Chapter 175: Refusal and Opening and Competition

All night, Sam was cursing. The two subordinates he asked Lanse for were back.

But they came back hanging on a noose!

He didn't know when Lanse and his men arrived at his room side and hung the two people on the spire of the attic.

Whenever the wind blew, they would sway.

When the wind was small, it was a *puff-puff-puff* sound. When the wind was big, it was like that final strike hitting the soul!

When the two people were untied from the house, they were already frozen stiff. The sub-zero sea wind wouldn't take long to freeze a person to death.

Sam hadn't seen dead people, but he had already vomited when he saw these two dead ghosts.

He had them buried as soon as possible. He never wanted to see them again.

He didn't sleep well all night. Every time he closed his eyes, it was the scene of that corpse slamming into the window.

This also made him very fearful, fearful that something would suddenly hit the window of his bedroom.

Also fearful, even terrified!

One day, would he also be hung somewhere by someone like that?

Once the wind blew over, he would sway with the wind.

He also understood a principle.

This person Lanse, seemingly very normal, but actually his brain wasn't normal either!

Better not provoke him casually!

He had already made a decision.

In these years, he had paid so much—dignity, bottom line, personality—all were thrown away by him before he reached today's step. He wouldn't fall here because of these things.

He once swore to the self that remained in his memory, still harboring dreams and hope, that he must become a person above people!

In the next few days, everything seemed to have returned to calm, but in the Imperial District, many people were discussing one thing, and that was the Imperial Chamber of Commerce.

Some people felt... this was another means for the Lanse family to collect protection fees, a routine, and they even swore—

"Wait until you join the Lanse Chamber of Commerce, and you will find that they definitely have some junior members, intermediate members, senior members, and so on."

"They will definitely find ways to make you become a senior member, because senior members will definitely pay more!"

"I think it's very likely. Although they indeed did some good things, they also have to earn money, right?"

"How could anyone do so much not for earning money?"

These sayings were many and messy. Everyone had their own views and opinions, so much so that no one could easily convince anyone.

The Lanse family's practices during this period made quite a few people their supporters. These supporters and the opponents who were used to opposing became the focus of street arguments.

They stood together in groups of three or five, chatting or arguing. Whenever people from the Lanse family passed by, they would close their mouths.

But as long as the other party left, they would definitely continue to argue.

In a coffee house in the neighborhood, Mr. Qiaobafu, who had returned from outside, was drinking coffee, listening to the chatting sounds of people in the coffee house.

His assistant was sitting opposite him.

A period of time ago, he went to the state government side, because of the New Year.

The Mayor needed to conduct ritual greetings with some Social Party people on the state government side, which was sending money and things.

Federation people actually would also do this, and they cared more about ritualism.

Qiaobafu had heard before that the Federation's government and parties were a clean, efficient, free, and open government and party.

Everyone was doing business officially, there wouldn't be any private interactions, nor would there be bribery, everything appeared fair and just.

He once firmly believed this, because he had sent gifts before, but no one wanted them.

But in reality, that was just because he hadn't joined their system, hadn't joined their circle, and was an "outsider."

So these people didn't play with him, nor would they accept his gifts. Who knew if he really wanted to send gifts, or wanted to grab a handle, a piece of evidence.

The behavior of these people closing the door to him made him feel for a period of time that those sayings were all true—no need to deal with complex interpersonal relationships, no need to deal with complex political relationships, just do business officially.

But when he joined this circle, he realized that everything was fake.

He was responsible for contacting more than twenty Social Party figures here. The gifts and cash sent to each person, added together, were about fifteen hundred dollars, and this was just a New Year gift to maintain the relationship daily.

It wasn't just him; others were also doing the same work as him. Many people wanted to curry favor with the Mayor, but compared to Qiaobafu, their days were obviously better, because they were all Federation people.

In fact, this time sending money and gifts, he was willing, because this actually also equaled him expanding his own connections.

Although this time others accepted his gifts looking at the Mayor's face, he had already exchanged business cards with these gentlemen. Next time, he could bypass the Mayor and contact these people directly.

But he would be very careful and cautious in doing so. Unless it was a last resort, he wouldn't bypass the Mayor. He still understood this interest relationship.

A total of more than forty-five thousand dollars was spent back and forth. Ever since he joined the Mayor's camp, he had been constantly spending money, which made his heart ache!

He had already decided to go all the way to the dark, so naturally, he could only be like this.

Just returned to New Jincheng, he heard people's discussions.

He put down the coffee cup. "Lanse's ambition is really big!"

"What has he been doing recently?"

The Chamber of Commerce was something he had considered, but it was never set up. For one thing, there weren't many rich people among these immigrants. If they were all poor people, then it was better not to set it up.

The purpose of setting up a Chamber of Commerce was to exchange resources. But what resources did he have to exchange with those poor people?

Although there were also a few rich ones, everyone didn't come to play often. Suddenly inviting them wasn't very appropriate, so this matter was left unsettled.

