Movie: Get Alpha Dog at the start

Chapter 1507 Bringing Huo Dongfeng into the Fellowship
The atmosphere at the prison gate was somewhat eerie.

Three black Toyota Crown sedans were parked in a row on the side of the road opposite the prison gate. The cars were polished to a shine, and the black paint gleamed with a cold, hard sheen in the autumn sunlight.

Qin Hao stopped his slightly worn-out bicycle about fifty meters from the prison gate, bracing himself on one foot. He glanced at his watch.

His gaze swept over the three Crown cars, and his brow furrowed slightly. Peering through the cracks in the car windows, he could see quite a few people inside, all young men, some wearing floral shirts, others leather jackets, each with a serious expression and unfriendly eyes.

Shifting his gaze, Qin Hao noticed a man standing in the corner of the prison wall. It was a middle-aged man, about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, tall and sturdy, wearing a faded light blue work uniform and worn-out canvas shoes. He stood there, back ramrod straight, hands in his pockets, eyes fixed intently on the prison gate.

Although the man was dressed in shabby clothes, he had an upright posture, broad shoulders, and the muscles in his arms were clearly visible through his clothes, indicating that he had practiced martial arts.

About fifteen minutes later, the heavy iron gate of the prison creaked open and slowly swung inward. A uniformed prison guard emerged first, followed by a burly man.

The man was about 1.8 meters tall, with broad shoulders and a large frame. He wore a military green overcoat, had a buzz cut, and his face exuded a weathered air. He had strong features and clear eyes, without the numbness and decadence often associated with long-term prisoners.

He walked out the gate, stood at the doorway, turned around, and bowed sincerely to the prison guard behind him. The guard nodded and waved, indicating that he could leave.

Only then did the man turn around and truly cross the prison line that symbolized the boundary between freedom and confinement.

The moment he stepped out of the prison gate, the back door of the Crown car at the front opened.

A man wearing a mink coat, sunglasses, and slicked-back hair sauntered off the bus.

"Big brother! I've missed you so much!" The man with the slicked-back hair opened his arms and hugged Huo Dongfeng tightly, his voice loud and exaggeratedly enthusiastic.

After the hug, he let go, turned around, and shouted at the people in the three cars behind him, "What the hell are you all standing there for? Call him 'Big Brother'!"

"Big brother!"

All the thugs from the three Crown cars got out, a dozen or so of them, stood in a row, bowed to Huo Dongfeng, and spoke loudly.

This is certainly quite a grand display.

Huo Dongfeng was taken aback by the sudden appearance of this man. He looked at the man in the fur coat and sunglasses in front of him, scrutinized him for a few seconds, and then asked uncertainly, "Ermei?"

"It's me, Big Brother!" Er Mei took off her sunglasses, revealing a face that was fairly decent but had a bit of a streetwise vibe. "How about it? Don't you recognize me? Hehe, you've changed quite a bit over the years."

Huo Dongfeng looked at the two women, then at the row of henchmen behind them, and the three gleaming Crown cars, and nodded: "Not bad. Are these all your men?"

"That's right, they're all with me!" Ermei said smugly, waving her hand. "From now on, they're your little brothers too! Just say the word, and they'll do whatever you ask!"

After saying that, he took off his mink coat and draped it over Huo Dongfeng without saying a word. He then took off his sunglasses and put them on Huo Dongfeng: "Today is your big day, you've regained your freedom! I have to make a grand gesture for you! I'll bring them here to see the world and meet their big brother!"

Huo Dongfeng glanced at the Crown car beside him and asked, "This car is nice. Lada or Nez?"

He recalled that back in the 1970s, most of the cars in Northeast China were imported from the Soviet Union. Lada, Nez, Moskva, and Vodka were jokingly referred to as the "Four Great Broken Brands of Eastern Europe" because of their high fuel consumption and high failure rate.

Ermei laughed heartily, patting the car: "Brother, this isn't a Soviet car, it's a Japanese car! A Toyota Crown! Who drives those junks anymore!"

"This car belongs to us."

Huo Dongfeng paused for a moment, then bent down to examine the car logo closely. It was indeed a Toyota. He was somewhat surprised: "Now...private individuals can buy cars too?"

He remembers it clearly; he went to work in 1983. Back then, cars were planned resources, and only work units had the quota to buy them; private individuals simply couldn't buy them.

"It's been liberalized for ages!" Ermei said proudly. "It's been so many years since the reform and opening up! Now the streets are full of private cars!"

Huo Dongfeng looked at the three brand-new black sedans, a complex feeling welling up inside him. The world outside had changed so much in just over a decade.

