The site was set up, attracting many onlookers.

Many nearby residents also came to watch the grand fireworks. The management office is not far from Feixiang Transport Company, so setting off fireworks together on both sides undoubtedly makes it more lively and grand.

At eight minutes past eight in the morning, under Lin Chuan's command, a myriad of fireworks soared into the sky.

The loud noise of firecrackers, along with the booming salute fireworks, seemed to declare that the transport market and Feixiang Transport Company were officially in business. Of course, it also proved to everyone that Feixiang Company and the transport market now belonged to the same owner.

"Wow, this Feixiang Company is a big deal," someone exclaimed in surprise.

"Why do you say that?" someone curiously asked.

"According to the usual rules, when the transport market opens, the companies inside are allowed to start business," the person laughed: "Now, Feixiang Transport Company chose to open with the transport market, either they have strong backing, or it's the same owner."

"I see." The onlookers nodded in sudden realization.

This grand opening drew Lin Chuan's attention to check; adding to the original twenty or so brothers, their ranks had now swelled to over fifty people. This was no small progress. Although the transport company did not need so many people at present, they planned to expand operations after the new year. Moreover, Lin Chuan also intended to develop in diverse and multiple directions, only through such means could the business thrive and grow.

Luckily, he now had hundreds of thousands of funds at hand. Expanding the business was not a difficult task. The key was to find the right direction.

For this matter, Lin Chuan specifically gathered key brothers like Zhou Kai, Da Pao, Huang Bo, and Liu Cheng to discuss it together. The discussion took place on the second floor of the Feixiang Transport Company, in an office that Lin Chuan had converted into a conference room. The conference room was large, sparsely furnished with several tables laden with fruits, where everyone sat.

A total of six people.

"Brother Chuan, did you gather us here for some reason?" Zhou Kai asked with a smile.

"Indeed, there is a matter." Lin Chuan nodded, stood up, and said, "Everyone present is a core brother from Changlin Factory. The new year is over, and now, it's about the transformation of our company. Now that our company has expanded to over fifty people, it means that there are over fifty mouths to feed. Where is the money coming from? We can't solely rely on sand projects, nor can we depend on the small management fees from the transport market."

"I get it." At this moment, Da Pao said with a smile, "Brother Chuan, you want to expand our business, right?"

"Exactly." Lin Chuan nodded, "Da Pao touched on the crucial point. Once, I promised you all that I would lead you in entrepreneurship, to make money, and set you on a path to wealth. Now is our moment of decision."

"Brother Chuan, we'll follow your lead," Zhou Kai said with a smile. "You tell us to go east, we won't go west."

"Right." Everyone nodded in agreement: "You tell us to go east, and we absolutely won't go west."

Lin Chuan chuckled and said, "I have no doubt about your loyalty. I just want to hear your suggestions. What direction should we take in the coming year?"

"That..." Zhou Kai hesitated for a moment.

"The most profitable industry is road construction," Da Pao said excitedly. "Brother Chuan, you are so close with Secretary Tang, why not... why not let her give us a road to construct? If not, even building a bridge would do. Golden bridges and silver roads are the most profitable."

Lin Chuan glanced at him and scoffed, "Can you build bridges, or construct roads?"

"That..." Da Pao laughed awkwardly, "No."

"Since you can't, what are you suggesting?" Lin Chuan glanced at him annoyedly.

"We could subcontract it to other capable companies," Da Pao laughed. "Earning a few hundred thousand, or even a million, is entirely possible."

"Feel your conscience," Lin Chuan looked at Da Pao, "Do you think you could do it? With my relationship with Tang Yumeng, getting a road to build is no problem. But if you subcontract it to others, the quality will inevitably suffer, creating shoddy work. Do you think you'd be deserving of Secretary Tang?"

"I..." Da Pao awkwardly couldn't raise his head.

"Brothers." Lin Chuan looked up at the six people, "Although we're poor, we absolutely won't earn money that lacks a clear conscience; although we're poor, we must not be low in spirit. Although we're poor, every single cent we earn is hard-earned money. We absolutely won't allow a penny of dirty money."

"Yes!!" Everyone nodded in agreement.

At this moment, someone spoke up, "Brother Chuan, why don't we also try running a bathhouse? Look at Siberian Tiger's bathhouse, it's making a lot of money."

"Right, right, right." Da Pao eagerly nodded, "That's a real money-maker."

Zhou Kai had been curiously eyeing Lin Chuan, not understanding his meaning. After noticing Lin Chuan hesitating, Zhou Kai finally stood up: "Brother Chuan, if others can do it, I think we should be able to do it too."

