Business Information Identity

Chapter 18: Retirement

Nie Zuo replied: “Brother Yang, among us brothers, it's not nice to talk about benefits. I'm busy tomorrow. Send me the video of the East City expert, and I'll know who wins between the lunatic and him. You know how underground matches work. I can only tell you who is stronger, if anyone is fixing the match, don't blame me if you lose your bet.

“No one dares to make things difficult for me in Xinyang Town. Even gambling has to be done openly and fairly. I’ll have someone send the footage over soon. Go ahead and play for now.” Brother Yang turned around and shouted, “Brother Zuo is here! If anyone wants a beating, step up.”

Nie Zuo is quite famous in this club. As soon as he put on his gear and stood in the ring, someone came forward to challenge him. Everyone knows that Nie Zuo is far stronger than them. There are two top fighters in this club: one is a guy from City A nicknamed 'Madman,' and the other is Nie Zuo. People don’t dare to challenge the Madman because he’s too ruthless, but everyone likes to spar with Nie Zuo. Nie Zuo doesn’t aim to defeat his opponents; he only spars to learn and improve. Sparring with him allows others to learn a lot. Of course, the prerequisite is that you have to be able to take a hit. Nie Zuo also perfects his footwork and increases his punching speed during these sparring sessions.

As two top fighters, Nie Zuo and the Madman have fought no less than a hundred times, with the results being fairly even, though Nie Zuo is slightly at a disadvantage. However, anyone with fighting experience knows that the Madman only managed a draw with Nie Zuo by risking his life. If Nie Zuo were to fight to the death, the Madman would surely lose.

Nie Zuo started appearing in Xinyang Town during high school and attended Xinyang Town’s high school. Even now, many people think Nie Zuo is Xiao Yun’s lackey. Nie Zuo entered this fighting club at the age of fifteen. At that time, Xiao Yun wasn’t married yet and didn’t have a beer belly; he was the top fighter in the club. Nie Zuo only fought with him, and their fights were incredibly fierce, with neither holding back. After Xiao Yun got married, had a child, and started to gain weight, he fought less frequently. Nie Zuo began fighting others but changed his style compared to his fights with Xiao Yun. He no longer fought aggressively but instead focused on restraint.

Nie Zuo not only trained in fighting but also in endurance. He endured an hour of high-intensity sparring until his legs and feet felt weak before stopping. After taking a shower and changing clothes, he watched the video Brother Yang had sent over. He then called Brother Yang, “Yang, you’re really full of hot air. This guy isn’t a match for the Madman at all.”

“Damn, can you really tell that easily? Can others see it too?”

Nie Zuo smiled; after hanging around Xinyang Town for so long, he knew what these people were like. Listening to Brother Yang’s righteous tone, as if he were a** among villains, Nie Zuo knew it was all a facade. The underground fighting in Xinyang Town was actually run by Brother Yang. The surface reason for the underground fights was to give fighters a chance to compete and earn money, and to give fighting enthusiasts a chance to enjoy high-level matches. In reality, Brother Yang was the biggest mastermind behind the underground fighting gambling. Brother Yang was an excellent businessman, and the underground fighting in Xinyang Town was very famous in City A and East City. Many wealthy VIP members placed bets through live broadcast signals, and some even went to watch in person.

After hanging up on Brother Yang, Nie Zuo went to Xiao Yun’s fruit shop to mooch a meal. There was only one clerk in the shop. After greeting him, Xiao Yun said from upstairs, “Come up.”

There was a ladder leading to the loft. Nie Zuo went up, and in front of Xiao Yun was a table with some gun parts on it. On the wall, there was a monitor for the shop, which could show the area up to fifty meters outside the shop. Nie Zuo walked over and asked, “Bro, what’s up?” Xiao Yun only maintained his guns when he was feeling down.

Xiao Yun said, “I talked to Old Master yesterday, and I’m preparing to retire. I have elderly parents and young children to take care of, and with my current physical condition, I can’t keep going.”

Nie Zuo was silent for a long time before asking, “What did Old Master say?”

