Chapter 51: Dirty Hands Can Never Be Washed Clean

"The meeting is actually quite simple; it's just about demarcating respective interests and paying rent to Luosha."

Feizai took a deep look at Lu Chen and spoke in a low voice.

"It isn't as mysterious as you imagine, but there are some things inside that, if you don't step into the Nitan, you are better off not knowing."

Feizai pulled a Cigar from the cigar box Lu Chen had just taken out and began to preheat it himself.

"After all, hands that have been dirtied will always be dirty."

"Then I really have no interest at all, but Miss Luosha actually does this?"

Lu Chen took a deep look at Feizai, then crushed the Cigar out with force, sipped some light tea, and began to preheat a new one.

A flash of gravity crossed his eyes; he had been thinking about it far too simply!

No wonder this place is a location tacitly permitted by so many powers in Xianggang.

"Miss Luosha certainly doesn't know; how could such matters possibly enter her sight? However, Old Hou by her side might not be the same."

Feizai looked up with a serious expression, glanced outside the door, and then turned back to say in a low voice.

Even the preheating of the Cigar paused for a moment, though this time Feizai carefully extinguished the flame.

Lu Chen was stunned for a moment, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly; he did not speak, but silently preheated the Cigar.

Not until he had taken a puff did he nod slightly.

He took out another 100,000 Hong Kong dollars from his portable space.

He placed it gently on the table and pushed it toward Feizai.

"This is yours. Let's chat until here for today. When you have time, come to my Zhuangyuan for tea; the tea at Old Wang's place is a bit old."

He stood up, picked up his handbag, and went downstairs.

In the parking lot, his Rolls-Royce still sat quietly in its original spot.

"Steward Wang, they have returned, right?"

A hint of a smile appeared at the corners of Lu Chen's mouth, his face carrying a trace of fatigue.

"I had Xiao Huangmao go back first. Mr. Chen took the little girl and drove my car back to the Zhuangyuan. Are you planning to return to the Zhuangyuan now, or..."

Steward Wang sat in the driver's seat, looked up, and glanced at Lu Chen through the rearview mirror.

There was not a ripple in his tone.

"The car for Chen Mo has been prepared, right? Also, the little girl needs to attend the Jiaohui Xuexiao; you arrange that as well."

Lu Chen leaned back in the rear seat, closed his eyes, and spoke softly.

"Let's not return to the Zhuangyuan yet. Drive the car to the other side; we'll wander around. You go change your clothes later; this outfit is a bit too eye-catching."

"Everything has already been arranged. Before you left, I had already contacted the car dealership and the Jiaohui Xuexiao. Tomorrow, Tingting can go to report as normal."

Steward Wang started the car, and it began to move slowly.

"What is your take on Old Hou?"

Lu Chen kept his eyes closed and spoke slowly.

Steward Wang glanced at Lu Chen, and seeing that he had his eyes closed, did not answer immediately.

Instead, he drove to another parking lot before speaking.

"Old Hou does not belong to the ranks of our stewards. Perhaps with one word, you will understand: it is more appropriate to call him Miss Luosha's family retainer."

Steward Wang unbuckled his seatbelt, sat quietly in the car, and then continued.

"The stewards he cultivates do not enter the market; instead, they enter the domains controlled by Miss Luosha. I also only managed to contact a protégé of Old Hou through my master, and that was after spending a huge sum to have one conversation with him."

"That day at Old Sun's house was when I truly witnessed what a steward is."

There was a trace of emotion in Steward Wang's tone.

"Alright, I understand. Go to the mall to change your clothes, and we'll walk around."

Lu Chen tapped his fingers lightly on the car seat, his brows furrowed. He did not get out of the car immediately, but waited quietly for Steward Wang.

As the car door closed, Lu Chen sighed and then opened his eyes.

Things were more complicated than he had imagined!

Before long, Steward Wang returned having changed into a jacket similar to Lu Chen's, and placed the handbag on the passenger seat.

From another bag, he pulled out a pack of 555s and a cheap lighter, handing them to Lu Chen.

Lu Chen reached out and took them.

He casually slipped Steward Wang 10,000 Hong Kong dollars.

Only then did he say, "Let's go."

Steward Wang walked silently by Lu Chen's side. Although the loose jacket could cover the bulge at Steward Wang's waist, it still made Lu Chen feel somewhat surprised.

"Old Wang, relax. We're going window shopping, not smashing up a place. It's been a long time since I've had cart noodles; come on, keep me company and have some."

Lu Chen reached out and put his arm around Steward Wang, speaking with a smile.

He pointed to a small street stall in the distance and spoke directly.

Passing through the bustling crowd, Lu Chen and Steward Wang sat down at the small street stall.

"Boss, two bowls of cart noodles, with scallion oil."

Lu Chen greeted the owner with familiarity.

He picked up the teapot on the table and poured a cup for himself and Steward Wang.

The tea on the street was slightly different from that in the teahouses.

It just had the flavor, but it was enough to quench one's thirst.

The two bowls of cart noodles, pungent with the scent of scallion oil, were quickly brought over by the boss. The napkins were not very clean, and the chopsticks seemed to have a sheen of oil on them.

This made Steward Wang frown; he glanced at Lu Chen, appearing somewhat worried.

Lu Chen paid no mind to those things and started mixing them directly!

A few thugs walked over, cursing and swearing, which made Steward Wang, who had just picked up his chopsticks, instantly alert.

His movements became a bit slower.

Lu Chen gave Steward Wang a light kick, shook his head, and continued his assault on the cart noodles.

Only then did Steward Wang resume eating his noodles.

"Boss, it's time to pay the protection money. I don't know what the higher-ups are going crazy about this year, asking for thirty percent more. We're all in the same business, give us some face."

One of the thugs found a relatively clean table and sat down.

"Oh right, bring us three more bowls of cart noodles, just deduct it from the collection."

"You brats, it's not like you don't know how little I make from this business. Increasing it by thirty percent, isn't that just killing me!"

The boss cursed and swore as he brought over three bowls of cart noodles, unleashing a torrent of complaints at the thugs.

"If you don't pay, it's not like I can go post it on a forum. You, don't talk about just this street; even if you go to any street in all of Xianggang, it's all the same."

The thug didn't argue with the boss, but instead spoke in a helpless tone while mixing his noodles.

"I heard it's only like this for this year, and everything will be back to normal next year. You, just bear with it this year; without you, we wouldn't be able to survive either."

Lu Chen paused and glanced at the thug with some surprise.

He then lowered his head and continued eating his noodles.

"Boss, I'll tell you a secret. I heard that this collection is because the higher-ups want to make some kind of investment, so they're in a rush for money. No, that's not right. Oh, I can't explain it clearly, anyway, the higher-ups are in a hurry to use money."

The thug poked at his hair with his chopsticks, and after a long while, as if he had just remembered something, he hurriedly spoke up.

The remaining two thugs, with noodles hanging from their mouths, nodded repeatedly and made sounds of agreement.

"Old Wang, let's go."

Lu Chen pressed a Hong Kong banknote under the bowl, wiped his mouth, stood up, and glanced at Steward Wang.

He gave a slight nod to the boss and walked toward the other side of the street.