Hearing Yang Liuqing's reply, I turned my gaze to Qin Manli and said in an extremely serious tone, "From now on, your daily task is to stay with my friend, eating, living, and sleeping together, and then learn deportment!"
"Of course, you don't have to worry about not earning money anymore because you've lost your original job."
"During this period, all your food, clothing, daily expenses, and any other costs will be covered by me!"
After a pause, I shifted my gaze back to Yang Liuqing and said, "In addition to the big bonus at the end, your related expenses will also be settled by me!"
You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a child! There's no need to skimp on money that should be spent.
When Qin Manli first heard me say that she would be learning deportment for a while and would have no work, she was clearly taken aback.
But later, upon hearing that all her expenses would be covered, a look of smug satisfaction appeared on her slightly stunned face.
At this moment, I knew that although Qin Manli's legs were spread very wide, her perspective and vision... were clearly still too narrow!
It's not hard to understand when you think about it!
If she truly had a broad perspective and vision, Qin Manli wouldn't be clinging to that two-hundred-yuan rental room, taking on business one by one.
And there would be no reason for her to be so easily intrigued by my few words and then follow me here to meet Yang Liuqing.
However, none of this concerns me.
With a professional like Yang Liuqing here, I just need to wait and see the final result.
So, after a few more pleasantries, I left Qin Manli behind and departed alone...
On the way back, my mind was constantly replaying and calculating how to perfectly retaliate for the stab Luo Qiwén had hired someone to inflict on my chest.
Of course, there was also the most important matter.
How to cleverly force Luo Qiwén and others to willingly shut down the Baoli Casino, while also trying to avoid embarrassing Ying Baolín.
Although I wasn't entirely sure whether confronting Luo Qiwén for Yun Jin over the elusive Thousand King Token was a gain or a loss, I knew it was a necessary gamble.
If I could handle this matter well, it would indirectly prove that I possessed sufficient strength.
Next, as soon as I obtained the clues to the Thousand King Token and followed them, I could use it as bait to draw out Uncle Tuo's enemies and confront them head-on!
Uncle Tuo, forgive me for not returning to see you off on your final journey.
Please believe me, I will personally settle all your enemies for you!
...
The battle for revenge allows for no carelessness.
Based on the latest news constantly brought back by Xianyu from outside, a new plan was gradually forming in my mind.
The underground casino scene in Wenzhou was undergoing a major upheaval, and the primary victim of this change was Zou Laogou.
Originally, with the Ying family's casino not cooperating, Zou Laogou's loan sharking business could only operate in small and medium-sized casinos.
But now, Ying Baolín was clearly intending to consolidate all the underground casinos in Wenzhou under the Ying family's banner.
And if he succeeded, Zou Laogou could basically declare retirement.
Therefore, Zou Laogou harbored deep hatred for Ying Baolín's covert actions.
As the saying goes: the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Although I didn't have any particular friendship with Zou Laogou, Shen Mengqing had instructed me to maintain contact with him before she left.
So, on the evening of the next day.
I made a phone call to Zou Laogou.
As soon as the call connected, before I could even speak, I heard Zou Laogou say first, "Brother Chen Xiang, I heard that Luo Qiwén of Hong Taiyang took you down before?"
"That woman hired a bunch of people to hack you? How is it? Did you get stabbed?"
Upon hearing this, I laughed directly, "If I can call you, brother, it must mean I wasn't stabbed!"
Hearing me speak so casually, Zou Laogou on the other end of the phone was slightly stunned, and then he sighed, "Alas! Brother, you are truly blessed with great fortune!"
"I wonder if this brother of yours has such good luck?"
"What's wrong? Why are you suddenly speaking so dishearteningly, brother?" I asked, feigning ignorance.
"It's nothing major! How about this, since you've pulled through and are back to your old self? It just so happens that brother can host a meal to celebrate!"
"And we can also chat about the loan sharking business! With Boss Shen and Sister Yun not around, we brothers should get closer!"
Good heavens! Zou Laogou couldn't sit still anymore!
It seemed he was even more eager than I was.
Since he was the one asking to see me now, I certainly couldn't agree right away.
After all, people in the underworld are all shrewd.
If I agreed immediately, Zou Laogou might start overthinking.
With this in mind, I pretended to hesitate and said, "Brother, let me make something clear beforehand! It's not that I don't want to give you face, brother, but you know how it is."
"Once it's evening, I get particularly busy. How about another day? I'll treat you another day!"
"Don't say that, brother!"
Hearing my apparent refusal, Zou Laogou quickly said, "What's the difference between saying 'treat you another day' and 'fight again another day'?"
"If it's another day, it will turn into day after day, year after year!"
"How about this, younger brother! No need for those fancy five-star hotels, how about the Tiantian Xiaocaiguan closest to your place?"
"It's only a five-minute walk for you, and we can have a drink together!"
"If you don't say anything, I'll take it as you agreeing! Then, brother, I'll go book a private room and order dishes first!"
After speaking, before I could react, Zou Laogou hung up the phone.
Honestly, even if Zou Laogou hadn't called to ask me out tonight, I would have asked him later.
But the fact that he was so eager to see me was enough to prove that his loan sharking business had been extremely unsuccessful recently.
The person who could make Zou Laogou, a notorious and stubborn character, falter was undoubtedly Ying Baolín, who could control everything in the Wenzhou underground casino scene!
It seems Xianyu's earlier intel was accurate!
Ying Baolín had indeed started targeting those casinos outside!
Regardless of whether the casino owners were tough, stubborn, fierce, influential, or desperate, in the face of Ying Baolín, the absolute king, none of them mattered!
And as Ying Baolín advanced, Zou Laogou had to retreat!
Clearly, Zou Laogou was being pushed to the brink by Ying Baolín.
If nothing unexpected happened, he should want to ask me what Ruichi's stance was!
Since he couldn't wait any longer, this meeting tonight was indeed unavoidable!