Led by a waiter, Jack soon arrived outside a room that resembled a conference room. He immediately saw Ryan Qiang sitting at the conference table, surrounded by seven or eight men who looked like his trusted subordinates. Ryan Qiang seemed to be discussing last night's events, but as soon as he saw Jack, he immediately stood up with a big laugh and affectionately put his arm around Jack's shoulder, saying, "Bro, you came just in time! If you didn't come, everything we said would be in vain. The plan to attack the supermarket still needs you to formulate!"
Seeing that Ryan Qiang had changed the subject and showed no intention of mentioning last night's conflict, Jack understood that Ryan Qiang didn't want to take credit for this matter either. Ryan Qiang was not a fool and naturally wouldn't treat Jack as one. Everyone knew how intense the fight between Ryan Qiang and William Chenghu was last night, so Jack didn't bother to say much. He kept his smile and began discussing the plan to seize the supermarket with them!
...
Jack was not the only one visiting the Jiangcheng gathering place for the first time; Boss Hu and his crew were equally interested in this place. Therefore, Boss Hu got up early today, full of energy, and took Gao Chujing and several other men out the door. Even more flamboyantly, he had everyone carry a submachine gun and a handgun, strutting around with a group of people to "inspect" this small gathering place that he might manage in the future.
"Old Gao, look! That three-story building ahead is quite impressive!" Boss Hu stood on a Thomas stone bench, pointing at a three-story building in the wealthy area, and said spiritedly, "In a few days, we'll find a way to move in and make that our base. Although our strength might not match that of William Chenghu and Ryan Qiang for the time being, as long as we proceed steadily, it will be easy for us to recruit people with the food and weapons we have. At that time, taking over the entire gathering place won't be impossible!"
"Hmm! The location is good, but it's a bit small. However, it won't be too late to switch to a larger one when we become stronger!" Gao Chujing nodded in satisfaction, then turned to look at Boss Hu beside him and said somewhat flatteringly, "Old Hu, I'm not good at fighting and killing, but being your assistant and giving you some ideas is definitely no problem. You have to take good care of this old man!"
"No problem, no problem, we're all brothers!" Boss Hu's mouth curled up in a smug smile, then he clasped his hands behind his back and looked at Gao Chujing with a grand demeanor, saying, "Don't talk about being an assistant or anything. I know your abilities, Old Gao. You could easily handle the position of deputy county chief. As for Guodong, once we have our own army, I think he can just be a captain!"
If Thomas Xu were here, he would definitely laugh at Boss Hu, saying he's like a toad yawning—what a big boast! However, he didn't go so far as to suggest that Thomas should be made a deputy mayor for Gao Chujing and the others. On the side, Lv Liangjia listened to his words with a face full of eagerness, seemingly unable to wait to know what high official position he could hold in the future. Meanwhile, Wei Lianguodong, who had been observing the surroundings, turned his head with an indifferent expression and said, "Old Hu, it's not impossible for us to pull together a team, but in my opinion, it's quite difficult!"
"Hmm? What do you mean by that? Back then, I could control thousands of people with just one gun, and this place isn't that big—only about ten thousand people. What's so hard about it?" Boss Hu frowned slightly, looking somewhat displeased at Wei Lianguodong.
"The elites here have almost all been picked by various leaders. Even if there are some left, they either stick together with their fellow townsmen or go solo. How many can we actually recruit?" Wei Lianguodong looked seriously at Boss Hu and sighed softly, "Moreover, we are essentially outsiders and know nothing about this place, so trying to gather a team is incredibly difficult!"
"Guodong, I don't like what you're saying. We haven't even started yet, and you're already backing down. Are we supposed to never develop and always live by looking at others' faces?" Gao Chujing stepped forward, frowning as he looked at Wei Lianguodong.