As Er Mei spoke, she was about to invite Huo Dongfeng into the car: "Brother, let's go! I've already booked a private room at the best restaurant to welcome you back! We'll drink until we drop tonight!"

Just as Huo Dongfeng was about to take a step, he suddenly heard a voice: "Huo Dongfeng."

The sound was calm, not loud, but very clear.

Huo Dongfeng turned his head and saw a young man riding a bicycle towards him, stopping in front of him. The young man was in his twenties, wearing a simple white shirt and black pants. He looked very clean, with clear eyes, but also an indescribable composure.

"You are..." Huo Dongfeng asked.

"Your brother-in-law, Cui Guomin, asked me to pick you up," Qin Hao said.

Upon hearing this, Huo Dongfeng paused. He took off his sunglasses and sized Qin Hao up, his eyes filled with wariness and scrutiny. After a few seconds, he suddenly remembered something: "You are... the Ji Qiang that Erpang mentioned? The one who taught him to write?"

Qin Hao nodded: "Yes, it's me. Get in the car, Erpang will be out of school soon."

Huo Dongfeng felt a warmth in his heart. His son… He subconsciously wanted to return his mink coat and sunglasses to Er Mei—wearing this outfit to see his son was too ostentatious, not like a proper father.

But then I thought, I've just been released from prison, wearing only a tattered military overcoat over a prison uniform that's been altered into civilian clothes, and old cloth shoes. Wouldn't seeing my son looking like this be a disgrace?
He hesitated.

"Ermei, can I borrow these clothes for a bit? I need to go see my son first." Huo Dongfeng patted Ermei's shoulder. "We'll talk later. I appreciate your kindness, but today... I have to see my son first."

Seeing Huo Dongfeng's resolute attitude, the two women didn't say anything more. They turned and sized up Qin Hao for a while, their eyes unfriendly: "You're Ji Qiang?"

Qin Hao nodded: "Yes, it's me. Thank you for what happened last time."

"If you want to thank someone, thank your older brother." Ermei pouted, "I only helped you because of him."

He really didn't take Qin Hao seriously. In his eyes, Qin Hao was just a small cake shop owner, not worth mentioning at all.

Reminded by the two beauties, Huo Dongfeng remembered this matter and asked Qin Hao, "How's that going now? Has Guo Dapao been released?"

Having spent so many years in prison, he knew all too well what it was like inside. Facing high walls and iron bars every day, deprived of freedom, the oppression and despair were unimaginable to those who hadn't experienced it. Although he was a complete stranger to Guo Dapao, he didn't want anyone to be wrongfully imprisoned and suffer that kind of torment.

"He hasn't been released yet," Qin Hao said truthfully. "But at least for now, it can be proven that his presence at the crime scene was justified, and the police are looking for new evidence. As long as the real culprit is found, or there is other evidence to prove his innocence, he should be able to be released."

Huo Dongfeng nodded upon hearing this. This was already the best possible outcome. In prison, he had seen far too many wrongful convictions. Some people were clearly innocent, but due to insufficient evidence or being framed, they remained imprisoned or even sentenced. The fact that Guo Dapao's case had shown any signs of improvement was already a remarkable achievement.

He was about to speak when his gaze suddenly stopped, and he looked behind Qin Hao, his eyes lighting up: "Hongwei!"

The middle-aged man in blue work clothes who was standing in the corner strode forward. His steps were quick but steady, and he reached Huo Dongfeng in a few steps. Without saying a word, he gave Huo Dongfeng a bear hug.

"Big brother!" Hongwei's voice was choked with emotion.

Huo Dongfeng patted him hard on the back, his eyes also a little red: "Hongwei! Good brother! You...you're doing well, right?"

Hongwei released his grip, took a step back, lowered his head, and said in a low voice, "You've done terribly, and you've disgraced your elder brother."

Huo Dongfeng looked at Hongwei—more than ten years had passed, and Hongwei had aged a lot. His face was wrinkled, his work clothes were faded from washing, and the cuffs were frayed. His canvas shoes were worn down to the point where the toes were coming unglued. His appearance clearly showed he wasn't doing well.

His nose tingled, but he held back his tears and patted Hongwei's shoulder: "It's okay, now that your older brother is out, things will get better. With us brothers together, what obstacle can't we overcome?"

Hongwei nodded emphatically, his eyes reddening even more: "Yes!"

Ermei watched this scene with a complex expression. Although he was surrounded by a large group of so-called "brothers," living a life of luxury and privilege, only he knew that those "brothers" were after his money and power. Not a single one was truly trustworthy. If he were in Huo Dongfeng's shoes, and after ten years in prison, emerged penniless, how many people would come to pick him up? How many would still call him "Big Brother"?
I'm afraid there aren't any.

