Chapter 047: Family Power

The Legend of the Mage

Before delving further, it’s necessary to recount the situation of Lin Jia and his two brothers. In this small city, the territory is divided into several old-established spheres of influence, the largest of which surrounds the neighborhood where Lin Jia and his brothers reside—this area is known as Qiao Miao Ridge. It is dominated by the families of He, Xu, and Chen, three powerful clans whose unity is legendary.

Another domain is Baizi Market, home to the city’s oldest families, mainly the Xu clan, but also a mix of surnames residing together. Because of its diverse population, Baizi Market is notorious for its chaotic and unsafe environment; good, honest folk in the city speak of the place as if it were a den of tigers.

Then there’s Wuli Dune, bordering Qiao Miao Ridge, another area with a confused mix of residents. The last sphere lies somewhat farther away, in the neighboring town of Taihu.

These places were once indigenous villages. Over time, their fierce local customs led to the emergence of clan-based criminal organizations. The young men who found success in the underworld depended on their family connections to rise, while the clans themselves relied on these scions to expand their reputation and intimidate others. Gradually, these groups coalesced into the city’s current power circles.

Of course, not every family member is involved in crime, but if an outsider dares to bully one of them, would the prominent figures of the clan simply stand by? Obviously not—such an affront would be like a slap in the face.

Thus, the ordinary members of these families, though generally peaceful and no more troublesome than anyone else, are not easily provoked. The bold atmosphere bred by these underworld clans gives them a certain audacity. With such a powerful backing, do you think they’d refrain from retaliating if attacked? Hardly.

Lin Jia and his six brothers were once inseparable school friends. The eldest, Xu Fangfang, though a girl, is the granddaughter of the main Xu family of Baizi Market. Her grandfather served as the village chief, and the underworld bosses of Baizi Market are mostly her uncles and aunts. Few would dare cross her. Their family owns vast real estate in Baizi Market, the monthly rent alone is enough to make mouths water. Lin Jia and the fourth brother often jokingly called her “the mobile bank,” bestowing her with the nickname “the Landlady”—which inevitably led to them being thoroughly thrashed by her.

The second brother, Lin Jia, is not a local; he moved to the city with his parents, who worked in the steel industry. His approachable nature made him friends with almost everyone he met. He often joined the fourth brother and their crew in mischief. Lin Jia’s cunning and quick thinking made him both strategist and secret mastermind of their group. If trouble brewed, his influence was substantial.

The third brother, Cheng Bibo, was recently sent by his father to learn a trade and hasn’t been mixing with the others. His family hails from Taihu Town, a clan reputed to be prosperous, though distance meant the brothers knew less about him.

The fourth brother, Xu Hongbin, is a member of the Xu clan from Qiao Miao Ridge. With a dozen cousins already making names for themselves in the underworld, he jokingly styled himself the “Thirteenth Prince of Qiao Miao Ridge.” Ranked seventh in his family, he became known among the younger generation as “Prince Seven.”

The fifth brother, Chen Biao, is the archetypal bad boy of the group, a member of the Chen clan from Wuli Dune. He seldom hung out with Lin Jia and the others, preferring the company of his own family’s troublemakers. Yet, he was fiercely loyal.

The sixth and seventh siblings were two well-behaved girls, sent away to study after school, so there’s little more to say.

Several of Lin Jia’s classmates from those school days have now become prominent figures among the city’s young underworld. Names like Black Bear, Gorilla, and Iron Bun—whom Lin Jia mentioned to Monkey—are now leaders of local gangs in the Qiao Miao Ridge area. Though not particularly close, their acquaintance was enough for their subordinates to curry favor with Lin Jia and his brothers.

Despite their connections, Lin Jia and his siblings were not truly bad kids. Their families kept them on a tight leash, and they were little different from ordinary children. If they were, they wouldn’t be so poor, always eager for a free meal or drink. As Lin Jia put it, “Even a mosquito is meat! Even dung is made of rice! Save what you can!”

“Come, everyone!” Monkey, already flushed from drink, shouted enthusiastically, “I haven’t read much, so I can’t speak fancy words. This cup is for you all! If I need your help in the future, I hope you’ll give me some respect!” With that, he tilted back an entire pint of beer, showing off the empty glass to the group.

The fourth brother, caught up in the excitement, stood atop his chair, tore off his soaked undershirt, and revealed a muscular, dark body like a young bull. He wiped his face with the shirt, his face flushed, and grunted, “Cheers!” before gulping down his drink.

Monkey and his friends, seeing the fourth brother so bold, roared in approval. All stripped off their shirts, exposing bodies of varying build. The eldest rolled her eyes and muttered, “Damn,” turning away from the drunken antics.

Lin Jia could hardly contain himself. He was a natural “leaky drinker”—with every drop of alcohol, sweat poured from his armpits, palms, feet, and forehead like a mountain flood. After five or six bottles of beer, his clothes were soaked. The small tavern had no air conditioning, only a battered fan spinning overhead. The heat made him sweat out every bottle he drank. Seeing his brothers all shirtless, he followed suit, wringing out a handful of sweat.

The trouble started when he took his shirt off. The three bad boys across the table exclaimed, “Wow! Crazy Lin! You’re so pale—like a girl!” Lin Jia blushed furiously, sheepishly putting his wet shirt back on.

Lin Jia’s skin was naturally fair. Among his coal-black friends, the lamplight made him seem to glow. Already handsome, his pale complexion only enhanced his striking features. Because of this, his siblings often teased him, calling him “Pretty Boy.” He had to suppress them with force, or else the nickname would have driven him mad.

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(A bit of trouble: I was delayed a while; the editor just talked to me about signing a contract for this book. I’m still hesitating—signing means more chances for recommendations, but I don’t really want to enter VIP. Not signing brings its own hassles… I’m frustrated!

There’ll be another chapter this afternoon! I’m off to work now, will update tonight!)