Chapter 49: Gratitude

After Sha Meng left, Chen Mo took out a business card and slipped it down the neckline of Ann's camisole.

"Call me if you need anything."

With that, he also left with his men.

The next day, Chen Mo received a phone call from Bai Tou Weng.

"Ah Mo, it's Uncle Ben." Bai Tou Weng's vigorous voice came through the phone.

Chen Mo said in a calm tone, "Uncle Ben, is there something?"

"I said last time that I admire you very much. When you have time, how about coming over to my place for a meal?"

"Uncle Ben, let's forget about the meal. If you have something to say, just say it directly!"

Knowing Bai Tou Weng's purpose, Chen Mo could no longer be bothered to entangle with him.

On the other end of the phone, Bai Tou Weng caught the stiffness in Chen Mo's tone. His face stiffened, and he said bluntly, "In that case, I'll speak plainly. Everyone out in the underworld is after money. You have territory and manpower; we have supply sources and channels. Why can't we work together?"

"Uncle Ben, Sister Mei is my Big Boss, and you are her elder. I'm willing to give you face, which is why Sha Meng and Sang Bo went back alive yesterday. But don't bring up moving powder anymore. There's nothing to negotiate on this!"

"Chen Mo, in the underworld, money is what counts."

"Your three streets in Wang Jiao aren't bad, but in all of Gangdao, they amount to nothing at all."

"As long as you're willing to cooperate with us, I can help you take Thirteen Sister's seat. Even taking over all of Wang Jiao isn't impossible."

"Think it over carefully."

"Uncle Ben, spare me the empty promises. Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together."

Chen Mo directly rejected the pie Bai Tou Weng was painting in the sky.

If Dongxing had that kind of strength, they wouldn't still be holed up in those rural areas of Yuen Long in the New Territories.

Besides, Chen Mo already had plans for the Wang Jiao territory. He had no need for Dongxing's support.

Bai Tou Weng set down the phone with a dark expression and said to Sha Meng beside him, "Since Chen Mo doesn't know what's good for him, then forget about him. Tell the people below to be careful when distributing goods, and not to get caught."

"I don't believe Chen Mo would dare do anything to our Dongxing people."

"Also, call Kele and A Bao, and tell them to come back early."

"Understood, Uncle Ben."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Mo called home and had Li Jie come over.

Based on Chen Mo's understanding of Dongxing, they had no bottom line in how they operated. There was no guarantee they wouldn't go after the people around him.

Li Jie alone might struggle to protect both Gang Sheng and Qiu Di. The recruitment of retired soldiers from the north had to be sped up.

Chen Mo's house wasn't far from the bar, and Li Jie arrived quickly.

"Mo Ge, you wanted to see me."

"Ah Jie, have you been in touch with your old comrades lately?"

Li Jie nodded. "So far I've only reached a few of them. They're willing to come over. There are still some I need to go back to contact."

"That'll do." Chen Mo took two stacks of cash from a drawer and handed them to Li Jie. "Go back as soon as you can. This is two hundred thousand — for your travel expenses and as a deposit for them."

"For anyone willing to come, give each of them two thousand first to settle their families. I'll make up the rest of the settlement allowance once they arrive."

Chen Mo wasn't a sucker; he couldn't possibly pay a twenty-thousand settlement allowance before anyone even showed up.

What if they took the money and didn't come?

Li Jie took the money. "Alright, then I'll leave today."

After Li Jie left, Chen Mo suddenly remembered the matter of finding a tutor for Gang Sheng and Qiu Di.

After a moment's thought, Chen Mo had someone call Ruby over.

The people under Chen Mo's command had absolutely nothing to do with the likes of teachers. Asking them to find a reliable tutor was pure fantasy.

By comparison, Ruby, who was helping Wei Jixiang look after his son, was far more reliable.

Ruby was wearing a qipao as usual, swaying her hips as she walked into Chen Mo's office.

At thirty years old, Ruby carried a mature charm that neither Gang Sheng nor Qiu Di could match.

It stirred something in Chen Mo.

"Mo Ge, you wanted to see me?"

"Mm, close the door first."

Chen Mo looked at Ruby, got up, walked over to the sofa, and sat down, inviting Ruby over.

"Ruby, come sit."

"Is there something Mo Ge needs from me?"

Ruby turned and closed the office door, sat down on the sofa without hesitation, and thoughtfully poured Chen Mo a cup of tea.

"I heard you've been taking care of Wei Jixiang's son lately?"

"Yes, the child's mother used to be a close friend of mine. The little one is too young right now and can't be left without someone watching him, so I took him in at my place."

Ruby was a little nervous. She didn't know why Chen Mo was asking about Wei Jixiang's son, and was afraid that because Wei Jixiang had offended Chen Mo before, it might implicate the child.

Chen Mo noticed Ruby's unease and smiled. "Relax, I have no grudge with Wei Jixiang, and I certainly wouldn't do anything to a child."

"Is it difficult taking care of the child on your own? If so, just say so, and I'll see if I can help."

Hearing Chen Mo's words, Ruby finally felt at ease.

"No difficulties. Mo Ge made me the bar manager and pays me such a high salary. I've been wanting to find an opportunity to thank Mo Ge."

"Oh?" Chen Mo shifted over and sat beside Ruby, resting his hand on her thigh, exposed through the slit of her qipao. "And how do you plan to thank me?"

Ruby saw the fiery look in Chen Mo's eyes and instantly understood what was on his mind. She couldn't help but recall that one night before.

"Mo Ge can have me thank him however he wants."

Seeing this, Chen Mo stood up directly, scooped Ruby up by the waist, and carried her toward the inner rest room.

An hour later.

Chen Mo held a cigarette in one hand and had his arm around Ruby with the other: "Later, help me find a reliable home tutor to teach those two girls at my place."

"Sure, what kind are you looking for?" Upon hearing Chen Mo's words, Ruby also gradually sobered up.

Chen Mo thought for a moment, then arranged: "Find a middle school teacher who teaches English, and if they can also teach math, that would be even better. Later, see if we can get them into college."

Although Gang Sheng and Qiu Di had attended school before coming to Gangdao, they had only learned to recognize characters; they knew only simple addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division in math, and had no exposure to English.

Even if Gang Sheng and Qiu Di were to attend a private university, they would still need to learn English and math.

To work in Gangdao, not knowing English is simply not an option.

Even Chen Mo, who mixes with the Triad Society, had exchanged for basic English from the system.

"Okay, I got it. You're really good to your girlfriend."

Ruby lay in Chen Mo's arms, giving him a resentful glance.

Although she knew her past and age were not worthy of Chen Mo, seeing him plan so much for his girlfriend, Ruby still felt a sense of loss in her heart.