Qin Yu ignored A Long's words and sat down on the sofa opposite him, asking:
"Is there anything that's been bothering you lately?"
"What could be bothering me? I'm drinking and playing every day, and there are plenty of girls. Life couldn't be more comfortable." A Long laughed heartily.
"Really?" Qin Yu looked unconvinced and said, "Is there anything we can't talk about as brothers?"
A Long's smile faded as he said, "It must have been Zhao Bing who told you, damn it, I'll give him a good beating when I see him."
"There's no need for others to tell me. I know your character well. A karaoke bar opened right across from you, and you, Brother Long, didn't react. Is that like you?"
Qin Yu curled his lips, emphasizing the words "Brother Long." He knew his brother's character well; he was never one to take a loss. If someone provoked him, he would have gathered his gang and smashed the karaoke bar long ago.
"Tell me, what's really going on? Does that karaoke bar have some background?"
A Long pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, tossed one to Qin Yu, and then put one in his own mouth, lit it, and took a puff before saying:
"Qin Yu, your status is different from mine. I've already taken this path, and I don't want to drag you into it."
"Bullshit, are you not considering me as a brother? Fine, I'll leave now, and we won't contact each other anymore."
Qin Yu made a move to stand up and leave, but A Long didn't stop him, just watching Qin Yu's actions with a smile. Qin Yu looked at A Long and had no choice but to sit back down and say:
"Alright, tell me what's going on. Let's discuss it together."
A Long knew Qin Yu's character; he could be as stubborn as a bull in certain aspects. Since he couldn't hide it anymore, he decided to spill everything.
A Long's Dreamland Karaoke Bar was one of the oldest and most famous venues in the county, with a prime location. With some connections in the government, there were no troublemakers, and business was booming, making a fortune every day.
However, with success came jealousy. A Long was a rising force in the county, and after a few confrontations with established powers, they had to give up this territory. Through this karaoke bar, A Long had become a dominant figure in the county.
Six months ago, a shop across the street started renovations. A Long didn't pay much attention at the time, as the county was changing rapidly, and it was normal for old shops to be renovated. But two months later, when the shop opened, it turned out to be another karaoke bar called Triumph Karaoke Bar.
A Long was not the type to take a loss. He had started his path in high school when a group of second-year students demanded protection money from him. He fought back and gradually became the dominant figure in his high school. How could he tolerate a karaoke bar opening right across from him, stealing his customers?
On the night of the opening, A Long gathered his gang with sticks, planning to smash the karaoke bar. But when they rushed in, they were stunned to find the place full of police officers. The police immediately arrested A Long and his gang and took them to the station.
A Long realized he had been set up. After years in the underworld, he knew he had fallen into a trap.
To bail out all his brothers, he spent the karaoke bar's earnings for half a year. Even then, a few of his gang members couldn't be bailed out due to their criminal records and were likely to be sentenced.
After being released from the police station, A Long sought help from a police chief he knew. From him, he learned that the Triumph Karaoke Bar was run by a relative of the newly appointed deputy police chief. Everyone knew that the relative was just a front, and the real boss was the police chief.
After this setback, A Long didn't act rashly, but the other side clearly wasn't going to let it go. By opening the karaoke bar there, they clearly intended to drive A Long out.
Before, with the help of the police chief, the Dreamland Karaoke Bar had never been inspected. Even routine inspections were announced in advance. Now, the police came to check frequently, and even though the karaoke bar had no violations, the frequent inspections drove away customers. People came for entertainment and would leave when they saw the police. As a result, the Dreamland Karaoke Bar's customer base dwindled, while the Triumph Karaoke Bar's grew.
"The problem lies with the deputy police chief. Haven't they talked to you?"
After hearing A Long's story, Qin Yu asked.
"Of course they have. That scumbag sent someone to tell me to either sell the karaoke bar for 500,000 yuan or face closure."
A Long curled his lips, looking disdainful. "I spent 700,000 yuan to take over this karaoke bar two years ago, plus the renovation costs. There's no way I'm selling it for 500,000 yuan."
