How could I possibly be confined in a cage?

Seventh Master was very stubborn and refused to back down. He drew his knife and slashed at Qingru's left shoulder, but Qingru used all her strength to grab a stool and block the attack.

"Seventh Master," Qingru called out earnestly, then asked her third sister, "Business is all about making money. Why do you insist on taking people instead of money, Third Sister? Are you willing to disregard even money offered to you just for the sake of pride?"

The third sister snorted coldly, "You're on my turf now, and you want to negotiate with me? Little sister, aren't you being too naive?"

"I only know that everything comes down to reason. Third Sister, you are not someone who doesn't love money, so why do you insist on holding me back?"

It seems these miners have a strong sense of江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry), and they're quick to fight and kill, but deep down they always have something to respect.

"Third Sister, I do love money, but I only earn what I should earn. Once you enter my Suiyuan Tower, I only charge for sex, and I don't earn any other money. Similarly, all women who enter my Suiyuan Tower are sisters, regardless of their past. This is the rule of Wushan. If you try to break my rules today, how am I supposed to make a living among men in the future? So if you want to leave, don't even think about it."

"Wushan is so barren, with hardly any people, yet you've gathered a whole house full of women to risk their lives for you. Do you think every single one of them has a legitimate background?"

Third Sister's face suddenly darkened, and she looked at Qingru with a murderous gaze. "Where did you come from? My Suiyuan Pavilion never asks about origins, only where you're going. You killed Huang Laosi today, so let other men deflower you."

As she spoke, she stepped back, making way for the two handsome men. Qingru's eyes widened. She had searched high and low without finding them, and now they were right there in front of her—wasn't this Xin Wuhui, the man she had been looking for?

Xin Wu Hui winked at Qing Ru, who understood and asked, "What do you want to do?"

The third sister smiled elegantly, "Don't misunderstand, I just had them keep an eye on you. Your groom is outside."

Qingru looked at the lewd man at the door and immediately turned her face away in disgust.

Despite half of his body being paralyzed, Seventh Master still stood in front of Qingru, "Third Sister, do you really want to be my enemy?"

Third Sister clicked her tongue and said, "Oh, Seventh Master, wasn't it you who broke into my Suiyuan Tower and killed Huang Laosi here? Huang Laosi brought the man, and you killed him. I was just maintaining the rules of my territory. In front of Boss Fan, I am also in the right."

"Really? Will you give me that kind of face?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Boss Fan stepped in. He was tall and imposing, and could stand as long as a wall.

When he came in, Third Sister noticed that he was followed by two young men, and her eyes lit up when she saw Guo Zixing.

"Oh my, is it Chinese New Year today? Boss Fan actually came to visit in person. Does his wife know?" Third Sister teased, without any fear.

"Give my brother the antidote first, or he'll be ruined by you."

Boss Fan's tone left no room for refusal. Third Sister glared at him, gritted her teeth, and threw the antidote over. "Fine, fine, you all come and bully this weak woman."

Qingru quickly picked up the antidote and fed it to her with some coarse tea.

Seventh Master sat to one side to rest, while Chief Zhang and Guo Zixing stood up discreetly, hiding Qingru behind them.

Third Sister didn't notice these little actions. She looked at Boss Fan, lit her hookah again, and puffed away loudly.

"You saw it yourself, Huang Laosi died here. How am I supposed to explain this to the people at the Fourth Mine?"

"The matter of the Fourth Mine will naturally be handled by the people of the Fourth Mine. I have said long ago that Huang Laosi is a wicked man and will die sooner or later because of women. He is just getting what he deserves. What does it have to do with you?"

"That's not how it works. You, Boss Fan, are reasonable, but the people from the Fourth Mine may not be so. After all, the person was entrusted to me. Do you think I can just run away? You've already said everything. If I end up being killed by the people from the Fourth Mine, you'll just say it's a pity. Do you think you can bring me back to life?"

"I'm definitely taking the person with me tonight. As for the rest, you can handle it."

The third sister angrily flung her pipe away, "So, you're saying there's no room for negotiation?"

"I've been trying to discuss this with you, but you've been being unreasonable and refusing to agree."

"Fine, you can take the person with you. I want 10% of the money from your big mine."

The large mine transports more than 150 truckloads of coal every day. At 60 yuan per truckload, that's 3.24 million yuan a year. Even after deducting rest, losses, and costs, they can still make at least one million yuan a year.

The third sister asked for 10% right off the bat; that's outrageous, an outrageous demand.

Boss Fan's sharp gaze shot over, more intimidating than that of a tiger or wolf. "Are you sure?"

The third sister, however, seemed to have come up with a good idea. Instead, she calmed down and smiled smugly with a calculating look on her face. "Yes, I've set the conditions. Whether you agree or not is up to you."

Boss Fan remained silent, while Guo Zixing secretly calculated that, not to mention Boss Fan, even he would feel the pinch. This was not a one-time payment, but rather net profit, to be received every year.

He exchanged a glance with Sergeant Zhang, signaling to him to outsmart him. But Boss Fan spoke up, "Pay in full upfront. I don't want to do business with you."

"No, it has to be interest, no other conditions will do." Third Sister insisted, and then sneered, "Don't think I can't take it. My man is the head of the Third Mine. I can afford to take even 10% of your interest."

"to make."

Boss Fan suddenly agreed. Before the third sister could even try to provoke her, she was incredulous, "You agreed?"

"I agree," Boss Fan said firmly.

"Alright, words are no proof. Darling, go get some paper and pen so we can have some proof." The darling that Third Sister called was Xin Wu Hui, and he obediently went back to the side room to get some paper and pen.

