Chapter 974

Even though four days have already passed, Tao Tao still inevitably has nightmares whenever he thinks about it.

He thought the legendary Wang Laoban was already exaggerated enough, but after following Wang Laoban to Jin Meilin for a meal, he discovered that Wang Laoban was even more badass than exaggerated. He even produced a gun, yet his expression didn't change, and he remained calm and composed. The key was that he could easily take the gun into his hands, and even more crucially, after the extortion was over, he dared to return the gun to Du Honggen.

Then, while eating, he acted as if no one else was around, eating the best dishes and drinking vintage Moutai. He could even chat happily with Du Honggen and Lu Meilin, who were accompanying him with forced smiles, as if nothing had happened at all.

Finally, amidst the enthusiastic farewells of Du Honggen and Lu Meilin, he pedaled his tricycle and, with a look of disdain, hauled him back to his home on Guling Road.

He had a nightmare that very night and had a poor appetite for the past few days. When Lu Meilin called him the next day to order seafood, he had to do a lot of mental preparation before going over. The touch of courtesy hidden within Lu Meilin's disdain made him feel a bit more at ease, but he couldn't help but frequently recall the despairing silence in the private room that night.

The crisp sound of the pistol's dry fire seemed to always echo in his ears...

"It's almost lunchtime, where are you going?"

As the person sharing his pillow, Fang Mei very keenly grasped Tao Tao's unusual behavior over these past few days. Although she was very insecure, she also understood that this time it definitely had nothing to do with women. After all, she was the one who washed the pants Tao Tao had peed in. She wanted to show concern, but Tao Tao wouldn't say a word about it.

"Oh, Wang Laoban has something to find me for, asking me to go over to his place. As for lunch, I'll just eat at Ye Dongjing. I have to look after Boss Abao's business. I'm off, I'm off..."

Tao Tao waved his hand impatiently, went out, got on his bicycle, and headed toward Jinxian Road.

All the way there, he pondered in his mind; it had been several days without any movement, so what exactly did Wang Laoban want with him? He couldn't figure it out, and he couldn't help but recall that night's encounter with death, which inevitably stirred up a feeling of having survived a disaster.

The Long Teng seasoning shop was handed over to Jin Bao's mother, and there were no particular changes. If one had to say there were any, it was that because Wang Yan didn't do much work now, she had hired a new person. And unlike Wang Yan, she had further expanded production. Every day, she secretly mixed the ingredients herself in that space of over twenty square meters. She would mix a batch and then send out a batch.

This resulted in Wang Yan becoming a babysitter; Jin Bao's mother was working her life away to make money and had no time to take care of the child. The little chubby boy would either hang out with Wang Yan or follow Teacher Ge. However, there were benefits; the little thing was much more cheerful now. Wang Yan even specifically weighed him, and he had lost some weight.

Even at noon, the out-of-towners queuing up here to buy seasonings had no intention of leaving, still smoking and chatting there. After more than two months, the seasoning's reputation didn't need to be mentioned in Shanghai, and it had already spread to other places. Regardless of the differences in northern and southern tastes, it was just delicious. Some people from other places would specifically run back and forth here to buy seasonings, then go back and charge the same prices as the big hotels in Shanghai, also making some money.

At this time, or for a long time to come, there was never a shortage of consumers. On one hand, there were the people who had become rich, and on the other hand, there were the government and enterprise personnel who would eat whatever was delicious and pay with IOUs.

What Tao Tao saw when he arrived was the same bustle; the difference was across the street. Wearing a white long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up, the shirt tucked into loose suit trousers, and stepping in a pair of leather shoes, Wang Yan was leaning against a brand-new Santana, pinching a cigarette, silently watching the busyness in the shop, with no intention of stepping in to help at all.

"You're here, Tao Zong." Wang Yan greeted him with a smile.

"Wang Laoban, you said there was a good thing, what good thing is it?" Tao Tao took the cigarette Wang Yan handed him and took out a lighter from his pocket to light it.

He now felt that Wang Yan was too oppressive and very uncomfortable, so much so that the cigarette in his mouth didn't feel enjoyable. If it were ordinary times, he would be very happy. After all, Fang Mei was frugal, and it was good enough that she let him smoke, let alone smoke a high-end cigarette.

"Have you delivered the goods to Jin Meilin?"

