Chapter 9

Half an hour later, the owners of various casinos, brothels, taverns, and inns in Happy Forest gathered in the main hall of Drunken Moon Tower, bowing to each other and exchanging pleasantries, but all with a look of distress on their faces.

Running this kind of business, it was normal to pay a monthly fee to the gang, but have you ever heard of paying three times in a month?

At the beginning of this month, Happy Forest belonged to the Green Bamboo Gang, and they had already paid once.

Just after paying the monthly fee, the Flying Eagle Gang took over Happy Forest.

Being plundered by the insatiable Liu Sandao was already painful enough, and now with Su Xin coming, they were likely to suffer another heavy loss.

"Boss Liu, Boss Huang, you two arrived early today. Have you found out what kind of person this Boss Su is?" someone asked the two owners sitting in the front row.

Among these merchants, the wealthiest was Boss Liu, who ran a brothel, and Drunken Moon Tower was his property.

The second wealthiest was Boss Huang, who ran a casino. His Shunde Gambling Hall was among the top five in Changning Prefecture.

Although Boss Liu ran a brothel, he had a good appearance, looking refined and upright.

Despite being middle-aged, he looked more like a scholar teaching in a school than a brothel owner.

As for Boss Huang, he was short and fat, looking like a wealthy man, but his face was full of bitterness and resentment.

His gambling hall made a fortune every day, but he had been heavily plundered by Liu Sandao, and now he didn't know how much more Su Xin would take.

So, when asked by the others, Boss Liu smiled without speaking, while Boss Huang said fiercely, "Who knows what kind of person he is? He's not a good person, I heard he just crippled the owner of Wang's Pharmacy."

The others exchanged glances, this new boss didn't seem to be an easy person to deal with.

However, they weren't worried that Su Xin would also attack them; their status was different from that of the fat Wang who ran the pharmacy.

They had large businesses and hundreds of people working for them, making them prominent figures in Changning Prefecture.

If the Flying Eagle Gang dared to cripple or kill them, the impact would be too great, and the government wouldn't sit idly by.

"Boss Su has arrived!"

The gang members outside the door announced, interrupting the owners' thoughts.

Seeing the young and handsome Su Xin walk into the hall, the owners felt a bit awkward.

Su Xin was too young, and it felt strange to call a young man under twenty their boss.

However, no matter how awkward it felt, they had to endure it. Su Xin wasn't just a small leader of Happy Forest; he was also Tiger San's adopted son.

The people following him, Ji Gang and the cold-faced Li Huan, were there to support him, sent by Tiger San.

"Bosses, I am Su Xin. I have just taken charge of Happy Forest and hope for your support."

Su Xin sat in the main seat, smiling and bowing to everyone, looking very amiable.

The owners secretly glanced at Boss Huang, thinking that this Boss Su seemed quite nice, not as cruel as he had described, and certainly better than the previous Liu Sandao.

Liu Sandao, after years of frustration, had become arrogant and tyrannical once he gained power.

"Hehe, Boss Su, you are too polite. We will rely on you to protect us in the future," Boss Liu of Drunken Moon Tower responded with a smile.

"Boss Liu, you are too polite. As the saying goes, 'Take someone's money, and help them with their troubles.' Since we have taken your monthly fees, the Flying Eagle Gang will not let others bully you."

Hearing this, the owners thought to themselves, "Others bullying us? We would be grateful if the Flying Eagle Gang didn't bully us."

Then, Su Xin suddenly changed the subject, "Speaking of the monthly fees, I have something to discuss with you all today."

Hearing this, the owners thought, "Finally, we're getting to the point."

They had already guessed that Su Xin had gathered them for one reason: money.

As the saying goes, "A new emperor has new ministers." When the Green Bamboo Gang managed Happy Forest, the monthly fee was thirty taels.

Later, with Liu Sandao, it became fifty taels.

Now, with Su Xin, although he looked young and amiable, his appetite was probably not small.

Boss Huang said sarcastically, "Boss Su, your Flying Eagle Gang's rules are strange. You just set the monthly fee at the beginning of the month, and now you want to change it?"

His Shunde Gambling Hall made a fortune every day, and he had been heavily plundered by Liu Sandao.

So, he was very sensitive to the monthly fee and couldn't help but mock it.

However, after speaking, he regretted it. After all, Su Xin was a small leader of the Flying Eagle Gang, in charge of Happy Forest.

Although he couldn't do anything to him openly, he could make his life difficult in secret, even forcing his business to close.

The simplest way was to have a few gang members stand at the entrance of his gambling hall, driving away customers. Within three days, his gambling hall would have to close.

Fortunately, Su Xin didn't take it personally, just giving him a glance and continuing, "Rules are made by people. If Liu Sandao could set them, why can't I? I have decided to waive all the monthly fees from now on!"

When Su Xin said this, everyone was stunned.

No monthly fees? What would Su Xin and his subordinates eat and drink?

The Flying Eagle Gang didn't pay their members a monthly salary; they relied on their leaders for money.

Without the monthly fees, Su Xin's sixty to seventy subordinates would scatter within three days.

Boss Liu laughed, "Boss Su, you are joking."

Su Xin shook his head, "I am not joking. I won't take the monthly fees anymore, but I plan to collect them in a different way."

Hearing this, the owners understood and felt somewhat disdainful.

It was just a change in form, not substance. Why bother with such pretense? Did he think changing the method made him different?

"Boss Su, what method do you propose?" Boss Liu asked tactfully.

Su Xin stood up and said, "It's simple. I want a 10% stake in each of your businesses, with a monthly dividend."

