Having experienced failure for the first time, Gong Liang, after a painful reflection, decided to find some backing for himself. He paid protection money to the mafia to continue his business, which gradually grew, eventually even opening a factory. However, when the factory business was doing well, a local warlord snatched his success, forcing him to give up all his wealth just to barely save his life.
With the experience of the second failure, Gong Liang realized that the mafia was not a reliable backer. After another painful reflection, he switched to paying protection money to the local warlord. He rose again, entering the shipping business, and was on the verge of becoming a shipping tycoon when his benefactor fell, leaving him to be taken down by government officials, turning him into a mediocre, penniless businessman who spent two years in jail.