"Delivered, Lu Meilin was quite polite. Jin Meilin is a top-tier restaurant on Huanghe Road, so with this one more, I'll earn quite a bit more. Thank you, Wang Laoban."

Hesitating for a moment, Tao Tao continued, "But Wang Laoban, you are still too dangerous like this. Oh my, it's terrible, you even took out a gun. You can't do such things in the future. You only have one life, and you don't even have a wife, with hundreds of thousands stuffed in the cabinet at home without spending it; that's so pathetic.

A small car is worth at most two hundred thousand; I heard the Santana has dropped in price, and many parts are domestic, so a hundred thousand-plus is the limit. It's not like you can't afford it; it's better to avoid trouble than to invite it. If Du Honggen holds a grudge and shoots you in the back, no matter how good you are at fighting, you can't dodge a bullet."

"So many words, why didn't you say that when I took you home that day?"

"Oh my, I was so scared I peed my pants; I had nightmares that very night, you don't know..." Tao Tao muttered about the terror in his dreams and carefully said to Wang Yan, "Wang Laoban, you didn't tell anyone about me peeing my pants, did you?"

"If I told people, wouldn't the matter be impossible to hide? Last time there was a fight on Huanghe Road, and later when I set up a stall on Zhapu Road, the police even came to find me. If this spreads out, and it's known that I also extorted a small car, wouldn't they arrest me?"

"Oh my, I thought you didn't know. Since you know the consequences, then you must never be impulsive in the future. We can't afford to provoke gangsters and the underworld. Who knows if they have officials behind them? You are a loner, and if you die, no one will even collect your corpse."

"Isn't Tao Zong the most loyal? Aren't you going to look after me?"

"Of course I'm the most loyal; if I don't go, who will? Teacher Ge is a coward. Wang Laoban, don't look at me peeing my pants; if it were Teacher Ge, he would be scared to death."

Tao Tao waved his hand and suddenly realized; he was very nervous at first, so why did he dare to say Wang Laoban was going to die now?

He shuddered and changed the subject: "Wang Laoban, what exactly is the good thing?"

Wang Yan threw the cigarette butt on the ground very unceremoniously, crushed it with his big leather shoe, turned around to open the car door, took out a mobile phone from inside, and handed it over: "This is the good thing."

"A good thing?" Tao Tao subconsciously took the mobile phone, and after reacting, he suddenly raised his head, "For me?"

"Why would I give it to you?"

"Of course it's to make me keep my mouth shut and not go around spreading the word. Otherwise, I wouldn't have said it; I even peed my pants, okay? If it gets out, how much face would I lose?"

"Du Honggen and Lu Meilin aren't that petty; a mobile phone costs less than twenty thousand all in. I'm throwing it at you to make you wake up and see things clearly."

"Then I'll take it?"

"Take it, I even accepted a car worth over a hundred thousand, what are you afraid of? If there's trouble, it'll be my trouble; it has nothing to do with you."

"Then I'll accept it. To tell you the truth, Wang Laoban, I've always wanted to buy a mobile phone for convenient contact. I also wanted to buy a van; it's convenient to pick up and deliver goods everywhere. But Fang Mei holds the money tight and refuses to give it to me no matter what. This woman, she has long hair and short knowledge; she can't make a big fortune."

"Then do you think I did the right thing this time?"

"Oh my, it's simply as right as it could be." Tao Tao excitedly gripped the mobile phone in one hand and smashed it into the palm of his other hand with a 'pop' sound, "If you ask me, Du Honggen's money didn't come from a proper source, and you asked for too little."

Wang Yan shook his head with amusement: "Let's go, Tao Zong, let's go eat at Ye Dongjing."

"What for, Wang Laoban? The new car is here, aren't we driving over?"

"It's not even a hundred meters away; it's not worth the effort."

"With a new car, you always have to make an appearance."

Wang Yan waved his hand, ignored him, and strolled toward Ye Dongjing.

Business at Ye Dongjing was very average, mainly supported by acquaintances. The dishes weren't outstanding, the craftsmanship wasn't high, the prices weren't cheap, the shop wasn't very big, and the landlady's temper wasn't small; it would be strange if it were popular.

Of course, Ye Dongjing didn't care much about walk-in customers; it was mainly supported by Boss Abao's friends. As for the Ye Dongjing squad, Wang Yan, Teacher Ge, Tao Tao, and Ling Hong, none of them paid for their meals, eating two meals a day, lunch and dinner.