He suddenly felt a pang of envy for Huo Dongfeng. Although he had spent ten years in prison and had lost everything, at least he still had true brothers who remembered him and waited for him.

"Ermei, let's go." Huo Dongfeng greeted Ermei, then said to Qin Hao, "Brother, let's go see my son."

He turned to sit on the back of Qin Hao's bicycle. Seeing this, Hongwei also stepped forward and jumped onto the front bar. The two of them were both tall, weighing over 300 pounds combined, and the bicycle suddenly lurched downwards, causing the handlebars to wobble.

Qin Hao braced himself firmly on the ground with his feet, his arm muscles tensed, and he held the handlebars firmly.

Er Mei stood there, watching the bicycle gradually disappear into the distance, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes, but he quickly concealed it. He waved to Huo Dongfeng: "Okay, big brother! I'll come find you for a drink later!"

"Okay, I'll be waiting!" Huo Dongfeng called out as he turned around.

After riding the bicycle for several hundred meters, Huo Dongfeng sat on the back seat, feeling the wind on his face, his heart filled with mixed emotions. For over a decade, he was finally free; he could go wherever he wanted and see his son again.

He looked at Qin Hao pedaling ahead, somewhat surprised. A bicycle carrying two people and over 400 pounds would be difficult for most people to handle, let alone ride. Yet Qin Hao rode steadily, at a decent speed, breathing evenly, clearly possessing considerable strength.

"Brother, have you practiced before?" Huo Dongfeng asked.

"I practiced Xingyi Quan for a few years," Qin Hao said casually, without turning his head.

Huo Dongfeng's eyes lit up.

"Hongwei and I practice Bajiquan." Huo Dongfeng became interested: "When do you have time to spar?"

"Okay," Qin Hao readily agreed.

Seeing how readily Qin Hao agreed, Huo Dongfeng found him even more agreeable. A martial artist should be this straightforward and decisive.

"Brother, I heard from Erpang that you took good care of him, teaching him to write, tutoring him, and even giving him cake." Huo Dongfeng said earnestly, "I will remember this kindness. If you ever need anything from me, Huo Dongfeng, just ask. As long as it's within my power, I will do it without hesitation."

Qin Hao smiled and said in a relaxed tone, "If you keep being so polite, I might just leave you two behind. There's a downhill slope ahead, and if I let go, you'll both tumble down."

Huo Dongfeng and Hongwei exchanged a glance and burst into laughter.

"Haha, brother, you truly live up to your reputation as a martial artist! You know how to handle us two!" Huo Dongfeng patted Qin Hao on the shoulder. "After I see my son, let's have a good drink! We won't leave until we're drunk!"

"Sure, it's on me," Qin Hao said.

“No way, I have to pay!” Huo Dongfeng said.

Qin Hao didn't argue anymore. He knew that Huo Dongfeng was the kind of person who valued face the most, especially not wanting to lose face in front of his son and friends.

Sparks flew as Qin Hao pedaled furiously, the bicycle almost smoking. Finally, around 4:30 PM, he arrived at Erpang's school gate.

It happened to be school dismissal time. The school gate was crowded with parents picking up their children, and bicycle bells rang all around. The children poured out of the school gate like a tide, chattering and making a lot of noise.

Huo Dongfeng jumped off his bicycle, stood by the roadside, and eagerly searched among the group of "little radish heads".

Erpang, carrying his schoolbag, walked out of the school gate chatting and laughing with several classmates.

Suddenly, his gaze fixed on a familiar yet unfamiliar figure by the roadside.

Wearing a mink coat and sunglasses, tall and imposing...

Erpang's eyes lit up instantly. With a speed completely disproportionate to his bulky figure, he rushed over like a small truck and crashed headfirst into Huo Dongfeng's arms.

Huo Dongfeng was prepared; he planted his feet firmly on the ground, spread his arms, and caught his son steadily. But he was still knocked back half a step—this kid is really strong!

"Hey, you little rascal, you're really strong!" Huo Dongfeng picked up Erpang, spun him around in the air, and laughed heartily.

Erpang hugged his father's neck tightly, his little face pressed against his father's, his voice trembling with tears: "Dad...you're finally out...I missed you so much..."

"Dad misses you too, he misses you every day." Huo Dongfeng's voice was also a little choked up.

"Come on, what do you want to eat? Dad will take you to eat something delicious!" Huo Dongfeng said with a wave of his hand, very generously.

Without thinking, Erpang blurted out, "I want to eat cake!"

