Underworld: Starting with conquering countless lustful beauties

At the head of the round table, Chen Feng sat with an air of nonchalance, a cigarette between his fingers.

To his left sat Monkey and Shen Zhou, while to his right sat Da Zhuang, Er Gou, and Ma San, who had been waiting for a long time.

The table was laden with hearty dishes: braised pork knuckle, steamed grouper, stir-fried pork kidneys, and several bottles of Wuliangye liquor that had been opened.

"Come on, brothers, let's raise our glasses first."

Chen Feng raised his glass, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. "Today is a good day, for two reasons. First, we successfully took over Mad Dog Qiang's territory; second, we've welcomed new brothers."

Everyone stood up and raised their glasses.

Chen Feng fixed his gaze on Shen Zhou, who had changed into a new suit he had bought on Monkey Road. Although it was still a little ill-fitting, and his hair had just been cut, making him look much more energetic, he still seemed a little reserved in front of so many ruthless people with a strong sense of江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world), and the wine glass in his hand trembled slightly.

"Shen Zhou, stand up and let everyone get to know you."

Chen Feng said with a smile.

Shen Zhou quickly stood up, adjusted his glasses, and stammered:

"G-G-Greetings, everyone. My name is Shen Zhou. I hope you'll take care of me in the future."

"This bespectacled guy doesn't look like he can fight, Feng, why are you so concerned about him?"

Ma San looked Shen Zhou up and down, chewing on peanuts, his tone carrying a hint of disdain.

He was a street performer and had the utmost contempt for weak, bookish types.

"Ma San, shut your dog mouth."

Chen Feng's face darkened, and his tone instantly turned cold. "From now on, Shen Zhou is one of my brothers. Anyone who dares to disrespect him is slapping me in the face."

Ma San's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly put on an apologetic smile:

"Brother Feng, don't be angry. I was just joking, just kidding."

"Sit down."

Chen Feng patted Shen Zhou on the shoulder, gesturing for him to sit down, then stubbed out his cigarette and became serious.

"Now that everyone's here, I'll get straight to the point. We used to be doing small-scale things, but now that things have expanded, if we continue in this chaotic state, trouble is bound to happen sooner or later. So, today I'm going to set some new rules and assign tasks."

The entire room fell silent instantly, and even Er Gou put down his chicken leg and sat up straight.

Chen Feng raised his first finger and pointed it at the monkey.

"Monkey, you're quick-witted and meticulous. From now on, you'll be my steward and the team's strategist. All personnel changes, external communications, and intelligence gathering will be your responsibility. When I'm not around, your word is law."

The monkey felt a surge of warmth in its heart and nodded emphatically:

"Don't worry, Brother Feng, I'll definitely take good care of the house!"

Chen Feng then pointed at Er Gou.

"Ergou, sand and gravel building materials are our original business and our current cash flow. After Mad Dog Qiang's mixing plant and quarry were merged, this area has become very large. You are in charge of this area. Remember, I want a long-term business, but you need to be a little more 'civilized' in your methods. Don't just cut off people's hands and feet all the time. You need to learn to persuade people with reason."

"Alright, Feng-ge!"

Er Gou grinned, his eyes filled with excitement.

"Dazhuang".

"arrive!"

Dazhuang's voice was loud and clear.

"Get the security team sorted out as soon as possible. From now on, all security forces will be under your command for any venue that belongs to us, whether it's a nightclub or a gambling den. If you encounter any tough guys or someone tries to cause trouble, you'll be responsible for resolving any armed conflicts. I want the people of Nancheng to know that we're not to be messed with."

Da Zhuang didn't waste any words, he just clenched his fist:

"Understood! Anyone who dares to mess with our territory, I'll make them regret being born!"

Then, Chen Feng looked at Ma San.

"Ma San, you're a seasoned veteran, you know how things work out. The entertainment industry—nightclubs, bathhouses, arcades—I'll leave it to you. But let me be clear: prostitution, gambling, and drugs, especially drugs, are black lines. If you want to make money, you'd better improve the service and raise the standards. If I find out you're doing dirty work behind my back, don't blame me for not showing any mercy."

A thin layer of sweat appeared on Ma San's forehead, and he quickly expressed his opinion:

"Don't worry, Brother Feng! I'm relying on legitimate business to support myself in my old age, and I'll definitely avoid those risky ventures!"

Finally, Chen Feng's gaze fell on Shen Zhou.

At that moment, everyone's eyes turned to look.

Everyone is curious: what can this nerd who just got out of prison do?

"Shen Zhou".

"Brother Chen."

Shen Zhou straightened his back.

"From today onwards, you are our 'money bag'."

Chen Feng's voice wasn't loud, but it was firm and resolute: "From now on, you'll be in charge of all our business accounts, whether it's the battlefield, the nightclub, or the lending business outside. If you need anything, just come to me!"

"What?!"

Ma San and Er Gou both exclaimed in surprise.

"Brother Feng, this...this isn't quite appropriate, is it?"

Ma San was getting anxious. "I've always managed the nightclub's accounts myself, and suddenly handing it over to an outsider..."

That's money!

Managing accounts is managing money. Handing over financial power is like having your neck strangled; it will be difficult to make any extra money in the future.

"outsider?"

Chen Feng's eyes flashed like knives as he pierced Ma San. "I told you, Shen Zhou is one of our own. What, Ma San, are you afraid of being audited? Or is there something shady going on in your ledgers?"

"No...no! Absolutely not!"

Ma San shuddered at Chen Feng's gaze and quickly waved his hand, "I was just worried that Brother Shen is new here and not familiar with the work..."

"You can learn if you're not familiar with it."

Chen Feng said coldly, "Shen Zhou is a college student, he's educated, and he's more than capable of handling your petty squabbles."

He surveyed the crowd, his tone leaving no room for argument:

"These are the rules. From now on, all the revenue from each venue must be summarized and sent to Shen Zhou daily. If you need to use money, you must get Shen Zhou's approval. For amounts exceeding 50,000, you need my signature. Anyone who dares to set up a slush fund or manipulate the accounts will be dealt with according to the family rules!"

These words definitively established Shen Zhou's central position.

Shen Zhou looked at the heavy leather bag in front of him, and his eyes welled up with tears.

He knew that this was not just about power, but also about Chen Feng entrusting his life and fortune to him.

He stood up, picked up a full glass of baijiu (Chinese liquor), and faced the crowd.

"Brothers, although I, Shen Zhou, am physically weak, I'm quite good with numbers and know a little about finance. Brother Chen trusts me and has entrusted this business to me, so I will definitely keep the accounts clear and transparent! If you feel I've done anything wrong in the future, feel free to point it out, but I'll drink this glass first as a sign of respect!"

After saying that, he tilted his head back and downed the ounce or so of liquor in one gulp.

"Cough cough cough..." The spicy liquor choked him, turning his face red, but he stubbornly refused to spit it out.

"Great! That felt good!"

Chen Feng led the applause, saying, "That's more like a man!"

The monkey cheered, and Er Gou and Da Zhuang, though still somewhat doubtful, also clapped their hands.

Only Ma San, though clapping along, had a shadow of gloom in the depths of his eyes.

"Come on! To our future, to everyone getting rich together, cheers!"

"Cheers!"

The crisp sound of glasses clinking echoed in the private room.

That night, the core team of this emerging force in the South District was officially formed.

……