However, relatively speaking, Wang Yan ate less. He mainly liked to eat, and usually, he would wander outside, looking for delicious places to eat. Teacher Ge and Ling Hong were the same; they would eat breakfast nearby, and for the remaining two meals, they would actively head to Ye Dongjing once it was time.

Tao Tao came often; it was Boss Abao's business, and besides, he almost became a shareholder, only he didn't dare to do it for fear of losing money, but he always had to help look after the business, liven up the atmosphere, and help Boss Abao spend some money. On the other hand, it was also to escape Fang Mei, drink some wine here, and chat nonsense.

Arriving at Ye Dongjing, Lingzi and the others were already chatting and laughing together; unexpectedly, Boss Abao had also come here. Everyone nodded and greeted each other, sat down separately, and the waiter in the shop also started serving dishes.

Ling Hong said: "Oh my, Tao Tao, where have you been making a fortune these past few days? You've even equipped yourself with a mobile phone?"

"It's for business contact; it's much more convenient to contact anytime in the future." Tao Tao smiled from ear to ear, but his mind was clear; he showed off the mobile phone and didn't say much more, changing the subject, "Boss Abao, how come you have time to come over?"

"I'm a shareholder here, can't I come?" Boss Abao tilted his head at Wang Yan, "Wang Laoban, tell you some good news, you're going to make a fortune."

Wang Yan raised his eyebrows as if surprised: "Did Electric Vacuum rise?"

"More than that, it's already one hundred and twenty; it's risen by thirty percent."

Teacher Ge exclaimed: "Doesn't that mean he earned thirty thousand?"

"It's sixty thousand, Teacher Ge." Tao Tao said while fiddling with the mobile phone, "Later, Wang Laoban asked Boss Abao to help buy another one hundred thousand."

Lingzi laughed: "Then Wang Laoban should treat us."

"Hey, it's still early; nothing has been sold yet, let's talk about it in September."

"I think doubling it shouldn't be a problem; the market is getting better, and to tell you the truth, I've also invested some." Boss Abao laughed, then exclaimed, "Wang Laoban, I heard Jin Meilin invited you to dinner again?"

"That was several days ago. It's just that they lost face at my place, and everyone, acquaintances or not, was laughing at them, and they couldn't take it, so they asked me over to show the people who were talking nonsense outside. Since a big restaurant invites you to dinner, it would be a waste not to eat; I don't care about face, so I just let it be, and we don't really have that big of a grudge."

Hmm... what else could Tao Tao say? He could only eat there while fiddling with the mobile phone, as if he knew nothing.

Lingzi said: "If you ask me, you shouldn't have gone; there's no such way to bully people. If it weren't for you being able to fight, wouldn't you have been robbed of your recipe by them? You're not begging them, what are you afraid of? If you bully people, you should have the awareness of being bullied."

Boss Abao shook his head and laughed: "It's not calculated like that; even if you're not begging them, you can't really offend them. Du Honggen still has some reputation; it's better to keep a respectful distance from such people. He might not be good at accomplishing things, but he's good at ruining them. Wang Laoban is fighting alone in Shanghai; it's better to avoid trouble than to invite it, and it's better for everyone to be harmonious to make a fortune."

Wang Yan smiled and nodded, then exclaimed: "President Bao, I have something to trouble you with."

"We're all friends, what trouble or not; as long as I can help, I will definitely do my best." Boss Abao didn't even hesitate and said it very sincerely.

"It's not a big deal, it's just that people all say I should look more like a boss. That's why I bought a Santana and a mobile phone, but they all say people rely on clothes and horses rely on saddles; I see those bosses are all dressed in suits and leather shoes like you, but their clothes aren't very particular, and I think it's more comfortable to wear what you wear. That's why I wanted to trouble you to introduce me to a tailor so I can also customize a few suits."

"Oh my, you finally figured it out." Lingzi said, "I told you long ago, you're a boss earning over a hundred thousand a month, why bother dressing so shabbily, and why bother running out to deliver goods? Now that you've handed the shop over to Jin Bao's mother, I think it's very good, and you should be transformed. President Bao, not only a tailor, but a shoemaker is also indispensable, and a barber is even more necessary."

