Chapter 20 – Second Brother Shows His Fangs
Over the next two weeks, Yang Wendong and his team continued focusing entirely on the Jordan warehouse extermination work. In fact, Yang himself even spent multiple nights sleeping there, carefully observing the traps, tracking rat behavior, and gathering real-time data.
Each night was a lesson. He noted which areas had the highest capture rates, which bait worked better in humid weather, and what time the rats were most active. Bit by bit, the chaos began to show patterns—and those patterns turned into systems.
On the third week's Monday morning, sunlight poured in through the warehouse's high windows as Yang opened his notebook and called out softly to the others.
"Time to get up. Let's check the traps before the cleaning staff arrives."
Zhao Liming sat up and stretched. "Brother Dong, I gotta say... sleeping here is actually better than in the shacks. It's not damp, and the roof doesn't leak."
"Yeah," Lin Haoyu added as he pulled on his shirt. "There's no wind either. It's warm, clean… I could get used to this."
Yang Wendong smiled. "Enjoy it while it lasts. Once the infestation is under control, Brian probably won't let us stay overnight anymore."
After a quick wash, they headed out with gloves and bamboo tongs to collect the day's catch.
Each trap was inspected, and the dead rats were removed and bagged. After a complete round, the count was in—six rats.
"See? The number is lower again," said Yang Wendong, noting down the data. "And look at their size—they're getting smaller."
"That means the adults are mostly gone, right?" Su Yiyi asked, following along with a clipboard in hand.
"Exactly," he said. "The big ones were bold. They came out first and were easier to trap. The young ones are more cautious—and more unpredictable."
Zhao Liming squatted next to a trap and poked at it with a stick. "It's kinda weird thinking about it, but rats really are smart."
"Smarter than most people think," Yang replied. "That's why pest control has always been a long game. You can't win with brute force. You win with patience and planning."
Su Yiyi peeked over his shoulder at the notebook full of diagrams and characters. "Brother Dong, I still can't read half of what you're writing."
Yang chuckled. "It's okay. You'll get there. Reading comes first, writing later."
They spent the rest of the morning resetting traps and rotating placements. By noon, everything was in order.
Brian, the warehouse manager, happened to be doing a round of his own and spotted them.
"Mr. Yang!" he called out.
"Good morning, Mr. Brian," Yang Wendong replied.
"I just got the weekly report. Losses are down again. Fewer rats, fewer damages. The night shift says they barely hear any activity these days."
"I'm glad to hear that," Yang said. "That means the layout and trap system is doing its job."
Brian clapped him on the shoulder. "Excellent work. Really. I've already recommended you to another branch warehouse manager. He may reach out soon."
"That's wonderful. Thank you so much, Mr. Brian," Yang replied, bowing slightly.
Back at the shantytown, Yang Wendong and the others were greeted as minor celebrities.
Several neighbors came by that afternoon to offer leftover materials or ask if they needed help. In a place where everyone struggled to survive, even a little success brought attention.
"Brother Dong, are we hiring?" one of the boys from the neighboring shack asked.
"Not yet," Yang said with a grin. "But soon."
After lunch, as the group reviewed notes, Zhao Liming came rushing back from the market with urgency in his eyes.
"Brother Dong! Bad news!"
Everyone stood up. "What happened?"
"I saw someone else selling the same rat traps as us—at the East Market. And not just that… they're selling cheaper!"
Yang Wendong's expression darkened.
It wasn't a surprise—he had been expecting this. But for it to happen so soon, and in his territory, was still frustrating.
"Did you recognize them?" he asked.
"No. Two people. One man, one teen. Not from around here," Zhao Liming replied. "They set up near our old spot and were shouting pretty loudly. They said their traps work better and are half the price."
"That fast…" Yang muttered. "Seems someone decided to show their fangs."
Su Yiyi looked worried. "Are they copying our design?"
"Most likely. But that's not what matters," Yang said quietly. "The important thing is how we respond."
"What should we do?" Lin Haoyu asked.
"We go see it ourselves," Yang said as he stood up, voice calm but firm. "Let's go."
…
The East Market was as lively as ever. The smell of vegetables, steamed buns, and dried seafood filled the air. Workers, housewives, and children bustled between stalls.
Sure enough, at the corner near their old vending spot, two men had set up a simple stand with a large basket full of bamboo traps. The construction was almost identical to theirs.
The older man was shouting, "Cheap rat traps! Only thirty cents! Better than metal cages!"
The teenager handed one to a curious shopper. "Just add a bit of rice inside—works overnight!"
Yang Wendong and his team stood a short distance away, observing quietly.
"That's our design, no doubt," Zhao Liming whispered. "Even the cuts and length match."
"They even copied the pitch," Haoyu added, scowling.
Yang Wendong didn't react. He stared for a moment, then slowly walked forward.
The older man noticed him and tensed slightly. He clearly recognized Yang—or at least understood that this wasn't a friendly visit.
"Hello," Yang said, crouching beside the basket and picking up a trap. "Decent craftsmanship."
"Thanks," the man replied cautiously.
"Your own design?"
The man hesitated. "My nephew saw one like this before. We figured out how to make it."
Yang Wendong smiled slightly. "No shame in admitting you copied it. But copying is one thing—undercutting in my territory is another."
The air grew heavy.
"I'm not here to fight," Yang said after a pause. "We all need to eat. So let me offer you something better."
"Better?" the man asked warily.
"You're decent craftsmen. I need more traps. I'll buy them from you directly—fifteen cents a piece, batches of fifty. No need to sell in the market, no need to compete. Just make them, and I'll handle the rest."
The man blinked, stunned. "You… want to hire us?"
"I want to partner, not fight," Yang said.
The man exchanged a glance with the teenager, then looked back at Yang. "Deal."
They shook hands.
As Yang walked away, he didn't look back.
Zhao Liming jogged up beside him. "Brother Dong… that was smooth."
"We don't have time for turf wars," Yang replied. "If someone's useful, use them. If they're not, ignore them."
He looked at the road ahead.
"This is just the beginning. There will be more competition, more imitators. The only way we win is by scaling faster than they can copy."
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