Chapter 24: Xiling Sugar Refinery

Drug trafficking is a profession of dancing on the edge of a blade. Those who deal in poison are vicious and cruel, constantly playing a deadly game of cat and mouse with anti-narcotics police. Yet, these "mice" are fierce; when pushed to the brink, they are more than willing to fight the cat to the death.

Xiao Ziguang did not use an alias; he kept his name, but he had glued a pair of small mustaches under his nose, changed into blue overalls, and slouched his shoulders, hunching his chest. His entire demeanor had undergone a transformation.

The headquarters of Xiling Trading is located in Xiling County, a major agricultural hub where sugar cane is the pillar industry. The land here is perfectly suited for cane cultivation, supporting numerous plantations and two massive sugar refineries.

Xiao Ziguang drove a Jiefang-brand heavy truck, with a man of sinister appearance sitting in the passenger seat. "Little Xiao, you’re young, but you drive well. You been at it for seven or eight years?"

Xiao Ziguang smiled. "Brother Qian, not that long. Maybe three or four years. I was in the motor pool back in the army, so I drove trucks every day."

"No wonder your skills are sharp and you’re so fit. Since you were discharged, why didn't you pull some strings to get a proper job?"

If the previous conversation had been mere idle chatter, this question had a clear objective. It seemed to be asking about his employment, but in reality, it was a probe into Xiao Ziguang’s family background.

"No connections at home. The most successful one in the family is my cousin, who teaches at a township primary school. I thought about asking for help to get assigned a job, but I didn't know who to turn to."

"Besides, I’m not good with words and I don’t like dealing with people. I’d be terrible at business. Driving and transport is my trade. It’s tiring, but it pays well."

"I think you’re quite sensible. Work hard; our boss is very generous. Stick with him, and you’re sure to make a fortune..."

Xiao Ziguang pressed the brake, and the truck slowly came to a halt. The gates of the Xiling Sugar Refinery were imposing, and two security guards were eyeing Xiao Ziguang’s unfamiliar face with hostility.

Qian Hao rolled down the window, pulled two packs of cigarettes from the glove box, and tossed them to the guards. "I’m Qian Hao. Here’s my pickup order!"

Qian Hao reached into his inner pocket and pulled out half a playing card—a Jack of Hearts—and handed it to the guards. A guard checked the logbook, flipped to the page matching the Jack of Hearts, and only after verifying both sides did he wave them through.

Qian Hao gestured for him to drive on, but Xiao Ziguang pretended to be confused. "What’s all that about? Acting like secret agents meeting up?"

Qian Hao, who had been all smiles, suddenly changed his expression. "If you’ve picked up this bowl to eat this rice, don’t ask about things that don’t concern you."

Xiao Ziguang immediately apologized. "Brother Qian, it was my loose tongue. Please, a man of your stature shouldn't hold a grudge against a small fry like me. Let me buy you a drink later."

Qian Hao was satisfied with his attitude and offered a bit more advice. "Every trade has its rules. In our line of work, the less you know, the longer you live."

"If you don't want to die, I suggest you work hard and keep your mouth shut. It’s best to be a mute. Even if you see something you shouldn't, bury it in your gut."

"Got it! Understood. I’m really learning the ropes from you, Brother Qian. I’ll make sure to pour you a few extra glasses tonight..."

Under Qian Hao’s direction, the truck pulled into the factory grounds and stopped beside Workshop No. 11. Qian Hao opened the door and hopped out, waving at Xiao Ziguang. "Get down. Come with me to take a leak."

Xiao Ziguang followed behind Qian Hao, whispering, "Should I keep the cigarettes and change from the truck in my pocket?"

"Don't embarrass yourself. No one here cares about your pocket change!" Qian Hao pointed to the workers nearby. "Look at those workers—what kind of cigarettes are they smoking?"

Xiao Ziguang looked where Qian Hao pointed and saw a group of loaders smoking premium Red Pagoda Mountain cigarettes. Xiao Ziguang usually smoked Hongmei; even when he splurged, he only bought regular Red Pagoda Mountain—he couldn't bring himself to buy the premium ones.

"Are the loaders here paid that well?"

"You’re a bit sheltered, aren't you?" Qian Hao, eager to show off, lowered his voice. "Do you know who owns the sugar refinery? Boss Qiu Changtian. When others hold ancestral rites, they burn printed spirit money—fake currency. Boss Qiu burns real banknotes, never less than two million at a time!"

Xiao Ziguang was stunned. Although he was a transmigrator, some of these highly private rumors had escaped him.

In his previous life, Qiu Changtian was a clever man. Once he made enough money, he immigrated to Australia, eventually dying at the hands of a gang. Though he didn't meet a peaceful end, he had enjoyed a life of immense luxury.

Now, living this life again, he finally learned what kind of man Qiu Changtian was—burning real money for his ancestors! How much wealth must one possess to do something so wildly extravagant?

He truly wished he could put Qiu Changtian on trial right now. It wasn't that Xiao Ziguang hated the rich; he simply couldn't stand by and watch criminals go unpunished while laundering stolen domestic wealth abroad.

"Stop staring blankly and get to it!" Qian Hao grabbed Xiao Ziguang and pulled him into the restroom.

The factory restroom was strangely designed; it was very spacious with high ceilings. If not for the ventilation windows at the top, it would have felt like a dark cell.

Qian Hao found a stall, sat down, and pointed to the watch on his wrist. "From now on, we stay here for a full half-hour. If you're bored, you can read the newspaper..."

There was a newspaper rack in the restroom. It was spotless, devoid of any foul odor, and truly a decent place to read and relax.

On his first day on the job, Xiao Ziguang knew he couldn't rush. It was already confirmed that the Xiling Sugar Refinery had secrets. If nothing else, Qiu Changtian's income alone did not resemble that of an honest businessman.

As for Kong Dasheng and Kong Ersheng, they seemed more like small fry. It was highly probable that Xiling Trading was just a front. These people didn't belong to the same faction as Yang Jin, which was likely why Yang Jin had targeted them.

Adopting a "when in Rome, do as the Romans do" mindset, Xiao Ziguang calmed his heart and began flipping through the newspaper. When he reached the financial section, his eyes began to glow.

While others saw only cold text, Xiao Ziguang, by comparing the articles to events he knew from his past life, could perceive vivid data and even discern lucrative business opportunities.

With Zhou Huajian as his teammate, his combat capability was already top-tier, but Xiao Ziguang still had a glaring weakness: a lack of capital.

This world wasn't just about appearances; it was about money. A single penny could truly stump a hero.

Xiao Ziguang had no savings, and Zhou Huajian had very little. Moving forward, whether they needed to buy bullets or primers, they would need money.

He had originally thought about applying for investigative funding or perhaps resorting to "stealing from thieves," but he had just discovered a business opportunity—a massive, high-profit venture with no overhead.

Qian Hao zipped up his pants and walked out, slapping Xiao Ziguang on the shoulder. "Daydreaming about finding a wife in broad daylight? You’re smiling like a creep. Time to go!"

"Right! Let's go!" Xiao Ziguang stood up, folded the newspaper, and tucked it into his pocket.

The folded edge revealed three bright, shining characters: Little Smart (Personal Handy-phone System)...