Chapter 36: Keep Your Dog on a Leash

Little Ma looked unconvinced. "Brother Hui, what... what are you saying?"

"Invite him to dinner and even give him two arcade halls?"

"If word of this gets out, won't people think we've been scared witless by some wet-behind-the-ears brat?"

"How are the brothers supposed to hold their heads up in the streets after this?"

Zhou Jinghui glared at Little Ma. "Streets, streets, streets—is your brain filled with nothing but manure? All you know is how to play the thug!"

"How many times do I have to tell you? We are businessmen now. Do you still think you're just a hoodlum?"

Little Ma scratched his head in embarrassment. "Brother Hui, my point is, if we bow down to this kid now, then anyone will dare to come and step on us in the future."

"These bastards are nothing but low-life punks. If you're truly worried about their retaliation, just go away on a trip for a few days. I’ll handle them for you personally!"

Zhou Jinghui gave a cold, dismissive laugh. "Who said I was afraid of them?"

"I’m just trying to tell you: we are businessmen now. When you do things, don't just rely on brute force—use your head!"

Zhou Jinghui stood up, walked to the window, and sneered, "This Chen Xuewen is a madman. Dealing with him isn't difficult."

"But whether we kill him or cripple him, what good does that do us?"

Little Ma asked blankly, "But giving him two arcade halls—that does us even less good!"

Zhou Jinghui smiled. "Who says it doesn't?"

"The two arcade halls I’m giving him are located over by the Old Plaza!"

Hearing this, Little Ma froze for a moment, then his eyes lit up. Overjoyed, he exclaimed, "Brother Hui, you mean..."

Zhou Jinghui laughed heartily and waved his hand. "Since he’s a madman, I’ll find another madman to play with him!"

"No matter who survives in the end, I won't be the one losing out!"

Little Ma immediately started laughing as well, quickly adding, "Brother Hui, you really are shrewd!"

"Hahaha, if this kid surnamed Chen takes those two arcade halls, I can't wait to see how he dies!"

"Don't you worry, I'll go make the arrangements right now to invite him to dinner tonight!"

...

At six in the evening, in a private room on the second floor of the Lebin Hotel in Pingcheng.

Chen Xuewen arrived as promised.

Accompanying him was Lai Hou.

As they entered the hotel, Lai Hou’s body was still trembling slightly.

"Brother Wen, could this be a trap?"

"We caused such a scene last night, and instead of retaliating, Zhou Jinghui is inviting us to dinner? This is way too suspicious!" Lai Hou whispered.

Chen Xuewen replied with a faint smile, "Don't worry, nothing will happen."

Lai Hou looked puzzled. "Brother Wen, how can you be so sure?"

"Zhou Jinghui is no saint!"

Chen Xuewen smiled calmly. "If Zhou Jinghui wanted to deal with us, he likely would have acted already; there's no need to make such a grand gesture with this dinner."

"Besides, look at the hotel he chose."

"This Lebin Hotel is located right across from the police precinct."

"If Zhou Jinghui really intended to harm us, would he dare to host us right under the nose of the authorities?"

Lai Hou glanced at the police precinct not far away and let out a sigh of relief.

Chen Xuewen led Lai Hou, walking with a confident stride toward the private room arranged by Zhou Jinghui.

Little Ma was standing at the door with a group of henchmen.

Seeing Chen Xuewen and Lai Hou approach, a flicker of coldness crossed his face.

He led his men forward, surrounding the two of them. They stared at the pair with fierce, menacing expressions.

Lai Hou was visibly nervous, but Chen Xuewen remained perfectly calm.