After leaving his hometown, Han Li traveled southeast, making his way toward Lan Zhou. Along the journey, he sometimes traveled with companions, crossing bustling cities and markets, and at other times, he chose to venture alone through desolate mountains and wild lands, looking for shortcuts. He didn't encounter any major dangers, with the only mishap occurring one night while camping in the wilderness. A pack of hungry wild wolves attacked, and Han Li ended up turning them into dinner.
His travels took him through two other provinces before he finally reached Lan Zhou, exhausted from the long journey. As soon as he crossed into Lan Zhou's territory, he was immediately struck by the intricate network of waterways. Han Li was accustomed to the rugged and mostly barren terrain of Yue Zhou, where mountains and hills dominated the landscape, and fresh water sources were scarce. Seeing the abundance of canals and rivers in Lan Zhou fascinated him, so much so that he rented a small boat to experience the pleasure of floating down the rivers.
Ten days later, Han Li arrived at Jia Yuan City, the destination mentioned in Dr. Mo's letter. He docked at an inconspicuous little wharf, and immediately, the poor condition of the place caught his eye. The dock was built with rudimentary wooden planks, and the small space was littered with broken baskets and bags, creating a sense of disorder. The only structures on the dock were two shabby bamboo sheds, in which several burly men stood, dressed in a manner that exuded a sense of toughness. Their eyes scanned Han Li and his companion, Qu Hun, with a hint of eagerness.
Han Li was momentarily taken aback but quickly smiled. Before disembarking from the boat, the boatman had warned him about an unspoken rule at this dock—whenever a merchant arrived, no matter how few or many goods they carried, they had to hire one of the dockhands to help with unloading. If they didn't, they would likely face harsh treatment or even be beaten.
Not wanting to break local customs, Han Li politely called out, "I need to hire a porter. Is anyone available?"
Sun Er Gou, having observed Han Li and his massive bodyguard, quickly assessed the situation. He guessed that Han Li was likely the young master of a wealthy family, and the large man following him was probably a bodyguard. This type of pairing was common in Jia Yuan City—wealthy young men coming to the city to experience it, spend a little money, and then return home to boast. They were easy targets for porters like him who hoped to make a bit of extra cash by flattering these naïve newcomers. After all, such people were quick to pay for service and often tipped generously.
However, Sun Er Gou's good fortune was tempered by the fact that he had agreed with Black Bear, the leader of the rival gang, that they would take turns handling business at this dock. Yesterday had been his turn, so this time the business should go to Black Bear's side.
He shot a glance at Black Bear, who gave a subtle signal to one of his subordinates, prompting a burly man to rush forward toward Han Li.
The young man looked at the porter with a critical eye. He saw the man was large and strong but didn't look like he would be able to handle the heavy load Qu Hun carried. "You won't be able to carry it alone. It's better to get another person," Han Li said with a polite smile.
The porter scoffed, "Young master, this is nothing. I can carry this with one hand! No need for another." Without waiting for a response, he moved to grab Qu Hun's large bundle.
Han Li sighed internally. The bundle contained several thousand taels of silver along with various other important items, which would be far too heavy for any ordinary person. However, seeing how eager the porter was, Han Li reluctantly gave his consent for Qu Hun to hand it over without further resistance.
Sure enough, the porter struggled the moment he took the bundle. His face reddened as he staggered under the weight. After a few steps, he could no longer carry it and set it down in embarrassment. He hurriedly went back and called for help, and soon another man came to assist. Together, they finally managed to lift the heavy load.
Once they were on their way, Han Li walked away from the dock with a sense of satisfaction, heading toward the city. Little did he know, this simple transaction would soon lead him into a world of trouble.
Sun Er Gou watched Han Li and his companion leave, his eyes narrowing in thought. He had quickly realized the wealth contained in that large bundle. It was far too tempting to ignore. He exchanged a look with Black Bear, who, like him, had noticed the riches.
After a brief hesitation, Sun Er Gou gave a nod, and the two men slipped away to a nearby alley behind a pile of trash. They began to quietly discuss how they might profit from the young man's apparent wealth.
"Fifty-fifty," Sun Er Gou said, going straight to the point.
"Three-seven," Black Bear immediately rejected, his voice firm. "This is our territory, after all."
"Forty-sixty, and that's the best I can do. You know as well as I do that your reasoning doesn't hold up," Sun Er Gou retorted with a calculating expression.
Black Bear hesitated, clearly unwilling to give up any more of the loot. "Fine," he finally said, "but only if we make sure no one else gets wind of it."
Sun Er Gou grinned, clearly satisfied with the outcome. They exchanged a handshake, sealing the deal with a few spat-on palms. "Let's hurry up and catch them before they disappear into the crowd," Sun Er Gou urged, eager to act quickly.
"Don't worry," Black Bear replied with a sinister smile, "I've already sent my men to guide them toward the Blackwater Alley. They'll be trapped there in no time."
Sun Er Gou nodded approvingly, but inwardly, he grew cautious. The deal with Black Bear was done, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he needed to be on high alert. Black Bear's smile was too cunning, and Sun Er Gou couldn't help but feel that things were about to get even more complicated.