"Wang Laoban has a good figure, I know that; if he wears customized clothes and leather shoes, oh my, he'll fascinate the little girls. Also, Wang Laoban, don't forget to buy a watch; it must be high-end."

"Yes, yes, yes, I'll go to the mall to buy one later. You've put in a lot of effort, President Bao."

"I'm just introducing, what effort is it?" Boss Abao smiled, got up to get paper and pen, and wrote down the shop address, "I'll make a call in a while to say something, you can just go directly."

"Good."

"No, wait." Teacher Ge waved his hand, "You bought a car? How come I didn't know? I see you pedaling a tricycle every day, and the bicycle you ride is still mine; where is your car?"

Wang Yan said with a smile: "It just arrived."

"Just arrived? Don't lie to me. Before coming to Ye Dongjing, I passed by your shop and didn't see your car."

"I say, you old guy, why do you care so much? After we finish eating, you come back with me, and I'll take you for a ride."

"Oh my, look at your attitude now, Little Northeast." Teacher Ge looked at everyone, "You don't know, when he first came..."

"Stop, Teacher Ge, I've only known you for over a month, and I've heard this eight hundred times; I think you're really senile and should go to the hospital to see if there's something wrong with your brain." Ling Hong impatiently interrupted Teacher Ge's spell.

"Ling Hong, it's in vain that I reduced your rent..."

Ling Hong's words successfully attracted Teacher Ge's attention, and the two of them argued with each other. Tao Tao also got into the spirit at this time, interjecting a sentence every now and then, and it was incredibly lively.

Wang Yan, of course, didn't participate, eating and drinking heartily with a smile, and after they finished arguing, he would pick on the little monk as usual. In fact, every time he ate here, he would say a few words to the little monk.

It wasn't that he was eating for free and scolding the cook; it was mainly because the little monk was not bad, willing to listen and willing to study. After he commented on it casually once, the little monk would come to ask him himself. As a chef, improving his craftsmanship was the most important thing, and since the little monk had his own realization, Wang Yan was willing to nag a few more words. Relatively speaking, the little monk's craftsmanship was now much better than when Ye Dongjing first opened.

Seeing the little monk working hard to record in a small notebook on the side, Boss Abao laughed: "Wang Laoban knows how to eat, unlike me, I only like to eat a bowl of rice porridge."

"Oh my, you're still talking." Before Wang Yan could speak, Lingzi was the first to disagree, "For fish, you have to eat Qibao's; for chicken feet, you have to eat Chuansha's; there's also Zhujiajiao's pickles and Chongming's cakes; don't you know how to eat?"

"That's what Teacher Ge and Ling Hong like to eat; I'm just eating a bite along with them." Boss Abao shook his head repeatedly.

Wang Yan said: "In the past, everyone was poor, and it wasn't easy to fill their stomachs, so they couldn't be particular. Now that we've caught up with good times, materials are abundant, and everyone is earning quite a bit, so we should still be a bit particular. Just like these dishes today, the little monk making them is one taste, and changing to another master chef is another taste. It's always right to make the same thing taste better. Little monk, you still have to work hard to improve."

"The little monk is not bad." Teacher Ge said, "His craftsmanship has improved recently."

"My business is better than before." Lingzi laughed on the side.

The little monk scratched his head: "It's all Wang Laoban's guidance, otherwise I wouldn't have such great progress."

"Your own diligent study is the most important thing."

Ling Hong spoke up at this time: "Wang Laoban, I heard from Teacher Ge that you cook very well; when will you make a table for everyone to taste?"

"Hey, I think this suggestion is good. How about September? When your stocks make money, you can do it here." Teacher Ge strongly seconded.

"You're the one who knows how to arrange things, Teacher Ge." Wang Yan shook his head with amusement, "Okay, after the stocks are sold, whether I make money or not, I'll make a big table for everyone to taste."

"Then I'll be the assistant." The little monk laughed.

"You're the chef, if you don't help, who will? Go, go, go, go eat your meal." Lingzi waved her hand and shooed the little monk away...

As time passed, and everyone was extroverted, they had already gotten along to the way they were later. Of course, there was also Wang Yan, an outsider who didn't belong here, who had integrated in the same way. So calling him Wang Laoban was just a code name, not a polite address for strangers. Just like everyone else, including Bao Lingzi, except for Tao Tao, almost all addressed Boss Abao as President Bao.

