Zhao An wasn't bragging. He had things to do. Compared to the female anchor, who was already halfway there, waiting for his favor, he needed to deal with other rivals more urgently. The Tang family, the Shanxing Group, and the families of Zhang Qiaorong and Li Qian were all difficult to deal with. The Zhang family's Zhang Group was no less capable than the Tang Group, and the Li Group had always been a close partner of the Zhang Group, like brothers in arms.
The Zhang and Li Groups alone were already a bit difficult to deal with, but now with the Tang family and the Shanxing Group, the difficulty doubled. What the hell was going on?
This time, they didn't meet at the club, but at a newly built factory.
In the cafeteria, Zhao An sat in a chair with his arms folded. This time, there was quite a stir. He could provide some technical support, but he couldn't be the first to take action. He had to find someone to take the blame. Moreover, these scapegoats were the kind who willingly rushed to the front despite knowing they would be surrounded.
It wasn't out of loyalty, but simply to reclaim what was theirs.
After sitting quietly for two minutes, Tang Bing led a few young men in their thirties to the cafeteria. The younger brothers stood outside and didn't go in. The large cafeteria was occupied by only a handful of people, including Zhao An. Several cases of beer and a few cold dishes were placed on the simple alloy tables to accompany the drinks.
"Sit down," Zhao An said, invitingly. He picked up the beer bottle, poked his thumb on the cap, and pried it open. This move caught the others' attention, clearly suggesting Zhao An was a martial artist.
Although in the world of the wealthy, even the most skilled fighters couldn't outperform wealth, physical strength and substantial capital always offered distinct advantages.
"Young Master An, this is Li Tong, the son of the second-in-command of the Li Group," Tang Bing introduced briefly. "We're both down-and-out people."
Li Tong was a burly man with thick eyebrows and large eyes. He looked more like a coal miner than a wealthy second-generation. After Tang Bing finished introducing him, he immediately clasped his fists and said, "Greetings, Young Master An."
"Yes!" Zhao An nodded calmly. "Sit down."
"This is Bai Cong, the second son of the second-in-command of the Bai Group. The Bai Group is a large conglomerate, but their main power is still concentrated in the eldest and third-in-command. The second-in-command, on the other hand, has no power and has been marginalized," Tang Bing continued.
"Greetings, Young Master An." Bai Cong was a bespectacled, refined man, though it was unclear if he was a beast in human form.
"Zuo," Zhao An said, pointing at Zuo.
"This is Niu Li of the Niu Group, and this is Lan Xi of the Lan Group," Tang Bing continued.
"Well, sit down. I know everything. Let's eat something first. I must have called you here for something." Zhao An picked up the beer bottle and said, "I'll finish it. You guys can do whatever you want."
Bang! The beer bottles clinked together. Zhao An said so, but no one, including Tang Bing, dared to actually take a sip of such a big brand. They all emptied their bottles. This kind of show of force was really hard to handle.
Zhao An poured the beer bottle down, not a drop left, indicating that he had finished it. The others also took a swig, each holding the bottle downward to show that they hadn't cut corners!
"Okay, I know you're all unsuccessful people in real life. You've all done some scumbag things to some extent. I don't care if my partners are scumbags or saints. Only those who benefit me are my accomplices." Zhao An began to talk freely, revealing every wrongdoing.
Everyone whose name was mentioned paled. Secrets, things known only to them, were being revealed, and it was simply appalling.
From masturbating with his sister-in-law's underwear to committing adultery with his subordinate's wife to sending someone to hell—there was nothing Zhao An didn't know.
"This society is fucked up. If we want more, we need to be stronger. If you want to take back what's yours, your share, then work with me. If you ever grow stronger and want to go it alone, remember to tell me. I'll definitely agree. I'm not interested in money, but sometimes you have to meet certain targets to prove your ability." Zhao An took out a cigarette, lit it, and tossed one to each person.
"Whatever Young Master An commands, we'll do the same. I, Old Niu, am a rough man, and they all look down on my crudeness. As long as Young Master An helps me, I'll follow his lead. Anything Young Master An commands, I won't refuse!" Niu Li lived up to his name, built like an ox and looking like a rough man, completely out of place among the refined, uncultured crowd. Furthermore, he wasn't handsome, and was rather ugly. No wonder he was looked down upon.
"Me too!" Lan Xi also stepped forward. He was one of the frustrated members. Compared to Niu Li's stature, he was practically short and thick, and even his family looked down on him. He hadn't much skill, so being marginalized was a bit unpleasant. However, as a family member, as long as he lived, he would one day return to the decision-making level.
The five of them clasped their fists, exuding a strong underworld air. To the uninitiated, they might have mistaken them for a bank robbery.
"Don't be so serious. Sit down and have a cigarette. I've been developing something lately. As you know from the motorcycle industry, this kind of thing needs promotion. It's brand new, and the food delivery platform will be online this weekend. We only need a week of feedback. If we see good results, we'll promote it anyway. I'll leave the other cities to you. It just so happens that your family has some influence in the local area, so it's perfect for developing channels." Zhao An slowly explained his plan.
"Young Master An, are we going to do business first?" Li Tong was a little confused.
"If we don't do business, are we going to rob banks?" Zhao An asked, then burst into laughter.
A few people joined in the laughter, and the atmosphere suddenly became less serious. If businessmen don't make money, are they going to think about dividing up the territory? What era is this? Still imitating the tricks of gangsters? Gangsters don't use their brains, and their lives are just airplanes.