Reborn in 1993, Dark Sea

"Boss, what did you mean by what you said during dinner?" Xie Dan asked cautiously on the way back.

"It means exactly what it says."

"Boss, no way!? You really want to lead us into the legitimate business? I really can't do it! I don't know anything, all I know is how to kill people!" Xie Dan sighed to the sky.

Do you like playing video games?

"Of course I like it, I'm an expert!" Xie Dan said smugly.

"Don't worry, you'll see once the internet cafe opens. You'll really enjoy this job; it's much more interesting than playing video games."

Opening an internet cafe isn't difficult. You just need to charge on time and prevent people from causing trouble in the internet cafe. It's very simple.

Besides, where in this world is there such a thing as legitimate or illegitimate business? Doing business is about making money and taking risks. What you're doing now doesn't make much money, but the risks are considerable. It's not worth it.

In business terms, this means the investment and return are disproportionate. Is it even worth doing this?

An Xiaohai patted Xie Dan on the shoulder and said.

"Boss, what you're saying is so profound, I don't understand, but I'm willing to listen to you. It's about cooperating with the police, but I'm still a little confused about it," Xie Dan said, scratching his head.

"Don't think of them as police officers. Just think of them as the biggest and most powerful gang in Baoshan District. When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head."

"Yes, boss is brilliant!"

"You little brat!" An Xiaohai laughed and punched Xie Dan.

"Boss, will I ever have another chance to kill someone?"

"You really enjoy killing people?"

"No, it's just that I find life rather boring, and fighting with people is exciting and interesting."

"Is that really what you think?"

"That's really what I think."

"Do you think so too?" An Xiaohai asked Wang Bulai and Ali, turning around to look at them.

"Boss, I don't care. I'm just trying to make a living. As long as I can live a good life, I don't care whether I'm out there messing around or doing something legitimate!" Ali said softly after thinking for a moment.

An Xiaohai smiled. It was quite obvious that Ali preferred to do legitimate work.

"Big brother, I'll listen to you. I'll do whatever you tell me to do. I don't care what I do. I just want to make something of myself! I don't want to be looked down upon, and I don't want people to dare call me a shorty or a little kid!" Wang Bulai said through gritted teeth.

"Hmm!" An Xiaohai smiled slightly: "Don't worry, as long as you work hard, you will definitely make a name for yourself."

But Ah Lai, take my advice: don't care too much about how others see you. We can't truly change others; the only thing we can truly change is ourselves.

If others want to look down on us, there's nothing we can do. They can always find a reason to do so, and we can't possibly kill everyone who looks down on us.

Even if we beat them into submission, they might not dare to speak ill of us on the surface, but they will still look down on us. In essence, there is no difference.

So who cares about them! Let's just live our own lives well. Getting ahead is for our own better life, not for others to respect us.

Do you know what I mean?

"I don't really understand..." Wang Bulai said, scratching his head.

"If you don't understand, slowly come to understand. Remember my words, and one day you will understand."

Xie Dan, don't worry. If you really like excitement and can't get used to the life of running an internet cafe, no problem, I can find you some exciting things to do.

But let me be clear, the dangers I'm dealing with here go far beyond just getting beaten up or hacked to pieces; one wrong move and you could lose your life.

"Great! Boss, I'm not afraid of losing my life, I'm just afraid of living a meaningless life! Haha!"

Xie Dan laughed heartily, but An Xiaohai felt uneasy. Someone else had said something similar to him before, Kunji.

"Alright, that's enough for today. Alai, Ali, Xie Dan, let me assign you a few tasks."

"Brother, what do you say?" Wang Bulai took a deep breath and said solemnly.

"The first task is to sweep through Baoshan District as quickly as possible!"

Now no one should dare to touch you. Take this opportunity to speed things up, send all those who are not convinced to go to other districts.

Of course, those willing to join, regardless of their sincerity, should be accepted first, and then gradually trained later.

"Okay, big brother!" Wang Bulai nodded heavily, and Xie Dan was full of excitement.

"My second task is to register a cultural company and find a suitable venue as soon as possible. Once I'm done with this busy period, we'll open an internet cafe in Baoshan District."

"Big brother, are we really going to open an internet cafe?"

"Of course it's true. It's a very profitable business, and it can keep you making money for at least another 10 years."

"Will you still collect protection money?"

"Of course we'll accept it. Why wouldn't we? How would we feed so many people if we didn't? Even if I didn't accept it, someone else would. But we'll accept less, and if others refuse, we won't lay a hand on them."

"If I don't do anything, who's going to pay me?!" Xie Dan was almost in tears.

"Are you stupid? Do you think they'll only give you money if you take action? Use your brain and think of a way. Nobody in the entire Baoshan District dares to go against you now. Don't you know how to take advantage of this?"

If anyone doesn't pay, you can make those who came to join you, the people who were originally from Luo Jue's side, sit in his shop every day. Find those who look fierce, have tattoos, and are obviously not good people, and have them all sit in his shop.

Don't cause trouble or resort to violence. Just sit there. If they call the police, let them leave first. Once the police have left, sit back down. The police can't do anything about it.

Before long, they will come to you to pay protection money. If you charge a little less, they will definitely pay willingly.

