Song Tianyao listened to Chen Tai's words with some amusement. In the end, it was Chen Tai broke the dock rules. If you were a member of a gang, you wouldn't be without work at the dock. It was the laborers without gang affiliations who were asked by the gang members if they wanted to work. This was mainly because the merchants were in a hurry to ship their goods, so they temporarily found some laborers without gang affiliations to save time. According to the dock rules, half of the money earned by these laborers without gang affiliations had to be given to the gang that hired them.
That middleman, Wo Two Ping, must have been attracted by Chen Tai's muscles and the fact that he wasn't a member of the gang, which is why he introduced him to the job. He might even have been hoping to recruit him into the gang, which is why he was so generous in only deducting 40% of his wages, instead of the usual 50%.
Upon hearing that Wo Two Ping, no one stepped forward anymore. Song Tianyao couldn't help but sigh. It really was the small gang that Fuyixing's underling had mentioned. Otherwise, if it were a gang like Chao Yong Yi or Fuyixing, knocking down four people would be easy. Forty others would be sharpening their knives and waiting for you. Even if the underling couldn't handle it, there would still be the Double Red Pole guarding the dock to step in.
"Will you still go to work at the docks in the future?" Song Tianyao asked Chen Tai with a smile.
Chen Tai shook his head and said, "Of course I won't go again. I'm planning to find a factory job in North Point."
The chat didn't last long before Zhao Meizhen returned with the groceries she had bought. She said to Song Tianyao and Chen Tai, "It's quite lively on the street outside. Two groups are arguing, but neither of them is actually fighting. One of them looks very familiar; he's been to our house before, but you weren't home. There's this guy named... what's his name? Lei. He brought four gold bars and a bunch of tonics."
Golden-Tooth Lei and his men getting into a fight on the streets of the Squatter Area? Impossible, Song Tianyao thought doubtfully. Golden-Tooth Lei was a big shot in the Big Brother; wouldn't people laugh at him for standing on the street like a shrew and arguing with someone?
But my mother shouldn't mistake him for someone else. If he said he would give me gold, then it could only be Golden-Tooth Lei.
Even if Golden-Tooth Lei gets into an argument with someone, he won't need my help, and I don't intend to help anyway.
He got up and took the ingredients from Zhao Meizhen's hands. He then asked Zhao Meizhen to sit down and chat with Chen Tai. He found his mother's apron, put it on, and went to the narrow courtyard to prepare to wash the ingredients and cook.
Whether in his previous life or this one, Song Tianyao's cooking skills were quite good. The main problem was that in this life, his parents were too busy—one repaired shoes and the other worked as a maid in a teahouse—so from the age of seven or eight, Song Tianyao was responsible for taking care of his younger sister, Song Wenwen, and helping to cook for the family.
While peeling scallions and garlic, Song Tianyao listened to Zhao Meizhen chatting with Chen Tai about everyday matters in the room. This gave Song Tianyao a rare moment of leisure, as he had been living away from home for some time. When staying in a hotel, his body was relaxed, but his mind was tense. Now, at home, his hands were busy preparing a meal, but his heart was at ease.
Just as they were soaking the pig liver in water to wash it, the outer door was pushed open, and Golden-Tooth Lei walked in with Gao Lao Cheng, coming face to face with Song Tianyao was wearing an apron and washing the pig liver in the yard.
Chapter Seventy-Six: The Mighty Chen Tai
Seeing Song Tianyao wearing an apron and holding a pig liver, looking like he was about to cook, Golden-Tooth Lei was momentarily stunned. He had seen Song Tianyao a few times before, and this young secretary was always impeccably dressed in a suit and always had a charming and witty demeanor.
Especially adept at using leverage and cunning tactics, he was far more skilled than a seasoned veteran like himself. It was rare to see Song Tianyao looking like a domestic man preparing to start a fire and cook. Moreover, the smile on his face was completely different from the smiles he had seen before. This smile was harmless, whereas back in the teahouse and at the Taibai Seafood Restaurant, Song Tianyao's smile, while not menacing, always sent chills down one's spine when paired with his words.
"Brother Lei, do you really need to come over in person? You could just send one of your men to tell me." Song Tianyao casually put the pig liver back, wiped his hands, took off his apron and tossed it onto the stove, then smiled and asked Golden-Tooth Lei.
Once Song Tianyao's apron disappeared, leaving only a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves, Golden-Tooth Lei finally realized that the smiling, ruthless Song Tianyao had returned. He glanced at Zhao Meizhen and Chen Tai in the room, then smiled at Song Tianyao and said, "My underlings told me that Secretary Song is free at noon today, so I thought I'd come and have a couple of drinks with Secretary Song. Lucky Star Restaurant has booked the entire second floor, and the food and drinks are all set Secretary Song, let's begin as soon as you arrive."
"I'm moving today, so I was thinking of going home to have a few drinks with my Dad. Why don't you stay with me, Brother Lei, and let the other brothers go to a restaurant?" Song Tianyao smiled at Golden-Tooth Lei. "It's not that I'm not giving Brother Lei face, it's just that Chiu Chow people have a tradition of cooking a meal at the old house when moving, setting aside some to take to the new house, symbolizing a life of plenty and prosperity. So this meal must be eaten at home no matter what."
Golden-Tooth Lei was also from Chiu Chow people, so he naturally understood the old customs of Chiu Chow people. When he heard that Song Tianyao was preparing to move out, he nodded in understanding. "Of course, of course. A-Lok, let the other brothers outside go to a restaurant for lunch, and then have them come over to help Secretary Song move."
A-Lok, Golden-Tooth Lei's trusted confidant, nodded in agreement and turned to leave.
When Golden-Tooth Lei arrived, Song Tianyao could no longer pretend to be a chef and cook. He could explain it to Chen Tai by saying they were relatives, but Golden-Tooth Lei was a guest. If he didn't entertain the guest, he would lose face. So Song Tianyao took Golden-Tooth Lei and Gao Lao Cheng into the small house, while Zhao Meizhen got up and went out to continue preparing the dishes.
Seeing Chen Tai sitting comfortably in a chair, Golden-Tooth Lei smiled at Song Tianyao and said, "Secretary Song, your cousin is really something. Just now, I was on the street, Wo Two Ping's men stopped me, demanding an explanation from me."
"Speaking of which, I have to thank you. How much is the guarantee fee? I'll pay you. It's not right for you to pay for this yourself." Upon hearing this, Song Tianyao picked up his wallet from the bedside and asked.
Golden-Tooth Lei waved his hand. "It's nothing, the guarantee fee is only a couple hundred yuan. I actually wanted to ask Secretary Song if your cousin would be interested in coming."