The current Ye Dongjing squad was no different from the later one. Eating, drinking, chatting, and laughing every day. In the tide of such a rapidly changing era, they seemed to be unhurried and slow. This was in stark contrast to Boss Abao's fortune-making dynamics outside.

After the meal, everyone dispersed.

Boss Abao pulled Tao Tao, who was about to go back, to the side of the road to smoke, and he said: "Is there something you're hiding from me?"

Countless images flashed through Tao Tao's mind like a storm, and he shook his head firmly: "Absolutely not."

"No?"

"Really no. We're good brothers who grew up together; you even know about me sleeping with Fang Mei, so what else could I be hiding from you? Oh my, such good brothers for so many years, and you actually don't believe me? Boss Abao, I'm so disappointed in you."

"Nah, nah, nah, you really haven't changed at all after all these years." Boss Abao punched him in the chest in annoyance, "Every time you lie to me, you have to turn the spearhead on me. Making trouble out of nothing, it's so annoying."

Having been seen through, Tao Tao felt no embarrassment at all; he punched Boss Abao back and laughed: "Good brother, you still understand me."

"Don't be cheeky, tell me the truth if there's anything."

"How did you see it?"

"Last year you quarreled with Fang Mei to buy a mobile phone, and in the end, didn't Fang Mei still not agree?"

"I secretly saved my private money to buy it."

"You've never had more than ten yuan in your pocket; how much money do you owe me? You have private money and don't pay me back first, but want to buy a mobile phone?"

"That, that..."

"Alright, stop making it up." Boss Abao took a puff of his cigarette and said, "Fang Mei told me everything; you went out to Huanghe Road to deliver seafood to Red Heron a few days ago and came back very late; it was Wang Laoban who took you back, and she also said you peed your pants. You had nightmares that night, saying things like 'I didn't say it, it really wasn't me who said it, don't kill me', and you've been listless these past few days; when Fang Mei asked you, you wouldn't say."

"Oh my, I knew it, women can't be trusted." Tao Tao said indignantly, and smashed the mobile phone into his palm again, "Sooner or later, I'll be killed by this woman."

He looked anxious, but still had to lower his voice, "Boss Abao, don't force me, okay? I really can't say; if I say it, I'll lose my life."

"Alright."

"Oh my, good brother, good brother, then I..."

"Then I'll tell everyone about you peeing your pants." Boss Abao shrugged his shoulders, looking like 'just you wait'.

"Boss Abao, I really misjudged you; you actually use this kind of thing to threaten me; am I, Tao Tao, not going to mix in the future? You really don't care about brotherly feelings at all."

"Hurry up, I mean what I say. Three, two..."

"Hey, alright." Tao Tao impatiently knocked away Boss Abao's counting fingers, "I'll tell you, but you must not tell anyone else, otherwise people will really die, and if people don't die, I'll have to go to jail."

"Are you going to say it or not?"

"Say, say, say. The day I delivered seafood to Red Heron, I heard people discussing that Jin Meilin was going to invite Wang Laoban to dinner. Just as I was about to leave, I saw Wang Laoban at Jingxiu's from afar..."

Tao Tao rambled on; it wasn't a very complicated matter, but he insisted on telling it for half an hour. He swallowed a mouthful of saliva and said, "Do you understand now? Du Honggen has a gun; if this matter spreads out, and others know he lost even more face at Wang Laoban's place, giving a car and a mobile phone, wouldn't he go crazy?

Also, last time Wang Laoban fought on Huanghe Road, he was found by the police within two days. If this matter spreads out now, not to mention there's a gun, wouldn't it be over? Wang Laoban insisted on getting a Santana and two mobile phones; that's over a hundred thousand; even if he's not shot, he'll have to be locked up for ten years, right? Why give me a mobile phone? It's to make me shut up. Wang Laoban will be sentenced to ten years, and I'll have to be in for three years.

Good brother, I've told you everything, you must not harm me."

After listening to Tao Tao's rambling, Boss Abao was stunned; was it that fierce? Why did it sound like a desperate bandit? He knew Tao Tao spoke very exaggeratedly, so he asked uncertainly: "You didn't exaggerate, did you?"