Although Erpang could usually exchange his essays for bread from Qin Hao, he could only get one at a time, and he never felt satisfied. Now that his father was back, he was going to have a big meal!
Huo Dongfeng scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed: "Cake? Do you sell cakes here?"

Erpang pointed at Qin Hao: "Dad, Ji Qiang owns a cake shop! His cakes are delicious!"

Huo Dongfeng looked at Qin Hao, somewhat embarrassed: "Brother, look at this..."

Qin Hao said with a smile, "Let's go to my shop. Erpang can take whatever he wants to eat."

"How can that be..." Huo Dongfeng wanted to refuse, but seeing his son's expectant eyes, he couldn't bring himself to say it.

"Let's go, we'll talk when we get there." Qin Hao noticed his embarrassment, said nothing more, and led the way by pushing his bicycle.

A few minutes later, the four arrived at the cake shop. The "Exquisite Cakes" sign at the entrance was very eye-catching, and the glass was polished to a shine, revealing neat shelves and a dazzling array of breads and cakes inside.

Pushing open the door, a sweet aroma wafted towards him. Xiao Li was tidying the shelves; seeing Qin Hao, she quickly greeted him, "Boss, you're back!"

"Okay." Qin Hao nodded and said to Erpang, "Take whatever you want to eat."

Erpang cheered and rushed to the shelves, his eyes shining as he started picking things out. He wanted to eat this and that, wishing he could stuff everything into a bag.

Huo Dongfeng and Hongwei followed behind, their eyes scanning the shelves. When they saw the price tags, they were both stunned; this thing was much more expensive than they had imagined.

He touched his empty pockets, his face burning with embarrassment. He couldn't even afford a cake in front of his son; he was such a... complete failure as a father.

"Brother, about this money..." Huo Dongfeng looked at Qin Hao, his voice low, "Can I give it to you later?"

Qin Hao waved his hand: "Alright, ask your son when he's ever asked me for money when we come here to eat cake?"

"No way!" Huo Dongfeng's attitude was firm: "The past is the past, and the present is the present. I was grateful that you took care of him when I wasn't around. Now that I'm back, I can't let him eat and drink for free anymore. This money must be paid, including all the previous payments, and I'll pay you back as soon as I have it. Not a penny less."

Qin Hao looked at Huo Dongfeng's serious expression and understood. This man had a strong sense of pride, especially in front of his son; he absolutely couldn't appear to be someone who was just freeloading.

"Alright." Qin Hao turned to Xiao Li: "Xiao Li, calculate how much it costs and put it on my tab."

"Okay, boss." Xiao Li was quick-witted and immediately took out his notebook to start keeping accounts.

Erpang carried a bag full of cakes and bread, eating as he walked, and didn't forget to share some with Huo Dongfeng and Hongwei.

Huo Dongfeng took the cake and took a bite. The cream was smooth, the chocolate slightly bitter, and the cake soft; the flavors blended together in his mouth, creating a rich and complex taste. His eyes lit up: "Hmm! This cake is great! Even better than the one we had at the Moscow restaurant!"

"Really?" Hongwei was initially skeptical, but he picked up a piece and took a bite, savoring it carefully. "Hmm... it's really good! Sweet but not cloying, with a great texture. Brother, how much does your pastry chef earn a month? With this skill, he must be a master chef, right?"

Before Qin Hao could speak, Erpang said with a grin, "Uncle Hong, these cakes and breads were all made by Uncle Ji! He's amazing, he can do everything! Singing, dancing, baking cakes..."

Huo Dongfeng and Hongwei both looked at Qin Hao in surprise.

"Brother, you have this skill too?" Huo Dongfeng looked Qin Hao up and down, his eyes filled with disbelief: "Aren't you a practitioner of Xingyi Quan? How come you can bake cakes? This... these two things are completely unrelated!"

Qin Hao smiled, didn't explain, but instead asked, "Guess how much money my shop can make in a month?"

Huo Dongfeng and Hongwei exchanged a glance and shook their heads. Huo Dongfeng was released from prison and had no idea about prices outside, while Hongwei had never bought a cake before.

Hongwei cautiously guessed, "It must be one or two thousand, right? Your shop doesn't look big, but you sell things at high prices, so you must be making a lot of money."

Qin Hao laughed: "Conservatively speaking, the net profit this month will not be less than 15,000."

"How much?!" Huo Dongfeng and Hongwei widened their eyes at the same time, thinking they had misheard.

"Fifteen thousand," Qin Hao repeated. "And that's just a conservative estimate. If we're optimistic, breaking twenty thousand isn't impossible."

