I achieved mastery of martial arts during the Republic of China era.

Chapter 46 Factional Strife, Bullying at Our Doorstep

As Zheng Hao's thoughts raced, he looked at Zhou Tong and met his eyes, which held a hidden smile.

He immediately understood that Zhou Tong did want to control the medicinal materials, but he was also trying to curry favor with him so that he could dispel any misunderstandings his senior brother might have.

"My junior brother has been quite sensible this week."

Zheng Hao thought to himself.

He and Liu Qing exchanged a glance, and smiles bloomed on their faces.

Zheng Hao reached out and patted Zhou Tong on the shoulder, laughed and said, "Junior Brother Zhou, you're too kind. Don't talk about money or buying. I've asked you to come to me for help time and time again. You finally asked me to, and now I'm asking you to spend money to buy it? That would be a slap in my face."

Liu Qing's eyes sparkled, and she said with a smile, "What Senior Brother Zheng said makes sense."

Zheng Hao continued, "Of course, to be honest, junior brother, even I have a very limited supply of those controlled drugs. I'll grit my teeth and spare you a little, but the quantity..."

Zhou Tong quickly clasped his hands in a fist and said, "I just want to broaden my horizons. Senior brother, just give me a little bit."

Seeing this, Liu Qing also said, "I can share some with Junior Brother Zhou as well."

Zhou Tong quickly clasped his hands in thanks: "Senior brothers and sisters, you are so kind. Well, I am ashamed to accept your kindness."

"Hey, we're all fellow disciples, why be so polite?"

Zheng Hao waved his hand magnanimously, then smiled slightly and asked, "Junior brother, after we've prepared the things, when and where should we give them to you?"

Zhou Tong's expression turned serious, and he cupped his hands, saying, "Of course, it will be in the martial arts school, given to my junior brother in front of everyone, so that the other brothers can also broaden their horizons."

Zheng Hao was even more satisfied and nodded with a smile.

After the matter was settled, the two did not leave immediately, but stood and continued to chat with Zhou Tong. Laughter occasionally broke out, and the atmosphere was exceptionally harmonious.

The disciples who had been secretly watching the show since Liu Qing and Zheng Hao arrived were all slightly stunned when they saw the three of them chatting and laughing.

They had imagined many scenarios, but they never expected it to turn out like this.

Those disciples in the core circle, who had spent years with Liu and Zheng, were able to tell whether the two were pretending or genuinely enjoying their conversation, and were even more surprised.

Behind the window in the main hall, the eldest brother also turned his gaze to Zhou Tong and the other two, a faint smile appearing on his lips as he nodded slightly.

He had previously told Zhou Tong that true wisdom lies in knowing how to protect oneself in the face of adversity.

Looking back now, it seems like they did a good job.

On the field, Zhou Tong watched Zheng Hao and Liu Qing leave before starting his morning routine training.

After finishing his practice session, he stood up and glanced at the control panel.

【Dragon and Tiger Meat Training Pole (Perfect Version)】

[Current Level: Iron Skin (Beginner)]

[Estimated time to reach "Peak Muscle Building" - 99 days]

It was roughly in line with his previous estimates.

"Once we get the medicinal herbs that Liu and Zheng agreed upon, we'll see just how potent they really are."

Zhou Tong's eyes flickered, secretly anticipating what was to come.

According to Manager Hu, even the scions of wealthy families were not entitled to use the controlled medicinal herbs when they were preparing meat, but he managed to obtain some through his own efforts, and from someone who was destined to become his rival.

Zhou Tong felt a surge of comfort.

The feeling of using someone else's strength against them, and squeezing resources out of their fingers, is uniquely exhilarating.

He quickly washed up, wiped his sweat, and walked straight outside.

......

After leaving the martial arts school, Zhou Tong went to the roadside and flagged down a rickshaw: "Police Station."

"Alright!" The driver picked up the handlebars and started walking.

The wheels rolled over the bluestone pavement, making a soft, rumbling sound.

