Chapter 4: Making Money Is Quite Easy

At half past eight in the evening, Gu Changqing walked along the street with a backpack slung over his shoulder, constantly glancing at the shops on either side, the perfect image of a tourist. The bag was one he’d just borrowed from a street vendor, stuffed with waste paper to give it some bulk.

It wasn’t long before Gu Changqing sensed he was being followed. Two youths, just past twenty, both lean and wearing shorts with garish Hawaiian shirts, trailed him from a dozen meters behind.

Gu Changqing turned into a dim alley, his hands grasping the waistband of his shorts as if to relieve himself.

The two exchanged glances, sly grins playing at their lips, and hurried after him. One reached into his pocket and produced a fruit knife. Tourists were a major source of income for them—a little intimidation usually yielded some cash. Occasionally, if they got lucky, they could strike it rich.

Although the kid looked tough, the two had no fear. Few dared to stir up trouble in this part of town. Every year, a few people vanished from these streets.

But as soon as they entered the alley, a sweeping kick lashed out from the darkness.

In the next instant, Gu Changqing burst forward, landing a hook squarely on the other’s jaw.

Gu Changqing had practiced Muay Thai and Hung Gar since childhood; among his peers, he was the most dedicated to martial arts. And ever since he’d refined that mysterious heart, his blood surged with power, his strength vastly increased.

The two were knocked down like felled pillars and dragged deeper into the alley.

A moment later, Gu Changqing, muttering curses, stripped one man of his shoes and changed into them. He’d seen them in an ad before—trendy, branded, worth several hundred yuan. And they happened to be his size.

Apart from that, the only loot was a handful of loose change—just over ninety yuan in total.

“Damn scum, trash, paupers,” Gu Changqing grumbled, dragging the two further in and landing a crisp slap across one’s face that echoed in the night.

After a few more slaps, one of them woke with a start.

But as soon as he opened his eyes, Gu Changqing rained down several more slaps.

“Bastard!” The youth tried to fight back once he realized what was happening, but before he could get up, Gu Changqing stomped him to the ground, grinding his hand beneath his foot.

“Big brother, please, don’t hit me! I was wrong!” The youth immediately realized his predicament, clutching his head with one hand and begging for mercy.

“What was your mistake? You’ve got some nerve!” Gu Changqing bent down, pressing harder on the youth’s hand with his foot.

“It’s broken, it’s broken…” the youth wailed.

Only then did Gu Changqing lift his foot, pivot in place, and deliver another kick, this time to the youth’s face, sending several teeth flying.

“You even dared to target me? How do you suppose we settle this?” Gu Changqing’s voice was cold.

“Big brother, take all the money in my pocket—just please, stop hitting me! I really was wrong!” The youth was terrified now.

“You think I want your measly cash?” Gu Changqing kicked him again.

“Big brother, then tell me what you want!” The youth’s face was a mask of misery, though his eyes flashed with malice.

After all, this was Haibang’s territory. If he could call for backup, this guy wouldn’t leave the South District alive.

“Come on, recite the penal code for me!” Gu Changqing said after a moment’s thought.

“Big brother, if I could recite the penal code, would I still be out here on the streets?” The youth was speechless—was this guy making fun of him?

Gu Changqing responded with a kick, then several more, cursing, “Can’t even recite the penal code, and you dare to run with gangs?”

“Stop, stop! We picked the wrong target, you’ve had your fun, just let us go, alright?” The youth rolled on the ground, pleading.

Meanwhile, his companion began to stir, recalling what had happened, a flash of viciousness in his eyes as he tried to rise quietly.

Gu Changqing spun around with another sweeping kick.

The man collapsed to the ground once more, like a felled post.

“All right, tell me what you know—how many years for robbery? How about armed robbery…?”

“Big brother, we didn’t do anything!” the youth protested, aggrieved.

“I said tell me!” Gu Changqing raised his foot threateningly.

