Chapter 66

Chapter 55: Rallying

"Brother Liu, your skills are truly impressive, this has really broadened my horizons!" Wang Haitao exclaimed in admiration.

Hearing Wang Haitao's praise, Liu Dong smiled faintly, "Brother Wang, you flatter me. It's just a minor skill!"

"Hehe, Brother, your 'minor skill' gave us quite a scare! To be honest, I've never seen anyone as skilled as Brother Liu!" Wang Haitao said.

Liu Dong smiled calmly at this, picked up the wine glass on the table, and said, "Brother Wang, I'll drink first!" Without waiting for Wang Haitao to respond, he drank the three glasses of Maotai wine on the table one by one.

"Good, Brother Liu is indeed generous! Come, let's eat! This is the most authentic Shandong cuisine made by a chef I specially invited. Not many people can enjoy it!"

Hearing this, Liu Dong looked at the abundant dishes on the table and couldn't help but feel his appetite increase. Since it wasn't his own money, he didn't hesitate to pick up his chopsticks and put a piece of golden-brown intestine into his mouth. This Shandong delicacy, named 'Nine Turns of the Golden Pill,' was always Liu Dong's favorite. Whenever he could earn more than 5,000 yuan a month, he would go to a restaurant and order this dish to treat himself. However, the 'Nine Turns of the Golden Pill' from small restaurants couldn't compare to the deliciousness made by a genuine Shandong chef.

At Wang Haitao's invitation, everyone started eating, and the atmosphere at the table soon became lively. However, while they were toasting and drinking, most of their attention was on Wang Haitao and Liu Dong at the main seat. Some people had initially planned to come over and toast Liu Dong to build a connection, but they were intimidated by Liu Dong's display earlier, which brought back painful memories from two years ago. So, no one stood up for a while.

"Brother Liu, I wonder where you have been working these past two years?"

Hearing Wang Haitao's words, Liu Dong glanced at him calmly. He didn't believe that Wang Haitao, as the local boss of Quancheng, didn't know what he was doing. Nevertheless, he slowly replied, "I can't compare to Brother Wang, who leads the large Black Tiger Gang. I just run a small stall and do a bit of business to make ends meet."

Wang Haitao smiled and said, "Brother Liu, you flatter me. However, I have a request, and I hope Brother Liu will agree!"

"Since it's a request, it's better not to say it!"

Liu Dong's words made Wang Haitao's smiling face freeze. However, having been in the underworld for many years, his mental fortitude and composure were far beyond the average person's, so he quickly recovered and said, "Brother Liu, with such impressive skills, it's a waste to just run a stall in the antique market. Why not join our Black Tiger Gang?"

Pausing for a moment, fearing that Liu Dong might refuse, Wang Haitao quickly continued, "Brother Liu, rest assured. If you join the Black Tiger Gang, I won't treat you poorly. Your position in the gang will be second only to me, and your monthly salary won't be low. What do you think of 20,000 yuan a month?"

Hearing this, Liu Dong looked at Wang Haitao's earnest expression and couldn't help but smile faintly. To be honest, Wang Haitao's offer was quite sincere. After all, the average salary for a white-collar worker in Quancheng was around 2,000 yuan a month, and a monthly salary of 20,000 yuan was something only high-ranking executives in companies could earn.

Moreover, the position of being second only to the leader in the Black Tiger Gang also showed Wang Haitao's sincerity. However, despite this, Liu Dong wasn't interested. Not to mention that he already had a net worth of millions, even before he became wealthy, he had no interest in joining the Black Tiger Gang. Liu Dong, who had been in the underworld for a few years, knew very well that the underworld was a big dye vat. It was easy to get in, but hard to get out.

Even if he could clean his record, life would always have its stains. So, after Wang Haitao finished speaking, Liu Dong clearly refused, "Thank you for your kindness, Brother Wang, but I'm used to a free and easy life and don't like being constrained. I can't accept your generous offer."