"Development is definitely necessary. This place is full of hungry Dexter who would eat you alive without spitting out the bones. If we don't develop, we'll just be slaughtered, and all that awaits us is a dead end!" Wei Lianguodong looked at Gao Chujing without getting angry and added, "If we want to form a decent team, relying solely on the four of us is definitely not enough. There's one person we must win over; with him, we'll have a solid foundation!"
"You mean… that kid Thomas Xu?" Boss Hu asked uncertainly.
"Yes!" Wei Lianguodong nodded slightly and said, "Thomas Xu is strong in both combat and intellect, and he's a veteran here. As long as we have him, we may not achieve great glory, but at least we can ensure our own safety without having to look at others' faces!"
"Thomas Xu…" Boss Hu muttered with a dark expression, his tone filled with hesitation. He knew very well how important Thomas Xu was, but Thomas had always looked down on him. If Thomas were to join them, Boss Hu's position as the leader would surely be at risk, and he might not even have the chance to become a trusted confidant. After pondering for a moment, he resolutely raised his head and said, "No, that kid Thomas Xu is not on the same path as us. It was fine before, but now he's learned everything from Jack, constantly talking about righteousness and morality. If he joins us, it won't benefit us; it might even lead to our downfall!"
"But regardless, don't you think we must try to win over Thomas Xu?" Wei Lianguodong stared at Boss Hu, his eyes showing no signs of fluctuation.
"Let's put this matter aside for now. I'll talk to him when I get back tonight!" Boss Hu waved his hand quickly, changing the subject, "Right now, our task is to walk around more and ask questions. If we find capable men, we should do our utmost to invite them to join us!"
After finishing their conversation, the four men—three big and one small—slowly walked towards the slums. Their whirlwind tour yesterday had given them a preliminary understanding of the area. Although Gao Chujiang might not be very strong in combat, he was quite skilled in socializing. Coupled with the ability of Boss Hu, who could hype up even a little cow, they managed to recruit some brave fighters after a few hours of persuasion.
Perhaps it is true that good news brings joy; before noon, Boss Hu had Lu Liangjia bring their food, and they set up a decent feast in a small tavern in the slums. Besides the four of them, seven or eight rugged-looking men were also present, each accompanied by a flirtatious woman serving them with playful banter!
During the banquet, a group of people clinked glasses and drank merrily, boasting about their future ambitions to become successful individuals. It seemed that after this meal, they would willingly follow Boss Hu into any perilous situation. Meanwhile, a group of women who had come to accompany them were also eager to flatter, each one trying to outdo the other with compliments. Before long, Boss Hu felt a few pounds lighter, continuously shouting about wanting to take control of the entire gathering place and lead all his subordinates to enjoy a life of luxury.
"Drink up, fill it to the brim! I may not have much, but I have plenty of women and good wine!" Hu Laoda, with a flushed face and a thick neck, waved his hands wildly, clearly a bit drunk. However, he soon felt a strong urge in his bladder. He pulled his left hand out from between a girl's legs, stood up unsteadily, and said, "You all keep drinking, I... I need to pay a water bill! Wait for me... Whoever runs away is a damn grandson!"
Although there is no flush toilet in the small tavern, there is still a restroom for convenience. As Hu Laoda walked, he unbuckled his belt, and while passing the bar, he couldn't resist giving the flirty landlady's backside a squeeze, then he chuckled lewdly as he walked into the restroom in the back.
The toilet here is almost the same as the common latrines found in the countryside, with a deep pit covered by a rickety wooden board. It is not only filled to the brim with excrement, but the stench is so overwhelming that it could suffocate a person. If one is not careful, they might even drown in this terrible sea of waste. However, there is a row of plastic buckets for guests to urinate in, placed against the wall. If any of these buckets get full, they are quickly taken away to irrigate the rare green vegetables!
"Dear, take your time to pee, be careful of the man peeing in front of you..."