"I admit, sometimes I speak quite exaggeratedly, but this time I absolutely didn't add oil and vinegar, I swear." Tao Tao raised his hand and took another step back, "At that time, Wang Laoban and I were this far away, and I absolutely saw it clearly. It's a matter of life and death, how would I dare to speak nonsense? Good brother, you must keep it secret, otherwise I'm dead."

Boss Abao let out a long breath, calmed his mind, shook his head and said: "Don't you trust me? I'll talk to Fang Mei later and let her not worry. Don't quarrel with Fang Mei when you go home; she's also concerned about you."

"I'll just pretend I don't know; otherwise, it'll be endless to explain, and people will die." Tao Tao waved his hand impatiently, and instantly smiled again, "Boss Abao, good brother, it's good to have you. After telling you, I felt instantly relaxed. You don't know, these past few days have scared me to death."

"Now I'm the one scared to death; look at you, knowing it's not a good feast, yet you still pretend to be loyal and go with Wang Laoban."

"No, I've thought about it these past few days. Later I figured it out; actually, Wang Laoban didn't intend for me to go with him at all at the beginning."

"Then why did he change his mind?"

"I said something similar to what Lingzi said before; I said they were the ones bullying people first, and didn't expect to run into a tough nut like you. If someone else had come, wouldn't they have been bullied to death by them? The recipe wouldn't be kept, and the person wouldn't necessarily be safe, and they would inevitably be beaten up. Then he called me Tao Zong and said he looked at me with new eyes.

Then he said I was loyal, and I couldn't back down, so I braced myself and went to Jin Meilin with him. He said at the beginning that I should deliver seafood to Jin Meilin in the future, and in the end, I really delivered seafood to Jin Meilin. I think he didn't intend to be polite from the beginning; they really bullied people too much. Fortunately, fortunately, Wang Laoban is stronger.

Oh my, after the conditions were negotiated, Wang Laoban just threw the gun to Du Honggen like that; the one surnamed Du was in a panic and trembling with fear. He wanted to say to Wang Laoban, aren't you afraid he'll shoot again? In the end, Wang Laoban's expression didn't change, just like when he was laughing and chatting with us, and he said then I'll break your five limbs and let you rot in bed.

At that time, I didn't understand what five limbs were, but later I realized it was the little brother. I guess the one surnamed Du didn't understand at the time either, and he didn't dare to ask. Oh my, I laughed to death."

Boss Abao couldn't help but laugh, laughing at Tao Tao's big heart; he was scared to death before, but now he was mocking Du Honggen again.

He said: "Alright, I know everything, don't worry, I definitely won't spread it, go back. Absolutely, absolutely don't find trouble with Fang Mei, otherwise I'll deal with you."

"Oh my, you've been President Bao for too long, your strength has decreased; who deals with whom is still unknown." Tao Tao laughed loudly, punched Boss Abao, but his expression suddenly changed, looking very serious, "You're not laughing at me, are you?"

"What?"

"It's just..." Looking at the smile on Boss Abao's face, Tao Tao looked annoyed, "That also..."

"Who doesn't know who between us? How could I laugh at you? If it were me, I might be the same as you."

"Same as me? You definitely aren't as good as me. Go!" Tao Tao's face was relaxed, and he turned to leave decisively.

"Hey, wait."

"What's wrong?"

"Don't you need to save a number on the mobile phone?"

"Oh, right, right, right, I forgot. No, no, Wang Laoban, Teacher Ge, and Lingzi, Ling Hong's numbers all need to be saved. How do I save them?"

"This broken thing runs out of battery after talking for a while; it's unreliable. To save numbers, you still have to save them on paper; otherwise, what if the mobile phone runs out of battery? Can you remember other people's numbers?"

"Right, right, right, then you can't just hold the phone book like this, right?"

"That's why you have to clip it in a bag."

"Do you have an extra one? Give me one, I don't know what's good or bad."

Boss Abao was speechless: "Go back to the shop, I'll give you my bag; you have to drink some water after saying so much."

"Oh my, I didn't feel it until you said it, I'm dying of thirst." Tao Tao said, ignoring Boss Abao, and went straight back to Ye Dongjing.

Boss Abao, standing in place, shook his head helplessly and followed him back...