He spent money to hold a regular gathering at the St. Naye Cathedral, which was equivalent to a "Chamber of Commerce." Everyone exchanged some experiences regularly and shared some opportunities.

But he didn't expect Lanse to actually intend to do it.

He didn't know where Lanse's confidence came from, but he felt this matter definitely wasn't simple.

"Contact him and say we also intend to join his Chamber of Commerce."

The assistant nodded. After his nephew, whom he loved like his own son, died, his whole person had undergone some huge changes, not as energetic as before, and his whole person became much more dull.

Qiaobafu watched the people around chatting enthusiastically, as if dispersing the cold air outside the house. He suddenly felt a bit bored.

Afterward, he left a one-dollar bill and a twenty-five-cent coin on the table, then got up and left.

He used to like this, sitting among small citizens listening to them chat about life and work, and then at some point being recognized by some people, and then chatting with everyone very kindly, and by the way, paying the bill for them.

Mr. Qiaobafu's good reputation came this way. People always said he didn't have the arrogance of big capitalists, was approachable, and very generous.

But now, when the object of people's discussion was no longer him, but Lanse, he suddenly felt... his approach was so boring!

Until now, no one noticed him. They had been chatting about Lanse and the Lanse family, and his Chamber of Commerce, and his sponsorship.

He could feel that the Imperial District had changed, and the people living in the Imperial District had changed.

Regardless of whether they said Lanse was good or Lanse was bad, they were all talking about Lanse, and there was no share of him.

The assistant pushed open the door of the coffee house. The cold wind outside rolled the snow and blew over. The gentlemen near the door tightened their clothes and glanced back, then withdrew their gaze.

Mr. Qiaobafu pressed his hand on his hat and walked out against the wind.

The weather was very cold, but people's hearts didn't seem cold, except for his.

After returning to the villa, the assistant went to contact Lanse, but soon he brought back a not-so-good result.

"Lanse didn't agree," he said truthfully.

Mr. Qiaobafu, who was reading the newspaper, was a bit surprised. He lowered his head slightly, looking at the assistant through the gap between his forehead and the glasses frame. "What did he say?"

The assistant repeated the conversation between the two—

"I asked him about the Chamber of Commerce. He said this matter indeed existed, and then I asked, you also want to join the Chamber of Commerce, and he said there are no concrete plans for now."

Speaking of this, Mr. Qiaobafu roughly understood, and he could also understand Lanse's consideration for doing this.

Because ultimately, although Lanse was rising rapidly, compared to popularity and authority, Mr. Qiaobafu was obviously better.

At least in the eyes of ordinary people, they were more willing to believe this banker who managed everyone's purse, rather than the leader in the family.

And Mr. Qiaobafu's status in these people's hearts was settled bit by bit over many years.

Perhaps they started chasing Lanse, but in a short time, Lanse still couldn't compare to him.

Lanse was afraid that after he joined the Chamber of Commerce, he would instead become the core of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Qiaobafu couldn't help but laugh, but after laughing, he couldn't laugh anymore.

His expression gradually became calm. "I know. You go and get busy."

After the assistant left, he looked melancholically at the snowflakes that started drifting outside again, and silently sighed.

It was freezing cold, so much so that even the police didn't want to leave the police station. Occasionally there were patrol tasks, and those old police officers pushed the work to young patrol officers.

Including the Coast Guard, in such terrible weather conditions, they were too lazy to go out to sea.

The wind and waves at sea were bigger and colder. In this damn weather, there definitely wouldn't be smuggling boats and smugglers...

And Lanse, rubbing his hands, stood on the boat. This was about twenty nautical miles away from the shore. He and Luiji agreed to deliver the goods here.

Because what he ordered was all cheap alcohol, it was impossible to deliver it all at once, and it needed to run a few more trips.

Looking at the two hundred thousand cargo payment, and at least forty thousand in profit, Luiji didn't mind running a few more trips.

Lanse borrowed several boats from Alberti. Alberti hadn't returned yet. It was said that after Lanse left, he continued south to go to a place full of beaches and beauties for vacation. This lucky guy.

And he, however, had to receive the goods here in the freezing cold.

But thinking that soon this first batch of seventy or eighty thousand alcohol would become more than one hundred thousand or even more, he was like drinking potato wine, his whole body was on fire!

"The boat is coming!"

Lights suddenly appeared on the gray sea surface. Lao En started to control the flickering of a lamp. This was the secret signal.

Three long and two short, two short and three long, long long short short, short short long long.

"It's them!"

This secret signal was only known to Luiji and Lanse's people. The sound of a diesel engine soon rang out on the sea surface. Not long after, a transport ship broke through the fog and appeared before them.

After the two ships approached and confirmed each other's identities, Lanse came out from the cabin.

The one who came to deliver the goods was Luiji's confidant, a guy named Sai Mu. They had met in Aldera before.

The two hugged each other. Sai Mu looked very enthusiastic. "Before coming, Mr. Luiji asked me to definitely ask after you. Because he had some important business and couldn't come personally, please forgive him."