Huo Dongfeng gasped. Fifteen thousand? A month? Before he went in, he worked in a factory, earning only forty-eight yuan and fifty cents a month. More than ten years had passed; prices and wages had risen, but to earn fifteen thousand a month? This was an astronomical figure he couldn't even imagine!

"Such a small shop... can it make so much money?" Hongwei was also stunned: "It's much more profitable than when we were reselling movie tickets."

Huo Dongfeng looked at Qin Hao with a complicated expression. Earning over ten thousand yuan a month from a cake shop? This completely overturned his understanding.

Seeing that the time was ripe, Qin Hao seized the opportunity to extend an olive branch: "How about it, are you interested in working with me?"

Huo Dongfeng paused for a moment, then shook his head: "Brother, I appreciate your kindness. But... Hongwei and I are both able-bodied, how could we possibly take advantage of you? You built this shop from scratch, we don't know anything about it, wouldn't we just be taking money for nothing if we came in? No way, absolutely not."

Qin Hao smiled and shook his head: "If it were just this one shop, I could manage it all by myself. But what if I wanted to open more shops? If I were to make cakes all by myself, I couldn't keep up with the demand even if I worked myself to death."

He paused, then said seriously, "If you're willing, we can go head-to-head. I'll provide the technology, the formula, and the start-up capital; you provide the labor and manpower. If we lose money, it's on me; if we make money, we'll split it 70/30, me 70 and you 30. How about it?"

Hongwei was tempted. He looked at Huo Dongfeng, his eyes filled with expectation. He hadn't had a good life these past few years, working odd jobs on construction sites, earning a meager ten yuan a day, and even that wasn't stable. Life had been a struggle. If he could have a stable job, even if it only earned a few hundred yuan a month, it would be better than what he was doing now.

Huo Dongfeng looked conflicted. He understood that Qin Hao meant well and wanted to help them. But accepting favors from others for no reason didn't fit his style. Although Huo Dongfeng had been to prison, he had always earned his living with his own hands and never took advantage of others.

Qin Hao noticed his hesitation and pressed his advantage, his tone becoming serious: "Brother Huo, let me be blunt, but things aren't what they used to be. If you still want to rely on your fists and ruthlessness to make a living through shady means, you'll likely end up back in jail. While the crackdown has subsided, the laws are becoming more comprehensive, and the efforts to combat organized crime are intensifying. Look at Er Mei, she's doing quite well now, driving a Crown, wearing a mink coat, surrounded by servants. But she's living with her head on the line; she could be dead any day now. Those people around her, they seem respectful, but how many of them are truly sincere?"

He looked at Erpang and softened his voice: "Erpang finally got out after a long wait. Do you want him to live in constant fear that you'll go back in one day? Brother Huo, you've been in prison for over ten years. You know best what it's like inside. Why go back to the same path?"

These words struck Huo Dongfeng's heart like a hammer blow.

He shuddered and instinctively looked down, meeting Erpang's gaze, a mixture of worry and anticipation. His son's little hand gripped his clothes tightly, his eyes wide open, filled with unease and longing.

For a moment, even the toughest man's heart softened.

He recalled his days in prison, facing high walls and iron bars every day, losing his freedom, and the oppression and despair he felt.

He can't go back in. He can't let his son live that kind of life again.

"Brother, is making a cake... difficult to learn?" Huo Dongfeng finally spoke, his voice a little hoarse.

Qin Hao and Erpang exchanged a glance and both smiled.

Erpang chimed in, "Dad, it's not hard at all! Uncle Ji taught me. It's just kneading the dough, letting it rise, and baking. It's so much fun!"

Qin Hao added, "The recipes are all ready-made. I'll write them down, and you can just follow them. Once you set the temperature and time on the oven, you don't need to worry about it. It's much simpler than practicing martial arts. As long as you master a few key points, you can get the hang of making cakes very quickly."

Huo Dongfeng looked at his son's expectant eyes, then at Hongwei—his brother of over ten years, was now in such a sorry state, and he felt responsible for that as well.

He gritted his teeth and made up his mind: "Fine! We'll work for you! But it's agreed that we'll pay you whatever wages are due for our work, and we'll talk about profit sharing once we've all learned how to do it and can work independently."

Qin Hao smiled and held out his hand: "Deal."

Huo Dongfeng grasped his hand and shook it forcefully: "Deal!"

"Dad, that's great!" Erpang jumped onto Huo Dongfeng's back and hugged him tightly: "We'll never be apart again!"

Huo Dongfeng, carrying his son on his back, had tears welling up in his eyes again. He nodded vigorously, "Yes, from now on, we'll never be apart. Dad won't go anywhere; I'll stay here and watch you grow up."