America 2009: Survival of the Underclass

Marta's husband arrived in a flash within minutes.

Looking at his muscular physique and bald head, Karen and Li Ang exchanged a glance and nodded in satisfaction.

Marta pointed to the panting man beside her and introduced him to the three of them: "This is my husband, Ramon Garcia, sir!"

She paused and then added, "Everyone in the Mexican community nearby knows how to make Jumbo hot dogs, and he taught them all. Many streetwalkers specifically seek him out to learn."

Upon hearing his wife's words, Ramon straightened up, a proud expression immediately appearing on his face, as if he were teaching Stanford University's calculus, not how to eat Jumbo hot dogs.

Li Ang and Karen exchanged a glance, a hint of amusement flashing in their eyes. They then nodded approvingly and said seriously, "I'll give you half first, and the other half after it's done, okay?"

Marta and Ramon exchanged a glance, then she turned and hesitantly asked, "Sir, would $200 be alright first?"

"Once!" He pondered for a moment, then suddenly raised his index finger.

"What?" the two asked simultaneously, looking completely bewildered.

He withdrew his hand, raised an eyebrow, and said casually, "Just do it once, and you can get the full 300 dollars."

"Really?!" Marta's face lit up with unbelievable elation, her voice urgent. "Whatever you say, sir! Just $150 will do!"

He glanced at Karen, nodded, and looked at Ramon seriously, saying, "For this price, you need to have the full skill. Don't try to cheat us, or don't blame us for making trouble for you."

"You probably don't want to experience the consequences of three white people going to the immigration office to complain about being scammed by illegal workers, right?" Karen quickly added, her eyes fixed intently on the two of them.

"I will absolutely do my best, sir!" Ramon's expression changed, and he quickly patted his chest to assure them.

"Ramon wouldn't lie to anyone, sir!" Marta echoed, assuring him.

He nodded, pulled two hundred dollars from his pocket, and handed it to her. Marta grabbed it, and then he said, "Now come with us."

"Okay, sir!" Ramon quickly came out from behind the stall.

"Let's go back to the warehouse and wait a while, Mr. Smith," Karen said, taking his arm in a relaxed tone.

"Isn't it almost time?" he asked, puzzled.

She rolled her eyes, linked arms with him, and teased as they walked, "Mr. Smith, are you sure you're not a sissy? You're a man, and you don't even understand what a man is."

"Oh~" He raised an eyebrow with interest, pinched her chin with his free hand, and laughed, "Don't you know whether I'm effeminate or not, Ms. Smith?"

"My lack of understanding of men precisely proves I'm not a sissy, understand?"

Karen shook her head with a smile, her face full of disdain: "Imagine you marry a gentle wife through a blind covenant with the church and become a Nazarene pastor."

"Your doctrines keep you in check, and you don't even dare to glance at a beautiful woman on a normal day. But the more stable and fulfilling your life is, the more you want to let loose and seek excitement."

"One day you broke your vow and got involved with a woman who came to you for advice."

"You're terrified, yet you're also going crazy with pleasure."

"From then on, I became obsessed with this secret thrill and secretly had affairs with all sorts of women."

"Gradually, you get used to it. The desire is still there, but the excitement is gone?"

"Are you starting to think about settling down, returning to your original calling, serving God properly, and enjoying a peaceful retirement?"

"Today, a sweet and beautiful woman, even younger than your daughter, came to confide in you."

"You've rediscovered that long-lost feeling."

"Your reason tells you it's impossible, but the thrill of the possibility of it happening still tantalizes your curiosity. Why not give it a try?"

"The girl's description of her family situation fills you with ecstasy—a desperate girl from the slums! You begin to take the bait."

"She's taken the bait."

"You're subtly hinting."

"She understood too."

"They even offered to move in with you and become yours completely."

"How does it feel?"

"Is it exciting enough? Do you want it? Can you resist?"

"Does something still feel off?"

She started asking for your name, and you told her.