Big Hu pressed one hand against the wall while the other was digging into his pants. He was humming a vulgar tune he had made up himself. However, before he could even finish half of his business, a hard sensation suddenly shot up from his lower back. He instinctively turned his head to curse, but when he saw a dark black handgun pointed at him, Big Hu immediately jolted, half sobering up from his drunken state. With a face full of despair, he pleaded, "B-Brother, let's talk this over. I'll give you whatever you want, just... please don't pull the trigger!"
"Stop talking nonsense!" The black man with the gun shoved it forward forcefully and said without any courtesy, "If you know what's good for you, just come with me. Our boss wants to see you. If you don't behave, the bullet in my hand won't discriminate!"
"Alright, alright, I will definitely be obedient, definitely obedient!" Boss Hu hurriedly nodded vigorously, and after thinking for a moment, he cautiously asked, "But may I ask, who is your boss? Does he know me?"
"You'll know when you get there!" The black man sneered, grabbing Hu Laoda by the collar and pushing him towards the door. With a gun pointed at him, Hu Laoda didn't dare to resist and could only obediently follow the direction indicated by the other, exiting the restroom and walking into the largest private room of the restaurant.
After the door of the private room opened, Big Hu discovered that there weren't many people inside. A tall but overweight man was leaning back in the main seat, flanked by two burly bodyguards. One of them, standing on the right, had a fierce look on his face and messy hair; he was the very man who had stopped their convoy yesterday, the mountain dog!
Big Hu was pushed into the private room by the man behind him, stumbling and nearly falling flat on his face. However, he still didn't dare to show any anger, instead looking nervously at the fat man in the chief seat and asking, "Excuse me, big brother, you invited me here to..."
"You don't need to be so nervous, little man. Come, have a seat, and let's chat slowly!" The fat man smiled and waved at Big Hu, pointing to a chair across from him. He continued with a grin, "Although you haven't met me before, you must have heard of my name. My surname is William, and thanks to the respect from the brothers, you can call me Tiger, hehe~ What do you go by, little man?"
Big Hu's pupils constricted sharply; he never expected that the top dog of Jiangcheng would appear right in front of him, and in such an unpleasant situation. He nodded in fear and said, "I've long heard of Tiger's reputation. My surname is Hu; if you think highly of me, just call me Little Hu!"
"Think highly of you? Of course, I do! Otherwise, I wouldn't have had someone invite you here! Haha~" William the Tiger laughed heartily, then continued with a smile, "Looking at you, Brother Hu, you must be a shrewd person. So let's get straight to the point. The reason I invited you here is that I want you to help me deal with that Jack!"
"Deal with Jack?" Big Hu was immediately startled, looking at William the Tiger in shock. He had been drunk last night and went to bed early, so he was completely unaware of the gunfight involving Jack at the bar. However, he quickly found himself in a difficult position and said with a bitter smile, "Tiger, you... you must be joking. Jack is my man; how can I go against him?"
"Haha~ Man, how much is a man worth? Fifty pounds of rice? A hundred pounds of rice? Hmph~ Everyone has their own valuation of a man. As long as I can offer you the conditions you want, I believe you'll come to me for help!"
William the Tiger sneered disdainfully, then leaned slightly forward, encouragingly saying, "I can smell what kind of person you are, because we are the same type of people who will stop at nothing to achieve our goals! To be honest, I've had people watching you for two days. You've been recruiting, but the leader you've set isn't Jack; it's you. Don't tell me all this is for Jack!"
"Well..." Big Hu awkwardly shifted his body and said with a dry laugh, "To be honest, Jack will leave here sooner or later. If I don't go solo, where's my future? But to go against Jack, I really don't have the guts. To say something disrespectful, if Jack wants to kill you, even all your subordinates together might not be able to stop him!"
"Hmph~ Does he have three heads and six arms? As long as he's still human, he won't escape my grasp!" William the Tiger slammed the table heavily, his expression fierce as he said, "And think about it: Jack can leave, but what about you? Can you leave? If I, William the Tiger, want to make things difficult for you, can you fly away? You should consider your own situation first!"
