Chapter 296: Opening The Bar
Two days later, “Oldest Brother, why did you bring me here?”
A Jin narrowed his eyes, holding a small folding fan as he followed behind him: “Could it be to drink and chat happily with A Jin?” Wasn’t this place just the Wine Workshop? He collected all the protection fees on this street!
“A Jin, I have a new business that needs your help. We’ll make money together, and it’s guaranteed not to be worse than your Gambling House business!”
“Oh?”
“Moreover, our business won’t have those rules of chopping hands and feet, or killing!”
“Oldest Brother, don’t mock me anymore. You might have just come from Phoenix Mountain to Fengjing City and don’t quite understand the local customs yet. This Gambling House business is like that—looks glamorous but is actually hard to run. Most people who come here to gamble are desperate outlaws and ruffians. These people deserve what they get!”
“My chopping off hands and feet is to teach them a lesson so they won’t come back next time. Without rules in the Gambling House, those ruffians will welch on debts, causing families to break apart and wives to be separated from their children!”
Xi’er nodded in agreement: “I didn’t say anything against you. This world is inherently black and white, with many gray areas that can’t be handled by ordinary morality and law! But collecting protection fees and bullying the common people isn’t justice. I know you’re not that kind of person at heart; you have your own fervent sense of justice. Believe me, Oldest Brother, my essence is to make big money for you while also helping the common people.”
“Alright.”
He hadn’t expected the Oldest Brother to understand him so well, with moral cultivation extremely similar to his own. He’d thought their ideas were completely opposed!
Actually, when he took over the Gambling House, he had the idea of being the Oldest Brother who dominated both the underworld and legitimate worlds with great prestige, and also the idea of rectifying these black industry chains!
Reality isn’t that easy. After taking over, it was already difficult just to keep the Gambling House running as before.
As for the black industry chains, they were complex inside and not easy to change.
“I brought you here today for two reasons: one to check out the location—my Bar will be on this street; two, I want you to help me see if there are any houses nearby for rent or transfer!”
A Jin thought for a moment, “There’s a Ya Nan Yuan at the corner ahead. Business seems poor lately; I heard they’ve cut employees’ salaries, so they might be considering transferring it!”
“Good, take me to see it.”
The two walked and chatted, “Without rules, nothing can be square. Your Gambling House has rules, and my Bar business will have rules in the future too. You’ll help me enforce these rules with your subordinates!” Choosing a partner for opening a Bar is especially important; she chose A Jin, who was the most suitable for security.
A Jin: “After all that, what exactly is this Bar business? Are you really just planning to sell alcoholic drinks?”
“Oldest Brother, no boasting, selling alcoholic drinks isn’t hard. With one order from me, A Jin, no one on this street would dare target you, and no one would dare come here to cause trouble!”
Being scary is one thing; selling things and making money is the goal.
“I know you’re formidable. I’m selling alcoholic drinks but not just alcoholic drinks. I want to open a Bar mainly as a place for leisure, entertainment, and relaxation. People come to taste special little drinks and listen to novel, fashionable tunes!”
“Oh?”
It was indeed the first time he’d heard of this, but a Brothel could be like that too.
“Isn’t that somewhat similar to a Brothel?”
This Brothel business, controlling those pitiful women, he felt was a bit immoral.
“What are you thinking? It’s completely different, okay? In a Brothel, young women accompany customers. My Bar sells special drinks, plus the Bar’s environment creates a different atmosphere. People come to feel the atmosphere, release stress and emotions, and can even dance and sway to the music together!”
“Oh, I understand.”
“To put it bluntly, Oldest Brother, will your special drinks work? Shao Daozi, Pear Blossom White, Du Kang, spirits… this street has everything. There are plenty of alcohol brands. Are you sure yours will sell well?”
This was the reason she opened here: one, convenient sourcing; two, this street of hotels already attracted all the people who wanted to drink.
“A Jin, have you heard of adding ice cubes to drinks?”
Adding ice cubes? It was the first time he’d heard of it; A Jin shook his head…
“Have you heard of adding various fruit juices to drinks, adding ice cubes, then shaking, shaking, shaking?”
It could be done like that?
Xi’er knew he’d have that expression, “My shaking shaking shaking is actually quite an art; it’s what a Bartender does. You’ll know when the time comes.”
“The mixed alcoholic drinks, the cup decorations also have flair—can use flowers or leaves for decoration.”
“So that’s how it is! Oldest Brother, it’s indeed unique; you’ve got A Jin a bit excited now.”
“Because my Bar allows not just men to come for amusement, but also women. The singing might be different from other places, more upbeat! I’m just afraid of troublemakers or people doing bad things, so I need you to handle security!”
With the Capital City’s little tyrant’s endorsement, those who dared to cause trouble would rush towards it.
“No problem, leave it to A Jin!”
“Right, A Jin, you can also take the chance to meet some powerful figures and build relationships with them! This is good for both you and Marquis Zhenbei’s Mansion.”
“Mm.”
The two arrived at Ya Nan Yuan and lifted their feet to walk in. Inside, it was indeed desolate, empty with few customers!
There was still a lot of alcoholic drinks left. Xi’er looked around; the shop was too big, and there were many competing merchants on this street. It looked like the Owner really couldn’t hold on, and most employees had been laid off.
The Waiter at the doorway thought they were there to drink and lit up with joy, immediately coming to greet them: “Honored customers, please come in. What drinks would you like today?”
Xi’er got straight to the point: “Waiter, is your Owner here? We have business to discuss with him!”
“What business do you have with the Owner?” The Waiter hesitated, frowning—were they debt collectors?
***
With A Jin’s participation, taking over Ya Nan Yuan was too easy. Xi’er found the price was even ten percent cheaper than market price. “A Jin, aren’t we being a bit unscrupulous?”
“Oldest Brother, you don’t understand. There are many tricks in these alcoholic drinks, with huge profits. See why his business is so bad but he’s not in a hurry to sell? He’s waiting for a big client to take it over. He doesn’t lack silver!”
So that’s how it was. The two came out satisfied. “Oldest Brother, once we have Ya Nan Yuan, it’s just renovation and stocking up. If you need to run errands or find people for renovation, you can find me; Big Hui can help!”
“Good, this is on you!”
“Speaking of recruiting people, brothers from the Burial Blade Gang could actually come work as Waiters. Those with martial arts skills can be Bartenders; I’ll train them then!”
“No problem!”