"This matter is a bit risky," Lin Chuan said, taking a drag on his cigarette.

"We don't dare to do bad things," Zhou Kai seriously said: "If that Northeast Tiger does illegitimate things, we'll just do it openly and honestly. Anyway, we're not forcing anyone, whoever wants to, will come. It's kinda like a semi-legitimate business. What do you think?"

Lin Chuan thought for a moment and said, "I need to think about this carefully. After all, it's no small matter. Although it's not illegal, it's still a product that skirts the edge of the law. It's not easy to define. You guys can consider other things."

"Collecting protection fees," Huang Bo suddenly blurted out.

Pfft...

Zhou Kai, who was drinking tea, immediately spat out a mouthful of water. Huang Bo was instantly sprayed and grimaced in pain.

"What do you mean by that?" Huang Bo glared at Zhou Kai.

"Sorry," Zhou Kai chuckled, "But, man, you're too funny. Who in the eastern district doesn't know that only two groups collect protection fees, and it's divided at the southern road of Huai Mountain; to the east belongs to Northeast Tiger, and to the west belongs to Thirteen Grand Protectors. You really think you can dip your hand into this pie without having your arm chopped off by others."

Huang Bo blinked and eventually could only sheepishly give up.

Indeed, Zhou Kai was right, in the whole eastern district, only the people of Northeast Tiger and Thirteen Grand Protectors dared to collect protection fees. Anyone else daring to cause trouble in the eastern district would be either split by Northeast Tiger or chopped by Thirteen Grand Protectors. Protection fees were like a huge, easily attainable pie. Unfortunately, this pie was only monopolized by Northeast Tiger and Thirteen Grand Protectors. No one else had a share.

Bang...

Suddenly, a loud noise.

Everyone looked up, only to see Lin Chuan slapping his hand on the table, laughing, "Protection fees, huh? Heh, we're going to collect them in the eastern district."

"Huh?" Everyone was shocked.

"Brother Chuan, are you... are you alright?" Zhou Kai looked at Lin Chuan with bewilderment.

"What?" Lin Chuan frowned.

"Brother Chuan, with our current strength, we're no match for them at all," Zhou Kai awkwardly said: "Whether it's Northeast Tiger or Thirteen Grand Protectors, they are both very powerful and have numerous seasoned members. For now, they don't take us seriously, hence they don't bother with us. But once we really touch their interests, they will definitely strike us with the ferocity of a thunderbolt."

"I'm not saying to tear our faces with them right now," Lin Chuan said with a cold smile. "We are indeed still weak now. We only have a little over fifty people, and they're mostly inexperienced kids, I'm not foolish enough to have them clash with the opposition."

"Then..." Zhou Kai asked, puzzled.

"Right now, we are like a hungry baby, and they are already grown-ups," Lin Chuan laughed: "What we are doing seems overambitious. But, a baby also grows up, when the right time comes, hmph, that will be the time for us to replace them."

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately got excited. Replacing them would indeed be a reason for celebration.

"How could that be possible?" Zhou Kai awkwardly said: "They have been developing for over a decade in the eastern district, and they are deeply entrenched."

"That was in the past," Lin Chuan smiled and said: "The new waves of the Yangtze River push the old waves, sooner or later, our day to replace them will come. Do you guys have confidence?"

"Yes!" Everyone nodded in unison.

Lu Dapao laughed and said: "Brother Chuan alone could raid their stronghold and capture both Northeast Tiger and Thirteen Grand Protectors. Isn't replacing them just a matter of time?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Kai said: "Right, Brother Chuan is so capable, we can definitely train a bunch of underlings who will become our capable force."

"That's exactly what I was thinking," Lin Chuan immediately said: "But such people are not easy to find. Training is tough."

"Pick them from the factory," Zhou Kai laughed: "We all are tough guys used to hardships."

After some discussion, everyone decided to first contemplate the bathhouse event, and secretly train a batch of underlings, aiming to bring them up to a decent standard of capability. If someone came to bother the bathhouse in the future, at least there would be some guys who could hold down the fort.

After considerable discussion, twenty-some people were chosen as the first batch for secret training. As for the bathhouse, it was simply set up at the three-story building at the entrance of the transport market. This building was originally rented by Long Wu, and because his transport business couldn't continue, he simply vacated this three-story building. The inside was empty, with everything already moved out, a mess of rubbish scattered around, and the grounds in disarray.

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