The matter of Du Honggen and Lu Meilin was over; Du Honggen wasn't that heroic, and in the end, he was just a small gangster who bullied the weak and feared the strong. Even if Wang Yan gave him eight guts, he wouldn't dare to bare his teeth. Lu Meilin was even less of a problem; having a husband who was a gambler and nothing else, she could only be strong herself, mixing on Huanghe Road, also a player who bullied the weak and feared the strong, and couldn't create any trouble.

However, Wang Yan did take the money and handle the matter; otherwise, what could he do if he beat Du Honggen up? When the police comrades came, Du Honggen and Lu Meilin would have to say they fell themselves. But he didn't do that; instead, he ate with them, and was enthusiastically sent out of the restaurant by them; everyone performed a friendly and harmonious scene, which was enough.

He didn't go there with the intention of getting a car; at first, he just wanted to see what kind of player Du Honggen was, and it was indeed a meal on the way. It was just that Du Honggen wasn't very convinced, so Wang Yan made a temporary decision to let this kid learn a lesson. Now it was good, everyone was happy.

Teacher Ge looked at Wang Yan, who was being measured by the old tailor, very dissatisfied: "You're customizing clothes, why do you have to drag me along?"

"Didn't I drag you out for a ride?"

"Yes."

"Now the ride is over."

"Good, Little Northeast, are you playing with me?"

Wang Yan shook his head: "How boring would I be to play with you? It's just on the way; I took you for a ride in the new car, and came here to make clothes; doing two things in one trip, killing two birds with one stone, isn't it good?"

"Then you should take me back."

"Taking a taxi doesn't cost much money; if not, you can take the bus."

"You brought me out, you pay." Teacher Ge threw a tantrum, but not completely; he turned and said, "Are you going to get a haircut later?"

"Yes, after the haircut, I'll go take a bath and get comfortable."

Teacher Ge, who had already stood up, sat down again: "I have nothing to do, and it's boring for you alone, so I'll reluctantly accompany you. But I also want a haircut and a bath later, okay?"

"You're so stingy, I want to see where you spend your coffin money."

"No matter how much my coffin money is, it's not enough for what you earn in a month. Don't I get sick? Doesn't seeing a doctor cost money? Living frugally and managing the household diligently, you should learn this spirit, understand? Don't look like an upstart just because you have some money; it's very ugly."

"But you've eaten and drunk back all the money you saved at my place. Who lives frugally and drinks two taels of Moutai every day? Give me back the wine money."

"Oh my, we're friends, don't be so calculating. I even reduced your rent, and you've been riding my bicycle, and I've done so much work for you; what did I say? What's the point of calculating?"

"Didn't you say everything?"

Wang Yan shook his head with amusement; the old guy was shameless, what else could he say? However, this old guy was indeed not bad, always enthusiastically helping, and although it was a bit nagging to stay together, it was also quite interesting...

Boss Abao's tailor was of course not bad, very high-level, and heard to be very famous; many people customized clothes here, and also made shoes, all in a set. The old master who had worked for a lifetime caught up with the opening, went out and tailored for himself. He brought the younger generation in the family and took other apprentices. This was real craftsmanship, and this old master also had style, proper high-end customization, and would only earn more and more money in the future.

Wang Yan was a very simple person; to save trouble, he directly ordered many sets for spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and also ordered many pairs of various shoes, not to mention shirts and the like. Moreover, his measurements would be kept here, and the old master would definitely keep his preferences firmly in mind during the exchange process. In the future, if he wanted new clothes, he could just make a call, which was very convenient.

Of course, he couldn't really calculate with Teacher Ge, so he took the old guy to get a haircut, cut his somewhat long parted hair short, thinned it out, and generally styled it like Boss Abao's side-parted oily hair, which was clean and refreshing.

A thorough styling transformation, of course, had to wait until the clothes and shoes were all done.

Teacher Ge nagged, saying that Wang Yan shouldn't continue to live there, otherwise it wouldn't match that pile of outfits and his current hairstyle. He should also run to the Peace Hotel to live in a long-term suite like Boss Abao.

This was of course a very unnecessary thing; a long-term suite cost thousands or tens of thousands a month, but Teacher Ge's house only cost fifty yuan, it just didn't have an independent bathroom, and relatively speaking, it wasn't very convenient to take a bath. But there was a bathhouse nearby, which only cost two yuan at a time, and even if he went every day, it would only be sixty yuan a month, so this account was very clear...