Chapter 43: How big of a cadre is a third-level cadre?
Lao Jiang said, "Although our Thirteen Spices has been declining in recent years, it is still a time-honored society after all. If you join us, it will not be your business and theirs. When the time comes, a few bosses will host a banquet and chat about small matters. You can show up and offer a cup of tea. It's not a big deal. You can just cover it up and it will be over."
Zhang Nianzu said, "Is your boss willing to take the blame for me? Gu Changfeng and Lei Xiaohu are not easy to mess with."
Lao Jiang said, "Isn't this because I still have face? Shisanxiang is a gang that is almost forgotten. Who is it that has become so popular recently? Me!"
Zhang Nianzu said with a smile: "After all, what role do you play in Shisanxiang?"
Lao Jiang said: "I am a third-level cadre."
"Level three? Cadre?" It was the first time that Zhang Nianzu heard a member of a social organization call himself a "cadre". He asked again, "What is the concept of a level three cadre?"
Lao Jiang said leisurely: "In the Thirteen Spices , the highest level is the eighth-level cadre, which is equivalent to the elder of a gang in martial arts novels. The next level up is the gang leader."
Zhang Nianzu curled his lips and said, "Then your level three isn't that great, it's only better than level one and level two."
Unexpectedly, Chiang Kai-shek said, "There are no first- and second-level cadres. The lowest is the third level."
Zhang Nianzu was speechless and said, "Why?"
Lao Jiang said: "Thirteen spices existed in the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China. At that time, the hierarchy in the gang was divided by titles such as incense master, hall master, and elder. Later, in modern times, it seemed inappropriate to call it that, and it would also give the police a handle to classify us as a gang of a black nature, so we changed it to a few levels of cadres."
Zhang Nianzu said, "You haven't said why there are no first- and second-level cadres."
Lao Jiang said, "That's because the boss is afraid that people can't tell whether a first-level cadre is more senior or an eighth-level cadre is more senior. You know, in ancient times, the lower the number, the higher the official rank, so there is no first and second level, and the minimum starting level is three."
Zhang Nianzu sighed, "No wonder you guys are getting worse and worse, you've wasted all your intelligence and wisdom on this." Zhang Nianzu clearly felt that this club had a childish and playful temperament, just like kindergarten children competing for rankings based on their fighting skills: I'm the first king, you're the second king, he's the third king...
Lao Jiang said, "Stop talking nonsense. Do you agree or not? Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't want you to get involved in the society, but isn't saving your life important now?"
Zhang Nianzu said: "But your rank is obviously not high enough. You are not even a deputy section chief in your place, right?"
"But I have an extraordinary status. After the Black Panther Gang incident, the boss wanted to give me a promotion, but he didn't know how to do it. There is no difference from level three to level four. There is no precedent for promoting me to level eight all at once. It is better to stay where I am. Am I not the 'Thirteen Spices Tiger' now? This is equivalent to a seventh-rank county magistrate but with a yellow jacket. The rank is not good, but the treatment and status are very high. I have the right to participate in the meetings between the boss and the 'cadres'."
Zhang Nianzu asked: "With your skills, why have you been at the bottom for so many years?"
Lao Jiang said: "I joined the society just to make a living. It would be nice to work in this secluded place for half a lifetime..."
Zhang Nianzu asked, "Until the Black Panther Gang offended Sister Xiao Feng?"
Old Jiang was furious and said, "You are here for an interview? I am asking you a question, are you going to add Thirteen Spices or not?"
Zhang Nianzu simply shook his head: "No."
"Why?"
Zhang Nianzu said: "If my father knew that I joined the underworld, he would die with regret."
"Isn't this a stopgap measure?"
Zhang Nianzu smiled and waved his hands: "Don't say anything, I can't jump into the manure pit just because I'm afraid of mosquito bites."
Chiang Kai-shek was so angry that he blew his beard and glared, " Have you ever been beaten for being honest?"
Zhang Nianzu said: "I'm not talking about you, you are a great hidden person."
Lao Jiang was stunned for a long time, and then said sadly: "My unknown identity has indeed harmed my life."
Zhang Nianzu said: "Don't you think it's exciting? For example, if you were in a situation like I am now, you wouldn't have to worry at all."
Lao Jiang said: "It's not easy for you to escape all the way to me."
Zhang Nianzu suddenly asked: "By the way, do you know Liu Yuejin?"
Chiang shook his head.
"Then do you have any impression of the name YN Nianzu Village?"
Lao Jiang continued to shake his head and said, "You are not planning to take advantage of Zu Ye again, are you?"
Zhang Nianzu said: "No, it's just that some things came to me on their own initiative. "
Lao Jiang said: "In fact, my father didn't tell me anything except the things about the strongman tribe. Before he died, he deliberately told me not to go to the grandfather."
"Did he say why?"
"No, but looking at his panicked look, it seems that looking for Grandpa is a very scary thing."
"So you are very sensitive about this name?"
Lao Jiang fell into deep thought and said, "Yes, looking at the angry and depressed look on my father's face before he died, it seems that Grandpa did something wrong to him, but he dared not speak out. Since we were once such a powerful race, why can't we even find our organization now? I suspect that something big has happened to the clan."
Zhang Nianzu joked: "Why are you willing to tell me all this? Is it because you know I won't live long?"
Lao Jiang said calmly, "No, it's because I won't live long." He poured himself a glass of wine and said, "You may not know this, but the average life expectancy of the warriors in the Strongman Clan is only forty-five years old."
"What?" Zhang Nianzu was shocked.
Lao Jiang said: "Yes, it is forty-five years old. Few people die at the age of forty-four, and few people can live to forty-six. Forty-five is a hurdle that we can never get over."
Zhang Nianzu said: "Then this year..."
"I'm forty-two."
Zhang Nianzu understood a lot of things at once. No wonder Chiang Kai-shek had an indescribable sense of desolation, and no wonder he would occasionally show a calm and indifferent attitude that showed insight into the world. That was because he had entered his "octogenarian" age.
Knowing when you will die is actually more terrifying!
Lao Jiang took a sip of wine slowly and said, "I have lived a quiet life, but I have shocked the world in my old age. I have lived up to my bloodline. In the last few years of my life, I met a brother like you who I like. It doesn't matter if I talk to you. In another three years, I will die quietly. At least you will remember my story."
Zhang Nianzu was very confused because he suddenly remembered that Liu Yuejin was 47 years old this year. What made him even more inexplicably irritated was that his father was also 45 years old when he died.
Just as Zhang Nianzu was about to ask something else, a waiter walked up to Lao Jiang and whispered something to him.
Lao Jiang drank up the wine in his glass and apologized to Zhang Nianzu: "I have harmed you."
"What's going on?" Zhang Nianzu asked hurriedly.
Lao Jiang sighed and said, "Perhaps they know that I'm the only place you can go, so Lei Xiaohu's men have surrounded this place."