Qingru hurriedly tugged at Guo Zixing's sleeve and said, "That's Xin Wuhui." She gestured with her eyes to the tall man.

Guo Zixing never expected that, by such a coincidence, the person he was looking for was right in front of him. As for the 10% profit that Boss Fan had agreed to, let the Huang family pay it back, since everything started because of Huang Qian.

Boss Fan had already heard the words, and he pointed at Xin Wu Hui and said, "Give this person to me too."

The third sister was taken aback. Seeing him pointing at Xin Wu Hui, she asked, somewhat puzzled, "What do you want him for?"

"It's none of your business. We've spent so much money, it's not unreasonable to ask for one more person."

Third Sister laughed and patted Xin Wu Hui's bottom, "My darling, I didn't expect you to be so valuable."

"You want him? Fine, I'll add another 10% profit."

"That's going too far." Boss Fan looked at Third Sister with a dangerous glint in his eyes, but Third Sister waved her handkerchief and said, "This is my rule, one percent profit for each person."

Boss Fan picked up a teacup and smashed it towards Third Sister's face with such speed that even someone as skilled in martial arts like her couldn't dodge it.

"I advise you to be content with what you have. Haven't you learned enough lessons from the past?"

The third sister was hit squarely in the face, and blood was gushing from her left eye. But seeing Boss Fan's truly enraged and ferocious expression, she had no choice but to suppress her anger.

In Wushan's mining industry, who doesn't respect Boss Fan? Besides, her demand for 10% profit was deliberately difficult; who knew Boss Fan would agree! It was already an unexpected bonus, so it's best not to push her luck.

Third Sister, clutching her wound, said, "Alright, alright, you give a bonus when you buy things, let alone Boss Fan who has bled so much."

Third Sister slapped Xin Wu Hui, "Sweetheart, go with your new master. He's not like me, who's so gentle and considerate." Then, as if remembering something, she burst into laughter.

Having rescued everyone and signed the contract, Boss Fan took the lead and led us out.

"Wait!" the third sister called out as she chased after them. "If it falls into my hands again later, it won't be worth the same price."

Boss Fan didn't even glance at her, just snorted and left.

They dared not go to the inn for the time being, and the group returned to the Fan family home.

When Wang saw that Qingru and her party had arrived again, she was not very welcoming and went back to her room in a huff, not at all like someone who was entertaining guests.

Boss Fan chased after Wang, saying, "You all go to the west wing; I have something to say to you in a moment."

Old Zhang limped as he led the group toward the west wing, when suddenly, a loud bang was heard.

"What? What kind of hero are you, daring to give that bitch a ten percent of the profits? Are you harboring ulterior motives? Are you trying to seduce her?" Wang's shrewish roar came from the main room. The group of people looked at each other, but Old Zhang was the most experienced.

He coughed lightly to wake everyone, then continued leading the way.

Seventh Master was still not fully recovered and was being supported by Chief Zhang. Guo Zixing was supporting Qingru, who had been drugged. Xin Wuhui was wearing a thick cotton-padded coat with his pockets bulging.

The Fan family's house was only impressive in its main gate. Inside, the side rooms were ordinary dwellings, without any carved beams, painted rafters, pavilions, or towers. The courtyard was planted with pine and cypress trees, but not many flowers or plants; instead, some seasonal vegetables were grown. There were no fresh green vegetables this season, only leftover vegetable stubble.

Old Zhang led the man into the side room and then left him there. Xin Wu Hui, who was visiting for the first time, was quite curious. "So all the people in Boss Fan's family have this kind of temper?"

It was only then that Qingru and the others had a chance to notice Xin Wuhui. Seeing his fair complexion and robust physique, they knew he hadn't suffered much. Thinking about the 10% profit that Boss Fan had invested, which would mostly have to be covered by Guo Zixing, Qingru felt a pang of jealousy.

"What's wrong with you? After you were sold out by Niu Da and his gang, we haven't heard from you since. Since your hands and feet aren't tied up, why don't you send a message back?"

Xin Wu Hui was pouring himself tea when he heard this and asked curiously, "Where should I send it? You were still at the Niu family's house at the time, so I couldn't possibly send it to the Huang family. I didn't know the two people next to you, and I wasn't free. Where could I send the letter?"

Well, that makes sense. Qingru didn't know how to refute it for a moment, and a breath stuck in her throat.

"Then what are you doing here? You didn't come looking for me, did you?"

Qingru looked at him helplessly, her eyes saying, "What do you think?"

Xin Wu Hui looked on in astonishment, and seeing everyone in the room staring at him, he jumped up in fright, "No way? You really came here to see me?"

"What do you think? We didn't come here to mine coal, did we? Every single one of you here is a big shot. Do you think we're just looking for trouble?" Qingru almost exposed Guo Zixing's identity. Looking at Seventh Master, who was injured while saving him, she silently apologized.

Xin Wu Hui was still incredulous. "How could this be? I'm just a driver, someone you met by chance. Why are you being so nice to me?"

“This has nothing to do with identity. Although we met by chance, you have been taking care of me ever since I fell into the Mi River. I have to repay this kindness. Speaking of which, everyone here is in this predicament because of my request. I am deeply grateful to you. I will find a way to make up for the money you spent. As for favors, as long as you ask, I will do my best to help you.”

Qingru spoke earnestly, but none of the men present took it seriously. What did they think they were if they were to make her, a woman, bear all of this? However, Qingru's gratitude earned them a higher regard for her.