"She suddenly whispers something in your ear, and the intense stimulation makes you ejaculate instantly."

"She's an incredibly open-minded girl!"

"Slums, ragtag families, they're all open about it."

He looked down knowingly into Karen's eyes, raising an eyebrow: "Isn't this Martina from 22nd Street? Sitting on her crumbling staircase all day, waiting for someone to come knocking on her door for a game."

"Saying it's open might not be accurate, but the pressure is too great. I don't drink excessively, I don't do drugs, and I don't have money to play around. I have no other way to release my emotions except through this."

She nodded, her face full of disdain: "There are plenty of girls like this in the slums, but they're all cheap sluts who can't make money and are incapable of making any at all."

"Maybe it's pride? Martina isn't bad-looking, and I've never heard her ask anyone for anything. Have you?" He raised an eyebrow and spoke slowly, as if deep in thought.

She lowered her head and thought for a moment, then nodded and shook her head, tilting her head back and pouting.

Li Ang lowered his head, gently touched her earlobe, and chuckled, "Continue your old perverted psychology lesson, Ms. Smith."

She abruptly withdrew her tongue, muttering under her breath, "Fuck you~ you coward."

She smiled sweetly and continued, "But in the pastor's eyes, these slum girls are just uneducated, primitive wild girls."

Everyone nodded in agreement. When Ramon heard the word "priest," his eyes lit up instantly, and he licked his lips.

She paused, then tilted her chin up and asked confidently, "Does the pastor still have any doubts?"

Even just a tiny bit?

"but……"

"Does the image of your daughter uncontrollably flash through your mind?"

"Are you even starting to imagine all sorts of ridiculous scenarios?"

"Doesn't it instantly bring back the heart-pounding feeling of the first time you broke your vow, or even...?"

"Want it to be a thousand times more stimulating?"

John's eyes were glazed over, his face was flushed, his breathing was rapid, and his body was trembling slightly.

"Bang!" He punched John, making him stagger. John cursed in disbelief, "Jesus! Christ! Lazybones! You actually got into it!"

"Boss...uh...I...uh..." John stammered, his face flushed, scratching the back of his head.

Ramon and Karen both stared at him with amusement.

"Alright! Shut up! It's just that you're too hungry and thirsty, that's why your thoughts are so perverted!" He waved his hand, turned to look at Karen, and gestured for her to continue.

With a mischievous grin, she slowly licked her lips, her tone suddenly becoming alluring and seductive: "She asked you to meet her at seven tonight."

"It's 6:30 now, aren't you already restless, your mind filled with exciting images, just waiting for her to come?"

"At seven o'clock, she didn't show up. Were you panicking? Did you miss her? Were you looking forward to it?"

"It's 7:30, still no sign of him. Are you worried? Anxious? You can't sit still any longer, can you?"

"Would you like to stand up and walk around for a bit to ease the discomfort?"

"perhaps……"

"Will she come back?"

"At eight o'clock, utterly disappointed? Utterly frustrated?"

"Are you looking for something to calm yourself down?"

She paused, glanced at the two men to her right who were staring intently at her, and suddenly raised her voice: "Just then—there was a knock on the door!"

"Oh my god!" Ramon and John shuddered and cried out in horror.

"Jesus~Christ~" he exclaimed, then gently pushed her head and chuckled, "You're such a manipulative little bitch. Have you ever used that trick on me?"

She gave a sinister, wicked smile and said softly, "Guess? Mr. Smith."

"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow with a mischievous grin, his tone relaxed. "You'll find out tonight."

She stopped in her tracks, tiptoed, and kissed him on the cheek, sweetly asking, "You think you can beat me?"

He nodded, shook the arm she was holding, and led her forward, his tone resolute: "Last night we were almost there, but today I feel even stronger! Don't beg for mercy!"

She licked her lips and hugged his arm tighter: "Jesus~ Who would beg for mercy from a coward like you?"

"Go back and change your pants right away, you ridiculously lazybones."

"Uh... okay, boss!"