thank you, Miss!”
Before he could express more gratitude, a figure in a suit pushed open the door and walked in.
“Seventh Master, we found Liao Wenjie, but there’s a bit of trouble.”
Upon hearing this, Seventh Master’s eyes blazed with fury as he stared at the intruding subordinate, his voice barely squeezing through clenched teeth.
“Speak!”
“Gangster Steel Cannon and his crew held the man back. The purpose is unclear for now, but our brothers clashed with them.”
“Who’s Steel Cannon?”
Tang Jianing’s voice snapped Seventh Master back to attention, prompting a swift explanation.
“He’s the behind-the-scenes boss at Golden Phoenix Bathhouse. Formerly a debt collector, now commanding a group of pickpockets and hawkers.”
The brief explanation quickly made Tang Jianing understand the man’s background.
The term “debt collector” had traveled north from the south, meaning someone who collected debts by force.
“Pickpockets” were easy to grasp—underworld slang for thieves.
“Hawkers” in the trade were those who set up scams, often involving honey traps—unsavory characters indeed.
People with such origins usually had a cadre of tough underlings and were ruthless themselves.
“Liao Wenjie is with him, right?”
Tang Jianing asked one of Seventh Master’s men, who had followed him for years, and he nodded quickly.
“Yes, we chased him to Steel Cannon’s chess and card parlor and have him surrounded.”
“As long as the man is caught.”
Tang Jianing stretched lazily, then pulled out her phone and dialed Zhou Lu’s number.
“Miss!”
“Do you know Steel Cannon?”
“Yes, a notorious thug.”
“Liao Wenjie is with him. Send the security team over to handle it. I’ll be there in half an hour.”
“Understood!”
After hanging up, Tang Wanwan placed a bank card on the table.
“There’s six hundred thousand on this card. The password is six zeros. Don’t be stingy with rewards for tonight’s achievements.”
The subordinate glanced at the card with a hint of longing but quickly controlled himself and looked toward Seventh Master.
“Take it. When you distribute the money, tell the brothers it’s a gift from Miss.”
Hearing they could get the money, the subordinate’s face brightened with joy.
“Thank you, Miss!”
“Let’s go check out that chess and card parlor.”
Now that they had the location, Tang Jianing wasn’t going to delay any longer.
The sooner they handed the man over to the Criminal Investigation Department and freed her father, the better—securing that eastern city plot was the key after all.