When he said this, everyone was shocked.

No one expected Su Xin to have such a large appetite, demanding a 10% stake.

Such a large demand was almost like a lion's mouth!

Ji Gang, standing behind Su Xin, still had his usual smile, not knowing what he was thinking.

Li Huan had no expression, his deadpan face showing no reaction to Su Xin's words.

Huang Bingcheng, standing at the door, was secretly anxious.

Su Xin hadn't hinted at this to him before. If he had known, he would have tried to stop him.

"Boss Su, you aren't joking, are you?" Boss Liu managed a smile.

Their businesses, especially the casinos and brothels, could make over ten thousand taels in pure profit in a good month.

A 10% stake would be a thousand taels, equivalent to the monthly fees increasing by dozens of times. This was like cutting their flesh with a knife!

Boss Huang snorted, "Boss Su, as the saying goes, 'Greed makes the snake swallow the elephant.' I, Old Huang, have been in Changning Prefecture for many years and have never heard of such a rule! Even the strongest of the three gangs and four associations, the Three Heroes Association, has never taken our stakes!"

If Su Xin did this, it would affect him the most.

His Shunde Gambling Hall made the most money, so he would have to pay the most.

Su Xin pressed his hand down, signaling everyone to calm down.

"Let me explain. I am not taking your stakes for nothing. I have a way to double your monthly profits."

Hearing this, everyone sneered, clearly not believing him.

Boss Huang said sarcastically, "Oh, Boss Su has this ability? I, Huang, have been in business for decades and wouldn't dare say such a thing."

Su Xin ignored him and looked at Boss Liu, asking, "Boss Liu, I heard that your Drunken Moon Tower used to be the largest and most luxurious brothel in Changning Prefecture. Why is it now not as good as the brothels in the city center?"

Boss Liu smiled bitterly and explained, "It's because of the capital relocation. When Changning Prefecture was the capital, the central Changde Ward and others were part of the imperial city, where gambling and brothels were banned.

Because of this, everyone opened their gambling halls and brothels in the peripheral Changle Ward, catering to the nobles and wealthy. Even the name 'Changle' comes from this.

After the capital relocation, Changning Prefecture had fewer restrictions, and several large gambling halls and brothels appeared in the Changde Ward.

With similar conditions on both sides, people naturally chose places closer to home rather than taking a carriage for half an hour to Changle Ward.

If it weren't for the old customers who still come, Changle Ward might not even have the last Happy Forest."

The other owners nodded, understanding the situation.

They had grown because of Changle Ward, but they had also declined because of it.

After the capital relocation, some shrewd people had already bought land and built buildings in the central Changde Ward. By the time they realized it, there was no land left to build even a shack.

Su Xin sat down, tapping the table rhythmically, and said, "Boss Liu explained it well. The decline of Changle Ward is fundamentally due to its location.

Because of the distance, in similar conditions, customers rarely choose to travel far. So, why not think about reforming?"

"Reforming? How?"

Boss Huang sneered, "Our businesses are already among the largest in Changning Prefecture. Even if we invest more in decoration, it would only be slightly better.

This small advantage wouldn't attract a large number of customers, and we might not even earn back the decoration costs."

Su Xin shook his head, "I'm not talking about redecorating, but about reorganizing Happy Forest's services."

Services?

The owners looked at each other, feeling unfamiliar with the term.

"Our Happy Forest has casinos, brothels, taverns, and inns, providing four services: eating, drinking, gambling, and lodging.

But we haven't done it well enough. We haven't made the services convenient for customers.

If a customer is gambling and has a girl by their side, they would be more generous in their bets.

If they win, they would give the girls tips, and if they lose, the girls would comfort them and boost their morale.

When they get tired of gambling, the tavern's food and drinks are always ready, available at any time.

When they are exhausted, they can stay in the inn without rushing home, right in Happy Forest.

So, my idea is to reorganize all the businesses in Happy Forest, placing a brothel, tavern, and inn around each casino.

Customers can get what they want in the shortest time possible."

When Su Xin finished speaking, the owners were stunned, then they all slapped their thighs, wondering why they hadn't thought of this before!

Actually, some customers had done this before, going to a brothel first and then to a casino.

But only the most generous customers would do this.

Happy Forest was a long street, and it took fifteen minutes to walk from one end to the other. The price for girls to travel far would double.

Boss Huang's Shunde Gambling Hall was popular not just because of its size but also because it was next to Drunken Moon Tower.

Su Xin's idea wasn't new; in his previous life, many large casinos abroad operated this way, with the simple principle: customer first.

The owners, who had been in business for years, were not stupid. Su Xin's suggestion made sense to them.

Boss Liu asked cautiously, "If that's the case, some of our businesses would have to move and change locations, right?"

Su Xin nodded, "Yes, but the land in Happy Forest is already planned and is roughly the same size. Exchanging locations wouldn't be a loss for anyone. The only difference is the decoration.

Since you all have large businesses, you should be able to afford the cost of redecorating. The items from your old businesses can be moved to the new ones. I believe you can afford this cost."

The owners thought about it and were somewhat tempted.

If it was just redecorating, it would be a waste of money with no return.

But with Su Xin's plan, there was a good chance of turning things around.

Huang Bingcheng, standing beside Su Xin, quickly handed him a cup of tea.

He was now very impressed with this boss, whose business acumen was so sharp that he might even outdo the owners present if he went into business.

Ji Gang, standing behind Su Xin, was also shocked, realizing he had underestimated Su Xin.