Qin Yu frowned. The other side clearly wanted to take over the karaoke bar, using their official connections. This might even be the deputy police chief's plan. Qin Yu had heard from his uncle that the deputy police chief was sent by the county party secretary, as the police chief was nearing retirement.
The two brothers fell silent, each lost in thought as they smoked, filling the room with smoke.
A sudden, urgent ringtone broke the silence. Qin Yu glanced at A Long, pulled out his phone, and saw it was his uncle calling.
"Uncle, hello."
"Xiao Yu, where are you now?"
"I'm in the county. Is there something wrong?"
"Tell me your exact location. I'll come pick you up. I need to talk to you."
His uncle's voice was urgent. Qin Yu told him he was at the Dreamland Karaoke Bar and was instructed to stay there. His uncle said he would come pick him up.
After hanging up, Qin Yu guessed that his uncle's call was related to the county magistrate's family. He stood up from the sofa and warned A Long:
"I have something to do now. Don't do anything rash while I'm gone. We'll discuss it when I come back. Don't act on impulse."
He was afraid that A Long, with his hot temper, might do something reckless, which would only give the other side more leverage.
"I'm calm, don't worry. Your uncle called you, so I won't go down to see you. It wouldn't look good if he saw me."
A Long knew Qin Yu's family well. His uncle was the town mayor, and A Long, with his large, muscular build and tough appearance, didn't want to accompany Qin Yu.
Leaving the karaoke bar, Qin Yu stood on the street, squinting as he looked at the Triumph Karaoke Bar across the street. After a moment, an idea formed in his mind, and he pulled out his phone to call A Long.
"Hey, you're still standing there. Why are you calling me?"
A Long's lazy voice came from above. Qin Yu looked up to see A Long's head poking out of the second-floor window.
"I have a plan to deal with the Triumph Karaoke Bar." Qin Yu ignored the head above and lowered his voice, continuing:
"Find someone to make a mirror, a rhombus-shaped one that can strongly reflect light. Place it in the second-floor window, adjust the angle, and make sure the light reflects onto the Triumph Karaoke Bar's sign."
"Mirror, reflection? What's the point?" Sensing Qin Yu's seriousness, A Long didn't stick his head out anymore and asked quietly on the phone.
"Don't ask now. I'll tell you later. Just remember to do as I say, and don't let too many people know about this."
Qin Yu saw a black Audi approaching, which was his uncle's car. He gave a quick instruction and hung up, walking over to the car.
"Xiao Yu, get in."
The car window rolled down, and his uncle called out to Qin Yu.
Qin Yu opened the door and got in. The black Audi started and disappeared around the corner...
"What's all this secrecy?"
A Long watched the Audi disappear, turned, and closed the window. After a moment, he dialed another number.
"Zhao Bing, find a rhombus-shaped mirror, not too small, preferably as tall as a child. Do this yourself and bring it to the second floor through the back door. Don't tell anyone else."
A Long didn't understand what Qin Yu was up to, but he trusted him completely and instructed Zhao Bing to do it.
On the other side, Qin Yu got into the Audi and found another person in the car, whom he recognized as Secretary Wang from the last time. Secretary Wang looked serious and managed a smile when he saw Qin Yu enter.
"Uncle, Secretary Wang, is this about the county magistrate's family?"
If Qin Yu had only guessed before, seeing Secretary Wang in the car confirmed it.
"Xiao Yu, let Secretary Wang explain."
Qin Yu's uncle was driving. Hearing this, Secretary Wang said:
"Mr. Qin, this is indeed about the county magistrate's family."
Without beating around the bush, Secretary Wang explained the situation.
After taking the talisman from Qin Yu, Secretary Wang gave it to the county magistrate, who, after much persuasion, finally believed and placed it above the door. It worked, and the county magistrate's daughter stopped having nightmares. However, last night, something strange happened.
The chandelier in the county magistrate's living room fell, smashing the fish tank and electrocuting all the fish. The living room was in chaos, and the talisman fell from the door, broken in half.
"The talisman is broken!"
Qin Yu was shocked. No one knew better than he did the power of the talisman. Such a talisman, infused with spiritual energy, would not break unless deliberately damaged.