This was just polite talk. It could be listened to, but it couldn't be taken seriously. Which boss would come personally to take the risk to deliver goods?

Lanse also expressed his agreement and emotion toward Mr. Luiji's thoughts, and then had people start moving the alcohol.

This time, what was sent over was mainly potato wine and mixed fruit wine. This was what

This was the first time Lanse had come himself, and he wouldn't come to pick up the goods in person next time.

He expressed his appreciation and approval of Mr. Luigi's ideas, and then had people start moving the alcohol.

The shipment this time consisted mainly of potato liquor and mixed fruit wine; these were exactly what Lanse needed right now, not anything else.

Especially the potato liquor; this stuff could be mixed with just a little something to become a blended alcoholic beverage, with one bottle being worth several.

At the same time, he pulled a handbag out from the cabin and opened it in front of Samuel, causing Luigi's men to gasp.

"Sixty-five thousand, do you need to count it?"

Samuel didn't speak; he casually took out a roll from the bag, all old ten or twenty-dollar bills, with fifty notes in each roll.

He took some from different parts of the bag, confirmed there were no issues, counted them briefly, and then zipped it up.

The two hugged again, "No problem, you are very trustworthy, Mr. Lanse."

Lanse smiled, and the two stood by the window watching a group of people working on the drifting sea; after about thirty minutes of work, the last crate was sent back to the ship.

The two shook hands and hugged again, then parted ways.

Watching Samuel's ship disappear into the mist and snowflakes, Lanse and his men's ship also began to return to the pier.

Before this, Aierwen had already rented a warehouse at the pier; it was said that there might also be alcohol in the surrounding warehouses, so he wasn't afraid at all.

If it comes to it, we'll all die together; let's see who dares to come and inspect!

Now, some parts of the pier are minefields; inspect once and you die once—whoever inspects dies!

Lanse even suspected that a portion of the alcohol he sold to Mr. Pasiletuo was also at the pier.

But he didn't care about that; in a world of vast snow and mist, they returned safely.

These alcoholic drinks were all sent into the warehouse, and some were sent to the workers' club.

It was about to open immediately.

"Are the girls willing to come over to work?", Lanse walked to the workers' club with everyone, and there were still people working on the pier at this time.

They greeted Lanse very warmly when they saw him, and Lanse responded enthusiastically, without the slightest bit of airs.

There were many people around him this time, so no one came close.

Aierwen nodded, "I've talked to the girls; Sam and Buke won't trouble them anymore, some of them have already gone back to work, and a portion of the others are willing to come to the club to work."

"Also..."

Lanse stopped and looked at Aierwen, who scratched his head, "Didn't you ask me to find striptease dancers?"

"Some of our own people want to do this."

"Our own people?"

"There are only two of us!"

Aierwen explained hurriedly, "It's some dancers who came over from the Empire side; they heard we were hiring and wanted to jump ship to join us."

"We have a certain authority in some fields.", the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

Lanse continued walking forward, and the large group of people began to move again, "If they are willing, they can come over, so we can also take care of them."

"I'll say it again, don't force anyone to do things they don't want to do."

Aierwen nodded, "I understand."

Even if Lanse didn't accept them, they would still be doing this work, and in other strip clubs or strip bars, they would often have to face harassment.

Instead, they don't have to worry about being bullied on Lanse's side, so these dancers all hoped to jump ship to join.

"After the next batch of alcohol arrives, the bar can also open, and we might need more dancers then."

Aierwen kept it in mind.

The workers' club was basically renovated, with only a little bit of paint smell left to dissipate.

There are mainly two types of houses in the Federation: steel structures and wooden structures. Current federal houses rarely use paint, latex paint, or anything like that; most are raw wood, so there's not much need to worry about formaldehyde issues.

The house was renovated quite well, mainly because it was sturdy enough; there would be many entertainment and stress-relief activities here, and the workers have great strength, so it definitely needed to be sturdier.

After walking around, Lanse nodded very satisfactorily, "That's about it..."

The news about the upcoming opening of the dock workers' club soon spread across the pier, and many workers were asking if there was cheap alcohol, cheap fried chicken, and free breasts and asses to look at.

Once they truly integrate into it, they will realize that these things are actually not that important!

Of course, before that, Lanse still had one thing to do—the Imperial District Branch Darts Tournament!

As a sponsor, Lanse definitely had to attend.

Some people do similar things without showing up themselves, letting their subordinates appear instead; he found it very puzzling—since they chose to spend the money, why not let the favor fall on themselves? He didn't quite understand.

But he, certainly, would not do that.

Since there weren't many branch police officers, the results could be determined in two days; when Branch Chief Bulu's strong competitor accidentally threw the dart out of the board under pressure, revealed an annoyed expression, and lost the championship to Bulu, this darts tournament came to an end.

Bulu wiped the sweat from his face, took the cash from Lanse's hands, and accepted Lanse's praise—a thrilling competition!