America: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 38 Demanding Unpaid Wages

He said helplessly, "Okay! We can discuss it. What exactly do you want to do?"

"Give me back the wages you owe me, this is my last day working for you!" Simone said.

"That's all?"

The restaurant owner was stunned, somewhat bewildered, but also greatly shocked. He had expected the other party to make an exorbitant demand, asking for several thousand dollars in hush money.

I never imagined it was all for a few hundred dollars in salary?

"Fxxk you! What do you take us for? Burglaries? We're moral people, hurry up and get to the point!" Simone spat.

"Okay." The restaurant owner slumped down.

A mixed-race Black woman ran over and had her boyfriend choke her, then told him she had morals. This is just outrageous.

A few minutes later, the two sides sat down to negotiate and resolve the matter amicably. The restaurant owner was willing to pay Simone three times the deducted wages, plus double wages for one day, totaling $760, and asked that the two not release the video.

Simone readily agreed.

It's understandable to take back the wages that were withheld, and double or triple is normal, but asking for more would be impolite.

She didn't want to be charged with burglary by the restaurant owner and have Zhang Ailun go to jail with her.

If you were the judge, would you believe the words of a middle-class immigrant who pays his taxes on time, or the words of an unemployed, homeless Asian man, or a Black girl listed as a defaulter for using fake rental qualifications?

After resolving the matter, the two followed the restaurant owner to the lobby. Simone changed into her work clothes, knowing that she should finish what she started, and at least she was still being fed at the restaurant today.

The restaurant owner reassured the employees without offering much explanation, simply telling them to pretend nothing had happened and continue operating the restaurant.

The Indian guy who had been stunned by Zhang Ailun's punch had also come to his senses. His eyes were full of fear, and he even went to the restaurant owner and threatened to call the police! But the restaurant owner, who felt he was in the wrong, firmly rejected his offer.

The Indian man refused to swallow his anger and stubbornly refused to agree to a settlement.

Until the restaurant owner adopted his usual arrogant attitude and threatened to fire him, he was left with no choice but to either stay and continue working or go out and sleep on the streets.

Zhang Ailun also cracked his knuckles, using his eyes to intimidate him. "Bro, if I were you, I would never do that!"

I'm going to prison, but you're losing your life.

The young man weighed the options between losing his job and being beaten again for demanding compensation, but ultimately decided to keep his job and compromise on the matter.

Both sides were happy, except the young man took a punch for nothing.

I'm sure he wouldn't rush to the front again if it happened next time.

Before leaving, Zhang Ailun issued a warning and ultimatum to the restaurant owner: "Listen up, I'll be picking up my girlfriend after get off work tonight. If I find out she's been harassed or treated unfairly during work hours, I'll smash your restaurant! I'll twist your head off and shove it into a Komodo dragon's ass!!"

"Please rest assured, sir! I certainly wouldn't do that!"

The restaurant owner made strict promises, and everyone was too afraid to even breathe, their minds filled with thoughts of keeping the peace. How could they dare to offend such a ruthless person?

They didn't dare continue employing Simone here and were eager for her to leave.

With business not doing well lately, he has decided to sell the store and move his whole family to San Francisco.

Damn, there are so many cases of street violence and gang violence on the West Coast!

Zhang Ailun also had his own complaints.

What? You think I'm the one who uses violence to bully people?

That's fine.

Before leaving, Simone hugged Allen Zhang and kissed him hard on the cheek. She then took out sixty dollars and said, "You're so cool, Allen. This is your well-deserved reward!"

"Thank you, sweetheart."

Zhang Ailun casually accepted the sixty dollars, saying, "We're all family here, you're being too formal."

"Honey, remember to pick me up from get off work tonight!"

"Of course. Simone, can I borrow your bicycle for a moment?"

He easily won her favor and temporarily captured the heart of the black woman.

Because human emotions are fickle, the main attraction is novelty.

It's possible that I liked you yesterday, but won't like you tomorrow. It's also possible that I didn't like you before using it, but will like you after using it.

"Take it and use it," Simone said generously, lending him the bicycle.

See you tonight.

Zhang Ailun waved casually and rode away on his bicycle, watching Simone see him off.

He got lost after riding for about two blocks.

There are just too many intersections on the streets and alleys.

I took out my phone and used Google Maps to search for the location. I found that Sanjis Bar and Carnation Club on Wapson Street are only a dozen blocks apart. They are opposite each other and belong to the same community. They are within the same area.

Excellent, connecting the blocks into one area creates a treasure chest of secrets.

Zhang Ailun set off on his bicycle, speeding along the way. He felt that having a means of transportation made traveling much faster than walking, and he might consider getting one in the future.

They quickly arrived at Meiji Street and pinpointed Sanji Bar.

It's open even during the day, with people coming and going, basically providing 24-hour service. There are also a few drunkards smoking tobacco and drinking heavily on the street in front of the bar.

At first glance, all you see are Frank Benk.

The sample taken at the scene contained only alcohol and no blood components.

Zhang Ailun walked around outside, but couldn't seem to find any trash cans.

Finally, I parked the bicycle at the door and locked it. When I pushed the door open and went inside, I was immediately surprised to find that it was a completely different world.

The neon lights flickered, making the brightness of the space seem to be reduced by several units. The windows were covered with a special color-changing film, so even during the day, no outside light could penetrate through the glass.

As soon as Zhang Ailun entered, he smelled a strong odor of alcohol and tobacco permeating the air.

A few old drunkards sat at the bar, drinking and chatting, their words frivolous, and their topics of discussion ranging from the mundane to the fantastical.

The bartender wiped the glasses with a white cloth, occasionally mixing them a drink, chatting and laughing, enlivening the atmosphere of the place.

Behind the bar were rows of drinks, such as Rémy Martin, Ace of Spades... but none of those were there.

Only empty bottles used as decorations.

Zhang Ailun also saw an empty bottle of Desire Sirens wine, covered by a glass cover, which should be the genuine product.

The walls also feature clocks, graffiti photos, plant pots, and flat swordfish plastic ornaments.

The other items on display were mostly inexpensive tequila, cheap dark beer, pale beer, Budweiser, vodka, and whiskey in oak barrels with taps (around 10-15 liters each).

Others sat in a circle around the table, clutching a deck of cards, cursing and swearing, with cigarettes dangling from their lips, their noses red and looking drunk.

He would occasionally turn his head, his gaze sweeping over several foreign women dressed as bunny girls carrying plates, speaking frivolously and letting out vulgar laughter.

In another spacious and secluded area, several sofas were set up, a banner was strung up, and steel pipes were erected on a stage in the middle. Zhang Ailun recognized its purpose at a glance. He hadn't expected a bar to offer this kind of perk.

The pole dancing activities should only take place at specific times in the evening. During the day, police officers will patrol the area, but no one would gather there to have sex.

In another corner, there were several sofas, and two televisions on the wall, one showing horse racing and the other showing Powerball betting.

Several gambling addicts, clutching lottery tickets, stared intently at the horse racing footage on the screen, banging on the table in unison to encourage each other.

As a whistle blew, several grown men simultaneously unleashed a chorus of curses starting with "F," then tore their lottery tickets to shreds, throwing them on the ground and into the air, amounting to anywhere from a few dollars to tens of dollars.

Feeling down after losing money, they went to down a drink. A blonde, blue-eyed bunny girl came up with a plate and kindly asked if they wanted another drink.

This scene.

Zhang Ailun initially thought he had entered a familiar high-heeled strip club.

(End of this chapter)