Chapter 52: Uncle, Are You Going to Be a Low-Level Thug Too?

Facing the exceptionally warm and flattering Dongguan-style chatter, Liu Haizhu was just about to open his mouth when an object abruptly flew at him from the direction of the kitchen.

"Clang!"

Liu Haizhu reached out and caught it. He raised his eyes to see that it was a potato... and moreover, a potato that was only half-peeled!

Old Wan cursed irritably, "What are you dallying for over there? Come over and give me a hand!"

"Mouthy," Ah Zui chimed in, "Uncle Wan, do you need my help?"

"No, no," Old Wan said with a smile, "You just keep the leader company and watch TV. Dinner will be ready in a jiffy."

"Mouthy, come here, follow me." Yang Mi blinked her bright, limpid eyes, took him by the hand, her gaze full of smiles, coyness, and a trace of enticement.

As she walked past, she didn't even cast a single glance at the pillar of a man beside her.

...

"Mouthy, let me tell you, this show is so interesting. Look at that Xuejian, does she look like me or what?"

...

"Oh my," Ah Zui said in astonishment, "She really does! Sister Mi, if you became a star, there'd be no room for anyone else."

Yang Mi asked suspiciously, "Really?"

Ah Zui laid it on thick, as if his mouth had been smeared with honey: "Really, really."

...

Holding the potato, Liu Haizhu bit his lip as he watched the backs of the two departing figures, standing frozen in place without moving an inch!

"What on earth are you daydreaming about?!"

Uncle Wan rushed out, glaring at him. "We're rushing to get dinner on the table, get a move on!"

Feeling immensely wronged, this blockhead... with his tail between his legs, followed his old uncle into the kitchen.

...

"Peel the potato skins off in your hand, then wash that Chinese cabbage, and those green peppers need to be cut into large chunks..."

Old Wan furiously tossed the wok, spouting saliva as he commanded the young rascal: "Hurry up, Mouthy's getting hungry."

"What... what am I lacking compared to him?!"

Liu Haizhu muttered bitterly and resentfully while vigorously scrubbing the Chinese cabbage in the sink.

...He felt as if his very liver was aching. What a cruel twist of fate!

...

Old Wan turned his head and glared at him: "You little brat, what are you muttering about?"

"I said...!!!"

Liu Haizhu instinctively wanted to snap back, but the moment he raised his head, his courage failed him.

...Damn it, this was a real uncle. From childhood to adulthood, the man actually dared to throw punches; he simply couldn't be crossed!

*Clang, clang, clang!*

Old Wan used his spatula to bang rhythmically against the wok, seemingly beating sense into him as he muttered to himself: "I'm getting on in years, and coming out here, I'm just an assistant coordinator.

...That girl Yang Mi looks glamorous on the surface, but she has higher-ups and leaders above her.

...And look at you. Obviously, you've already made meritorious contributions, but you blockhead, why can't you keep a lid on yourself?"

Liu Haizhu breathed heavily through his nostrils, saying indignantly: "What the hell did I even do?!"

"Heh,"

Old Wan looked as though he wanted to hit him with the spatula, saying with considerable exasperation: "The hottest red-pole fighter in all of Dongsheng right now got his official posting at the Kwan Ti Temple in Yuen Long.

*Clang, clang!* ...The people at the television station practically wanted to carry their entire studio over to report on it.

*Clang, clang!* ...Such a huge matter, and it was the leader's leader who had to call us to inform us.

*Clang, clang!* ...Tell me, where did you fall short? *Clang, clang!* ...You have no idea, the fierce tongue-lashing we received!

*Clang, clang!* ...I was standing right there listening, and there was nowhere to hide!"

*...Clang, clang, clang!*

The more Old Wan talked, the angrier he got, almost smashing the wok in the process!

Hearing this, the stifled resentment in Liu Haizhu's heart instantly vanished, and his weathered face immediately flushed red: "Oh, so that's how it was?"

"Hurry up and fish them out!"

Old Wan bellowed angrily: "Trying to show off your strength? You've bruised the cabbage leaves to pieces, damn it!"

"Hehe," Liu Haizhu twitched the corners of his mouth, forced a ingratiating smile, and reached out to scoop up the washed vegetables.

