Xiao Mei's close friend arranged a meeting with the third family's hall master, who oversaw the forty thousand members. The location was a hair salon owned by the hall master's mistress.
She didn't bring any bodyguards, only Xiao Mei. The two women sat in front of the mirrors getting their hair done, while the hall master stood behind them, his face ashen.
"What's the meaning of this, sister-in-law?" he stared at the mirror.
"Just here to patronize the business," the close friend replied, looking at him through the reflection. "And by the way, to let you know—that shipment of cars you were moving for the seventh family got held up at customs last week." She took a bottle of hair oil Xiao Mei handed her. "The one who seized them is my cousin."
The hall master's fists clenched.
"But I didn't tell the boss," the close friend continued. "Only said you cooperated with the police in a staged operation, that those cars were actually bait." She turned around, her gaze steady. "The boss praised you for being sharp."
The air grew thick. Beads of sweat formed on the hall master's forehead.
"Feeding forty thousand brothers is no easy task," Xiao Mei spoke softly, handing him a warm towel. "My senior often says, in this world, what people seek is stability."
The hall master took the towel but didn't wipe his sweat.
"Next month, the boss is reshuffling territories. You'll lose two districts," the close friend stood up, whispering in his ear. "But if, by then, you're one of my people... I'll make those two districts... become four."
She patted his shoulder and placed a business card down.
"I've settled the salon bill. You have three days to think it over."
Three days later, the hall master dialed the number on the card.
He didn't mention defection, only said: "Starting now, the books for those four establishments in the West District... I'll have my men bring them for sister-in-law's *review* on the seventh of every month."
After hanging up, Xiao Mei asked her friend: "Did he really understand?"
Her friend reapplied her lipstick in the mirror: "In this world, 'review' means 'tribute'."
She pressed her lips together.
"You see, the best way to recruit a man isn't to threaten his weaknesses."
"It's to give him a future he can't refuse."