“I’ll talk!” the youth blurted out, rattling off what basic knowledge he had—robbery carried a three-year sentence, armed robbery was even heavier.

“Then why the hell are you robbing people?” Gu Changqing kicked him again, twice, then asked, “What about assault with a weapon? Theft? What else do you know?”

Question after question, Gu Changqing finally asked, “Who’s your boss? Which turf do you run?”

Once satisfied, Gu Changqing delivered a final kick to the youth’s head, ensuring he’d sleep soundly tonight. He did the same for the other, tucking them both in with the sweet sleep of infants.

A short while later, Gu Changqing appeared in another neighborhood. After making half a circuit, he was tailed again.

This time, his pursuer was a young man in a white T-shirt emblazoned with a monster graphic, carrying a steel pipe. He hurried after Gu Changqing.

But as soon as he entered the alley, a kick caught him square on the head.

Quick as lightning, Gu Changqing caught his would-be attacker, noting that his shirt was clean and stylish—best not to dirty it.

He stripped the T-shirt off him, and after a brief search, found another two hundred yuan and change in his pockets.

This one, Gu Changqing thought, was much more generous than the last two.

But questions still had to be asked.

Dragging the youth into the alley, Gu Changqing slapped him awake and administered a customary round of slaps.

The young man immediately submitted.

“All right, recite the penal code for me!” Gu Changqing felt it his duty to help these young men refresh their knowledge of the law.

The youth was dumbfounded.

He could accept a beating from a tough guy—but to be asked to recite the penal code? Was this man insane?

Gu Changqing gave him another thrashing to jog his memory, then asked, “Who’s your boss? What territory are you with?”

…

By half past one in the morning, Gu Changqing had amassed two thousand yuan and two cell phones. He had to admit his father was right—making money wasn’t that hard.

He caught a cab to the Harbor District and headed straight for a large bathhouse, the kind that typically didn’t require a social security card.

He’d thought it would be like the bathhouses from his past life—he’d been to one once with his classmates, mostly to show off his pet roc.

But upon entering, he found the main hall lined with glass walls. Behind them, tiers of steps hosted row upon row of young women in revealing outfits. Some chatted, some daydreamed, some read books.

“A bathhouse?” Gu Changqing felt he was broadening his horizons.

“Yes, a bathhouse. Would you like to choose a girl to help you bathe?” the attendant asked eagerly.

“Just a bath?” Gu Changqing pressed.

“Of course! Our bathhouse is the most renowned, and our service the very best!”

“How long does it last?”

“We have several packages: 688 or 988 yuan for two hours, and 1,588 or 1,988 yuan for an all-night session until six in the morning!”

Gu Changqing realized that money was indeed easy to earn but just as easy to spend!

After a moment’s thought, he asked, “Do you have anyone… a bit more cultured? I like educated women.”

“An intellectual, right?” The attendant immediately understood, pointing to a young woman sitting at the edge, wearing a blue camisole dress and gold-rimmed glasses, reading a book. “How about Aru? She’s a university student! If her family hadn’t fallen on hard times, she wouldn’t be working here.”

Gu Changqing sized her up. Her looks were merely pleasant, but she did have an air of intelligence. Even seated, her long legs were obvious—she had to be at least one-seventy tall.

“She’ll do.”

“Please, sir, follow me to your room—she’ll be right with you!”

Passing the front desk, Gu Changqing spotted some paper and pen. “Let me borrow these,” he said, taking them with him.

After waiting five minutes in his room, the girl called Aru entered, hanging a sign on the door outside.

“You’re a new face,” she said with a bright smile, the strap of her dress slipping down her pale shoulder as the garment slid to the floor.

Gu Changqing took a quick look—her legs were indeed long and straight, and her figure was quite appealing.

“Hold on, don’t rush to undress. Teach me how to write first! Where’s your book? What use are you without it? Go fetch it!”

Aru’s smile froze instantly.