Chapter Forty-Three: A Certain Influence

Ma San watched as Xu Fei placed three hundred yuan on the counter.

He was completely thrown off.

“Third Brother, you, you see, he…”

The two young men beside him stared in shock at the money being taken from the counter.

“What are you stammering for?”

Ma San glared at them.

“You look like you’ve never seen the world.”

He turned his head and looked at Xu Fei.

“Xu Fei!”

“Ma San, what, you’re still here?”

“Me, leave? Hmph, of course I can’t leave.”

“You’re waiting here to see me make a fool of myself, aren’t you?”

Ma San nodded. “That’s right. But now, I’m more curious. You say you have no money to pay your debts, yet you have money to treat people to dinner. What’s that about?”

Xu Fei replied calmly, “Ma San, didn’t we agree before that our accounts would be settled at the end of the month?”

“You—!”

Ma San couldn’t deny his own words.

“But, but you…”

“What about me? You come to me at the end of the month and we’ll settle it face-to-face. Is there any point bringing it up now?”

Infuriated, Ma San strode forward and seized Xu Fei by the collar.

“Ma San!”

Zhang Mingyang staggered down the stairs. Behind him were Wang Yiming and Shen Shuming, whom he was supporting. Chen Da and Old Third An followed behind.

“Damn!”

When Old Third An saw Ma San grabbing Xu Fei, he darted forward like an arrow, confronting Ma San.

“Let go of him!”

Old Third An, being a driver by trade, had a powerful grip. With a single motion, Ma San’s hand was pried away from Xu Fei—he couldn’t resist at all.

“You—”

Ma San glared at Old Third An, then rubbed his eyes.

“You’re—!”

Old Third An glared right back.

“Don’t recognize me? I ignored you earlier, and now you’re starting trouble again, are you?”

This time, Ma San truly backed down.

“I—I just…”

“Get lost!”

Ma San forced a dry smile onto his lips.

He turned and pulled the two underlings who were about to jump in, leading them out of the Moonlit Pavilion.

The scene left Zhang Mingyang and the others stunned.

What just happened?

Upstairs, Old Third An had simply stood behind Xu Fei, and Ma San hadn’t noticed him. Now, Xu Fei looked at Old Third An in surprise.

“Third Brother An, do you know him?”

Old Third An waved his hand a bit sheepishly. “I wouldn’t say I know him. It’s just that Ma San used to follow my eldest brother.”

“You mean…”

Zhang Mingyang seemed to recall a certain influential figure in Donghai with the surname An—a notorious character.

A few years ago, there was a homicide linked to this very man.

“Yeah, that’s my elder brother. But he’s gone now. Let’s not talk about it.”

Old Third An gave a helpless smile.

“Fei, I’ve drunk enough tonight. I’ll be heading off.”

Zhang Mingyang quickly grabbed Xu Fei. “Let’s walk Third Brother An out together. Big Brother, Second Brother, you two see Uncle Shen home.”

Xu Fei nodded and went to say a few more words of thanks to Director Shen before seeing him to the door.

Watching them depart, Zhang Mingyang tugged Xu Fei along to catch up with Old Third An.

On the way, Zhang Mingyang spoke about Old Third An’s elder brother.

It turned out that in Donghai, there had once been a man named An Shihao, also known as An Batian—a man of honor, always quick to fight for others. But such men inevitably made enemies.

A few years back, during a crackdown on crime, An Shihao’s adversaries reported him to the authorities. In reality, he was only fond of fighting and had committed no serious crimes. But he was also hard-headed. In detention, he boasted loudly every day, threatening to settle scores with those who accused him once he got out.

Because of these boasts, those outside who had betrayed him grew fearful, and attributed every crime they could to him, whether he’d done it or not.

In the end, the charges stuck, and he was sentenced to death.

Whether or not it was fair, the truth was, he wasn’t such a bad man.

An Shihao had once been a big brother figure in Donghai. Many in the city had come up under him—including Ma San.

“Third Brother An!”

Xu Fei saw Old Third An ahead, his figure seeming rather forlorn, and hurried to catch up, grabbing him by the arm.

“Fei, don’t see me off any further. You two should head back.”

“Third Brother An, I really didn’t know you were…”

Zhang Mingyang, in truth, had crossed paths with An Shihao a few times, though by the time they might have known each other, An had already been taken away. So naturally, he didn’t know Old Third An.

“Mingyang, it’s fine. He is who he is, and I’m me.”

“Thank you for earlier, Third Brother An.”

“What are you thanking me for?” Old Third An glared at Xu Fei, a little annoyed. “Why are you saying this to me?”

He reached out and patted Xu Fei on the shoulder. “Xu Fei, I, Old Third An, have met countless people, but you’re one of the few young men I truly admire.”

Zhang Mingyang nodded in agreement.

“Fourth Brother’s character is beyond reproach.”

Old Third An smiled and nodded. “I saw the money you left at Zhang Liang’s place—you did the right thing, showed real loyalty.”

Xu Fei just smiled and shook his head.

“All right, I’m home now. Fei, if you ever need anything, just come to me. As long as I can help, I won’t say no.”

Xu Fei nodded.

Old Third An glanced at Zhang Mingyang. “Mingyang, you brothers should stick together. I support Xu Fei, and I support you all as well.”

“Don’t worry, Third Brother An.”

With that, Old Third An waved, turned, and walked into the alley.

They watched until he entered his house.

“Not bad, Fourth Brother. The An family still holds sway here in Donghai.”

“Really?” Xu Fei didn’t feel so.

“You might not believe it, but besides the eldest, their second brother was also a formidable character.”

“Funny, Third Brother An never mentioned his second brother.”

Zhang Mingyang sighed. “He ran. After the eldest got into trouble, the second brother fled south. Who knows where he ended up? But I heard from someone who came back recently that he’s doing well down there.”

Xu Fei nodded thoughtfully.

“All right.” Zhang Mingyang patted Xu Fei on the shoulder. “You really are something. Even the An family respects you. I, Zhang Mingyang, salute you!”

Xu Fei, hearing this, gave a wry smile. “Come on, Third Brother, stop flattering me, will you?”

“Hey, Fourth Brother, ever since you threw down those five yuan that day, I knew you weren’t just anybody.”

“Well…”

“Anyway, keep at it, Fourth Brother. I may not know business, but I know people, and even Shen Shuming praises you behind your back. Doesn’t that say it all?”

With that, Zhang Mingyang turned to head home.

“I’ll walk you.”

“No need.”

Waving his hand, Zhang Mingyang walked a few paces, then turned back, “Don’t worry about tonight’s dinner, just consider it on all of us.”