The wind brushed past my ears, carrying the smells of the market—the aroma of freshly steamed buns, the scent of soap wafting from some unknown bathhouse, and the faint smell of horse manure left behind by passing carriages.

Zhou Tong leaned back in his car seat, stretched out his fingers, and rubbed his temples.

The psychological battle he had just fought with Liu Qing and Zheng Hao at the martial arts gym was nothing short of a battle for him.

Every tone of voice, every glance, and every expression requires careful calculation.

In this life, those who dare to cause you trouble are those who think they can control you and are better than you in every way.

Those who are inferior to you but dare to act arrogantly in front of you are, after all, only a minority.

Therefore, on the one hand, you should strive to improve your own strength. The stronger you are, the fewer people will dare to cause you trouble.

On the other hand, one must know how to plan and use everything available to protect oneself.

For example, he had previously used his senior brother's influence to divert the attention of Liu and Zheng.

As the rickshaw rounded a street corner, the distant chiming clock of a watch shop rang out, its deep sound echoing through the streets.

As Zhou Tong watched the scenery flash by outside the window, a subtle smile suddenly appeared on his lips.

Fighting with people is endlessly enjoyable; fighting with the earth is endlessly enjoyable; fighting with the heavens is endlessly enjoyable.

Struggling to survive and climb the social ladder in this chaotic world, isn't that itself a grand drama of fighting against heaven, earth, and man?

……

The rickshaw stopped in front of the North City Police Station.

Zhou Tong paid the fare and climbed the granite steps.

The police officers on guard at the gate straightened up and saluted as he approached: "Captain Zhou!"

Zhou Tong nodded slightly, continued walking, and went straight up to the second floor.

As soon as he approached the door of the second squad's office, he sensed something was wrong.

At this time of day, the office would usually be noisy—Chen Yan's loud voice, Li Kang bragging about last night's card game... But today, the room was unusually quiet.

Standing at the doorway, I looked inside.

Seven or eight people sat or stood, but no one spoke, creating a dull and oppressive atmosphere that was not present in the past.

They all hung their heads listlessly, and no one even noticed Zhou Tong appearing at the door.

Zhou Tong remained expressionless, his gaze slowly sweeping across the field.

Li Kang sat at the table, holding a newspaper in his hand, but staring blankly at the corner of the table;

Zhao Hu leaned against the window, smoking one cigarette after another, the smoke swirling around him;

In the corner, two young police officers stood with their heads down, their fingers unconsciously picking at the loose threads on their uniform cuffs...

Finally, Zhou Tong's gaze settled on Chen Yan's face.

On that rugged face, two clear handprints were now clearly imprinted—one on the left cheek and one on the right, symmetrical like carefully stamped seals.

The finger marks were red, swollen, and purplish, with slight bleeding at the edges, indicating that the blow was extremely heavy.

Zhou Tong narrowed his eyes slightly.

He coughed lightly and went inside.

At this, the people in the room seemed to be awakened, and they all raised their heads.

Upon seeing that it was Zhou Tong, they all hurriedly stood up, the sound of chair legs scraping against the ground was ear-piercing.

"Good morning, Captain!"

"team leader......"

The greetings were sparse and intermittent, carrying a hint of something unusual.

Zhou Tong reached out and pressed down, gesturing for everyone to sit down.

He took off his indigo wool coat and hung it on the coat rack by the door. He then took off his police hat, calmly dusted off the brim, and walked to his desk by the window.

The table was tidy, and the case files that had been spread out yesterday were now closed and neatly stacked to one side.

Zhou Tong picked up the thermos, poured himself a glass of warm water, and took a slow sip.

Warm water flowed down my throat, bringing a touch of warmth.

He then looked up at Chen Yan, who had been avoiding his gaze, and asked calmly, "What happened?"

Chen Yan's lips trembled twice, and her face, which had been slapped, turned bright red.

He slowly stood up, bowed his head, and said:

"Captain, I failed in my duty; I didn't collect the bribe, and I have let you down. Please punish me!"