Finally, find a few unfamiliar guys to cause trouble at the shops that have paid protection money. You then immediately step in to resolve the situation. Be quick and make a big fuss to set an example for everyone.

Collecting protection money also requires a service-oriented mindset; you can't just collect the money and not do anything, understand?

"The boss is brilliant!" Ali was stunned; this praise was no flattery.

"Okay, boss, is there anything else?"

"Yes, the third mission..." An Xiaohai bit his lip: "The third mission is the most important, but also the most dangerous."

Find vehicles, specifically MPVs, those that have been modified with bulletproof glass. Locate them, and ideally, figure out their routes.

"Brother, could you explain this more clearly? We don't understand."

"That's all I can say. You can keep an eye out for those arcades with lots of slot machines around here, especially the people who stay there and lend money to the losers. Follow these people, and you should be able to find these cars."

"Boss, are you looking for those finance company cars?" Xie Dan asked after thinking for a moment.

"Are you familiar with these finance companies?"

"I know!" Xie Dan nodded vigorously. "I know several of them. These finance companies have come to us to collect debts."

"Oh, that's great!" An Xiaohai raised an eyebrow; this was unexpected good news.

"Then you guys try to keep an eye on these finance companies, find the vehicles they use to transport money, and then try to follow these vehicles to see where they go to collect money and where the money they collect will eventually be transported."

I must warn you, it's very dangerous. Don't let them find you. If they do, you'll definitely lose your life, understand?

"We understand, boss. I've heard that those finance companies have incredibly powerful backgrounds. You're not planning to rob them, are you?" After hesitating for a long time, Ali finally asked out his thoughts.

"Ali, don't think too much about it. You just need to complete the tasks I give you."

I just want this information. As for what I do with it, don't think about it or ask. It won't do you any good, understand?

"Ali, are you scared?" Xie Dan asked, frowning.

"I'm not afraid, I just want to know clearly what I'm doing!"

"Yes, that's right, I can understand."

Of course, if you're afraid or unwilling to do it, that's perfectly normal. Just say so, and I won't blame you. But there's one thing: what I'm about to tell you today must not be mentioned to anyone. If it leaks out, don't blame me for being ruthless.

"That's for sure. If anyone leaks the news, I'll kill him with my own hands. No brother will have any face left!" Xie Dan said through gritted teeth.

Ali looked at Xie Dan and lowered his head.

"Don't worry, brother, we will definitely do what you asked us to do!" Wang Bulai took a deep breath and nodded.

An Xiaohai smiled slightly at Wang Bulai and the other two, took out several stacks of money from the side bag of the motorcycle and stuffed them into Wang Bulai's hand, which contained at least forty or fifty thousand yuan.

"Boss, we didn't do anything, we can't take your money anymore!"

Wang Bulai was a little panicked. An Xiaohai had already spent nearly 10 yuan on them, but it seemed that he hadn't accomplished anything. When it came to the crucial moment, An Xiaohai still had to bring people to save the day.

"Take it. The boss can lose money on himself, but he can't let his brothers lose money. You are a boss, after all."

"Ah Lai, I think the guys you found are pretty good. They're all really hardworking. Treat them to a nice meal and give each of them a red envelope. You can't just send them to fight without giving them anything in return. Who's going to risk their lives like that? Here, take it."

"We don't need that many; this is too much!"

"Not much, the rest can be used as activity funds."

You'll need to recruit more people and expand your business, scout locations, and oversee personnel—all of which cost money. Don't be stingy; if you get things done well, you'll earn that money back, understand what I mean?

"Got it, thanks, boss!" Wang Bulai took the money and handed it to Ali. Ali quickly hid the money in his clothes and nervously looked around.

An Xiaohai chuckled to himself. Ali seemed timid, but when it came to money or when his brothers were in real trouble, he was anything but cowardly.

This is a good combination. One is someone who can keep things in check, one is bold and fearless, and the other is cautious. This combination has a promising future.

"Alright, that's all for now. I'm leaving. You can go do whatever you need to do. Contact me by phone."

"Take care, brother!"

"Rest in peace, Boss!"

An Xiaohai rode away on his motorcycle. Ali tugged at Wang Bulai's sleeve: "Alai, Xie Dan, I'm really a little scared! What the boss did was terrifying..."

"Ali, to be honest, I'm scared too! Do you think Xie Dan isn't scared? Don't let his arrogant demeanor fool you, he's actually scared inside."

However, I'm afraid we should also step up! Haven't you realized yet? Our eldest brother is a man destined for great things; he's on a completely different level from us.

We're lucky that our older brother was willing to take us out!

I think whether we live a life of luxury or one of being left to suffer in the shadows of others depends on this one gamble.

What are you afraid of? Being afraid won't help! You want to be a petty thug for the rest of your life? Haven't I told you about the boss? Two or three years ago, he was in a much worse situation than us. Look at him now!

"The bold get rich, the timid starve; if you're going to die with your balls facing the sky, you'll live a long and healthy life!"

"Yeah, I'm not afraid, I'll do it! I'll die facing the sky!" Xie Dan said, rolling his eyes.

"Damn, you guys are absolutely right! I'm doing it too, even if it means dying on my own!" Ali gritted his teeth and nodded fiercely.