chapter 1 Rebirth of Benjamin Su

The First Storm of October 1992.

The night rain poured down.

The howling wind, mixed with raindrops the size of soybeans, beat against the window, sounding like drums in Benjamin Su's ears.

Inside a dilapidated cottage.

The house was small, at most a dozen square meters. A simple bedding on a mudbrick was haphazardly piled up in the corner. A worn-out wardrobe, exuding the style of the 60s, stood tall in the southwest corner, that was all there was to this room.

Benjamin's face looked peculiar as he examined his twenty-year-old self in the dim light.

With only stubbles of hair left, a prominent nose, and thin lips. A body with streamlined muscles. His bare upper body bore a striking black dragon. Fangs bared, soaring through clouds, the scales were intricately detailed, and the two dragon eyes glared ferociously, giving off an extremely menacing aura.

"It's good to see you again."

A faint smile curved Benjamin's lips as he greeted his reflection.

At this moment, Benjamin's gaze was filled with a rebellious spirit, proud like an eagle that had just triumphed over a storm. He was entirely different from the old ruffian in later years, struggling to eke out a living.

In 1992, at this time, Benjamin was twenty years old. He lit a cheap, unfiltered cigarette and contemplated his current situation.

It was mid-October, and Xia Country had just ushered in the wave of reform and opening up. During this period, he had already firmly established himself at the South Railway Station of Wu City, leveraging his inherent ruthlessness.

He hailed from Su Family Village in Changyang County, with four brothers in his family. His grandfather had been a bandit in his time, with a fierce and impulsive nature, but he was also fiercely just. After turning over a new leaf, his prestige in Su Family Village soared. Whenever there was a dispute in the village, the old man would usually step in.

Accustomed to a lifetime of dominance, the old man gave his four grandchildren names that exuded power.

Zane Su, Benjamin Su, Wyatt Su, Yannick Su.

Benjamin was the second child and had the most similar personality to the old man among the four. The eldest was originally named Zayne, but his father felt it was not quite suitable and secretly changed it when registering him.

When the old man found out, he flew into a rage, but in the end, the names of the third and fourth children, even though they were girls, remained the same. The eldest had a personality like their mother, honest and straightforward, a true farmer. The third and fourth were girls, and on ordinary days, Benjamin was the old man's favorite.

After the old man passed away, Benjamin was like a wild horse released from its reins. This fierce dragon soon stirred up a huge reputation in Changyang County, but after all the commotion, Benjamin realized that his family was still as poor as ever. Understanding the power of money, he heard that there were more opportunities to get rich in Wu City, so he impulsively led a few similarly fierce fellows and plunged headfirst into it.

Taking a few deep drags from his cigarette, Benjamin's mood calmed down.

In his past life, the path he took mostly involved shady dealings. Not only did he not end up well himself, but most of his die-hard companions either died or became disabled. After his rebirth, he secretly resolved to start from now on, avoiding the dark and the grey, and not relying on connections. He would simply focus on doing business solidly. In this era of turbulent opportunities and gold everywhere, he might just become a prominent figure. At the very least, saving up for a few years and buying a house in the capital in '98 would be a hundred times better than in his previous life. He absolutely couldn't afford to make the same mistakes again.

In reality, Benjamin's starting point was not considered low right now.

The peculiarities of the times gave him an opportunity. Benjamin, lacking both connections and capital, slowly established himself at the Wu City train station, Dibei Province's third-ranking major station. It was a bustling hub of transportation, where several provincial railways converged. In an era of underdeveloped road transport, it stood as a bustling presence.

Every day, people came and went in a constant stream. Hotels and inns stood side by side, operating around the clock. Travelers and merchants with dreams of wealth hurriedly arrived and departed from all directions, forming a unique scene in Wu City. This also led to a large gathering of rogues, ruffians, and idle individuals, creating a chaotic mix. Countless goods were transferred here daily, and the scarcity of train carriages was evident. Due to time constraints or route considerations, a large amount of piled-up goods would be transported by truck from the freight yard not far from the train station.

Now Benjamin was making a living by loading and unloading goods at the freight yard. Where there were people, there was a community, and with fewer trains and more goods, the one who got on first and left first was the kingpin of this territory. This was exactly the skill set of relentless and headstrong individuals like Benjamin. Relations and face meant nothing; he was risking his life. Thus, he forcibly took charge of the matters at the freight yard. It had to be said, that sometimes violence was the most direct and effective method, especially during this period.

The station's management was already extremely vexed by the disorderly atmosphere and the daily need to navigate through various relationships. They were all locals, unavoidably connected by blood or acquaintance, making it difficult to offend anyone. After Ian Su, this headstrong youngster, turned things into a one-man show, what was originally chaotic became much more organized. To avoid further complications, the station leaders simply went along with it. Unexpectedly, Benjamin, despite his ferocity, was not a fool. He had some sense and intentions. As a result, the station inadvertently accepted Ian's presence, making him feel even more at home.

When one cuts off someone's source of income, inevitably, someone won't take it lying down, and they'll rack their brains on how to reclaim it. But Benjamin's temperament wouldn't allow for peace. Just because one of his workers had their belongings stolen by the "Four Seas Gang" who were known for pickpocketing at train stations back then, Benjamin went directly to confront them. At the time, larger train stations in Tiannan Province all had the presence of the "Four Seas Gang." "Geese pluck feathers from the sky, and the Four Seas plunder on land" was no mere saying. These guys wielded sharp little knives, combined with their unity and cunning hands, making them a thorn in the side of major train stations.

After a significant confrontation, the "Four Seas Gang" never appeared at the Wu City train station again. Benjamin's ferocity that day thoroughly frightened some people. As a result, some well-intentioned folks gave him a nickname, "Little Red Robe."

It was probably around this time that the phrase, "Little Red Robe, who stains his white clothes with blood, the fiercest Benjamin in Wu City," began to circulate in Wu City. Those who had lost their business to bag-snatching suddenly fell silent. Essentially, they were just hardworking folks trying to make a living. Combined with the numerous money-making opportunities in the southern station, there was no need to contend with such a fierce character.