“He agreed, but he said that at least one of us, you or Xiao Xin, has to pass the assessment before I can retire. The assessment will be in a year, so I’ll do this for one last year.” Xiao Yun assembled a pistol—a Browning. The Browning has a heavy trigger pull and is suitable for experienced users. Xiao Yun said, “Have you seen the movie *Fight Back to School* by Stephen Chow? This is a gun of kindness. It has never been fired. Zuo, I’m giving you this gun. I hope you won’t have to fire it either, get married, have a kid, and retire quietly like me.”

Nie Zuo took the pistol, put the magazine on the table in, skillfully released the safety, and then closed it before removing the magazine. He said, “Bro, sometimes I wonder what the purpose of our existence is. Do we exist just to earn two thousand dollars a month?”

“When I was young, I thought the same as you. I always felt like a hero with no place to use my skills and wanted something to happen. After I got married, I understood what it means to live in peace, especially after having our daughter. Recently, I’ve been waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares. That’s also one of the reasons I’m applying for retirement. Haha, I’m setting the youngest record for retiring without disabilities.” Xiao Yun placed his hand on Nie Zuo’s shoulder and asked, “Nie Zuo, are you disappointed in me? Am I a deserter?”

Nie Zuo said, “Bro, I understand. But after you retire, if something happens, I’m afraid I won’t be able to handle it alone.”

“Still, there's Xiao Xin.”

“What a b***h? I spit on her!” Having someone to make Nie Zuo show such disgust has already been a success, at least in the art of being disgusting.

“Left, Xiao Xin is indeed a bit... how to put it, I also quite look down upon some of his hobbies. But there are two things you should believe in, the first is that he is very loyal. The second is that he is capable. I know you hate him, have you not seen him for three years? He came to the fruit shop to see me last time, he hoped that even if we didn't like each other, we should sit down and understand each other every month. I was not worried before I retired, now I worry that after I retire, you and Xiao Xin will fight separately. If something really happens and it's time to use you, your aversion to him might just mess things up.”

“Brother, don't worry, I have it all under control.” Nie Zuo took out a gun and said, “You should hold onto this gun first, as Ma Zi's ability to search things has increased; last time she even unearthed my account, which was quite a challenge to pull off. If she were to find a gun... I don't even know how to explain it.”

When it comes to Mai Yan, Xiao Yun hesitated for a moment and said, “Left, Ma Zi is a good woman, but she is a woman with secrets.”

“I know.” Nie Zuo nodded, saying, “When we were just dating, I knew her family was quite well-off. Why did she hide it from me, and why for so long? I think there must be a reason. I believe she will tell me sooner or later.”

“I thought you hadn't noticed it yet.” Xiao Yun took the gun, saying, “Left, relax, we have lived a peaceful life for thirty years. This may mean that we have won, and we will no longer be needed.”

“Amen, I hope so.” Nie Zuo nodded.

……

After Nie Zuo got home at 8 pm, he did some simple exercise, took a bath, and then lay down on the sofa to watch TV. At 9 pm, a phone call came, and Nie Zuo answered, “Hello?”

“Nie Zuo, it's Wei Lan.”

Who is Wei Lan? Nie Zuo's thoughts came back to this world as he replied, “Greetings, Manager Wei.” He didn't want to be too close to any colleague, especially a beautiful woman, so he used her position in the greeting.

“Have you read the textbook?” Wei Lan asked.

“I am reading it.”

“Yes, that's all, goodbye.”

Heidi's relationship with Brendan is complicated. They share a deep connection but are often at odds with each other. However, their chemistry is undeniable, leading them to continually encounter each other in various situations. Despite the challenges they face, Heidi finds comfort in Brendan's presence and sees him as a source of stability amidst the chaos of her life. Brendan, in turn, is protective of Heidi, showing a softer side that few people get to see. Their interactions are filled with tension and underlying intensity, hinting at a stormy but passionate connection. However, external circumstances keep pulling them apart, forcing them to navigate their feelings amidst the turmoil of their lives. Brendan's reassurance and support for Heidi are a testament to the depth of their connection, even though they often find themselves on opposite sides.