After Qi Taiguo heard about Jiang Dafang from Ning Ge, his expression turned dark. He didn’t have much direct contact with Jiang Dafang, but back then they shared the same goal and could be considered allies. Hearing that something had happened to him now, he felt awful.

"I had them transferred to the Army General Hospital and I’ve greased all the wheels. Whether he pulls through or not depends on him." Ning Ge patted him on the shoulder.

"Chiang Qing did this?" Qi Taiguo asked, face cold.

In fact, asking was pointless; it was obvious. He just wanted to confirm whether this woman was really that ruthless.

"Liu Cheng thinks it was Jiang Conghe directing Chiang Qing. Looks like Jiang Dafang didn’t tell him about Chiang Qing, so he assumes Jiang Conghe sent his daughter to take revenge." Ning Ge took out cigarettes, handed one to Qi Taiguo, and said, "As for what the truth is, that’s something only we know in private."

Qi Taiguo’s brows suddenly knit together. "If that’s the case, doesn’t that mean you’re the next one Chiang Qing’s going after?"

Now that she’d found Jiang Dafang, there was a good chance she’d already learned about their original alliance from him. Since Chiang Qing could move against him, she had clearly set her mind on revenge.

"I’ve been waiting a long time." Ning Ge sneered.

"Don’t get careless." Qi Taiguo said, "Back then we brought down both the Jiang and Loo Families. We thought everything was settled. Who could’ve imagined she still had a trump card like that?"

Ning Ge also sighed. "They always said Old Master Loo doted on Chiang Qing, and it really wasn’t a lie. He gave her the trump card that could turn the family’s fortunes around."

In reality, none of them had expected that it wasn’t something Old Master Loo handed over directly, but something he’d casually mentioned while chatting with Chiang Qing. She was probably still very young then. Now she’d remembered and decided to gamble on it; who knew she’d actually find it.

So Chiang Qing had essentially snatched away the Loo Family’s comeback trump card while no one else knew it even existed.

Serves her right to have that kind of luck.

"What are you going to do? Is there anything you need from me?" Qi Taiguo asked solemnly.

Ning Ge said, "Same as I told you and Old Master Cheng: keep the Shen Family suppressed. I don’t need you for anything else. Just do your job properly."

A trace of frustration showed on Qi Taiguo’s face.

This was obviously his own family’s mess, the Suzhou shit he’d stirred up himself, and yet someone else had to help him wipe it clean. What kind of man did that make him?

Ning Ge saw right through his thinking at a glance. "What, can’t swallow it?"

"Feels like I’m pretty useless," Qi Taiguo said with a self-mocking smile.

Ning Ge said, "Sometimes your position dictates what you can do. There are things we can do that you can’t."

"Yeah, all because of that word ’soldier.’" Qi Taiguo mocked himself again. "Honestly, sometimes I can’t help asking whether it’s worth it or not."

"When the day comes that other people have to watch your face before they act, and don’t dare mess with you or your family, you’ll feel it was worth it." Ning Ge said mildly. "Everything takes a long process. Right now you’re still in that awkward in-between stage, but you’re the backup force for our few families. You have your mission."

Qi Taiguo was stunned.

"Connections are cultivated like this. Now you rely on us, but later on, it’ll be our next generation relying on you. The branches of a tree spread out like that. So don’t think you’re useless and can’t do anything. If you really can’t climb up, can’t become one of the decision-makers, that would be true uselessness." Ning Ge said, unusually solemn, "Qi Taiguo, our families are linked in a line. Everyone has his own role and mission. Yours is to climb up and pave the way for the next generation."