"You, Liu Dong, are too disrespectful! How dare you refuse the leader's invitation to join the gang!" Wang Hongbing, sitting to Wang Haitao's right and almost directly opposite Liu Dong, couldn't wait to stand up and scold him. Of course, if it weren't for the fact that this was the Black Tiger Gang's headquarters and there were many elite members of the gang here, he wouldn't have spoken up, knowing his skills were inferior to Liu Dong's.

Of course, his eagerness to speak out was driven by jealousy. Perhaps in the past, he might have been jealous but wouldn't have spoken so rashly. However, after hearing Wang Haitao invite Liu Dong to join the Black Tiger Gang, he couldn't help himself.

He knew very well that if Liu Dong, who was more powerful than him, joined the gang, his position would naturally be higher than his. This threatened his position as the second-in-command. Naturally, Liu Dong became his target for suppression. So, after Liu Dong refused Wang Haitao's invitation, he was the first to stand up.

Although his words were directed at the Black Tiger Gang and aimed at maintaining Wang Haitao's status, almost everyone sitting there, experienced in the underworld, understood that his simple words had completely blocked Liu Dong's path to joining the Black Tiger Gang.

Seeing how Wang Hongbing's casual words had undone his efforts, Wang Haitao couldn't help but be angry.

He hadn't expected Liu Dong to agree immediately but had hoped to use this opportunity to gradually improve their tense relationship. Then, through further interactions, he planned to use a gentle approach to make their relationship closer, making it natural for Liu Dong to join the gang. Unfortunately, all his efforts today were ruined by Wang Hongbing.

However, although Wang Haitao was furious with Wang Hongbing for ruining his plans, he had to consider that Wang Hongbing was the top enforcer of the Black Tiger Gang. Especially since Liu Dong hadn't joined the gang yet, he couldn't let his top enforcer lose face in front of so many high-ranking members of the Black Tiger Gang just because of a few words.

"How can you speak like that, Hongbing? Apologize to Brother Liu right away!" After scolding Wang Hongbing lightly, Wang Haitao turned to Liu Dong with a smile and said, "I'm sorry, Brother Liu. Hongbing is young and inexperienced. Please don't take it to heart!"

Hearing this, Liu Dong smiled faintly, his lips curling with a hint of mockery as he glanced at Wang Hongbing, who still had a jealous and resentful look in his eyes, and said, "Hehe, it's not as serious as Brother Wang says." Pausing for a moment, he patted his stomach and continued, "By the way, Brother Wang, thank you for your generous hospitality today. I have some matters to attend to this afternoon, so I'll take my leave now!"

As he spoke, Liu Dong stood up from his seat. Honestly, he didn't like this place and didn't want to get involved with the Black Tiger Gang. So, although he didn't particularly like what Wang Hongbing said, it indirectly helped him. Therefore, Liu Dong wasn't too angry.

Seeing Liu Dong about to leave, Wang Haitao didn't want to let him go so easily. So, as Liu Dong stood up, Wang Haitao reached out to stop him, "Brother Liu, don't be in a hurry to leave. If your afternoon matters aren't urgent, why not stay and play for a while? I guarantee you'll be so entertained you won't want to leave!" As he said this, a lascivious smile appeared on Wang Haitao's face, his eyes filled with a look that any man would understand.

Although Liu Dong understood Wang Haitao's meaning and felt a bit of excitement, after seeing super beauties like Wang Qiang and Jiang Tingting, he had little interest in ordinary women. It was like after eating too much rich food, he had no appetite for light meals. Moreover, he didn't believe that a place like the Black Tiger Gang would have a beauty on the level of Wang Qiang.

PS: I apologize to everyone. Due to a family member's passing, I need to return home to pay my respects, so I won't be able to update for a few days. I hope for your understanding. When I return, I will make up for the missed chapters. I hope everyone will continue to support me and support *Baotong*! Thank you!

[Note: The last part of the original text contains promotional content and links, which have been omitted in the translation.]