Chapter 27

Mingzhu Nightclub.

Tiexiong was listening to Shanying’s report.

Halfway through, he waved his hand impatiently, dismissing him.

Clashes with the Sichuan gang happened often; as long as no one got killed, it was a minor issue. He couldn’t be bothered with the details.

“Brother Xiong, that kid is the same one from that night at the Nightingale Club,” one of Shanying’s underlings reminded him.

Sure enough, when he heard it was Cao Yang, Tiexiong’s interest was piqued. “You’re saying that kid is running slot machines? You’re sure you didn’t mistake him?”

The underling nodded. “No doubt. I saw him jump three meters high in one leap—he’s got great skills.”

Tiexiong grinned. “Give me his address, I’ll take the boys and go find him.”

“I only know his shop’s address. After the fight that night, he ran. I don’t know where he lives. But I have his phone number,” Shanying said, pulling out Cao Yang’s number for Tiexiong.

---

Cao Yang was eating fried rice noodles at a factory gate, his phone on the table. He glanced at it from time to time, as if waiting for a call.

Sure enough, before long it rang—a local unfamiliar number.

“Hello.” Cao Yang picked up, wiping his mouth.

“Kid, you know who I am?”

“From the crisp and clear sound of your voice, you must be Brother Xiong.”

On the other end, Tiexiong froze. No one had ever complimented his voice as “crisp and clear.” What a weird kind of flattery…

“Hahahaha…” Tiexiong roared with laughter. “Last time, the number you gave me couldn’t be reached. What was that about?”

“Really? Maybe I read it wrong, or maybe you wrote it down wrong.”

Tiexiong knew the brat was messing with him, but he didn’t care. “I heard you pissed off the Sichuan gang?”

“Mm, something like that.”

“How about I settle that for you?”

“Really? Then I’d owe you big, Brother Xiong.”

“Cut the act. I won’t help for free. I want you to do something for me.”

“What is it? I’m not killing anyone!”

“Relax, it’s simple. We’ll talk face to face. Where are you now? I can come to you, or you come to me.”

“I’ll come to you. Give me an address.”

“I’m at Mingzhu Nightclub. I’ll be waiting.”

---

Cao Yang took a cab to Mingzhu Nightclub. After giving his name at the front desk, a waiter led him to a private room on the third floor.

Inside were only three people—Tiexiong with two busty women hanging on him, singing karaoke.

When he saw Cao Yang arrive, he turned off the machine and laughed. “Brother, last time I asked you to roll with me, but you gave me a fake number and left me running in circles!”

Cao Yang grinned sheepishly. “Wasn’t on purpose. Must’ve been a mix-up on your side.”

Tiexiong didn’t want to dwell on that. He pointed at the two women in revealing gowns beside him. “Brother, how about these two? I don’t have a proper gift for you, so I’ll let you enjoy them instead.”

“Don’t… don’t do that!” Cao Yang shot up, putting distance between himself and the women.

“What? You don’t like them?” Tiexiong frowned.

Cao Yang thought to himself: Like them? I more than like them—I’m burning up! But no way I’m doing that in front of you. I’m not some animal!

“Brother Xiong, let’s just talk business.”

Hearing that, Tiexiong nodded and waved the women out.

He pulled out a pack of cigarettes, gave one to Cao Yang, and they lit up together.

“I heard you’ve got two slot machines running?”

“Yeah, one of your boys even came to collect protection money.”

Tiexiong laughed. “That’s normal. Around here, you either pay Sichuan or pay us Hunan boys. They didn’t know you. I’ll give them a call later, and it won’t happen again.”

“But think about it—two slot machines, how much can that really make in a year? Broaden your vision. Do some real business with me.”

“What kind of business?” Cao Yang asked curiously.

“There are countless ways to make money. Any of them beat slot machines.”

He pointed at the door. “Take those two girls just now. At my place, each time is 500 yuan. They go once, I take 250. If they go four times a day, that’s 1,000 for me. One girl makes me 1,000 a day. Ten girls is 10,000. And I’ve got eighty girls in my club. You do the math.”

Cao Yang’s jaw dropped. 500 was steep—girls in the village only charged 50.

“Why do you take 250? Sounds unlucky.”

“I was just giving you an example. The point is—easy money. They use their bodies, we get rich. That’s the top tier.”

“And it’s not just girls—drugs, gambling—any of that makes money faster than your slot machines.”

“But I can’t run those things. What, you want me to join in for free?”

Join your mother’s ass! Tiexiong cursed inwardly. This brat’s dreaming.

“What I mean is, raise your sights. Stop chasing petty little profits.”

Tiexiong felt speechless. He’d only wanted to show off and impress Cao Yang, but realized the kid was a complete fool who didn’t get it.

“Oh.” Cao Yang nodded, looking like he half-understood.

Tiexiong couldn’t be bothered anymore—it was like playing the lute to a cow.

He stubbed out his cigarette, then lit another. “I’ll tell Hunan boys to leave you alone. But now you’ve pissed off the Sichuan gang. How are you planning to deal with that?”

“Aren’t you helping me deal with it?” Cao Yang asked, puzzled. Didn’t you say you’d handle the Sichuan mess? Why the hell else would I come here?

Do I owe you or something?! Tiexiong nearly lost it but swallowed his frustration. “I can settle it, but not for free.”

Cao Yang nodded. “Name your condition.”

“Help me beat someone up.”

“Beat him to death?”

“No, just rough him up, make him lose.”

“Okay.” Cao Yang agreed without hesitation.

Tiexiong was a little surprised. “You don’t even ask who it is? Or how strong he is?”

“No need. Even if you tell me, I wouldn’t know them.”

“I’ll deal with the Sichuan gang first, then.”

Tiexiong chuckled, pulled out his phone, and dialed Jim.

“Hello, Brother Jim.”

“What is it?” Jim’s voice was cold—he’d just come back from the hospital after visiting Fei Long, with a bunch of his men still laid up.

At their level, slot machine profits were nothing. But their underlings wanted side money, so they let them.

Because of that, the Sichuan and Hunan gangs often fought. As long as no one died, the higher-ups didn’t care much.