Chapter 37: Would Five Dollars Be Enough?

As they entered the private room, Zhou Jinghui acted as if nothing had ever happened. He draped an arm around Chen Xuewen, laughing and acting like a brother, just like an old and dear friend.

Chen Xuewen returned the smile, equally unfazed, as if the events of the previous night were merely a distant memory.

Lai Hou, following close behind Chen Xuewen, remained in a state of high tension. After all, he had previously been nothing more than a low-level pickpocket, a man whose status in the underworld was beneath even that of a lackey like Li Eryong. A kingpin like Zhou Jinghui was a figure he could never have hoped to touch. Now, sitting at the same table eating with such a man, his composure was shattered.

Zhou Jinghui invited Chen Xuewen to sit, asking with an air of casual indifference, "Why didn't brother Eryong come along?"

Chen Xuewen replied with a faint smile, "He had some business to attend to; it wasn't convenient for him to join us."

Zhou Jinghui cast a glance at Chen Xuewen, his expression clouding with a hint of suspicion. He had come to understand that Chen was a man of meticulous thought and ruthless means. Given the circumstances tonight, the fact that Chen had left Li Eryong behind suggested a hidden agenda. This only deepened Zhou's wariness, making him hesitant to make any rash moves.

Soon, Zhou Jinghui burst into a hearty laugh. "No matter. As long as brother Chen is here, that’s what counts! Xiao Ma, bring over those two bottles of vintage wine I keep locked away."

Chen Xuewen waved a hand. "There’s no need for that. I don’t drink."

Zhou Jinghui chuckled. "Oh, come now, brother. This is a fine vintage I’ve kept for over twenty years; a single bottle is worth tens of thousands now. I brought it specifically to host you tonight. If you don't drink, it would be a terrible waste."

Chen Xuewen flipped his glass over on the table. "I apologize, but I really do not drink."

Zhou Jinghui’s expression turned cold. Chen’s refusal made him feel slighted. In truth, even the other major players in Pingcheng, those with power equal to his own, wouldn't dare to snub him so openly. He narrowed his eyes at Chen Xuewen, who met his gaze with a look of calm indifference and a faint, inscrutable smile.

The two men locked eyes for a long moment. Finally, Zhou Jinghui squeezed out a smile. "Brother Chen doesn't drink? Well, that’s your loss, not me being stingy! Very well, no wine then. Let's get straight to the food."

Xiao Ma, standing to the side, watched in stunned silence. He could not fathom why Zhou Jinghui was showing such uncharacteristic restraint toward Chen Xuewen. Knowing Zhou's temperament, he would have flipped the table on anyone else who dared to defy him like that, even a fellow boss. Yet, tonight, he had swallowed his pride. It was entirely unexpected.

Without the wine, the meal progressed quickly. In less than half an hour, they were nearly finished. Zhou Jinghui wiped his mouth with a napkin and said, "Brother Chen, the main reason I invited you tonight was to discuss what you brought up yesterday. I’ve given it some thought, and it’s true—what Old Hei did to brother Eryong was wrong. As the boss, I really should provide some compensation."

Lai Hou, who had been busy gnawing on a piece of turtle shell, widened his eyes in disbelief, staring at Zhou Jinghui. To be honest, before arriving, he had been terrified that this was a trap, constantly worrying about whether he would make it out on his own two feet. Who could have imagined that not only would they have a feast, but Zhou Jinghui would actually offer compensation? Was the leverage Chen Xuewen held from last night really that powerful?

Chen Xuewen remained calm, as if he had anticipated this all along. He smiled. "Brother Hui is as generous as they say. However, I assume there are conditions attached to this compensation?"

Zhou Jinghui sighed, feigning difficulty. "Conditions would be too strong a word, but there is a slight nuance. Brother Chen, to be honest, it’s not convenient for me to hand over the management of all the gaming parlors to you. I wouldn't be able to answer to my other brothers."

Chen Xuewen remained silent, slowly sipping his tea, waiting for what was to come.

Zhou Jinghui leaned in closer. "I thought about it all night, and I finally came up with a suitable solution. Brother Chen, this is what I propose: I won't talk about the management rights of the parlors anymore. Instead, I’ll gift you two of them. Those two will be yours, and all the revenue they generate will go to you. How does that sound for compensation?"