"Uncle, should I take over the cooking?"

Old Wan squinted at him. It seemed this blockhead finally understood. Seeing this, he could finally set his mind at ease.

He reached back, untied his apron, and handed it to Liu Haizhu,

whispering instructions: "Even though she's a leader, she's only a few years older than you, and she's still just a young girl. You blockhead, remember to say a few soft words to her later!"

"Consider it done,"

Liu Haizhu bared his teeth as he took the spatula, and spoke up: "Just watch me, Uncle."

Old Wan: "Tomorrow I'll be coming over to join you, and from now on, reporting on work matters will be handled by me.

Sigh, you blockhead, your temperament is too wild, always acting on every sudden impulse. Sometimes, I really can't even blame you, damn it."

"Huh???"

Liu Haizhu was shocked on the spot: "Uncle, are you going to become a triad member too?!"

"Slap!"

Old Wan immediately delivered a solid whack to the back of his head, then pressed a finger heavily against his forehead: "This is a mission, a mission, understand?!"

Liu Haizhu grinned, baring his teeth: "Well, that settles it then."

"Oh, and another thing, from now on, I'm managing the money!"

"What the fuck?!"

Hearing this, the blockhead instantly lost his composure.

Seeing this ghostly expression of his, Old Wan expressed his utter incomprehension: "What do you mean by that? Reluctant to let go?!"

"Uncle,"

Liu Haizhu reached out and turned down the flame on the gas stove.

During this period, whenever he had time, he would show off his culinary skills at the sisters' place, and he had mastered these modern appliances better than anyone else.

Without a shred of falsehood, he said: "Uncle, it's not about the money, the crucial point is that I'm still several million in debt right now! Several million?!... I don't even know how I'm going to manage next."

Old Wan smiled mysteriously and raised several fingers: "In the Battle of Tuen Mun, every syndicate suffered losses, among which your Dongsheng..."

Liu Haizhu pointed at his own nose and retorted fiercely: "Our Dongsheng???"

"Look at that pathetic look on you..." Old Wan chuckled rarely: "Don't you need a sense of immersion?"

The blockhead shrugged: "Fine, go ahead and spell it out."

"Ahem!" Uncle Wan cleared his throat: "A total of 98 men from Dongsheng went into battle that night, plus two core leaders.

...Among them, 27 died on the spot, which comes to four million and fifty thousand;

...16 were heavily injured, which accounts for another one million two hundred and eighty thousand;

...41 were lightly injured, which took up six hundred and thirty thousand.

According to your algorithms, even light injuries that keep men on the front lines still warrant an appearance fee.

So adding the 16 who weren't injured makes 57, which brings another five hundred and seventy thousand into the mix.

...Therefore, after a single battle, you've accumulated a total debt of five million nine hundred thousand,

Hong Kong dollars, right?

...Based on the Hong Kong dollar exchange rate, today's ratio is 1 to 0.8339, which means you owe four million nine hundred and twenty thousand RMB. I'm asking you, is that correct or not?"

"Yeah..."

Before Liu Haizhu could fully react, this monstrous debt was crushing him to the point where he could barely breathe!

He worried aloud: "That's why I haven't even dared to go over during this time. The feeling of owing people money, oh man!"

"Look at that pathetic expression of yours!~~~"

Old Wan reached out and swatted at the blockhead again, scolding him exasperatedly: "There are already three ready-made dance halls and two bars right now in Tuen Mun, aren't there?

...Just those alone can guarantee a minimum monthly income of a million, not to mention countless gambling dens, parking rackets, opium dens... well, let's forget the opium dens, touching that stuff gets you executed by firing squad.

...And then there are other Tuen Mun business syndicates—you just need to crush them into submission!

...In the end, there are only two outcomes: either they pay you protection tax, or they get swept out the door.

...Once you take over more businesses, and then tidy things up a bit, in two or three months, won't this debt be completely paid off?

...Still worrying... what the hell is there left for you to worry about?!"

Suddenly snapping out of his daze, Liu Haizhu stared with incredulous, wide eyes: "Uncle, weren't you a public security officer before? How do you know so much about this underworld business?"

Old Wan shouted at him: "Bring me a plate, time to dish up!"