Reborn with Consumption System-Chapter 368 - 187 Haohao Don’t Cry

When Han Lie walked into the inner small hall, he immediately knew what Fang Tongzhi’s so-called "surprise" was.

In the center of the hall, a round table was set up where Fang Tongzhi, Liu Yingjun, Wang Hong, Ma Ke, and others were playing poker. Incredibly, the one serving them wasn’t Wang Xiaotian but Dan Zihao, who looked thoroughly chastened from a harsh scolding.

"Little Dan, light a cigarette for me."

"Go, pour me a cup of hot water."

"Damn! What shitty cards! Little Dan, come help me draw a hand. Don’t worry, if you lose, it’s on you; if you win, it’s mine!"

With a miserable expression, Dan Zihao was being ordered around, rushing about the room like a headless fly. But Haohao didn’t dare utter a single word of complaint. These senior students wouldn’t pamper him; if they got annoyed, they’d actually hit him. So, with a smile plastered on his face, he was extremely obedient.

When Han Lie saw this scene, he couldn’t help but chuckle, a flicker of surprise also in his heart.

Dan Zihao is a local with a reasonably influential family. Who could have suppressed him to this degree? 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

His gaze, tinged with thoughtfulness, swept over the few strangers present.

Wang Xiaotian, having sharp eyes, was the first to spot Han Lie and hurriedly approached, "Young Master Han, you’ve arrived?"

The poker game paused immediately.

Fang Tongzhi stood up, putting an arm around the long-faced young man beside him and enthusiastically introducing him to Han Lie, "Come, come, God Lie, let me introduce a great brother to you—Li Hao. Brother Hao, he’s a big deal in Yang Pu!"

Finally, Fang Tongzhi gave a big thumbs-up, shaking it vigorously.

Han Lie pondered for a moment and largely understood the situation. Fang Tongzhi was always very composed. His actions were subtle and unshowy, reflecting the upright propriety typical of public officials from his parents’ generation. Today, however, his demeanor was somewhat brash, overtly brimming with a kind of streetwise swagger. No need to think further; this was definitely a display for Li Hao’s benefit. It was normal to tailor your speech to your audience, after all. So, was Li Hao a second-generation figure with connections to the streets?

As Han Lie casually extended his hand, he carefully sized up the nonchalant young man opposite him. The young man had a long face, permed hair, and wore an earring. Dressed in hip-hop style, he often looked at people askance. His mouth stretched wide when he smiled, and instead of a watch, a sandalwood bead bracelet adorned his wrist. At most in his early twenties, his face radiated the same untamable defiance as Fan Fan.

"Brother Hao, a pleasure to meet you."

"Don’t say that!" Li Hao shook Han Lie’s hand vigorously, his smile warm, gesturing with his free left hand. "You’re a man of great ability; I’m just a good-for-nothing bum. If you’ll do me the honor, just call me by my nickname, Ma Lian. I’ll follow Old Fang and call you God Lie. We’re straightforward people here, so let’s dispense with the formalities!"

Li Hao, looking exuberant, turned and clapped his friend on the shoulder. "This buddy of mine is Lu Sheng, young master of the Second Brother’s family from Wujiaochang Town, a childhood friend of mine, and a top student from Zhendan University. If you ever get a chance to hang out over there, just look us up; we run the show in Yang Pu!"

Han Lie’s knowledge of psychology and his observational skills silently gathered information, allowing him to quickly size up Li Hao.

When introducing his buddy, Li Hao mentioned "my childhood friend" after "young master of the Second Brother’s family." This implied that, to him, the "young master" status was more important than their childhood friendship. He might not have realized it himself, but his subconscious revealed it. The boast, "we run the show in Yang Pu," first showed that his understanding of society wasn’t very deep. Second, it indicated that all his confidence stemmed from external factors. From Fang Tongzhi’s clear respect for Li Hao, one could infer that his family must be quite influential. Quite interesting indeed...

Yang Pu district actually has two main areas of focus: Wujiaochang in the north, and Yangshu Pu and the Worker’s New Villages in the central and southern parts.

Wujiaochang has historically been the sub-center of northeastern Magic Capital. Its core is a commercial district, surrounded by cultural and educational zones housing universities like the Second Military Medical University, Zhendan University, the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Tongji University, the Shanghai University of Sport, and the Republican-era Magic Capital Library.

Yangshu Pu and the Worker’s New Villages can essentially be discussed together. As Magic Capital’s old industrial base, they flourished from the 1950s until the 1990s, gathering older-generation pioneers and workers from all over the country who came to support its construction. Now, however, it’s a somewhat desolate area with a severely aging population. The large residential districts here are almost all named after places in the Northeast, such as Anshan Xin Cun, Fengcheng Xin Cun, Yanji Xin Cun, Changbai Xin Cun, and Kailu Xin Cun—names that immediately evoke a strong sense of a bygone era.

At the same time, this area was once the heart of Magic Capital’s underworld.

Han Lie didn’t know much about the past, but he had heard that the social circles of Magic Capital locals were devoid of bloody conflicts, filled instead with concerns about face and intricate scheming. Isn’t there a classic joke? Two Magic Capital men can argue face-to-face for three hours, cursing until they’re hoarse, yet never come to blows.

But outsiders were different, and the old industrial district of Yangshu Pu, where many people from the Northeast had gathered, was even more different. It was said that during the painful era of mass layoffs, this place genuinely experienced a period of chaos.

Of course, it wouldn’t still be chaotic now. However, in a city as vast as Magic Capital, with so many corners untouched by sunlight, some shadowy elements were bound to persist.

To call them the "underworld" would be giving them too much credit. They were likely just a group of local bosses who operated more by their own set of rules than by the law, all banded together. Dream City had similar circles, engaged in all sorts of highly profitable businesses operating in legal gray areas, such as private lending and questionable asset transfers, for example. Nothing unusual. If such circles existed, they naturally had a center. Judging by Fang Tongzhi’s attitude, could Li Hao be the next in line to lead that circle?

Han Lie didn’t think highly of Li Hao, but he had to admit that this man was born in Rome.