Chen Yan was a straightforward person. Thinking back to yesterday when he had made a big promise to Zhou Tong, patting his chest and saying, "I know the old rules very well."

I didn't get anything done today, and I even got beaten up. My face felt burning hot, even more painful than the two slaps.

Zhou Tong took another sip of tea, his expression remaining calm.

He put down his teacup and tapped his fingers lightly on the table:

"Tell me from the beginning. Explain the whole story clearly."

The voice wasn't loud, but it made everyone in the room hold their breath.

Chen Yan took a deep breath, glanced at the door, got up and closed it, then turned around and began to explain in detail:

"Reporting to the captain, I went to collect the tribute early this morning, starting with Fulong Cloth Shop as usual."

But as soon as I entered, Manager Wang looked troubled and told me to go to the teahouse across the street, saying he had something important to discuss.

I sensed something was wrong, but I went anyway, wanting to see what he was up to.

Upon entering the private room, good heavens, all the managers who were supposed to offer us tributes were there! But there was one more person present…

Chen Yan paused, then finally couldn't contain his anger any longer and shouted, "It's Sun Wei, the captain of the third squad of the first company!"

Zhou Tong nodded slightly, his face revealing neither joy nor anger, and simply raised his chin to signal him to continue.

Chen Yan gritted his teeth, forcing out the words:

"When that bastard Sun Wei saw me, he didn't even get up. He just held his teacup, glanced at me with his eyelids, and said, 'Chen Yan, go back and tell your Captain Zhou that from today onwards, the third squad of the first company will take over the revenue from these shops.'"

Chen Yan's chest heaved violently as he continued:

"I got really angry then and there. I said, Captain Sun, this isn't the rule, is it? The quotas for our two teams were clearly defined long ago! The east side of Wenchang Street has always been ours to give, and the west side is yours..."

"But that bastard Sun Wei said..."

Chen Yan looked at Zhou Tong, his facial muscles twitching, and for a moment he couldn't say anything.

Zhou Tong tapped the table, his tone still calm: "What are you saying? Everyone else dares to say it, but you don't even dare to repeat it?"

Chen Yan glanced at Zhou Tong's expression, gritted his teeth, and decided to go all out.

"Sun Wei said the rule in the police station is that whoever has the strongest fist gets to speak! He said, 'Captain, you're just a Stone Muscle Realm cultivator. If something really happens on the street, won't we have to rely on him to keep things in order?' He also said, 'Where do you get the nerve to send someone over to collect bribes?'"

"I was furious, so I went up to argue with him, and that's how it happened..."

Chen Yan touched the slap mark on his face, his voice full of humiliation: "Sun Wei told me to come back and tell you that if you're not satisfied, you can go and argue with him yourself."

The office was deathly silent.

Only Chen Yan's heavy breathing and the occasional hustle and bustle of the street outside the window could be heard.

No one dared to speak; even their breathing became much softer.

Zhou Tong's expression had calmed down. He spoke slowly, his voice devoid of emotion:

"Is Sun Wei's overstepping of boundaries in accordance with the rules?"

Chen Yan was taken aback, not expecting Zhou Tong's first question to be this.

He thought for a moment, then said in a huff:

"Captain, although Sun Wei's actions were domineering, they did indeed... did indeed conform to the unspoken rules of the police station."

Our police station is full of armed men, and we rely on force to quell disturbances on the streets, so we have always believed in strength.

The matter of receiving gifts is something that happens behind closed doors; whoever is stronger always gets to take more.

In the past, there have been disputes between squad leaders over this matter, and in the end, they always settled things with their fists.

Whoever wins gets the tribute. As long as there's no major trouble, the higher-ups turn a blind eye.

Zhou Tong nodded slightly, then chuckled and said indifferently:

"Even if Sun Wei thinks he can control me, how dare a mere squad leader like him blindly offend Captain Qin? If Sun Wei didn't have anyone backing him up, would he dare to so blatantly cross the line?"

