Chapter 34: Worshipping the Gods

It was past eight o'clock in the evening when Wu Bei, swaying slightly, bid farewell to Uncle Ren and gathered his brothers at the old warehouse he had rented earlier that day.

The elderly residents slept early, so it was the little girl named Eleven who opened the door for them. Choosing an empty storage room at random, the group sat down on the floor. Qi Jinlong and Wang Shun promptly placed the twenty thousand yuan they had pooled together on the ground.

Luo Hou spoke with a serious expression, "I've inquired about the company registration and the paperwork; it's not complicated at all..."

After he finished outlining the details, Wu Bei nodded in summary: "Leave the paperwork to Luo Hou. Shunzi, you come from a background in loading and unloading—you know the business, so you're in charge of recruitment. Jinlong, you've spent years on the streets and are skilled at dealing with people; handle the negotiations for partnerships with shops."

"Brother Wu, the people I usually deal with are thugs and deadbeats. If you ask me to negotiate, I'm afraid..." Qi Jinlong said, feeling troubled.

"There is no fundamental difference between a deadbeat and a boss. As long as you show them the profit, they will be happy to listen to you! Besides, I'll be there to back you up," Wu Bei encouraged with a cheerful smile.

Wang Shun pondered for a moment and asked, "Brother Wu, how should we set the workers' wages?"

"You decide! My personal opinion is that five to ten yuan above the market rate is enough. If we raise it too much at once, it will be hard to lower it later. Also, we provide the meals!" Wu Bei delegated the authority generously.

When he left that afternoon, Wu Bei had discussed it with the elderly landlady; she and her granddaughter could be hired to cook communal meals for the workers. This would solve the problem of their own food and earn them some extra money.

"Great, I'll go post an advertisement in our group right now!" Wang Shun beamed and took out his phone.

"You handle the preparations, and I'll take care of the hardware! In three days, we officially open for business! Things will be tough for us brothers at the start, but no matter what, we have to make some money this year!"

Wu Bei grinned with absolute certainty, and the eyes of the three brothers were instantly filled with fighting spirit, as if they had been infused with strength by his words.

"Woof, woof, woof..." Outside the warehouse, the little Teddy in Eleven's arms let out a series of barks.

"See that? Even the dog is saying we'll definitely prosper this year!" Wu Bei looked back and gave a thumbs up.

"Hahaha!"

"Let’s get it! This year, we’re going to be the talk of Chong City!"

The brothers burst into laughter. The little girl, Eleven, hurriedly hugged her puppy and ran back to her room. She couldn't understand why these grown men weren't sleeping in the middle of the night and were instead huddled together laughing like fools, but she knew that the arrival of this group meant she would never have to scavenge for rotten vegetables at the market again.

That night, no one left. They borrowed a few quilts Eleven had found and made beds on the floor. Four young men in their early twenties stayed awake all night, constantly looking toward the future and discussing their ambitions. No one could have imagined that the "Huxiao Group," which would later dominate multiple provinces and cities, was born in such a dilapidated little warehouse.

The name "Huxiao," meaning "Tiger's Roar," was Uncle Ren's suggestion to Wu Bei, symbolizing: "The roar of the tiger shakes the eight directions; its mighty reputation spreads across the nine regions."

Early the next morning, without anyone calling them, the young men set out on their own. Watching the confident backs of his brothers, Wu Bei smiled with gratification. After much thought, he decided to look for Deng Can, the owner of the antique shop he had met twice before.

While his brothers handled the human resources and negotiations, the delivery trucks were still unaccounted for. To run a proper loading and unloading company, trucks were essential hardware.

Given Wu Bei's current financial situation, purchasing new vehicles in bulk was unrealistic. The best approach was to find a middleman and buy used ones. Among everyone Wu Bei knew, perhaps only the mysterious Boss Deng had the capability to help. Although Qi Jinlong had said he was unreliable, he had to admit that Deng had extensive connections.

After carefully preparing some gifts, Wu Bei knocked on the wooden door of "Baiyi Cliff" with a sense of trepidation.

"Brother, here to see me so early?"

Deng Can, wearing pajamas, looked at Wu Bei with sleepy eyes. There was no surprise in his gaze, as if he had known in advance that Wu Bei would come. The old man, Wu Shihao, had once said that anyone who could remain calm and collected at any time was a champion capable of great things, and clearly, Deng Can was among the best of such people.

Knowing that Wu Bei must be asking for a favor, yet graciously framing it as "coming to see me," Wu Bei’s respect for the man before him deepened.

"Boss Deng, it's a matter of life and death! I'm begging you to save me!"

Setting down the gifts, Wu Bei immediately lowered his posture, bowing with his hands cupped in a theatrical display of humility.

"Hahaha, you have to find a doctor for life-and-death matters, but we can certainly chat more about the path to wealth!"

Deng Can waved his hand casually, turned, and took a bottle of cola, a bottle of Sprite, and a bottle of Wanglaoji from the refrigerator, finally pouring a glass of steaming hot water. He smiled and said, "I don't know your preference, help yourself to whatever you like!"

After speaking, he lit a cigarette and looked at Wu Bei with a faint smile, waiting for him to speak.

Such a tiny detail once again showcased the man's flawless way of handling affairs. Wu Bei thought to himself that this time, he had certainly not prayed to the wrong god!