Xia Xiaolan was startled by her story. Although Ge Jian had given her a general idea, seeing Bai Zhenzhu’s serious injuries firsthand was different.

“Third Brother didn’t kill all those people, did he?”

Murder meant paying with one’s life, and inside the small commodities market, there could have been many witnesses!

Bai Zhenzhu shook her head, “Of course not. Third Brother was very measured in his actions.”

Pan Baohua had only driven the group back, naturally following them to their hideout where he found Ke Yixiong – the same thug leader who had once harassed Xia Xiaolan.

Pan Baohua showed no mercy, giving Ke Yixiong the same wounds that Bai Zhenzhu had received.

These details weren’t appropriate to share with Xia Xiaolan, but it was said that Ke Yixiong had bled for half an hour before Third Brother allowed his men to bandage him.

Bai Zhenzhu knew Pan Baohua was skilled in martial arts but hadn’t realized he was so proficient with knives!

She smiled remembering how Third Brother had returned to the building materials store, found her bandaging herself, and frowned saying “Young lady, too fierce” – though the smile made her wounds hurt, twisting her face in pain.

Xia Xiaolan was worried, “Sister Bai, stop that – why are you so happy when you’re injured?”

Fortunately, Chang Ying had left – most people couldn’t handle seeing such a fierce sister-in-law.

Bai Zhenzhu contained her smile, “I’m laughing at Ke Yixiong! He had barely recovered from losing face to Third Brother last time, and now Third Brother has done it again. Where’s his authority now?

Without authority and respect, Ke Yixiong’s men will desert him! He’s always been a sore loser. The business was originally his monopoly, but I took it over with lower prices, so naturally, people chose my transport team over his.

Without the transport team, he can’t sell his quarry goods. Ke Yixiong sending people to ambush me was just a desperate move.”

Xia Xiaolan pondered, “It doesn’t seem like Ke Yixiong’s style, but regardless of who gave the order since they were his men, he deserves the blame.”

Xia Xiaolan had no fondness for Ke Yixiong.

His thugs weren’t like ordinary street idlers. Street idlers chose not to work, caused trouble, and survived through petty theft.

Ke Yixiong’s gang in Shenzhen, attempting violence and trying to eliminate Bai Zhenzhu, was an organized criminal group.

“Rest and recover well. This isn’t over just because Ke Yixiong got hurt. Even if Third Brother scared him and he avoids you in the future, he’ll just go harm others.”

Over ten men ambushed Bai Zhenzhu with knives – wasn’t that attempted murder?

With no regard for human life, Ke Yixiong had become a social cancer.

Xia Xiaolan no longer wanted to honor their construction waste transport agreement – from today on, Ke Yixiong’s trucks wouldn’t be allowed on her construction sites.

“Zhenzhu, have you reported this to the police?”

Xia Xiaolan’s sudden question caught Bai Zhenzhu off guard.

Used to settle matters in the underworld way, Bai Zhenzhu had never considered reporting being attacked – it was simply a matter of being outmatched.

But Xia Xiaolan insisted she report it, “If you don’t report it, how will the police know there’s a victim? You said it rained heavily that night – your blood on the street would have been washed away!

Since Ke Yixiong doesn’t follow business rules, you don’t need to follow underworld rules with him. Come back to Shenzhen with me now to file a police report, and strike while he’s down… Third Brother isn’t in Shenzhen now, right?”

Bai Zhenzhu shook her head, “Third Brother was just passing through Shenzhen. After teaching Ke Yixiong a lesson, he left.”

If Third Brother hadn’t acted in anger, this would be easier to handle.

Now that Ke Yixiong was also injured, calling him the mastermind seemed implausible, and they’d have to explain Third Brother’s involvement.

Still, catching some of Ke Yixiong’s men would only make things worse for his side.

As Bai Zhenzhu hesitated about filing a report, Xia Xiaolan spoke seriously, “Sister Bai, do you want to run a legitimate business, or follow Ke Yixiong’s path? Have you and the Bai family martial arts brothers done anything illegal? If you have, forget I mentioned this!”

While wanting Ke Yixiong gone, Xia Xiaolan didn’t want Bai Zhenzhu to become another Ke Yixiong.

Bai Zhenzhu had great business talent. Taking revenge for Bai Zhiyong while providing for her former martial arts brothers showed her loyalty and responsibility.

But having pushed Ke Yixiong this far, Xia Xiaolan felt it was time to stop.

Filing a police report would be best – with police involvement, Bai Zhenzhu could gracefully step back.

The transport team could continue, and the Bai family brothers would keep their livelihood, but they wouldn’t need to fight Ke Yixiong for territory or risk sliding from grey areas into outright crime.

Xia Xiaolan’s words cooled Bai Zhenzhu’s hot head.

She had indeed gotten carried away lately.

Though she hadn’t bullied others unprovoked, she’d been constantly confronting Ke Yixiong.

Some Bai family brothers had been injured, but Bai Zhenzhu’s generous compensation kept morale high despite the injuries.

But Xiaolan was right – competing with Ke Yixiong had gone too far, or he wouldn’t have sent over ten men to attack her. Her brothers were caught up in this cycle of revenge – she could control them now, but what about later?

Breaking into a cold sweat, Bai Zhenzhu came to her senses and struggled to stand:

“You’re right, I nearly led everyone down a deadly path. I’ll return to Shenzhen immediately to file a report and lead everyone back to legitimate business!”

Her sudden movement pulled at her wounds, making her lips pale with pain.

Xia Xiaolan felt sympathetic, “Rest for now, there’s no rush. At least wait for your sister-in-law to return with groceries – how can we leave without eating? Who knows what your sister-in-law is thinking!”

Mentioning Chang Ying made Bai Zhenzhu think further.

In her pursuit of revenge, focused only on destroying Ke Yixiong, she hadn’t considered how breaking the law might affect her brother Bai Zhiyong’s career prospects!

Chang Ying was an ordinary person – naturally, she’d ask questions seeing her covered in injuries.

Seeing Bai Zhenzhu’s regretful expression, Xia Xiaolan stopped lecturing. When Chang Ying returned with groceries, Xia Xiaolan explained directly: “Zhenzhu had bad luck. She was working late at the store the other night and encountered some thugs fighting. Knowing martial arts, she tried to break it up, but both sides were drunk and turned on her instead. She came to Guangzhou to recover, not wanting to worry Grandmother Bai.”

Chang Ying sighed in relief.

This story sounded true – her sister-in-law had tried claiming she fell!

“Did they catch those fighting thugs?”

Bai Zhenzhu coughed, “Not yet. The police station wants more information from me, so I’ll return to Shenzhen with Xiaolan after lunch.”