Chen Yan immediately came to his senses and said in realization:

"Captain, you see things very clearly! It seems the root of the problem lies with the captain of the first squadron."

Sun Wei must have had the tacit approval, or even been instructed, of their squadron leader to dare to do this!

He frowned, puzzled:

"But... our Second Company and First Company used to have a pretty good relationship. Captain Qin and Captain Liu of the First Company, although not very close, got along well on the surface and never had any direct turf wars like this."

Zhou Tong picked up his teacup and gently blew on the floating leaves on the water's surface:

"Even the Worry-Free Sect has gone from clamoring for violence to now being allowed to openly appear as long as they don't cause trouble. In this world, what can't change?"

Li Kang, Zhao Hu, and the others' expressions changed. They weren't stupid; they immediately realized what was happening—

It seems that Liu Zhenshan, the captain of the first squadron, has had a falling out with Captain Qin Lie!

It doesn't stop there; there may be factional struggles at a higher level behind this!

Zhou Tong, the squad leader of the Stone Muscle Realm, was seen as an easy target by the opposing side.

By taking this opportunity to cause trouble, Sun Wei could not only earn more money as a bribe, but also boost the prestige of the First Squadron and curry favor with his superiors—a win-win situation!

Chen Yan's face turned pale, and he said anxiously, "Captain, if what you're saying is true, the other side is targeting our Second Company. They're trying to use us as a scapegoat to establish their authority!"

He stepped forward and whispered his advice:

"Captain, why don't you go and report this to Captain Qin Lie? Stone Muscle is at a disadvantage against Iron Muscle, but there's nothing shameful about it. I think Captain Qin will understand."

At this point, Chen Yan glanced at Zhou Tong and quickly added an explanation:

"Captain, I didn't mean to say you lack strength! With your talent, you should be able to break through to Iron Muscle in another month or two!"

Once you break through, Sun Wei will be nothing! But that's a matter for the future. Right now, we'll have to swallow this loss...

Upon hearing this, the others, fearing that Zhou Tong might lose face and clash with Sun Wei, also chimed in to give Zhou Tong a way out.

Zhou Tong raised his hand, and the persuasion on the field immediately stopped.

"The deed has already happened; how could Captain Qin not know?"

He looked up at Chen Yan and gave the order directly:

"Take two men and go and invite all the shopkeepers from the teahouse today, without exception, to the courtyard below the police station."

Chen Yan was taken aback: "Captain, what's wrong...?"

Zhou Tong continued, "Once everyone has arrived, come up and let me know. Then—"

He paused, his voice steady yet carrying an undeniable force:

"Go to the office of the third squad of the first company and tell Captain Sun that I, Zhou Tong, am waiting for him in the yard. There are some things that need to be clarified in person."

Chen Yan opened his mouth and asked, "Captain, do you want to find those merchants and argue with Sun Wei in front of them?"

This...this isn't something that can be solved with theory! Sun Wei is clearly going to settle things with his fists, you..."

Zhou Tong's expression darkened, and although his voice wasn't loud, it instantly silenced Chen Yan:

"Go do something."

Looking into Zhou Tong's calm and unwavering eyes, Chen Yan could only swallow back the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

He gritted his teeth: "Yes, Captain!"

Having said that, he turned and pointed at Li Kang and Zhao Hu: "You two, come with me!"

The three hurriedly left the office, their footsteps fading into the distance down the corridor.

The remaining people in the office looked at each other, hesitant to speak.

Zhou Tong stopped looking at them, picked up his teacup again, and slowly sipped his tea.

Outside the window, the bright sunlight shone in and fell on his profile.

His young face was calm and expressionless, but a cold glint flashed in the depths of his eyes.

After hearing the whole story, he only had two thoughts in his mind:

First, now that we've joined Third Senior Brother's faction, we need to stand firm. Right now, an opportunity has presented itself.

Secondly, make your position clear, get things done properly first, and then report to Qin Lie. This is the correct order.