"Tiger, you... aren't you making things difficult for me? Jack is really a tough nut to crack!" Boss Hu looked anxiously at William Chenghu across from him. This person was almost openly threatening him, but William Chenghu remained indifferent, leaning back in his chair with a smile, waiting for Boss Hu's response. Meanwhile, the mountain dog behind him had a somewhat creepy smile, and the gun tucked at his waist seemed to have been drawn out a bit more than before.
"Forget it, Master Tiger, please don't make things difficult for me, the land god. You are all gods fighting, and I have such thin arms and legs that I can't get involved at all. Don't you just want to deal with Jack? Let me tell you a few of his weaknesses, and you can decide how to handle it. If things go well, I hope you can support me more in the future!" said Old Hu with a worried expression.
"Oh? Weaknesses? Tell me more!" William Chenghu immediately showed great interest, leaning half his body over the round table.
"I've spent quite a bit of time with Jack. He is decisive in battle, and his combat power is extremely terrifying, not something an ordinary person can defeat. However, as long as he is human, he has weaknesses. He seems serious on the surface, but deep down he is quite lecherous, especially when he encounters beautiful women; his character becomes indecisive immediately…"
...
As the sun set in the west, Lin and Thomas returned to their residence after a day of training, and the meal was already prepared. Surprisingly, it was Cao Mei and Bai Ru, two beauties, who were in charge of cooking. Cao Mei directed while Bai Ru did the cooking. In fact, Cao Mei was just a novice at cooking, not to mention Bai Ru, who had never even touched a knife before, so the table full of dishes was inevitably a bit of a mess.
Originally, Old Hu wanted to come over and critique the dishes, but seeing Cao Mei's knife-like gaze, he wisely swallowed back the words that were almost at his lips and handed the sacred first chopsticks to Jack for tasting and evaluation.
"Hey? Ru Ru, this plate of dried bamboo shoots you stir-fried is quite impressive; it even has the taste of beef!" After tasting a bite, Jack found that although the dish was terribly cooked, the flavor was still passable. If he were extremely hungry, he could manage to eat the whole table of food.
"Honey…" Bai Ru, with an expectant look, suddenly became shy and pointed at the blackish dish in front of Jack, saying, "That… that's not dried bamboo shoots; it's beef!"
"Ah?" Not only did Jack widen his eyes, but even Thomas, who had also tasted a bite, was dumbfounded. He smacked his lips in disbelief and said, "No way? Sister Ru, are you mistaken? This thing tastes woody and burnt; what else could it be if not dried bamboo shoots?"
"Go play somewhere else, or I'll make you eat instant noodles!" Bai Ru glared fiercely at Thomas and then continued to shyly ask Jack, "So, honey… how does my dish taste?"
"Well…" Jack held up his chopsticks and pondered for a moment before reluctantly saying, "Ru Ru, to be honest, the appearance of these dishes might be a bit lacking, but the taste is quite good, at least it suits my personal taste!"
"Phew... that's good, that's good, as long as you like to eat!" Bai Ru patted her chest and let out a big sigh of relief, not noticing that Thomas Xu was almost turning blue from holding his breath. She playfully wrapped her arms around Jack's neck and gave him a heavy kiss on the cheek as a reward.
"Old Hu, how's it going? Have you gained anything from wandering around the gathering place these past two days?" Jack raised his bowl and took big bites of the undercooked rice. He actually didn't want to talk while eating, but if he didn't distract everyone with conversation, Bai Ru would definitely notice something unusual from their worried expressions.
"It's okay!" Boss Hu forced himself to eat a piece of something unidentifiable. After chewing a couple of times, he realized it was a whole piece of raw ginger meant for seasoning. He had no choice but to pull out a Thomas paper towel from the table, pretended to wipe his mouth, and after spitting the ginger into the towel and throwing it away, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.